In a practical education, scheming against people? I can also do a little.

"I'll take my time reading these books. If I find any that I think are good, I'll recommend them to you."

"Sounds good. So, what are your plans for the rest of the day? Heading out now, or staying a while longer?"

"I'll stay a bit longer. It's only just past three. I'll head out after I've had dinner tonight."

Spending a Saturday with Shiina Hiyori was a truly pleasant experience. With a beauty by his side reading a novel, he could relax by occasionally looking up from his own book to gaze at her and the greenery behind her whenever his eyes grew tired.

"Do you want to go grab some dinner together? You didn't really have a proper lunch, did you? My treat."

"That works, but there's no need to treat me. I don't mind paying for myself."

"Eh, I've been bothering you for quite a while now, and Ryuen... sigh."

Hearing Hoya Chukai, Shiina Hiyori couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle. "It seems you don't hold Ryuen in very high regard, do you?"

When he was around Ryuen Shoko, he always called her "Boss," but when she wasn't around, he referred to her simply as Ryuen.

"Heh, well, you know what Ryuen is like. If it weren't for the fact that it's a bit inappropriate, I'd even call her a crazy hag."

"How can you say that about Ryuen? She hasn't reached that point yet, has she?"

"Hasn't reached that point? Then I really need to tell you a thing or two about her."

Hoya Chukai began to tell Shiina about the atrocities she usually committed against him, while Shiina kept smiling and holding back her laughter.

How should he put it? It really felt like the two of them were a bickering couple.

Although it looked like Ryuen Shoko loved to bully Hoya Chukai, she basically never did anything too excessive, and she certainly wasn't as tolerant with other students as she was with him.

Even the most extreme things, like licking her feet or acting as a footstool for her to step on, felt more like... a couple's intimate game?

When he was acting as a footstool, she even let him play on his phone. Was that a punishment or not? It felt like only half a punishment.

As for the foot licking... it was probably more about wanting to see his reaction, right? She wanted to see him unhappy and wanting to resist, but when she saw he was actually going to do it, she stopped him.

One could only say this was a "lose eight hundred to kill one thousand" kind of game.

"So, what do you want to eat? I'll buy it."

"Sure. But Hoya-kun, what are you planning to buy?"

"Me? ...The wild vegetable set, I suppose."

"Huh? That simple?"

She had seen it when they were checking out at the supermarket; Hoya Chukai still had plenty of points left.

Compared to many students in Class D, he already had quite a lot.

You ask why she knew about the situation of the students in Class D? She had seen those students bragging many times about spending large amounts of points on various pretty dresses, so of course she knew.

After all, they were still naive enough to think they would really receive one hundred thousand points every month.

Even though Horikita had told everyone on Friday that they wouldn't be getting one hundred thousand points every month, only a few people actually listened.

Ah, Kushida believed it, since Hoya Chukai had also mentioned it. But she still spent a little bit too much. Well, just a tiny bit more.

After all, compared to the others, she had a cash cow, even if that cash cow wasn't easy to get money from.

There were two reasons why the people in Class D didn't really believe it. One was that they basically never considered problems unless a disaster was staring them in the face. The other was that they figured even if it were less, it should still be forty or fifty thousand, right?

They would never imagine, and even Horikita wouldn't imagine, that they would get zero points in the second month.

Oh, Ayanokoji had thought of it. Since she liked to observe her surroundings, she could naturally tell how many people were violating the student handbook.

Yes, the student handbook—a book that hardly any students read, let alone one person who had actually finished reading it carefully. It really did state that students were not allowed to sleep in class, play on their phones, and so on.

After all, this thing... it was really the kind of regulation one should know about attending school, but everyone had just gone wild after entering high school with no one to supervise them.

Not to mention Class D, even in Class C, although Ryuen had mentioned this issue, everyone didn't pay much attention to it. Although no one was sleeping or playing on their phones, there were still those who were spacing out or doodling.

