Suddenly Horikita went silent her face became tense. As she looked towards the stage. Even Ayanokoji, who looked like he was about to ask Hikigaya something, hesitated before speaking to her in hushed tone.
"Horikita? What's wrong?"
She didn't respond. It was as if she hadn't even heard him. Her eyes were fixed on the stage with an intense, unwavering focus.
Following her line of sight, both Hikigaya and Ayanokoji turned to see what had caught her attention. Representatives from various clubs were finishing their introductions and exiting the stage one by one.
Eventually, everyone walked off until only one person remained.
Everyone focused their attention upon him, and he realized that Horikita had been staring at that specific person this whole time.
Suddenly, a faint look of recognition flickered across Hikigaya's face.
'It's the Noble Stranger from yesterday. Wait… does Horikita know this guy?'
The Noble Stranger stood tall and composed, his piercing, calculating gaze moving across the crowd. He stood before the microphone in complete silence, calmly surveying the first-year students without uttering a single word.
"Do your best!"
"Did you forget to bring your notecards?"
"Hey, what's with this guy?"
"Ha ha… Come on, senior don't be too nervous."
Laughter spread among the first-year students, yet the boy on the stage still did not move. He simply stood there, quiet and motionless, staring fixedly at the crowd.
Horikita stared back at the student with an intense gaze, not breaking her line of sight even for a second.
Hikigaya glanced at Horikita and thought, 'Is she... into that guy or something?'
The first-year students soon noticed the serious expressions on the second and third-year students, all of whom remained silent.
The relaxed atmosphere gradually shifted, giving way to an unexpected tension. A heavy, uneasy silence settled over the room, and not a single person dared to speak.
Then, the Noble stranger started his speech, slowly scanning the crowd.
"I'm the student council president. My name is Horikita Manabu," he said.
Silence.
Hikigaya blinked.
He looked between the boy on stage and the girl standing right beside him.
'Wait a second. The Noble Stranger is the Student Council President? And he has the same last name as Horikita? We even crossed paths yesterday by sheer coincidence… What's going on? Why are all these strange coincidences piling up around me?'
"The student council is looking to recruit potential candidates among the first-year students to replace the graduating third years. Although no special qualifications are required for candidacy, we humbly ask that those considering application not be involved in other club activities. We generally do not accept students involved elsewhere."
The president spoke in a soft tone, yet the tension in the spacious gymnasium was so thick you could almost cut it with a knife. Somehow, he had managed to silence over a hundred of new students.
'He has such an unnaturally commanding presence. It's honestly kind of amazing to see it in action.'
"Furthermore, we in the student council do not wish to appoint anyone who possesses a naive outlook. Not only would such a person not be elected, he or she would sully the sanctity of this school. It is the student council's right and duty to enforce and amend the rules, but the school expects more than that. We gladly welcome those of you who understand this."
With those last words, President Horikita stepped down from the stage and left the gymnasium without looking back. None of the first-year students could utter a single word as everyone watched him leave.
Hikigaya wouldn't have given much thought to a speech like that under normal circumstances. But coming from someone like the student council president, someone who clearly carried authority and presence, it was hard to ignore.
He couldn't help but think a little deeper about those words.
'What exactly did he mean by "naive outlook"? Are they just talking about inexperience, or is it a warning against different opinions? Saying naive people would "damage the school's reputation" sounded more like a threat. Is the student council is about control rather than fairness?'
Claiming it was their "right and duty" to change the rules meant they weren't just managing students. It felt like they were doing much more than what a normal student council was supposed to do.
The club fair concluded with an announcement that sign-ups were now open, and students could register anytime until the end of April by submitting forms directly to their chosen clubs. The relaxed tone of the organizer helped ease the earlier tension, and third-year students began accepting applications
But Horikita stood completely still, like a statue, showing no intention of moving.
This time, Hikigaya spoke up with a hint of concern.
"Oyy, Horikita… what's going on?"
She didn't respond. It was as if she hadn't even heard him.
That silence, her frozen expression, and the intense focus she'd shown earlier it all but confirmed Hikigaya's suspicion: they were definitely related. Maybe siblings.
Because someone like her, who rarely showed much reaction to anyone around her, wouldn't stare like that unless it was personal.
He decided it would be better to leave the matter alone for now.
