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

Since school had already ended and most staff members were currently on duty, there were only a few customers in the store.

I never expected you to be this kind of Student Council secretary, Kamuro!

Although his head was slightly lowered, Hashimoto's attention was entirely focused on Kamuro.

No matter how fast or skillful Kamuro's movements had been in the convenience store just now, they hadn't escaped his eyes.

As a student of Class A and a Student Council secretary, Kamuro Masumi was actually a thief! And judging by her movements, she was a repeat offender!

Shocked, Hashimoto quickly put away his phone and flashed over to Kamuro's side.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to catch some leverage; he figured he could squeeze quite a bit of gold out of Classmate Sakayanagi for this.

As long as he could turn Kamuro Masumi or force her to defect.

Given the trust the arrogant Aoyama placed in her, getting hold of Aoyama's own secrets wouldn't be difficult.

"You just put the beer into your school bag, didn't you, Classmate Kamuro?" Looking at the misaligned beer cans on the shelf, a frivolous, triumphant smile appeared on Hashimoto's face.

Theft was a crime anywhere; as long as he reported it to the school, Kamuro would have no choice but to be expelled.

If she didn't want to be expelled, then she would have to join them.

"You saw it?"

Turning to stare at Hashimoto, Kamuro's tone was cold.

"Both eyes saw it clearly." Hashimoto pointed to a bulge in Kamuro's bag. "If I call the store manager over here, you're finished."

"At worst, I'll just be expelled? What do you want?"

Kamuro took half a step back, feigning panic, her tone becoming blustery and weak.

Anyone with a brain larger than a walnut could see she was bluffing.

"Katsuragi might look decent, but he's actually just a silver-tipped spearhead who isn't fit to lead Class A. Classmate Sakayanagi's talent is far, far greater than Katsuragi's."

"As long as you join us, we have ways to convince Aoyama to support Classmate Sakayanagi, and I believe we will definitely be able to graduate from Class A."

"As for what happened here today, I can pretend I didn't see anything."

Looking confident, Hashimoto smiled as he watched Kamuro, trying to lure her in.

Rationally speaking, his terms weren't harsh, and he believed Kamuro wouldn't do anything foolish.

"You want to graduate from Class A?"

"Who doesn't?" Hashimoto quickly replied to Kamuro's sudden question.

"Two million private points, and you pretend this never happened."

Pulling her phone from her pocket, Kamuro logged into her Personal Terminal and showed the screen to Hashimoto.

The massive seven-digit figure left Hashimoto frozen on the spot.

Chapter 54: Kamuro's Confession

"Do I look like a one-day manager, Katsuragi?"

Draped with a small sash that read 'One-Day Manager', Aoyama chatted happily with Katsuragi.

Using the excuse of having something good to discuss, he had invited Katsuragi to go somewhere with him after school.

As for the location, it was naturally where Miss Kamuro was.

"Not at all." Katsuragi kept a straight face. "And looking at you, I don't think you've brought me here for anything good."

After several interactions shortly after school started, he no longer expected Aoyama to become a combat asset for Class A.

If possible, he hoped Aoyama would just continue being a background character like he had been recently.

In any case, as far as Class A's strength went, one more or one less of him didn't matter.

It just didn't look like Aoyama had any intention of being a background character.

"It is a good thing, for you, Katsuragi." Aoyama's smile remained unchanged.

Once Hashimoto, the collaborator, was dealt with, Sakayanagi would basically lose her ability to cause trouble.

Katsuragi wouldn't have to do a thing to completely solidify his position as the leader of Class A.

In gaming terms, that's called being carried to victory.

He, Aoyama, was the real MVP!

"I hope so."

Without feeling any relief, Katsuragi followed Aoyama's footsteps indifferently.

Meanwhile, inside the convenience store.

Under the temptation of the massive two million private points, Hashimoto was shaken to his core.

Working for Sakayanagi only earned him fifty thousand private points a month; even after three full years, he would only have one point eight million.

He had followed Sakayanagi initially because he thought she was strong, but his belief in whether she could defeat Aoyama had already begun to waver.

If someone like Kamuro could earn two million private points just by hanging out with Aoyama, then...

Just how many private points did Aoyama have in his hands?

Not long ago, he had spent a million points lavishly just to buy the right to not wear a school uniform—a privilege that was essentially useless.

"I can give you another million next month at most. Otherwise, go ahead and report me; I will not betray Aoyama."

As Hashimoto weighed the pros and cons, Kamuro did not give him much time to think.

"Five seconds to decide. Five, four, three..."

"Fine, I agree."

As the count neared zero and Kamuro made a move to walk away, Hashimoto couldn't help but cave in.

That was three million private points! Only a fool would pass that up!

As for the risks involved, he couldn't afford to worry about them anymore. He didn't believe Kamuro would dare to go down with him and get them both expelled.

"Why would you rather risk expulsion than give up two million private points? Don't tell me you like him?" Hashimoto couldn't help but ask.

Was his judgment wrong? Did Kamuro actually have feelings for Aoyama?

It was impossible to tell from anything she did in the classroom.

