Classroom of the Elite, Oh No, I've Become a Stand-in

Shiraishi Asuka stood up, handed the packed school bag to Mikage Touji, and didn't forget to remind him.

"Kamuro-san should have headed toward the convenience store."

"Got it!"

Chapter 42: Good Brother, How Did You Become a Master Thief?

Kamuro Masumi walked quite fast; by the time Mikage Touji had just stepped out of the library entrance, she had almost disappeared at the end of the road.

This direction... it really was the convenience store.

Knowing Kamuro Masumi's destination, Mikage Touji was actually less anxious.

What was she planning to buy?

Following in Kamuro Masumi's footsteps, Mikage Touji entered the convenience store.

With her firm, unhesitating pace, Mikage Touji had originally guessed it might be the more private section for feminine products, but the various colorful cans of different shapes on the shelves told him this was the beverage aisle.

Mikage Touji sensed something was off. If she were simply thirsty, there would be no need to go through all this trouble to run a distance just to buy a drink; there were vending machines along the way.

Subconsciously, he slowed his pace, trailing far behind Kamuro Masumi.

At this moment, Kamuro Masumi, having entered the convenience store, also slowed down. Gone was the impatience she had shown in the library; her gaze fell near the alcohol shelf, as if she were browsing for items.

The school shouldn't allow students to buy alcohol—

In the instant Mikage Touji felt puzzled.

Kamuro Masumi casually raised her hand, took down a beer, turned her body, and a can of beer slipped into her shoulder bag.

The movement was stylish and natural, without a hint of hesitation, and she turned to leave immediately.

She left behind Mikage Touji in the corner, his mouth agape, eyes dull, completely stunned by the impact.

Everything happened too suddenly; by the time he realized what Kamuro Masumi had done, it was already too late.

Afterward, Kamuro Masumi walked out of the convenience store entrance as if nothing had happened, looking just like a student who had finished school and decided on a whim to wander in, only to leave because she found nothing to buy.

Mikage Touji covered his eyes, his feelings a complex mess.

Good brother, how did you become a master thief?

Do students these days have to develop their own side hustles?

And this scene, how is it so much like a spoiled rich girl on the surface, but a master thief with superb agility and exquisite technique in the shadows...

As for why she does it? For the thrill!

But now there is a problem, this master thief...

Is from his own camp!

If she gets caught, while Class A might not be wiped out, its reputation would plummet and its strength would be compromised.

If he were to uphold justice and report her... that's even more impossible, after all, one shouldn't air dirty laundry in public.

So, is there only one option left?

Give it up, A-Zu—ah, damn it!

Give it up, good brother, the outside is full of hidden cameras!

Without realizing it, Mikage Touji had wandered outside and sat on a roadside bench, lost in thought.

After pondering for a long time, he lowered his eyelids, silently took out his phone from his pocket, and made a call.

After a few rings, the call was picked up with a snap, and Shiraishi Asuka's voice, as refreshing as clear water, reached his ears.

"Moshi moshi, what's wrong, Mikage-kun?"

He remained silent for a moment facing the phone, then Mikage Touji spoke: "Did Shiraishi-san know about this all along?"

"What is Mikage-kun talking about? I don't know."

"About Kamuro-san."

"What happened to Kamuro-san?"

"I felt it was strange just now; why would Shiraishi-san refuse my request? That shouldn't be right." Mikage Touji's tone revealed deep confusion.

Then he changed the subject, "Now I've thought of it; perhaps Shiraishi-san intentionally wanted me to go to the convenience store."

"Fu fu~" A light chuckle came from Shiraishi Asuka over the phone, "Then why would I want to let Mikage-kun go to the convenience store?"

"Probably to let me witness that scene of her theft..."

Mikage Touji continued his deduction, "The series of events just now were all too coincidental. Kamuro-san left, happened to drop her notebook, the notebook happened to have a room key hidden inside, and more importantly, Shiraishi-san knew she was heading to the convenience store just by the direction she left in."

"Maybe it was just a coincidence?"

Shiraishi Asuka seemed to enjoy this process of chatting with Mikage Touji; just from the voice coming through the phone, Mikage Touji could imagine her smiling expression.

"Fine, but this is too coincidental. What's even more coincidental is that just as Shiraishi-san reminded me that Kamuro-san's physical ability is second to none among the girls in the class, I ran into her theft at the convenience store. The probability of this is simply too low; other than it being orchestrated, I can't think of any other possibility."

"Mm-hmm, as expected of Mikage-kun." Shiraishi Asuka neither admitted nor denied it.

Mikage Touji stared at his shadow reflected on the ground with complex emotions and spoke, "Why go to such great lengths to make me witness her theft?"

"Because Kamuro-san is a very talented individual, it would be a waste to leave her unused."

"Given Kamuro-san's personality, if you just ask her properly, she would contribute to the class, right?"

"Contributing to the class and doing favors for you personally are not on the same level, you know."

"Then why doesn't Shiraishi-san recruit her yourself?"

"Your control over the girls' side is insufficient; you need someone specifically to help you handle matters involving the girls."

Mikage Touji blurted out without a second thought, "But don't I already have Shiraishi-san?"

On the other end of the line, there was only the sound of soft breathing, followed by a long silence—so long that Mikage Touji felt as if centuries had passed.

"Yes, you have me..."

"Then why—"

"Because I feel that leading the girls isn't something I'm suited for, just like how you said you aren't suited for leading the class..."

