COTE : There is Something Wrong With Hikigaya

When the office door opened again, twenty minutes had passed. 

"Huh? Kanzaki-kun, you're still here?" 

Ichinose walked out, looking as bright and cheerful as before, as if the interview hadn't affected her at all. There was never a trace of sadness or negativity on her face, as if no hardship could bring her down. 

Meanwhile, Hikigaya had spent nearly twenty minutes under the silent gaze of a certain guy outside, feeling incredibly awkward. Now, he saw his chance and quickly got up to go in. 

"I'm Hikigaya Hachiman from Class 1-D. I'm honored to take part in this student council interview… I will wholeheartedly serve the students of our school, fostering unity and friendship, making sure everyone works together toward a common goal. With faith in our hearts and strength in our steps, we will stay true to our mission, uphold humility and perseverance, and face every challenge with courage and skill. I will strive to be a role model for the new generation—one with ideals, morals, knowledge, and discipline!" 

It was a speech nearly five minutes long, a masterpiece of confidence. But why was everyone so quiet? And why was Haruno, sitting at the far end of the interview table, turning away to hold back laughter? She'd better apologize! 

Inside the student council office, Student Council President Horikita Manabu and Secretary Tachibana Akane were clearly the interviewers. But what was Haruno doing here? She didn't seem to have much authority, more like an assistant. 

Normally, the secretary should have started asking questions first, followed by the president making the final decision. But unexpectedly, Horikita Manabu interrupted Tachibana Akane just as she was about to speak. 

"Class 1-D, Hikigaya Hachiman. Someone strongly recommended you, claiming you're an exceptional talent. They even said you're the most capable of all the new students this year. Apparently, you've boldly declared your goal of reaching the top of ANHS, ruling over all students, and becoming the emperor of this school." 

At this point, Tachibana Akane was completely frozen in place. Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses and continued, 

"Of all the students I've met, you may not be the strongest, but you are certainly the most arrogant." 

Huh?! When did I ever say that?! 

Hikigaya's jaw dropped as he turned in shock to look at a certain girl, only to see her grinning mischievously, revealing her sharp little canine teeth. She had the look of someone saying, *Oh, don't mind me!* 

"Wait a minute! There must be some misunderstanding!" The so-called "Arrogant Hachiman" quickly tried to explain. 

"A misunderstanding?" 

Horikita Manabu's expression remained calm. 

"If you were just an ordinary student, I wouldn't care. But if you're someone who might join the student council, rumors and accusations aren't things you can brush off as simple misunderstandings." 

Hikigaya stiffened. He immediately realized his mistake—he had fallen into a trap. The student council president wasn't interested in whether the rumors were true or not. What mattered to him was how Hikigaya would handle them. 

At the same time, Hikigaya felt an overwhelming pressure from this student council president. Even in just a brief conversation, he could sense the man's strong, distinctive presence. 

He got straight to the point. 

This guy wasn't looking for someone who just pointed out problems—he needed someone who could solve them. 

A true professional. 

That was the first impression that popped into Hikigaya's head. 

Horikita Manabu, the student council president. A man who could easily see through to the core of an issue and address it directly. He didn't care about the existence of a "misunderstanding"—he cared about how Hikigaya would deal with it. 

No wonder he was the president. He was on a completely different level.

Even though he was still a student, his mindset had already matured. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Horikita Manabu was a fully qualified adult—maybe even an outstanding one. 

"It's normal for people to have different ideas, but not everyone has the ability to make their ideas a reality. The school grants the student council the authority and responsibility to change the rules. If you can't understand the meaning behind this, then today's interview is probably just a misunderstanding." 

Horikita Manabu looked at Hikigaya coldly. 

Hearing this again, Hikigaya felt like he understood it on a deeper level. 

The school's goal was to nurture the best students. Naturally, the student council—given authority by the school—existed to uphold this goal, managing relationships between students and between students and the school. As the bridge between both sides, the student council's importance was obvious. 

There was another key point. After observing and thinking for a while, Hikigaya noticed that the school's teaching philosophy encouraged competition among students while minimizing external interference. 

The teachers' "hands-off" approach and the strict rules preventing contact with the outside world were all part of this system. 

Because of this, the student council—being a student organization—was entrusted with significant power. Since the school itself did not interfere with student competition, the student council's influence and authority naturally played a huge role in shaping that competition. 

"Without a doubt, aside from managing daily affairs and acting as a bridge between students and the school…" 

Hikigaya paused for a moment, meeting Horikita Manabu's gaze before continuing. 

"…its more important role is helping the school produce the best students." 

"A 100% employment and university acceptance rate, along with the generous use of private points—such privileges would only be given to the very best students at any other school. Unfortunately, in my D-Class, I haven't seen anyone with that level of talent." 

At this, Hikigaya couldn't help but chuckle. 

So far, the biggest impression this school had given him was its brutal, survival-of-the-fittest competition—the same rule that governed society, where the strong thrived and the weak were eliminated. 

Even though the full rules of the school hadn't been revealed yet, students like Hikigaya had already sensed the fierce battles ahead. While D-Class was still dreaming, the other classes had already started taking action. Class A was the best example of that. 

To achieve the highest privileges—the 100% success rate—only those who survived the final, intense competition would make it. That was the ultimate goal of this school's system. 

"Meritocracy. The strongest individuals are the best students. Only they are qualified to enjoy these privileges." Hikigaya said expressionlessly. 

The room fell into silence. 

Tachibana Akane looked surprised. Haruno seemed impressed. But Horikita Manabu's face remained as cold as ever. 

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