I'm Looking Forward to Seeing What You Can Do / A White Room Student Among the First-Years?

"This doesn't seem to comply with school rules..."

Hashiba Hikaru immediately feigned reluctance.

"You're welcome. I think Hashiba- kun is an outstanding Student Council President, and I think this reward is just to encourage your Student Council's work."

Tsukishiro waved his hand and walked back to his desk. "Then it's settled. Please wait a moment, Hashiba- kun, while I prepare the budget documents for you."

"Okay, on behalf of everyone in the Student Council, I thank the Chairman for their generosity."

"You're welcome. I'll need your help again in the future. Let's work together to make this school even better."

Tsukishiro adjusted his glasses, his expression serious.

"I will try my best."

Hashiba Hikaru nodded, a playful glint in his eyes.

Chapter 616 I'm really looking forward to your performance.

After leaving the Chairman's office, Hashiba Hikaru glanced at the budget document in her hand. In the lower right corner was Tsukishiro's seal. Although he was acting as an agent, his seal still represented the highest authority of the school.

This was a pleasant surprise. In the matter of renovating the Student Council Office, the boy had originally planned to cover the rest out of his own pocket, in addition to the Student Council's own budget. Since he didn't have to pay anymore, it was naturally a good thing.

Such a simple attempt to win them over certainly wouldn't affect Hashiba Hikaru's judgment. He, Sakayanagi Arisu, and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka would definitely find a way to drive them away, so let's accept the sweet talk for now.

After walking for a while, Hashiba Hikaru received a text message from Sakayanagi Arisu, who seemed to care about what he and Tsukishiro had talked about.

Chat interface.

Sakayanagi Arisu: Classmate Hashiba, have you left the Chairman's office?

Hashiba Hikaru: I'm out now. What's up, Classmate Sakayanagi?

Sakayanagi Arisu: Let's meet later, and let's invite Ayanokoji along too.

Hashiba Hikaru: Sure, let's meet at the Family Restaurant after the Student Council work is finished.

Sakayanagi Arisu: Okay.

After walking back to the floor where the student classrooms were located, Hashiba Hikaru reviewed her meeting with Tsukishiro that day in the corridor. Since this guy was sent by the [White Room], he was definitely not someone easy to get along with.

Putting aside the complicated information she heard from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, in order to ensure that she can successfully get through her three years of high school, Hashiba Hikaru must keep everything under her control. For example, the best situation was when Sakayanagi Narimori the Chairman of the board.

As for Tsukishiro, he must be let go.

Is it over?

After Hashiba Hikaru entered Class A's classroom, the students all looked over curiously.

"It's over. In this Special Exam, our class was probably the only one that didn't drop out."

Hashiba Hikaru shrugged, her tone helpless. "What a treacherous exam."

"Yeah, if our class hadn't been accumulating Private Points since the beginning of the semester, we really wouldn't know what to do this time."

"Classmate Hashiba and Ichinose are truly visionary."

"That's right, we must graduate together, not one of us can be left behind!"

After experiencing this Special Exam, the students of Class A of the First Year learned that one student from each of the other three classes had been selected to drop out of school. This was truly cruel. To avoid falling into such a situation in the future, the students were once again determined to accumulate Private Points.

"My thoughts are the same as everyone else's, let's work together!"

Hashiba Hikaru loudly echoed everyone's declaration. He glanced at Ichinose Honami, who was sitting in her seat. When the girl saw her boyfriend walk in, a look of relief immediately appeared on her face.

Let's cheer each other on!

After finishing her Student Council work, Hashiba Hikaru took Sakayanagi Arisu to Family Restaurant.

The two arrived at their reserved seats. He ordered a juice for the silver-haired girl opposite him and then filled his own glass with warm water.

"If this is to win you over, isn't this reward a bit too small?"

Sakayanagi Arisu the juice in her small, fair hands, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.

"After all, we've only just met, and the fact that he offered such a reward is already a sign of goodwill towards me."

