"The fact is, the school, your classmates, and your teachers all believe you belong in Class D—and nowhere else."
"I'll prove them wrong." Horikita's expression darkened, but she didn't waver.
"And how do you plan to prove that?"
Aoyama asked with interest. When Horikita couldn't answer right away, he didn't seem to mind.
He had already pointed out that the four classes were in competition with one another.
Given the state of Class D, anyone who brazenly claimed they could lead it up to Class A would only be laughed at.
"Let's exchange contact information. Tell me when you've made up your mind."
Horikita Suzune's older brother, Student Council President Horikita Manabu, was a very lucrative target. The siblings valued each other, but a wall stood between them. With both of them kept in the dark, there were plenty of ways to work things.
The Student Council President, who ran the school, had probably already taken notice of Aoyama—the student who had uncovered the school's rules and made deals based on them.
"Huh? Why would I exchange contact information with you?"
"Then what reason do you have to refuse? Looking at it purely in terms of benefits, I've already proven what I can do. More friends mean more opportunities."
"If you really wanted to be friends with me, you wouldn't talk to me like that."
Horikita Suzune was somewhat haughty, but she wasn't simple-minded. Confident in her powers of observation, she had judged that Aoyama Shiki seemed to harbor some sort of ill will toward her.
"Money gets you friends. No money, no friends."
"I sold you the information about Class D, and I can do plenty of other things too. For example, I can teach people how to earn the Student Council President's favor and get into the Student Council."
"If you need anything, you can ask Karuizawa. She has my contact information."
Leaving Horikita Suzune with an irresistible offer, Aoyama Shiki headed toward the Class A classroom without looking back.
"Wait—"
"Sorry. I don't wait for people who aren't my friends."
Aoyama waved without turning around, feeling inexplicably refreshed.
There was something to be said for picking on a cute, icy beauty.
[What did Mashima-sensei want with you?]
As soon as he returned to his seat, Aoyama received a text from Kamuro.
Since they had helped the other classes together yesterday, Kamuro probably wouldn't think Mashima had called him over for anything good. Could she be worried about him?
Feeling even more cheerful, he immediately replied to Kamuro, who might be concerned about him.
[Nothing important. He just hinted that the class's interests are my interests too.]
Under Kouiku's rules, once a student was assigned to a class, their own interests became tied to the class's. They rose and fell together.
Unless the student had Twenty Million Personal Points of their own.
[You can do whatever you want.]
[I might get even more reckless in the future. You'll have to protect me then.]
[I'll go a little easier on you when I chew you out.]
[Please don't do that!!!]
[...]
One text after another, Aoyama and Kamuro kept chatting until class began.
The peaceful days drifted by. Nothing much happened among the first-years over the next few days, and before long, it was the middle of April.
"My brain's about to explode. I need a break."
In Aoyama's dorm room, Kamuro sat in the middle of the low table and stretched. She tossed her cushion beside Yamamura and lay down, her legs clad in black stockings now in Aoyama's view.
Just like the previous Saturday, Aoyama had invited Kamuro over for a study session today.
After his first invitation had failed, he'd made use of the pitiful-looking Yamamura. That had been enough to bring Kamuro, who was soft-hearted despite her tough exterior, to her knees.
"That's all it takes? You're such a wimp, Kamuro." After teasing Kamuro a little, Aoyama looked at Yamamura. "Let's take a break too. I'll cut some fruit so we can get some sugar."
"I can do that, Aoyama."
"As the host, how could I make a guest do it?"
Aoyama stood up from his cushion and met the gaze of Kamuro, who was lying flat on the floor.
Maybe it was because she was lying down, but her already well-developed figure stood out even more. It seemed to have a gravitational pull of its own, drawing his gaze down for a moment.
"Hmph. Men."
Kamuro glared at Aoyama for sneaking a look, then turned on her side to face Yamamura.
As she moved, her smooth purple hair slid over her shoulder and fell to the floor, revealing the side of her snow-white neck. There wasn't a blemish to be seen.
How was that my fault? I'm a teenage boy in the prime of my youth, too.
Awkwardly scratching the back of his head, Aoyama went to the fridge and took out several apples. He washed and cut them in the kitchen, then brought them out on a plate.
"Sorry I don't have much to offer. There were only apples in the fridge."
"Then you really aren't much of a host." Kamuro had sat back up and reached out without the slightest hesitation.
One after another, three pieces of apple quickly disappeared from the plate.
The refreshing taste of the chilled fruit was great.
"Want to go for a walk around Keyaki Mall tomorrow?" Aoyama suggested, seeing the satisfied look on Yamamura's face.
Kamuro might go there on her own, but he guessed Yamamura hadn't been there at all in the half-month since school started.
He should take Yamamura out for some fun as a reward.
"I don't think there's anything fun to do there."
"Of course it's no fun going alone." Aoyama grinned teasingly, making Kamuro press her lips together.
