Sato Keisaku stared at the contract before him, unable to quite believe it. Even though each person in the class would only get around seventy or eighty thousand points, that was still quite a bit more than the price the school would pay to buy them back.
"Is it not enough?" Suzuki Toru asked.
"Haha, no, it's definitely enough. We don't actually have that many Private Points to begin with," Sato Keisaku said. "We need to cover our daily expenses and prepare for the next exam, so coming up with three million points all at once is already our limit."
As he spoke, he suddenly remembered that Horikita Manabu was standing beside them and felt a little awkward.
"This is all the cash I have on hand, too. I'll transfer the money on time after you graduate, senpai." Suzuki Toru didn't seem to mind. He hadn't planned on using this to buy many Private Points anyway. His real goal was Miyabi Nagumo.
The fewer points Miyabi Nagumo had, the more he stood to gain.
Sato Keisaku had been about to ask how he would pay, but Suzuki Toru's calm expression put his mind at ease.
If he was willing to sign the contract, Suzuki Toru must have a way to handle it.
The school prohibited students from contacting the outside world, but it didn't completely isolate them. For instance, students could leave campus to compete in club tournaments.
Honestly, a Student Council Vice President had no reason to pull some kind of scam.
Satisfied, Sato Keisaku put away the contract and said goodbye to Suzuki Toru and Horikita Manabu.
Suzuki Toru calculated the day's gains. Miyabi Nagumo's four million and Sato Keisaku's three million came to a total of seven million Private Points.
He still had to deduct some of that, though, such as the one million Private Points he'd given to Koenji Rokusuke.
"Suzuki, you have the makings of a leader," Horikita Manabu suddenly said.
He had watched everything from beginning to end. Suzuki Toru's dealings with Koenji Rokusuke and Sato Keisaku were clearly about distributing the spoils, generously rewarding the subordinates who had contributed.
A leader could take the biggest share, but he still had to let the others have a taste.
What pleased Horikita Manabu even more was that Suzuki Toru hadn't given him a share.
It wasn't because Suzuki Toru had forgotten him. They both knew perfectly well that Suzuki Toru owed him a favor.
And Suzuki Toru would have to repay that favor someday.
"We were only working together to deal with Nagumo. Someone else would have stepped up even if I hadn't," Suzuki Toru said after a pause. "Still, I'm honored I didn't disappoint you, President."
Horikita Manabu sighed. All the signs suggested this guy knew exactly how to strike the right balance—not too much, not too little.
If only Horikita Suzune had half Suzuki Toru's ability to read a situation, Horikita Manabu wouldn't have to worry about his sister.
Wait, maybe there was a way...
"Come with me to see Suzune. If possible, I'd like to entrust her to you."
Suzuki Toru's expression turned extremely odd in an instant. What was with that tone, as if Horikita Manabu wanted him to become his brother-in-law?
Chapter 56: Childhood Friends
If he showed up in front of Horikita Suzune with Horikita Manabu now, perhaps he'd get to see some pretty interesting reactions from the girl.
But that might ruin his plans to mold Horikita Suzune. As her older brother, Horikita Manabu probably wouldn't accept him pressuring her.
"Actually, I've met Horikita before, and we talked a little about you, President. Sorry—I might have been a little forward."
As he spoke, Suzuki Toru put on an apologetic look. His eyes also gleamed as he considered how to continue.
"What do you think of Suzune?" Horikita Manabu asked, seemingly unconcerned. "Not as my sister, but as an ordinary student. Is there anything about her that catches your attention?"
"She's an interesting person. As for anything else, I'll have to wait and see," Suzuki Toru replied.
"So, aside from her personality, the girl doesn't appeal to you at all." Horikita Manabu sighed.
Seriously, what was with that matchmaking tone, like he was trying to set up his own sister?
"Are you unhappy that she ended up in Class D, President?" Suzuki Toru asked.
Horikita Manabu fell silent for a moment. "It was only natural that she ended up in Class D, but my influence played a large part in it, too."
Suzuki Toru blinked. Was this the part where they opened up to each other?
"Since she was little, she's always followed in my footsteps, deliberately imitating my style. Even when she wasn't good at something, she forced herself to learn it."
Horikita Manabu let out a long, troubled sigh.
"I wanted to correct her, but she misunderstood what I meant. She also used excellence as an excuse to be arrogant and refused to interact with the people around her from beginning to end."
Forget having friends—Horikita Suzune didn't even have anyone she could talk to.
She was a complete loner, a problem child. Horikita Manabu didn't know what to do with his troublesome little sister.
Part of the reason he'd come to this school was to get Horikita Suzune away from him, so she could learn to live independently for a while.
He hadn't expected her to follow him to Advanced Nurturing High School, but when he thought about it, it wasn't surprising after all.
"So you think Horikita ended up in Class D because she's too withdrawn and arrogant?" Suzuki Toru said thoughtfully.
"As far as her abilities go, she could be in Class A, but..." Horikita Manabu paused, searching for the right words. "She's a little too straightforward. She doesn't know how to adapt, or how to rely on anything but herself."
You don't have to put it so tactfully, President. You could just say she's a bit of an idiot.
"So, I'd like to ask you for a favor." Horikita Manabu looked at Suzuki Toru, who showed no particular reaction.
