Ichinose Honami is Curious

The primary reason Ryuen had Ishizaki go to Class B and impersonate Kujo to request a partnership was to bait Class B into probing Kujo.

This was the simplest and most effective strategy of using someone else's hand to kill.

From the very beginning, Ryuen never held any expectation that a partnership between the classes would actually succeed.

In fact, if Class B were to actually agree to such a nonsensical request, Ryuen was truly prepared to start by cutting down Class B first.

In his plan, after Class B refused the partnership, they would inevitably move to probe Kujo. The end result would likely be both sides suffering, and whether he cleaned up Class B or Kujo afterward, it would be a favorable outcome for him.

Near a corridor not far from Class B.

A place where it was difficult for others to eavesdrop.

"So, what are the purpose, methods, duration, and guarantors of this partnership?"

Facing Kanzaki's questioning, Ishizaki kept in mind the long script Ryuen had forcibly assigned him before he left Class C.

To prevent any accidents, Ishizaki even kept a cheat sheet on his person.

"Ahem, ahem."

Coughing a few times, Ishizaki cleared his throat.

Then, he began to fully immerse himself in his role.

Ishizaki replied to Kanzaki:

"The gap in class points between classes B, C, and D is currently very small. We hope that in the upcoming exams, whichever class—be it Class B or Class C—can help the class currently in Class D, while the class in Class D will pay personal points as compensation."

Trading personal points for class points?

"Doing this offers no benefits to our Class B."

Kanzaki tried to use gestures to explain his point to Ishizaki.

"I understand that you are doing this with the goal of reaching Class A. In fact, even if our class agreed to your plan and it somehow succeeded, the gap in class points between classes A, B, C, and D would shrink indefinitely. Are you planning to implement a collective promotion? Unfortunately, our class will not easily turn our backs to other classes."

Kanzaki chose to reject Ishizaki.

If Ryuen were present, he would surely mock the other party's cowardice and conservatism, and might even resort to threats.

However, Ishizaki would not do that; after all, he had a strategy for when the other side refused, which was all written on his cheat sheet.

But what Ishizaki did not know was that Kanzaki actually somewhat agreed with the strategy. Although the credibility was low, it wasn't impossible to discuss further; his refusal just now was merely a probe.

If Ishizaki were to back down after a single refusal, then the partnership would have been off the table from the start.

This was a negotiation technique Kanzaki had learned since childhood—simple and effective.

"Your name is Kanzaki, right? Here is the thing, our big brother Kujo said: 'Don't get our opponents wrong!' Do you understand? Our opponents as first-years should be the upperclassmen! You might not know this yet, but the school's rules are actually mostly in the hands of the Student Council. As long as the Student Council can provide a reasonable plan and propose exam suggestions to the school, they can change the competitive landscape of the school to a certain extent."

Ishizaki imitated the tone Ryuen used when saying these words, vividly continuing:

"Relying on all the points we first-years will possess over the next three years, while we can't graduate everyone, it is entirely feasible to allow the vast majority of elites in the lower classes to obtain the school's privilege of graduating from Class A. And once we, classes B, C, and D, suppress Class A in class points this month, forcing them to compromise and turn their focus toward the upperclassmen to gain more points, it is not impossible to achieve a full first-year graduation from Class A later on."

After speaking, Ishizaki raised both arms high, as if he had accomplished something great.

[The Student Council can change the school's competitive landscape]

[Targeting the upperclassmen as opponents]

Summarizing Ishizaki's statement, Kanzaki narrowed his eyes, repeatedly pondering the twists and turns within it.

He needed to think carefully about the other party's proposal—were there any loopholes he hadn't realized yet? Or was it a trap?

And just as the two were deadlocked in a standoff.

Suddenly.

A female voice came from behind Kanzaki.

In that voice, there was a gentleness mixed with an unquestionable firmness.

"Then, since this is such an important partnership, has the Kujo you speak of already convinced Class D to join our front?"

The person who arrived was none other than Ichinose Honami, the true leader of Class B today.

When Ishizaki came to the door earlier asking to see the leader of Class B, it was Ichinose who had Kanzaki step forward.

And while Kanzaki and Ishizaki were talking, she had been listening intently to their movements from inside the classroom.

Now that she had heard something unexpected, Ichinose decided to step in personally.

She would protect everyone in Class B.

Of course, it would be best if they could graduate from Class A, but Ichinose would not allow anyone to dare disrupt the current campus life of the students in Class B.

One had to know that in Class C's proposal, it would likely evolve into a situation where Class D used points to trade with Class B and Class C later on.

Could Class C then use this as a bargaining chip to turn around, tear up the contract, cooperate with Class A, and then turn to attack Class B and Class D?

Ichinose saw through the trap in the plan.

It appeared to be a partnership between several classes, but in reality, the other party wanted to use their specialty—forming cliques—to confuse the situation.

Facing the leader of Class B, sweat trickled down from behind Ishizaki's ear and into his collar. His fingertips brushed against the voice recorder he had prepared in his pocket, and he switched it to recording mode.

This was something Ryuen had specifically instructed him to carry before he came, serving as a way to scout the communication capabilities of the Class B students.

"For the specific progress, you can ask our big brother Kujo. What I want to say is that Class C is acting in good faith. However, if you have more specific questions, you still need to ask our big brother."

