"I'm telling you, I'm a man of my word. I won't let you off until I'm convinced you can communicate properly."
While Sakura was lost in her own thoughts, Aoyama's tone turned stern. He even grabbed her by the shoulders, forcing her to look him in the eyes.
"Don't think about running away."
"I... I wasn't going to run..."
"Good. I have high hopes for you, Sakura." Aoyama smiled faintly and reached over to pat her on the head.
After what had happened with Yamamura, he'd learned how to deal with shy, timid girls.
A combination of kindness and firmness was the way to go.
Following the usual plot, the last term of their first year would bring a truly disgusting exam.
The more friends you could trust, the less likely you were to be expelled.
Conversely, students without many friends could be expelled.
Aoyama could say with certainty that his main reason for befriending Sakura Airi was to prepare for the future.
As for Sakura's stunning looks and her astounding F-cup figure, those were secondary considerations.
He firmly believed that.
Shopping Together
Classroom, Student Council, gym, Horikita Dormitory.
Their highly disciplined routine had continued for several days, and Sunday had finally arrived—the day Aoyama had arranged to go clothes shopping at Keyaki Mall with Kamuro.
The four of them arrived at Keyaki Mall early in the morning, before the weather had gotten too hot.
"It's been so long since I went out with a friend during the holidays. I can't even remember when it was."
Shiina Hiyori wore a pale blue dress with a pure white cardigan. A gentle smile rested on her lovely face.
While they were reading together at the library, Aoyama had casually mentioned going clothes shopping. When he noticed the look of anticipation on Shiina's face, he promptly invited her along.
"If you want to go out sometime, just ask me. Come to think of it, no one's invited me out since I enrolled." With Kamuro on his left and Yamamura on his right, Aoyama matched the girls' pace. "When will my bleak school life finally come to an end?"
"You brought it on yourself."
Kamuro didn't indulge him for a second, immediately calling him out.
If Aoyama acted a little more normally in class—if he weren't so overbearing and unreasonable—there'd be a line of girls waiting to ask him out.
He was tall, strong, handsome, and the Student Council Vice President. He was practically made to be popular.
"Kamuro, when are you going to invite me out? Then I could brag to my male friends that a pretty girl asked me out."
"Let's talk about that when you have male friends." Kamuro suddenly burst out laughing, looking quite pleased with herself.
Oh, right. I don't have any male friends at this school.
Kamuro's reminder made Aoyama realize it too.
Since enrolling at Kouiku, every student he'd chatted with on his phone had been a girl.
"I think Aoyama might get along with Ryuen," Shiina said, her smile taking on a slightly mischievous look. "Why not make Ryuen your first boyfriend?"
"No way. At least not for another ten years."
Aoyama clutched his head. "And what do you mean, 'boyfriend'? That's way too ambiguous. I object!"
As a real man, he was only interested in girls.
Even if someone handed him the Bixie Sword Manual, he'd tear it up.
"Yamamura, how dare you laugh at me?"
When he noticed Yamamura quietly smiling too, Aoyama reached over and ruffled her hair vigorously.
As they joked around, the group arrived at a large clothing store that sold both men's and women's clothes.
Like Aoyama, quite a few students seemed to be shopping for cooler clothes. There were at least a dozen students browsing the store.
One boy had a head of blond hair and a smug, confident smile on his refined face.
"What a coincidence, Aoyama. You're here to buy clothes too?"
"When we're working, use our titles. I'm currently conducting research with Kamuro Secretary." Aoyama gave him the same expression Kamuro often gave him. "Don't bother us, whether you have business or not."
"What exactly are you researching, Vice President Aoyama? I'm curious."
Nagumo raised an eyebrow, completely unfazed by Aoyama's disrespect. He didn't even question the obvious lie about Aoyama being on official business.
He was the Student Council Vice President. What was wrong with assigning himself a task?
"Researching how long a childhood friendship can last when a guy's trying to charm every girl he sees."
"I see. I thought you were researching whether your brother-in-law would chop you up for two-timing."
"The first person to get chopped up is usually the one standing there to watch."
"The bond between childhood friends can't be severed."
After trading barbs, Nagumo was soon led away by a girl with golden hair, heading straight for the checkout.
It was clear who'd be paying.
"I feel sorry for Asahina-senpai." Watching Nagumo's retreating back, Shiina rarely showed such a disgusted expression.
From the way Nagumo and the girl were walking arm in arm, they were clearly a couple.
It wasn't unusual for someone not to date their childhood friend, but Nagumo was extremely possessive.
Under his intimidation, Asahina, who was cheerful and straightforward, didn't have a single male friend in her second year.
Anyone who dared get close to her had been forced to drop out through Nagumo's schemes.
"When I become Student Council President, kicking him out of the Student Council will be the first thing I do."
Like Shiina, Aoyama couldn't stand Nagumo. But the fact that they were in different years made it hard for him to make a move directly.