"Yeah, yeah, I like him so much. I'm just dying of love for him."

After operating her phone to transfer two million points to Hashimoto, the annoyance and anxiety on Kamuro's face vanished completely.

The casual, disdainful tone left Hashimoto completely bewildered.

Was she being serious or not? And why was Kamuro so calm after just losing two million private points?

"You don't seem angry at all?" Looking at the massive number on his phone, Hashimoto felt like laughing, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Even though he had just obtained two million points, he had an eerie feeling that a catastrophe was looming.

"Angry? Why would I be angry at a loser?"

Glancing outside the convenience store and spotting a familiar figure, Kamuro crossed her arms and regained her stern expression.

Following her gaze, Hashimoto also spotted two students outside the convenience store.

Katsuragi Kōhei with his deadpan face, and Aoyama Shiki with a smile on his lips.

I've been set up!??

"Yo, good afternoon, Hashimoto."

Wearing a sash that read 'One-Day Manager', Aoyama strolled past Hashimoto with a refreshing air, reaching into a pile of goods on the shelf to retrieve a functioning video camera.

In an instant, Hashimoto realized he had been trapped.

However, he didn't understand; the fact that Kamuro had stolen something wouldn't change. If Aoyama reported it, both he and Kamuro would be expelled.

"Extorting and threatening the Student Council secretary on my turf—you've got some nerve, Hashimoto."

After finishing the recording with a grim-faced Katsuragi, Aoyama gave Hashimoto a thumbs-up, his smile as bright as if he'd just won the lottery.

Thanks to Hashimoto's big mouth, he had heard Kamuro's 'confession' of love.

It was nothing short of exhilarating.

"What 'your turf'? If I go down, Kamuro goes down with me." Unable to fathom why Aoyama was so confident, Hashimoto's retort sounded incredibly hollow.

"Are you talking about this?"

Unzipping Kamuro's bag, Aoyama pulled out a can of beer.

For a student, this was an item that absolutely should not be in a school bag.

"Exactly. I saw with my own eyes that Kamuro put the beer in her bag, and the surveillance camera captured your actions just now."

Fearing that Aoyama might think he could just put the beer back and pretend nothing happened, Hashimoto spoke loudly, immediately attracting the attention of the only employee at the register.

Just as he had hoped, the idle clerk, an older girl, had already turned her gaze toward them.

"Come here."

Under Hashimoto's disbelieving gaze, Aoyama smiled and beckoned to the clerk.

The clerk wore a delighted expression, skipping over to Aoyama's side and affectionately calling him 'Manager'.

"Did you turn off the surveillance like I asked, Miss Kotone?"

"Yes, I turned it off a long time ago, Manager."

Looking at Aoyama's profile with a lovestruck gaze, the twenty-something clerk looked like she was waiting for praise.

Witnessing this scene, Hashimoto knew he was absolutely finished; not even the gods could save him now.

"Very good, keep up the good work."

After praising her and dismissing the clerk, Aoyama walked toward the staff breakroom.

Watching his back, Katsuragi and the others had no choice but to follow silently.

Seated at a square table, the four of them occupied one side each.

"Hand over all your private points, and transfer two hundred thousand to me on the first of every month." Aoyama stated his conditions to the despondent Hashimoto.

"Through the Student Council, I also have footage of you stalking Yamamura and Kamuro, plus what I just recorded; you have no right to refuse."

"Stalking and threatening the Student Council secretary, and accepting a massive bribe of two million private points—the evidence couldn't be more damning. Expulsion is a certainty."

Stalking alone might not be enough to get Hashimoto expelled, but once the threat and the two-million-point payoff were exposed, he would be dead to rights with no chance of survival.

If Aoyama wished, the area outside would be swarming with Student Council members.

"Katsuragi, it seems only you can save me now." With a bitter smile, Hashimoto lowered his head toward Katsuragi.

He absolutely could not afford to pay two hundred thousand private points every month on his own.

The fact that Katsuragi, who had nothing to do with this matter, was here naturally meant there was a reason for his presence.

As someone with a flexible mind, Hashimoto quickly understood what Aoyama meant.

It was blatantly obvious: he was being told to defect to Katsuragi to save his own skin.

"I'm wondering if it would be better to just let you get expelled."

Watching the fawning Hashimoto with cold eyes, Katsuragi couldn't feel happy at all.

Chapter 55: Go Kick Away Sakayanagi's Cane

It was true that Hashimoto had been set up, but it was also true that he had threatened others and accepted money.

From Katsuragi's perspective, Hashimoto was rotten to the core and not a good follower to have.

Paying one hundred thousand private points a month to support him was not a worthwhile plan; simply put, it was a losing business.

"If you don't save me, Aoyama will really have me expelled."

Glancing at Aoyama, who seemed indifferent to the situation, Hashimoto pressed his palms together and begged Katsuragi for mercy.

"If a student in the class is expelled for a violation, it should cost the class a lot of class points, right?" Seeing that Katsuragi remained unmoved, Hashimoto quickly thought of a way to persuade him.