I made two copies of the contract, and Sakayanagi and I each took one.
There were no teachers nearby keeping an eye on us. After all, this was a private wager, and Sakayanagi Arisu would never flip the table over something so trivial. A few measly points were beneath her notice.
Besides, she had already won a large number of Personal Points by competing against upperclassmen in chess—nearly 2.8 million.
A mere 900,000 points meant nothing to her.
More importantly, she found Akasaka Ryunosuke interesting and wanted to play with him.
Although she didn't think she would lose, the other party was a monster who had joined the Student Council after only two days, so she couldn't afford to let her guard down.
Even after Akasaka left, Sakayanagi Arisu still wore a smile. It was the delighted smile of someone who had found a new toy.
It seemed that life at This School... wouldn't be boring after all.
Let's go, Morishita Ai, Kamuro.
Sakayanagi still wore a smile as she slowly picked up her cane and rose to her feet.
The two girls beside her followed at her sides like bodyguards, walking slowly until they left the private room.
Meanwhile, Akasaka Ryunosuke...
Looking at the contract he had just signed, and seeing that there was no one around, he finally stopped holding back and burst into a wild laugh at the sky.
He laughed without restraint, just like Uchiha Madara.
"Hahahahahaha!"
"This is what it feels like to be alive!"
"This is amazing!!!"
A stray cat passing by looked at the strange person, spat on the ground, and gave him a disgusted look. Then it said something in Cat Language.
"What a nutjob!"
Uchiha Madara's wild laughter abruptly stopped.
Looking at the cat that had spat on the ground, the veins at his temples bulged like tree roots. He viciously kicked a small stone by the roadside, sending it flying toward the cat.
The cat was struck instantly and let out a heart-wrenching cry, like a mother giving birth.
"Meow!!!!"
Watching the cat run off, Akasaka spat on the ground too and muttered under his breath.
"Damn it! Once I've got money, I'm gonna slap that cat across the face with a wad of cash!"
Akasaka was obviously getting carried away, but he hadn't forgotten that he hadn't done anything yet. He needed to get moving as soon as possible. Time was tight, and everything had to be in place by next month's points distribution.
As usual, Akasaka went to the Student Council.
By 5:30 p.m., the Student Council's work was over. On his way back, he contacted Ichinose Honami and Kamuro Masumi to meet up, while silently mocking Sakayanagi Arisu in his mind.
What a cute little fool. I never said I was going to use Class D to surpass Class A. I can't believe that girl didn't notice anything wrong with the contract.
Well, it made sense. She was just a little girl with no experience in the real world. No matter how smart she was, she still needed practical experience...
Soon, Ichinose Honami came over to me, followed by Kamuro Masumi.
She looked somewhat annoyed as she faced Akasaka Ryunosuke, who had called her over in the middle of the night. The first thing out of her mouth was a complaint.
"Why did you call me over again? Do you think you can order me around just because you've got something on me?"
Kamuro Masumi came up to me and stared straight at me.
I looked at the girl in front of me, with her purple hair and eyes and well-developed figure, and couldn't help sighing.
"I just want you to help me with a little favor. Could you come by once a day?"
Akasaka pointed to Ichinose beside him, and Ichinose greeted Kamuro.
"Hello, Kamuro. I'm Ichinose Honami from Class B. It's nice to meet you."
Faced with such a friendly greeting, even Kamuro Masumi, who usually had a fiery temper, couldn't bring herself to snap. She could only reply politely.
"Hello, I'm Kamuro Masumi from Class A. Nice to meet you too." Then she turned her head away haughtily, clearly a little embarrassed.
Ichinose Honami smiled warmly. "I look forward to getting along with you, Kamuro."
Ichinose held out her hand. Kamuro sighed, then shook it, which meant she agreed. Afterward, she looked at Akasaka beside her, puzzled.
"Why did you call me and Ichinose from Class B here? What's this about?"
Faced with the question, I suddenly felt a little guilty. After all, what I was about to ask Kamuro to do was clearly a betrayal of her class. It was probably better not to explain the details.
If I explained everything, she definitely wouldn't betray her class. I'd have to do it without her knowing.
Akasaka quickly explained why he had called them both out, then immediately got started.
Under the surveillance camera, Kamuro knocked over a trash can twice. Ichinose went over, set it upright, and picked up the trash.
After watching them do it, Akasaka reminded them, "You have to do this every night, understand?"
"Kamuro, I won't make you do it for nothing. I'll give you 100,000 points once it's done."
The two girls looked at me, confused. Ichinose was the first to ask.
"Akasaka, what's the point of us doing this?"
Kamuro gave a disdainful snort. "What are you up to now? What's the point of doing this?"