"So that's why you specifically invited Kamuro-san to our group for tutoring?"

"Correct. When Katsuragi-san was assigning the tutoring groups, I happened to see Kamuro-san's name, which is why this tutoring session came to be. Otherwise, I wouldn't have wanted a third person to join this session."

"Does Shiraishi-san want me to recruit her?"

"It doesn't matter if you don't want to."

"Alright... since Shiraishi-san has said as much."

Mikage Touji nodded, his tone suddenly turning serious, "Then, I have one last question."

"What is it?"

Mikage Touji sighed toward the ceiling.

"I don't think I can handle this type of girl. Help me out, Mother Shiraishi!"

The next second, a ticklish laugh that brushed against his heart like a feather came through the phone.

"It's fine, I'll teach you."

Based on the direction she was walking earlier, she should be heading back to the dormitory, and estimating by her pace... it's doable!

Mikage Touji slammed on the brakes at the dormitory entrance, looking around, but found no trace of her.

He took out his phone, intending to contact her, but caught a glimpse of purple flashing past the corner of the lobby. Without a second thought, he shouted:

"Hey, bro!"

The loud voice echoed throughout the elevator area, and a wave of strange gazes fell upon the "bro" in question.

Kamuro Masumi lowered her head, clenched her fists, and continued walking as if she didn't know him.

"You dropped something!" the loud voice rang out again.

Mikage Touji held her room card high toward Kamuro Masumi. The surrounding gazes became even stranger; now, she couldn't pretend not to know him even if she wanted to.

With a twist of her long, toned legs, Kamuro Masumi turned around sharply, looking at him with an expression one might reserve for trash: "What do you want?"

"I want to get to know you. Also," Mikage Touji gestured with the room card in his hand, "I'm here to return your things."

"I'm not interested in you!"

Taking two steps in one, Kamuro Masumi marched up, snatched the key card, and headed straight for the stairwell. Her small leather shoes clicked against the steps at a high frequency, attempting to put distance between her and the Mikage Touji following behind.

"I want to have a word with you."

Mikage Touji, positioned below her, watched her long, crisscrossing legs and the fluttering white hem of her skirt as he spoke.

"I have absolutely no desire to talk to you!" Kamuro Masumi continued climbing the stairs.

Mikage Touji released his focus, scanning the area quickly to ensure no one was around.

"About what you did at the convenience store earlier..."

Kamuro Masumi's footsteps halted. She lowered her head, her expression obscured, "You saw it?"

"Clear as day. This isn't the place to talk; shall we go somewhere else to discuss it?"

"Right here is fine! So what if I stole it? Are you going to report me?" Kamuro Masumi's attitude was unexpectedly tough.

"Do you have any proof? I only have a can of beer in my bag. If I throw it away now and refuse to admit it, what can you do?"

Mikage Touji let out a sigh, scratching his head in frustration. As expected, he had to follow Mother Shiraishi's method, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this method was weird.

"Then what about the things in your room? I don't think you disposed of those items this time, and you haven't in the past either. They should be in your room right now, shouldn't they?"

"With the practiced technique you showed earlier, you must have done this more than once. If you're a repeat offender, even theft would carry a fairly serious penalty..."

Is this really going to work, Mother Shiraishi? If it doesn't, I'm really going to become the weirdo of Class A.

Threatening a female classmate with lines like "If you don't want your crimes to be known..."—if this got out, I'd be socially dead.

"Suit yourself!"

As she said this, Kamuro Masumi reached into her shoulder bag, pulled out the beer can she had stolen from the convenience store, and shoved it into Mikage Touji's hand.

"Go ahead and report me!"

"Hey, hey, buddy, hold on." Mikage Touji reached out to stop her, looking helpless.

As it turned out, Kamuro Masumi became even more agitated after hearing the word "buddy," and she pulled out her phone herself.

"If you won't contact them, I will!"

"Fine, you win, alright?"

Mikage Touji pressed down on the phone she was about to dial from.

"When did I ever say I was going to report you? You're a member of Class A; why would I stab myself in the back? Besides, your physical abilities are quite excellent, and the class is in desperate need of talent right now."

Mikage Touji straightened his posture, cleared his throat, and said with a serious expression:

"In short, I need you!"

The voice wasn't loud, but it reached Kamuro Masumi's mind with perfect clarity.

"Tsk..."

Kamuro Masumi was feeling very annoyed right now. The guy in front of her was a riddle; he had clearly caught her red-handed, yet he had no intention of reporting her, didn't set any conditions, and just kept beating around the bush saying things that made no sense.

Hmm? He needs her?

Kamuro Masumi's expression wavered slightly.

Was that last sentence actually a recruitment notice? Did he mean he wanted her to do things for him?

Although she wasn't very sociable, Kamuro Masumi prided herself on understanding the situation in Class A. On the surface, the class leader was Katsuragi Kōhei, but in reality, it was entirely the result of this guy in front of her indulging him; at the very least, most of the students in the class had chosen him.

"Speak, what do you want me to do?" Kamuro Masumi asked straightforwardly.

Hmm? She gave in? That quickly?

This... this isn't right, is it? The personality she displayed just a moment ago was one of "it's either you or me," so how did she cave in so suddenly? Could the secret weapon Shiraishi-san gave him actually be some kind of hypnotic spell?

Since she had given in, the rest would be easy to handle. No wonder Shiraishi-san's "brilliant plan" only consisted of a few sentences.