And during that time, if Suzuki Toru steered public opinion against him, it would be incredibly difficult to prove his innocence, especially since there were no cameras here.
Worse still, Ichinose Honami would back up Suzuki Toru's story, which would definitely attract the school's attention.
For some reason, at that moment, Miyabi Nagumo thought of a train groper. The moment someone caught one, his whole life was ruined.
Damn it, he hadn't even done anything yet!
Miyabi Nagumo fell silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "One million Private Points is fine, but you have to hand over the recording and the bug!"
Suzuki Toru smiled. "I appreciate your help, senpai. You've been a huge help."
Miyabi Nagumo snorted. He could afford the loss; it was just a momentary slipup.
On the other hand, Suzuki Toru had caught his attention. He would definitely get it back from him someday.
"But I have a few simple questions I'd like you to answer, senpai," Suzuki Toru continued shamelessly.
Miyabi Nagumo's face darkened. Not only did this guy want Private Points, he also wanted information?
"What questions?"
"First, what effect do Class Points have on us?"
At this, Miyabi Nagumo narrowed his eyes. So he still didn't know?
No, that wasn't right. His expression didn't look like he didn't know; it looked like he wanted confirmation.
Chapter 11: The Truth About the School
"Heh. You still haven't figured it out? This year's freshmen are pretty slow. I never expected even you, a student from Class A, to need help from someone else."
Miyabi Nagumo deliberately said something disparaging about Suzuki Toru. He wanted to see more of Suzuki Toru's reactions. When people got angry, they often revealed weaknesses they otherwise wouldn't.
Unfortunately, Suzuki Toru merely replied calmly to the trash talk, "Before you talk about other people, I hope you'll think about yourself. Why were you in Class B at first, instead of Class A?"
Miyabi Nagumo's expression stiffened. He wouldn't admit it aloud, but this had always been a thorn in his side. Now that Suzuki Toru had brought it up, he was the one who felt awkward.
"From the way you're talking, it sounds like you've already figured out what's going on. Why ask me?"
"Because you just told Ichinose that you used to be in Class B, but now you're a student in Class A. I want to know how that happened."
"Heh. Good hearing, Suzuki."
"Did you transfer to Class A alone, senpai, or did the whole class move up together?"
Miyabi Nagumo raised an eyebrow, then said with a faintly amused smile, "Sorry, I can't answer that. It's the school's rule."
Suzuki Toru sighed. "Senpai, please don't waste any more time. Unless I'm mistaken, that camera up there isn't even working, is it?"
"..."
Miyabi Nagumo was silent for a long time, then snorted. "Have you ever looked at the second-year notice board?"
"The place where they post Class Points?" Suzuki Toru recalled the numbers Sakayanagi Arisu had told him. "I remember your class has 2,100 points, and Class B has 1,700."
"A year ago, we were Class B. After one semester, I led the class past Kiriyama's Class A. The key to that change in ranking was Class Points." Miyabi Nagumo smiled. "Since then, the rankings in the whole year have stayed exactly the same."
Suzuki Toru nodded, ignoring the man's boast, and continued asking questions. "There are fewer students in the second year now. What happened?"
"People without the ability to make it here have only one fate: they leave this school with their tails between their legs," Miyabi Nagumo replied.
At that, Ichinose Honami finally reacted.
"Could you explain that in more detail, senpai?" Suzuki Toru glanced at her.
Miyabi Nagumo noticed the look and smiled slightly.
"Suzuki, I don't know whether you came here for the promise of guaranteed employment and further education, but only the strong can survive at this school and claim final victory."
"Class A?"
"You're sharp. I'm getting more and more interested in you," Miyabi Nagumo said teasingly. "As I said, Class Points are what determine a class's ranking. The four classes compete, and the first-place class is Class A. Only Class A gets the graduation benefits the school originally promised. The other classes are all losers."
Ichinose Honami's eyes widened. Unable to hold back, she asked, "Why would they do that? Does the school just give up on students who aren't in Class A?"
Miyabi Nagumo sneered. "This school believes in the survival of the fittest. It exists to cultivate only the best students. What value do the unqualified have?"
Ichinose Honami's face went pale. Quite a few of her classmates had come here for the so-called promise of employment and further education. She couldn't imagine how this news would affect them.
"So the best students are concentrated in Class A?" Suzuki Toru asked.
"Practically speaking, yes. The difference between Class A and Class D is the clearest," Miyabi Nagumo replied.
"How do the four classes compete?"
Miyabi Nagumo narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "The answer to that question is worth more than a recording, Suzuki."
Suzuki Toru thought for a moment, then tried another question. "What do Class Points mean to classes that can't move up to Class A?"
"Is that all you know about Class Points? I'll throw this in for free: multiply your Class Points by 100, and you get the amount of Private Points you receive that month," Miyabi Nagumo said slowly. "You have 1,000 Class Points this month, don't you?"
"So that's why we get 100,000 Private Points. I see."
"You should understand the situation now, right?"
The four classes competed against each other. The more Class Points a class had, the higher its ranking. Only the first-place class, Class A, would receive the benefits the school had promised.
From what Miyabi Nagumo had said, it seemed that in the course of the competition, some students might become cannon fodder and be forced—or choose—to withdraw.
