Ichinose, You'll Regret This!

Uesugi Gen's expression faltered.

Are you a walking radar or something? Damn it, that really was what I'd been thinking.

Just like earlier—he'd been right in my blind spot, yet she'd known he was there watching.

"In my eyes, Uesugi-kun is a boy with extraordinary talent, far more capable than I am, but sometimes very cute, too."

"That's why, when I can rely on you, Uesugi-kun, I want to do everything I can to keep as many of our classmates as possible from being expelled."

Uesugi Gen fell silent. Was I actually the one to blame?

Ichinose continued,

"Even now, I still feel incredibly lucky to have met everyone in Class B..."

"More importantly, I'm so glad I got to meet you, Uesugi-kun."

Ichinose's voice beside him was practically brimming with happiness.

"I still remember so clearly... that boy on the bus who gave up his seat before I could. I knew right then that Uesugi-kun had to be a really good person."

"Ahem. So you were there, too."

Uesugi Gen turned his face away despite himself.

"I was. I was right behind you, Uesugi-kun. But you'd just woken up, so maybe you didn't notice me."

"Later, I went ahead to look around the school, so we went our separate ways. But when I saw that boy again, I realized he was in the same class as me."

"I remember thinking, 'I'm so lucky.'"

Ichinose took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and seemed to etch Uesugi Gen's scent into her memory.

"The day my classmates in Class B chose me as class representative, I thought I'd be incredibly nervous and anxious. I was worried I'd mess everything up again. But in reality, I wasn't scared at all, because I thought that Class B had someone even more capable than me."

"When I couldn't handle things, I could rely on him, just like... relying on my mother at home."

Ichinose's voice grew softer and softer, until she was murmuring like she was dreaming.

"Maybe meeting you at Kōiku after coming here as a sinner has used up all the luck I'll ever have..."

"That's why, when Uesugi-kun suggested expelling students from the other classes, I was scared..."

"I was scared that if we really expelled students from the other classes, Heaven might take back this hard-won good fortune of mine..."

By then, Ichinose had fallen asleep against Uesugi Gen's shoulder.

A sinner, huh?

Looking at Ichinose, asleep on the bed, Uesugi Gen sighed.

Ichinose, if you're this naïve, someone's going to bully you until you cry...

Chapter 29: Ichinose, You'll Regret This!

"Shibata, I've got 30 million points in a secret account at the school that I can't withdraw. Send me 5,000 points, and once I get the money out, I'll help you get into Class A."

Ignoring Uesugi Gen's bizarre claim, Shibata asked curiously,

"Uesugi, have you already spent all your points? We only got them a few days ago."

Uesugi Gen covered his face and wept.

"You don't understand. To get confidential information on how to defeat the Demon King, I have to pay off those swindlers every day. I've also got an elderly classmate at home to support, and I'm constantly slaving away for that perverted glasses guy. My points are long gone."

"..."

Shibata stared at Uesugi Gen, at a loss for words.

"In short, you spent all your money buying information, right?"

Himeno Yuki understood what Uesugi Gen meant.

"Exactly. I can't even afford food anymore. Please, help me out. I haven't eaten in three days."

Uesugi Gen shamelessly held out his palm to Himeno Yuki.

"All right, then. Leave this to me."

Kanzaki rubbed his chin, clenched one hand into a fist, and smacked it into his palm. Then he waved to Ichinose.

"Ichinose, Uesugi wants you to treat him to a meal."

"Kanzaki, shut up!"

Uesugi Gen's expression changed dramatically. He hurriedly lowered his voice and called out to Kanzaki Ryuji.

Ever since Ichinose had fallen asleep in her room last time, he'd been making a point of avoiding her whenever he could.

On the surface, nothing about their relationship had changed, but the way Ichinose looked at him always made Uesugi Gen feel like a little lamb being watched by a big bad wolf.

Ichinose, who had been talking with her classmates at the front of the classroom, quickly said goodbye to them when she heard Kanzaki, then ran over with a smile.

"I see."

After hearing what had happened, Ichinose smiled brightly.

"Then I'll treat you to a meal, Uesugi-kun."

"No."

Uesugi Gen turned his head away.

"Don't be shy. I've actually thought of a proposal I'd like to discuss with you all. Let's go eat together in a bit."