Just as Ayanokoji glanced at Hikigaya, about to speak again, a voice cut in from nearby, interrupting him again.
"Yo, Ayanokoji! You came, huh?" It was Sudou, accompanied by their classmates Ike and Yamauchi.
With Ayanokoji suddenly caught up in conversation, Hikigaya quietly made up his mind. He had something more important to do. Without drawing attention, he slipped away, vanishing from the group. Moments later, Horikita followed suit, leaving Ayanokoji without a word, abandoning the situation just as effortlessly.
Ayanokoji's gaze followed the path Hikigaya had taken, though the boy was already long gone.
He had finally been included in a group even if they were bit noisy, it was enough for now. The invitation had come unexpectedly, catching him off guard. Still, he couldn't deny the small sense of happiness he felt when they added him to the group chat. For the first time, it felt like he'd found a genuine opportunity to make friends
Even so, a part of him lingered on Hikigaya's quiet departure.
He had wanted to ask him if they could be friends. But deep down, he had a feeling it wouldn't have worked out just yet. Hikigaya was different. Guarded. The kind of person who wouldn't respond well to sudden gestures like that.
Still, it was fine. For now, as he finally got some normal friends.
"What's wrong?" Ike asked.
"Oh, nothing. You ready?" Ayanokoji replied.
He took out his phone and exchanged contact information with Ike and the others
'Maybe I should ask him some other time, when the moment is right.'
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After slipping away from the group, Hikigaya moved swiftly through the hallways of the school. The club fair had ended. He was headed for the student council office. Of course, it wasn't like he could just walk in and expect a chat with someone like the Student Council President.
He didn't seem like someone who would tolerate interruptions, and considering his rank, he was probably constantly busy.
Going through official channels, requesting an appointment that would be the normal way to do things. But Hikigaya had no patience for formality at least for now.
So instead, he decided to try something a little less formal.
He waited Patiently just outside the Council office.
The corridor outside the student council office was mostly deserted, save for the occasional student or staff member passing by.
Then, finally, he saw him.
President Horikita Manabu appeared from the far end of the corridor, accompanied by the same student who had introduced herself earlier at the club fair as a student council Secretary Tachibana.
Hikigaya stepped forward as he prepared himself mentally.
"Crap," he muttered, swallowing hard. "This feels way more intense up close."
Still, he stepped forward, awkwardly raising a hand like some half-formed salute. "Uhh… excuse me, President Horikita?"
Manabu stopped walking, almost like he had already noticed Hikigaya before he even spoke. His eyes narrowed a little, like he was quietly sizing him up.
Standing before them, Hikigaya couldn't help but feel a kind of quiet pressure coming off President Horikita. He had the aura of someone whose internal compass was aligned with something unshakable. There was an adult's stillness to him, and that made the contrast with his teenage body feel surreal.
This kind of dissonance created a gap. A kind of distortion field that made normal students step back without knowing why. He had met people like this before.
Back when he was still stuck in Juvenile. Not all criminals were broken adults. Some were his age, some even younger. But the weight they carried, the choices they had made, made them feel older. Like age had to play catch-up to their consequences.
This guy felt like that. Not in a bad way. But in a way that made him realize he probably would not say things lightly.
"You're the junior who was looking for Max Coffee at the vending machine yesterday," he said, his tone calm. "Were you able to find it?"
Hikigaya blinked. "Uh… yeah. I didn't think you'd remember that."
"I make it a point to remember everything I personally involve myself in," Manabu said, his tone calm and direct.
"Right... uh, thanks again. Really. That vending machine was a wasteland until you showed up."
He paused for a second, then introduced himself.
"I'm Hikigaya Hachiman. First-year, Class 1-D."
Manabu gave a slight nod, and Tachibana followed with a polite one of her own. Neither said anything, but they seemed to be waiting for what he'd say next.
For a moment, Hikigaya stood there awkwardly, the words sticking in his throat. But it was now or never.
"So…President Horikita," Hikigaya began, trying to steady his voice, "I know you're probably busy, but I wanted to ask something. Just one question. You're free to ignore it if you want."
Manabu raised an eyebrow. "I will listen."
Hikigaya nodded once. "This school talks about creating elites, students who can succeed in any field. But with all the freedom we're given so far, it's hard to tell what is actually expected from us. So… I was wondering, what kind of student does this school actually want us to become?"
