However, there was no need to tell her what he had done in the dorm.
"I see. I'd thought we might at least run into each other on the way." Sakayanagi Arisu sighed softly. "It seems you don't know yet. Let's treat this as a trade: I'll share some information with you, and in return, you have to tell me the answer."
"Go ahead."
"Actually, I went to the upperclassmen's building yesterday and saw something interesting." A dazzling smile suddenly appeared on her face. "What do you think I saw?"
"Class Points," Suzuki Toru replied.
"You really do know everything. It's a little upsetting."
She said she was upset, but her smile never wavered. It was impossible to figure out what she was thinking.
"The second-year Class Points are 2,100 for Class A, 1,700 for Class B, 1,300 for Class C, and 900 for Class D. For the third years, they're 1,950 for Class A, 1,700 for Class B, 1,100 for Class C, and 450 for Class D."
Suzuki Toru was a little surprised. The second-year Class Points followed a remarkably clear progression, as if someone had deliberately built a series of fortresses.
The third years had far fewer Class Points than the second years. Had they lost points for some reason?
Watching him ponder this, Sakayanagi Arisu continued, "Incidentally, there are currently 143 students in the second year and 152 in the third. You know what those numbers mean, don't you?"
Some students had been expelled.
"It's not exactly valuable information, but will you tell me now?" Sakayanagi Arisu pressed.
"The Student Council."
They exchanged glances, and a dangerous gleam gradually appeared in her eyes, as if she'd just found something entertaining.
"Why?"
"Because it seems impressive."
"Have you ever run for a Student Council position before?"
"No. This is the first time."
"I see." Sakayanagi Arisu nodded, then added, "I hear this year's Student Council President is a very strict upperclassman. Even I can't help worrying about you, Suzuki."
Before Suzuki Toru could respond, she spoke as if with a sigh of relief. "But seeing how enthusiastic you are puts me at ease."
"I thought I'd already shown you plenty of enthusiasm." Suzuki Toru studied her expression. She was wearing a beret today, which made her look even smaller.
"A little more enthusiasm wouldn't hurt." Sakayanagi Arisu smiled. "If I don't get to see what you can do, the days ahead are sure to be terribly dull."
Kamuro Masumi, who had been eavesdropping, wore a thoroughly perplexed expression. What on earth were the two of them talking about?
The next moment, she saw Sakayanagi Arisu turn to look at her.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting so long, Kamuro."
Kamuro Masumi jumped. This girl actually remembered her name.
"This is only a suggestion, but I hope you'll join a club soon." Sakayanagi Arisu smiled faintly. "If anything is troubling you, though, you can come straight to me. We're classmates, after all, and we might even become good friends someday."
Kamuro Masumi stared at her, dumbfounded. Wasn't this girl a little too friendly with people she'd just met?
"Hehe, it's getting late, and I still have something to take care of. Let's call it a day here, Suzuki."
In their brief conversation, Sakayanagi Arisu had gotten the answer she wanted. Now that she knew, there was no reason to stay any longer.
Besides, she'd also seen a certain false genius. She needed some time to collect herself.
Before she destroyed him, she might as well find some amusement.
That was exactly why Sakayanagi Arisu had deliberately left this opportunity open. She hadn't even reacted to Katsuragi Kohei's efforts to unite the class.
After all, while he was focused on the class, Sakayanagi Arisu had already made a trip to the upperclassmen's building.
At the same time, she'd taken advantage of her frail appearance and her skill at chess to challenge the Chess Club to a wager, thoroughly beating up a few minor opponents.
She'd not only gained Private Points but also gathered quite a bit of information.
Take a Look at Yours
[ Ding! Wish fully fulfilled—attracted Sakayanagi Arisu's attention! ] [ Received one reward! ] [ Remaining rewards: 1 ]
Had he only managed to truly attract her attention now, after all this?
No matter how petite she looked, she was still a woman at heart. Women were such a hassle.
Suzuki Toru thought of some unpleasant memories, then promptly cut off the train of thought.
"Hey, what did she mean by that?" Kamuro Masumi asked, sounding confused.
Suzuki Toru turned to look at her. Her body was surrounded by all kinds of wishes. There were far fewer than Sakayanagi Arisu's, but they were way too perverted.
"It means if we don't work harder, the school will expel us."
"Huh?"
Kamuro Masumi quickly caught on.
There should be 160 students in each year, but both the second and third years were short of that number. It couldn't be that more than ten students in each year had all chosen to drop out.
"Hey, hey, isn't that bad?" Kamuro Masumi was dumbfounded. "We worked so hard to get in, and now we have to worry about being expelled? I thought I'd be able to stay here for a few years."
