Starting in class C: not completely defective.

Arc 1 chapter 4: A new alliance.

"I'm the student council president. My name is Horikita Manabu," he said.
Horikita? Like Suzune? Perhaps they just happened to have the same surname. Or, maybe...
"The student council is looking to recruit potential candidates among the first year students to replace the graduating third years. Although no special qualifications are required for candidacy, we humbly ask that those considering application not be involved in other clubs elsewhere."
He spoke in a soft tone, but the tension around us was so thick it felt like you could cut it with a knife. He had managed to silence over a hundred new students in that spacious gymnasium. Of course, it wasn't his position as student council president that granted him his deference. That was simply Horikita Manabu's power. His presence dominated everyone around him.
"Furthermore, we in the student council do not wish to appoint anyone that possesses a naive outlook. Not only would such a person not be elected, he or she would sully the sanctity of the school. It is the student council's right and duty to enforce and amend the rules, but the school expects more than that. We gladly welcome those of you who respects this."
He didn't pause even once during his eloquent speech. Immediately after finishing, he hopped off the stage and left the gymnasium. None of the first-year students could utter a single word as we watched him go. We didn't know what could've happened if we'd tried to talk. Everyone in the room shared the same thought, apparently.
"Thank you all for coming. The club fair has ended. We will now open the reception area to anyone interested in signing up. Also, registration will be open to the end of April, so if any student wishes to join at a later date, we ask that you please bring the application form directly to the club you wish to join."
Thanks to the laid-back organiser, the tension in the air dissipated. Afterward, the third-year students who'd introduced their respective clubs started taking applications.
"That student council president sure was something." Shiina remarked.
"Yeah. He sure knows how to give a speech. He's probably what the school hopes every student will be like."
"I'm going to go and register for the tea ceremony club. I'll catch up with you later, ok Ayanokouji-kun?" With that, Shiina went off to the registration tables.
"Hey. You're Ayanokouji, right?"
As I was lost in thought, someone called out to me. Ishizaki. My classmates Komiya and Kondou were also with him.
"Oh, hey, you three. Looks like you guys are getting along well, huh?"' I responded.
"Uh, yeah. Hey I, uh, wanted to thank you. For sticking up for me, yesterday. With Ryuuen." Ishizaki bowed slightly in thanks.
"Hey, don't worry, it's no problem. We're classmates right?" I tried to smile.
"Yeah, just thought I'd get that off my chest. So, did you join a club?" Ishizaki asked, changing the subject.
"Oh, no, I just came to check things out. What about you? Did you join a club?"
"Nah, I just came because these two wanted to join a club."
"Oh? Which club did you join."
"We came here to join the basketball team." Kondou said.
"Huh, nice." I didn't expect Komiya or Kondou to like basketball. Seems I was wrong.
"That student council president sure was something else. He was so imposing. I got the feeling he ruled the place, you know?" Ishizaki said.
"I know, right? He made everyone shut up without saying a word. That kinda stuff is impossible," I said.
"Yeah. Oh, by the way, Ryuuen made a group chat for the class yesterday." Ishizaki took out his phone. "I'll send you an invite. He'll get mad if you don't. And it's also pretty handy for information."
"Huh. Sure," I confirmed.
"Great." Ishizaki smiled.
That was a rather unexpected proposal. I was happy to be invited to a group chat, even if it was just one that Ryuuen had set up for information gathering. I gave Ishizaki my phone and exchanged contact information with him and the other two.

