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

After school.

Kushida, having been notified by Aoyama in advance, very casually lent her phone to Sudo, who had approached her while breaking out in a cold sweat.

And just like that, Horikita Suzune and the others successfully got Ishizaki and his group to agree to the meeting.

By the time they finished setting up the scene in the Special Building, not even ten minutes had passed before the figures of Ishizaki and his two companions appeared, walking quickly toward the building.

Three people, and all three wore faces devoid of any suspicion.

No boy could resist an invitation from a cute and popular girl.

Chapter 43: The Defeated Class C

Unlike the main school building, which was always kept well-air-conditioned, the Special Building had no AC when there were no classes in session.

In other words, the temperature in the third-floor hallway—the place where Sudo admitted the conflict had occurred—was bound to be quite high.

After waiting in place for Kushida for only a short while, the three of them, still wearing their suit jackets, were already covered in beads of sweat and could no longer force a smile.

With the windows tightly shut and the sun still blazing, the stifling heat gradually eroded their reason and patience.

"The Kushida you were looking forward to isn't coming."

"To be so defenseless just because she was kind enough to lend you her phone to make a call."

Feeling that the time was right, Horikita Suzune appeared from the corner of the fourth-floor staircase, looking down at Ishizaki and his group from a position of superiority.

At the same time, footsteps echoed from the second-floor staircase.

Before long, the figures of Ichinose Honami and Kanzaki Ryuji appeared, blocking the retreat of Ishizaki's trio.

The newly installed cameras—which looked realistic enough to be mistaken for the real thing—the stifling heat that made one lose the will to think, and the panic brought on by being deceived.

Heaven's timing, the geographical advantage, and the human element were all on the side of Horikita and Ichinose.

"Ishizaki and the others are probably going to get beaten up by Ryuen."

In the Student Council room, Shiina Hiyori stopped the hand holding her pen, a troubled expression appearing on her cute face.

Just a moment ago, after Secretary Tachibana had stepped out and returned shortly after, she brought news that Ishizaki and the others from Class 1-C had dropped their complaint against Sudo for assault.

"It seems I won't have to deal with the brawl between Kanzaki and Ryuen tomorrow after all." Aoyama tilted his head to look at Shiina, who was also cute even when frowning.

Since Horikita Suzune and her group had succeeded, it meant that Ishizaki and his friends had fallen for the trap, truly believing that there was surveillance footage in the hallway capturing them throwing the first punch.

Needless to say, Ichinose must have recorded their conversation with Ishizaki's group to use as evidence of Class C's malicious intent.

Getting entangled with Class B would only result in a lose-lose situation, and given Ryuen's shrewdness, he wouldn't engage in a losing business deal.

"Was this Aoyama's idea?"

"Just a suggestion. Suzune asked me for a little help, so I leaked a bit of the plan."

"Suzune-san, is it."

Shiina glanced at Horikita President, who was buried in his work, and felt a tinge of regret in her heart.

If Horikita Suzune weren't the leader of Class D, she would have really liked to be friends with her. She was cool and stylish, and she shared the same hobbies as her—she was practically a dream friend.

Plus, she was very pretty, just like Aoyama.

"Why are you looking at my face with such a regretful expression, Shiina-san? Is my appearance really that unbearable to look at?"

While Shiina was distracted looking at Aoyama, Aoyama was also watching Shiina.

The look of regret on that cute face had been clearly captured by him.

"No, that's not it. I think you look quite good, very handsome."

"Say it again and I'll forgive you."

"I... I think you look very handsome." Lowering her head slightly, the panic on Shiina's face vanished, replaced by a charming shyness.

"I take back what I just said. Say it two more times—no, three more times."

Greatly enjoying Shiina's praise, Aoyama immediately went back on his word.

And then.

He had the soft flesh at his waist pinched by Shiina's cute little hand as she grew incredibly shy.

Following that, Kamuro directly seized him by the scruff of his neck.

"Get back to work properly. Tachibana-senpai is already glaring at us."

"Yes, yes, I understand, I understand."

Being glared at by both Tachibana Akane and Kamuro, Aoyama returned to his senses and sat up straight at his desk to continue his work.

As more files were processed, the time to clock out drew closer.

Meanwhile.

The empty third floor of the Special Building welcomed six more visitors.

"How could it be gone? There was a security camera right here just a moment ago." Pointing at the empty ceiling, Ishizaki panicked, looking toward his two companions beside him.

"Ishizaki isn't lying, there really was a camera here just now."

"And it was moving around, too!"

Komiya Yogo and Kondo Suzune, who had joined Ishizaki in filing the complaint, immediately began to defend themselves.

By now, they realized they had truly been deceived; the failure of Ryuen's plan was entirely their fault.

"Useless trash. Who gave you the right to act on your own?"

With a stride and a front kick, Ryuen showed no mercy, instantly sending Ishizaki crashing to the ground.

Stepping hard on Ishizaki's chest, he ordered his lackey Albert to carry out the same punishment on Komiya and Kondo.

Soon, the sounds of pain from the three of them echoed continuously.

As for the only girl among the six, Ibuki Mio watched on as if it were nothing out of the ordinary, showing neither the excitement to step in and land a few kicks nor the reluctance to turn away.

Having practiced martial arts since childhood, hitting others and being hit was her daily routine.

"Now, tell me how you were tricked, and by whom."

Once the punishment was finished and the lesson was learned, Ryuen began his questioning with an expressionless face.