Otherwise, there was no way to explain the number of students who had left.
After offering a final reward, the school had also arranged for the amount of Private Points students received each month to depend on their class's Class Points, at a ratio of one hundred to one.
This ensured that students wouldn't slack off out of apathy. After all, Private Points were equivalent to Yen, and students needed them to live at the school long-term.
If they wanted Private Points, they would most likely have to grit their teeth and keep competing for Class Points.
And if the school also wielded expulsion as a punishment—fail, and you were out—then surely every student would have to give it their all.
These thoughts flashed through Suzuki Toru's mind, and he met Miyabi Nagumo's gaze.
"Any other questions?"
"Does senpai have a childhood friend?"
Faced with the sudden question, Miyabi Nagumo was clearly taken aback.
"Are you talking about Asahina?" Miyabi Nagumo frowned. "Why do you ask?"
So her name was Asahina, Suzuki Toru thought pensively.
"Nothing. I just thought it was pretty irritating that you have a childhood friend but still go after younger girls."
"Hmph. If you have nothing worthwhile to say, stop talking and hand over the bug and the recording, Suzuki."
Suzuki Toru didn't mind. He'd already learned plenty of useful things. Even if Miyabi Nagumo went back on his word now, Suzuki Toru wouldn't think much of it.
His top priority was usually to fulfill his wishes.
Miyabi Nagumo checked what Suzuki Toru handed over, then deleted the recording and actually transferred some Private Points to him.
Seeing Suzuki Toru look surprised, Miyabi Nagumo could read his thoughts. He sneered at once. "Don't get too excited. Think of these points as a reward from your senpai. You won't get another chance like this."
While he was making the transfer, Suzuki Toru caught a glimpse of his balance. He had more than nine million Private Points.
"Thanks for the treat, senpai."
Suzuki Toru smiled faintly. The recording was gone, but that didn't mean he wouldn't tell anyone. After all, Miyabi Nagumo hadn't paid him to keep quiet; he'd only bought the recording.
Tch. Looks like things will get interesting.
Chapter 12: Please, Don't Tell Anyone
Miyabi Nagumo didn't keep Suzuki Toru there, and Suzuki Toru didn't insist on staying.
Once the deal was done, Suzuki Toru walked straight out of the Student Council office, leaving only Ichinose Honami behind.
"Ichinose, you should understand the conversation we just had, right?" Miyabi Nagumo finally turned to look at her, his tone calm. "The Student Council has far more power than you imagine. If you stay, I'll help you lead your class to Class A."
Ichinose Honami was silent for a moment, then said, "I'm sorry, Nagumo-senpai, but I can't accept that. Please give my spot on the Student Council to someone else."
"Because of what I said just now?" Miyabi Nagumo paused, then said frankly, "Maybe I didn't explain myself clearly. You have the talent for it, and you're attractive, too. That's rare, Ichinose. I'm very pleased with you."
"So that's why you deliberately led me into saying those things, Nagumo-senpai?" Ichinose Honami met his gaze, her eyes bright and unwavering. She wasn't afraid of him. After what had just happened, she understood that she'd fallen into a trap Miyabi Nagumo had carefully prepared.
"That was the plan, yes. I didn't expect anything to interrupt it. But even if I admitted it, what could you do?"
Miyabi Nagumo smiled unconcernedly and leaned back in his comfortable chair.
"Choosing to trust you was my mistake, Nagumo-senpai. But I won't become your personal possession, and I won't stay here," Ichinose Honami said earnestly.
"Ichinose, you've only been here a short time, so it's normal that you don't understand," Miyabi Nagumo said with a laugh and a shake of his head. "But once you join the Student Council, you'll understand just how much power the school has given it. It's enough to give you a huge advantage in the class competition."
Just how much power did the Student Council have?
Generally speaking, it could work with the school to set rules and submit proposals for changes.
The others were competitors, but you were not only a competitor—you were also on the judging panel. It was hard to imagine how you could lose.
That was why, in most years, the Student Council President was a student from Class A, who went on to graduate as a member of Class A.
However, in the interest of fairness, the school wouldn't let the Student Council become too powerful, so it always acted according to the rules.
For example, this year's Student Council President was Horikita Manabu. Since taking office, he had done his job properly, without abusing his power or changing anything.
Miyabi Nagumo was dissatisfied with that approach. If he took over, the school would be due for a major purge.
Of course, before he took office next semester, he still had to consider the first-years.
They weren't just his successors; there were other reasons, too.
After all that had been said, Miyabi Nagumo didn't think Ichinose Honami would refuse him. At most, she was sulking over what he'd said earlier.
As the class leader, once Ichinose Honami calmed down a little, she would realize the advantages joining the Student Council would bring to her class.
However, Miyabi Nagumo soon realized that this girl was no pushover either.
"Nagumo-senpai, isn't it true that the school didn't put all the best students in the year into Class A?" Ichinose Honami asked. "If it had, there'd be no chance for the lower classes to turn things around. That wouldn't be much of a competition between four classes. So while there's a clear difference between Class D and Class A, it can't be so great that it leaves the lower classes without hope."
Besides, what criteria did the school use to decide whether a student was outstanding?
If it was academic ability, Ichinose Honami had ranked first in the entrance exam and should have been assigned to Class A. But the school hadn't done that.
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