Ichinose took hold of Uesugi Gen's hand as he tried to leave.

Palette Cafe.

Looking at row after row of fair thighs and skirts fluttering in the air, Uesugi Gen let out a long sigh.

"Why did we have to come here? I feel like this place and I just don't get along."

"Oh, Uesugi-kun, have you never been here before?"

Ichinose asked in surprise. Palette Cafe was very popular with the girls at school, and plenty of them came here during lunch and after class.

"What a shame, Ichinose. Apart from eating with me and Shibata, this guy spends most of his time playing games in the dorm. The three of us prefer places like ramen shops, so I doubt he's ever been here."

Kanzaki Ryuji, who was walking behind them, shrugged helplessly.

After hearing that, Himeno Yuki, beside Uesugi Gen, said in exasperation,

"Honestly, you're a famous handsome guy in your first year. Don't act like such a shut-in."

Uesugi Gen found a seat, then looked at Himeno Yuki through half-lidded eyes.

"What good does that do? Can you eat it? Don't worry so much about what other people think, Yuki. You're so uncomfortable because you care too much about their opinions."

Himeno Yuki's face flushed.

"Shut up!"

Once the five of them had sat down,

Ichinose's smile faded, and she spoke seriously.

"Now, getting down to business. I asked you all here because I have a proposal I'd like to discuss."

"Of course. Tell us what you have in mind, and I'll do my best to give you my advice."

Kanzaki spoke with a serious expression.

"All right."

Ichinose took a sip of coffee, drew a deep breath, and spoke solemnly.

"Hoshinomiya-sensei said that points can buy anything within the school, so I'd like to collect half of each student's personal points from everyone in our class."

"That way, the points Uesugi-kun needs to buy information can come from this pool, and the class can cover the expense."

"Heh. You've finally shown your fangs after holding back for so long, Ichinose. But I support this proposal."

Uesugi Gen, who had been cowering just moments ago, immediately perked up and returned to his usual self, charging at Ichinose like Don Quixote.

"I want to ask why you're doing this, Ichinose."

Himeno Yuki, who had been silent until now, asked, a little confused. This sort of thing didn't seem like Ichinose's style. It was more like something that guy Uesugi would do.

Ichinose's gaze was resolute.

Uesugi Gen declared with absolute confidence,

"To keep our classmates from being expelled."

"To trample the other classes underfoot."

The two sitting opposite each other exchanged a look, both of them confused.

"Huh?"

"Isn't this about protecting our classmates?"

"Isn't this about getting into Class A?"

They spoke in unison again.

Seeing Uesugi Gen's reaction, Ichinose hurriedly explained,

"Um, Uesugi-kun, I heard from a second-year senpai that students in every second-year class have been expelled. So, to keep anyone in our class from being expelled, I want to save up points ahead of time in case we need them."

Uesugi Gen looked at Ichinose, utterly baffled. How could she think that way? If we get everyone in the other classes expelled, wouldn't we win?

"Of course, we'd use points as a weapon: bribe people, form alliances, and, if necessary, use points to kick out the other side's leader."

After hearing Uesugi Gen's explanation, Ichinose's expression changed, and she said firmly,

"No, Uesugi-kun. That's too extreme. I won't let you do that."

"Ichinose, you're too naïve. I'm doing this all for Class B."

"Uesugi-kun, I'm the Class B representative."

"Ichinose, you'll regret this."

Uesugi Gen and Ichinose glared at each other, neither willing to back down.

The three of them quickly stepped in to stop the heated exchange.

"Both of you, calm down. Everyone around us is staring."

"Anyway, let's explain the situation to the class first and collect the points. You're both okay with that, right?"

The two of them each relented a little.

"That's fine."

"No problem."

"Then who should look after the points?"

Shibata Hayate asked the critical question.

"Obviously, I'm the right person for the job."

Uesugi Gen declared without hesitation.

"Let's put it to a vote."

Ichinose looked at Uesugi Gen calmly. She clearly didn't want to hand control of the points over to him.

"Ichinose, you're too naïve. We have three guys on our side."

Uesugi Gen looked confident, as if she'd made a mistake.

"Ichinose."

"Ichinose's great."

"Ichinose da!"