Cheating Akiyama Shin?! Ripping off Horikita Manabu?! I Will Protect Suzune-chan!

The clear water flowing from the faucet rinsed the foam off the ceramic plates; although Horikita Suzune's movements were somewhat clumsy, she washed every dish with extreme care.

She had rarely handled this type of housework before, but doing it here at Akiyama Shin's place did not make her feel repulsed.

Just as she was draining the last plate and preparing to put it back in the cupboard, the terminal in her pocket suddenly vibrated.

She dried her hands and took out the terminal to glance at it; a new friend request was displayed on the screen.

When she saw the applicant's name and profile picture, Horikita Suzune froze completely.

The profile picture was of a black-haired boy with glasses and a cold, stern expression, and the applicant's name was—Horikita Manabu.

Brother...?

He added me as a friend on his own initiative?

An indescribable surge of surprise rushed into her heart, causing her heartbeat to skip a few beats.

Since enrolling, she had thought countless times about reaching out to her brother, but each time she had retreated due to her inner cowardice and the desire not to bring shame upon him.

She had always felt that until she achieved results worthy of pride, she was not qualified to face that brother of hers, who stood as unreachable as a high mountain.

But now, her brother had actually come to find her!

She suppressed the smile that was almost spilling from the corners of her mouth, struggling to maintain a facade of calm.

Yet, ripples inevitably spread through those eyes that were always so cold and detached.

She quickly tapped accept, her heart pounding in her chest, waiting in anticipation to see what message her brother would send.

On the other side.

Although Akiyama Shin was sitting at the table, seemingly browsing his terminal, the corner of his eye took in every detail of Horikita Suzune's momentary stiffness and the joy she tried so hard to hide but still let slip.

He barely needed to think to guess who it was that could cause such a reaction in Horikita Suzune.

Horikita Manabu, is it...

It seems this Student Council President has finally remembered that he still has a younger sister in Class D.

Akiyama Shin's brain calmly analyzed the current situation.

He recalled the anger Horikita Suzune had shown in the gymnasium earlier because of his disrespect toward her brother.

Although she had held back at the time and didn't explicitly state that Horikita Manabu was her brother, Akiyama Shin had already seen through their relationship.

She seemed to have been deliberately avoiding this point all along...

Is she afraid of bringing shame to her outstanding brother?

She views her brother as a goal she must chase, yet feels inferior and cowardly because of her own status as a "defective product" at this stage.

So she doesn't dare to face him openly?

This complex mentality...

It certainly fits her stubborn and proud personality.

Then, Horikita Manabu contacting her now certainly wouldn't be for a simple sibling reunion.

Given Horikita Manabu's cold and stern style, as well as his profound understanding of the school's rules, he must surely know what being assigned to Class D signifies.

Reaching out to Horikita Suzune at this time, it is more likely that he wants to give her a stern warning.

Through verbal suppression?

Or even... actual actions?

Is he trying to make her deeply realize her own weakness and the cruelty of Class D's situation through such methods... so as to ignite her fighting spirit?

Or... to make her give up in the face of difficulty?

It's typical Spartan education—using harshness to spur growth; Horikita Manabu doesn't necessarily dislike Horikita Suzune.

Perhaps, on the contrary, he chose this seemingly cold method precisely because he hopes Horikita Suzune can shed her reliance on him and truly grow through her own strength.

However...

A glint of light flashed in Akiyama Shin's eyes.

For Akiyama Shin, this seems like an excellent opportunity to fleece Horikita Manabu.

Whether he intends to humiliate her verbally or truly plans to discipline his sister with action, as long as Akiyama Shin captures evidence—such as a recording or a photo—then the Student Council President bullying a first-year student, even if it is his own sister...

Once the matter spreads, it would be a heavy blow to his reputation and the authority of the Student Council.

Given Horikita Manabu's rationality and the importance he places on his current status, he would definitely choose to pay to make the problem go away.

Another significant amount of points to be earned!

Thinking of this, Akiyama Shin no longer hesitated and stood up.

"I'm going out for a bit."

He said this to Horikita Suzune, who was still staring at her terminal as if waiting for a message, and walked straight toward the door.

Horikita Suzune responded subconsciously, her mind still completely immersed in the shock of her brother suddenly contacting her, not even paying much attention to what Akiyama Shin had said.

Akiyama Shin pulled the door open and stepped out quickly.

It was impossible for him to do something as pathetic as stalking Horikita Suzune. After all, Horikita Manabu would never allow Horikita Suzune to bring someone else to meet him, and even if Horikita Suzune wouldn't do that, Horikita Manabu would certainly be on guard.

So the question now is...

How to find the location where they are meeting?

The school is so big... he is not a human radar.