Hashiba Hikaru smiled. On the way here, the boy had told her about his conversation with Tsukishiro that day. Sakayanagi Arisu then fell into deep thought.

"Compared to this, Classmate Sakayanagi's contact with Tsukishiro predates mine. What kind of person do you think he is?"

When Hashiba Hikaru inquired about this issue, he didn't delve into the details of Sakayanagi Arisu's previous assistance in providing reports to Tsukishiro, as it wasn't a particularly important matter.

"Hmm... I can sense his ambition, and his hostility towards me is quite obvious, perhaps because of my father."

Sakayanagi Arisu offered her own analysis, stating that she had personally visited the [White Room] and knew what kind of people lived there.

"And this guy must have come here to complete some kind of mission..."

"That analysis is quite plausible. Since this school has official backing, it means that the interests behind it are very complex, such as power struggles."

Hashiba Hikaru recalled her conversation with Sakayanagi Narimori before he left. Although the silver-haired middle-aged man had been operating here for many years, after the [White Room] exerted its power, he could only watch helplessly as he left, lying low and waiting for the next opportunity to return.

"Yes, only by untangling the complex web of events behind this can we bring the Chairman back."

Just as Tsukishiro harbored hostility towards Sakayanagi, the girl also disliked this guy and wished he would get lost immediately.

"Okay, let's wait for Ayanokoji to arrive and discuss this for now."

Hashiba Hikaru nodded. Regardless of what the people in the [White Room] planned to do, there was always a way out. Let's wait and see what they do.

About ten minutes later, the black-haired boy with an indifferent expression walked into the Family Restaurant. After he came over, Hashiba Hikaru took the initiative to sit next to Sakayanagi Arisu, giving him the outer seat.

Good afternoon, Ayanokoji.

"Good afternoon, Classmate Hashiba, Classmate Sakayanagi."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked at the two people in front of him. Hashiba Hikaru had just told him about meeting Tsukishiro. Since the other party was sent by the [White Room], they were naturally his "enemies".

"Let's order first, then we can discuss business."

"Can."

After the waiter left with the menu, Hashiba Hikaru glanced at the silver-haired girl beside her. Seeing that she remained calm, she then spoke to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

"So, let's figure out the first question: what exactly is Tsukishiro's goal in coming to this school?"

This was something that Hashiba Hikaru was very concerned about. He stared at Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's face, trying to see if this person from the [White Room] had any clues.

"Does Ayanokoji have any thoughts?"

Sakayanagi Arisu was equally curious about this question.

"If I'm not mistaken, he's here to take me back."

Despite the two people's gazes, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's face remained expressionless, as if he were talking about someone else's affairs.

"Take you back?"

Hashiba Hikaru raised an eyebrow, seemingly guessing something, and immediately asked, "Didn't Ayanokoji leave the [White Room] normally?"

The boy emphasized the word "normal," believing the other person would understand.

"Yes, the way I left can't be called normal. If Tsukishiro really came here on the orders of the [White Room], then he should be here to take me back."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had foreseen this long ago; when he learned that his father had returned to the forefront, he knew that this day would come sooner or later.

"This is truly unexpected, but if that's the case, it provides us with a lot of information."

Hashiba Hikaru smiled. "After all, the [White Room] doesn't know we've formed an alliance."

"That's right. As long as I can get rid of him, I will... use all my strength."

This was Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's decision; he hadn't yet accomplished what he was pursuing and absolutely didn't want to be taken back.

"I'm really looking forward to your performance, Ayanokoji."

Chapter 617 The White Room Role Among the Freshmen?

In the Family Restaurant, after Ayanokoji Kiyotaka finished expressing his views, Hashiba Hikaru's thoughts drifted away.

Having exchanged so much information, the boy had developed a great deal of curiosity about the [White Room] organization. If it could cultivate "monsters" like Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, what were its operating rules?

So how do you choose the right people?

"Ayanokoji, if the [White Room] really wants to take you back by force, what methods will they use?"

Hashiba Hikaru tapped her finger lightly on the table, pondering different possibilities. "Is your guardian close to the [White Room]?"

