Classroom of the Elite, I Also Want to Be a Good Person

Chatting along the way, the group returned to the first-year dormitory building before dark.

Unlike Yamamura and Kamuro, who went straight back to their rooms, Aoyama chose to stay in the lobby on the first floor. A few minutes later, the person he was waiting for emerged from the elevator.

A lock of black hair on the left side of her head was braided, adorned with a bow made of white ribbon; Horikita Suzune's hairstyle was as cute as she was.

"Let's go. The person I needed to arrange a meeting with is ready."

After Horikita noticed him approaching, Aoyama set off toward their destination—the area behind the third-year dormitory building, which, just like the back of the first-year dorms, had no surveillance cameras.

The same vending machines, the same benches.

There, Aoyama met the person he had arranged to see: a third-year student standing over 1.8 meters tall, with a physique even more robust than Sudo's.

Basketball Club Captain, Ninomiya.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Senior."

"Let's get straight to business. I don't like wasting time."

After Aoyama's greeting, Ninomiya, who had been sitting on the bench, looked up, a flash of impatience crossing his stern face.

It was only when he saw the girl accompanying Aoyama that his serious expression softened slightly.

"Sudo Ken from Class 1-D of the basketball club has been late for class repeatedly without showing any remorse. Every time points are deducted from the class total, it breaks my heart."

"I don't quite hear what you're saying." His expression turning to one of shock, Ninomiya claimed he couldn't hear him before continuing, "Besides, I recall the introducer saying you were from Class 1-A."

The implication was clear: what business did a Class A student like Aoyama have with the affairs of Class 1-D?

"This girl from Class D paid me 50,000 private points to step in and solve the issue of Sudo's tardiness."

"You were the first person I thought of, Senior. We can split the money—it's a win-win for both of us." Plopping down onto the bench, Aoyama met Ninomiya's gaze without blinking.

To threaten someone, you must hold the thing they value most over their head.

Sudo might be fearless at Kouiku, but there was one person he dared not offend, because that person had the power to kick him out of the basketball club.

With an elite professional coach and top-tier post-game cryotherapy chambers, the sports clubs at Kouiku demonstrated exactly what it meant to be wealthy and willful.

For Sudo, whose dream was to become a professional basketball player, leaving the club would be tantamount to the death of his dreams.

"Am I the kind of captain who would threaten his own club members for a few tens of thousands of points?"

"So, you want more money, then."

As if a trigger had been pulled, Aoyama retorted, and he immediately noticed a look of embarrassment surface on Ninomiya's face.

He had actually guessed right.

"Thirty thousand."

"I, Ninomiya, am a man of integrity."

"Thirty-five thousand." Aoyama's smile faded.

"You are the captain of the basketball club. Would you really threaten your own member for 35,000 private points?"

"Forty thousand, and not a point more. You need to understand that I only received 50,000 in total."

Placing his hand on Ninomiya's shoulder, Aoyama pressed down firmly to signal his stance.

If he didn't agree now, things would turn sour; neither of them would get any extra income, and they would just part ways.

"To what extent exactly?" Assuming this was Aoyama's bottom line, Ninomiya signaled that he was taking the deal.

"For the next two months, whenever you come to school, stop by the first-year dormitory building. I'm sure Sudo would love to get closer to his senior."

Feigning annoyance, Aoyama said coldly, and his request was quickly accepted by Ninomiya.

Forty thousand private points might not seem like much to a current first-year student, but for Ninomiya, whose class points had hovered around a hundred for a long time and who only received 10,000 private points per month, 40,000 was a significant sum.

"You've been completely led by the nose, Senior Ninomiya."

After collecting the money and leaving happily, Ninomiya's spot was taken by Horikita Suzune.

Having witnessed the transaction as an observer, she felt she had learned something.

If she had been the one conducting the trade, she likely would have ended up paying much more than 40,000 private points.

"It's just a small trick." Aoyama didn't think it was anything remarkable; it only worked on students with little experience.

"But I don't think many students could pull it off."

