"Senpaku, I am Sakamoto. What brings you here?"

He wanted to see if Sakamoto's perfect mask would crumble when the pressure hit the core, and whether that composure was just a bluff.

His deep voice broke the silence, his fingertips lightly tapping the table, carrying an invisible pressure:

“Sakamoto-kun, ‘observational learning’ is a wonderful term.”

He spoke slowly, yet each word was sharp and clear.

"But the operation of the core components of the student council 'machine' cannot be easily understood by 'observation'."

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze like a cold probe:

"What you want to know is its scope of privilege? How does decision-making bypass the class system? Or is it—its role in making rules rather than following them?"

In just two sentences, Horikita Manabu precisely pinpointed the core intention behind Sakamoto's "observational learning"—to explore the privileged nature and operational mechanism of the student council in order to gain a deeper understanding of the rule system of Advanced Nurturing High School.

He paused deliberately, his sharp gaze like that of a hunter waiting for his prey's reaction, observing the most subtle changes in Sakamoto's expression.

The air in the office froze instantly!

Katsuragi and Ichinose held their breath, while Tachibana Akane's grip on her pen tightened slightly. Nagumo Masaru's playful smile deepened.

Sakamoto's expression remained unchanged. His gaze behind his black-rimmed glasses was calm and unwavering; not even his eyelashes trembled.

Horikita's sharp questioning seemed like nothing more than a gentle breeze brushing past his ear.

He nodded slightly, his posture still elegant, his voice clear and calm:

"Chairman Horikita's insightful observations are truly admirable."

He readily admitted it!

There was no explanation, no cover-up!

This candor, however, gave Horikita Manabu a slight jolt.

Sakamoto's voice was steady and penetrating as he continued:

"As the highest body of student self-governance, the student council is itself the core hub of the school's unique rule system. Understanding its operating mechanism, boundaries of authority, and interaction with the school administration is like understanding the structure and operating principles of a precision instrument."

He slightly raised his right hand, his slender fingers tracing a tiny arc in the air with remarkable naturalness, as if drawing some kind of invisible structural diagram.

"Only by understanding its internal logic can we comprehend how this 'machine' drives the operation of the entire campus and how it maintains a dynamic order and balance within the framework of 'meritocracy'."

He calmly met Horikita Manabu's sharp gaze, his tone sincere and frank:

"My purpose in coming here is indeed 'observation and learning,' but the purpose of learning is precisely to gain a deeper understanding of the rules themselves. Understanding the rules is not about breaking them, but about fulfilling our responsibilities and obligations as a member of Class A more effectively within the framework of the rules. This has nothing to do with seeking privileges or exploiting loopholes."

Horikita's eyes flickered slightly behind his glasses.

[Not only did they avoid being forced into a weak position, but they also used the opponent's strength against them. This adaptability and insight into the essence of the rules...]

Horikita Manabu clearly sensed that the boy before him was no ordinary person.

This kid might actually have a chance.

A glint of light flashed in Nagumo Masaru's eyes! What a brilliant "understanding of the rules"! What a brilliant "fulfillment of responsibility"! Sakamoto not only defused Horikita Manabu's offensive, but also demonstrated a startling depth of understanding!

He couldn't help but clap softly, his smile radiant:

"Brilliant! Sakamoto-kun's insights have truly enlightened me! Understanding the rules is the key to using them effectively and maximizing one's power within those rules! I admire your level of understanding!"

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of provocation:

"However, understanding the rules is one thing, applying them in complex 'situations' is another. Can an observer truly remain 'understanding' forever without ever 'intervening'?"

Just then, Nan Yunya seemed to "accidentally" bump into the corner of the table.

Horikita Manabu's steaming cup of tea suddenly wobbled, and the scalding tea was about to spill out and splash onto the documents scattered on the table!

"Watch out!" Akane Tachibana whispered.

Katsuragi and Ichinose also tensed up instantly.

however--

A figure moved with the speed of a ghost!

Sakamoto had already slid half a step forward without anyone noticing, and his right hand shot out like lightning!

He didn't reach for the teacup; instead, the seemingly ordinary silver fountain pen in his hand, like a precise scalpel, touched the slightly upturned rim of the teacup with an incredible angle and speed!

"Ding!"

A very faint, crisp sound, like the gentle ringing of a jade chime!

The nib of that fountain pen, like the most precise fulcrum, steadily held the teacup aloft the moment it lost its balance!

The cup stopped shaking instantly, as if it had been frozen in place!

The tea in the cup rippled barely, then quickly returned to calm, without spilling a single drop!

The entire movement was as fast as lightning and as fluid as if it had been practiced a thousand times!

From the sliding step to the brushstroke, and then to the teacup remaining as steady as Mount Tai, the entire process is completed in the space of a breath!

Sakamoto straightened up, put away his pen with elegant and composed movements, as if he had merely brushed away a speck of dust. He gave a slight bow to the slightly surprised Horikita Manabu:

"My apologies. Balance is easily broken and difficult to maintain; true skill is revealed in the details."

His words were not only an explanation of the teacup incident, but also a silent confirmation of his previous theory, and a metaphorical response to the student council.

There was silence in the office.

The playful smile on Nan Yunya's face vanished, replaced by a look of seriousness. That move just now was no coincidence!

Akane's fingers, gripping the notebook, turned slightly white, and her eyes were filled with shock as she looked at Sakamoto.

Katsuragi and Ichinose were completely dumbfounded, utterly shocked by the unbelievable scene they had just witnessed.

Horikita Manabu stared at the teacup on the table, its surface still and the tea barely rippling, then looked up at the elegant, calm-eyed black-haired boy before him. He took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil within him.

