Money-Making Operation Begins.

The student ceremony proceeded as usual.

There was nothing much to add. They just went over some student rules and regulations.

Akasaka immediately lost interest. He needed to figure out how to make money. He needed to earn a large number of points to secure his life after graduation.

Akasaka went to the Convenience Store, planning to lie in wait for someone.

If he wasn't mistaken, a certain woman had been caught by the pigtail here.

Sure enough, he didn't have to wait long before a pretty girl with purple hair sneaked into the Convenience Store.

From the way she was acting so furtively, it was obvious she was a beginner.

Akasaka followed quietly behind her, pulling out his phone at the same time to record her.

The girl didn't disappoint him. She picked up a can of beer and stuffed it into her bag.

Akasaka didn't step in to stop her. This was exactly what he wanted. He needed the woman in front of him to be his informant and help him with a few things. So he had to get leverage over her and make her do whatever he asked.

And the woman in front of him was Kamuro Masumi, whom he'd run into on the bus.

After getting the beer, Kamuro Masumi intended to leave the area quickly.

Akasaka followed close behind, glancing at the white-haired little girl hiding in the shadows.

It seemed the white-haired little girl had already set her sights on Kamuro Masumi. Seeing someone else eyeing her prey, Sakayanagi Arisu merely smiled and left.

She could always pick another target. All she needed was an obedient little dog.

Seeing the little girl give up, Akasaka continued after Kamuro Masumi and called out to stop her.

"Please wait a moment."

Kamuro Masumi heard someone call to her and stopped.

"What is it?"

In response to Kamuro Masumi's question, I said nothing and pulled out my phone, showing her what I'd just recorded: her stealing the can of beer.

Kamuro Masumi reflexively tried to snatch it, but I pulled it back.

I looked at Kamuro Masumi and made my proposal.

"If you don't want anyone to find out you stole that beer, become my person."

Kamuro Masumi abruptly stepped back, drawing in on herself as she watched me warily.

Seeing how guarded she was, I realized she'd misunderstood and hurried to clarify.

"I mean, be my informant and help me keep an eye on everything Class A does."

"Of course, I won't make you do it for free. I'll pay you a suitable number of points in return."

Kamuro Masumi paid no attention to my proposal. Instead, she looked at me in confusion.

"What exactly do you want to use me for? You want me to be a spy in Class A and work for you?"

I nodded. "That's right. As long as you listen to me, I won't tell anyone about you stealing the beer. How does that sound?"

Kamuro Masumi gritted her teeth and irritably ran a hand through her hair.

"I knew I shouldn't have stolen that can of beer. I never thought someone from another class would catch me. What a screw-up."

"Fine, I guess you've got me over a barrel. But let me make this clear: if you try anything funny with me, go ahead and see what happens. I'll take you down with me."

That was Kamuro Masumi's bottom line. If he crossed it, she'd rather expose them both and go down together.

"Fine, I accept. I wasn't interested in someone like you, anyway—stupid... I mean, someone with a simple mind and a strong body."

"Were you just about to call me an idiot?"

"No," Akasaka insisted, refusing to admit it.

Kamuro Masumi sighed. "Looks like I'll be stuck working with you from now on. Which class are you in?"

"Year 1 Class D. Akasaka Ryunosuke." After saying this, I held out my hand.

"Year 1 Class A. Kamuro Masumi." The girl reluctantly shook my hand, then let go with a look of disgust. "Can I go now?"

"By all means." I stepped aside to let her pass.

Kamuro Masumi gave an annoyed snort and left.

Before she went, we exchanged contact information so we could get in touch later.

Watching Kamuro Masumi leave, I sighed.

"It doesn't matter. As long as I get what I want, I don't care what it takes."

Then I gathered my schoolbag and went back to rest.

Early the next morning, I arrived in the classroom.

Just as I'd expected, the place was a mess. Everyone was whispering to each other, not paying the slightest attention to the teacher lecturing in front of them. And this was only the second day...

No surprise there. Class D...

I'd never planned to get this bunch of deadbeats promoted to Class A. I'd leave that headache to Ayanokoji. I'd just focus on making money.

I went to the homeland of the Back Row Window King and set down my schoolbag, then attended class as usual.

Class ended soon enough. I stood up and continued with my money-making plans.

With my foresight, I'd quickly amass a fortune at This School.

By the time I graduated and left, even if I just put the money in the bank and lived off the interest, I should be able to live comfortably for the rest of my life. Then I could find myself a pretty girlfriend, and my life would be perfect...

The adorable Black Angel Kushida saw me about to leave and hurriedly got up to follow.

She'd been wondering since yesterday why this boy kept avoiding her.

It was as if he could see right through her, and it made her uneasy.

