My love index is at its maximum.

His cheeks puffed up like a pufferfish.

This adorable appearance is just as charming as the sullen minister.

And those glistening little lips—looking at them, Tazaki Tsukasa had such an insignificant thought in his mind: "This guy's lips are really pretty."

Chiba Miho looked at the two of them with a smile: "Kikawa-kun, how about we switch seats?"

"Chiba-senpai," Yui Kikawa glared coldly at the student council president who was oblivious to her own mortality, and ordered in a commanding tone, "It's getting late, please get back to the important matter now."

The voice was chillingly cold, so cold that it could make you feel the temperature gradually moving towards winter.

"Oh, haha." Chiba Miho seemed to have just come to her senses, clenching her fist and slamming it down on her palm. "Then, please work together to bring us a wonderful sports festival!"

Tazaki Tsukasa sipped his black tea and ate a crepe, quietly watching her performance.

As expected of the student council president of an elite high school, he could still communicate with a top-tier young lady like Yui Kisakawa without changing his expression, showing no sign of servility. He could even joke about her and himself in front of her. Such composure is not something that ordinary people can possess.

"I won't go into details about the sports festival preparations; that's your responsibility. Now, I want to talk about the second matter, and I hope you two can give me a reply after careful consideration."

Chiba Miho narrowed her eyes meaningfully and continued, "After the sports festival, the student council will hold a re-election. As you know, the third-year students will graduate next spring, so I need to make arrangements for the future before I leave here."

Tsukasa Tazaki asked, puzzled, "But according to custom, isn't it usually the second-year students who accept them?"

Japan has a strict hierarchical system, and this trend extends beyond the workplace to schools as well.

Although there is no explicit rule that first-year students cannot participate in the student council election, being a year ahead means that second-year students are more authoritative seniors. Even if a junior goes to run for election, they will be ostracized by the entire second-year student body. In the end, they will not only fail to achieve their goal, but will also be collectively targeted by their seniors for recklessly challenging the order.

Chiba Miho shook her head and sighed: "None of the second-year students are useful except for that guy."

"Who is that guy?" Tsukasa Tazaki asked.

"Fujiwara Izaya, a genius student similar to you, but that guy is much lazier than Tazaki-san. His personality is also very annoying, and he's far less easy to get along with than Tazaki-san."

"Oh, I'd like to get to know you sometime."

Kichikawa Yui, who had been listening silently, crossed her legs and tapped her finger on the table: "Please, you two, stop going off-topic."

Perhaps losing patience, the older brother's tone became slightly dissatisfied.

"Oh, sorry~" Chiba Miho smiled cutely, her gentle yet energetic eyes fixed on the two people opposite her: "Anyway, I hope you two will participate in the student council election this time. With the impression of the successful organization of the school festival and sports festival, I believe your popularity is enough to crush the other competitors."

Tsukasa Tazaki replied decisively, "No!"

"Wow, how heartless, waaaaah~" Chiba Miho half-jokingly faked a few sobs, looking at him with soft, weak eyes like a wounded little animal: "Tazaki-kun, won't you reconsider? Joining the student council has many benefits, such as getting extra points on college entrance exams, gaining exposure and building connections at important events, and using your authority to force cute junior girls to obey your every command..."

Hey Hey hey!

What the heck is the last one?

You're testing me with this kind of benefit, aren't you? Do you think I'm the kind of person who can't withstand a test?

but……

Chiba-senpai's words make sense.

Kitagawa Private Academy upholds the principle of "student self-governance." In many major campus activities and the school's daily rules and regulations, the student council coordinates and designates the arrangements. In principle, the school tries not to interfere with the student council's autonomy in its operations.

Only on major issues will advisors be sent to assist the student council in its operations.

It operates on a democratic election system, with the minority obeying the majority, and adheres to school rules and student council regulations. The student council, executive committee, oversight committee, and various specialized committees are responsible for coordinating and implementing student-related activities, making it resemble a miniature "government."

Against this backdrop, the Kitagawa Academy Student Council is basically the largest force within the school besides the Board of Directors.

How big exactly?

Take a chestnut.

An incident occurred in the history of Kitagawa Academy where, in order to protect the old auditorium that was to be demolished, the student council, under the pretext of "protecting Kitagawa's history," led students to occupy the old auditorium and confront the school authorities for half a month. Ultimately, they forced the school authorities to abandon their original plan and choose another site to build a new auditorium.

However, none of this appealed to Tsukasa Tazaki. He looked at Miho Chiba and said calmly, "I won't run for president. In my mind, the perfect candidate for president is Kikawa-san. If she is elected, I'll consider joining the student council and being a vice president for fun."

"What a pity~" Chiba Miho lowered her head heavily, her expression seemingly full of regret. She did not press the matter further, but her eyes flashed as she turned to Kikawa Yui: "So, what does Kikawa-san think?"

“I will run for office,” Yui Kikawa replied confidently.

"Wow, that's great." Chiba Miho clapped her hands, looking relieved. "It's a real problem that we haven't decided on a successor at this point. Thank you for your help, Kikawa-san. Also, Tazaki-san, you should work hard in your position as vice president and not ruin the empire I've built."

Meeting her gaze, Tsukasa Tazaki asked, "Isn't it a democratic election?"

