Chabashira's Lesson

After school, Horikita and Konoe arrived at the teachers' office door.

"...So why are you following me?" Konoe asked Horikita before knocking.

Horikita asked, confused, "What's wrong? Can't I also have something to discuss with Chabashira-sensei?"

"Of course you can! Then wait by the door." Konoe said, then knocked and entered the teachers' office. Just as he was about to close the door, Horikita squeezed in.

"You..."

"Are you here, Konoe? And Horikita?"

Konoe asked helplessly, "Chabashira-sensei, what did you want to see me about?"

"Don't you know why I'm looking for you?" Chabashira then prepared to take out his mobile phone.

Just as Konoe had expected, but this was not a good time.

"Wait! Isn't this place inappropriate?" Konoe hinted.

"...You're right. Although I'm the only one in the office right now, you two should come with me to the guidance room."

"Did you hear that? Horikita, you wait here." Konoe, thinking Chabashira understood his hint, said happily.

"No, Horikita is coming too."

Konoe's smile froze. "...Is that necessary?"

"What do you mean, not necessary? You don't have to if you don't want to, anyway you..."

"Let's go." Konoe understood Chabashira's meaning and had no choice but to follow.

Horikita also curiously followed the two to the student guidance room.

"Would you like some tea?"

"...I'd prefer juice. Could Chabashira-sensei ask Horikita to buy some?"

Chabashira ignored Konoe. "Then let's have tea."

Chabashira went to the pantry and poured three cups of cold tea. "Congratulations for now. Although this was supposed to be a simple matter."

"Sometimes, seemingly simple matters can become difficult depending on the circumstances," Konoe said, taking out his mobile phone.

"Heh heh, what's the rush? Don't worry, I won't go back on my word." Chabashira also took out his mobile phone and operated it for a while.

Soon, Konoe received 120000 Points. His current points, rounded up, reached 240000.

"What are you two doing?" Horikita asked, looking at their strange actions in confusion.

"Oh, you didn't know, Horikita? I thought you came with Konoe because you were in on it too," Chabashira said, feigning surprise.

"I was just curious why Chabashira-sensei specifically wanted to talk to Konoe alone, so I came along. I wasn't specifically accompanying him."

"Is that so? Then I..." Chabashira deliberately slowed his speech, as if waiting for someone to speak.

"If you have something to say, just say it, Sensei. Stop acting," Konoe said disdainfully. He had hinted several times on the way, and Chabashira couldn't possibly not understand.

Then Chabashira told Horikita the whole story about the 100000 Points transaction. Horikita looked at Konoe in shock.

Horikita suddenly slammed the table and said angrily to Konoe, "Konoe! You bastard, you've gone too far!"

"...What did I do?" Konoe, though startled, said stubbornly.

Horikita spoke almost incoherently, "Putting aside the fact that you're in Class D and should contribute to Class D... huff, and I thought you agreed to help me because... huff, let's put that aside for now. The most outrageous thing is that you had Kushida buy the questions and you want me to reimburse the points?"

Konoe could tell Horikita was very angry, as he had to pause several times to catch his breath while speaking.

"Hahahahaha! Konoe, you're too funny..." Chabashira's triumphant laughter echoed from the side.

Konoe's tone softened. "...How many points was it to buy the questions?"

"Also, the week before your midterm exam, last week. You said you were busy helping Hirata and couldn't make it. After that, you never came to my study group again. Afterwards, I asked Hirata, and guess what he said?"

"...Can I just return the points for buying the questions to you?" Konoe, being verbally attacked by Horikita, felt he had indeed gone a bit too far.

Horikita took a deep breath to compose himself and said with a cold laugh, "Heh heh, give me 60000 Points, or I'll tell the whole class."

Konoe was surprised. "What? It cost that many points just to buy the questions? What were Ayanokoji and Kushida doing..."

"No, buying the questions only cost 15000."

"What nonsense are you talking about! I'll give you 20000 at most."

"I've already spent 20000 Points on you alone!" Horikita glared at Konoe fiercely, wishing she could strangle him at that moment.

"Then 30000, 30000, alright?" Seeing Horikita's expression, Konoe felt increasingly guilty.

"Then I'm going to tell the classmates."

"...Go ahead. I won't be acting for the class anymore anyway."

"Even if I spend more points to trade with you?" Chabashira asked curiously.

"I didn't ask you to keep it a secret, Chabashira-sensei, but you're too malicious. If you want me to act again, you need to prove your sincerity."

"That's what he said, Horikita."

"Even without this scoundrel, I will still advance to Class A."

"Hey... calling me petty is too much. I didn't plan to do anything at first, someone just bought my labor with money, okay?"

Hearing this, Horikita, who was already angry, couldn't hold back any longer and pointed at Konoe's waist, pinching him.

"Ow, ow, ow! That hurts! So painful!" The pain made Konoe grab Horikita's hand, trying to pull her off. But it was useless; it only made him hurt more.

"I get it, I'll help next time, let go!"

"...You said it!" Horikita let go, satisfied. "Also, give me 30000 Points!"

"...Fine." Konoe reluctantly took out his mobile phone and sent 30000 Points to Horikita.

The reason Konoe said he would help wasn't because he succumbed to Horikita's violence, but because he felt a bit ashamed of the valid points Horikita made. However, even though Konoe agreed to help next time, whether it would be a casual effort or all-out would depend on the situation.

"Heh heh, Konoe, it seems you won't need points from my side next time. Are you satisfied with the teacher's lesson?" Chabashira said with a triumphant smile.

"I expected you, the teacher, to break your promise, but I really didn't expect you to pull this move."

Chabashira heard the strange words: "Expected me to break my promise?"

"...No, nothing. I'll be going if there's nothing else." Konoe immediately stood up to leave. Horikita, who was sitting beside him, followed suit.

Outside in the corridor, the two walked one after the other.

Konoe suddenly stopped and turned back. "Let's get this straight. I'll do my best next time, so we'll be completely even afterward."

Horikita said with a slight laugh, "Don't worry, I'll keep your ugly behavior a secret for now."

"What ugly behavior... I'm talking about last time!"

"Last time? You've done too many things, can you give me a hint?" Horikita deliberately put on a thoughtful expression.

Konoe stammered, unable to explain clearly: "It's just that... last time, I accidentally... made you cry..."

"What! I didn't cry at all, what nonsense are you spouting!" The icy voice suddenly rose a few degrees.

"...Alright, I misspoke. It was that I accidentally offended you last time, is that okay?"

"Hmph, I'll decide based on your performance next time."

"Are you kidding me? Anyway, after the next assessment, I won't lift a finger again. Do whatever you want, it won't matter!"

With that, Konoe turned to leave, but Horikita still followed him silently.

A few minutes later, Konoe suddenly realized his direction was wrong and stopped immediately.

Because today was Monday, he was supposed to go to the Student Council, but with a follower trailing behind him, he immediately stopped and turned around.

"Why are you still following me?"

"What are you assuming? The direction I'm going happens to be here too."

"Fine, you go ahead!"

"Heh heh, what are you rushing for? It's hilarious." After mocking Konoe, Horikita walked past him. Konoe silently watched the other person walk away.

Phew... calm down... But just thinking that I have to go see his Older Brother next makes me speechless... Konoe took a deep breath to adjust his emotions and walked towards the Student Council room.