COTE: Horikita Is My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter 168: You Still Have to Join the Student council

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Manabu, sitting in his classroom, retrieved his ringing cell phone from the desk drawer. When he saw the caller ID, a flicker of surprise crossed his otherwise calm face.

"Why is Matsuoka calling me?"

Holding the phone, Manabu left the classroom and walked into the corridor before answering the call.

"Horikita-nii!"

Hearing Rin's enthusiastic greeting, Horikita smiled faintly and replied gently, "Matsuoka, is there something you'd like to discuss with me?"

"Yes, I have good news to share." Rin smiled and proceeded to recount everything about his swimming class and his plan to deal with Nagumo.

Manabu listened silently to Rin's account. His normally composed face betrayed a hint of surprise as the story unfolded.

He was genuinely taken aback.

He hadn't expected Rin's swimming abilities to be so extraordinary.

What surprised him even more was Rin's strategic use of "joining the swimming club" as a pretext to target Nagumo and have him expelled from the student council.

Manabu couldn't help but be impressed.

"Your plan is excellent, Matsuoka," he said, his tone full of praise.

"If your plan succeeds, you'll be able to leverage the school's authority to remove Nagumo from the student council without needing to confront him directly."

Manabu was generous in his praise.

"Hey, Horikita-san, you're too kind. So, you also think the school will remove Nagumo from the student council, right?" Rin asked eagerly.

"It's very likely," Manabu replied with a slight nod. "The school would prioritize an outstanding talent who broke the world record over keeping a vice president in the student council."

After all, there were plenty of students capable of serving as vice president.

The only person who could break the world record was Matsuoka.

"Horikita-nii, since Nagumo will be removed from the student council, doesn't that mean I don't need to join it anymore?" Rin asked.

Rin's initial reason for joining the student council was to avoid being targeted by Nagumo.

But if Nagumo were removed, there seemed to be no point in Rin joining the council at all.

Hearing this, Manabu paused in thought for a moment.

"Matsuoka, you haven't joined the student council yet, so you don't know about two members of the student council. They are loyal to Nagumo and follow his orders closely."

"Even if Nagumo is removed as vice president, his subordinates will likely do everything they can to reinstate him in the student council."

"Even if they fail to get Nagumo back on the council," Horikita added, "I will be stepping down as president in October. If either of them becomes president after me, they'll undoubtedly carry out Nagumo's vision."

The meaning behind Manabu's words was clear. Rin stroked his chin thoughtfully. "So, you're saying I need to find a way to remove both of Nagumo's subordinates from the student council as well?"

Manabu sighed, showing a slightly helpless expression. "If we kick all of Nagumo's allies out of the student council, we'll end up with a manpower shortage."

"If we're short on manpower, just recruit new students. Plenty of freshmen are applying to join the student council anyway," Rin suggested casually.

"That's true," Horikita admitted. "But while many freshmen apply, they can't immediately take on the responsibilities of the student council. They require training before they're ready for the workload."

"That's true," Rin agreed.

"So, Matsuo6, you still need to join the student council," Manabu said firmly.

Even if Nagumo were removed from the student council, Manabu still wanted Rin to join and eventually replace him as the student council president. He couldn't allow Mizowaki or Donokawa, both loyal to Nagumo, to take over the role.

"But the school knows my swimming abilities and will definitely place me in the swimming club. The student council has a rule that members cannot join both the student council and a club at the same time," Rin pointed out.

"Yes, that's true," Manabu acknowledged.

"In principle, student council members are not allowed to join other clubs because of their responsibilities with school tasks. But…" he continued, "rules are rigid, and people are flexible."

Without hesitation, Manabu added, "If you're willing to join the student council, I'll make an exception. Even if you're part of the swimming club, I'll ensure you're accepted into the student council."

Manabu was not a rigid person, and he was willing to bend the rules for Rin. After all, Rin was an exceptional talent, and Manabu's top choice to succeed him as student council president.

Exceptional individuals are often given special privileges.

"Since you've put it that way, Horikita-nii, I'll join both the swimming club and the student council," Rin replied with a smile.

"I already expected your decision. Leave it to me to arrange everything," Manabu said confidently.

"Alright."

At that moment, Karuizawa and Matsushita emerged from the girls' locker room.

When Karuizawa spotted Rin, her face lit up with joy, and she hurried toward him.

Rin raised his index finger, signaling her to remain quiet while he finished his call. Karuizawa nodded eagerly, her demeanor as obedient as a young wife.

"Horikita-nii, I've said everything I needed to. I'll hang up now," Rin said.

"Alright," Manabu replied.

After ending the call, Manabu held his phone thoughtfully.

"Matsuoka is even more remarkable than I imagined," he mused. "But Suzune… never mind, she's just not worth mentioning."

Meanwhile, Suzune, on her way back to the D-Class classroom, sneezed suddenly. She frowned slightly, wrapping her arms around herself. "Am I catching a cold?"

No, Suzune wasn't catching a cold—she had simply been dismissed by her dear older brother.

"Rin, who were you talking to just now?" Karuizawa asked coquettishly.

Rin, having put his phone away, answered casually, "The president of the student council."

"What? You know that scary-looking—" Karuizawa quickly corrected herself, "I mean, majestic-looking student council president?"

"Yeah, I know him. Horikita-nii and I are neighbors," Rin said nonchalantly.

"Neighbors? Wait… the name Horikita sounds familiar," Karuizawa murmured, deep in thought.

"There's a girl in our class named Horikita Suzune. She's Horikita's younger sister," Rin explained.

Realization dawned on Karuizawa, and she finally connected the dots. The cold and aloof image of Horikita surfaced in her mind. Her eyes widened as she blurted out, "Wait, if President Horikita is your neighbor, doesn't that make Horikita Suzune your childhood friend!?"

"Horikita and I wouldn't be considered childhood friends," Rin replied with a faint smile.

Hearing his answer, Karuizawa breathed a quiet sigh of relief. It was good to know there was no deep connection between Rin and Horikita Suzune.

But then, a thought struck her.

Why am I even worried about this?

As the saying goes, childhood friends cannot beat fate's chosen bond.