Everyone's Confusion; Saint Mary

Even if Class A was full of model students, the gap couldn't be that big, could it?

Forget it.

As long as Kijima Tsukur understood

that graduating from Class A together was impossible in the first place,

that was enough.

It just wasn't realistic!

More importantly...

"Besides, even if I grant you every benefit of the doubt..."

Ryuuen lifted his chin slightly and spoke with a hint of mockery:

"Suppose everything you said was true and your intentions were pure. What makes you think we'd listen to you?"

"Compared to graduating from Class A together, I'd rather tear you to pieces right now."

"Kijima Tsukur!"

Everyone's Confusion, the Holy Mother Maria

La la la, I can't hear you.

Some people wanted to graduate from Class A, some wanted to enjoy campus life, and some were just in it for fun.

Even if he believed everything Kijima said was true, Ryuuen still wouldn't give in.

"Is that so?"

Kijima didn't seem to mind. He put away the Rubik's Cube and took out his phone,

then showed his friend code to the others:

"I told you, didn't I? All you need to do now is have the people in your classes deposit their money and add each other as friends. After that, do whatever you like."

"Um..."

Hirata Yosuke looked confused. "What does that mean?"

Free information was one thing, but there was absolutely no guarantee that they'd agree to let Kijima become the first-year leader. He really couldn't make sense of this guy.

"It means..."

Holding his phone by both sides, Kijima turned the screen toward them:

"Whether you agree with me or not, or even decide to attack me, do whatever you like."

"Right now... all you need to do is exchange contact information with me."

"Or are you going to refuse even to add me as a friend? If you don't even have the nerve to do that, I'll honestly be a little disappointed."

"..."

Ichinose and the others exchanged glances, then stepped forward one after another to exchange contact information with Kijima. They added Katsuragi and the others as well.

Even Ryuuen, Kaneda, and the rest did the same...

After all, they'd have to communicate somehow in the future, no matter what. There was no reason to refuse to exchange contact information.

The only thing left was to have the students in their classes deposit their money.

Whatever their classmates decided, they'd at least tell them about it.

In the end, everyone present except Ryuuen exchanged contact information, partly to spare the other person's feelings.

Yamamura Miki took out her phone with a knowing smile.

Her contacts had suddenly gained a whole row of new names!

Ryuuen put away his phone and narrowed his eyes at Kijima, pressing him for an answer.

"What exactly are you getting at?"

"Haah."

Kijima sighed and glanced calmly at them.

"I think I've explained myself clearly enough. You can go back now."

"Hm?"

Ichinose and the others looked at one another but still didn't move.

They really didn't understand...

"What exactly are you getting at? Sharing the information was your choice. I never said I'd listen to you. What are you going to do now?"

Ryuuen's expression turned cold. He stepped forward and pressed on.

Kijima didn't want points or any other benefits. In the end, all they'd done was exchange contact information and agree to tell their classmates to deposit their money.

They would have done all of that even if Kijima hadn't said anything.

Ryuuen couldn't make sense of the man in front of him, and that made him uneasy. He was desperate to know what Kijima was thinking.

"Hmm..."

Kijima tapped his fingers against his head.

There were some things he didn't want to explain—not because he couldn't, but because explaining wouldn't help. It might be easier for them to understand if he put it in terms they could grasp.

Kijima stared straight into the eyes of Ryuuen and the others.

"Whether you're willing or not, whatever you do, you'll all end up working under me. That's fate!"

"Fate?"

Ryuuen frowned, while Ichinose and the others looked at one another.

Even Katsuragi and the others rubbed their foreheads.

What a headache...

Seeing their expressions, Ryuuen and the others frowned even more.

Clearly,

Kijima was like this in his own class, too. Was the guy crazy?

Or was he simply arrogant?

Did he think he could crush everyone with his own strength?

Ridiculous!

Hearing this explanation, Ryuuen actually understood. He sneered.

"Fine. I suppose I'll thank you for the information from Class A. I'll make sure to 'repay' you properly later."

He put heavy emphasis on "repay," making it clear it wouldn't be anything good. Then he left the rooftop without even greeting his classmates.

"Albert, let's go."

Kaneda sneered too and led Albert off the rooftop.

Idiot.

Ryuuen was an idiot, too.

Who cared what those Class A students thought? If someone offered you a benefit for free, you'd be stupid not to take it. What was the point of all that whining?

Ichinose Honami and Hirata Yosuke looked at each other.

"Um..." Ichinose said tentatively. "Kijima, should we get going?"

"Mm."

"..."

With that,

the six students from Classes B and D headed toward the rooftop exit, occasionally stopping to look back.

They just couldn't believe it.

Someone knew that only Class A would graduate from Class A, yet still shared information with them and asked for no compensation.

He was practically the Holy Mother Maria!

Their gazes seemed to ask: We really can leave, right?

Kijima didn't say a word, even as they disappeared from the rooftop. He simply let them go.

"So, are you satisfied now?"

Hashimoto Masayoshi sounded displeased. "Graduating from Class A together is impossible. No one's going to do what you say."

"Yeah."

Katsuragi agreed. "Kijima, from now on, you should still put the class first."

"Hm? Did you two misunderstand something?"

Kijima glanced at them. "Isn't everything going exactly according to plan?"

"How is it?"

"Yamamura, explain it to them."

"Um..."

Only then did everyone remember Yamamura was there. Feeling their eyes on her, she explained in a quiet voice:

"Didn't Kijima say his only goal was to get the other classes to deposit their money and exchange contact information...?"

That was supposed to be a goal?

Hashimoto Masayoshi almost blurted it out.

And yet, that was the truth. Kijima wouldn't ask them to do anything beyond their abilities, nor would he force anyone to do anything.

"Okay, we can head back."

As she spoke,

Yamamura Miki instinctively folded up her camp chair.

Everyone followed Kijima as they prepared to leave school. Katsuragi still looked helpless.

"So, you still don't plan on changing your mind?"

"That's right. Until I'm sure I can get the entire first year to graduate from Class A, I won't change my mind."

Kijima raised a hand without looking back.

"The same goes for all of you. Whether you want to follow Sakayanagi, oppose me, or hedge your bets across the other classes—that's up to you!"

"I'd just advise you not to waste your energy on something pointless."

"Fate won't change!"

"..."

The others exchanged glances.

Hashimoto Masayoshi scratched his head, feeling a real headache coming on. He'd never met anyone like Kijima before.

Forget it.

Since Kijima himself had said they were free to choose,

Hashimoto might as well betray him openly.

Who would want a guy like that as their class leader?

He needed to get out of the way!

Katsuragi still seemed to be on Kijima's side, but tomorrow, Hashimoto would go talk to Sakayanagi about how to force Kijima out.

Besides,

that guy named Ryuuen seemed pretty decent. He could talk to him more.

They didn't even need to guess; everyone had pretty much figured it out. The guy named Kaneda was useless, and Ryuuen was probably the leader of Class C.