Chapter 266 – Kushida’s interview

"Yukio-kun, here are the names of the students who applied to join the Student Council." Ichinose placed the printed list on Yukio's desk.

It was two days after the Student Council succession ceremony, and they were back in the Student Council office. With the departure of Horikita Manabu and Tachibana, the room had undergone some changes. Horikita's former president's seat now belonged to Yukio.

Most of the vice-presidential duties were handled by Ryuen, while Ichinose served more as Yukio's personal assistant. Kiryuin, on the other hand, diligently focused on financial records, fulfilling her role as the council's treasurer.

Yukio stood by the window, much like Horikita Manabu often did, gazing down at the scenic expanse of the school grounds. The orderly rows of trees, now bare and stark, bore the traces of a recently departed autumn. The once-vibrant golden leaves had mostly fallen, leaving skeletal branches that hinted at both the desolation of autumn and the promise of spring's renewal.

The natural cycles of the seasons—autumn's retreat and winter's impending arrival—evoked a mix of grandeur and humility in the soul of any observer.

However, Yukio's thoughts were far less philosophical. His mind wandered to the time he had helped Sakura capture the fleeting beauty of autumn in her photographs. She had been smart to seize the last moments of the season before the leaves completely disappeared. Now, with the barren trees as a backdrop, it would have been challenging to achieve the same aesthetic appeal.

Shaking off his idle thoughts, Yukio turned and grabbed the list, giving it a cursory glance. His eyebrows rose slightly as he noticed how few students had applied—none from his own class, nor from Ichinose's class.

From Sakayanagi's class, it was Sakayanagi herself who applied. As for Class D, both Kushida and Horikita Suzune had submitted their applications. There were also a handful of second-year students.

"Not many applicants, huh?" Yukio remarked casually.

"Who'd be happy to work for free under you?" Ryuen grumbled, clearly annoyed, his focus still on processing various council matters.

Ichinose chuckled at Ryuen's comment, watching the light-hearted banter between the two boys. Perhaps this was what boyish camaraderie looked like—constant bickering and playful ribbing, yet still working together seamlessly.

At first, Ichinose considered intervening to stop the frequent squabbles between Yukio and Ryuen. However, she soon realized it was all in good fun and part of their unique camaraderie, so she let go of her worries, finding their dynamic amusing.

Yukio tossed the list onto the desk carelessly. "What do you mean by 'working for free'? This is giving them a golden opportunity to train themselves early. Kids these days just don't know how to appreciate it."

"Ha!" Ryuen couldn't hold back his laughter, delivering his honest opinion. "You sound just like a shameless capitalist boss."

And Ryuen had every right to say so. Ever since he joined the Student Council, all the menial and time-consuming tasks had been dumped on him. Yukio treated the council like a personal delegation system, and Ryuen often found himself overwhelmed with work. If it weren't for Kiryuin and Ichinose helping out, he might have lost his mind.

As for Yukio? He spent his days leisurely doing nothing. After class or school, he'd pop into the council room just to sip tea, admire the view, tease Ichinose, or sometimes skip altogether to rest at his dorm.

Ryuen's remark about a "capitalist boss" was heartfelt, born of frustration, and made Ichinose giggle silently. Kiryuin, having accepted the reality of Yukio's leadership style, dared not voice any objections and focused quietly on her work.

"Thanks for the compliment," Yukio replied with a cheeky smile, infuriating Ryuen even more. His temple twitched as he ground his teeth. You're seriously taking that as praise?!

Seeing the two had bantered enough, Ichinose leaned forward slightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she glanced at the list. "Alright, Yukio-kun, how do you want to handle these applications? They're waiting for us to get back to them, you know."

"Yeah, hurry up and bring them in to work!" Ryuen chimed in, eager to offload some of his burdens onto fresh recruits. He had every intention of mimicking Yukio's exploitative delegation tactics to lighten his own workload.

"Hmm," Yukio mused, glancing up at the wall clock. Noticing it was getting late, he made a quick decision. "We'll split them into two batches. One batch today, the other tomorrow."

The next steps were straightforward. As they handled student council tasks, they began contacting applicants for interviews. Thankfully, every applicant had left their in-school contact details, making the process much smoother.

The first to arrive was a second-year student. While the young man appeared eager and enthusiastic, enthusiasm alone wasn't enough. Ryuen cut straight to the chase, asking how he would resolve a conflict between two athletic clubs. The student froze, unable to respond, and left dejected after hearing Ryuen's curt dismissal: "Wait for our notification."

Following that was the little angel of Class 1-D, Kushida Kikyo.

Kushida, ever mindful of appearances, knocked politely before entering upon hearing Ichinose's "Come in." She stepped inside with an air of shyness that quickly shifted into a cheerful, sweet smile. Her greeting was lively, complete with a bubbly self-introduction.

Inwardly, Kushida was brimming with excitement. Finally! Finally, my chance had arrived!

Four months ago, during the late summer pool trip, Yukio had mentioned plans to oust Nagumo and appoint Ichinose and Ryuen as vice presidents. Since that moment, Kushida had been eyeing a spot in the student council.

On one hand, she prided herself on her social skills—flawless in her eyes—and saw the student council as a perfect platform to connect with upperclassmen she wouldn't normally meet. On the other hand, joining the council would satisfy her need for superiority.

This was who Kushida was: someone who, from childhood, sought validation through excellence. Academics, sports, looks—if she couldn't surpass others in these areas, she felt inadequate. Yet, in terms of interpersonal connections and earning trust, she excelled, reclaiming her sense of superiority.

The student council at AN High School, teeming with elite students, was the pinnacle of excellence. By joining, wouldn't her "friends" shower her with praise? It would be a resounding validation of her superiority!

She had waited four long months for this moment. Now that Yukio had assumed full control of the student council, holding immense power, how could she not seize the opportunity to join? Surely, it would be a piece of cake!

Her eyes sparkled as she cast a flirtatious glance at Yukio, her gaze a mix of innocence and allure. Her shimmering eyes seemed to emit a subtle current of ambiguity, leaving even Yukio feeling a slight jolt in his chest. What a little enchantress Kushida was.

In front of the entire student council, Kushida dared to put on such an obvious act.

"Ahem." Yukio waved his hand to interrupt Kushida's series of self-introductions. "Kushida, everyone here already knows how capable you are. Let's skip the unnecessary fluff."

"I just have one question for you: If two athletic clubs were to have a dispute over the use of a venue, how would you resolve it?" To avoid drawing attention to any personal connection between him and Kushida, Yukio directly borrowed Ryuen's earlier question.

Hearing the question, Kushida couldn't help but feel pleased. Hehe, as expected of her man, she thought. This subtle favoritism is just perfect!

If she had been asked about accounting or finances, she might've struggled to respond. But a question about interpersonal conflict? That was practically gift-wrapped for her! This was her forte.

Her gaze toward Yukio turned even softer, almost sparkling with gratitude. Her eyes seemed like a calm autumn lake, carrying a hint of seductive allure.

"Which two athletic clubs are we talking about?" she asked coyly. "I'm friends with all the club presidents and managers. If I take the time to talk things through with them, I'm sure they'll work it out without any conflicts."

Ichinose, unaware of Kushida's hidden intentions, gently clapped her hands in approval. "As expected of Kushida-chan! What a perfect answer~"

Yukio glanced at Ryuen and Kiriyama. Neither raised any objections, silently agreeing to Kushida's inclusion. They couldn't argue—being acquainted with all the athletic club leaders was an invaluable skill.

After all, what the student council needed most was someone with exceptional social prowess like Kushida.