His sharp gaze swept over Katsuragi and Ichinose, before finally settling back on Sakamoto.

"Katsuragi Kohei, Ichinose Honami."

Horikita Manabu's voice regained its usual coldness.

"Thank you for your enthusiasm and willingness to work in the student union. The student union is aware of your resume and ideas."

He paused, his tone leaving no room for argument:

"However, the selection of student council members requires consideration of many factors. At present, the student council has no definite plans to add new members. Please go back first. If there are any recruitment arrangements later, we will notify you through official channels."

Katsuragi's expression darkened slightly, but he quickly regained his composure and bowed slightly.

"Understood, Chairman."

His voice was calm and steady, revealing little emotion.

A hint of disappointment flashed in Ichinose's eyes, but she maintained her warm smile:

"Okay, Chairman. Thank you for giving us this opportunity."

She bowed slightly.

Horikita Manabu's gaze finally settled on Sakamoto, his eyes deep and complex:

"As for Sakamoto-kun..."

He paused for a moment, seemingly considering his words.

"The student council...does not prohibit students with a thirst for knowledge from coming."

He gave Sakamoto a deep look, his gaze containing both scrutiny and a hint of acknowledgment of his potential.

After saying that, Horikita Manabu fell silent and turned his gaze back to the documents on the table, as if nothing had happened.

"Three students, please go back." Tachibana Akane stepped forward at the right time and politely gestured.

Katsuragi and Ichinose bowed slightly again, then turned and walked towards the door.

Sakamoto stood still and did not leave immediately.

He bowed gracefully to Horikita Manabu and Nagumo Masaru once again, his movements fluid and perfect.

"Thank you to Chairman Horikita and Vice Chairman Nagumo for your valuable time and insights."

His voice was clear and peaceful, like a mountain stream.

Then, he raised his right hand, and the silver pen that had just settled on the teacup spun smoothly around his slender fingertips, drawing an elegant silver arc, like a silent pause.

"What I have heard and seen today has been very beneficial."

The pen in his fingertips suddenly stopped spinning and he precisely inserted it into the pocket of his school uniform on his chest.

"Farewell."

After he finished speaking, he didn't linger and turned to walk away.

His steps remained steady and fluid, his shoulders and back straight as a pine tree, and the hem of his burgundy school uniform fluttered with a barely perceptible curve as he walked.

The golden rays of the setting sun shone through the French windows, gilding his departing figure with a dazzling golden edge, making his tall and imposing figure appear exceptionally mysterious and unpredictable in the interplay of light and shadow.

First Year Enrollment: Chapter 019: Ichinose and Sakamoto

The heavy oak door to the student council office closed gently behind me, shutting out the thrilling confrontation inside.

In the corridor, the golden rays of the setting sun slanted in through the high windows, casting long shadows of the three people.

A subtle silence filled the air, with only the soft echoes of footsteps in the empty corridor.

Kohei Katsuragi walked at the front, his burly frame ramrod straight, his brows slightly furrowed. Horikita Manabu's cold, stern "No new plans at the moment" was like a chilling verdict, declaring that his hopes of joining the student council were temporarily dashed.

But at this moment, what was churning in his heart was not just disappointment, but more the shock of the confrontation in the student council just now—Sakamoto's calm response to Horikita Manabu's sharp questioning, and that inexplicable pen-on-cup gesture...

These images replayed in his mind repeatedly, causing him far more unease than his desire to join the student council.

Honami Ichinose walked in the middle, her long pink hair shimmering softly in the setting sun.

Her face still held a trace of shock and intense curiosity. Horikita Manabu's rejection left her somewhat disappointed, but this disappointment was quickly overwhelmed by Sakamoto's performance in the student council.

His talk about "rules" and that final, seemingly miraculous stroke of genius filled her with a sense of wonder and confusion.

She couldn't help but steal a glance at Sakamoto, who was walking at the very back.

Sakamoto's steps were light and fluid, as if he were walking on an invisible rhythm.

His gaze behind his black-rimmed glasses was calm and unwavering, as if the confrontation that had just taken everyone's breath away was nothing more than an ordinary conversation.

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze seemingly falling on the trees outside the window, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, or perhaps penetrating the wall, as if he were pondering something deeper.

There was silence for a moment.

“Sakamoto-san…”

Ichinose finally couldn't help but speak, her clear and melodious voice breaking the silence of the corridor.

She turned to face Sakamoto, her pale purple eyes sparkling with undisguised amazement and curiosity.

"That was really amazing! Whether it was answering President Horikita's question or stopping the teacup with the pen at the end, it was like magic! Sakamoto-kun, you truly live up to your reputation!"

Her tone was sincere, filled with genuine admiration.

Sakamoto paused slightly, turning his gaze from the window to Ichinose calmly. He nodded slightly, his posture elegant.

"Ichinose-san, you flatter me. It was just a coincidence that I was there and did my bit of help."

"Just in time?"

Ichinose blinked, clearly still not fully understanding the word. She then looked at Katsuragi and asked curiously:

"Katsuragi-san, is Sakamoto-san always like this in Class A? You mean... always so... elegant and capable?"

Katsuragi stopped and turned around.

He glanced at Sakamoto's calm, expressionless face, then at Ichinose's curious eyes, and answered in a low voice:

"Sakamoto-kun. He's truly unique."

He didn't elaborate, but the complex emotions in his tone were hard to conceal. Sakamoto's existence was both a mystery and a variable for Class A.

"Oh……"

Ichinose nodded thoughtfully, as if he wanted to ask something else.

Her gaze shifted between Katsuragi and Sakamoto. After hesitating for a moment, she finally couldn't suppress her doubts and asked: