"Class B's honest guy?"
Ryuen Kakeru mulled over the term Aragaki Shun had used, then glanced at the four Class D students who had been watching from the sidelines. A strange smile suddenly spread across his face. "Interesting. Looks like you want to force the outcome of this exam before the Midterm Exam even begins."
And for Aragaki Shun to call him an honest guy and suggest introducing them—was it because the other guy was rich but stupid, and Aragaki wanted Ryuen to turn his attention to Class B?
Fine by him. Class A was indeed a tough nut to crack, and Aragaki Shun, the Leader of Class A, had a massive amount of money at his disposal. Class C, currently flat broke, couldn't take on this strongest opponent just yet. Their best way forward was to put pressure on Class D first, then overtake Class B.
"I don't like variables I can't control. Since we've invited Class C and Class D, we might as well invite Class B too. Let's settle this Midterm Exam business today."
Aragaki Shun explained with a smile as he gathered up the agreements: one from Class D and two from Ryuen, three in total, while the others looked on enviously.
As for Sakagami Kazuma's agreement, it wouldn't take effect until he signed it and returned it later.
"Come to think of it, nobody else in our class contributed this time either. Ichinose and Kanzaki, you two at least helped bolster my presence, didn't you?"
"...You're just too efficient. Even normal people in Class A like us can barely keep up."
Kanzaki Ryuji sounded a little exasperated. He didn't particularly care about the Private Points, but couldn't Aragaki at least let him contribute to a Special Exam? Otherwise, Kanzaki couldn't help feeling like his role in Class A was to be Aragaki Shun's workhorse, taking care of all the class's miscellaneous tasks.
"Everything since the start of the school year has been thanks to Aragaki-kun. We made it to Class A so easily, and we don't have to worry about being expelled or anything."
Ichinose Honami wore an especially gentle smile. "Having Aragaki-kun as our ally is wonderful. I'm sure everyone in Class A feels the same way."
"Tsk, look how sincere Ichinose is. Kanzaki, you should learn from her."
Aragaki Shun completely ignored Kanzaki Ryuji's sudden dead-eyed stare. He casually took out his phone and tapped on it a couple of times. Soon, both Ichinose and Kanzaki received a transfer notification.
"One hundred thousand each, as a little thank-you for your efforts this time. And remember to treat our classmates to a celebratory meal afterward."
"Huh? Isn't that a bit..."
Ichinose Honami saw the Private Points that had appeared on her phone and was about to say something, but Kanzaki Ryuji beside her cut her off without hesitation.
"Ichinose, just take the points. Those four contracts of his add up to eight hundred thousand a month. He doesn't need you to save his money. If you really feel bad about it, spend it on our classmates."
After a pause, Kanzaki couldn't resist adding, "Actually, that's what you do every day anyway. You're always treating people to meals and inviting them to get together. I don't understand how you spend so much time making friends every day and still manage to rank only behind Aragaki."
"Talent doesn't play fair."
Aragaki Shun teased Kanzaki, who looked a little indignant. After all, in Class A, Kanzaki's grades had always ranked third, year after year.
But just after he said that, Aragaki Shun suddenly felt a flicker of surprise in his heart.
Hm? This subtle hostility...
The boy casually glanced in the direction of the four Class D students and, sure enough, spotted Kushida Kikyo, with her sweet, adorable face.
So was this seemingly angelic girl the type to envy people with exceptional talent?
Or was she simply hostile toward Ichinose Honami because Ichinose was more popular than her?
Then had the hostility she suddenly showed toward him last time also been because of one of those two reasons?
After making a mental note of this discovery, Aragaki Shun chatted with a few of the Class D students. Time slowly passed.
He didn't make the three classes wait long. About four or five minutes later, a bald man with a few underlings soon appeared outside Class A's classroom.
"Sorry to bother you, everyone in Class A. Aragaki-kun said he had important information about the Midterm Exam to discuss with me?"
"So it was you, Katsuragi Kohei!"
Seeing the leader of Class B's Moderate Faction arrive with Totsuka Yahiko, Ryuen Kakeru's sinister eyes flashed. If Katsuragi Kohei was the honest guy Aragaki Shun had mentioned, Ryuen might actually be able to get a large number of Private Points out of him.
In several clashes with Aragaki Shun, Ryuen had lost each time because Aragaki had amassed far too much wealth. Now, all Ryuen wanted was to get his hands on more money.
If he had a few million or even ten million Private Points right now, he wouldn't need to worry about Aragaki Shun's Transfer Ticket from last month or his threats and bribes this month.
Ultimately, at this school that believed in Meritocracy, Private Points might not be everything, but being without them was a disaster.
"Ryuen Kakeru from Class C, and a few people from Class D?"
Katsuragi Kohei looked solemnly at the representatives from all four first-year classes gathered before him.
"That's right. I've already reached an agreement with Class C and Class D. Now all that's left is for Class B to go through the motions."
Aragaki Shun smiled and beckoned to the leader of Class B's Moderate Faction. "Katsuragi, please sign this agreement. I won't charge you any Private Points."
"You still want to extort Private Points from our Class A?"
Katsuragi hadn't said a word yet when Totsuka Yahiko, who had come with him, couldn't hold back any longer. "Let me tell you, forget it! Last month, our leader Katsuragi just hadn't shown his true strength, and you threatened him with despicable methods."
"Now that our leader Katsuragi is taking this seriously, you'll be facing Class A, united as one and giving it everything we've got. Then you'll understand why the school decided from the beginning that we were the strongest!"
"Enough!"
Aragaki Shun looked at the guy who had jumped out to babble on and on. His cold gaze carried an imposing force that made Totsuka instinctively take two steps back.
After Totsuka reluctantly shut up, looking thoroughly unconvinced, the boy ignored the student who seemed to have somehow snuck over from Class D and ended up in Class A. Instead, he looked at Katsuragi Kohei with some displeasure. "Why did you bring along an irrelevant person with no sense of his own limitations, Katsuragi?"
"If you're bringing someone along to make a show of strength, you should at least learn from Ryuen and bring a few sensible people."
"Is this the overall quality of the former Class A students?" Kanzaki Ryuji joined in the attack with perfect timing. "Even Ishizaki and Yamada from Class C understand that when the leaders of two classes are discussing a Special Exam, they should wait quietly for the outcome."
"Besides, ever since the Behavioral Standards Exam ended, the school has acknowledged that the original class assignments were wrong. We're Class A now. It's been so many days already—hasn't Totsuka accepted reality yet?"
"Looks like the school made a pretty serious mistake when assigning classes. Totsuka should be sitting with Horikita from Class D instead of staying in Class B and dragging Katsuragi down."
At that, Totsuka Yahiko was furious, and Horikita Suzune, who had been caught in the crossfire, raised her brows as well. If Kushida Kikyo hadn't held her back while barely suppressing her laughter, she would have stepped forward to argue with them.
Of course, Ryuen Kakeru wasn't going to hold back his laughter like the others.
"Hahahaha! These are Class B's students? Katsuragi, you're not very good at picking lackeys. Want me to teach you how?"
Katsuragi Kohei remained stern, completely unmoved by Ryuen's provocation. He simply stressed, "Yahiko is my friend, not the lackey you called him, Ryuen. Please show my friend some respect!"
After receiving a look of admiration from Totsuka Yahiko, he reprimanded him without mercy. "Yahiko, you need to change your impulsive ways. When we go out, we represent all of Class B. Don't tarnish the class's overall image."
"I-I understand. I'm sorry, Leader Katsuragi."
Once Totsuka Yahiko had reluctantly acknowledged his mistake under Katsuragi's gaze, Aragaki Shun no longer wanted to waste time. He handed over the agreement. "You can lecture your underlings after you get back to Class B, Katsuragi. For now, sign this agreement."
Katsuragi Kohei gave Aragaki Shun, Class B's biggest opponent, a long, deep look. He said nothing. Under the gaze of everyone from Classes A, C, and D, he calmly took the agreement and read it from beginning to end.
After he finished, he stared at Aragaki Shun in disbelief. "This school actually has Past Exam Papers?"
"Who knows what the higher-ups at Advanced Nurturing were thinking? Just sign the agreement and I'll give you the Past Exam Papers. You'll find out whether they're real or not on the day of the Midterm Exam."
Aragaki Shun shrugged. He also thought the existence of Past Exam Papers was ridiculous, and could only assume the school had deliberately left them as a benefit for Classes C and D.
After all, it was only the second month of school. If too many students in Classes C and D were expelled for failing, how would the class competition work in the future?
"So they're real." Katsuragi Kohei nodded, then changed the subject. "But if you're willing to give Class B the Past Exam Papers for free, even though it's a thankless thing to do, that means you've already gotten enough out of Classes C and D?"
"You're worried that we'll ruin your deal with Classes C and D, so you want us to sign this agreement, promising that we won't tell anyone about the Past Exam Papers after receiving them?"
If someone reported the Past Exam Papers, the deal between Aragaki Shun and Classes C and D would be voided.
Katsuragi Kohei immediately realized that.
So Aragaki Shun giving the Past Exam Papers to Class B for free could also be considered sharing the benefits.
After all, even if Class B didn't need to worry about students being expelled for failing, that didn't mean everyone in Class B was a top student.
Under normal circumstances, if the Midterm Exam could earn them a maximum of one hundred Class Points, Class B would probably get about seventy.
But with the Past Exam Papers, Katsuragi Kohei could ensure Class B earned at least ninety points this time.
"These Past Exam Papers are indeed a gesture of goodwill toward Class B."
Aragaki Shun sat comfortably in his chair and spoke with the calm air of someone who had already figured Katsuragi out. "Of course, you can refuse this gesture and insist on a head-on academic contest with Class A."
"But then Class B will have to face a united attack from the other three first-year classes!"
The boy gestured toward the students from Classes C and D.
If the Past Exam Papers were scrapped, Aragaki Shun would only lose one source of income. But students in Classes C and D really would be expelled. Could Class B withstand the backlash from all three classes?
"Katsuragi, I think everyone should just get along during this exam. There's no need to stir up trouble."
Yosuke Hirata stepped forward, clearly backing up what Aragaki Shun had said.
If anyone from Class D was expelled because of this, whatever anyone else thought, Hirata would retaliate against Katsuragi Kohei at any cost!
"Hmph! This might actually be a good outcome. If the former Class A gets pushed to the bottom and becomes Class D under pressure from three other classes, the school's reaction should be pretty interesting, don't you think?"
Ryuen Kakeru crossed his arms. Though he was deeply displeased, this time he had no choice but to side with Aragaki Shun.
Still, Aragaki Shun's move had taught him something.
He'd used the momentum of the situation to pressure Class B. Looks like Katsuragi really was an honest guy, easier to deal with than Ryuen had expected.
"96. Using the Momentum to Pressure Katsuragi Kohei"
"In the end, Katsuragi signed the agreement, as expected."
After all, Class B hadn't lost out this time.
Aragaki Shun had gotten the meat, but at least they'd gotten a little soup. Compared with Classes C and D, who had to give up some of their own meat, they'd already come out far ahead.
That was also because Sakayanagi Arisu wasn't in charge of Class B during the Midterm Exam.
Otherwise, given Sakayanagi's aggressive nature, she would probably have had everyone in Class B report the Past Exam Papers without hesitation, then watched with a smile as the struggling students in Classes C and D were forced to fight under the threat of expulsion for failing.
Now there was no problem. After signing the agreement, even if the Sakayanagi Faction wanted to stab them in the back, they couldn't do it openly. And the school wouldn't accept a report from just a few people acting in secret.