On the other side, Horikita Suzune had already walked out of the dormitory building with joy. Akiyama Shin stood in a blind spot of the dormitory building, silently watching Horikita Suzune.

What he needs to do now is wait for Horikita Suzune and Horikita Manabu to reach their destination first, and then find them a little later by following some clues.

This way, he can catch them off guard.

Ten minutes later.

Akiyama Shin walked out of the dormitory building and began to think about the places where Horikita Suzune and Horikita Manabu might go.

However, not far away, he saw two other familiar figures: Kiyotaka Ayanokoji and Sudo Ken.

And standing opposite them were two male students wearing school uniforms who looked like upperclassmen.

The atmosphere seemed a bit off.

"Hey, Class D, do you not have eyes when you walk? Don't you know how to apologize after bumping into someone?"

One of the upperclassmen said in a flippant tone.

Sudo Ken was full of rage, his fists clenched tightly, and he retorted with his neck stiffened.

"It was clearly you who suddenly turned out! Why should I apologize?!"

The other upperclassman sneered, looking Sudo Ken up and down, his eyes full of disdain.

"Heh, a defective product from Class D is still a defective product. Not only is your ability lacking, but you don't even have basic manners?"

"Defective product?"

Sudo Ken was stunned for a moment, and then his anger grew even more intense.

"What the hell did you say?!"

He made a move to rush forward, but was held back tightly by Kiyotaka Ayanokoji beside him.

"Sudo, calm down."

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji's voice remained flat, but the strength in his hand was not small.

Defective product... Class D...

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji's brain was spinning at high speed.

The words of these two upperclassmen seemed to confirm a certain guess in Kiyotaka Ayanokoji's mind.

The division of classes is not random, but based on some standard; there is a hierarchical difference between A, B, C, and D.

Class D is regarded as a defective product, which further confirms the speculation that there is a competitive relationship within the school.

Then, the so-called meritocracy is probably not just about academics and physical fitness.

Does it also include an assessment of comprehensive ability?

He analyzed silently, piecing these fragments of information together, while the two upperclassmen saw Sudo Ken being held back by Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, curled their lips in disdain, and without further entanglement, turned and walked toward the dormitory building.

"Tch, boring."

Akiyama Shin took in this scene, and regarding the upperclassmen calling Class D defective products, he felt no ripples in his heart, because this was a fact in itself.

Moreover, although the other party's behavior was provocative, it did not constitute a substantial disclosure of the rules.

Even if he wanted to make a fuss about this to scrape some points, he couldn't find enough reason.

He shook his head, stopped paying attention to that side, and walked toward Kiyotaka Ayanokoji and Sudo Ken.

Sudo Ken was still complaining with dissatisfaction.

"Ayanokoji! Why did you hold me back! Those guys should have been taught a lesson!"

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji let go of his hand and analyzed in a calm tone.

"If you had taken action, it would have been a school violence incident."

"Once recorded by the school, it could affect your personal evaluation and even implicate the class."

"Don't you still want to join the Basketball Club... and become a regular? If you have a reputation for violence..."

"That would probably be very troublesome, right...?"

Upon hearing this, although Sudo Ken still looked unconvinced, his momentum was clearly weaker.

Basketball is his dream; he cannot ruin his opportunity because of a moment of impulse.

At this moment.

They also noticed Akiyama Shin walking over.

"Akiyama?"

Sudo Ken looked a bit surprised.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji also looked toward Akiyama Shin, a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

Akiyama Shin didn't waste any words and asked directly.

"Have you seen Horikita Suzune?"

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji thought for a moment and pointed in a certain direction.

"I think I saw her heading that way just now. She was moving quite fast, as if she had some urgent business."

The direction he pointed toward was the path leading to the relatively secluded area behind the school building.

"Thanks."

Akiyama Shin offered a word of thanks and immediately walked quickly in that direction. Watching Akiyama Shin's retreating figure, Sudo Ken couldn't help but scratch his head, asking with some confusion, "Hey, Ayanokoji, do you think Akiyama and Horikita... are they actually dating? He's in such a rush to find her..."

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji replied with an expressionless face.

"I don't know."

But his gaze remained fixed on the direction where Akiyama Shin had disappeared, lost in thought.

Akiyama Shin...

He seemed to be plotting something.

Following the direction indicated by Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, Akiyama Shin passed through the increasingly dim campus paths.

The sky had turned completely dark, and the streetlights were flickering on one after another, casting dim, yellow halos over the empty areas.

The further he went toward the back of the school building, the fewer people there were, and the surroundings grew increasingly quiet.

Finally, near a corner at the back of one of the school buildings, he heard faint voices.

One of them, a somewhat cold but suppressed, excited voice, belonged to none other than Horikita Suzune.

