“I suppose, but… Well, um, if you could take on the role of representative, it would be an immense help to not just me, but the entire class. Are you really sure you’re okay with this?” asked Horikita.
Horikita repeatedly asked me for confirmation, but there was already a bright sparkle in her eyes. I decided to add something important, even though it might dim that sparkle.
“I’m sure. However, I have a few conditions,” I replied.
Naturally, for Horikita, “conditions” was a word that raised alarm.
“…And what would those be? Difficult conditions?” she asked.
“I’m not so sure about that. The question of whether your pride would allow it is also relevant, Horikita,” I replied.
“My pride? Can you elaborate on that?” she asked.
Even though I told her that there were conditions, she seemed very willing to consider appointing me as a representative, so I kept talking.
“I’m sure that in almost one hundred percent of cases, each of the class leaders will be participating in the exam as the general for their respective class,” I began.
“Yes, that’s true. The general has the most Life Points, meaning they can make more mistakes, which in turn means that to be a vanguard or center would be to give up that advantage. That much is obvious,” said Horikita.
With that understood, I moved on to talk about the matter of pride.
“The present leader of the class is you, Horikita. Unmistakably so,” I said. “With that in mind, one of the conditions I have for my accepting the role is that I would like for you to be the center in the lineup, and that you have me as the general.”
“You as the general…?” she asked.
She didn’t need to think too deeply about what that would mean. It would make people think that the real leader of the class wasn’t Horikita, but myself.
“As I said before, it’s quite likely, with almost one hundred percent certainty, the other classes will have Ichinose, Ryuuen, and Sakayanagi as their respective generals. They will want to fight with as much life as possible,” I explained.
Horikita listened to my words, then nodded.
“In other words, if I’m the general, there would be students from not just our class but the other classes that will likely have some thoughts about the matter. Some of them may even see you as being an unreliable leader, Horikita.”
“That’s putting it very mildly. But you’re probably right. In this exam, it’s inevitable that the student who sits in the general’s seat would be the most talented student in the class,” said Horikita.
“Right. Which is why whether or not you are willing to accept that is a prerequisite for me being a representative,” I added.
I would respect Horikita’s wishes, of course. If anything, I would see it as something to be glad about if she wished to be the general herself in this case, as I could take that to mean that she has begun to have a keen sense of herself as the leader.
“And if I said that the position of general was the only thing I wouldn’t give up?” asked Horikita.
“Then I guess I’d just say no to the whole thing,” I replied.
If Horikita rejected the terms of the proposal, then I wouldn’t be a representative, of course.
“Pride, huh. I see your point. To be perfectly honest, I personally don’t really care too much whether I’m the general or not, as long as I can win. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t care about it at all, mind you,” said Horikita.
“Yeah, I’m sure,” I responded. “Actually, if that weren’t the case, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.”
It wasn’t as though pride itself was something that had any value. But a leader with pride, that was a different matter.
“Can you tell me the reason you won’t accept the role if you’re not the general?” She asked. “Is it simply because you’re better than me?”
“No, It’s much simpler than that,” I answered. “I just don’t want to have to take a turn.”
“So you’re saying that you’re willing to be a representative, but you don’t want to fight if you can help it?” she asked.
“That’s right,” I replied.
When I gave her that answer without any hesitation, Horikita scowled, furrowing her brow as she tried to search for the point of my inclusion as a representative if that was how I felt.
“That’s… I would have to wonder how much good that would even do for me. If I have you as the general, right now, that would probably make me the center. And if I am to fight in such a way that you won’t have to take a turn, then that means I’m going to have to fight quite a grueling battle,” said Horikita.
“Yes, it certainly would put you at a disadvantage, that’s true. From the start, the number of mistakes you’ll be allowed to make will be reduced, which is a significant handicap. Furthermore, in order to win as the center, you’ll have to cut down a lot of Life Points very quickly to defeat all of the opponents,” I explained.
It wasn’t surprising that Horikita would have doubts after hearing all of that. By telling her that I would accept only if I were given the role of general, and that I wanted her to make sure I didn’t have to take a turn, I was giving her even more considerations to take into account. Of course, it would be quicker if Horikita could just win it all herself, but things weren’t that easy.
“By the way, judging from your wording earlier, that wasn’t the only condition, was it?” asked Horikita.
Horikita, still unable to come to a conclusion, asked to check what came beyond that first condition. I had no intention of rushing her, for my part.
“Okay, let’s put the whole general thing on hold and move on, shall we?” I told her. “I also want a reward in exchange for accepting the positsion of representative.”
“Private Points?” asked Horikita.
“No, I’m not looking for those. What I want is the same thing as Kouenji. That is, from now on, I won’t contribute anything to the class. I will not cooperate. I want you to allow for that,” I explained.