Tachibana blinked in visible surprise, glancing at Manabu. The president's gaze sharpened, and for a moment, the hallway felt a few degrees colder.
"Why bring this question to me, Hikigaya?" Manabu asked after a brief pause. "Why not a teacher? They would understand the school's ideals better."
"I could have," Hikigaya replied. "But they're not students. They don't live under the same rules or face the same consequences as we do."
He glanced to the side for a moment, gathering his words.
"You're a senior and the Student Council president, someone acknowledged by both the students and the administration. That puts you in a unique position. You've seen both sides, so your perspective matters more I suppose."
"…Interesting," Manabu murmured, his voice low. "For a first-year, you certainly know how to make your words carry weight."
Hikigaya shifted slightly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I just happened to hear someone mention something like that in class. It stuck with me, I guess. Then I saw you and figured… why not ask? It's not like I put that much thought into it."
Manabu looked at him steadily, then nodded.
"Even so, the fact that you asked puts you ahead of many. Most don't even think to question it."
Hikigaya wasn't sure how to take that kind of praise. It felt a bit too... direct. Like being called out for accidentally doing something right.
Then President answered.
"The freedom you mentioned," he said, "is meant to test how each student chooses to shape their own path. There isn't one clear answer because there isn't just one goal. You're allowed to pursue whatever you believe in, as long as it doesn't break the rules set by the school.
He met Hikigaya's gaze before continuing.
"What kind of student this place wants you to become… That's not an easy answer. But maybe that's the point."
His expression eased, if only slightly.
"You'll understand more once you've been here long enough. But asking now isn't a bad start."
Hikigaya didn't respond right away. He wasn't sure what he had expected, maybe something more straightforward, or just the usual polished answer that sounded good but meant nothing.
'So basically, it's up to us to figure it out…'
He let out a quiet breath through his nose.
"Of course it is. Nothing's ever just handed to you here. It's, a simulation of real society after all."
Hikigaya looked down for a second, then raised his head again, hesitating.
"If it's not too much… Can I ask you one more thing?"
"Go ahead."
"Then what about you President?" Hikigaya asked, quieter this time. "What's the path you've chosen? If you don't mind me asking.
Manabu didn't answer immediately. Then he said, evenly:
"I walk the path of duty," he said. "Bound by interest."
Hikigaya frowned slightly. "Duty and… interest?"
Manabu nodded once. "The duty of a student to their school, and the school's duty to its students. Our interests, when aligned, create the framework I follow. I apply that concept to everything I do here."
'Duty and interest… aligned?' It was a surprisingly structured and logical way of thinking. Not the kind of idealism teachers preached, but something grounded. A way to keep things from falling apart in a school like this
Manabu asked calmly, "Is there anything else you want to ask?"
Hikigaya shook his head. "No… that's all. Sorry for taking up your time, President."
He kept his tone polite, partly because it felt right but also because pushing any further didn't seem wise. Better to leave things on a respectful note.
Manabu studied him for a moment before speaking again. "Just now, you looked a bit surprised, Hikigaya. Why?"
Hikigaya exhaled lightly. "I didn't expect someone like you, President, to take an interest in a question from an unremarkable first-year like me."
Manabu's response was simple. "As a senior, it's my duty. And you didn't ask anything that isn't already common knowledge to those who pay attention."
"…Right."
With that, Hikigaya nodded once more and turned to leave.
As the two older students walked away, Tachibana's voice finally broke the quiet.
"Wasn't that… unusual President? Someone from Class 1-D asking a question like that?"
"Indeed," Manabu said without turning
She tilted her head slightly. "Then… why give him such a detailed answer? Why go so far as to explain your core principles as well as giving minor hints to him?"
Manabu kept his eyes ahead, his voice quiet but clear.
"Because he didn't ask about system, points and or even about results. He asked what kind of person this place wants him to become. That kind of question isn't common."
A thought surfaced in his mind.
'His presence… was barely there. Like he'd trained himself to be overlooked. And his eyes, they were a bit… strange.'
He paused.
"Tachibana. I want you to gather all available information on him."
Tachibana blinked. "On Hikigaya?"
"Yes. I am bit curious to know what drives him, what he's really after."