"Even if you flatter me like that, the price won't be the same next time I have to step in. I'm only giving you a 90% discount this time because it's our first successful deal."

He would treat the hundred meals as 100,000 private points; subtracting the 40,000 just given away, Aoyama would only have 60,000 private points in his pocket.

Despite getting so little, he had solved the problem currently plaguing Class D.

In terms of the benefits gained by Class D, it was worth at least several million private points by a conservative estimate.

"I'll give you a piece of information for free: starting next month, Class 1-B will likely begin collecting a share of private points from their students as class fees on the first of every month."

Aoyama didn't mind the small amount of points from individual students, but he hated low efficiency.

Only when the leaders of every class collected private points would it be convenient for him to invent reasons to extort them—ideally reaching a point where he wouldn't need to "open shop" for three years, but one "opening" would feed him for three.

"Your reach has already extended to Class B?" Horikita's expression was one of surprise; she hadn't expected Aoyama to move so quickly.

In just two short weeks since the start of the semester, he had already planted informants in both Class B and Class D.

Everyone was just a student, so how could he be this formidable?

Aoyama didn't confirm or deny Horikita's misunderstanding, saying, "You could say that, or you could say otherwise."

Although it served no immediate purpose, letting Horikita believe he had an intelligence network in Class B might prove useful later on.

"If you get the chance, remind Hirata to collect personal points from Class D. I don't come cheap, you know."

Seeing that Horikita didn't seem to grasp the deeper meaning of his words, Aoyama gave her a direct reminder.

He was here to make money, not to be a philanthropist; Horikita Suzune was merely an exception because of her connection to Horikita Manabu.

After Horikita Suzune indicated she understood, Aoyama stood up from the bench and headed back to his dormitory, with Horikita Suzune naturally following along.

The sight of the two walking together was quietly captured by a girl with her hair tied in a bun.

Chapter 20: A Guaranteed Win

"Class dismissed."

On the Monday of the third week of the semester, Class 1-A peacefully welcomed the end of the school day.

Amidst laughter and chatter, students left the classroom in twos and threes, and before long, there were fewer than ten students left.

"Katsuragi, where is the Student Council room again?" Aoyama walked up to strike up a conversation while Katsuragi was still in the classroom.

Thinking he was sufficiently prepared, he intended to meet with Student Council President Horikita Manabu. If he couldn't secure the vice-president position in one go, he still had nearly two weeks to prepare.

If he could use the 100,000 personal points he won from Totsuka as "black money," Aoyama would have some leverage.

Becoming the God of Gamblers at Kouiku wouldn't be such a bad idea.

"On the fourth floor, to the left of the stairs, it's the second room from the end. There's a sign on the door."

"Thanks."

"Are you planning to apply for the Student Council? If you go now, the council members are likely busy. It's best to wait half an hour or an hour, and you should probably button up your shirt."

Seeing that Aoyama intended to head out immediately, Katsuragi offered him sincere advice, showing no sign of wanting him to fail.

"If I can get in, I'll get in regardless, and I don't really like feeling restricted." Aoyama tugged at his collar, which was missing two buttons. "That is good advice, but I'm afraid I'll have to pass."

Interrupting during free time wouldn't cause resentment, and projecting a composed image—both pieces of advice had their merits.

"You really are something..."

Totsuka, who had been standing silently beside Katsuragi, couldn't help but speak up when he saw Aoyama disregard the advice.

"Totsuka." Cutting him off, Katsuragi kept a serious expression as he looked at Aoyama. "In that case, I can only wish you success."

"I appreciate the sentiment. If all goes as expected, I will succeed."

Out of respect for Katsuragi, Aoyama ignored the disgruntled Totsuka and headed straight for the Student Council room after leaving the classroom.

As he reached the floor where the third-year classrooms were located, a girl with her hair in a bun at the corner of the stairs widened her eyes in surprise as she looked at him.

With short purple hair that didn't reach her shoulders, the girl had a youthful appearance and wasn't very tall, looking more like a middle schooler than a high schooler.

"Good afternoon, Tachibana-senpai." As their eyes met, Aoyama stopped in his tracks.