"Are you worried about that?" Suzuki Toru asked.
"Obviously." Kamuro Masumi glared at him. She knew exactly how good her grades were. If they judged students by academic ability, she'd probably be among the first to get cut.
"Actually, you could've followed her just now. I'm sure she knows quite a bit about what's going on, including how the school expels students," Suzuki Toru said. "But it's not too late to catch up with her now. She definitely wouldn't turn you away."
Kamuro Masumi stared at him blankly. He had a point. Why was she wasting time standing here staring into space with this guy?
"...I have my own plans. I don't need you telling me what to do."
Watching her stubbornly deny it, Suzuki Toru nodded. "Sorry, I stuck my nose in where it didn't belong. See you tomorrow."
Kamuro Masumi was even more dumbfounded. Then, when she saw him actually start to leave, she hurriedly asked, "You don't care at all about what she just said?"
"Why should I care?" Suzuki Toru countered.
"Any normal person would care about that. Are you saying you're confident the school won't expel you?"
"No."
Kamuro Masumi was at a loss for words. If he wasn't confident, what was he acting so tough for?
"Kamuro, I have a question."
"Go ahead."
"Why did you apply to this school?"
Kamuro Masumi looked at him as if he were an idiot, then answered irritably, "For further education and a job, obviously!"
"Those benefits are only available to graduates, so you can't get expelled before then." Suzuki Toru pondered for a moment.
"Are you just stating the obvious?" Kamuro Masumi sighed deeply.
"Do you remember what Mashima-sensei said back then?" Suzuki Toru asked. "There's nothing at this school that you can't buy with Private Points."
"What's the problem with that?" Kamuro Masumi didn't understand what he meant. If money couldn't buy things, what else were you supposed to use?
"Graduates' benefits are things the school provides too, aren't they?" Suzuki Toru reminded her patiently.
Kamuro Masumi stood there, stunned, as if she'd been struck by lightning. Her expression froze.
"If you can buy those benefits, then it won't matter if the school expels you, right?" Suzuki Toru lowered his voice, as if revealing a terrible secret.
"I guess so..." Kamuro Masumi unconsciously agreed, then immediately came to her senses. "But what if you can't buy them?"
"Then Mashima-sensei was lying to us, and the school doesn't keep its word." Suzuki Toru paused. "But what if you can buy them?"
Kamuro Masumi realized, to her shame, that she was tempted.
"If you want to know the answer, just go ask Mashima-sensei. You'll find out right away."
Faced with Suzuki Toru's persuasion, Kamuro Masumi fell silent.
After a moment, she suddenly said, "Even if you can buy them, it couldn't possibly cost 100,000 points."
Suzuki Toru smiled faintly. "One person might not be able to do it, but two is another matter."
Kamuro Masumi looked at him suspiciously. Was this guy planning to work with her?
Then she heard Suzuki Toru say something utterly incomprehensible.
"Kamuro, I can give you 10,000 Private Points, but in return, you have to let me see your panties."
"What?"
At first, Kamuro Masumi thought she'd misheard. But Suzuki Toru promptly repeated himself, as if to be considerate. Her expression froze instantly.
A disgusted look appeared plainly on her face, as if she were looking at some piece of non-recyclable garbage. Her eyes were cold.
"Gross."
Kamuro Masumi spat out the two words coldly, without a trace of emotion. It was a perfectly normal reaction for most girls.
[ Ding! Wish fully fulfilled—Kamuro looked at you as if you were garbage! ] [ Received... ]
Suzuki Toru ignored it and continued raising his offer. "20,000 points. I can go higher if that's not enough."
"Unbelievable. You actually have the nerve to say that to a girl here? I could report you for sexual harassment!"
Kamuro Masumi had never been particularly good-tempered. Hearing him say something so outrageous, she just wanted to get as far away from him as possible.
"Anything at this school can be bought, and we're students here too. We should count as part of the school, shouldn't we?" Suzuki Toru gave it some thought for her. "If we could pool enough points, maybe we could buy the right to use a student."
At the words "right to use," and seeing his thoughtful expression, Kamuro Masumi froze for a moment, then snapped angrily, "How could anything like that exist? That would be a crime!"
Suzuki Toru smiled faintly. "If both people consent, who can say it's a crime? Besides, I'm not planning to do anything illegal."
"Anyone who says something like that is definitely a perverted criminal!"
"I thought you didn't care about that."
"Hey, hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Kamuro Masumi's face darkened. "I'm a girl, for crying out loud. Why shouldn't I care about that?"
Before you continue