The door to the Student Council Room was gently pushed open.
Sakamoto-kun walked in with a composed stride, his demeanor as suave as ever.
His gaze quickly swept across the room, but he did not see the figures he expected—Student Council President Horikita Manabu or Secretary Tachibana Akane.
Instead, sitting behind the President's desk, was the second year male student with dazzling blonde hair.
Nagumo Miyabi.
He was the person Asahina Natsume warned him to "be wary of," and also the mastermind behind the conspiracy that swept through the First Year, distributing exam papers under his name.
Sakamoto-kun's expression remained unchanged, as if he had encountered an ordinary senior student.
He bowed elegantly and saluted:
"Vice President Nan Yun, good afternoon."
When Nagumo Miyabi saw that it was Sakamoto-kun, a flicker of surprise appeared on his face, but it was soon replaced by a smile.
He had initially thought it was just some student coming to handle routine matters, never expecting it to be the "main character" himself.
This "legendary First Year student" whom he had targeted with a small scheme.
He actually came.
And he seemed... so calm.
According to the plan, rumors of him "privately distributing exam questions" should have already spread throughout the First Year.
Was he feigning composure, or was he truly unaware?
"Well, well, Sakamoto-kun, what a rare guest."
Nagumo leaned back in his chair, fingers interlocked on the desk, his smile flippant, "So, what brings you to the Student Council?"
Sakamoto-kun spoke directly: "I came to find Horikita-senpai; I hope to consult him about some matters."
Nagumo frowned. Seeking Horikita Manabu?
What couldn't he discuss with me, the Vice President?
Heh, interesting.
Could it be... he'd realized something, was at his wit's end, and wanted to seek help from Horikita-senpai, who admired him?
That was a plausible explanation.
Nagumo felt this was highly likely.
After all, besides this, he couldn't think of any special reason why Sakamoto-kun absolutely had to see Horikita Manabu.
"I see."
Nagumo smiled, not pressing for details, "Unfortunately, the President is not here today due to an engagement. Sakamoto-kun made a trip in vain."
"No matter, I will visit another day. Farewell, Vice President Nan Yun."
Sakamoto-kun nodded slightly again, turning as if to leave.
"Wait."
Nagumo suddenly called out to him, "Sakamoto-kun, if it's something important, you can actually tell me, the Vice President, first. After all, I will be the new Student Council President soon, you know?"
This was true; Horikita Manabu was already a third year, and soon he would step down from his position as Student Council President, with Nagumo Miyabi naturally taking over.
Sakamoto-kun's steps paused.
He slowly turned around, facing Nagumo.
He raised his hand and elegantly pushed up his glasses frame with his middle finger.
After a brief silence, Sakamoto-kun spoke again: "To be honest, I came here hoping to apply to join the Student Council, to contribute a small effort to the school's order and development. I heard that Horikita-senpai has a discerning eye, so I specifically came to seek his guidance."
"Join the Student Council?"
Nagumo's smile faltered slightly.
Sakamoto-kun wanted to join the Student Council.
This was completely unexpected by Nagumo.
Was it a fabricated excuse on the spur of the moment, or his true intention?
It was hard to tell... but, it was perfect.
Nagumo instantly decided to turn the tables.
Whatever Sakamoto-kun's goal was,
This was an excellent opportunity to bring him under his control.
"Oh? Ambitious!"
Nagumo smiled.
"Very good, I admire ambitious people. I agree to your application in principle."
He changed the subject, raised a finger, and proposed an extremely harsh condition:
"However, according to the Student Council's rules—of course, my rules—new members need a one-week 'interview period.' And this week's interviewer happens to be me."
He leaned forward, his gaze fixed on Sakamoto, as if in provocation:
"During this one-week interview period, you must completely obey my command and arrangements. No instruction may be mistaken. This is the only way to test your obedience and ability. How about it?"
This was a condition Nagumo casually blurted out, but since he was the Vice President, there was no problem.
Was this condition not excessive enough?
It was practically an unequal indenture.
If he truly came to solve a problem, he would inevitably be unable to accept such restraints.
This exaggerated provocation could just right force him to retreat,
or... tie him down for a week,
making him unable to do anything.
Nagumo was essentially a pleasure-seeker; he enjoyed this process of control and probing.
He had almost foreseen Sakamoto frowning and refusing.
However—
The next instant, Nagumo only felt a blur before his eyes.
Sakamoto's figure, like a ghost, "flashed" silently to his desk at a speed difficult for the naked eye to catch.
Immediately after,
Sakamoto made a move that made Nagumo's pupils constrict—
He elegantly bent his right knee, kneeling on one knee,
his left palm resting steadily on the smooth floor,
his upper body slightly leaning forward, his head bowed,
a posture of an absolutely loyal attendant.
"As you command."
"Vice President Nagumo, what are your orders?"
Nagumo Miyabi was a bit confused.
He really accepted it.
Could he accept such conditions without changing his expression?
What exactly was this guy... After the huge surprise, even greater interest followed.
Since Sakamoto took the bait,
then don't blame me for "casually" ordering you around.
"Very good!"
Nagumo suppressed the shock in his heart, a smile reappearing on his face.
He glanced around the slightly messy Student Council Room, pointed casually,
"Then, the first item of the interview assessment: Clean this Student Council Room, inside and out, until it's spotless. Start now."
He wanted to see how much "ability" this legendary Sakamoto really had.
Cleaning such a large room couldn't be accomplished just by being flashy.
And from Sakamoto's elegant appearance,
he didn't seem like the kind of person who would do such cleaning.
Upon hearing this, Sakamoto immediately got up and began to act.
However,
the scene that followed
completely subverted Nagumo's perception of "cleaning."
This was not labor at all,
but a highly ornamental artistic performance combining efficiency and aesthetics.
Sakamoto's figure moved like the wind through the room,
rags, brooms, and mops seemed to be endowed with life in his hands.
He sometimes rotated like a ballet dancer to avoid tables and chairs, wiping window frames;
sometimes he bent down with the flexibility of a gymnast, precisely cleaning dust in corners;
he even used the slight rebound force of a chair back to leap into the air,
using the tip of an inverted broom to brush every crevice of the ceiling light tube with millimeter precision.
Falling dust seemed to be controlled by some kind of aura,
gathering into clumps, and then precisely sent into the trash can.
Even the large solid wood desk in front of Nagumo was quickly wiped by Sakamoto with a velvet cloth using a unique technique,
the desktop quickly became gleaming, even clearly reflecting Nagumo's face.
The entire process was smooth, silent, and efficient.
In less than ten minutes.
Sakamoto's figure quietly stilled, bowing slightly before Nagumo's desk.
The entire Student Council Room was completely refreshed,
every inch was spotless, the air filled with a faint scent of cleaner,
even more astonishing than the results of professional cleaning.
And in front of Nagumo, a cup of steaming black tea had appeared at some point,
the tea aroma wafting, the temperature just right.
Sakamoto bowed slightly:
"Vice President Nagumo, cleaning complete. Please inspect."
Nagumo Miyabi looked at the gleaming desktop in front of him, then at the presented cup of black tea, and finally his gaze fell on the composed Sakamoto.
The smile on his face was a bit stiff.