Akiyama Shin immediately lightened his footsteps, approaching silently while skillfully pulling out his terminal to activate the recording function, hiding himself in the shadows of the corner.

"Brother..."

"I followed in your footsteps and came to this school..."

Horikita Suzune's voice carried a rare, almost jubilant emotion.

"I will definitely work hard to catch up to you!"

However, the response she received was a voice so cold it lacked any emotion.

"This is a school where ability is everything."

Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses. The gaze behind the lenses swept over Horikita Suzune as if looking at a defective product, his tone filled with undisguised disdain.

"To come to this school and be sorted into Class D, a group of defective goods—you have truly brought shame upon me."

He paused, his voice growing even colder and harder.

"It would be best if you didn't let others know that we are siblings."

The color drained from Horikita Suzune's face instantly. She looked at her cold-hearted brother in disbelief, instinctively lowering her head as her hands gripped her skirt tightly.

Grievance.

Resentment.

And a deep sense of loss washed over her like a tide.

Although she had begun to realize that the rules of this school might be related to class evaluations.

She completely failed to understand why Class D had to be labeled with such an insulting term as "defective goods."

While she had indeed witnessed some people in Class D today who were ignorant and had no filter, She was confident that her own academic ability, physical fitness, and comprehensive skills should not have landed her in Class D!

And what about Akiyama Shin?

Could Akiyama Shin, with his astonishing insight and ability to acquire millions of points in such a short time, also be called a defective product?

She absolutely refused to accept that!

It must be that certain unknown factors were considered during the sorting process, or perhaps, like Akiyama Shin, there was some undiscovered flaw that led to the sorting error!

Her inner pride made her want to refute him. She raised her head, attempting to voice some of her current thoughts and observations.

Including her views on Akiyama Shin, to prove that Class D was not entirely worthless.

"Brother, Class D may indeed have many problems, but not everyone is... and I have learned that the rules of this school seem to..."

Her words were somewhat disorganized, and she did not reveal Akiyama Shin's analysis without reservation, but she did manage to express her own thinking and observations from the side. As Horikita Manabu listened to his sister, a trace of surprise flashed, almost imperceptibly, in his eyes.

Suzune... seems to have grown a little?

So, you've started to learn how to observe and think?

Furthermore, she mentioned that Akiyama Shin... it seems that boy has truly had some influence on her.

However, the expression on his face did not soften in the slightest; instead, it grew even colder as he cut Horikita Suzune off mid-sentence.

"A defective product is a defective product; no amount of excuses can change that fact."

He delivered his final ultimatum in a tone that could almost be described as cruel.

"At your current level, staying here is nothing but a waste of time, and it only brings shame upon me."

"Drop out. It's not too late to leave now."

"Drop out?!"

Horikita Suzune snapped her head up, her eyes filled with shock and intense resistance.

"No! I absolutely will not..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Horikita Manabu's eyes sharpened. Without any warning, he raised his palm and, with a fierce momentum, struck directly toward her abdomen!

The speed of this strike was blinding!

It was clear he had no intention of holding back!

Horikita Suzune had never expected her brother to resort to violence so suddenly. Her face turned deathly pale, and she instinctively squeezed her eyes shut, her body stiffening with fear.

Just at this critical moment!

Click!

A crisp shutter sound rang out abruptly!

At the same time, a blinding white flash erupted from the dim corner, instantly illuminating Horikita Manabu's cold face and Horikita Suzune's terrified expression.

The intense light caused Horikita Manabu to falter, and he instinctively raised his arm to shield his eyes.

Horikita Suzune also opened her eyes due to the sudden turn of events, looking toward the source of the sound and light.

In the shadows of the corner, Akiyama Shin stood holding his terminal, a faint, elusive smile on his face.

"Akiyama... Shin?"

Horikita Suzune murmured, her mind unable to process the situation for a moment. Horikita Manabu slowly lowered his arm. Upon seeing that the person was Akiyama Shin, he was slightly taken aback, but he immediately understood the other party's intentions.

As expected... he still managed to find an opening.

From their eye contact at the gymnasium, Horikita Manabu had known that this Akiyama Shin was no ordinary person.

He had also sensed that Akiyama Shin would eventually find a way to extract benefits from him.

He just hadn't expected their first confrontation to come so soon, or in such a manner.

It was also clear that Akiyama Shin had long since deduced the sibling relationship between him and Suzune.

Before Suzune came here, she had confirmed she was alone; given her personality, she wouldn't lie about such things.

Therefore, there were only two possibilities for Akiyama Shin to find this location so precisely: either he had been tailing Suzune the whole time—though the probability of that was extremely low, given his previous behavior and Suzune's description—or he had inferred from certain details that Suzune was coming to see him, and predicted that he might use some radical method to discipline his sister, so he had come specifically to collect evidence.

