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

It was a photo of legs. The small leather shoes had been kicked off to the side, and the legs were crossed in front of a mirror, making them appear even more slender. Beneath the pleated skirt, the fair skin radiated a soft, smooth, and delicate luster. Black calf-length socks clung to her slender lower legs, the tightness revealing a hint of skin-colored flesh beneath.

"..."

Under the smiling gaze of Shiraishi Asuka, Mikage Touji acted as if nothing had happened, silently flipping his phone over with a soft "clack" onto the tabletop.

"Ahem... I didn't know she was going to send me something like this. She's slandering me!" Mikage Touji tried to exonerate himself.

Shiraishi Asuka didn't speak, simply continuing to watch Mikage Touji gently with those clear, large purple eyes.

An awkward atmosphere that made one feel restless permeated the air, mixed with the faint, sweet scent of snacks and fruit juice...

Finally, Mikage Touji couldn't take it anymore.

"It's not like that," he stiffened his cheeks, gesturing with his hands, and explained to Shiraishi Asuka with a calm expression, "Shiraishi-san, I was actually just trying to get her to provide some information on Class D."

"Mm-hmm."

Shiraishi Asuka nodded lightly, her hair swaying with the motion. She didn't seem angry, instead lifting a finger to point at the phone that was still vibrating on the table.

"It's impolite not to reply, you know."

Cold sweat broke out on Mikage Touji's forehead. He hesitated for a long while before picking up the phone and lighting up the screen.

What came into view was...

[Everyone Is Good Friends: Look, I'll send you even more photos in the future, so please don't delete me, okay? Pitiable.jpg]

Beside him, the smile on Shiraishi Asuka's face deepened.

"..."

Mikage Touji closed his eyes in agony.

Cha Cha, are you actually a bimbo, or are you playing the fool? You look so easy to trick, so why is it that I'm the one who ends up suffering every single time?

To prove his innocence, Mikage Touji decided to righteously and firmly resist this behavior, ordering her not to send such things to him secretly in the future.

[Jiji Fu Jiji: Actually... I'm a guy.]

[Everyone Is Good Friends: Is that so? Then please tell me within 10 seconds the physical reactions a girl has before her period.]

"..." How do you suddenly become so smart whenever social interaction is involved?

"I know this one, do you need me to help you?" The omnipotent Mother Shiraishi offered to solve this problem.

"Forget it, forget it," Mikage Touji said, giving up. "Even if we solve it this time, she'll find out eventually. It's better to just admit it openly."

30 seconds later.

[Everyone Is Good Friends: No response for this long? You really are a guy.]

Actually, this account originally had three owners—two girls and one boy. Now, thanks to your "one peach to kill three warriors" tactic, it's down to just one owner.

Mikage Touji wouldn't dare let Morishita Ran see this account now.

With her nature of fearing that the world wouldn't be chaotic enough, if she saw this, she would probably call the police immediately, tearfully send Mikage Touji to prison, and then proceed to inherit the over one million personal points in his account at light speed.

[Jiji Fu Jiji: So what if I'm a guy?]

"Buzz--"

Another leg photo was thrown his way. It looked like it had also been taken in front of a mirror.

A snow-white hand pressed down on the school skirt, and two beautiful, slightly fleshy legs emerged from beneath. The camera focus rested on the soles of her feet, which revealed skin-colored flesh and curved into a beautiful arc.

[Jiji Fu Jiji: What is the meaning of this?]

[Everyone Is Good Friends: Dog food for you! I don't believe it—you're a guy, and you can still bear to delete me after seeing how cute I am?! Come and meet your end! That bitch Horikita Suzune made me very uncomfortable just now. From now on, you are Horikita Suzune!]

Mikage Touji raised his hand to rub his eyes and looked at the screen again.

What on earth are you saying? I'm Horikita-imouto?

[Jiji Fu Jiji: You're using me as a substitute for Horikita Suzune? Hey! I'm a guy!]

