Who Is the King of This School?!

"Thanks for the warning."

Kijima Tsukur nodded. You had to take whatever this woman said the opposite way.

As one of Sakayanagi Arisu's subordinates, Kamuro Masumi could be rather sharp-tongued, but deep down, she was always thinking of others.

Clearly,

it was only natural that years of pretending would build up pressure.

She was a textbook case of someone who had pretended for so long that she no longer knew who she really was.

Even though she was Sakayanagi Arisu's subordinate and knew full well that Sakayanagi wasn't a good person, she had repeatedly used this sort of caustic approach to warn Sakayanagi's opponents.

"Huh? Are you an idiot?"

Kamuro Masumi looked stunned. "Who was warning you? I was mocking you! Can't you even tell?"

Her words and actions didn't match.

Her thoughts and actions had become divided.

Maybe even she didn't know what she was doing.

She simply had an instinctive urge to leak information that could hurt Sakayanagi Arisu, easing the pressure in her heart.

"I could tell."

Kijima Tsukur nodded. "But I figured you were trying to help me..."

"Huh?"

For a moment, Kamuro Masumi wondered if there was something wrong with the way she spoke. She turned to Katsuragi and asked,

"Katsuragi, what do you think?"

"..."

Don't ask me... I don't want to get involved in your mess. Who knows what Kijima Tsukur is thinking?

But when he felt Kamuro Masumi's gaze, Katsuragi still replied in a low voice,

"We're all classmates, after all. Kamuro, you should say a little less from now on."

"See?"

Kamuro Masumi confirmed there was nothing wrong with her and glanced at Kijima Tsukur. "I mocked you like that, and you still think I was looking out for you. Just how narcissistic are you?"

"Mm, maybe."

Kijima Tsukur nodded without denying it. "So no matter what you do, I'll think the best of it. You can do whatever you want."

"Idiot. I'm leaving."

Kamuro Masumi scoffed and quickened her pace back to her class.

Did he think that acting like he trusted her would make her defy Sakayanagi Arisu's orders?

In his dreams.

He was underestimating Kamuro Masumi.

No matter how Kijima Tsukur acted, she wouldn't hesitate when the time came to make her move!

However,

there were two kinds of moves.

One could be made cleanly and decisively, or with guilt weighing on your heart.

And for someone like Kamuro Masumi, guilt was fatal.

"Kijima."

Katsuragi didn't feel like dealing with the two of them either. He nodded.

"I'll go buy the test papers from the upperclassmen, then. When do you want them?"

"Bring them to school tomorrow. If you don't have enough points, you can contact me anytime."

"No need."

It was only a set of test papers.

This little thing wasn't worth Kijima Tsukur handling personally.

If Katsuragi couldn't even manage something this simple, he might as well slit his own throat.

### Chapter 47: Who Is the King of This School?

The next day.

Class 1-A.

Kijima Tsukur sat at his desk,

holding the test papers Katsuragi had bought.

Just as expected.

The upperclassmen's quiz papers were exactly the same as this year's, even down to the last few questions that were clearly beyond the curriculum.

That alone was already a hint. Combined with Mashima's meaningful remarks, it was almost certain the midterm exam papers would be the same too.

"Yamamura, go ask Mashima for a few more copies, and keep an eye on the teacher's reaction."

Kijima Tsukur handed the papers to Yamamura Miki, who was beside him, then turned to Morishita Ai, sitting not far behind Sakayanagi Arisu.

"Morishita, go inform the leaders of Classes B, C, and D. After school... Hmm, tell them to meet me at the Palette Cafe. Same rules as last time: three people max."

"Yes, sir~"

Morishita Ai saluted,

then left the classroom with Yamamura Miki.

The two seemed to have grown much closer. Whenever Yamamura Miki wasn't serving Sakayanagi Arisu, she could occasionally be seen spending time with Morishita Ai.

"I object..."