"Come to think of it, once the Midterm Exam is over, it'll be Sakayanagi Arisu's turn to take charge of Class B, right?"
After Katsuragi signed, Aragaki Shun handed the agreement to Kanzaki to organize. He himself asked about Class B's situation with some interest.
Katsuragi knitted his brows and looked at Aragaki Shun cautiously. "Aragaki-kun even knows that? It seems you really do know a lot about Class B."
"That's pretty obvious, isn't it? Your students are the most realistic of the four classes. They only care about graduating from Class A. They don't care which of the four first-year classes is Class A."
Katsuragi Kohei's heart lurched. He clearly understood the implication behind Aragaki Shun's words.
Were there spies in Class B?
The suspicion flashed through his mind, but Katsuragi quickly came to his senses and dismissed the baseless speculation.
Whether the suspicion was true or not, he shouldn't maliciously question his classmates' loyalties.
Class B was already facing a difficult situation both inside and out. If even he couldn't trust his classmates, who could step up and unite everyone's strength?
"I respect your abilities, Aragaki-kun, but that doesn't give you the right to slander the students in Class B. Even if I can understand your position in the class competition, this kind of tactic is too despicable."
"Oh, so you think I'm lying to you, deliberately using falsehoods to sow discord within Class B?"
Aragaki Shun found it amusing to see the leader of Class B's Moderate Faction looking so serious. Katsuragi gave him a confident look that anyone could read as saying, "Isn't that exactly what you're doing?"
"If that's what you want to think, I can't stop you. Time will prove whether what I said is true."
It was true that he intended to sow discord within Class B, but strictly speaking, he hadn't lied. Most people in Sakayanagi Class really did think that way. Believe it or not, that was up to Katsuragi.
Anyway, as the situation became clearer, the idle pieces he had set in motion would eventually take root and grow. He hoped Katsuragi and Sakayanagi wouldn't find it too stimulating when that happened.
Since Class B had already split into three factions on the surface—the Sakayanagi Faction, the Katsuragi Faction, and the Neutral Faction—there was no harm in adding a hidden Aragaki Faction too, was there?
Unite Class B—who else but me?
"I still have things to take care of, so I'll be going." Since Katsuragi had decided to trust his classmates, he wasn't about to waver. He turned to the green-haired boy beside him and beckoned. "Yahiko, let's go."
"Yes."
Totsuka Yahiko answered and hurried after Katsuragi. As they walked, he held his chin high, looking immensely pleased, as if being allowed to follow Katsuragi were something to be proud of.
It could only be said that even among the students the school had originally assigned to Class A, there were oddballs no less peculiar than the ones in Class D.
"Hmph! Ishizaki, Yamada, we're leaving too."
Ryuen strutted toward the classroom door, but then Aragaki Shun suddenly called out, "You can pay the two hundred thousand for the Past Exam Papers after the Midterm Exam, but make sure you transfer the compensation you and Sakagami Kazuma owe me before tomorrow morning."
The Tyrant of Class C's stride immediately turned into an awkward shuffle. He shot Aragaki Shun a murderous glare, muttered, "Just you wait," and hurried off with his two underlings.
"Aragaki-kun, these Past Exam Papers have been a huge help. When would you be free? I'd like to treat you to a meal."
Seeing that Kushida and the others from Class D were getting ready to leave too, Karuizawa Kei hesitated, then stepped forward and invited Aragaki Shun out.
As expected, the people from both Classes A and D immediately turned to stare at her.
But what else could she do? She'd considered sending him a love letter and arranging to meet him somewhere secluded, then asking him for help.
The problem was that he didn't even read the letters he received. He tossed them straight into the trash. She was at a loss, too!
The class competition was growing more and more intense. Ryuen Kakeru from Class C had even started instructing his classmates to provoke students from other classes. If she couldn't find someone powerful enough to protect her soon, she might not have enough time.
She couldn't wait any longer. She had to make the first move!
Before you continue