Chapter 264: What Is the Shuchiin Student Council President Like?

"Kaede-senpai!!"

Rinji grabbed Manyuda's hair and flung him into the wall. He collapsed unconscious, shards of porcelain and tea stuck to his bleeding face.

The stylishly dressed girl nearby rushed over to check on him.

"You bastard… how dare you—"

"Hm?"

She glared at Rinji but froze the moment she saw the blood-red, killing intent in his eyes.

"I've heard that at Hyakkaou Academy, student hierarchy is determined by gambling. I'm good at gambling too—but why the hell would I follow your rules?"

Rinji turned his gaze on the rest of the student council members, whose expressions had turned grave.

"I'm only here for a month. I don't expect us to get along. But I sincerely hope you survive it."

Kirari placed her teacup down and addressed the girl behind Rinji.

"Sachiko, Sumeragi, take Manyuda to the infirmary."

"Yes."

The girl named Sachiko and the one who had supported Manyuda earlier picked him up and left the office.

Kirari now stood and walked up to Rinji.

"Takamine-san, my invitation for you to come here held no ill intent."

"I don't care what intent you think you had," Rinji grinned. "I decide what's malicious—not you."

"I see. Actually, my main purpose was to invite you to join the Hyakkaou Student Council."

Her words shocked the rest of the council members. In this academy, becoming a student council member meant joining the ruling class—outsiders had never been invited, especially not ones who just hospitalized a member.

"Join the student council, huh?"

Rinji chuckled without agreeing or refusing.

"And what does that entail?"

"Nothing in particular. Just do whatever you want," Kirari smiled. "That's what this student council is."

"Well, that does sound fun…"

Rinji smiled again—then his expression turned vicious.

"You know, Kirari, just by asking me to join, you gave me a reason to kill you."

"May I ask why?"

"Because you think you can make me—Takamine Rinji—serve under you. You've got even more guts than that trash I just beat."

"You're hard to deal with. I only invited you to let you experience the joy of ruling over others."

Even now, Kirari remained composed.

"Is that so? Then how about you give up your position to me?"

"If Takamine-san wants it, I'd be happy to hand it over."

Everyone else was stunned by their back-and-forth. Their minds began to race, wondering just who this guy really was.

"I was just messing with you. I've got no interest in your little throne."

Rinji turned to leave.

"Your student council is boring. I don't even want to stay. I'll just roam the school for the month—don't go dying in front of me."

At the door, he stopped and grinned eerily at Kirari.

"But if you do want to try anything shady, go ahead. I'd love a war with the [Momobami Clan]."

Click.

The door closed. Everyone was silent except Kirari and the masked girl beside her.

"President…"

The kimono-wearing, perpetually squinting girl spoke nervously.

"Who is that guy…?"

"His name is Takamine Rinji. Student of Shuchiin Academy. Treasurer of their student council."

"Eh? He mentioned that earlier too," said the loli girl with a lollipop.

"But he went so far in the student council office… is that really okay?"

"It's not," Kirari said. "But there's nothing I can do. Or rather, he's waiting for me to make a move—so he can drag me into hell."

Everyone drew a sharp breath.

If Kirari couldn't touch him, his background had to be unfathomable.

"I'm actually curious now," the idol-looking girl said. "To handle someone like that, the Shuchiin student council president must be terrifying."

"Oh, I've got info on him," said the loli girl, crushing her candy between her teeth.

"His name is Miyuki Shirogane. Seems like an ordinary top student—but two months ago, he briefly served as acting president of Japan's national bank. That was the first time he showed his fangs. Caused quite a stir."

"Wow… no wonder he's not ordinary."

They began imagining Shirogane as a king-like figure, surrounded by men in black suits, sitting atop mountains of cash.

"What do we do about Takamine Rinji then?"

"Let him be," Kirari smiled. "This school's been far too dull. A wild card like him will make it more interesting. Besides… I can't stop him even if I wanted to."

Her invitation had always been a gamble. And now the school had entered unpredictable territory.

---

"Achoo!"

"President, are you catching a cold?"

In the Shuchiin student council office, Kaguya Shinomiya looked at Shirogane with concern after he sneezed.

"No, it's nothing."

He rubbed his nose, looking distracted.

"I'm just really worried about Rinji…"