I'd been in my dorm on a Saturday morning when I got a message from Ryuuen.
We need to meet. Now. Come to the classroom. Take note that even though it's the weekend you need to wear your school uniform.
Hmm. What could this be about. Ryuuen had been staring at me in class yesterday. Did he want to fight me? Or did he want to just talk.
I put on my uniform and headed to the school building. It was mostly deserted, apart from a few teachers, and students who had actual work to attend to.
When I reached the classroom, I saw Ryuuen. He didn't look very angry. In fact, he looked like a mixture between happy and curious when he saw me.
"Ah, Ayanokouji. I didn't think you'd show." Ryuuen smirked.
"Well, when the leader of the class asks for you personally, it becomes hard for you to refuse." I said.
"Let me cut to the chase Ayanokouji: what do you know about this school?" Ryuuen's expression turned serious.
"What do you mean? Like the fact that we get points that act like money?" I responded, trying not to give anything away.
"Don't bullshit me Ayanokouji. An upperclassman told me to ask you your theories about the classes. I don't know what the fuck that's supposed to mean, but you're sure as hell going to tell me." Ryuuen was now almost scowling.
"Was this upperclassman a boy?" I asked. Had the three students I blackmailed figured out that Ryuuen would probably try and beat me up if he knew I was keeping information from him. No, they didn't seem smart enough for that.
"No, it was a cocky girl with blond hair. That's not the point though: how. Much. Do. You. Know?" Ryuuen marked every word he said with a step forwards toward me, until he was right in my face. An intimidation tactic like this would have worked on someone like Kaneda or Shiina, but not me.
"Why did you join this school, Ryuuen?" I asked.
"Why the fuck does that matter?" Ryuuen spat.
"Trust me, it matters. It will make more sense if you tell me." I prompted.
"Like any other student: I want the 100% employment guarantee." Ryuuen said.
"Ok. Do you think the school can offer that to every single student that attends this school?" I asked.
"Well... yeah, that's kind of what it said in the introduction pamphlet." Ryuuen was confused.
"Have you noticed the difference between classes A, B, C and D?" I wanted Ryuuen to figure it out on his own.
"Well... I suppose class D is made up of people like the three idiots." Ryuuen was thinking hard.
"And what about class 1-A?" He was almost there.
"It's made up of people like that bald guy, or that little girl. I heard the girl got perfect scores in the entrance exam." Boom. He figured it out.
"So what you're saying is... that the classes are ordered based on academic ability?"
"More or less." I decided not to give away too much.
"And only class A gets the employment guarantee?"
"Almost definitely."
"Shit." Ryuuen looked slightly worried. "Ayanokouji. I want your help." Ryuuen looked at me now, with an expression I couldn't tell.
"With what?" I asked.
"You're going to help me and the rest of the class somehow get that 100% employment guarantee." Ryuuen ordered.
"And why should I do that? What even makes you think we can get the guarantee if we're in class C?" I asked.
"There's probably a way. Remember on the first day, sensei said that we could buy anything with points. Maybe we can purchase the employment guarantee." Ryuuen's brain was working hard.
"Hm. Perhaps I will help you. Not for you, but for my other friends in the class, like Ibuki, Shiina and Ishizaki. They came here for the employment guarantee. I don't want to see them upset." I said. It was true. Since coming to this school, I had started to gain feelings, and I wanted to help people who thought of me as a friend.
"Ok then. Will you follow my orders, or at least give me help on strategies?" Ryuuen asked.
"I suppose. I won't do anything illegal though." I responded. There were some lines that I couldn't cross if I wanted to maintain my freedom.
"Agreed. But will you be willing to use violence, if you don't get caught."
"I will be willing, as long as I deem it appropriate."
"I suppose I can't ask for much better." Ryuuen looked confident now, and his trademark smirk appeared on his face.
"Let this be the beginning of a fruitful three-year partnership, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka." Ryuuen held out his hand.
"Glad to do business with you, Ryuuen Kakeru," I responded, shaking his hand

Unknown pov
I must have missed him at the club fair. Damn. I need to get him to come to me. But how? I take out my phone, and called a number that I almost never called.
"Oh, what do you want you cocky bitch." He asked
"Charming. I want you to organise a chess tournament. I'll give 500,000 points as the prize money. Aim it at the first years, but invite a few seniors too."
"Hey, what's this about? Don't hang-"
"Ok then. Talk to you soon, Nagumo." With that, I ended the call

Author's notes
1492 words
Well, here we have it, the beginning of Ryuuen and ayanokouji's partnership. The reason Ayanokouji wants to team up with Ryuuen is because of his friends, not because he wants to reach class A.
We also saw the student council president. He's going to play a pretty similar role as he did in the ln I think.
We also got a hint at a certain senpai.
A shorter chapter, so not much to say.
Next chapter will be interesting. Not sure how good it will be but hey.
Hope you're all doing well, and I hope you enjoyed.