Shimizu Akira gave her a meaningful look. "You're not so different from me. Don't tell me you truly want to improve everyone's lot just so the class can reach Class A, rather than to prove something to your brother?"
Horikita Suzune was left speechless once again.
She had always prided herself on her sharp tongue, but facing him, she was like a raw recruit stepping onto the battlefield for the first time—utterly inexperienced.
Every one of his words was like a precisely wielded scalpel, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.
"But—" Shimizu Akira suddenly changed tack, the corners of his mouth lifting. "Like I said, from now on, I can make an exception and give you a twenty percent discount on any deal, Horikita."
He did admire Horikita Suzune—both her stubborn personality and her delicate features.
But admiration was one thing...
Business was business.
He couldn't charge a point less than he was owed. At most, he'd give her a discount for the sake of their relationship.
That was Shimizu Akira's usual way of handling things.
"...You really do have nothing but deals on your mind!" Horikita Suzune's fingertips trembled with anger, and she instinctively clenched her fist.
She'd already balled up her little hand, but she hadn't expected him to refuse so decisively.
Then, from the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the solid lines of Shimizu Akira's arm and forcibly suppressed the urge to hit him.
(I can't beat him. If I try anything, I'll only make things worse for myself...)
In the end, all she could do was turn away with a cold expression and force a scornful snort through her teeth.
She couldn't win an argument, and she had no chance in a fight.
Faced with Shimizu Akira, she was once again overcome by a sense of helpless frustration.
(A deal? What could I possibly offer him?)
Horikita Suzune gritted her teeth inwardly.
She had less than thirty thousand points left in her account, and it would soon be handed over as class funds—only to end up in Shimizu Akira's pocket!
It wasn't as if she'd ever considered avoiding the payment.
After all, twenty-five thousand points per person for such significant information was already quite a bargain.
"...Friday at five thirty," she said coldly for emphasis. "If you're late, forget about the tutoring!"
"Got it. I'll be there on time." Shimizu Akira nodded.
He'd been worrying about his Japanese grade, and since someone had offered to help him, there was no reason to refuse.
"Ugh..."
A barely audible sigh came from nearby.
Shimizu Akira glanced to the side and saw Sakura Airi clutching her notebook, stealing a glance at him before quickly lowering her head.
"What's wrong, Sakura?" he asked casually.
"N-nothing!" Sakura Airi hurriedly shook her head, her chin nearly touching her chest as her ears visibly reddened.
(She's sneaking glances at me again...)
Shimizu Akira shifted his gaze away without a word.
He wasn't one to flatter himself, but his deskmate had been stealing glances at him so often lately that it was impossible to miss.
She watched him so cautiously, like a startled little animal that wanted to come closer but was always ready to run away.
Especially since she sneaked a look at him once or twice in nearly every class. It was hard not to notice.
Shimizu Akira's gaze fell on the notebook Sakura Airi was clutching. With his keen eye, he could guess what was going on.
"Could it be... that notebook you're holding against your chest is meant for me to see?" he asked tentatively.
"Y-yes!" Sakura Airi shuddered as if he'd seen right through her thoughts, then nodded emphatically and held out the notebook.
When he opened the cover, Shimizu Akira couldn't help raising an eyebrow.
Every important point from their very first Japanese lesson had been neatly listed inside.
The notes were indeed thorough, but he couldn't shake the feeling that she'd simply copied everything from the blackboard.
(Could she be bad at studying...? These notes aren't really what I need, either.)
He needed targeted tutoring like Horikita Suzune's more than notes like these.
Still, he wasn't so tactless that he'd point that out to her face.
"This is a big help. I'll be sure to study it carefully." He closed the notebook and nodded politely.
He accepted her kind gesture. That settled the favor he owed her for coming to her rescue last time.
Sure enough, Sakura Airi visibly relaxed when she saw that Shimizu Akira had accepted the notebook.
It Seems Like These Three Are No Less Capable Than I Am
Shimizu Akira set the notebook on his desk, stood up, and was about to head to the restroom.
But as he rose, his gaze happened to land on her glasses.
(Hm? The image isn't distorted?)
(Could they just be for show...?)
There was a clear difference between decorative glasses and ordinary glasses.
If someone with normal eyesight put on nearsighted glasses, the lenses would blur their vision, making it impossible to see clearly through the frames.
But his vision wasn't obstructed at all. Those glasses were probably just for show.
(Could they be... glasses that seal away her beauty?!)
Countless scenes from things he'd watched in his previous life flashed through Shimizu Akira's mind.
There were so many examples that he couldn't even be bothered to list them all.
In school stories, a girl wearing plain, decorative glasses was more often than not hiding her true beauty or some special identity. It was practically a standard trope.
(Maybe she turns into a beauty when she takes off her glasses, or she has a split personality, or she's the daughter of some major conglomerate...)
(Class D really is full of hidden talent... There are so many people pretending to be weak while hiding their true strength.)
