Oh, So That's What I Was Thinking?

Smack.

Ryuen slapped the photo down on the table,

showing a red-haired young man with a fierce look about him, clearly the sort of delinquent nobody wanted to mess with.

"I've already looked into him. His name is Ken Sudō, a first-year in Class 1-D and a new member of the Basketball Club. He's exceptionally athletic, and his physical ability should be second only to yours. The only catch is that he has a short temper and is easily provoked."

"Class D has someone like that?"

Kaneda frowned, looking troubled.

After the swimming lesson and their regular gym classes,

they'd already learned just how exceptional Prince Ganlongdao's athletic ability was—almost on the level of a national athlete.

And this guy named Sudō—

his physical ability was supposedly second only to Prince Ganlongdao?

"And then?" Prince Ganlongdao asked casually.

"I'm planning to get Sudō expelled."

Ryuen tapped Sudō's picture. "We'll test how the school punishes a class when one of its students is expelled. I'll need Ishizaki and a few others to help."

"Me?"

Ishizaki pointed at himself, looking dumbfounded. "What can I do?"

"Nothing at all."

Ryuen sneered. "Just go provoke Sudō. Once I've beaten you all up, we'll pin the injuries on him and see how the school handles an act of violence—and what kind of punishment Class D gets."

"Besides that..."

Ryuen gazed at Prince Ganlongdao, his expression turning displeased.

"I was going to ask the upperclassmen for information, but they all clammed up. They must be under some kind of restriction."

"So?"

"Let's test the school's response."

"That would make things easier for your plans later, wouldn't it? Assuming you have any."

Ryuen's tone was laced with mockery.

What he meant was—

if Prince Ganlongdao had nothing to do, or wasn't capable of doing anything,

he might as well hand over his position and step down.

"This..."

Ishizaki and the others were dumbfounded. They glanced nervously at Prince Ganlongdao.

They didn't know whether the plan would work,

but none of them wanted to get beaten up.

With Prince Ganlongdao around,

Ryuen had no absolute authority over the class. That was why he had to get Prince Ganlongdao's approval before Ishizaki and the others would agree.

But they had to admit,

Ryuen Kakeru seemed capable, and his execution was impressive.

He'd barely returned to class, yet he was already thinking about the leaders of other classes and asking upperclassmen for information. He'd come up with a plan in no time.

That kind of initiative—

even if they weren't entirely on board with his ideas, Ryuen gave them a sense that he could be trusted.

Prince Ganlongdao had established rules for the class, which had brought Class C tremendous benefits and greatly boosted everyone's motivation.

However,

compared with such a directionless approach,

someone like Ryuen, with clear goals,

obviously made them feel more secure.

Of course,

Ishizaki and the others valued loyalty above all.

They wouldn't go against Prince Ganlongdao just for that reason.

They simply didn't want to get beaten up,

and they thought Ryuen's plan might work. Ishizaki was torn, while Kaneda remained disdainful.

"Another cheap trick."

"Kaneda, are you looking to get beaten again?"

Ryuen shot him a cold look.

He was just as baffled.

No matter how often Kaneda got beaten, he always kept up that haughty attitude. It was downright strange.

"Heh."

Kaneda scoffed. He wasn't exactly a paragon of morals himself, and he pushed up his glasses.

"But if it'll benefit the class, I don't have a problem with it."

"Well?"

Ryuen's serpentine eyes turned to Prince Ganlongdao.

Waiting around for the school to make its next move was a waste of time. He could do a lot more with that time.

Using Sudō, the hot-tempered student from Class D,

to test the school's attitude toward violence and its punishment for expulsion—

what could be better?

But Prince Ganlongdao dug a finger in his ear and said,

"Ryuen, you're like a newlywed bride who can't wait to get started."

"..."

Ryuen's face was cold, and he didn't respond. Prince Ganlongdao scoffed.

"You're really no fun. No."

"Why not?"

Ryuen Kakeru narrowed his eyes, a flash of murderous intent in them.

This guy didn't do anything himself, and now he wouldn't let Ryuen do anything either?

"Ryuen, there are only seven reasons you'd do this."

Prince Ganlongdao sounded bored.

"First, to test how harshly the school punishes violence."

"Second, if it works, to see how an expulsion affects the class."

"..."

Ryuen kept his face cold and said nothing.

It was such a good plan, and Prince Ganlongdao didn't even have to do anything. Yet he still disagreed.

A unified class really was more effective, and Class C's motivation was high now.

But if Prince Ganlongdao truly did nothing and kept stopping Ryuen from acting, Ryuen would have to consider poaching a few people and setting up his own faction.

Prince Ganlongdao continued analyzing his motives.

"Third, to eliminate a strong piece from Class D and prepare for the competition ahead."

"Fourth, to make yourself known, see whether you can draw in people who care only about reaching Class A, and establish connections with them. Then you can plant spies in other classes."

"Fifth, another benefit of making yourself known is that you can show the other classes how you operate. The more timid students will fear you, which will make things easier for you later."

"Sixth, you can demonstrate your ability and raise your value. Maybe someone from another class will take an interest in you, which could help you move up to Class A."

"Seventh, to consolidate your position in the class and weaken Kaneda's."

"That's what you're thinking, isn't it, Ryuen?"

"..."

Uh.

Ryuen froze,

stammering without managing to get a word out.

He wasn't. He hadn't. Don't make things up.

He'd only wanted to test the school's response. He hadn't considered all that.

So this plan had all those other benefits too?

But if he denied it,

wouldn't that mean Prince Ganlongdao had thought things through more carefully than he had?

Ryuen felt a little embarrassed.

Well, then.

So that's what I was thinking?

"Ryuen."

Kaneda, who'd also been stunned, came back to his senses. He'd nearly been fooled by the guy.

He gave Ryuen a cold look.

"You're quite the schemer."

"..."

Ryuen stared back at him icily.

Damn it.

He hadn't thought that far ahead at all. Prince Ganlongdao was the schemer here.

Still,

that shouldn't have been enough to make Prince Ganlongdao reject the plan.

Ryuen turned toward the man across from him and said coldly,

"Are you afraid I'll take your place as class leader?"

"You're not up to it."

Prince Ganlongdao sneered at Ryuen's increasingly ugly expression.

"Only the first and second points have much value for the class. But Class D has fewer than a hundred Class Points right now, so it's hard to say whether we'd learn anything."

"Even if we got Sudō expelled and found out how an expulsion affects a class, we'd just be doing the other classes a favor. It's not worth it."

"..."

Hearing that,

Ryuen felt a little stifled.

At least it showed

that Prince Ganlongdao hadn't dismissed his plan without reason.

He'd meant to snap back,

but Prince Ganlongdao had just listed so many of his motives. Ryuen couldn't bring himself to argue.

Prince Ganlongdao continued,

"Still, Ryuen's worked hard for once and gathered all this information for the class. I should at least give you some pointers."

"..."

Hearing that,

Ryuen felt even more awkward.

Was that a compliment?

It was the first time anyone had treated him like a subordinate, and he couldn't even argue back.

It made him deeply uncomfortable.