You Will Regret This Ichinose! [10]

"This ramen is amazing! The texture of the noodles is just right, and the broth is rich and flavorful. Shibata, I have to give it to you—how did you even find such a hidden gem of a ramen shop?"

Uesugi Gen took another sip of the steaming broth, unabashedly showering the shop with praise.

"Right? I knew it was a good choice!" Shibata grinned with pride. "A senior from the soccer club introduced me to this place. It's seriously one of the best spots I've tried."

"You've already joined a club?" Kanzaki Ryuji asked, a little surprised. "Isn't it too early? I thought club recruitment hadn't even started yet."

"Well, I love soccer. I couldn't wait to find the soccer club as soon as I got here. Luckily, the upperclassmen were super nice and let me join early," Shibata replied proudly.

[Attention all students: A club orientation will be held today at 5:00 PM in the First Gymnasium. If you're interested in joining any clubs, please make your way to the First Gymnasium. Repeating: The orientation will begin at 5:00 PM…]

The announcement played over the speakers, delivered in a cheerful, feminine voice that caught Shibata's attention.

Excitedly, he turned to the others. "It's finally happening! Uesugi, Kanzaki, are you planning to join any clubs?"

Kanzaki: "I haven't decided yet. I'll check out the orientation first, and if something catches my interest, I might join. What about you, Uesugi?"

Uesugi: "Me? I already joined a club, though you'll find out what it is later. Not exactly my first choice, but it is what it is."

"Oh, really?" Kanzaki remarked, nodding thoughtfully. "Well, in that case, Shibata, I guess it's just the two of us heading to the gym. Uesugi doesn't seem like the type who enjoys crowded events anyway."

By now, Kanzaki had gotten a decent read on Uesugi's personality—lazy and unmotivated, definitely not one for social gatherings.

However, Uesugi suddenly set his bowl down, having finished the last drop of broth, and said, "Actually, I'm coming with you. I'm curious about the current student council president."

"The student council president?" Shibata tilted his head, intrigued. "I heard from some seniors that he's an incredible person. They say he's the most exceptional student in the school's history… Don't tell me your club is—"

"That's right," Uesugi interrupted with a slight smirk. "The Advanced Nurturing High School Student Council."

---

The Gymnasium buzzed with energy as Uesugi, Shibata, and Kanzaki arrived for the orientation.

"I didn't expect this many people. Kind of regretting this already," Uesugi muttered, scanning the crowd of over 100 students.

Should he chalk it up to the school's strong club culture, or was club participation another criterion the school had factored in when selecting its students?

"Well, we're already here. No point in turning back now," Kanzaki said with a resigned shrug.

"The clubs here seem to be on a whole different level," Shibata chimed in, flipping through the pamphlet handed out at the entrance. "A lot of them compete in national tournaments, and some even have members who are considered elite-level athletes. It's crazy!"

Uesugi's thoughts aligned with Shibata's observations. For a school to produce such consistently high-caliber talent, it wasn't just about facilities or funding—it had to start with selecting students who were already exceptional. Shibata himself was likely an example of that.

"And look at this!" Shibata added, pointing at a page in the pamphlet. "They've got luxury equipment like hyperbaric oxygen chambers! Seriously, this school is insane!"

"They're starting," Kanzaki interrupted as the gym quieted down and representatives from various clubs began stepping onto the stage.

One by one, club representatives took turns explaining their clubs' activities, achievements, and goals. While the presentations were informative, they followed a predictable pattern, and Uesugi found his patience wearing thin.

Finally, just as he was about to grow too bored to care, the student council president took the stage.

The figure who appeared was tall, standing at approximately 170 centimeters. His neat, jet-black hair framed a composed face, accentuated by sharp eyes that even his glasses couldn't dull. His posture was immaculate, exuding a sense of authority.

Without saying a word, he walked up to the microphone and surveyed the first-year students before him.

The crowd, initially loud and rowdy, continued their chatter as though trying to provoke a reaction from him.

"Good luck up there!"

"Where's the enthusiasm?"

"Are you going to give us a slideshow or what?"

Laughter rippled through the crowd, but the president didn't react. He simply stood there, silent, his sharp gaze sweeping over them.

Gradually, the room's atmosphere shifted.

The once lively gymnasium fell into an eerie hush, as if an invisible hand had gripped the throats of everyone present.

In the stifling silence, the students stopped their jeering and waited.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the president spoke.

"I am Horikita Manabu, the student council president."

His voice was steady, his words measured and deliberate.

"This year, the student council will begin recruiting new members from the first-year class to replace graduating upperclassmen. No special qualifications are required to apply. However, candidates must refrain from joining other clubs. Students who are simultaneously involved in both the student council and another club will not be considered."

With that, Horikita concluded his speech and stepped down from the stage.

Though his tone had been calm, his presence alone had left the room tense, the weight of his authority pressing down on everyone.

"Man, he's so serious," Uesugi muttered, scratching his head. "I can already tell we're not going to get along."

Just from that brief encounter, Uesugi could imagine what kind of person Horikita was: methodical, inflexible, and unyielding in his ways.

"Well, you'll just have to get used to him," Kanzaki said, smirking slightly. "Learning to deal with different personalities is part of life, isn't it?"

"Sure, but tolerating him is going to be a whole different challenge," Uesugi replied dryly. Based on Horikita's demeanor, it was clear Uesugi's dream of slacking off in the student council would remain just that—a dream.

That said…

"You guys head back without me," Uesugi told Shibata and Kanzaki, standing up. "I want to introduce myself to the student council president."

Shibata gave him a puzzled look but shrugged. "Alright, we'll see you later then."

As they left, Uesugi turned toward the direction Horikita had gone.

"Well then," he muttered to himself, "time to meet the infamous Horikita Manabu."