Chapter 10

She found being caught more thrilling and pleasurable than the thrill of stealing itself. Come to think of it, she really was an M after all. Next was Manabu Horikita. He wanted his younger sister to make friends, and Akane Tachibana was the only person he trusted on the Student Council. Thinking of that, Yuan Yuyuan couldn't help feeling a little puzzled. He wouldn't side with Nagumo, but Manabu Horikita seemed completely unafraid that Yuyuan might take his benefits and then do nothing. Yet Manabu didn't seem like the sort of person who'd be that stupid. That meant Nagumo would make trouble himself instead of letting Yuyuan sit in this position and play both sides. That way, Yuyuan would stand firmly with Manabu. "He's capable, has authority, and makes empty promises. That guy really will grow up to be a devious politician." Yuyuan stopped thinking about it. Girls aside, his mission still came first. From Manabu's description, Nagumo was combative and lecherous. He had to keep this unpredictable factor completely under control.

"Good morning, Yuyuan. Why do you look so down?" Early the next morning, Ichinose was chatting animatedly with Chihiro Shiranami when she looked up and saw Yuyuan shuffle into the classroom, still bleary-eyed. Yuyuan slumped into his seat. "Morning, Honami. I'm wondering the same thing. I slept even longer than usual, but maybe yesterday just wore me out." After saying that, Yuyuan laid his head on the desk and didn't move. "Then you should make sure to get some rest. Overworking yourself isn't good, either." Ichinose gently stroked Yuyuan's head and smiled. "It feels like you're a completely different person from yesterday. You seemed like an adult then, but today you suddenly seem like a little kid." Feeling Ichinose's hand petting him like a dog, Yuyuan was just about to raise his head and say something when he saw the murderous look in Chihiro Shiranami's eyes. Was it because her mother was petting him...? Was this the infamous mother complex??? Yuyuan reached out and gently pinched Ichinose's cheek. "All right, Honami, stop petting me. Let me sleep a little longer. Wake me up when class starts." Ichinose blushed a little. "Mm, I understand." Chihiro Shiranami, meanwhile, looked ready to shoot flames from her eyes. Yuyuan felt like a man caught cheating by his wife. So they were little... lilies. Who'd have thought that two girls who liked girls would turn up in little Class B at the same time? At that thought, he was wide awake. He turned to Ichinose and started asking after her.

"Honami, how was yesterday? Is it a little hard to get used to things now that school's started? Whatever trouble you get into, you can come to me." "Trouble? But weren't you just sleepy, Yuyuan?" Ichinose found it a little strange, but figured he must have misspoken while still half-asleep. "Yesterday, everyone went to a karaoke place, but since you were busy, Yuyuan, I didn't invite you. You're not mad at me, are you?" After saying that, Ichinose blinked her big, innocent eyes at Yuyuan. But Yuyuan didn't see it at all; his attention was focused on Chihiro Shiranami. Sure enough, she was looking at him as if she wanted to stab him.

"Of course not. But I really wish I could've gone singing with you, Honami." "Then it's settled. You have to come next time, Yuyuan." Oh no. Yuyuan had been so absorbed in watching the girl-who-liked-girls get jealous that he'd ended up roping himself into this. But if he said he was too busy and really didn't have the time when the day came, Ichinose probably wouldn't make a fuss, given her personality. "Of course. I'll definitely come next time!" "That's great. I was worried you might not fit in with everyone, but it looks like I was worrying for nothing."

Just then, the bell rang, and Hoshinomiya came into the classroom reeking of alcohol. She waved at the students in Class B. "G-good morning, everyone. My head hurts so much. When you all grow up, make sure you never become an adult like this. Hic!" "All right, that's it for today. I'm going back to the Infirmary to get some rest." After class, Hoshinomiya dragged her uncooperative body out of the room, swaying as she went.

Yuyuan spotted Kamuro peeking through the window and walked out with a smile. "What are you doing? I asked you to come find me, not go steal something again. But Masumi really is an honest, trustworthy girl." Kamuro followed behind Yuyuan with her head bowed as they headed for Class D. Then, a moment later, she demanded, "Tch, did I have any other choice? And who said you could call me that? What if someone gets the wrong idea?" "So you didn't even notice I'd been calling you that all last night?" Yuyuan looked at the girl with the beautiful air of someone missing part of her brain with pity. "We're almost at Class D. Don't forget your task. If Masumi breaks her promise... I can't guarantee her secret won't get out, you know." "You...! I understand."

Yuyuan knocked and entered Class D with Kamuro. Once everyone in the class turned to look at him, he said, "Suzune must have told you all why I'm here, right? What have you decided?" At that, a handsome, athletic-looking guy with a friendly smile stepped forward. He was probably the popular Hirata Suzune had mentioned. "You're Yuyuan, right? My name is Yosuke Hirata. Horikita told us all about—" A boisterous laugh, loud enough to echo, cut him off. Its owner was a muscular blond man: Rokusuke Koenji. "Hahahahaha! So it's Yuyuan, boy. Has someone as beautiful as I am—second only to me—fallen so low as to become a sleazy information broker? That's not beautiful at all." Yuyuan glanced at the popular Hirata and saw that he was still smiling, seemingly unbothered by being interrupted. "Give it a rest, Koenji. You were placed in Class D, and you still have the nerve to call yourself beautiful? What an overconfident creep." Koenji just laughed, looking proud of himself. "Hahahahaha! Placed, you say? But I, the beautiful one, have never needed to care about other people's opinions. This only proves that the school lacks eyes capable of recognizing beauty. What a pity. Your beauty could have rivaled mine, Yuyuan, but you've willingly debased yourself by taking up such work." "No thanks. I'd be embarrassed to be compared to you."

A delinquent with dyed red hair grew irritated at the two of them chatting as if no one else were there. He stood up and berated Koenji. "Koenji, what's that supposed to mean? If you know something, what's the harm in telling us?" Koenji didn't even look at him. He calmly took out a mirror and fixed his hair. "Hahahahaha! What a shame, Red-Haired Boy. I have no obligation to tell you anything. The way you're fuming because you can't figure it out is truly hideous." Yuyuan looked around at the Class D students, whose interest had clearly been piqued. Inwardly, he was grateful to Koenji for derailing the conversation.

"Okay, okay. We don't have much time left, so save the irrelevant chatter for later." Yuyuan smiled amiably at the Class D students around him. "So, what have you decided? How about sending someone to represent you and talk it over?" Hirata stepped forward again without hesitation. "I'll do it. Yuyuan, could you tell me a little more about this information? What exactly is it about?" "Of course. Hirata, you heard what I just said about the classes being assigned, right? There's a pattern to how the students are divided among the classes, and I also have other information about personal points. I can't be any more specific than that. Suzune has already..."