He couldn't help making a list in his mind:
—There was no need to mention Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. He was practically a master at playing dumb and keeping a low profile. Sometimes he even seemed like a total oddball.
—Sakura Airi wore decorative glasses. She was a hidden big shot, too.
—Even Matsushita Chiaki, from Karuizawa Kei's group of flashy girls, seemed suspicious. On the surface, she looked like a follower who went along with the crowd, but her dedication to taking notes in class was every bit as impressive as a top student's.
Even stranger, lately he'd often caught her secretly watching him and Ayanokouji, who sat beside him...
He had no idea what she was thinking.
(Matsushita Chiaki in particular... Could she be holding back her abilities?)
Shimizu Akira rubbed his chin and sank into thought.
The way she observed him from a distance, along with the sharpness that occasionally flashed in her eyes, suggested she might be just as capable as Ayanokouji and Koenji.
(As expected, Class D is full of mysteries...)
When Shimizu Akira returned from the restroom, his phone suddenly vibrated.
He unlocked the screen and saw that their homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, had transferred him twenty-five thousand Private Points.
The transfer note contained just one short word: [Class Funds].
(That was quick...)
His finger tapped the screen, and he accepted the transfer without hesitation.
After all, those were the terms they'd agreed on in advance. The other party was supposed to cover the class funds this time.
(Looks like the campaigning is over...)
When Shimizu Akira returned to his seat, he noticed that most of the people who had been gathered around Hirata Yosuke and Kushida Kikyou had dispersed.
He casually glanced around. The two small groups, each of which had held more than ten people, now had only a handful of loyal supporters left, still chatting with enthusiasm.
Most of the people around Hirata were girls, and a few of them were blushing as they asked him something. Kushida's group, on the other hand, was mostly boys, with one of them even eagerly holding her notebook for her.
The two had about the same level of popularity, just as he remembered.
Just then, Kushida Kikyou approached with her trademark sweet smile. "~Could I talk to you for a moment?"
She blinked her big, watery eyes and pleaded, "Shimizu, Horikita, please! Could you transfer your class funds to me? Your two votes would mean a lot to me, too."
"No problem." Shimizu Akira nodded readily, then changed the subject. "But something just occurred to me. Would you mind answering a question, Kushida?"
"Sure! Of course!" Kushida Kikyou clasped her hands in front of herself, tilted her head slightly, and looked at him expectantly. "What do you want to ask?"
"What exactly can the vice class representative do? Or... did Chabashira-sensei promise you two any special perks after you were chosen as class officers?"
The question had been circling in his mind for some time.
Why were these two working so hard to collect the class funds? They wouldn't get a single point out of it in the end.
"Well..." She tapped her chin with her index finger, pretending to think. "The teacher didn't offer me any special perks. I just thought that since she chose me as vice class representative, I should do my best to serve everyone~"
Shimizu Akira narrowed his eyes.
(Right, I shouldn't have asked her!)
(But she doesn't sound like she's lying.)
(She was given the position of vice class representative and is willing to work this hard. What a hardworking little workhorse!)
Then he transferred all twenty-five thousand points to her.
As far as he was concerned, it didn't matter who received the points, and it didn't matter who became class representative.
The points had only just been transferred to him by Chabashira Sae.
Besides, the truly important one million points were already safely in his hands.
"Thank you so much, Shimizu! I promise I won't let you down. I'll do my best to lead Class D!" Kushida Kikyou took out her phone and looked at the transfer from Shimizu Akira, visibly relieved.
Then she turned to Horikita Suzune.
"I don't plan to vote for you."
Horikita's answer was blunt and direct, exactly as Shimizu Akira had expected.
In fact, Horikita Suzune's dislike of Kushida Kikyou had been obvious from the very first day of school.
More accurately, this aloof girl kept everyone in the class at the same distance.
Kushida Kikyou's repeated attempts to approach her only made Horikita Suzune dislike her more—like a vampire forced to endure sunlight, she only longed all the more for the shelter of darkness.
But this time, Horikita Suzune glanced at Shimizu Akira. When she spoke again, her tone was still stiff, but considerably calmer. "...I plan to vote for Hirata Yosuke. He's more suited to being class representative than you are."
Horikita Suzune's words were still direct to the point of being cutting, but at least this was the first time she'd openly shared her opinion with a classmate.
Shimizu Akira raised an eyebrow without a word.
(Looks like yesterday's scolding helped a little...)
Kushida Kikyou smiled and nodded. "Of course I respect your choice, Horikita! Hirata really is a great candidate~"
Her gaze moved between them before settling on Horikita Suzune's slightly tense face. "But if you change your mind later, feel free to come talk to me anytime!"
Her words were perfectly measured, displaying tolerance while still leaving herself a way out.
"You could learn a thing or two from Kushida about dealing with people."
"...I'll never be able to fake a smile that well."
Going to the Student Council to Work with the President
Shimizu Akira was added to a group chat.
The group was made up of everyone who had once voted for Kushida Kikyou.
Before you continue