Shiina reluctantly waved goodbye to Akasaka Ryunosuke, who was already walking away.
Beside her, Ryuen Kakeru's face darkened. He angrily shoved his hands into his pockets and turned to leave...
But when he thought about it, he had worked so hard to earn 10,000,000 Personal Points, only for someone else to reap the rewards.
How could he not be angry?
The most infuriating part was his strategist! She was taking the side of an outsider, and even looked so reluctant to part with him.
It was obvious he'd fallen into the other guy's trap!
At this rate, his strategist's heart was going to be stolen away.
Damn it!
Thinking about it made Ryuen clench his fists until they crackled.
When had Ryuen Kakeru ever been bullied like this?
Akasaka Ryunosuke of Class D, just you wait!
Meanwhile, Akasaka looked at the 10,000,000 Personal Points he'd just received, but didn't feel particularly happy.
It wasn't that he'd gotten carried away. He might have to give up the money in order to get even more...
Akasaka had prepared two plans from the start. The first was complete, so it was time to begin the Second Step Plan.
He might have to abandon the money from the first plan for the sake of the second—and to make even more money.
That was why he didn't care. He might end up losing the money anyway.
Horikita stood to the side, holding her schoolbag and preparing to say goodbye to Akasaka.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be going. Let's consider this matter repayment for your help with my exam papers last time. From now on, we're even."
Horikita's words were so resolute, as if she wanted to draw a clear line between herself and Akasaka.
Akasaka understood that Horikita was simply like that, but for the sake of his plans, he still wanted her to stay a little longer.
"Suzune, stay a little longer. It's still a bit early to leave."
"Didn't I tell you not to call me Suzune? We're not that close."
Despite saying that, Horikita decided to stay and asked, somewhat puzzled, "Isn't this over yet?"
Faced with Horikita's question, I nodded without hesitation.
"It's not over yet. This is just the beginning."
With that, I handed Horikita the contract I'd just signed.
Horikita looked puzzled, but took the contract and examined it carefully. To her surprise, the name in the signature field had disappeared. Her pupils contracted.
She looked at Akasaka Ryunosuke in disbelief.
She still didn't understand what this meant. Had he used some kind of invisible ink, the sort that vanished a while after you wrote with it?
If Akasaka had done this, then he must be planning to break the agreement.
And if he planned to break the agreement, then he could forget about getting the 10,000,000 Personal Points.
Horikita looked at the man in front of her, perplexed, as if to say, What are you up to?
Akasaka shrugged. "What do you think? I'm trying to make more money, while also preparing to get Class D promoted to Class C."
"That's why I asked you to stay. As the public leader of Class D, you should see this through and help out, right?"
Horikita put down the contract. "If what you say is true, then I really shouldn't leave. Tell me, what else do you have in mind?"
Horikita crossed her arms. "I'll stick with you to the bitter end. After all, we're practically accomplices now."
"Then I'm grateful for your cooperation, Horikita."
Meanwhile, in the Student Council President's Office.
It was exactly 8:30—the time Akasaka had asked the president to open the USB Drive.
Horikita Manabu briskly plugged the USB Drive into the computer. As he watched the video inside, his eyes seemed to shine.
Horikita Manabu pushed up his glasses, as if he understood what Akasaka was trying to do...
He picked up the broadcasting equipment beside him and made an announcement to the whole school.
"Ryuen Kakeru of Class C and your homeroom teacher, please come to the Student Council. There's an urgent matter we need to discuss with you. Please arrive before 9:00. Thank you."
After speaking, he turned off the broadcast and waited for the people from Class C to arrive.
He rested his hands on the desk and propped up his chin, his eyes gleaming with intelligence.
"Akasaka Ryunosuke, let's see what you can do..."
Meanwhile, Akasaka and Shiina also heard the announcement.
They had left KTV at 8:20. It was now 8:30, with only ten minutes to spare.
Akasaka breathed a sigh of relief.
"Looks like I should give myself more time next time. It would've been awkward if we hadn't made it out."
That was right. The reason he'd asked Horikita Manabu to open the USB Drive at 8:30 was to buy time to finish the deal and leave.
Akasaka had calculated it: 8:30 was just right.
He was afraid that once Ryuen heard the announcement, he'd immediately suspect him. If the contract he'd signed hadn't been in place by then, things would've gotten awkward.
That was why he'd asked Horikita Manabu to open it at 8:30. It gave him just enough time to leave after signing the contract.
And when Horikita Manabu saw the USB Drive, he'd know what to do.
He was a smart man, after all. Even without Akasaka saying much, he'd understand what needed to be done.
When Horikita Suzune heard her brother's announcement, her heart trembled. She looked at Akasaka in a panic.
"Is my brother involved in this too?"
Suzune's lips trembled. She was clearly agitated.
She hadn't expected her brother to get involved. Did that mean he'd seen everything she'd just done?
At the thought, Suzune's usually forceful demeanor vanished. Like a nervous girl next door, she anxiously pinched the edge of her skirt.
Kato Megumi noticed her nervousness and came over to Horikita, linking arms with her in an attempt to ease her anxiety.
It worked just as expected.
Horikita soon calmed down and thanked Kato, her voice slightly grateful.
"Thank you..."
Kato Megumi smiled faintly. "You're welcome, Horikita. We're friends, after all."
At the word "friends," Horikita's cheeks instantly turned an unnatural shade of red. She was clearly embarrassed.
She really didn't know what to do about Kato Megumi.
The other girl was like her natural nemesis, keeping her completely under her thumb.
But Horikita didn't dislike it.
Soon, the four of them arrived at the Student Council President's Office.
Student Council President Horikita Manabu was seated at the head of the table.
Ryuen Kakeru of Class C and homeroom teacher Sakamaki Kazuma sat on the left. The seats on the right were clearly reserved for Akasaka and the other three.
Seeing her brother seated at the head of the table, Suzune instinctively lowered her head, as if ashamed to let him see his useless little sister.
After all, her brother was in Class A, while she was in Class D. She was clearly an embarrassment to him...
If only she had a hat right now...
Horikita Suzune was thinking just that when she suddenly felt something on her head. It was Kato Megumi's beret.
Before Suzune could react, Kato Megumi's calm voice came from beside her.
"Don't worry, Suzune. You can hide under my beret."
Suzune looked grateful.
"Thank you, Kato..."
Horikita Suzune's face was a little flushed with embarrassment.
Kato simply smiled. "You're welcome. We're friends, after all."
Kato wrapped an arm around Suzune's. Horikita Suzune was briefly surprised, but didn't resist.
Horikita Manabu watched all of this and couldn't help showing a pleased expression.
Looks like my little sister has made a good friend.
But on the surface, he still acted stern, like a judge without a shred of feeling.
What an awkward man. He clearly adored his little sister—he was a total siscon!
Akasaka couldn't help rolling his eyes. He couldn't bear to watch either of these two siblings. They were both so awkward.
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