In the end, after making Teacher Hoshinomiya furious, the price was settled at around 600,000 points.
Akasaka signed the contract, looking crestfallen and deeply reluctant.
He felt like he'd lost 400,000 points...
They shook hands again to seal the deal. Akasaka suggested that he might need Ichinose or someone from Class B to cooperate later on. Teacher Hoshinomiya said that was no problem and that she'd talk to the people in Class B.
That officially concluded their transaction. As for the money...
It was the same as always: do the job first, get paid afterward. That was perfectly normal. Anyone who paid first and expected the work to be done later was a complete fool.
Akasaka went to the Student Council room, exchanged greetings with Horikita Manabu, then sat down and got ready to work.
Senpai Tachibana wasn't too pleased. I'd interrupted her private little world with the President.
After finishing part of his work, Akasaka pretended to be deep in thought and casually asked Horikita Manabu, "President, how many points would it take to buy information about the school's student regulations and the penalties for breaking them?"
Horikita Manabu stopped working and pushed his glasses up. "Oh? Are you ready to make a move?"
I pretended not to understand and shook my head. "I'm not sure what you mean, President..."
Horikita Manabu glanced at Tachibana Akane. He understood why I was playing dumb, so he said, "Tachibana, could you step outside for a moment? I have something urgent to discuss with him."
Tachibana just said, "Oh," then left, standing outside the Student Council room to keep watch for the two of them.
Once Senpai Tachibana had left, I stopped pretending and asked directly, "How many points would it take to buy information about the students' rules and penalties?"
Horikita Manabu held up one finger. "One million Personal Points."
"Thud!"
I nearly fell out of my chair. Damn it, another million. Was I cursed to keep running into million-point deals? My transaction with Ichinose had also cost a million. At this rate, would I end up earning nothing at all?
I hurriedly sat back up in my sliding chair and put on a thoughtful expression, then tried appealing to his sense of loyalty.
"President, considering how long I've worked for you, could you lower the price?"
Akasaka rubbed his fingers together and held up one finger, as if making a generous offer.
"How about 10,000 points? Would that work? I'll be sure to look after your sister from now on."
Horikita Manabu was so exasperated by the shameless guy in front of him that he nearly laughed.
"Putting aside whether 10,000 points would be enough, you've only worked for me for two days, haven't you? How can you say something so shameless with such confidence?"
"Uh..."
Horikita Manabu's teasing made even me, usually thick-skinned as I was, blush with embarrassment. But I still gritted my teeth and kept bargaining. This was money, after all. Every point I shaved off meant more savings toward paying back my debts...
After my desperate pleading and shameless haggling, Horikita Manabu finally gave in. He agreed to accept 500,000 Personal Points, on the condition that I help his sister, Horikita Suzune, grow.
Akasaka agreed without hesitation. As for helping his sister develop, he promptly let that condition slip from his mind.
There was a useful tool named Ayanokoji who could handle it later, so he had no intention of getting involved in that hassle.
Little did he know that, because of Akasaka's interference, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka wouldn't choose Horikita Suzune as his tool. Instead, he'd decide that Akasaka Ryunosuke was the best choice.
Back in the present, Akasaka transferred 500,000 Personal Points to President Horikita Manabu's account terminal, completing the transaction.
I immediately picked up the regulations and started reading. This was hard-earned money, after all. I felt like I'd lost out if I didn't get right to it...
Horikita Manabu saw how intently I was reading and didn't disturb me. When it was about time for him to leave, he placed the Student Council key on the desk and kindly reminded me, "Remember to lock up when you leave."
Without turning around, I waved to show I'd heard him.
Then Horikita Manabu left, while I kept reading the regulations until I'd finished.
Once I'd learned all the rules, I rubbed my sore eyes and sighed to myself.
Now I understood all the rules.
I'd clarified everything: which actions would cost points and what conditions had to be met to earn them. I'd have a much better chance of succeeding from here on out.
Thinking back on the deals with Chabashira Sae and Hoshinomiya Chie, which were somewhat at odds with each other, Akasaka began to make plans.
It would be difficult to pull off, but not impossible. At the very least, it could be done during the first month.
Akasaka wanted to make money from both sides, but their demands conflicted.
One was Hoshinomiya's request: she wanted Class D to drop below 100 points.
The other was Chabashira Sae's demand for promotion. She'd promised 2 million Personal Points for every place they climbed. She'd given me an 800,000-point deposit, and I'd also received 100,000 from the Student Council President. Then there was the money I'd saved over the past few days by eating the free meals every day and buying free daily necessities. I hadn't spent a single point, so I had 1 million Personal Points in total.
After spending 500,000 Personal Points just now, I had 500,000 left.
I sat on the sofa and sighed, rubbing my forehead.
Money really did disappear fast. But my only chance to make money was during the first month, while none of the classes had caught on yet. I could maximize my profits then.
Once they understood the situation at this school, making money would get a lot harder.
Akasaka rubbed his aching head, picked up the key from the desk, and prepared to leave.
It was already seven in the evening. I'd see if I could get any more free food at the supermarket. If not, I'd have to bite the bullet and spend 193 yen on a pack of instant noodles to take home and cook.
There was no other choice. I owed so much money outside the school. It was my parents' debt, not mine, but as their child, I was still obligated to repay it. There was no escaping it.
Akasaka could only do his best to make money at This School by using his foreknowledge.
He knew perfectly well that once he left this school, he'd be nothing.
He had no head for business, and his physical fitness was average. In his previous life, he hadn't even finished school. He needed to keep up with his classes here, or... he'd fall behind everyone else.
He knew exactly where his strengths lay.
He also understood his weaknesses.
Once he left this school, his foreknowledge would be worthless. He might as well make as much money as he could now—ideally enough to pay off his debts and still have some left over...
That was why he was working so frantically to make money: so he wouldn't starve once he left this school.
Before you continue