Faced with the two girls' questions, I gave a helpless smile. But I couldn't tell them what was really going on, so I could only keep dodging the question.
"Don't ask about it. Just do what I say. You don't need to know what I'm planning."
Kamuro folded her arms, looking annoyed. "Hmph! You're definitely up to no good. Don't bother paying me. I can do this little favor for free."
With that, Kamuro started to leave.
Akasaka hurriedly called after her. "Wait, I need to talk to you. Don't leave yet."
Then I looked at Ichinose. "Could you head back first, Ichinose? Just come here at 8:30 every night."
Then I turned to Kamuro. "Same for you, Kamuro. Come by at 8:30 and work with Ichinose. I'll give you 100,000 yen as compensation on next month's points distribution day."
Kamuro waved dismissively. "Forget the points. It's such a small favor. I'd feel uneasy taking 100,000 points for it."
I added in my mind, What a good girl... Too bad she's a bit dim.
She'd count the money for the person who sold her.
But out loud, I said righteously, "Just take it, Kamuro. I made you come out in the middle of the night, so I've put you to a lot of trouble. I'd feel bad if I didn't compensate you."
Kamuro couldn't resist the way I was showing concern for her this time. She twirled a strand of her purple hair around her fingers, struck a haughty pose with one hand on her hip, and replied,
"Fine! Since you're being so sincere, I'll accept the points."
"If you need help with anything in the future, just ask."
"As long as it's not too much, I'll do it."
Faced with Kamuro Masumi's sincerity, I couldn't help feeling guilty. But for the sake of money... I could only ruthlessly cast that guilt aside.
There was nothing wrong with making money.
I nodded to Kamuro, indicating that I wouldn't hold back from asking for her help in the future.
Of course, I meant taking advantage of her in that way...
Kamuro seemed pleased with my answer, and had let her guard down around me.
I looked at Ichinose, who still hadn't left, and reminded her again. "You should go. You shouldn't be here for what comes next."
Ichinose finally came back to her senses and nodded. "I understand, Akasaka. See you tomorrow~"
With that, she waved at me. I raised my hand too, and said goodbye to the cute girl.
Kamuro clicked her tongue disdainfully. "All guys are the same. They can't take their eyes off a pretty girl."
Hearing Kamuro's comment, I replied quietly, "You're not bad-looking either."
Kamuro froze at my sudden remark. Then she reacted, her face turning bright red as she started scolding me.
"Y-you're only complimenting me because you want to use me!"
"Keep dreaming! I'm not falling for it."
Looking at how worked up Kamuro was, I didn't change my answer.
"Kamuro, you really are pretty. At least, in my eyes, you rank among the best-looking girls I can remember."
Kamuro's face instantly turned crimson, like the morning sun, and the color spread all over her. Then she murmured,
"Thank you..."
Akasaka and Kamuro walked side by side to a deserted spot.
Kamuro looked a little nervous. She closed her eyes and stammered, "I think... it's too soon for us. I don't know you well enough yet. At least... give me some time."
Kamuro gripped her skirt, looking nervous.
I didn't pay much attention to what she said. Instead, I looked up at the surveillance camera and nodded with satisfaction. When I turned around, I was about to say something, but saw Kamuro acting shyly. "What's wrong?"
Faced with my question, Kamuro waved her hands nervously. "Nothing!"
Akasaka didn't think much of it. Instead, he slowly undid his buttons, took off his jacket, and placed it on the railing nearby.
Seeing this, Kamuro nervously backed away, instinctively shielding her chest. She said, looking tense,
"W-we're moving too fast, aren't we?!"
"Could you give me some time to get used to this?!!"
"Hm?" I looked at Kamuro Masumi in confusion. "What are you doing?"
Although I was talking, my hands kept moving as I continued taking off my jacket.
Kamuro's face flushed. "You're shameless!" she cursed, then turned to run.
I grabbed Kamuro's wrist. I was just about to ask her, "What's gotten into you?" when—
Kamuro Masumi, who was as nervous as a startled bird, grabbed my wrist in return. Before I could react, she threw me over her shoulder and slammed me hard onto the ground. I gasped for breath.
Kamuro braced her hands on her knees and looked down at me, her face bright red.
"You jerk! What were you trying to do to me?" Kamuro said, her face burning with embarrassment.
I felt the pain throughout my body and gritted my teeth, about to say something... But then I glanced at the surveillance camera on the lamppost and eventually gave up struggling. I lay flat on the ground and suggested to Kamuro Masumi,
"Beat me up again, Kamuro. Just don't hit me too hard. Make it look convincing."
Kamuro was left completely baffled by my words. Her embarrassment vanished, and she asked in confusion,
"Are you some kind of masochist?"