[Everyone Is Good Friends: It's all the same! Among the people I hate most, she's number one and you're number two. There's another one of my kind at number three, so this way I can experience double the joy! Also, send a message every twenty seconds to prove you're still watching. Don't think I don't know you often drop one sentence and run away.]

"..." You really know how to play!

Before Mikage Touji could send a message, another barrage of toxic insults arrived.

Things like why hasn't Horikita Suzune died yet.

Things like why that bitch hasn't accepted her friend request yet, even though she helped her get those pigs to go to tutoring.

Things like why she acts so high and mighty when she's just the same as her in Class D.

10 minutes later.

[Everyone Is Good Friends: Alright, next time I'm feeling annoyed again, I'll give you another photo.]

Cha Cha, do you think you can make me surrender just by sending these perks?

Mikage Touji moved his fingers honestly.

[Jiji Fu Jiji: Aren't you afraid I'll leak your photos?]

[Everyone Is Good Friends: (ˉ▽￣~) Tch~~, not to mention I didn't even show my face, but would you even have the heart to? Keep them on your phone, and I'll be yours alone~]

I have to say, as expected of a social butterfly; the way he manipulates people's psychology is leagues ahead of Horikita-imouto.

"This child," Shiraishi Asuka, who had watched everything from the side, said with a smile while covering her lips, "is actually quite interesting. No wonder you find her amusing."

Mikage Touji gave a dry laugh: "I suppose so."

He felt a bit apprehensive about Shiraishi Asuka's indifferent attitude.

As if sensing Mikage Touji's thoughts, Shiraishi Asuka gathered a lock of her golden hair, leaned close to his ear, and let her fingertips brush against his stiff hand, her breath as warm as honey:

"I'm truly not angry. That sort of thing—if you want to see it, I can show you anytime."

Chapter 52: Mikage Touji's Exclusive Wallet

At dinnertime, inside Patere Cafe, the aroma of coffee and the sweetness of toasted bread filled the air, while soft yellow light spilled from the pendant lamps, casting warm patches of light across the tabletops.

After sending Cha Cha away, Mikage Touji quickly shifted his target to her arch-rival—Horikita Suzune.

He still had his own intelligence on the Class D Midterm Exam sitting unused, and he had to find a way to sell it to Horikita-imouto, otherwise, it would just go to waste.

However, Horikita-imouto was nothing like Cha Cha; she was cold as ice, and every time he tried to chat with her, the replies he got were limited to just a few words.

I'm reading.

I'm studying.

I'm cooking.

That was it.

It once made Mikage Touji wonder if Horikita-imouto was some kind of ultimate lifeform, completely devoid of entertainment and focused entirely on self-improvement.

If Mikage Touji hadn't held her fatal weakness in his hands, he really might not have been able to handle her.

Before long, Horikita Suzune appeared at the cafe entrance.

The wine-red school uniform was draped over her, the collar buttoned up meticulously, and her asymmetrical hairstyle fluttered with her rhythmic, clicking footsteps, making her already cold face seem even more unapproachable.

Her fox-like eyes swept across the cafe, and upon confirming her target, she walked straight toward Mikage Touji, sat in the seat opposite him, placed her hands folded on her lap, and sat with her back straight, getting straight to the point.

"What do you want with me?"

Mikage Touji casually pushed the menu toward her, the hard cover making a slight friction sound as it slid across the table. "Don't be in such a rush. Let's chat while we eat; my stomach is still empty."

"Just say it. I don't have the habit of owing people," Horikita Suzune refused coldly.

Mikage Touji looked out at the pitch-black night sky through the window and said blankly: "Who was it that said they wanted to owe me money last time?"

"You—!"

Horikita Suzune gritted her teeth, her fists clenching involuntarily. She glared at Mikage Touji with eyes full of murderous intent, but in the end, she had no choice but to order a curry.

Once the food was served, Mikage Touji officially began today's topic.

"I saw you in the library last time. Were you tutoring those underachievers in your class?"

