"Yukinoshita-senpai?"
Hikigaya stared at Haruno in surprise, though on second thought, it wasn't so shocking.
Given the nature of this school, Haruno's presence was hardly surprising. She was a prodigy in academics, sports, and leadership. Her unpredictable and ruthless demeanor made her a formidable force, capable of manipulating the entire school.
"Hello, Horikita-kun. It's been over a year since we last met. I see you're still as expressionless as ever," Haruno greeted with a smile, taking a jab at the current student council president.
Rather than getting angry, Horikita Manabu appeared mildly exasperated, a hint of nervousness breaking through his usual stoicism.
It seemed Horikita had endured a lot at Haruno's hands when he was a first-year student. Hikigaya silently commiserated with Horikita for a moment, then felt a glimmer of schadenfreude.
Marvelous!
At least I'm not the only one suffering!
Horikita Manabu and his fellow third-years seemed to have drawn the short straw. Meeting Haruno at the start of their school career was like a rookie adventurer stumbling upon a dragon. And just as they were nearing graduation, the dragon returned...
Wait a minute.
Hikigaya remembered something odd. He and Haruno first met during junior high. By the timeline, she should have been a high school student then.
However, according to the school rules, students weren't allowed to go out freely until their graduation. Although Hikigaya didn't see Haruno daily, her frequent appearances contradicted school regulations, which was puzzling.
"Yukinoshita-sensei, what brings you here today?" Horikita Manabu asked calmly.
"Nothing of great importance," Haruno replied, though her demeanor suggested otherwise.
Usually, statements like that preceded some outrageous request.
Haruno stood and placed her hands on Hikigaya's shoulders—a move that seemed friendly but was clearly a tactic to prevent him from escaping.
"Horikita-kun, I want Hikigaya-kun to join the student council."
Haruno's request was as blunt as ever.
Fortunately, Hikigaya wasn't left to fend for himself.
"Anyone wishing to join the student council must apply and undergo an interview. No exceptions," Horikita Manabu said firmly.
Well said, President Horikita!
Keep resisting this Demon Queen!
Hikigaya silently cheered for Horikita and promptly forgot his earlier gloating.
When he was in junior high, he was subjected to constant orders from a little devil of a student council president. His memories of the student council were far from pleasant.
"Horikita-kun, you're being too rigid," Haruno chided hands on hips. "Have you forgotten who appointed you as secretary despite the odds when you were a freshman? Hikigaya-kun is even more capable than you in some areas!"
Hikigaya hurried to clarify, "No, I'm just a gloomy guy with no friends from Class D."
Since Haruno had been the student council president back then, the council had been her domain. There was no other possibility.
Haruno chuckled. "What do you think, Horikita-kun? Am I right? He's quite an interesting kid."
Horikita adjusted his glasses. "I see why you're interested in him. But I need to assess his abilities further."
No way! Why are you making me sound impressive?
Hikigaya was about to protest when he realized he might have inadvertently boosted his own reputation. Most freshmen assumed all classes were on equal footing, but Horikita Manabu was sharp and would notice any inconsistencies.
"It's confirmed, but Hikigaya-kun often makes self-deprecating remarks and regards his classmates with the same disdain as Squidward views SpongeBob. He can be quite troublesome, so be cautious not to be deceived by him," Haruno warned 'kindly'.
"Please stop making things up. When have I ever done that?"
Of course, Hikigaya wasn't going to admit it, but he couldn't deny he found his classmates irritating.
"And when did I ever express a desire to join the student council?" Hikigaya protested. "Please don't decide for me. I detest working!"
"Hikigaya-kun, I'm doing this for your own good," Haruno insisted.
"Unnecessary."
"There are many benefits to joining the student council."
"No."
"You get to go outside the school."
"No… wait, what?"
Hikigaya was taken aback. He hadn't expected that student council members had such privileges. No wonder Haruno could frequently visit her sister. But something didn't seem right. The school wouldn't allow such blatant rule-breaking.
"Could it be... during the club competitions?" Hikigaya guessed.
"That's right!" Haruno snapped her fingers in satisfaction. "As expected of Hikigaya-kun, you're quick to catch on."
Despite the prohibition, as a school, it wasn't entirely cut off from the outside world. Clubs like basketball and football needed to attend external meetings. During these times, alongside teachers and security, student council members helped with management.
Yet, Hikigaya still had doubts.
"It still doesn't mean I should be free to roam outside the school, right? And meeting family members is out of the question."
Hikigaya's suspicion was accurate. Whenever students attended conferences, security personnel kept a close watch, forbidding any communication with outsiders or trips home.
"Think carefully. Didn't your homeroom teacher mention something unusual during yesterday's class meeting?" Haruno hinted.
Hikigaya recalled that Chabashira-sensei's words had been rather peculiar.
If he had to relate it to the current topic...
"'As long as you're in this school, there's nothing that can't be bought with points,' right? I didn't realize that included the right to go out."
Haruno's laughter was both confirming and enigmatic.
So, the question now is: How many points does it take to get rid off Yukinoshita Haruno?
Though he wanted to ask, Hikigaya decided against it, considering his precarious position.
"By the way, Hikigaya-kun," Haruno said seriously, "Don't believe you can buy anything with points. Things like relationships or unethical matters are strictly off-limits!"
"Who would do that? Or who do you think I am?!"
Hikigaya was appalled. Using points to secure a relationship would be absurd—such an arrangement would end badly as soon as graduation arrived!
Just then, the office door opened, and Tachibana Akane, the student council secretary who had hosted the briefing, entered.
"President, I'm back! Oh, is there a visitor? Yukinoshita-senpai?! What are you doing here?!"
"Hi, Akane-chan, long time no see. You look as lively as ever," Haruno greeted cheerfully.
"Indeed! Thanks to you!" Tachibana responded, standing straight and appearing flustered.
Given her reaction, it seemed this cheerful, almost pet-like senior was yet another victim of the Demon Queen.
Why not just rename the student council to the Demon Queen Victim's Alliance?