She had to find out whether the boy in front of her had been in the same class as her before. If he had...

Kushida's eyes gradually filled with Black Eyes.

She absolutely couldn't let anyone expose what had happened in middle school. Absolutely not!

Kushida put on a sweet smile and came over. "Hi, Akasaka. Could we be friends?"

Kushida wore a sweet, adorable, and charming smile. An ordinary boy would probably have fallen for her by now... Unfortunately for her, I wasn't ordinary.

With my hands in my pockets, I looked straight at Kushida without looking away, staring right at her.

Under my gaze, Kushida seemed a little embarrassed and averted her eyes. Of course, she could have been faking it...

This woman was way too good at acting...

Under my intense gaze, Kushida shifted bashfully and put on an embarrassed act. "Akasaka, it's not nice to stare at a girl like that. You're making me blush."

Tch, you little bitch! You're really good at acting.

I couldn't help clicking my tongue inwardly. I walked past her, ready to leave the classroom.

I didn't have time to play along with this Black Swan. Making money was what mattered. All I cared about was money.

"Huh?" The Black Swan froze when she saw me simply walk off. Then she suddenly came to her senses, turned around, and grabbed my wrist.

"Wait, Akasaka. Let's exchange contact information. I want to be friends with you."

Akasaka hadn't expected Kushida to be so forward that she would boldly grab him in front of all their classmates. It seemed she was willing to go all out.

With everyone watching, Kushida was a little nervous too.

She'd never met a man who was this hard to handle.

Other boys would have been wrapped around her little finger after just a few words. Why was this one making things so difficult that she had to take the initiative herself?

Under the gazes of all the boys—full of envy and jealousy—and the confused looks of the girls, Kushida deliberately put on a shy expression and acted bashfully.

"Does Akasaka hate me? Why don't you want to be friends with me?"

As she spoke, tears glimmered in her eyes, as if it were all true.

I couldn't help being amazed.

It's a shame you're not an actress with acting this good.

Though I was thinking that, I put on an innocent expression and said to Kushida:

"Kushida, I don't hate you. I just really need to use the bathroom. You're holding me back, and it's making things difficult for me."

Kushida quickly let go, her cheeks tinged with red. "Sorry, I didn't know you needed to use the bathroom. I'll get out of your way."

With that, she hurried off, her face flushed.

That boy has no shame! Even if he really needs to use the bathroom, he shouldn't say that in front of a girl!!!!

Now he's made it look as if I'm the one being unreasonable.

Kushida roared inwardly.

When Akasaka saw Kushida finally leave, he smiled, pleased with how things had gone.

You think I can't handle you?

With that, I picked up my schoolbag and prepared to leave.

I wasn't really going to the bathroom. That was just an excuse to get away from Kushida. What mattered more right now was finding ways to make money, by any means necessary...

I took out my phone and called Kamuro Masumi, whom I'd teamed up with the day before. She answered quickly, and her impatient voice came through.

"What is it?"

I felt no strong emotion toward such an impolite woman. I was only using her to accomplish my goal, after all.

I tugged at my tight tie and undid two buttons to loosen it a little.

Everything about this uniform was fine except how formal it was. It made my neck terribly uncomfortable. I gave Kamuro Masumi a brief instruction over the phone.

"Is there someone in your class named Sakayanagi Arisu?"

On the other end of the line, Kamuro Masumi gave a disdainful scoff.

"Loli-con."

Akasaka Ryunosuke...

"I think you've misunderstood something... That's not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean? You're asking me about that girl, but it's not what I think? So what is it?"

I rubbed my irritated brow, my voice turning a little more serious.

"I have something important to discuss with you. Can you be serious for once?"

Kamuro Masumi immediately fell silent and nodded.

"Go ahead. What do you want me to do for you?"

"Keep an eye on that girl named Sakayanagi Arisu..."

After I finished telling her what I needed her to do, I hung up and checked the time.

"It's time for the next step..."

I went to the Student Council Office again and gently knocked on the door.

"Come in."

A girl's clear voice came from inside.

The one who opened the door was Tachibana Akane, Horikita Manabu's secretary.

Tachibana Akane looked at the visitor and asked, "What can I do for you, underclassman?"

"Ah, hello. I'm a first-year student from Class D, Akasaka Ryunosuke. Is Horikita Manabu here? I have something to discuss with him."

Horikita Manabu, who had been handling paperwork in the student council president's chair, heard that the visitor was in the same class as his younger sister. He stopped what he was doing and pushed up his glasses.

"Let him in, Tachibana Akane."

"But, President, you're still busy..."

"It's fine. Let him in. I'm nearly done, and a little more time won't make a difference."

"Understood..."