Because of her distinct features, he recognized who the girl was.

Tachibana Akane, a third-year student in Class A and the Student Council secretary. She was Horikita Manabu's most trusted aide and clearly harbored strong feelings for him.

She would grow jealous and petty toward any student, male or female, who got close to Horikita Manabu and developed a good relationship with him.

"Why does Aoyama-kouhai know me?"

"Doesn't Tachibana-senpai know me as well?" Aoyama asked with a smile, facing the increasingly flustered Tachibana Akane.

"That's because the President..."

Halfway through her sentence, Tachibana Akane caught herself and fell silent, then glared at Aoyama with some annoyance.

She thought that while the underclassman was certainly good-looking, he was a bit unserious and prone to grinning.

"Senpai is heading to the Student Council, right? I'll join you." Knowing that Horikita Manabu had investigated him, Aoyama wasn't surprised.

As Nagumo's control over the second years grew stronger, Horikita Manabu had no choice but to turn his attention to the first years.

"What business do you have at the Student Council?"

"Nothing major, I just want to join the Student Council."

"At this time right after school, the President is very busy." Clutching a folder, Tachibana Akane walked ahead to lead the way.

When the two entered the Student Council room, there were already quite a few students inside, most of whom immediately turned their gazes toward Aoyama, the new face.

"Aoyama Shiki from Class 1-A, here to apply for the position of Student Council vice-president."

Before Tachibana Akane could introduce his intentions, Aoyama shouted loudly toward the boy in the main seat, then added in a normal tone.

"Isn't that full of spirit, Horikita-kaicho?"

"It is certainly full of guts." Adjusting his glasses, Horikita Manabu's expression remained completely unchanged amidst an environment where others wanted to laugh but didn't dare.

His hair was short and neat, and his expression was cold and devoid of humor.

Horikita Manabu was the type of person who gave off an aura of immense capability at a single glance; even within the Student Council room, which was filled with nothing but talent, he stood out like a crane in a flock of chickens.

And there was one other person in the Student Council room who gave off that same feeling of standing out from the crowd.

---Second-year Class A Student Council Vice President, Nagumo Miyabi.

"He seems like a very interesting underclassman; I think we could bring him in right now." Extending goodwill toward Aoyama, Nagumo's expression was calm and confident.

"Is Vice President Nagumo planning to hand your position over to me? If so, I truly thank you. May I ask when you intend to resign, Vice President Nagumo?"

He was truly the kind of guy even Horikita Manabu couldn't handle; with a single sentence, he tried to categorize me as one of his own while expecting me to be grateful for it.

What a pipe dream.

Mentally mocking Nagumo, Aoyama decisively drew a line between them while taking the opportunity to pledge his loyalty to Horikita Manabu.

"It seems Underclassman Aoyama has quite a few opinions about me, but that's alright. I still welcome you to join."

His expression stiffened for only a moment before Nagumo returned to his breezy, indifferent demeanor, as if an adult were ignoring the ramblings of a child.

"Becoming Student Council Vice President immediately upon entry—there is no precedent for that."

"Becoming Student Council President as a first-year—there is no precedent for that either, right, Senior Horikita?" Aoyama revealed his knowledge of the Student Council. "Besides, isn't Kouiku supposed to be a meritocracy?"

As Tachibana Akane cast a look of admiration that said 'you're amazing,' the corners of Horikita Manabu's mouth curled slightly at the mention of his own glorious past.

"Are you suggesting that your ability is greater than that of Vice President Nagumo?"

"I'm a guaranteed win."

Under the gazes of the entire Student Council, each wearing a different expression, Aoyama didn't show a hint of stage fright, effectively offending Nagumo Miyabi to the point of no return.

"I admire your confidence. I once had a phase like that myself—"

"I believe that among everyone present, only President Horikita is qualified to say the word 'admire' to me."

Interrupting Nagumo's speech, Aoyama might as well have had the word 'loyalty' carved into his forehead to show Horikita Manabu.

Vice President Nagumo? What kind of bottom-feeder was that?