Whichever it was, it demonstrated his terrifying insight and ability to act. Moreover, he hadn't chosen to go public immediately, but had instead secured the evidence before revealing himself.

This indicated that his goal was a transaction.

Since that was the case...

Horikita Manabu made a decision in an instant.

He locked his gaze onto Akiyama Shin and spoke directly, as if he had already prepared the price.

"2 million private points."

"Delete the photo, delete the recording."

Akiyama Shin raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.

He hadn't expected Horikita Manabu to be so straightforward, offering a price before he could even begin his extortion.

What a smart man...

Dealing with smart people really saves so much trouble!

It seemed Horikita Manabu had also anticipated that something like this might happen and understood the value of this evidence.

Beside them, Horikita Suzune was completely stunned. She looked at her calm brother, then at the smiling Akiyama Shin, unable to comprehend this sudden development.

Her brother... was paying Akiyama Shin?

To delete the photo and recording from just now?

Why?

Akiyama Shin didn't waste any time. He operated his terminal, pulled up his payment QR code, and displayed it to Horikita Manabu.

Horikita Manabu didn't hesitate in the slightest. He immediately took out his own terminal, scanned the code, entered the amount, and transferred the points.

[Ding! Your account has received 2,000,000 private points.]

The pleasant notification sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

Akiyama Shin confirmed the payment had arrived and nodded with satisfaction. Right in front of Horikita Manabu, he cleanly and decisively deleted the photos and recording he had just taken.

"Pleasure doing business with you."

He said in a relaxed tone.

Horikita Manabu watched his actions, and only after confirming the files were deleted did he speak again, asking the one question that was his greatest doubt at this moment.

"I have only one question."

His sharp gaze seemed as if it wanted to pierce through Akiyama Shin.

"Why are you here?"

From their brief confrontation in the gymnasium to this moment of being caught in the act, the capabilities Akiyama Shin had displayed far exceeded those of an ordinary freshman. He not only saw through the rules but could utilize them, and could even precisely grasp the psychological and behavioral patterns of others.

Suzune clearly did not know he would come.

And the fact that he could find this secluded location in such a short time meant he wasn't searching blindly, but had a clear line of deduction that allowed him to lock onto this spot.

Was he with Suzune just now?

Did he judge from certain details that Suzune was coming to see me, and anticipate that a conflict might occur?

This level of observation, deductive ability, and grasp of timing was simply terrifying.

More importantly, he chose to intervene in this way rather than stopping it directly, which meant he understood the original intent of my actions, and perhaps was even using me to achieve his own goals, while at the same time protecting Suzune to a certain extent?

This boy was far more profound than he appeared.

Facing Horikita Manabu's probing gaze, Akiyama Shin did not offer any complex explanation.

He simply used a tone that was slightly flippant yet carried an undeniable sense of certainty, giving an answer that made Horikita Manabu understand instantly, and made Horikita Suzune, standing nearby, blush furiously.

He curled the corners of his mouth slightly, his dark red pupils shimmering with a subtle light under the glow of the streetlamp.

"From now on—"

"I will take good care of Suzune-chan."

This sentence was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, sending massive ripples through Horikita Suzune's heart.

She jerked her head up to look at Akiyama Shin, her face instantly flushed with a deep red that spread all the way to her earlobes and neck.

Her heart began to beat uncontrollably and violently, a mix of embarrassment, surprise, and a trace of a flutter she hadn't even realized herself surging into her mind.

What... what is he saying?!

Who needs him to protect me!

And... and that "Suzune-chan" nickname...

However, contrary to her expectation that her brother would be furious, the cold and rigid expression on Horikita Manabu's face seemed to soften just a tiny bit after hearing this answer.

He looked deeply at Akiyama Shin, his gaze seemingly containing scrutiny, assessment, and a hint of approval?

He didn't say anything else, nor did he look at his sister again, merely nodding slightly toward Akiyama Shin.

Then, without hesitation, he turned and disappeared into the shadows deep within the school building.

The scene was left with only the stunned Horikita Suzune, whose face was still flushed, and Akiyama Shin, who looked as light as a breeze, having just pocketed another two million points.

The evening wind blew by, carrying a chill, yet it could not blow away the heat and confusion in Horikita Suzune's heart.

She looked at the direction her brother had disappeared, then at Akiyama Shin beside her, who seemed to have just done something trivial, her mind still unable to process it all.

Is... is it really over just like that?

[A massive chapter of nearly six thousand words! I usually write drafts directly in my notes... I can't see the word count... I just put my head down and grind! This chapter focuses on internal thoughts and deduction! Although there might be some unreasonable parts! Please forgive me!]

