After thinking for a moment, Kaoru said: "I've already communicated with the literature club. They're very interested, and I plan to set up several sections on the forum where you can publish your work in the future."
"Publish on the forum?"
Shiina Hiyori appeared quite surprised.
"Yes, the school has granted forum management rights to the Student Council, who will oversee it."
Kaoru explained, "The stated purpose of these sections is to enhance communication among students. Currently, we plan to establish sections like [Story Corner], [Study Group], and [Casual Chat]."
Shiina Hiyori didn't fully understand the significance of this approach, as she was unaware of what reforms the school was implementing.
"Each month, the Student Council will evaluate the content in [Story Corner]. The top three will receive corresponding Personal points."
Kaoru's tone remained unchanged.
Some might be shocked by the Personal points, but there was no helping it - the Student Council simply had that authority.
Just like how the school provides corresponding rewards for outstanding performance in club activities.
As expected, both Yamamura Miki and Shiina Hiyori showed surprised expressions.
"So the Student Council can distribute Personal points?"
"With legitimate justification to apply to the school, the school has no reason to refuse the Student Council."
"Approximately how much?"
"First place is 5,000, second is 3,000, and third is 2,000."
"Eh, that doesn't seem like much."
"Any more would negatively impact students. This amount is sufficient to attract attention."
"How will the selection be conducted?"
"My idea is voting plus judges. Reader votes account for 50%, and judges' opinions account for the other 50%. Currently, I'm the only judge since everyone else has things to do."
Saying this, Kaoru discreetly glanced at Shiina Hiyori.
The other party hadn't even applied to join the literature club, so how exactly was he supposed to get her to join the Student Council?
This NPC usually only spawned in the library and bookstore, places Kaoru rarely visited.
Their relationship had always been lukewarm, neither progressing nor regressing.
To take it further, Kaoru needed to intervene in her life.
Shiina Hiyori seemed somewhat tempted but didn't speak up immediately.
"If there are more people later, I might become overwhelmed too."
Kaoru said this without batting an eye. "Lately, no one has been joining the Student Council. We have too few executives. If we ask the literature club for help, it might make people look down on the Student Council."
"Do you have to join the Student Council to be a judge?"
Yamamura Miki didn't realize she was playing wingman.
"If they're not Student Council members, it feels like we're just exploiting their labor for free."
Kaoru sighed. "It would be best if they could join the Student Council."
At this point, Shiina Hiyori finally spoke.
"Kaoru-kun, come here for a moment."
Kaoru watched her stand up, somewhat confused, but had no choice but to follow.
When he reached the corner of the bookshelves, Shiina Hiyori in front of him suddenly stopped and turned to look at him.
"Who does Kaoru-kun want to join the Student Council?"
Facing the girl's seemingly casual gaze, Kaoru felt it would be difficult to lie.
"I hope Shiina-san can help me."
Without hiding anything, Kaoru honestly expressed his thoughts. "Shiina-san is the most skilled person I can find in this area."
"But I still don't understand why the Student Council needs to do something like this."
Shiina Hiyori stared intently at Kaoru, her voice very soft. "What is Kaoru-kun's purpose?"
Shiina Hiyori was a very clever girl.
She had already noticed that Kaoru was being proactive with her, clearly with ulterior motives.
Suddenly bringing up writing, then suddenly suggesting joining the Student Council - naturally, this would make the girl wary.
Shiina Hiyori felt troubled.
She didn't know what Kaoru wanted.
Could it be that he had some intentions toward her?
Or perhaps Kaoru wanted to pry some information from her?
"According to the former president's vision, competition and cooperation between grade levels will gradually strengthen, and joint exams will become common."
Kaoru said. "This way, communication between students will become very important. Currently, students from different grades only interact through club activities."
Most people who come into contact with students outside their own grade level usually do so through their clubs; otherwise, there are few opportunities for interaction.
I think the Student Council can make up for this shortcoming. The interest section of the forum is one attempt."
"I see..."
Hearing this, Shiina Hiyori's expression changed slightly.
She muttered something quietly, then realizing Kaoru was watching her, said, "Sorry, I was overthinking. I thought..."
"Thought what?" Kaoru asked.
"Nothing, if that's all it is."
Shiina Hiyori seemed to relax, showing a smile. "In that case, I agree."
However, Kaoru didn't look happy."Will it be troublesome for Shiina-san?"
"If it's just reviewing manuscripts, it should be fine."
"May I ask the reason?"
Shiina Hiyori hesitated for a moment, then under Kaoru's gaze, she raised her index finger and made a shushing gesture.
"Sorry, I can't tell you for now."
Because her father was an author, she felt somewhat ashamed of her interest in this area.
"That was abrupt of me."
Kaoru didn't press further.
With those words, they fell into silence.
Seeing this, Shiina Hiyori suddenly realized she had been too hasty, making the atmosphere awkward now.
What should I do? Should I take a book back?
"What are you planning to read today?"
Shiina Hiyori wanted to recommend him a book. "Would you like me to recommend something?"
Kaoru nodded, then watched as the girl walked over to a nearby bookshelf.
"You might want to check out Imamura Masahiro's novels. You seem interested in peculiar human aesthetics. Have you read 'The Story of Shunkin'?"
Perhaps the bookshelf was too high, Shiina Hiyori stood on her tiptoes, almost bouncing, trying to reach the novel above, but unfortunately couldn't succeed.
Just then, a hand reached out beside her and took down the novel she wanted.
"Eh?"
Shiina Hiyori looked at Kaoru beside her, perhaps for the first time so directly feeling the difference in their heights.
"So you can reach the books up there."
Kaoru glanced at the cover - exactly the 'Murder at the Villain's Mansion' she had recommended, another mystery novel.
"Sorry, I went ahead and recommended based on my own preferences again."
Noticing Kaoru's reaction, Shiina Hiyori's pretty face flushed slightly.
"It's fine. Shiina-san is very cute."
Kaoru's response was unexpected. "I'll read any novel you recommend."
Shiina Hiyori stood frozen in place, unsure whether it was because he called her cute or because of his following words, but the girl's face grew increasingly red.
"You're, you're teasing me again."
"Teasing you about what?"
"..."
Watching Shiina Hiyori's completely flushed face, Kaoru found it increasingly amusing.
"The one who's teasing should be you, Shiina-san. Recommending 'The Story of Shunkin' to me - you're adorably mischievous."
"I was just recommending novels based on your taste."
Shiina Hiyori refused to accept his malicious speculation, puffing her cheeks in slight anger.
"There's nothing strange about the book itself - it's the reader who's problematic. Who was it that read 'Paradise Lost' beside me before? Who deliberately used certain content to tease me?"
"Because there were strange things in the book, that's why I discussed it with you."
Kaoru countered, "It was perfectly normal discussion. Wasn't it you, Shiina-san, who started thinking weird thoughts about it later?"
Shiina Hiyori grew even angrier.
Normal people wouldn't ask the girl beside them about strange content, would they?
Besides, what kind of normal discussion was he talking about? Who discusses the protagonist's lewd techniques!
"Alright, alright, I'm already reflecting on it."
Kaoru found her angry expression quite entertaining. "Next time we read 'The Story of Shunkin' together, I won't say anything extra."
Who wants to read it with you? Shiina Hiyori didn't voice this thought.
"By the way, speaking of 'Paradise Lost,' why do you dislike bondage and blindfolds, Shiina-san?"
"Kaoru-kun!"
"..."