Who told Ryuen to sit in the first row? Naturally, she wouldn't notice what everyone was doing during class.

Even Shiina sometimes secretly read extracurricular books. She didn't sit by the window, so the proctor didn't notice she was slacking off.

"Are you really just going to eat that?"

"Yeah, the taste is quite good, and there are mushrooms in it too. To be honest, I thought the wild vegetable set would only have bitter vegetables, but it actually looks quite nutritious."

That was true. Even free food wouldn't be made too poorly. Someone checked it every year; after all, this strange point regulation also had to ensure the students' most basic needs were met. Therefore, the wild vegetable set had to be nutritionally complete.

Besides, Hoya Chukai wasn't just eating the wild vegetable set; he had also added a fried egg.

Chapter 64: Your Class A will be united? Don't make me laugh

Well, honestly, the taste was really great.

"Uh... I suppose so."

Shiina couldn't understand at all why Hoya Chukai was eating with such joy. Even for a good girl like her, she still preferred to eat some meat during her daily meals.

After all, she read books every day, which consumed a lot of mental energy. As for the issue of her figure... while she controlled her mouth to avoid eating junk, she also exercised every day.

For example, she would go for a run. There was a playground right outside the library. After mental exercise came physical exercise. Once both were finished, she would return to the dormitory to take a shower and get ready for bed. Her life was very fulfilling.

Perhaps this was the high school life she had imagined. She didn't like conflict, and she only came to this academy because it didn't charge tuition, so she naturally came here to study.

"But you really are so pitiful like this..."

"Pitiful? Then how about you treat me to a piece of meat."

"Treat you to a piece of meat... how about we just eat together?"

Hoya Chukai asked about the meat as a joke, but Shiina thought it would be better if they just shared everything.

"Huh? Then I'll order two more dishes. If I only eat these greens, I feel like I'm taking advantage of you."

"But I'm the one who bought your meal too, so don't refuse. Otherwise, I'll be unhappy."

Shiina puffed out her cheeks, looking genuinely pouty. Hoya Chukai laughed, flipped his chopsticks around, and poked her cheek: "Alright, don't be angry. Let's eat together, okay?"

"Mm-hmm, let's eat together."

The two simply pushed the plates containing various small side dishes to the side and began eating together just like that.

"But isn't it a bit too frugal to eat like this?"

"Can't help it. My spending exceeded the budget today, so I have to save some points. Sometimes I need to spend points to get people to do things, so I save where I can. Besides, compared to before, I could eat the free vegetable set for a whole semester."

Actually, the vegetable set tasted quite good, but once everyone had points, they naturally wanted to eat something better. Plus, eating the vegetable set was a sign of being broke; most high school students cared about their image, so they wouldn't torture themselves like that.

"Oh my, isn't this Hoya? Having a good time eating a girl's food?"

The two were eating and laughing happily, but there was always someone around to stir up trouble.

Sakayanagi Arisu walked over, and Kamuro Masumi was behind her, carrying two meals.

"Sakayanagi, huh? Can't help it, I'm poor. Otherwise, would you mind tossing some food my way, milady?"

Hearing Sakayanagi Arisu's words, Shiina Hiyori's expression soured. She wanted to retort, but Hoya Chukai reached out to stop her, choosing to respond to the comment himself.

His reaction made Shiina Hiyori realize that the relationship between Hoya and Sakayanagi was decent enough, which was likely why she sounded so venomous.

It was normal for friends to joke around in a slightly mean-spirited way.

"Sure, I can give you points directly."

Sakayanagi Arisu sat down next to Hoya Chukai without ceremony, and Kamuro Masumi took the last remaining seat.

Hoya Chukai had originally chosen a four-person table, so now all four seats were occupied.

"And the price?"

"The price... how about the same as Kamuro?"

Sakayanagi was referring to becoming her attendant, just like Kamuro.