The clear water flowing from the faucet rinsed the foam off the ceramic plate. Although Horikita Suzune's movements were somewhat clumsy, she washed every dish with extreme seriousness.

She had rarely touched this type of housework before, but doing it here at Akiyama Shin's place didn't make her feel repulsed.

Just as she finished draining the last plate and was preparing to put it back into the cupboard, the terminal in her pocket suddenly vibrated.

She dried her hands and took out the terminal to take a look; a new friend request was displayed on the screen.

When she saw the name and avatar of the requester, Horikita Suzune froze completely.

The avatar was a black-haired boy wearing glasses with a cold expression, and the name of the requester was—Horikita Manabu.

Brother...?

He took the initiative to add me as a friend?

An indescribable surge of joy rushed into her heart, making her heart skip a few beats.

Since enrolling, she had thought countless times about reaching out to her brother, but each time she retreated due to her inner cowardice and the thought of not wanting to lose face for him.

She had always felt that until she achieved results worthy of pride, she had no qualification to face that brother of hers who was as unreachable as a high mountain.

But now, her brother had actually taken the initiative to find her!

She suppressed the smile that was almost spilling from the corners of her mouth, struggling to maintain a facade of calm.

Yet, in those eyes that were always cold, a ripple inevitably stirred.

She tapped accept in a flurry, her heart pounding against her ribs, waiting in anticipation for what her brother might say.

On the other side.

Although Akiyama Shin sat at his desk, seemingly browsing his terminal, the corner of his eye caught the momentary stiffness in Horikita Suzune, followed by the joy she tried desperately to hide but still let slip.

He barely needed to think to guess who could elicit such a reaction from Horikita Suzune.

Horikita Manabu, is it...

It seems this Student Council President has finally remembered he still has a younger sister in Class D.

Akiyama Shin's brain calmly analyzed the current situation.

He recalled the anger Horikita Suzune had shown earlier today in the gymnasium when he had been disrespectful toward her brother.

Although she had held back at the time and hadn't explicitly stated that Horikita Manabu was her brother, Akiyama Shin had long since discerned their relationship.

She seemed to be deliberately avoiding the subject...

Was she afraid of bringing shame to her outstanding older brother?

Viewing her brother as a target she must chase, yet feeling inferior and timid due to her current status as a "defective product."

So she dared not face it openly?

This complex mindset...

It certainly fit her stubborn and proud personality.

If so, Horikita Manabu reaching out to her now could never be for a simple sibling catch-up.

Given Horikita Manabu's cold and stern style, and his profound understanding of the school's rules, he must be well aware of what being assigned to Class D signified.

Reaching out to Horikita Suzune at this specific time, it was more likely that he intended to put her in her place.

Through verbal suppression?

Or perhaps even... actual actions?

By doing so, forcing her to realize her own weakness and the cruelty of Class D's situation... thereby igniting her fighting spirit?

Or... making her realize the difficulty and retreat?

It was a typical Spartan education, using strikes to force growth; Horikita Manabu might not necessarily dislike Horikita Suzune.

Perhaps, on the contrary, he chose this seemingly cold method precisely because he hoped Horikita Suzune could shed her reliance on him and grow by relying on her own strength.

However...

A glint of light flashed in Akiyama Shin's eyes.

For Akiyama Shin, this seemed like an excellent opportunity to fleece Horikita Manabu.

Whether he intended to humiliate her verbally or actually planned to "educate" his sister, as long as Akiyama Shin could secure evidence—such as a recording or a photo—then the Student Council President bullying a first-year student, even if it were his own sister...

Once the matter spread, it would be a heavy blow to his reputation and the authority of the student council.

Given Horikita Manabu's rationality and the value he placed on his current status, he would absolutely choose to pay to make the problem go away.

Another substantial amount of points to be earned!

Thinking of this, Akiyama Shin no longer hesitated and stood up.

"I'm heading out for a bit."

He said this to Horikita Suzune, who was still staring at her terminal, seemingly waiting for a message, and walked straight toward the door.

Horikita Suzune responded subconsciously, her mind still completely immersed in the shock of her brother suddenly contacting her, not even paying much attention to what Akiyama Shin had said.

Akiyama Shin pulled the door open and stepped out quickly.

He couldn't possibly do something as tedious as tailing Horikita Suzune; after all, Horikita Manabu would never allow Horikita Suzune to bring someone else to meet him, and even if Horikita Suzune wouldn't do that, Horikita Manabu would certainly have precautions in place.

So the problem now was...

How to find the location where they were meeting?

The school was so large... he wasn't a human radar.

On the other side, Horikita Suzune had already left the dormitory building with a look of joy, while Akiyama Shin stood in a blind spot of the dormitory building, watching her silently.

