Before we begin the first random chapter to fill in for Volume 8 and Volume 9...

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" All right, council dismissed. " Manabu officially ends the meeting for members of the student council.

As expected of the said members, they bid their goodbyes and went out of the room finally free from the work of student council. All except three people. That being President Horikita Manabu, Secretary Tachibana Akane, and their very own vice-president Nagumo Miyabi.

The very latter among the three released a light chuckle before standing up as well, intending to leave. However,

" Nagumo, about your plans when you take over my position." Manabu says, forcing Nagumo to stop and look at him.

" What about it, Senpai?" Nagumo asks with his typical smile.

" Do you really....intend to force the student body to become a meritocracy?" Manabu asks.

" I'm sure I already told you the answer before, no?" Nagumo responds, " This school's doctrine stated that all of these facilities were made to nurture students of today into leaders of tomorrow. But from what I can see, it's more or less failed to back it up, don't you think?"

He spreads his arms, a confident grin plastered on his handsome face.

" I'm only doing what I can to preserve the school's reputation, Senpai. Something that you couldn't." he threw some salt.

" Disgusting. " Tachibana voices her disappointment, " You dare say all this, when you're responsible for expelling students from the second year who hadn't done anything wrong?" She says.

" Huh? Me? Responsible?" Nagumo laughs, clearly amused which only made Tachibana seethe. " Tachibana-senpai, I really have no idea what you're talking about!" He acts.

" If they got expelled then it must've been a problem they failed to solve on their own. Or rather, it's their lack of ability to continue studying in a place like this." Nagumo says. " Besides, ruling things with an iron fist doesn't sound like a bad thing-"

" Liar!" Tachibana flares, pointing at him accusingly. " You're nothing but a tyrant, Nagumo! Ruling with an iron fist? Why can't you share more sympathetic ideals like--"

" -Like the soon-to-be former president?" Nagumo glances to Manabu, to which the latter responds with an apathetic expression. Nagumo looks to Tachibana again.

" Tell me, what did someone like Horikita Manabu ever achieve throughout his three years as council president?" Nagumo asks, firmly placing his hands in his pocket. " Everyone admires him, including me of course but....I have to ask..."

" What changes did he make? Had this man improved anyone's abilities? Leading his class to Class A and staying Class A for three whole years is certainly impressive but... he hasn't done anything else deserving of praise, right?" Nagumo sighs while shaking his head. " Not only that, but even the first years are infected by the hype around him. They don't know a single thing about Horikita-senpai and yet they continue to praise him as the best student this school has ever produced.....how pathetic. A weak mindset like that can never be a leader. A sheep will only stay as sheep if they continue to aimlessly follow a shepherd."

Tachibana's mouth simply closes back. There were no words coming out of her, and Manabu also had nothing to say against that. Manabu folds together his hands as he releases a sigh of defeat, Nagumo was right. He had performed no changes on the school. He had done nothing to truly improve the chances of the students within his grade and below to become leaders of tomorrow.

But even so, it doesn't mean Nagumo's methods are correct.

" Discarding people who are incapable and keeping those that are capable. This ideology of mine benefits the school. A meritocracy. To provide power to those deserving of it, everything will be based on their abilities and what they can provide. That's how I'll solidify my memory and stir up everyone's heads during my stay." The blonde boy smiles proud, " This is how they'll remember Nagumo Miyabi."

.....A moment of silence slowly passed after his last statement.

But then...

" Heh. An impressive dream you have there, Nagumo." A chuckle escapes from the previously silent president, it suprised both Tachibana and maybe a little to Nagumo too.

" Unfortunately," Manabu smiles as he uses his right hand to rest his cheek, " I don't think your ambition will come to fruition."

" Oh...?" Nagumo raises a brow, his smile growing thin.

" After all, there's a little someone in the school who'll pose a major obstacle to you." He confidently said. But there was something strange about his confidence--no rather, he seemed proud. Almost like a proud brother in la-

" Might you be referring to that Kouhai you've set your eyes upon?" Nagumo asks, " Ayanokoji, was it? From what I've seen of him, he seems to be quite athletic. Judging from the way he played volleyball during summer, and then winning a race against YOU, president."

" Yes, you are correct." Manabu confirms.