"Ah, forget it then. If the boss finds out, she'll tear me to shreds."

Hoya Chukai shrugged his shoulders, pretending to answer the question casually.

It looked like a joke, but Sakayanagi definitely wasn't kidding. If Hoya Chukai actually agreed, he would essentially be selling himself out.

Sakayanagi could tell that Hoya Chukai was not as simple as he appeared. If she could buy him over with a few points, he would definitely be a major asset.

Would Hoya Chukai grant her wish? The battle between the two began right there at the dinner table.

"If you don't want the points, I can at least treat you to some dishes. Kamuro, let's put our plates to the side too."

"Yes, Young Miss."

Soon, the small plates of food from everyone were placed in the center, with four bowls of rice at the four sides. Each of the four people ate the rice in front of them.

While eating, Hoya Chukai probed for information about Class A.

"I remember the current leader of your Class A is Katsuragi?"

"That's right."

"Why aren't you competing with him? Logically speaking, your influence should be about the same, right?"

"Ah... I also want to see exactly how much ability he has. After all, to be on par with me, he must have some level of skill."

Sakayanagi Arisu didn't care at all about who was the boss of Class A; she just wanted to find some amusement.

And amusement was actually easier to find once she became the leader, since if there was no amusement, she could simply create it.

"Is that so? Then he's truly lucky to be on the mind of such a beautiful girl."

"Is he lucky? If he's lucky, then you're also lucky."

"You joke. How could I be lucky? If only you were in Class C, then I could serve the Young Miss instead of the boss."

Hoya Chukai said with a chuckle. Anyway, Ryuen wasn't there, and Shiina wasn't the type to gossip. What was wrong with him badmouthing Ryuen a little?

"The way you put it, Ryuen would be heartbroken if he heard that~ But you're welcome to come and serve me if you'd like."

"Forget it. We aren't in the same class. Different paths lead to different plans; we are enemies, not friends."

"Ha, then can't we become friends?"

"Mm-hmm, impossible."

Hoya Chukai shook his head with a smile: "Our Class C has already joined forces with Class B, and our target is naturally your Class A. So if you aren't the leader, I won't be showing any mercy to Class A~"

"What do you mean? If I become the leader, will you show mercy to the fair maiden?"

"Hmm... I can make sure your defeat isn't too ugly, how about that? Don't worry, if you run out of points, I can treat you."

"Then I'll take your word for it. If you ever fall on hard times, it wouldn't be impossible for you to come looking for me~"

Both Sakayanagi and Hoya were smiling, but the murderous aura at the dining table had not dissipated.

"Hahaha, I'll certainly look forward to that then."

Hoya laughed heartily, picked up the soup beside him, and took a sip: "Ugh, so you really don't intend to take all the power for yourself?"

"No rush. There are many fence-sitters in Class A, and I want to try uniting everyone."

"There's no unity without a crisis?"

"That's right."

"Then do you know who the last person to think that way was?"

"Who?"

"The principal."

This sentence perfectly explained his line of thought.

Many Japanese people might not know much about the principal, but Sakayanagi, being the learned and clever person she was, certainly knew.

He believed that pacifying the interior was the most correct prerequisite to resisting external threats, and the result was known to all: when faced with a powerful enemy, he ultimately chose to cooperate.

"Are you saying... that Katsuragi and I will cooperate? Ha, your words imply that you all will fail."

"Indeed, but will you two really cooperate?"

Chapter 65 I've Said Everything I Needed To Say

The path had been provided by Hoya, but Sakayanagi Arisu would never accept it.

She never considered Class A to be that important. She was a hedonist, and having fun was always her top priority. If she truly cared about honor and points, she would have chosen to cooperate with Katsuragi rather than stand in opposition to him.

"Tsk tsk, if you won't listen, then there's nothing I can do."

Clicking his tongue lightly, Hoya couldn't be bothered with what this hedonist ultimately wanted to do.