"Just when did you start planning to use this strategy?"
Horikita asked solemnly.
Her beautiful eyes stared straight into Ayanokoji's deep-set pupils.
It wasn't as if she hadn't considered finding an indirect way to help the class, but her own sense of fairness had kept her from thinking about testing the limits of the rules.
If things really were as that senpai had said, then what was the point of this exam? Wasn't it just a matter of who discovered the trick first? Was everyone cheating?
And yet, that was the reality.
Advanced Nurturing wasn't a place where you were supposed to bury your head in books.
"Don't get your hopes up too much. We don't even know if we can find a senior willing to sell us the exam questions."
Looking at Horikita's grave, earnest expression, Ayanokoji felt a twinge in his heart.
She still hadn't realized it.
This was exactly why you were in Class D!
Horikita Suzune.
At the words "sell us," the girl's eyes widened again. She seemed a little confused.
"Are you planning to use points to buy the exam papers from upperclassmen?"
"Isn't that obvious? You should remember what Chabashira-sensei said. At this school..."
"Points can buy anything..."
Good. She'd learned how to beat him to the answer.
Ayanokoji smiled calmly, feeling inexplicably proud. It was like watching his five-year-old daughter finally learn to say "Daddy."
Of course, no normal person would have noticed those subtle expressions on Ayanokoji's face.
Only the readers could see them, because they were all geniuses like Ayanokoji.
He let his shoulders droop, took one hand out of his pocket, and placed it on Horikita's shoulder as she continued to ponder. Then he said:
"I'll leave the task of finding a senior willing to sell us the exam questions to you."
"Huh?" Horikita let out a faint "huh," her face full of distaste.
He wanted her to do something like that?
Ayanokoji glanced at her.
"You know I don't have many friends. I barely talk, and I give people a gloomy impression. I'm just not suited to..."
Before Ayanokoji could finish, Horikita pulled out her phone, opened her contacts, and held it up in front of him, looking rather pleased with herself.
Would you look at that—completely empty. She'd even cleared and blocked all her notifications.
Did you live in the mountains or something?
Ayanokoji couldn't help grumbling inwardly.
"See? I gave up on socializing long ago. It's something that can easily interfere with my progress."
"So you can ask someone else. I'm not suited to it."
You just don't want to do it.
Seeing the smile Horikita could barely suppress, Ayanokoji felt his fists clench.
Now that she knew someone else would take care of things, she was already shirking her responsibilities. She couldn't be bothered.
She was just like a wild animal that had escaped danger.
"Forget it."
With no other choice, Ayanokoji decided to use the compromise approach.
"Could you help me with something else?"
"?"
Horikita slowly regained her usual icy expression. A hint of confusion appeared between her slightly furrowed brows.
"Go get Sudo and the others and bring them to Kushida's study group."
"Why? Once we have the exam papers, can't they just study on their own?"
Horikita asked, puzzled.
Looking at the dazed look in her eyes, Ayanokoji sighed imperceptibly before explaining, "I'm not planning to hand them the exam papers right away."
"Putting aside whether they're motivated enough to study on their own, we should at least make them feel a little pressure."
"Being around Hirata and the others will rub off on them to some extent, and they'll be able to get help with problems they don't understand more efficiently. There's no downside."
When he finished, Horikita Suzune lowered her eyes, her lashes drooping as she seemed to consider his words. After a moment, she spoke:
"Fine. I'll help you so we can get into Class A, but... I have one condition."
"You have to tell me any information you get right away."
Ayanokoji nodded without hesitation... Well, the important thing was to go along with her.
Whether he actually did so was another matter.
What, could she read his mind?
At the girl's request, they exchanged contact information. Then they reached an understanding and split up to handle their respective tasks.
He would figure out how to get his hands on the exam papers, while the girl would bring the three underachievers to the study group.
Before leaving, the girl stomped hard on his foot. She lifted her chin and said haughtily, "Don't think I didn't notice you sighing just now. And stop acting like nobody's smarter than you!"
After scolding him, the black-haired girl strode off without looking back.
Ayanokoji watched her retreating figure with an impassive gaze, as if he were looking at a tool.
On the way, Horikita Suzune opened her phone. The first contact had appeared in her previously empty address book: Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. It no longer looked quite so empty.
"Hey, Kushida, there's something I'd like you to help me with..."
At the convenience store, Ayanokoji dialed Kushida Kikyo's number while his eyes wandered over the bento section.
"Eh? Can you really do that?"
A surprised girl's voice came through the phone.
"You can. You have to believe in your own charm."
Ayanokoji spoke without expression.
He didn't know when he'd learned to use this kind of psychological manipulation.
"Um... All right, I'll try. But..."
"Can I ask you for one thing?"
? A condition?
The girl's voice reached his ears, and Ayanokoji frowned slightly.
"Go ahead."
Ayanokoji replied calmly.
"If I complete the task Ayanokoji-kun gives me, could you help me get closer to Horikita-san?"
"No problem."
Ayanokoji answered without hesitation.
Whatever. He could promise her now and figure it out later.
She hadn't said how close. He could open the navigation app on his phone—since they were in the same school, even the same dorm building, that counted as being close in a way.
Heh.
After the girl happily agreed, Ayanokoji hung up.
He picked up the bento he'd chosen and went straight to the counter to pay.
Next, he'd find somewhere quiet and enjoy his meal.
In the Student Council Office, a long conference table stood in the middle of the room.
"Sakayanagi, Katsuragi, congratulations on earning an excellent 940 points in your first month."
"What have you learned about the school rules and the S System?"
A stern-looking, black-haired man in black-rimmed glasses asked the two first-years sitting before him.
"Thank you for your guidance. We've only just begun learning about the school's rules, and for now, we're still exploring them."
The white-haired girl parted her delicate lips, and a soft, elegant voice came from them.
"Oh?"
"In any case, I look forward to seeing how you do from here on. I hope you won't disappoint me."
The black-haired man spoke slowly, his face serious from beginning to end. His eyes, dark as onyx, gave no hint of his feelings.
The white-haired girl nodded slightly and smiled sweetly.
"Then, if you'll excuse us."
Beside the white-haired girl, a boy who looked exceptionally intelligent bowed slightly as he spoke.
Then the two of them walked out of the Student Council room together.
"Heh. This year's first-years are unexpectedly interesting."
"Indeed. I've seen quite a few interesting faces."
Beside the black-haired man, a girl who had been quiet until then gave an approving smile. Her hair was tied into two round buns on either side of her head, making her look very cute.
Before you continue