" Seriously?" Nagumo smiles, absolutely incredulous to Manabu's words. " I think you're overestimating his abilities, senpai. Do you really think someone like him can beat someone like me? He has no power, according to the news I've gotten a hold of in regards to him. He's just your little sister's follower, nothing more, nothing less."

" On the contrary, I think you're underestimating his abilites." Tachibana interjects, " That silent Kohai will put you to rest, you scum."

" Them fighting words..." Nagumo muses.

" To think even Tachibana-senpai holds faith in that guy." Nagumo snorts in amusement, " Amusing! Maybe he might have something special if the ever-stubborn Manabu simp, Tachibana Akane holds faith in that boy."

" I-I'm not a simp!" The simp lies.

" Whatever, " Nagumo shrugs off her denial, " If he really will pose an obstacle, then I'd like to see him try. Although, I would like to add a more serious opinion on that kid."

" I heavily dislike the way you put him above you, Senpai." Nagumo's smile drops for once. " I don't like it all. it makes it seem like he can crush you anytime he wants, but he doesn't have the power to do that. He's just a bug. After all, despite our contrast in beliefs, I do adore you above everyone in this school. That's also why I'm the only one allowed to crush you. Nobody else."

" Understood, president?" Nagumo says.

" You sound more of a simp than me..." Tachibana mutters her remark.

" Whatever you say, Nagumo." Manabu says, undeterred, " You will lose to him. It's a fact I'm sure of."

" You really are putting everything on that guy's shoulders, huh?" Nagumo raises a brow. " You really think he'll be able to protect your legacy?"

" No. Of course not." Manabu grins. " Rather, that boy will likely create a legacy for himself far higher than both you and I. I'll be happy to help him on that path if he so needs it."

Nagumo sighs, turning around and waving his hand with finality. " Well, I suppose there's no point in convincing you otherwise for now. I'll just destroy your expectations right in front of you. Only then, will you understand the difference."

" Ayanokoji will kick your ass, dickhead!" Tachibana yells.

" Language." Manabu scolds.

" Sorry..."

Nagumo exits the school building and makes his way to the second year dormitories. While doing so, he passed by a few students and greeted them like the well-known Ikemen he is. Putting on fake pleasantries and making some girls swoon over him, he knows his charming assets and is absolutely willing to flaunt them.

'My whole entire grade is under my control....and some even in Horikita-senpai's grade. Heh.' Nagumo smirks.

' As for the first years? I've got my eyes set on Honami for now, but almost everyone is within my grasp. It's only a matter of time...'

" Ayanokoji's got nothing-" But then his leg suddenly bumps into something.

" ...Meow..."

" Huh?" Nagumo looks down to see the small furry creature that had bumped his leg. It was a small cat with chestnut colored fir and brown stripes stretching from the top of his head to his back.

It wore an almost bored-like expression, and it had golden eyes.

" A cat...? What is a cat doing here.." Nagumo murmurs as he crouches down to inspect it closer.

"....Meow." The cat voiced.

" Hungry?" he asked it.

" Meow." It responded.

" Hm..." After a moment of thinking, Nagumo sighs and stands up.

" If you're hungry, then follow me. I'll buy you some onigiri." Nagumo said, to which the cat responds with a meow. Nagumo takes that as its way of saying ' ayt, bet' so he begins walking to the direction to the mall.

And the cat follows him, walking alongside.

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.

.

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" Is that Nagumo-senpai?"

" Yeah it is!" Some students muttered as they see him walk around in the mall.

" Huh? What's that cat doing following him around?"

" A what now?"

Students looked down to Nagumo's side and they there was indeed a brown bored-looking cat walking or...crawling alongside the popular vice-president. Nagumo got tired of their stares and decides to confront them head on, once again plastering another ikemen smile.

" Hello, is something the matter?" Nagumo asks.

" N-no, senpai!" One of them quickly answered before curiously pointing their fingers towards the cat. " it's just....is that cat yours?"

" Oh this?" Nagumo looks to the brown cat.

" No, not really. I'm just going to buy it some onigiri, is all." Nagumo answers warmly. The girls were quickly enamored by Nagumo's ' kindness' and silently proceeded to raise him up on the best boy popularity poll.

