Bright Deceit and Hidden Righteousness, Reversing Kamuro Sumire's Regret

The Cute Thief Cat caught red-handed by Tennoji Kaede introduced herself:

"...First Year Class A, Kamuro Sumire."

"Kamuro, is it? Are all students from Class A... as skilled as you?"

Kamuro Sumire was slightly annoyed and, deciding to throw caution to the wind, said, "What do you want?"

Kaede lifted the shopping basket in his hand. "Pay for the items in here. I'll pretend I didn't see anything. How about that?"

"...That's it?" Kamuro Sumire was a bit skeptical; he had just been swearing and threatening her a moment ago.

"Alright, I'm just kidding. Put back what you just 'transferred'."

Kamuro quietly put the alcohol cans back, thinking to herself:

So, theft can actually be sugar-coated as transferring?

It seems Kamuro Sumire hasn't started interacting with the White-Haired Loli yet. Tennoji Kaede easily probed for information and pondered silently.

If Sakayanagi had already told her about the Hidden Rule, Kamuro wouldn't be this calm, especially since her weakness had fallen into the hands of someone outside her class.

That makes sense. It's only the morning of the first day of school. In the Original Work, it was only later, when Sakayanagi wanted to recruit Kamuro for her own use, that she specifically investigated and tracked her, catching her in the act of theft to use as leverage.

However, the two girls' relationship actually became quite good later on. Kamuro Sumire even became a plot sacrifice; being forced to drop out by Ryuen was meant to provoke Sakayanagi and break her composure—and it actually worked...

The original author seemed to think that making Sakayanagi lose a companion she hadn't realized she cherished would perfect and complete her character design.

But Kaede thought that from that point on, Sakayanagi, regretting her inability to protect her companion, had lost all her prestige and looked like a clown.

This was just as foolish as the later sacrifice of Sakura Airi from Class D, which was used to flesh out the character of Kushida Kikyo.

Perhaps this is the cruelty of Shijiao. Are those who drop out truly worthless?

Tennoji Kaede shook off the thoughts of the absurd plot points from the Original Work.

At the checkout counter, Tennoji Kaede stopped Kamuro Sumire, who had wanted to pay with her points, and ended up paying for the shopping himself. Afterward, the two walked out of the Convenience Store.

Kaede said to her in a satisfied, low voice, "Kamuro, come with me for a bit."

Her beautiful face was filled with disbelief, as if she had been betrayed.

Kamuro Sumire blurted out, "Where to!?"

"Didn't you say you'd pretend you didn't see anything? You still want to threaten me? I already put the stuff back, you have no evidence!"

"What are you panicking for? Besides, there are surveillance cameras everywhere in this school... I mean I'm taking you to sign a contract that will put your mind at ease. Don't ask about anything else."

Tennoji Kaede intended to reverse the plot points from the Original Work that disgusted him and make up for the regret of Kamuro being expelled. He would start by correcting her kleptomania.

At the very least, if he were to be friends with Sakayanagi in this life, it was better to have a clean starting point.

When the strong make certain sacrifices and contributions for the Weaklings, that is called compassion;

"Compassion" without a bottom line, which harms others, is called a Sanctimonious Bitch.

Tennoji Kaede's bottom line was to use his advantage as a prophet to lead Class C, governed by Ryuen, toward progress, and afterward, to make up for the regrets and unpleasant aspects of the Original Work as much as possible.

This was the best way for him to cooperate with Ryuen: open schemes and hidden integrity!

"Sign a Contract? This... is this kind of thing even allowed in school?"

Kamuro Sumire, completely unaware that her future had already been reversed, looked dazed.

How did stealing a few things lead to signing a Contract?

However, in the end, she timidly agreed to Tennoji Kaede's request.

"You really are composed, aren't you? Does it take this long just to buy something?"

Beside the Convenience Store, Horikita Suzune, with a gloomy expression, slowly stepped forward.

Kamuro Sumire: "An acquaintance? Your friend?"

Tennoji Kaede shook his head. "She's like someone from Class D. I'm in Class C; we're really not close."

"I'm curious about the basis for your condescension. So what if I'm in Class D?"

Kamuro Sumire also displayed a moderate amount of confusion; she did it mainly out of politeness, as she was, after all, from Class A.

"I'm not looking down on Class D." You just don't know how impressive your Class D is. "I'm looking down on you equally, Horikita."

"Hmph, just because I warned you at the school gate? It seems I've wasted my time. You're nothing more than a narrow-minded person who bluffs."

After finishing, Horikita turned and prepared to leave.

Tennoji Kaede said to Kamuro, who was still confused about the situation, "Is your Class A homeroom teacher Majima Tomoya?"

"Yes, that's right."

That homeroom teacher for Class A was indeed quite decent...

"Then let's go. We'll go find him. Do you have his contact information? Or we could go to the Faculty Dormitory to look for him."

"No need, I have it. I saved it during the morning homeroom."

Tennoji Kaede sighed inwardly. As expected of a good student from Class A; he hadn't even saved the contact information for his own homeroom teacher, Sakamoto...

"Wait!" Horikita Suzune suddenly turned around, looking annoyed. "What exactly do you want?"

"Hm? Why are you still here?" Tennoji Kaede sneered inwardly.

That's what I want to ask. Do you want to leave or stay?

Could it be that she is being controlled by Tennoji, and he has something on her even bigger than my theft?

But her attitude doesn't seem like it... What is the logic behind this woman's behavior? Kamuro Sumire was completely baffled.

Horikita Suzune's face flushed slightly, and she forced herself to calm down.

"Tell me all the secrets of the school you possess... I can transfer points to you! That should be enough, right?"

Oh! So you actually managed to squeeze some quick wit out of Horikita?

She actually understands how to trade now!

Unfortunately, she is currently completely unable to grasp the true meaning behind such transactions in this school.

"You seem to think that the 100000 Points you have in your hand are worth a lot?" Tennoji Kaede paused for a moment, then continued slowly, "I'll give you a piece of information for free: right now, the 100000 Points in your hand are the least valuable thing there is!"

Horikita Suzune was puzzled upon hearing this. 100000 isn't valuable?

"Are you joking? Every New Student only has 100000 Points right now. How is that not valuable!?"

Kamuro Sumire was also slightly confused. Even in Class A, where she belonged, everyone couldn't hide their excitement after receiving those 100000 Points during the morning homeroom.

Why would they be worthless?

Tennoji Kaede raised his Student Terminal Device to the total points page.

"This... how is this possible? 6... 700000 Points!?"

Horikita Suzune gasped. She had just said a moment ago that they were all the same...

To be precise, it was 698200. Kamuro Sumire also saw the number of points on Tennoji's terminal.

"Do you understand now? I saw through the school's hidden rules, and as a result, I received a reward totaling 600000 Points."

Tennoji Kaede retracted his terminal and posed the ultimate soul-crushing question:

"So the question is, Horikita, you only have 100000 Points. Tell me, how do you intend to purchase information worth more than 600000?"

Horikita Suzune was completely silenced...

As a self-proclaimed aloof egoist, she naturally knew that this was a deal that could never be reached.

At least, she definitely couldn't do it right now.

"It seems you're out of options. You might as well take some time to think carefully about the 'mercy' information I bestowed upon you."

Tennoji Kaede led Kamuro Sumire, calmly passing by the dazed Horikita.

And left.