All he had to do now was wait for Horikita Suzune and Horikita Manabu to reach their destination first, then find them later by following some clues.

That way, he could catch them off guard.

Ten minutes later.

Akiyama Shin walked out of the dormitory building, starting to ponder the places where Horikita Suzune and Horikita Manabu might have gone.

However, not far away, he saw two other familiar figures: Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Sudo Ken.

And standing opposite them were two male students in school uniforms who looked like upperclassmen.

The atmosphere seemed somewhat off.

"Hey, Class D, do you not have eyes when you walk? Don't you know how to apologize after bumping into someone?"

One of the upperclassmen said in a flippant tone.

Sudo Ken looked furious, his fists clenched tightly as he stiffened his neck to retort.

"It was clearly you guys who suddenly turned out! Why should I be the one to apologize?!"

The other upperclassman sneered, looking Sudo Ken up and down with eyes full of disdain.

"Heh, a defective product from Class D is still a defective product. Not only is your ability lacking, but you don't even have basic manners?"

"Defective product?"

Sudo Ken was stunned for a moment, and then his anger flared even higher.

"What the hell did you say?!"

He made a move to rush forward, but was held back firmly by Kiyotaka Ayanokoji at his side.

"Sudo, calm down."

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji's voice remained flat, but the strength in his grip was not insignificant.

Defective product... Class D...

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji's brain was spinning at high speed.

The words of these two upperclassmen seemed to confirm a certain speculation in Kiyotaka Ayanokoji's mind.

The division of classes was not random, but based on some standard; there was a hierarchical difference between A, B, C, and D.

Class D being regarded as defective products further confirmed the speculation that there was a competitive relationship within the school.

If so, this so-called meritocracy was likely not just about academics and physical fitness.

Did it also include an assessment of comprehensive ability?

He analyzed silently, piecing these fragments of information together, while the two upperclassmen, seeing Sudo Ken being held back firmly by Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, curled their lips in disdain. They didn't bother to pester them further and turned to walk toward the dormitory building.

"Tch, boring."

Akiyama Shin took in the whole scene. Regarding the upperclassmen calling Class D defective products, he felt no ripples in his heart, because this was a fact in itself.

Moreover, although the other party's behavior was provocative, it did not constitute a substantial revelation of the rules.

Even if he wanted to make an issue out of this to squeeze out some points, he couldn't find enough reason to do so.

He shook his head, stopped paying attention to that side, and walked toward Kiyotaka Ayanokoji and Sudo Ken.

Sudo Ken was still complaining with dissatisfaction.

"Ayanokoji! Why did you hold me back! Guys like that deserve to be taught a lesson!"

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji let go and analyzed in a calm tone.

"If you throw a punch, it becomes a school violence incident."

"Once recorded by the school, it could affect your personal evaluation and even implicate the class."

"Don't you still want to join the Basketball Club... and become a regular? If you have a reputation for violence hanging over you..."

"That would probably be very troublesome, wouldn't it...?"

Upon hearing this, although Sudo Ken still looked unconvinced, his momentum weakened significantly.

Basketball was his dream; he couldn't ruin his chance because of a moment of impulse.

At this moment.

They also noticed Akiyama Shin walking over.

"Akiyama?"

Sudo Ken was a bit surprised.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji also looked at Akiyama Shin, his eyes carrying a hint of inquiry.

Akiyama Shin didn't waste words and asked directly.

"Have you seen Horikita Suzune?"

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji thought for a moment and pointed in a direction.

"I think I saw her walking that way just now. She was moving quite fast, as if she had some urgent business."

The direction he pointed was the path leading to the relatively quiet area behind the school building.

"Thanks."

Akiyama Shin said thanks and immediately walked quickly in that direction. Watching Akiyama Shin's retreating back, Sudo Ken couldn't help but scratch his head and asked with some confusion, "Hey, Ayanokoji, do you think Akiyama and Horikita... are they really dating? Being in such a rush to find her..."

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji answered expressionlessly.

"I don't know."

But his gaze looked thoughtfully in the direction where Akiyama Shin had disappeared.

Akiyama Shin...

He seemed to be plotting something.

Following the direction indicated by Ayanokouji, Akiyama Shin walked through the gradually darkening campus paths.

The sky had turned completely dark, and the streetlights flickered on one after another, casting dim, yellowish halos over the empty areas.

The further he walked toward the back of the school buildings, the fewer people he encountered, and the surroundings grew increasingly quiet.

Finally, near a corner at the back of one of the school buildings, he heard the faint sound of voices.

One of the voices, somewhat cold yet tinged with suppressed excitement, belonged to none other than Horikita Suzune.

Akiyama Shin immediately lightened his footsteps, approaching silently while skillfully pulling out his terminal to activate the recording function, hiding himself in the shadows of the corner.

