What do we have here

Nagumo's POV

Bzzzt. Bzzzt.

A sharp vibration in my pocket.

I exhaled, fingers briefly pausing over the documents spread across my desk. The student council office was quiet—almost eerily so. Outside the window, the school grounds were bathed in the dull glow of late afternoon.

I pulled out my phone, glancing at the caller ID. A smirk tugged at my lips. Him.

This should be interesting.

I let the silence stretch a little longer than necessary before answering.

"Well?" My voice was calm, unbothered. "Are you going to say something, or did you call just to waste my time?"

The other end stayed quiet for a second—calculating. Then:

"Thank you. Some of the documents you provided were vague. They only contained the school's valuation of the students."

Ah. So he noticed.

Leaning back in my chair, I sighed. "Interesting. You memorized all that in a day, huh? Confident you'll recall them when it matters? No need for a picture?"

"I already took one. But I've mapped out the key figures I was looking for."

A chuckle escaped me. Sharp as always. "Oho, you're welcome then."

"I'll be returning them by the end of the next exam."

His voice dropped just slightly—almost imperceptibly. But I caught it. There was something underneath, something shifting, like a flood preparing to break through a dam.

"I look forward to working with you, Nagumo." A pause. "That is, once you take power."

A slow, satisfied grin spread across my face. "Of course. But I can't help but be suspicious of what you intend to do with that information. It's been almost two months now—why wait until now?"

"Well..." His voice carried the slightest edge of amusement. "I get nervous about socializing with that class. Consider this a first impression."

A lie. Not even a good one.

But I didn't press further. It wasn't my place to control his actions—only to make sure that, in the end, they benefited me.

"I know you're holding something back," I said lightly. "But do what you must."

The line went dead.

I set the phone down, resting my chin on my hand. A first-year student requesting Class A's data… it was reckless. Outside my realm of concern. But in exchange, he had promised me something valuable.

His allegiance.

And if he could stand up to Horikita Manabu in a battle of ideology? That was no small feat.

A diamond in the rough, perhaps.

---

Horikita Manabu's POV

Nagumo had stepped out of the office to take a call.

Tachibana, as always, was at my side, methodically sorting through the remaining files. Her focus was unwavering. Even during vacation, there were loose ends to tie.

And yet, I found myself staring blankly at the papers in front of me.

What am I even doing?

My tenure as student council president was nearing its end. Nagumo's succession was inevitable. I had delayed new student council intakes, but it was only a temporary measure. Eventually, he would take control.

And when he did, things would change.

Katsuragi Kouhei and Ichinose Honami—two bright students with the potential to contribute greatly—were my most recent considerations. But Nagumo would exploit their strengths to further his own agenda.

A meritocratic system.

I didn't approve. But my hands were tied.

For now, all I could do was look for individuals who could shape the future of this school for the better. Yet, among the first years… none stood out.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

His abilities were unknown. He had scored straight fifties on his entrance exam and midterms—a deliberate act, most likely. But if that was the case, what was he hiding? If he was in Class D, it suggested a defect. A flaw. Yet something about him remained… off.

Nagumo would exploit the promising ones. That much was certain.

A subtle shift on my nose. My glasses had slipped. I adjusted them absently, only to catch Tachibana watching me with a hint of concern.

"You're lost in thought again, Horikita-senpai."

Indeed. That, I could not deny.

"It's nothing," I said. "Just trivial matters. You seem to be finishing up."

I attempted a small smile—an effort to ease her concern. But then:

"Is it about the student who came for a spot in the student council?"

A pause.

Him.

He was interesting, to say the least. But in terms of bettering this institution… he was already too far gone. His mindset mirrored Nagumo's far too closely.

I exhaled. "That's quite a bold assumption, but no. He's reckless."

A lie? Perhaps.

Tachibana seemed unconvinced, but she didn't press the issue. Instead, she resumed her work, lifting the remaining files from my desk. I watched her for a moment, appreciating her diligence.

There was nothing I admired more than hard work. And Tachibana fit that criterion perfectly.

Yet, lingering thoughts remained.

---

Sienna's POV

Something wasn't right.

It wasn't anything tangible—no blatant signs, no direct threats. Just a feeling. A presence at the edge of my awareness, too faint to confirm but too persistent to ignore.

I adjusted my bag strap and kept my movements casual, but my thoughts sharpened.

Sakayanagi suspects something.

That was the only logical conclusion. She had her doubts about my involvement in the upcoming exam. If she was watching me, even indirectly, my actions had to be careful. Subtle.

No matter.

Even with her eyes on me, there were ways to operate.

I stepped into my dorm, locking the door behind me before opening my laptop. The screen illuminated the darkened room, its glow reflecting in my eyes.

The school's forum was its usual mess—speculations, rumors, petty drama. But buried within all that noise, real information could be planted without drawing attention.

I exhaled slowly, fingers hovering over the keyboard.

This had to be done carefully. If I was too direct, it would be obvious. Too vague, and it wouldn't spread.

I typed. Deleted. Reworded.

The trick was making it feel organic. A passing theory, an educated guess—something plausible enough to be believed, but ambiguous enough to avoid suspicion.

Finally, satisfied, I hit post.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the comments began.

"Another fake leak. People always think they've figured out the exams."

"Wait… this kind of makes sense."

"Class B mentioned something similar. Could this be real?"

It was out now. A thread of uncertainty woven into the first years. Those who were smart would put the pieces together. Those who weren't would dismiss it. Either way, the damage was done.

The school wouldn't cancel the exam over mere speculation. They couldn't. Too many resources had already been invested. At best, they'd try to control the narrative. At worst, their reaction alone would confirm more than my words ever could.

I shut the laptop, heartbeat steady.

Now, I wait.

Let's see how Sakayanagi reacts to this.