"... You could say that."

When he answered that question, a cold glint flashed in Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's eyes, which was instantly caught by Hashiba Hikaru sitting opposite him.

This surprised the boy greatly, because this Ayanokoji usually gave people the impression of being ordinary, even somewhat harmless.

But when he mentioned the word "guardian" just now, it was as if a crack had been broken in the thick ice, Hashiba Hikaru could clearly feel the other person's intense emotions.

When the [White Room] was first mentioned to him, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's reaction was unusual, but he didn't exhibit such a drastic emotional change. It seems that this guy's guardian and the [White Room] definitely have a deep connection.

Based on the information from Sakayanagi Arisu, since the [White Room] cultivates outstanding children from a young age, it's impossible that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's parents were completely unaware of this.

"In that case, according to school rules, even if a student's guardian makes a strong request for withdrawal, the student still needs to sign the withdrawal form to confirm it. I guess this is part of the school's protection mechanism."

Hashiba Hikaru rubbed his temples, recalling some of the school's regulations. Now that the person from the [White Room] had become the Acting Chairman, if he wanted to force Ayanokoji Kiyotaka to leave according to the rules, he would have to force him to drop out.

"I've already dealt with the guardianship issue; I will not agree to sign the withdrawal form."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked at Hashiba Hikaru's face and spoke slowly.

"If we follow the rules, it's only if I fail the Special Exam that would lead to my expulsion."

"That's right!"

Hashiba Hikaru snapped his fingers, a slight smile appearing on his lips. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's line of thought was the same as his.

"Although Tsukishiro has become the Acting Chairman, he cannot expel a student without cause. If he wants to force you to leave the school, he can only do so through Special Exam."

"But as the Chairman, he can probably come up with some specific rules, since Ayanokoji is a student in Class D."

At this point, Sakayanagi Arisu interjected into the conversation.

"The students in Class D don't have strong Comprehensive Ability, and..."

The silver-haired girl made no attempt to hide her contemptuous tone, as this was, after all, her true feelings.

"If any problems arise, most of the students in Class D will probably blame each other and pass the buck. If such a class is targeted, it will definitely lose even more miserably."

"I share the same view as Classmate Sakayanagi on this matter. Team battles are actually not that bad; the most important thing is individual battles."

Hashiba Hikaru recalled the Special Exam rules she had experienced before, and her tone became more serious. "I believe Ayanokoji's individual abilities are outstanding, but in the Special Exam for individual battles, there's a high chance that Tsukishiro will target you."

"For example, if the Chairman uses his authority to forcibly increase the difficulty of your exam, and successfully increases your chances of making a mistake, you might become a failure in the Special Exam, and then you would have no choice but to drop out of school."

"I've already thought about this issue, and I will do my best."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had certainly considered this issue; after all, he knew the nature of the people in the [White Room] better than anyone else.

"However, we don't need to be so pessimistic for now. Now that we've formed an alliance, I'll definitely support you when this happens, Ayanokoji."

Hashiba Hikaru smiled. Since Ayanokoji Kiyotaka would still be useful in the future, she certainly couldn't let him be expelled from the [White Room] because of their targeting. Otherwise, wouldn't that take away a lot of fun?

"I'll provide support too, after all..."

Sakayanagi Arisu took a sip of her juice, her mysterious purple eyes fixed intently on Hashiba Hikaru's face.

Her meaning was quite clear.

Since this is what you want, I will naturally help you.

"I understand. I will abide by the terms of the cooperation. You can tell me directly when you need anything, Classmate Hashiba."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka knew a great deal. He not only knew that Hashiba Hikaru, who sat opposite him, was dating multiple girls at the same time among the first-year students, but he also knew that she had an affair with a Second Year upperclassman.

Although he wasn't interested in these things, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka always understood one principle.

It's safer to cooperate with someone when they have something they desire. After all, if someone you're cooperating with is "desireless," they're more likely to betray you. Only by holding each other's key interests firmly can you go further together.

"Besides that, I just thought of something else, and I wonder what you two think?"