"Huh?" Kamuro Masumi was confused. "Isn't that just because the cafeteria portions are too small, so they provide extra food for people who are still hungry?"
Masumi, your logic makes so much sense that I can't even argue with it.
Dongfang Yi opened his mouth, then closed it again. No matter how he looked at it, none of his explanations seemed quite right.
The so-called seasonal vegetable meal was, in fact, just a bowl of miso soup and a serving of white rice. It wasn't unreasonable to think about it the way the girl did.
They lived in a modern, developed country. Who would consider a bowl of rice with only soup a complete meal?
Besides, the school gave its students money. If you gave it the most charitable interpretation, it seemed... perfectly reasonable.
In the end, the thousand thoughts in his head condensed into one sentence. "Kamuro."
"Hmm?"
"You really are a kind person."
Kind people saw the world as kind. Unlike him, who saw sin in everything.
Take Sakura Airi, for example: the highest amount.
"Pfft." Sakayanagi Arisu, standing on the steps, found the scene highly amusing. She waved lightly. "Don't mind me. Carry on."
Kamuro Masumi, however, wasn't having it. "Hey, Sakayanagi, are the points the school gives us really not fixed?"
Sakayanagi Arisu merely smiled and blinked, saying nothing.
Seeing that the Little Princess had no intention of answering, Dongfang Yi took over and explained. "You can't say they're completely random. There should be some kind of assessment system."
"I don't know if you've noticed, Kamuro, but the school provides free meals in the cafeteria, free bottled water in the vending machines, and free toiletries at the convenience store, though there's a limit on how many you can get."
"Of course, these are all forms of aid for students. But think about it: if the school gave students one hundred thousand points every month, would they really need assistance?"
"From an educational perspective, letting people who spend all their points experience what it's like to be short on money would leave a deeper impression than simply helping them over and over. It would also teach them to be more frugal."
"Now that you put it that way..." Kamuro Masumi knitted her brows. She understood what Dongfang Yi meant.
These supplies were meant to help students who had run short on points for reasons beyond their control. And the only force that could impose such circumstances was obviously the school.
So she didn't feel relieved at all. Frowning, she asked, "But in that case, how many points will we get next month?"
Dongfang Yi shrugged helplessly and continued explaining. "I estimate it'll be about the same as this month."
"Huh? Why?"
"As I said before, the school can't be handing out points completely at random. There has to be an underlying logic and a set of assessment criteria. As for this month's assessment, it's probably about the students' self-discipline. But Her Highness the Princess has already made arrangements, so there's no need to worry."
"Huh? Self-discipline? Arrangements? What..." Kamuro Masumi suddenly caught on. She turned to Sakayanagi Arisu. "Was that what those things you had Hashimoto tell us yesterday were for?"
Sakayanagi Arisu's lips curled slightly. She was enjoying the feeling of having Dongfang Yi explain things on her behalf.
Even a born genius needed a bard to sing her praises, and Dongfang Yi was clearly... more than qualified.
He seemed like he'd make an excellent underling~
How interesting.
"Who knows?" The White-Haired Loli gave no clear answer. She turned to Dongfang Yi, a hint of curiosity in her gaze. "Dongfang, how did you know what this month's assessment was about?"
"Because there weren't any explicit instructions."
Dongfang Yi replied. He'd already guessed what the White-Haired Loli was after, so he held nothing back. "That means the most likely possibility is that they're assessing the students' basic qualities and self-control. For example, discipline."
"Oh, is that so?" Sakayanagi Arisu tried to take a step forward, but suddenly felt her calf go numb and had to stop. "Since you're so good at guessing, Dongfang, have you also guessed what I want you to do?"
"Your loyal servant is at Her Highness's command." Dongfang Yi placed his right hand over his chest and bowed.
Now that was knowing how to read the room.
"Huh?"
Kamuro Masumi didn't understand.
The question about points had interrupted her for a moment, but she hadn't forgotten what Dongfang Yi had said earlier—
[Who'd work for her if there was no money?]
But now, this scene...
Wasn't he surrendering a little too quickly?
This was making it hard for her to enjoy the show!
If Dongfang Yi could hear her grumbling, he'd have gladly explained what "the dance of Xixi, Wei Junjie" meant.
He'd originally thought he was a tough, upright man who wouldn't do a thing without points.
But this White-Haired Loli was just too much.
The conversation in the office on the day of the opening ceremony had happened less than two days ago, and she already knew what he'd said...
How could he not surrender?
What was the point of fighting?
Dongfang Yi understood all too well what it meant when "the school was run by her family."
Even if the school used government money,
if he wanted to take advantage of it, he'd probably never escape the White-Haired Loli tycoon—not even if he transferred classes.
So he'd made up his mind: even if he transferred later, he'd still make sure to keep the exalted Arisu-sama in a good mood.
Wait, was he a little pathetic for a transmigrator?
No. This was called keeping a low profile.
Hadn't Goujian spent ten years enduring hardship and humiliation?
Dongfang Yi reassured himself.
Sakayanagi Arisu smiled even more brightly and reached out, holding her hand in midair.
This mischievous loli wasn't about to start patting his head too, was she?
Dongfang Yi judged her by his own standards and felt a sense of foreboding.
His expression stiffened slightly. He couldn't decide whether he should proactively lean his head toward her...
Ah, got it!
The young man strode forward, his expression solemn and sincere, his steps decisive and firm. As he walked, he took off his jacket. Before the White-Haired Loli could react, he wrapped it around her slender legs, clad only in white stockings and a hollowed-out camisole.
He caught her soft, pale hand as well, pulled her toward him, and swept her into his arms.
Oh, she was cold!
Then he hurried back to the sheltered hallway with her in his arms.
Sakayanagi Arisu's expression stiffened. She could feel the strong arm beneath her, but for a moment, she couldn't make sense of what was happening.
She'd thought Dongfang Yi's knightly bow was amusing, so she'd reached out to play along with a hand-kissing gesture...
But then he'd suddenly picked her up...
There wasn't a single example in history of anyone swearing fealty like this!
Even after Dongfang Yi set her down in the corridor, she was still a little dazed.
The young man stood before her, his face filled with emotion.
"Your Highness, that was a close call."
Sakayanagi Arisu was just about to ask what he was doing when Dongfang Yi pressed a finger to her lips.
He gently brushed back her short hair, striking what he thought was a dashing pose. "You don't need to be so moved. This is what a subordinate should do."
Before you continue