Horikita Suzune's movement of scooping curry paused, the spoon hanging in mid-air as sauce dripped back onto the plate. She lowered her gaze: "It was me, but there won't be a next time."

"Won't you reconsider?"

"Their expulsion is actually a good thing for Class D."

"You don't plan on pulling them up?" Mikage Touji confirmed again, his voice carrying a trace of imperceptible persuasion.

"No need." Horikita Suzune's attitude was firm.

Mikage Touji let out a long sigh, leaned back against the sofa, and said with a hint of disappointment, "I have some intelligence here regarding your class's midterm exam this time. At the very least, it could save your class a week of study time. I was originally planning to sell it to you cheaply, but since you don't want it, then forget it..."

In just a few seconds, Mikage Touji watched Horikita Suzune's complexion shift from indifference to hesitation, and finally to annoyance.

It could almost rival Cha Cha's face-changing art.

"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? And another thing," Horikita Suzune glared fiercely at Mikage Touji, squeezing a sentence through her teeth, "why do you have intelligence on our class's midterm exam?"

"You don't need to worry about that. In any case, it can definitely save your class a week of time." Mikage Touji easily ignored Horikita Suzune's freezing gaze and leisurely speared a piece of fried chicken to put in his mouth.

"How do I know if this intelligence is real or fake?"

"The school has a contract guaranteed by the administration that can ensure both parties fulfill their agreement. However, we're so familiar with each other now that if you feel this intelligence isn't worth 200,000 at that time, you don't have to pay."

"Are you really that kind?" Horikita Suzune looked at Mikage Touji suspiciously.

"After all, I earned 500,000 from your brother. Business is about having a conscience. If you don't want it, forget it." Mikage Touji raised a hand to touch his chest, saying as if with deep emotion.

"You guy..."

Horikita Suzune wondered if she had been too harsh on this classmate she had only recently met.

"Wait a moment. I will go and scrape together that 200,000. I'll give you the message tonight."

"OK."

Unlike the back-and-forth tug-of-war with Cha Cha, Horikita Suzune spoke directly, and the two quickly finalized the deal.

Four hours later, when Mikage Touji returned to his room and was just about to go to sleep, Horikita Suzune's message finally arrived late.

[Horikita Suzune: About that...]

This familiar yet twisted feeling... it couldn't be...

Mikage Touji bolted upright from his bed, raking his fingers through his messy hair as his mouth twitched uncontrollably and he painfully covered his forehead with his hand.

[Mikage Touji: Please don't tell me your class couldn't even scrape together 200,000 points?!]

The blank space in the chat interface lasted for several minutes, yet it felt like several centuries; even through the screen, Mikage Touji could sense the frustration and helplessness of Horikita-imouto.

After going through who knows what kind of internal struggle, the other side finally managed to squeeze out a sentence.

[Horikita Suzune: In any case, I will pay you back.]

Didn't you say earlier that you didn't like owing people things?

[Mikage Touji: That's not the problem; I'm just curious, didn't you go ask Kushida for help?]

[Horikita Suzune: I don't want to talk about that.]

That cold tone...

Combining it with the personality of Horikita-imouto, Mikage Touji felt he had already guessed the truth of the matter.

[Mikage Touji: Uh... don't tell me you just ran straight into the class group chat, didn't explain the pros and cons beforehand, and just demanded 200,000 points from them?]

There was another long silence from the other side.

[Horikita Suzune: For something like this, shouldn't they be able to weigh the pros and cons themselves if they know how to think?]

"..."

This is the one thing I can be certain of: you were definitely placed in Class D for a reason.

[Mikage Touji: Forget it, forget it. How many points do you have right now?]

[Horikita Suzune: 74,392 points.]

With the odd change and everything, it actually makes me feel a bit embarrassed.

[Mikage Touji: Transfer me 50,000. The intel is simple: the scope designated for your Midterm Exam is wrong; it's different from Classes A, B, and C. I've had someone confirm this.]