"Yes."

"The senior's expression was as if she was certain that Kichikawa would be elected."

Qichuan Wei turned her head and gave him a look like an idiot: "Be quiet."

"...Xiaowei, is there something more to this than meets the eye?"

"Haha, so it turns out Tazaki-san doesn't know everything after all." Chiba Miho laughed so hard she almost fell over, as if she had discovered something amusing. "After all, it's such an important position as student council president, we'd be a bit troubled if just anyone could take it. We'll only accept people who are disciplined, serious, and trustworthy enough to be entrusted with tasks. Also... their background is a very important factor to consider."

"I see..." Tazaki Tsukasa suddenly slapped his thigh, stood up and looked down at the two of them: "Isn't this a pre-arranged deal? You actually cheated on such a sacred thing as 'democratic election', how disappointing!"

Qichuan said helplessly, "Please, can you be more mature?"

"Haha, what a critical young man, so adorable." Chiba Miho looked at Tazaki Tsukasa with a smile and tilted her head: "Why don't you run for office and break down the false democracy of capitalism, bringing real freedom to Kitagawa?"

"reject!"

Tazaki Tsukasa sat down instantly, gently touching his older brother's shoulder: "I swear to follow in your footsteps, even if we have to hang a street lamp, we'll hang it on the same lamppost!"

"Embarrassing..." Yui Kichikawa gently placed her hand on her temple and sighed with a headache.

Chapter 288 Thus, Shiori Ninomiya became the vice minister.

November 10th, Wednesday.

It was a sunny and pleasant day, not cold at all.

On the yellow Chuo Line tram heading to Yotsuya, Tsukasa Tazaki held Boccaccio's Decameron, chewing on the difficult Latin text in the book.

Arrived at the station, got off the train.

As he entered the school gate, he bought a carton of milk from the vending machine, took out a sandwich he had brought from home, and sat on a bench by the school path to eat his breakfast.

As the sports festival approaches, the atmosphere at school is becoming more and more exciting. Many students, especially members of sports clubs, are changing their usual lazy ways and making the most of their early mornings to train hard.

A group of neatly lined-up, spirited boys were running around the school building, shouting loud slogans.

The last person in line waved to Tsukasa Tazaki from afar; it was Mizuiro Murakami.

Good morning, Tazaki.

"morning."

"Come and do your morning exercise with our football team!"

"No, I'm waiting for someone."

"Waiting for whom?"

"Kuriyama-san."

"Shh~"

Twenty or thirty boys from the soccer club ran past him in unison, booing loudly. Tsukasa Tazaki put down his milk carton and raised his hand in salute to the group of passionate and inspiring high school boys.

"Meow~"

Turning around, he saw a fat striped pig... no, a fat striped orange cat jump onto the bench and stare at him with hostile eyes.

"Good morning, Sardine," Tsukasa Tazaki greeted with a smile.

"Meow!"

The fat cat stretched out its paw and reached for the milk carton with ill intent.

Tazaki Tsukasa held a half-eaten sandwich in one hand and pointed at its head with the other: "You dare touch my breakfast? Believe me, I'll wreck your bed again..."

Before he could finish speaking, "Sardine" shoved the half-empty bottle of milk off the bench.

"Communication failed, execute physical attack!"

"Meow?"

Tazaki Tsukasa was pinching the scruff of its neck, intending to teach this arrogant fat cat a lesson, when a sound came from afar.

"What are you two doing again?"

Looking back, the minister finally made his appearance.

She walked slowly across the school path towards this side.

She wore an autumn school uniform jacket, black knee-high socks, and deerskin shoes, her leg lines always a sight to behold. Perhaps because of the morning wind, she wore a Boston Red Sox baseball cap, the brim pulled low, making it difficult to see her face clearly.

"Get ready to wash the pot," Tsukasa Tazaki said, lifting the fat cat by the scruff of its neck. "Simmer your precious little one, with onions."

Meow~!

“People who argue with cats are so childish.” Kuriyama Sakura sat down next to him, offering a smile from the sunlight. “Give me the sardines.”

You'd better teach it what social etiquette is!

"Meow!"

The bare branches of the oak tree swayed overhead. Kuriyama Sakura gently placed the chubby orange cat on her lap and fed it a cat food stick she took out of her backpack. The chubby orange cat ate with relish.

The girl gently stroked the fat cat's fur on its back, while several students watched the scene from a distance.

"There's something I need to tell you," Tsukasa Tazaki said, taking a piece of paper out of his bag and handing it to him. "It's a notice from the student council yesterday about all clubs having to participate in the sports festival club competition."

Kuriyama Sakura frowned, glanced at him as if he were a stranger, then gently placed "Sardine" on the bench, got up and left.

Fat cat: "Meow?"

Tsukasa Tazaki: "Hello?"

This guy!

How can you still be so rude?!

Tazaki Tsukasa retracted the announcement, reached out and tapped the fat cat's head: "Your owner is so infuriating. After I tear down your bed this afternoon, I'll teach her a lesson!"

"Meow!"

The sardine flicked its tail dismissively, jumped onto the vending machine, and lay there basking in the sun.

Back in the classroom, Tsukasa Tazaki laid out his notebook, grabbed a mechanical pencil, and began to write furiously.