Ishizaki continued to add, "You've seen those rules online, right? Those were released under the direction of our Class C big brother Kujo. It was all to ensure that everyone in the first year could retain more class points. You know by now that class points affect the personal points distributed to everyone each month, right? So, the more personal points we have, the higher our chances of winning when we fight against the other grades in the future."

Upon hearing this, Ichinose fell silent.

She realized that what Ishizaki was saying was not the kind of information that could be spread around casually.

Thinking this, Ichinose began to carefully observe her surroundings.

Thankfully, there was no one else around.

Ichinose let out a sigh of relief.

Hearing Ishizaki say so much, Kanzaki began to grow suspicious of the situation.

If it were truly as Ishizaki claimed, and this Kujo knew so much, why wouldn't he keep the intelligence hidden?

To disclose so much information, and even try to unite classes B, C, and D to cooperate and threaten Class A into dealing with the upperclassmen?

Is this person really a freshman?

Or rather, does this person even exist?

Perhaps Ishizaki was just exaggerating, or maybe the other party just threw out the name of a harmless classmate at random.

Subsequently, Kanzaki consulted with Ichinose on her thoughts, and after receiving her nod, he spoke up to continue questioning:

"Aiming at the upperclassmen—what exactly are you planning to do?"

"Historically, the student council president has always been held by someone from Class A. But for the current first-year students, under our class's maneuvering, the gap between the classes in the first month is surely very small. Class A could be replaced by any other class at any time; such a situation has never happened in previous years."

Ishizaki paused, rolled up his sleeves, and continued:

"The more points the first-year students have in total, the more they can accomplish. If that happens, the upperclassmen will also view the first-year students as competitors and won't just let the first-year students continue to grow. Our big brother even said that perhaps this year, under the leadership of Horikita Manabu, no first-year student will be able to join the student council."

In reality, Ishizaki didn't answer Kanzaki's question directly at all.

He was merely reciting the information Ryuen had given him; after all, he really didn't understand anything about class warfare.

By this point, his supply of cheat notes was running low.

The confidence and composure in Ishizaki's words began to turn into stuttering, but fortunately, he managed to convey the intended meaning.

Kanzaki's brow furrowed into a knot.

He couldn't possibly digest such a massive amount of information in such a short time.

But as the decision-maker for Class B, Ichinose didn't need to ponder the various causal links in Ishizaki's words.

The situation was quite simple.

Having only just enrolled, the people in Class C already possessed an intelligence reserve far beyond that of the other first-years.

In this situation, they certainly couldn't make a correct and rational judgment in a short time, and answering the other party blindly would only lead their own class into an irreparable position.

Therefore, Ichinose said solemnly to Ishizaki:

"I understand. Please tell Kujo. Class B will seriously consider his ideas. As for whether we agree... well, I will go to see Kujo in person later."

After Ishizaki left.

Kanzaki turned around and asked Ichinose, "What should we do?"

Ichinose held her forehead, her soft shoulders leaning against the wall, the determination in her eyes from before completely wiped away.

"Did you record it just now?"

Kanzaki nodded.

He had recorded everything said between them from the very beginning.

Every single word.

Kanzaki indicated that he would send the recording from his phone to Ichinose shortly, and they would study it then.

And just after confirming this, Ichinose sighed:

"I originally thought that if we aimed for Class A and worked hard for three years, we might be able to achieve our goal. Is our resolve still far from enough?"

According to rumors, the ranking of classes A, B, C, and D was based on the quality of the students.

Class A is first, Class B second, Class C third, and Class D fourth.

Now that Class C, the lower-ranked class, has already begun to take action, what should they in Class B do now?

The pressure on Ichinose right now was truly immense.

Facing the trust and smiles of her classmates, Ichinose had clearly been overly exhausted lately.

As the leader of Class B, she was helping her classmates almost every moment of the day; when they had worries, they would come to Ichinose, when they had difficulties, they would come to Ichinose, and when they had good things to share, they would also come to Ichinose.

Some people would even kindly ask her, "Ichinose, you're so outstanding, why didn't the school place you in Class A? It's just too unfair."

To questions like these, Ichinose could only manage to brush them off every time.

She didn't dare tell everyone the truth. Why was she in Class B instead of Class A?

If this school truly evaluated students based on their abilities and past, then Ichinose could understand the reason she was in Class B rather than Class A.

The guilt felt from the trust others placed in her, combined with the physical exhaustion brought on by constantly helping others, piled up together.

Kanzaki comforted her, saying:

"It hasn't been confirmed yet whether what they said is true or false. There's no need to be this dejected."

Ichinose tapped the wall lightly with her fingertips:

"I'll head to the Student Council later. While I'm away, you need to keep a close eye on how everyone is doing."

Kanzaki nodded, indicating he understood, but there was still one problem:

"What if Kujo from Class C comes here personally?"

Ichinose patted her cheeks, her usual sunny demeanor returning as she pointed her index finger at herself:

"Just have him come find me."

Ichinose Honami would protect Class B.

Even if it meant exhausting every possible means.

She would protect Class B no matter what.

And what Ichinose needed to do now was: run for the Student Council.

The most critical piece of information in the message from "Kujo" was that this year's Student Council would refuse to allow first-years to join.

Ichinose wanted to go and see if this was actually true.