Poaching

"Regardless of everything, I really have to thank you for this, Odd Jobs Agency student."

"That doesn't really matter, after all, it was a request... But have you ever thought about the fact that there was no contact information on that request letter, nor was there any payment? What would you have done if I had refused?"

"This..."

In truth, he really hadn't thought about offering payment at the start.

Who hasn't participated in a club before?

Clubs like detective agencies often pop up in school settings.

Those high school or college students who fancy themselves detectives just love to stick their noses into other people's business. Although their abilities vary, he had never heard of any of them asking for money.

Therefore, he hadn't intended to distinguish the Odd Jobs Agency from a detective agency, even though Manabu Horikita had written it clearly in the information he circulated.

"Forget it... Since this job was outsourced to me by the Student Council anyway, I'll let the payment slide this time. But next time, you must remember to bring the payment!"

"Ah? You really want money..."

"Um... Shinjo-san... regarding the payment... I... I can pay it..."

Upon hearing that Sakura wanted to pay on his behalf, the top salesman jumped up in a hurry:

"No, no, how could I let you..."

"It's not that, I just wanted to say... perhaps I can be of help to Shinjo-san..."

Sakura didn't finish her sentence, but Shinjo understood exactly what she meant.

It was nothing more than an agreement to come forward and testify for Sudo. If Sakura wanted to do this of her own volition, Shinjo wouldn't interfere.

But, to call this payment...

"Ah, about that... there's no rush. Sakura-san, I think you should get some good rest today. If you have anything you want to say, you can send a text or we can talk about it tomorrow. As for that matter, I don't think we need you to step in just yet."

Unless Sakura had video evidence proving that Class C had staged the scene and thrown the first punch, any ordinary evidence would be hard to use to turn the tables. Besides, since Horikita hadn't begged him for help yet, why waste this intelligence for nothing?

"That's about how it went."

Shinjo reported the full sequence of events to Manabu Horikita, while keeping Sakura's secret.

Because the essential request he had received wasn't to catch some pervert.

It was to uncover the truth behind that request letter that lacked a sender.

"About that... well, it's fortunate that no students were injured this time. You did well."

"Eh? Isn't that a bit strange? It sounds like I'm your subordinate."

"The President is praising you, and you actually don't appreciate it!!"

"Tsk..."

"You dare click your tongue at me!"

"..."

Manabu Horikita picked up his pen and wrote something in his notebook:

"However, to think this school has such a staff member. It seems a comprehensive sweep and investigation is in order."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over Shinjo inadvertently.

"I'm telling you, don't get any ideas about me! There are so many staff members in the school, and how many people do I have in the Odd Jobs Agency? Don't think about outsourcing all the Student Council's work to me."

In fact, Sato and Matsuhita were just names on the roster who didn't do any actual work.

Is it necessary to expand the Odd Jobs Agency... It would be best to find two or three hard workers who don't need points, just big promises to keep them full!

"Hey! You can leave now that there's nothing else. Don't think about mooching food and drink from us!"

Akane Tachibana seemed to see right through Shinjo's thoughts. Remembering how he had only served her tap water last time, she suddenly flared up.

Manabu Horikita didn't say a word. Although he wouldn't care about such trivial matters, Shinjo's rudeness had already been duly noted in his notebook.

"What a stingy senior..."

"It's a stingy junior!"

Just as the two were bickering back and forth, a knock sounded at the door.

"Enter."

"President, here is last month's financial report, you... Shinjo-san?"

Shinjo seemed to hear a familiar voice. He turned around and saw that it was Ichinose.

"Ichinose? Financial report... Oh! You're doing odd jobs for the Student Council now, right?"

Ichinose smiled somewhat awkwardly, but Akane Tachibana on the side was clearly displeased:

"Junior! Your way of speaking is far too harsh."

"Shinjo, I'm currently serving as a general affairs officer in the Student Council, but calling it 'odd jobs' is a bit..."

Shinjo, however, seemed rather dismissive; in his view, every position in the Student Council besides the president was no different from doing odd jobs.

Only the president held absolute power!

"Huh? Why would someone like Ichinose end up in general affairs?"

"Well... no matter the position, I can help everyone. Besides, it's precisely because it's general affairs that I'm able to learn so many things I wouldn't otherwise."

Ichinose found herself at a loss for words. What was she supposed to say?

She was grateful that Shinjo thought highly of her, but the truth was that when she first applied to join the Student Council, she hadn't earned the president's approval. If not for the vice president, she wouldn't have even qualified to join in the first place...

Suddenly, Shinjo's eyes lit up!

"How about this, Ichinose? Why don't you quit the Student Council and join my Odd Jobs Agency? Not only are the benefits great, but you'll also be able to learn things you can't learn anywhere else while helping your classmates~"

As he spoke, Shinjo deliberately lowered his voice:

"I'll let you in on a secret: the Student Council is just an empty shell right now. Most of the work has been outsourced to my Odd Jobs Agency!"

"Ah? This... this..."

Ichinose was momentarily flustered. She didn't know if Shinjo was pulling her leg, but compared to the Student Council, the Odd Jobs Agency seemed a bit... unprofessional.

Besides, she had already joined the Student Council; how could she just quit?

"First, there are no other vacancies in the Student Council. Second, everyone who joins the Student Council starts from the bottom, myself included. Third, this is the result of internal deliberations within the Student Council."

[Fourth, you're trying to poach my members right in front of me?!]

"Ha! You mean if I had agreed to join the Student Council back then, I would've just been a general affairs officer too?!"

"Eh?!"

Manabu Horikita ignored the startled Ichinose, nodding thoughtfully before shaking his head.

"You are different from the others. The position of general affairs does not suit you."

In truth, Manabu Horikita didn't know what position would suit Shinjo. If he had actually recruited him, figuring out how to arrange him would have been a real headache.

Someone who liked to cut corners and never acted without profit was inherently ill-suited for the Student Council.

Yet, he had to admit that these very traits of Shinjo were remarkably compatible with Advanced Nurturing.

Thinking it over, it seemed the Odd Jobs Agency really was a rather suitable place for him.