Akasaka didn't explain further. He didn't want Kamuro Masumi to know what he was planning, or she would definitely refuse. After all, it would hurt her class's interests. It was better to keep her in the dark.
Seeing me stay silent, Kamuro couldn't make sense of what I was doing. She reached out to pull me up, complaining as she did,
"You're something else. Every day, you... Sometimes I really can't figure out what you're thinking."
Kamuro pulled me up from the ground and brushed the dust off my clothes. She looked just like a good wife, completely different from the girl who had just thrown me over her shoulder.
Maybe... this was the real her.
Maybe she stole canned beer not because she wanted to drink, but because she was addicted to stealing. Or maybe she just wanted to add some color to her dull life.
Akasaka stared straight at Kamuro Masumi, and her cheeks turned red again.
"W-why are you staring at me?"
Kamuro glared fiercely at Akasaka, trying to hide her embarrassment.
I ignored her fierce glare and suggested again,
"Beat me up, Kamuro."
"Huh? Are you stupid? Why would you ask me to hit you? Are you some kind of masochist?"
I was getting a little helpless, but I couldn't tell her the truth. I had no choice but to force her to act...
I grabbed Kamuro Masumi by her slender waist and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Ah!"
Kamuro cried out in surprise, then glared fiercely at me, but still showed no sign of striking back.
Seeing this, I had no choice but to take things further. To make Kamuro attack me, I used both hands to grab her soft sides.
Kamuro Masumi's face flushed as she clenched her fists. At last, she couldn't take it anymore and slapped me hard across the face. I went flying into the air, spun several times, and hit the ground with a heavy thud.
Kamuro Masumi stormed off angrily.
I was seeing stars from the slap, but when I saw the surveillance camera that had observed everything, I finally felt relieved.
"This is good..."
"Now I have an even better chance of surpassing Class A."
I struggled to my feet and picked up the jacket I had taken off earlier.
I had only taken off my jacket to keep it from getting dirty. I hadn't meant anything else by it. It seemed Kamuro had misunderstood, but that didn't matter. I'd achieved my goal. I could explain it to her when I had time.
Thinking that, I put my jacket back on and got ready to head home.
As I walked, I kept thinking about the time I had left and what I could do.
It was now the sixth day of school. There were 24 days left until next month's points distribution.
According to the school rules, picking up trash earned one point, while littering cost one point.
The act had to take place under a surveillance camera. Otherwise, if it happened somewhere out of sight, no points would be deducted.
With Kamuro Masumi from Class A and Ichinose from Class B going back and forth like this, and 24 days left—or 25 days, if I counted today—we could rack up a 50-point difference.
That could greatly widen the gap between Class A and Class B, but it still wasn't enough...
A difference of just 50 points was a drop in the bucket for Class A.
Based on what happened in the original story, if I hadn't gotten involved, Class A would have had 940 points in the first month.
Class B would have had 650, Class C 490, and Class D zero.
So a difference of only 50 points really wouldn't be enough to widen the gap. More precisely, it wouldn't give me any certainty of success.
That was why Akasaka had asked Kamuro Masumi to hit him in a place under surveillance, so he could get points deducted.
According to the school rules I'd bought for 500,000 points, during the first month of school, each person could be penalized for hitting someone twice, with 30 points deducted each time. That meant 60 points in total.
Added to the earlier 50 points, that made a difference of 110 points. This was the best method I could think of for now, and it came with no risks.
As for whether I could catch up to Class A... I'd have to leave that to fate.
Akasaka opened the door to his room and prepared to go inside and sleep.
He had done everything he could. All that remained was to see whether this 110-point class gap would be enough to catch up to Class A.
As long as I could catch up to Class A, next month I'd be able to get 900,000 Personal Points from Sakayanagi Arisu.
I could also make it a fact that Class B had become Class A.
By then, I would have indirectly completed Teacher Hoshinomiya's second request: making Class B become Class A. I could also get 600,000 Personal Points from her.
As for Hoshinomiya's first request—getting Class D's Personal Points below 100 next month—I wouldn't have to do a thing. Those useless Class D students would take care of it for me!
By then, I'd be able to get another 2.1 million Personal Points from Hoshinomiya.
As for his deal with Chabashira Sae—to help the worst class, Class D, climb up one level in exchange for 2 million—there was no time limit.
He didn't have to rush to fulfill the request. He could leave it for later.
Besides, even if he did nothing, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka would be forced to step in and lead Class D upward.
The deal with Chabashira Sae was basically free money. Even if he did nothing, the money would still end up in his hands...
The corners of Akasaka's mouth gradually curled upward. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't suppress his smile.
Before you continue