"Class rankings have value too?"
Kamuro was surprised. She felt like she'd learned a lot today.
The girl glanced at Dongfang Yi beside her, only to find him looking just as astonished, as if he hadn't known either.
That expression looked almost custom-made, though. There was something oddly familiar and affected about it.
Meanwhile, Little Princess, who hadn't known Dongfang Yi for long, was quite pleased with their reactions.
Although she'd had a slightly unpleasant experience just now, this feeling of intellectually (or rather, informationally) outclassing them had helped her find herself again.
"That's right. All the graduation benefits this school promises are only granted to the graduating class ranked first—in other words, Class A." Watching the two of them wear expressions of 'so that's how it is,' the petite girl happily continued to lay out the rules. "And the only factor that determines class rankings is—"
She paused, deliberately keeping them in suspense.
Dongfang Yi knew it was time for him to step in. "Could Your Highness the Princess be referring to... a measure, based on class, that determines how many private points each student receives?"
He clapped his hands in admiration, as if he'd suddenly had an epiphany. "I see! Now I understand. No wonder most of the upperclassmen buying drinks at the café are from Class A, while there are hardly any from Classes B and C. The lower-ranked classes must have lost their monthly points in the competition, so they can't afford to buy anything!"
"Well said. You're very perceptive, Dongfang," Sakayanagi Arisu praised him.
"Not at all, not at all. Compared to Your Highness the Princess, I still have a lot to learn." Dongfang Yi continued to spout nonsense with a straight face. "My talents are like a firefly compared to the bright moon that is Your Highness the Princess. I'm utterly unworthy of comparison."
This guy would've been a sycophant in ancient times.
Kamuro Masumi frowned at the man showering Sakayanagi with praise. She couldn't bear to look at him anymore.
I should've just brought him to the rooftop and left. Maybe then I could've kept a... good impression of him? Wait, I don't think I had a good impression of him to begin with. So why do I think he's not bad?
On the other hand, Sakayanagi Arisu found herself somewhat impressed by this shameless bootlicker who could keep up with her train of thought.
Though she was a solitary genius, even the greatest genius was incomplete without ordinary people to compare herself to and bear witness to her achievements.
Dongfang Yi was, unexpectedly, a very suitable ordinary person.
Perhaps I can have him witness my duel with that person, the girl thought.
A faint smile touched her lips as she dangled the bait. "Only Class A graduates can enjoy the guaranteed employment benefits promised by the school. And only a class competition can determine the ultimate victor."
"So, Dongfang, Kamuro, would you like to graduate from Class A?"
"Well, I don't really care, but if we could manage it, that'd be..."
Before Kamuro Masumi could finish, Dongfang Yi, who was sitting beside her, 'excitedly' cut her off.
"I do! I want it so badly! Ever since I left home, I've wanted to make it on my own. That's why I came to Advanced Nurturing High School. I want to be like a free bird soaring high in the sky, like a fish..."
Did he really need to go on that long just to prove how determined he was?
Kamuro felt as though she'd been mercilessly outclassed in a contest of bootlicking skills, and she couldn't help feeling a little frustrated.
Wait, why am I frustrated?
While Kamuro was questioning her life, Dongfang Yi was already wrapping up his speech. "I believe that, under Your Highness the Princess's leadership, every member of Class A will surely achieve our goal and enjoy a wonderful life! Let's hear some applause!"
With that, he led the applause himself.
"Dongfang is right." White-Haired Loli held up her left hand, and Dongfang Yi's applause stopped at just the right moment.
She nodded slightly and promised, "As long as I'm the leader of Class A, it won't fall from its position."
Although he knew her words had the same flaw as Kennedy's wildly optimistic claim, "As long as I'm alive, China will never build an atomic bomb," Dongfang Yi still put on an expression of deep agreement.
Her Highness the Princess is so kind, making such a solemn promise. I'm so moved. (deadpan)
A little fun fact: the year before China built its atomic bomb, America's great President Kennedy fulfilled his promise—he was taken out with a single shot.
Sakayanagi Arisu was pleased with his expression. She felt the time was right. "However..."
"However?" Dongfang Yi played along.
"As the art of war says, 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.'" Sakayanagi Arisu spoke modestly. "Even I can't protect Class A as it stands with my strength alone. So, Dongfang, I need your help."
"Your Highness the Princess, you mean..." Dongfang Yi asked with a furrowed brow, looking puzzled.
I bet your next line will be: "For the sake of the class, I need you to gather information on our competitors."
"For the sake of Class A, I need you to gather information on the students in the other classes." Sakayanagi Arisu finally revealed her true intention.
See? See? That's how intelligent people talk.
She didn't say she wanted someone to spy on Ayanokoji. She said she wanted information.
"But isn't all the student information in the school records?" Dongfang Yi obviously didn't want to deal with this kind of hassle, so he kept playing dumb.
"The records can't fully measure a person's abilities. They're merely incomplete accounts of past behavior. I'd rather analyze their logic through their everyday actions and assess their personalities and capabilities."
So you've already read every student's file, then? Dongfang Yi's mouth twitched.
He put on a sincere expression. "But if I have to record information on every student, I'm afraid I won't be up to the task and might fail Your Highness the Princess!"
Being your subordinate? No problem.
Actually doing the work? I'll pass.
"Indeed, as an ordinary person, your abilities are naturally limited." Sakayanagi Arisu chuckled. "But you don't need to record everything. Just write down what you see and hear. I'll sort through the information myself and pick out the people worth paying attention to."
So all you want is to hear gossip every day, huh? Should I come tell you a bedtime story in the middle of the night?
Dongfang Yi grumbled to himself, but bowed respectfully. "No problem, Your Highness the Princess. I'll do my best."
"Good. Remember my LINE number. You can go about your business now." Sakayanagi Arisu felt she'd said enough. She waved a hand, ready to dismiss Dongfang Yi.
Meanwhile, Kamuro Masumi felt the task had been handed out a little too easily. It had been such a hassle when she'd gone looking for him...
Was there really that big a gap between her and Sakayanagi? Or was this guy just a lolicon?
She felt the latter was more likely.
"Your Highness the Princess, there's one more thing." But Dongfang Yi didn't leave. Instead, he straightened up.
Ah, here it comes! Kamuro's eyes lit up as she waited expectantly.
I knew this guy wouldn't let me be the only one he tormented!
Before you continue