"Brother..."

"I followed in your footsteps to come to this school..."

Horikita Suzune's voice carried a rare, almost jubilant emotion.

"I will definitely work hard to catch up to you!"

However, the response she received was a voice so cold it lacked any trace of emotion.

"This is a school that prioritizes ability above all else."

Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses sweeping over Horikita Suzune as if looking at a defective product, his tone filled with undisguised disdain.

"To come to this school and be assigned to Class D, a group of defective goods—it is a complete disgrace to me."

He paused, his voice growing even colder and harder.

"You had best ensure that no one else knows we are siblings."

The color drained from Horikita Suzune's face instantly. She looked at her cold-hearted brother in disbelief, instinctively lowering her head as her hands gripped her skirt tightly.

Grievance.

Unwillingness.

And a deep sense of loss flooded over her like a tide.

Although she had begun to realize that the rules of this school might be related to class evaluations.

She still could not understand why Class D had to be labeled with such an insulting term as "defective goods."

While she had indeed witnessed some of the ignorant and foul-mouthed people in Class D today.

She was confident that her own academic ability, physical fitness, and comprehensive skills should not have landed her in Class D!

And what about Akiyama Shin?

Could Akiyama Shin, with his astonishing insight and the way he had raked in millions of points in such a short time, also be called a defective product?

She refused to accept it!

There must have been some unknown factors considered during the class assignments, or perhaps, like Akiyama Shin, there was some undiscovered flaw that led to a misclassification!

Her inner pride made her want to retort. She raised her head, attempting to voice some of her current thoughts and observations.

Including her opinions on Akiyama Shin, to prove that Class D was not entirely worthless.

"Brother, Class D may indeed have many problems, but not everyone is... and I have learned that the rules of this school seem to..."

Her words were somewhat scattered, and she did not reveal Akiyama Shin's analysis without reservation, but she did indirectly express her own thinking and observations. As Horikita Manabu listened to his sister, a flicker of surprise, almost imperceptible, crossed his eyes.

Suzune... seems to have grown a little?

Has she started to learn how to observe and think?

Moreover, she mentioned that Akiyama Shin... it seems that boy has indeed had some influence on her.

However, the expression on his face did not soften in the slightest; instead, it grew even colder as he directly interrupted Horikita Suzune.

"Defective goods are defective goods; no amount of excuses can change the facts."

He delivered his final ultimatum in a tone that could only be described as cruel.

"At your current level, staying here is just a waste of time, and it will only bring shame upon me."

"You should drop out. It's not too late to leave now."

"Drop out?!"

Horikita Suzune jerked her head up, her eyes filled with shock and intense resistance.

"No! I will never..."

Before she could finish her sentence, she saw Horikita Manabu's eyes sharpen. Without any warning, he raised his palm and, with a fierce momentum, struck directly toward her abdomen!

The speed of this strike was incredibly fast!

It was clear he had no intention of holding back at all!

Horikita Suzune had not expected her brother to strike suddenly, and she turned deathly pale with fright, instinctively squeezing her eyes shut as her body stiffened in terror.

Just at this critical juncture!

Click!

A crisp shutter sound rang out abruptly!

At the same time, a blinding white flash erupted in the dim corner, instantly illuminating Horikita Manabu's cold face and Horikita Suzune's expression of shock.

The intense light caused Horikita Manabu to pause, and he instinctively raised his arm to shield his eyes.

Horikita Suzune also opened her eyes due to the sudden turn of events, looking toward the source of the sound and light.

In the shadows of the corner, Akiyama Shin was holding his terminal, a faint, elusive smile playing on his lips.

"Akiyama... Shin?"

Horikita Suzune murmured, her mind unable to process the situation for a moment. Horikita Manabu also slowly lowered his arm; after seeing that the person was Akiyama Shin, he was slightly stunned at first, but immediately understood the other party's intent.

As expected... he had managed to seize the opportunity after all.

From their eye contact in the gymnasium, Horikita Manabu had known that this Akiyama Shin was no ordinary person.

He had also sensed that Akiyama Shin would eventually find a way to extract benefits from him.

He just hadn't expected their first confrontation to come so soon, or in such a manner.

Akiyama Shin had clearly seen through the sibling relationship between him and Suzune long ago.

Before Suzune came over, he had even confirmed that she was alone; given her personality, she wouldn't lie about such things.

Therefore, there were only two possibilities for Akiyama Shin to find this place so precisely: either he had been tailing Suzune the whole time—though that possibility was extremely low, as his previous behavior and Suzune's descriptions suggested he wasn't that type of person—or... he had deduced that Suzune was coming to see him based on certain details, and had inferred that he might use some radical method to discipline his sister, so he had come specifically to collect evidence.