"Kamuro..."
As Kamuro seemed about to say something, Yamamura was already looking at her with a plaintive expression.
The thought of going out with friends on a day off—
For Yamamura, who had never had any friends, it was something she'd never even dared to imagine.
And if she went out alone with Aoyama, she definitely wouldn't go. She didn't want to cause him any trouble.
A boy and a girl going out together alone on a holiday would be mistaken for a couple.
The thought of someone as lowly as herself being mistaken for the girlfriend of an outstanding boy like Aoyama made her feel as though even seppuku wouldn't be enough to wash away the sin.
"Just this once." Kamuro sighed helplessly and agreed to Aoyama's suggestion.
"I'll show you how much fun it is to go out with friends."
"Don't talk as if I had no friends in middle school."
Kamuro didn't give Aoyama the time of day, a stark contrast to how she treated Yamamura.
"The kid next door doesn't count as a friend."
"I haven't fallen that far!" Kamuro glared and couldn't help lashing out.
She rolled up a textbook and swung it down in a Li Pi Hua Shan.
The Ruffled Horikita
First-Year Girls' Dormitory.
After finishing her studies for the day, Horikita Suzune leaned against the headboard, planning to relax with a book.
But as she read, her mind kept drifting back to the conflict that had taken place just yesterday, before the holiday.
In the dispute that she and Sudo had started, neither of them had been the one hurt, and the core issue behind the conflict had once again been swept under the rug.
What on earth was Hirata thinking?
Closing her book, Horikita Suzune felt no gratitude toward Hirata, whom others thought had taken a punch from Sudo on her behalf.
As long as Sudo's occasional tardiness went unaddressed, Class D's Class Points would always be at the bottom.
Because Sudo set such a poor example, quite a few students in the class had already started thinking, "Why should I hold myself back when that jerk Sudo can show up late whenever he wants?"
She had deliberately picked the argument with Sudo, too.
Even if she had to use force, she was determined to solve the problem. But for some reason, Hirata kept getting in her way.
What would her brother do?
Horikita Suzune thought of her all-capable older brother. He had held on to Class A for all three years and was also the Student Council President, standing at the very top of the school.
She wanted more than anything to ask her brother for help, but she didn't want to disappoint him.
She was the sister of the Student Council President, yet she had been placed in the school's worst class, Class D.
The thought that she might damage her brother's reputation terrified Horikita Suzune. She was even afraid to meet him.
It had already been half a month since school started.
Did that guy Aoyama Shiki have a way to solve this?
Horikita Suzune thought of the boy who had said a few days ago that he could get into the Student Council whenever he wanted.
In terms of looks, Aoyama was the most outstanding first-year she had ever seen. His gentle face beneath his short hair gave him a mature air, and he even had a scholarly quality about him.
Better to be looked down on by him than by her brother.
[Give me Aoyama Shiki's contact information. He said you had it.]
After making up her mind, Horikita Suzune found Karuizawa's profile in the class group chat and immediately sent her a private message.
The longer she delayed, the further Class D's Class Points would fall behind the other classes.
She couldn't stand that.
To prove herself, Horikita Suzune decided she would lead Class D up to Class A.
Then no one could say she had brought shame on her brother, the Student Council President.
[Horikita Suzune wants your contact information. Should I give it to her?]
Aoyama suddenly received a message from Karuizawa.
Since he had coerced her, this was the first time Karuizawa had contacted him of her own accord.
[Charge her five thousand Personal Points. If you give it to her, consider it a little bonus for you.]
Aoyama took off his sweat-soaked undershirt. He had just finished exercising and rested for quite a while before replying to Karuizawa.
Based on what he knew about Horikita Suzune, making her wait a little wouldn't cause any problems. It might even strengthen her resolve to contact him.
"Bzzzz—"
She was actually calling him directly? Horikita, you little—
After waiting a while, Aoyama saw an unfamiliar number and answered. In a casual tone, he said, "Moshi moshi. This is Aoyama Shiki, who's always looking to make a quick buck."
"I have something to discuss with you. Of course, I'll pay," Horikita Suzune replied coldly.
"When and where?"
"Fifteen minutes from now. I'll come to your dorm room. Make sure you put away your personal belongings."
"Don't tell me you chose my room because you thought I'd make you pay for the refreshments." Standing on the balcony and gazing up at the stars, Aoyama smiled at the sky as he spoke into his phone.
He could only think of one reason she had chosen his room: privacy.
"After all, you seem like the kind of guy who likes taking advantage of people, Mr. Money-Grubber."
"Room 501. Just come in fifteen minutes from now."
Aoyama didn't take Horikita Suzune's jab to heart. He gave her the address and hung up.
Fifteen minutes. He had time to shower and tidy up the room, but it would be tight.
"I didn't expect it to be so clean." Horikita Suzune looked around. Not a thing was out of place.
Before you continue