Sorry, Ayanokoji-it was me who sold you out again.

Why did this sound more and more wrong the longer he talked?

Akasaka could tell his words were coming out wrong, but that wasn't the most important thing right now. The most important thing was figuring out how to get the teacher off his back so he could get a good night's sleep.

Akasaka thought it over, then decided to sell out Ayanokoji.

Sorry, Ayanokoji. For the sake of my grand money-making plan, I'll have to put you through a little trouble.

Akasaka stared straight at Chabashira Sae and, without hesitation, sold out Ayanokoji Kiyotaka by telling her he was a real expert.

When Chabashira Sae found out there was another expert in their class, her face lit up with delight.

Then, when she learned that Ayanokoji had deliberately scored 50 on every entrance exam, her excitement grew even greater.

Akasaka also sold out Horikita Suzune while he was at it.

Though Chabashira looked down on her...

I also told her that Suzune was Horikita Manabu's younger sister and that she could be useful to her—that Horikita Manabu wouldn't just leave her to fend for herself.

Chabashira had known about it for ages. It wasn't a secret, after all. Anyone with half a brain could look into it and figure out that the two were siblings.

Besides, they had the same last name. Chabashira wasn't stupid—how could she not have looked into it?

It was just that Suzune's performance had been so underwhelming that Chabashira Sae had given up on using her to help the class advance.

Akasaka had successfully sold the two of them out to Chabashira, gaining some peace and quiet in return.

At the same time, he'd dragged Ayanokoji, who wanted nothing more than a peaceful life, into this whole mess and brought him to Chabashira's attention.

Chabashira probably wouldn't let this useful tool go so easily now. That meant Akasaka could relax.

He could get Ayanokoji to help him deal with Horikita Suzune, and he'd have someone else helping the class advance. It was a two-for-one deal.

He wouldn't have to do a thing. He'd get the money and the job done—a true win without lifting a finger.

In the end, Chabashira Sae didn't give Akasaka a hard time for failing to get the job done. She knew what kind of class D was, after all. She'd just wanted someone to vent her frustration on.

Otherwise, she'd go mad.

Three years of trying, then three more years of trying—when would she ever make it to Class A?

She'd thought this year's Class D was the worst class in history.

She hadn't expected there to be a few hidden gems.

Never mind Akasaka Ryunosuke, who'd joined the Student Council in just two days and managed to pull Class B up to Class A. She had no idea what methods he'd used, but he'd done it all on his own.

If he was willing to step in, then perhaps it wasn't impossible for Class D to climb the ranks.

If she wanted to move up, she'd need him. So she couldn't afford to offend him.

Chabashira gave up on the idea of making trouble for Akasaka and turned her attention to someone else who had caught her interest.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

Ever since he'd enrolled, this guy had been perfectly ordinary, with nothing about him that stood out. His eyes looked dead, too. She'd thought he was just an average student, but it turned out he was an expert at controlling his scores.

And... the surname Ayanokoji. Where had she heard it before?

Was he related to that Ayanokoji in the political world, or was it just a coincidence that they shared a surname?

Forget it. What did any of that have to do with her? She just wanted to make it to Class A. If she could get into Class A, she'd do anything—even if the boy before her wanted her body, she'd probably agree. As long as he could lead the class into Class A, she was willing to do anything, even sell her soul.

Chabashira stubbed out her cigarette and stared straight at Akasaka with a burning gaze. He couldn't help feeling baffled.

Faced with Chabashira Sae's undisguised, fiery stare, Akasaka shuddered and hurriedly backed away, shielding himself.

"What are you looking at? Why are you staring at me? Don't tell me you're scheming something again, Chabashira?"

At my question, Chabashira quickly composed herself, then sighed. "What would it take for you to step in? Just tell me. If it's something I can do, I'll do it."

Chabashira lit another cigarette, making my eyebrow twitch. I glanced at the nearly two packs' worth of cigarette butts in the ashtray and kindly reminded her, "Smoking's bad for your health, Chabashira. You should take care of yourself."

Chabashira waved a hand dismissively, unconcerned.

"I've been smoking like this for three years, and nothing's happened to me... Cough, cough!"

She'd barely finished speaking before the smoke made her cough.

Akasaka gave her a helpless look. "Chabashira, smoking won't solve your problems."

Once she'd recovered, Chabashira Sae snapped, "Then why don't you solve them for me, you idiot? I've already paid you, and you haven't lifted a finger."

Akasaka shrugged. "I'll step in. In the next couple of days."

"Oh?"

Chabashira immediately perked up. "What are you going to do?"

Akasaka smiled mysteriously. "It's a secret."

Chabashira rolled her eyes at him. "Fine, don't tell me if you don't want to. Do you need my help?"

Akasaka shook his head. "No. You should focus on dealing with Ayanokoji and Suzune first. Find a way to get them both on board, and remember, don't let them know I was the one who told you..."

Akasaka had specifically mentioned that so Ayanokoji wouldn't hold a grudge against him.

After all, he'd disturbed Ayanokoji's peaceful life. If Ayanokoji found out, there was a good chance he'd make trouble for him...

At the same time, to put Chabashira's mind at ease, Akasaka gave her a pretty strong guarantee.

"Just get those two on board, and you don't have to worry about anything else. I'll help from behind the scenes. Making it to Class A is only a matter of time."

He added silently, Ayanokoji will step in.

Chabashira Sae considered it carefully, then nodded.

"Fine. As long as we can make it to Class A, I'll do my best to cooperate."

The two reached a verbal agreement, and Akasaka left with a carefree stride.

The next morning

It was Saturday.

Akasaka planned to make a few preparations for the operation ahead.

After all, he was aiming to earn a huge number of points. He had to plan ahead.

He went to the electronics superstore to buy a large number of cameras and get things ready for the operation.

As soon as he arrived, he spotted a familiar figure.

Burgundy hair, along with zero-prescription glasses meant to hide her looks—it was his classmate, Sakura Airi.

The timing was about right...

Akasaka glanced casually at the Clerk beside him, his eyes shining.

What great luck... another chance to make money.

Akasaka walked over and greeted Sakura. "Hey, good morning, Sakura. Are you here to buy a Digital Camera?"

My sudden greeting clearly startled Sakura. She nearly dropped the camera, but quickly clutched it to her chest with both hands and let out a sigh of relief.

She turned around, saw it was me, and nodded timidly.

"Good morning... Akasaka."