Another Like Me - Part I (CoTE x OC) ✔

Chapter 30 - Strength Test

"That was his initial plan, Yukimura-kun," I replied in Hirata's stead. "He wasn't planning to expose himself to the class, but Ryuuen-kun discovered his identity. To avoid unnecessary confusion in the future, he decided to come out clean."

"But Horikita-san, isn't it clear that you're a much more capable leader than Takeyama-kun?" Shinohara-san did not stop questioning. "You're the one who won us the Island Exam after all. He did not do anything."

"Which part of hidden leader do you not understand, Shinohara-san?" I replied curtly. "Everything was Takeyama-kun's doing. Me and Takeyama had an agreement where I would act as the de facto leader of the class, so that he could continue to work behind the scenes. All the results on the Island were Takeyama-kun's handiwork. I did not do anything."

"It's still hard to believe, you know?" Shinohara said. "I mean, I still think Hirata is a better suited leader than Takeyama."

"I don't think so."

All heads turned to the source of the voice, Chiaki Matsushita. If I remember correctly, she's someone who already knows about Takeyama-kun's involvement in class affairs.

"Chiaki-chan....."

"Hirata and Horikita-san are all telling the truth," Matsushita-san continued indifferently. "Keisuke's already told me everything, and I trust him. He's a very capable leader, Satsuki-chan. I don't think it is wise for us to be underestimating him to this degree. It irks me a bit, to be honest."

The class fell into an uncomfortable silence once again, and the only sounds were Chabashira-sensei's pointed heels tapping into the ground. With that, sensei stood up from her seat, and left homeroom, without uttering a single word.

"Where is he, even?" 

***

(ANHS, Takeyama, Keisuke POV):

"Fancy running into you, Takeyama."

"Good afternoon, Student Council President. I'm honored that you remember me," I gave a slight bow.

"I prefer Horikita-senpai," he said with a stoic expression. "I've received some interesting information from Nagumo about you. I might have thought he was joking, but it seems by running into you here, I can confirm my suspicions."

"Is this about joining the Student Council, Horikita-senpai?"

"Precisely. It seems you have caught Nagumo's eye, and catching Nagumo's eye has always been a bad omen in ANHS."

I slightly snickered at the derogatory remark. "It seems you don't hold the Vice President in favorable light, senpai."

"It indeed is hard to acknowledge his methods. He's never personally invited anyone into the Student Council before. He's always roped in the candidates that I've rejected during interviews. So having a Secretary join the SC without an interview feels out of place, even for someone as eccentric as Nagumo. I hope you will forgive me, but I cannot allow anyone to join the SC without an interview beforehand."

"Does that really count though, senpai?"

"Hmm?"

"From what I just heard, Nagumo-senpai ropes in students who failed the interview, which was obviously taken by you. So if those students managed to join the Council, doesn't that mean you don't actually have the power to stop the Vice President from hiring new potential members?"

"I did not say that. I'm going to take an interview for you, regardless of whether you join the SC through Nagumo's recommendation, or via the normal interview procedure. Whether you get accepted or not is not a unanimous decision made by the Council. I cannot divulge anymore information than I already have."