As for framing him, that was far too risky. It wasn't worth it.
Despite Horikita Manabu, the Student Council President, being against him, Nagumo had still become Vice President. He wasn't just smart; he was very capable.
If ability was rated from A to D, Nagumo's academics, physical fitness, and judgment were all A-level.
"Should I start saving up Personal Points, then, Merchant-kun?"
"Wouldn't it make more sense to bribe you first? Maybe with a gift?"
Aoyama felt the fabric of a nearby T-shirt, which seemed to be good quality, and grinned at Shiina.
There was no rush to go after Nagumo. Kushida had already been working on it lately.
The reliable target Kushida had picked, someone she could manipulate remotely, was close to letting down her guard and giving Kushida the leverage she needed to earn her trust.
"How can giving a friend a gift be called bribery?" Shiina's smile returned as she strolled into the men's section.
Looks like I'll have to pick out an outfit for Shiina too.
Kamuro, I need your help!
Aoyama knew nothing about women's fashion, so he promptly pulled Kamuro, who had a mature, big-sisterly air about her, away with him.
"Yamamura, what are you standing there for? Come on."
He called to Yamamura, who'd been left behind looking unsure of herself, and kicked off a shopping spree.
Money was made to be spent.
Aoyama's actions that day demonstrated that saying to perfection.
"Are you an idiot? An idiot! Why'd you buy so much at once?"
"If I'd known it was for me, I never would've said it looked good."
The shopping trip was over.
Looking at the mountain of shopping bags, Kamuro pressed a hand to her forehead. Her expression had gone beyond exasperation and into speechlessness.
Aoyama had tirelessly asked for her help picking things out, claiming that he was buying them as gifts for someone else.
"Besides, we're supposed to wear uniforms at school. Buying this much just to leave it sitting around is a waste. Return it."
"Who says we have to wear our uniforms at school?" Aoyama replied smugly to Kamuro's suggestion.
On Friday, Mashima Tomoya had given them a clear answer about whether they could buy the right not to wear their uniforms.
Five hundred thousand Personal Points per person, payable in full on the spot.
Right then and there, with Mashima-sensei watching in confusion, Aoyama had bought two slots.
One for Kamuro and one for himself.
"I know you don't like drawing attention to yourself, Yamamura, so I gave you the cash equivalent instead."
After briefly explaining that he'd bought two slots, Aoyama looked at Yamamura, who was standing quietly.
"Cash equivalent? No, I can't accept that, Aoyama—"
"You're all my good assistants. I'll treat you all fairly. You can't refuse."
He cut off Yamamura, who was wavering, and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Refusing would be disrespectful."
"If you disrespect me, I'll get angry."
"Idiot."
"Then you're an idiot subordinate."
On Monday morning, Aoyama happened to run into Kamuro below the dormitory, so he decided to walk to school with her.
She was a little annoyed that he'd gone ahead and made the decision for her.
She'd called him an idiot several times yesterday, and today she was still calling him one.
"That was five hundred thousand Personal Points. You just threw them away."
"The most important thing in life is having fun. It's so much cooler now."
Aoyama wore a lightweight, breathable gray-blue T-shirt and shorts that fell just past his knees. He didn't have to wear a suit jacket in the sweltering heat, and he felt great.
At first, he hadn't thought the school would approve. But perhaps they wanted to prove to the students that Personal Points could buy anything, which was why they'd set such an outrageous price of five hundred thousand.
The school probably hadn't looked into him and figured he couldn't afford that many points.
"Not having to wear a suit jacket is a lot more comfortable," Kamuro said. Like Aoyama, she wasn't wearing hers either.
She thought five hundred thousand was far too much, but since Aoyama had already bought it, she had no intention of letting the opportunity go to waste.
As for the puzzled looks from the students they passed on the way to school, those would disappear once everyone got used to it.
"Right? As long as you're comfortable, Kamuro, what's a mere five hundred thousand Personal Points?"
"Sure, I'm so touched I'm almost falling for you."
"That's great to hear."
"Dream on."
As soon as they entered the classroom, the two of them inevitably became the center of attention, especially Aoyama, who was dressed so lightly from head to toe.
According to school rules, wearing the suit jacket was mandatory. If you didn't wear one, your class might have its points deducted.
"Could you explain what's going on, Aoyama? I think everyone's wondering." Katsuragi approached Aoyama's desk to speak with him.
His white shirt was buttoned all the way to the collar, and he even wore a tie, despite not being required to.
As the leader of Class A, Katsuragi was the very picture of a model student.
"Don't worry. I'm not causing trouble."
"I bought the right not to wear the uniform with a million Personal Points. I bought two slots."
Katsuragi understood what he was concerned about, so Aoyama immediately explained.
In an instant, the class fell strangely silent. The vast majority of students were stunned by the figure of one million.
"Where'd you get a million Personal Points?"
Before you continue