" Ah, I see..." One of the girls answered.

" Well, I'll be on my way now. Take care of yourself, lovely kouhais." Nagumo flashes a smile and a wink before waving goodbye. The blushing expressions left on the girls' faces were to be expected as they watched Nagumo continue his stride while the cat alongside.

" Haah, " Nagumo releases a sigh, dropping his smile. " People do need to mind their own business sometimes, no? Popular as I may be, I still have a life. Although gaining everyone's attention is useful for my future plans in this school, I sometimes wish I could've dialed it back a bit."

" Meow."

" Well, no use dwelling on past decisions now. Besides, this was only a minor inconvenience, nothing I can't handle on my own." Nagumo's grin returns.

They walked a bit further until Nagumo eventually came to a halt. His blue eyes landing on the store that sells great snacks and quick meals. He looks down to the cat, stretching his hand to pat its head.

" Wait here." He orders.

" meow." It responded in a bored tone, but obedient nonetheless. Nagumo quickly goes to the store, promising that it'll only take a few minutes.

The cat sits there, licking its paw out of boredom.

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Ting! The door bell sounded as Nagumo exits the store with a small plastic bag filled with onigiri.

" Meow." The cat looked up at the blonde boy with bored golden eyes.

" See? Told you I'd be quick." Nagumo muses before taking out a small-sized onigiri.

" Here-"

" Miyabi? This is a suprise." A familiar voice halts Nagumo's feeding. The cat looked disappointed that the onigiri stopped half-way.

" Oh! A neko-chan!" Footsteps came surging into their space, a girl with chocolate brown hair and a familiar amulet bent down and gazed at the cat.

" Meow." The cat looked angry, although you probably couldn't tell due to its apathetic countenance.

" Nazuna, it's a suprise seeing you here." Nagumo says.

" No no, it a suprise to see you here. " Asahina laughs. " And with a cat. When I heard whispers about the famed vice-president walking around inside the mall with a cat alongside him? I HAD to come see it for myself."

" Haha, it suprises me how words about the most trivial of things can spread like wildfire." Nagumo says before gently shoving Asahina away, to which she sounds a sound of complaint soon followed by a pout.

" Well, you've seen what you came for. So leave me be." Nagumo says before finally giving the onigiri-

" HEY WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE FEEDING THE CAT?!" Asahina fumes.

" What's wrong?" Nagumo asks, halting the food again. The cat begins meowing repeatedly in disappointment.

Asahina shakes her head with a sigh, " You're seriously feeding it onigiri? It's not the nutritional diet for a cat, y'know? " She said, crossing her arms.

" It's just rice and some fish in the center." Nagumo spent extra for the employee to make a fresh fish onigiri that's also small-sized. " Don't cats like fish? And I don't recall them being allergic to rice either."

" Idiot, you're supposed to feed it some all-nutrition cat food." She says.

" I think you're the idiot if you think those commercial brand cat peanuts are gonna do any cat good." He rebukes.

" Says the guy who has never owned a pet for all I know." She scoffs, rolling her eyes. " Besides, my kitty at home is doing just fine with those commercial brand cat food you detest for some reason, even though they actually provide great nutrition to cats!"

" Isn't your ' kitty' obese?"

" HE'S JUST BUILT DIFFERENT OKAY!"

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" Meoowww...." The cat paws Nagumo's leg, pleading for food.

Nagumo, who stood outside of the store Asahina went into, looked down to the cat and sighed.

" Sorry, but Nazuna told us to stay put while she buys those commercial cat food she keeps feeding her obese cat. Just hold on a while longer, okay?" He assures it.

" Meow."

"Thanks."

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.

.

After exiting the mall, the three of them convened at a distant bench where nobody would really pass by at this time of day. It is there that Asahina takes out the pet tray and then pouring in....a ton of cat food.

" Bon apetit!" She says, proudly.

The cat looked at the tray, seemingly unsure. Its head turns to Nagumo in question, to which the latter replies with a shrug.

" Good luck." He says. The cat's face matched that of a frown before turning back to the tray.

"....Meow..." The cat approaches the tray and digs in...

" Aww~ See?" Asahina clasps her hands, smiling before looking smug to Nagumo. " I told you that I knew what I was doi-"