"I understand how you feel, President, but I've already made an agreement with Horikita," Suzuki Toru said with a sudden smile.
Horikita Manabu froze. Why did that sound kind of strange?
"What agreement?"
"I told Horikita the truth about this school earlier. She seems determined to get into Class A through her own efforts," Suzuki Toru said. "Since I'm in Class A, we made a bet. If she makes it into Class A, I'll lick her feet. If she doesn't, she'll willingly leave this school."
There was so much to take in that Horikita Manabu momentarily overlooked the gleam of anticipation in Suzuki Toru's eyes when he mentioned licking her feet.
"I won't interfere in your affairs. Even if Suzune gets expelled, she should understand what she's doing and take responsibility for her actions," Horikita Manabu said impassively.
"You really won't help her?" Suzuki Toru asked quietly.
Horikita Manabu fell silent. Was this guy seriously that good at reading people?
Then again, he was the one who'd brought the subject up in the first place. That made it easy for Suzuki Toru to get the measure of him.
"I'll step down next term, but the competition in the third year will be even fiercer. Unless something unexpected happens, I won't have much free time. After I graduate, Suzune may still have two years here."
At this point, Suzuki Toru thought Horikita Manabu would ask him to help Suzune get into Class A. Instead, the older student looked at him with a hint of hesitation.
"I hope you can help Suzune grow a little. Ideally, you can help her make more friends and experience a normal high school life."
Horikita Manabu's gaze was serious. He wasn't joking.
"President, is a normal high school life really possible at this school?" Suzuki Toru asked, feeling a little speechless.
"Aren't you living like a normal high school student right now?" Horikita Manabu countered.
There wasn't much he could say to that, so Suzuki Toru changed the subject. "Don't you usually talk with Horikita?"
"I don't want to interfere in her life," Horikita Manabu said. "If you don't want to do it, you can refuse."
"Since it's a request from the President, there's no reason for me to refuse." Suzuki Toru shrugged casually.
And so, without Horikita Suzune knowing, her older brother had found her a tutor.
High school life tutor: Suzuki Toru.
After helping Horikita Manabu finish his work, Suzuki Toru left the Student Council and headed back to the dorms.
He'd been wondering what to do next when he caught sight of someone sitting on a bench beside a vending machine in the distance. He stopped in his tracks.
When he got closer and saw who it was, his expression grew complicated.
She looked a little unkempt, but there was still something striking about her.
She was sitting on the bench in her school uniform. Every so often, she bent forward, and her long hair slipped off her shoulder and swayed lightly across her chest. Her breasts seemed quite full beneath her uniform, their rounded shape visible through the fabric. Her slightly tall figure somehow still gave off a lively, youthful air.
For some reason, she'd taken off the black shoe on her right foot and pulled off her knee-high sock, leaving them casually beside her. Her bare foot was pale and delicate, and her ankle was faintly red.
She reached down to rub her ankle, then furrowed her brow, looking as though it hurt.
Perhaps sensing someone watching her, she suddenly looked up and met Suzuki Toru's eyes.
In that instant, wishes poured out as if he were hitting a jackpot.
[Have a passionate affair with Miyabi Nagumo's childhood friend behind his back], [Heh heh, I want to see what a senpai feels like], [Call me big sis during the day, and I'll call you big sis at night], [Lick Asahina Nazuna's feet until they're raw], [NTR Miyabi Nagumo], [Help senpai teach Miyabi Nagumo a lesson], [Seduce senpai]...
Suzuki Toru's face turned strange. It was obvious that the girl in front of him was Miyabi Nagumo's childhood friend and closest female companion, Asahina Nazuna.
He hadn't run into her before. Why had he met her today of all days?
Was she the real consolation prize after all?
Chapter 57: Saliva Seems to Have Healing Properties
When she saw a stranger, Asahina Nazuna's first instinct was to hide her bare foot. She felt a little embarrassed.
She'd thought no one would be passing through this part of the path at that time and had been about to take a break. She hadn't expected to run into Suzuki Toru.
Having her bare foot exposed in front of a boy was embarrassing enough, and he was someone she barely knew, too.
Still, Asahina Nazuna didn't dwell on it. He'd already seen it, so she might as well stop thinking about it.
Besides, the boy was probably embarrassed, too. She could just pretend he hadn't seen anything.
She hadn't expected Suzuki Toru to be so surprising.
"Did you sprain your ankle?"
Suzuki Toru stepped a little closer, but didn't get too near. He didn't want to scare off this wild senpai.
"I was on the phone with a friend and didn't watch where I was going. I tripped just a little." Asahina Nazuna felt rather awkward, but when she saw that he didn't seem all that bothered, she somehow felt a little more at ease.
"Can you still walk?"
Suzuki Toru looked her over. Asahina Nazuna had smooth, flowing hair and a cute hair clip in it.
Even compared to an idol, she had a face that could hold its own. She looked like the kind of friendly older girl who might poke you with her finger.
Her shapely, slender legs weren't pressed together. Beneath the hem of her skirt, a stretch of smooth, snowy thigh was visible. The small part of her calf that showed seemed as warm and smooth as jade, while her toes, clean as white pearls, looked delicious enough to make him wonder if they were a delicacy.
Looking more closely, he could see the reddish mark around her ankle. That was probably where she'd sprained it.
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