The three rules Tennoji Kaede had carefully selected were worth every penny at this point, when they hadn't even been at school for a month.
Of course, by next month, the latter two freebies... wouldn't even be worth giving away.
In practice, then, Tennoji Kaede had only revealed the vague information that "there will be a team assessment in the future," yet still managed to get 360,000 Private Points out of Horikita. Earning those points had been relatively easy.
With that, his first move in Class D was more or less complete.
Tennoji Kaede could have sold similar rules to the united Class B long ago and guaranteed himself over a million points a month.
But what would be the point?
First, Class B was Class C's rival in the standings. Helping the united Class B raise its Class Points wouldn't pay off in the long run.
Second, Class B would suffer the worst fall in the future. Rather than bleed them now, it would be better to offer them a lifeline when they were down. Once Class C became Class A, he could reach out to the distant and attack the nearby, allying with the future Class D.
Finally, Class B had made a pretty good impression on Kaede. Who knew? Maybe he'd get bored someday and switch over for fun.
He could always switch back as long as he had enough points, so for now, he naturally shouldn't make things too ugly.
All things considered, he wouldn't sell rules to Class B or approach them for the time being.
After everyone left the Cafe, only the three Class C students remained.
Before parting ways, Kaede also took the opportunity to exchange contact details with Ayanokoji and Black Heart Sister.
"If failing an exam means getting expelled, aren't we in trouble?" Ibuki Mio exclaimed.
After the three Class D students left, Kaede shared the three rules with his two friends as well.
"To be precise, you're the only one of us three who's in trouble, so you'd better pay attention in class. Did you think I didn't know you spend lessons daydreaming?" Tennoji Kaede teased Ibuki as he typed a message on his device.
Shiina Hiyori took a sip of her milk Arabica and asked, "What are you doing on your device, Kaede?"
"Oh, I'm still selling those three rules. The buyer's Kushida Kikyo. Horikita's still too young. Kushida said she wouldn't buy the one about herself, and Horikita actually believed her."
"I'm bundling all three together and selling them to Kushida for three thousand points," Tennoji Kaede said cheerfully.
Ibuki Mio nearly spat out her coffee. "Cough, cough. Three thousand? You just sold them to Horikita for a whopping 360,000! What's going on in that weird head of yours... Are you enemies with Horikita?"
"Don't be ridiculous. Once Horikita gets back to class and reveals those two rules I gave her, they'll be worthless. What's wrong with charging a three-thousand-point service fee for selling them again...?"
What Kushida really wanted was the rule about Horikita's weakness, but in truth, that one wasn't worth much either, so Kaede had sold it cheap.
And once he sold Kushida the rule about teamwork, she wouldn't suspect that Kaede might be holding something over her anymore. Because, think about it...
Wasn't that rule aimed purely at Horikita?
There was no way Kushida lacked teamwork skills.
She was one of the two social butterflies in the First Year, after all. The other was Ichinose Honami from Class B.
Tennoji Kaede naturally wasn't worried about Kushida giving him trouble, but if he could dispel her needless suspicions while he was at it, then why not?
Playing house with Kushida behind their masks was quite fun. If he improved their relationship, maybe he could enjoy some other classes' drama down the line.
No matter how miraculous the Haigoku System was, it couldn't uncover everyone's secrets. But Kushida really could.
"You sure know how to do business. You sold a pile of useless junk for three thousand points... No, I need to go back and study. Didn't Sakagami-sensei say there'd be a quiz at the end of the month?"
Ibuki was getting a little anxious. There were only a few days left until the end of the month.
Kaede raised a hand to stop her. "Ibuki, don't worry about that quiz. It's only a Mock Exam, so there won't be any punishment."
"And pay attention to the details of the rules I told you about. Can you really treat a quiz as the equivalent of a Midterm Exam or a final?"
Ibuki looked a little embarrassed, scratched her head, and sat back down.
But then Tennoji Kaede suggested, "Still, we can start preparing for the Midterm Exam in a little over a month. I have an idea."
"Ibuki, Hiyori, and me—how about we form a study group?"
"Us, form a group?" Ibuki pondered.
"Yeah. Like right now: your academics aren't great, Ibuki, but Hiyori can teach you."
"And in the future, if the school's going to assess teamwork, then your Leg Techniques will surely come in handy. That'll be your chance to help Hiyori."
Ibuki thought it made some sense, but immediately realized something and asked, "What about you, Tennoji?"
"Me? Have you considered that I might be both a scholar and a fighter?"
Ibuki pouted.
"I can handle all the other odd jobs, okay?"
Shiina Hiyori smiled. "Then let's call our group the Tennoji Group. What do you think, Mio?"
Naming it after me?
Tennoji Kaede suddenly thought of the future Ayanokoji Group. In that case, it actually sounded pretty good.
The Tennoji Group might be small for now, but it had quality!
Ibuki had no objections. If anything, she was glad. Naming it after her would be way too embarrassing.
And so, at that moment, Tennoji Kaede, Shiina Hiyori, and Ibuki Mio formed the "Tennoji Group."
After that, the Tennoji Group's daily task was to tutor Ibuki. Under the combined instruction of true academic ace Shiina Hiyori and Haigoku Scholar Tennoji Kaede, Ibuki's academic ability steadily improved.
At the end of April, the First Year classes faced their first exam: the Mock Exam.
Ryuen found the timing of the exam a little strange and privately contacted Tennoji Kaede to discuss it.
With Kaede's hints, Ryuen soon learned that the quiz was mainly meant to make an example of someone at the beginning of next month. For Class C, where academic ability was extremely scarce, there was no need to worry about whether to try hard for a good score. They simply couldn't manage it.
As a result, Class C made it through its first month at school more quietly and respectably than in the original timeline.
This was thanks to Kaede reaching an agreement with Ryuen early on and telling him the most important Hidden Rule. Ryuen no longer needed to pay a huge price to probe the School Administration one rule at a time.
The two had also agreed to get through the first month without incident. At present, Class C came across to the other first-years as the most obedient and law-abiding class—in fact, almost timid.
While one story unfolded, another was already underway.
Later that same day, after Horikita bought the three Hidden Rules, Class D was dismissed for the afternoon.
After Ayanokoji Kiyotaka reasoned with her and appealed to her emotions, Horikita quickly made up her mind and announced the two major rules that affected the whole class.
Kushida Kikyo had wanted to beat her to it, but when Tennoji Kaede sold her the information, he had also persuaded her to hold back.
With no other choice, she had to swallow her disappointment and let Horikita have her moment as the class's savior.
But that savior had arrived a little too late.
As soon as the rules were announced, Class D was plunged into boundless panic!
Every Class D student knew just how badly they'd behaved in class.
Worst of all, more than half a month had already passed since school began, and most of them had long since spent nearly all of their 100,000 points.
Now Horikita was saying that the points they'd receive next month might be drastically reduced?
But they didn't even have the chance to start saving immediately!
What was Class D supposed to do next month...?
Before you continue