Either way, it demonstrated his terrifying insight and ability to act. Furthermore, he hadn't chosen to go public immediately, but had instead secured the evidence before revealing himself.

This meant his goal was a transaction.

Since that was the case...

Horikita Manabu made a decision in an instant.

He locked his gaze directly onto Akiyama Shin and spoke straight to the point, as if he had already prepared the price.

"2 million private points."

"Delete the photo, delete the recording."

Akiyama Shin raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.

He hadn't expected Horikita Manabu to be so decisive, offering a price before he could even start his extortion.

What a smart man...

Dealing with smart people is so much easier!

It seemed Horikita Manabu had long anticipated such a scenario and understood the value of this evidence.

Horikita Suzune, standing to the side, was completely stunned. She looked at her calm brother, then at the smiling Akiyama Shin, unable to comprehend this sudden development.

Brother... is paying Akiyama Shin?

To delete the photo and recording from just now?

Why?

Akiyama Shin didn't waste any words; he operated his terminal, pulled up the payment QR code, and displayed it to Horikita Manabu.

Horikita Manabu didn't hesitate in the slightest; he immediately took out his own terminal, scanned it, entered the amount, and transferred the funds.

[Ding! Your account has received 2,000,000 private points.]

The pleasant notification sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

Akiyama Shin confirmed the receipt of the funds, nodded with satisfaction, and, right in front of Horikita Manabu, cleanly and efficiently deleted the photo and recording he had just taken.

"Pleasure doing business with you."

He said in a relaxed tone.

Horikita Manabu watched his actions, and only after confirming the files were deleted did he speak again, asking his one and only question—the one that weighed most heavily on his mind at this moment.

"I have only one question."

His sharp gaze seemed as if it wanted to pierce through Akiyama Shin.

"Why were you here?"

From their brief clash in the gymnasium to catching him red-handed just now, the capabilities Akiyama Shin had displayed far exceeded those of an ordinary freshman. He not only saw through the rules but could also utilize them, and could even precisely grasp the psychology and behavioral patterns of others.

Suzune clearly didn't know he would come.

And the fact that he could find this secluded location in such a short time meant he wasn't searching blindly, but had a clear line of deduction, allowing him to pinpoint this spot.

Was he with Suzune earlier?

Did he judge from certain details that Suzune was coming to see me, and predict that a conflict might occur?

Such powers of observation, deduction, and timing were simply terrifying.

More importantly, the fact that he chose to intervene in this manner rather than stopping me directly suggested he understood the underlying intent of my actions, and perhaps was even using me to achieve his own goals, while simultaneously protecting Horikita Suzune to a certain extent.

This boy was far more profound than he let on.

Facing the probing gaze of Horikita Manabu, Akiyama Shin offered no complex explanation.

He simply replied in a tone that was slightly flippant, yet carried an unquestionable weight—an answer that made Horikita Manabu understand instantly, and caused Horikita Suzune, standing nearby, to blush a deep, explosive red.

He curled the corners of his mouth slightly, his dark red pupils shimmering with a subtle light under the glow of the streetlamp.

"From now on—"

"I will take good care of Suzune-chan and protect her."

This sentence was like a stone cast into a calm lake, sending massive ripples through Horikita Suzune's heart.

She snapped her head up to look at Akiyama Shin, her face instantly flushed with a crimson hue that spread all the way to her earlobes and neck.

Her heart began to beat violently and uncontrollably, a mixture of embarrassment, surprise, and a trace of a flutter she hadn't even realized herself surging into her mind.

What... what is he saying?!

Who needs his protection!

And... and that "Suzune-chan" nickname...

However, contrary to her expectation that her brother would fly into a rage, Horikita Manabu's cold, rigid expression seemed to soften just a fraction after hearing this reply.

He took a long, deep look at Akiyama Shin, his gaze seemingly containing scrutiny, assessment, and a hint of approval.

He said nothing more, nor did he look at his sister again, simply giving Akiyama Shin a slight nod.

Then, without a moment's hesitation, he turned and vanished into the shadows deep within the school building.

The scene was left with only a dumbfounded Horikita Suzune, whose blush had yet to fade, and Akiyama Shin, who looked as calm as a breeze, having just pocketed another two million points.

The evening wind blew by, carrying a chill, yet it could not disperse the heat and confusion in Horikita Suzune's heart.

She looked in the direction her brother had disappeared, then back at Akiyama Shin beside her, who acted as if he had just done something trivial, her mind still unable to process the situation.

This... this is it?

[A massive chapter of nearly six thousand words! I usually write my drafts directly in my notes app... I can't see the word count... I just kept my head down and worked! This chapter focuses on internal thought and deduction! Although there might be some unreasonable parts! Please bear with me!]