Sakayanagi Arisu raised her hand as well, fixing her gaze on Kijima Tsukur, who sat in front of her. Her tone was rather serious.

"These papers have already been proven useful for the midterm exam, Kijima-kun. You're planning to share them with the other classes and help them get through the exam, aren't you?"

"Objection overruled."

"..."

At that, Sakayanagi Arisu smiled without saying a word. The members of the Sakayanagi Faction around her were silent too.

Politics was about uniting the majority and opposing the few.

Opposition was the key.

No matter what the outcome was, as long as she raised a banner, those opposed to Kijima Tsukur would naturally gather around her.

Most importantly... opposing him now wouldn't stop him anyway.

If Kijima Tsukur wanted to share the test papers, there was no way to stop him unless he was expelled.

But even if they could get Kijima Tsukur expelled, it would be a massive blow to Class A, and no one knew how many Class Points they would lose.

By then, Class B would surely overtake them in an instant.

The best approach was still to persuade Katsuragi and the others to change their minds, leaving Kijima Tsukur isolated. Then they could get him expelled during the Special Exam.

For now, all Sakayanagi Arisu was doing was slowly building up resentment.

After school.

Palette Cafe.

With its elegant decor and excellent food, the place was popular with girls.

Kijima Tsukur sat at a table, enjoying his coffee. He'd been there several times with Yamamura Miki, and the coffee was pretty good.

Katsuragi, Yamamura Miki, and Kamuro Masumi sat at the next table.

As one of Sakayanagi Arisu's informants, Kamuro Masumi now practically followed Kijima Tsukur around too.

At that moment,

the leaders of the other three classes sat across from Kijima Tsukur.

Compared to the last meeting,

the representatives from Classes C and D had changed significantly.

Class D was now represented by Hirata Yosuke, Kikyo Kushida, and Horikita Suzune. Karuizawa Kei had already stepped behind the scenes.

At that moment,

Horikita Suzune, representing Class D, sat across from Kijima Tsukur, while Hirata Yosuke and Kikyo Kushida sat at another table out of courtesy.

This was naturally Horikita Suzune's own request.

She wanted to see what the man who made her brother feel fear would do.

So far, Kijima Tsukur hadn't done anything remarkable.

The previous day, he'd made a contract with Yamauchi Haruki and the others. That hadn't benefited Class A at all; it could only be considered a blow to Class D.

More importantly,

the contract had succeeded mainly because Yamauchi Haruki and the others were idiots.

It had nothing to do with Kijima Tsukur's ability—or at least, that was what Horikita Suzune believed. Someone like her would never sign such a foolish contract.

As for Class C...

Its representatives had changed to Ryuen Kakeru, Albert, and a boy named Ishizaki Daichi.

More than ten Class C boys were with them, and they'd practically taken over the entire cafe. They'd brought an even bigger entourage than Kijima Tsukur.

Clearly,

this went way beyond Kijima Tsukur's limit of three people.

Ryuen Kakeru was the rebellious type.

He'd never do what Kijima Tsukur told him.

Last time, Kijima Tsukur had dared to test their obedience. It was only because Ryuen Kakeru hadn't truly taken control of the class yet.

Now, he was going to show these people who was in charge.

At that moment,

a group of Class C boys stood around them, surrounding Kijima Tsukur and the others.

They were applying maximum pressure.

The entire cafe had become Ryuen Kakeru's territory.

Yamamura Miki clasped her small hands to her chest, watching the scene with a worried expression, as if afraid a fight might break out at any moment.

"Haah..."

Horikita Suzune sighed and glanced at Ryuen.

"So you're Ryuen. I'd heard about you, but I didn't expect Class C's leader to be such a fool. What do you think you're accomplishing with this empty show of force?"

"Heh."

Ryuen turned to Horikita Suzune, a mocking smile at the corner of his mouth.

"I didn't expect Class D to change leaders. Woman, you were pretty composed before, weren't you?"