Of the simultaneous attacks on Class B and Class C, only the one against Class D had held an advantage; after all, Class B didn't have a blockheaded idiot like Sudo.

With just a few words of verbal manipulation and provocation, he had forced them to admit to hitting the three of them in front of the Student Council.

"It was Horikita Suzune, Ichinose, Kanzaki, and Ayanokoji—the four of them."

"Ayanokoji?"

"A student from Class D. He looks pretty gloomy, but judging by his build, he should be able to fight." Ishizaki recalled the boy who had stood before him with indifference, giving him a faint sense of oppression.

"A new player, huh." Ryuen gave a sinister smile. "Ibuki, if you happen to be free, tail him. See if he's a hidden talent or just a small fry."

"It won't matter if I take a shot at him, right?"

Ibuki rarely accepted tasks from Ryuen, but she was interested in this one.

Since Ishizaki said he should be able to fight, Ayanokoji might just be a good opponent.

Practical combat was the best way to become stronger; that was the conclusion she had drawn from her life thus far.

"Do as you please, but if you cause the class to lose points, Albert will be responsible for punishing you."

"Hmph."

Glancing at Albert's face, which was hidden behind sunglasses and looked more like a bodyguard than a bodyguard, Ibuki dismissed the idea of acting recklessly.

The black man, who stood nearly one-ninety and had a muscular build, would crush her; there would be no joy in that kind of fight.

"Let's go, it's time to head to the Student Council, Albert."

"Yes, boss."

After hearing the account from Ishizaki and the others, Ryuen knew he likely couldn't do anything about Class B anymore. The slight advantage he had gained at the cost of a fractured left arm was now gone.

If Class A weren't looming overhead, he wouldn't mind a mutual destruction.

But as it stood, his left arm had been fractured for nothing.

"Katsuragi, Class B and Class D have joined forces. What do you think?"

On the way to the Student Council to withdraw the complaint, Ryuen dialed the leader of Class A.

With Class B and Class D coming together after this incident, the excuse to form an alliance with Class A was now in place.

The longer the alliance lasted, the easier it would be to succeed when the time came to stab them in the back.

Chapter 44: The Second Draw

"Has Suzune mentioned me to you?"

Late at night, when all was quiet, Kong and Horikita Manabu met behind the third-year dormitory building; the only noise in the surroundings came from the hum of a vending machine.

Unlike Kong, who leaned casually against the back of a chair, Horikita Manabu sat with perfect posture.

"Outstanding, excelling in both literature and martial arts—that is likely the image of the president in Suzune's heart." In Kong's mind, the look of pride on Horikita Suzune's face whenever she mentioned her brother surfaced.

Horikita Suzune felt a strong sense of pride toward Horikita Manabu, almost bordering on reverence.

As long as Horikita Manabu praised her once, she would be happy for the entire day.

"Outstanding? She still cannot understand the difference between being aloof and being arrogant." There was a hint of disappointment in Horikita Manabu's cold tone.

"If she doesn't understand, why don't you just help her understand?"

Although he knew the reason why Horikita Manabu kept his distance from Horikita Suzune, Kong did not understand why he chose to push her away and ignore her.

The facts had proven that even after not seeing her brother for two years, Horikita Suzune was still imitating Horikita Manabu.

As for whether it had been more extreme in the past than it was now, he had no way of knowing.

"If she could understand just by being told, I wouldn't have had to escape to Kouiku."

"By the time I realized it, it was already too late; Suzune had completely cornered herself, only agreeing to my words on the surface."

Horikita Manabu turned his head to look at Aoyama, his eyes beneath the lenses of his glasses as sharp as blades.

"I have been keeping an eye on Suzune, and it's no surprise that you were the one who encouraged her to become the leader of Class D. At first, I simply assumed you were doing it because you wanted private points."

"However, after checking your account transaction history, I'm not so sure anymore."

"One million private points to buy the right not to wear a school uniform, five hundred thousand given away without a second thought, and spending freely at Keyaki Mall—it doesn't look like you have any intention of saving up twenty million to ensure a victory."

Because of his excessive closeness to his younger sister, Horikita Manabu had never once stopped paying attention to Aoyama.

Aoyama couldn't help but laugh bitterly, "The President wouldn't happen to be looking for someone to report me for illegal fundraising, would he?"

Without a legitimate reason, the Student Council had no right to demand a student's account transaction history from the school.

After all, a student's personal account history contained a significant amount of sensitive information.

"What is it that you want to gain from Suzune?" Nodding in acknowledgment, Horikita Manabu kept a close watch on Aoyama's expression.

If Aoyama only wanted private points, he wouldn't care if his own sister was being deceived.

Whether it was hundreds of thousands or millions, if she got scammed, she got scammed.

The most important thing was whether Horikita Suzune could grow from the experience.

"One million private points, and I won't hinder Suzune's growth."

Under Horikita Manabu's oppressive gaze, Aoyama's answer seemed rather nonsensical.

Furthermore, no matter how one looked at it, these words were a threat.

If he didn't provide this one million private points, he would produce a result that Horikita Manabu would not want to see.

"I have to say, you have quite a lot of nerve. In this school, you are the first student to ever threaten me." Pushing up the bridge of his glasses, Horikita Manabu frowned slightly, his eyes narrowing.

A cool sea breeze blew past, and for a moment, the only sound in the space occupied by Horikita Manabu and Aoyama was the hum of the vending machine.