Chapter 43

"Let me handle the disciplinary hearing for the violence incident." Prime Minister Horikita replied, "You want a favor from Class D? Fine. Keep an eye on Suzune for me." Yuan Yuyuan couldn't be bothered to respond to this siscon. The man couldn't go three sentences without bringing up his sister, yet always acted like she was a piece of garbage.

After school, at Manabu Horikita's invitation, Yuan Yuyuan went to the Student Council. There was no one else around this time—not even their secretaries.

"You're here. Have a seat."

"What are you trying to do?" Yuan Yuyuan crossed one leg over the other without a shred of politeness. He'd originally planned to get out of this by claiming he needed to gather evidence from Classes C and D, but Manabu Horikita had called him over, and now he was in a foul mood.

"I'm curious what you're planning. Just favor Class D during the hearing?"

"Tch. I considered it, but Honami said she wanted Class C to take a fall, so Ryuen wouldn't use the same trick on our class."

"So?"

"You're so annoying. But I don't want to. If Class D can't handle it, they can just give up. Why should I worry about them? Still, I did think of someone."

Seeing Manabu Horikita frown, Yuan Yuyuan assumed he thought he meant Horikita Suzune.

"That person you've met before. It's that Ayanokoji from the other day."

"Yeah, I know him. He got fifty points in every subject on the entrance exam and the quizzes before midterms."

"Huh? Hahaha, that's pretty ridiculous, but not that ridiculous for him. He's basically a robot, after all. He's probably trying to hide his abilities. Good thing he's in Class D—if he were in another class, he would've given himself away by now."

Yuan Yuyuan was taken aback at first, then burst out laughing. Ayanokoji's disguise really left a lot to be desired. Was he overconfident, or was he just that stupid?

"You want him to save Sudo from Class D? How can you be sure he'll actually do anything?"

"Why do you have so many questions? Why not ask Suzune? I can only tell you that I have someone in Class D."

Manabu Horikita sighed. "I don't want Suzune to take too big a hit over this, but as Student Council president, I can't show her favoritism. So I'm counting on you."

"Don't worry. I don't mind helping with something that only takes a bit of talking. By the way, how are things between you and your sister?"

Yuan Yuyuan raised his eyebrows at Manabu Horikita. In his opinion, there was no way those siblings would patch things up before Manabu graduated.

"Not much has changed. She probably wants to prove how much she's grown before coming to see me." Manabu Horikita sounded a little helpless as he spoke about the subject. His sister was great in every way—except that she was too stubborn.

"Fine, I'll get going. Next time, just call me about this sort of thing. I still have to investigate, and I'm busy. Don't bother me unless it's important."

At dusk, Yuan Yuyuan received a message from Kushida with some information: Sudo needed to talk to her, and they'd decided to discuss it in Ayanokoji's room. Yuan Yuyuan asked Kushida to sound Ayanokoji out and see whether he intended to help Sudo. If Ayanokoji wanted to, a little scheme like this wouldn't be enough to stop him.

Unfortunately, things didn't always go as planned. Later, Kushida said that Ayanokoji didn't seem particularly interested.

Well, nothing to be done about it. Yuan Yuyuan put down his phone. Now all he could do was see whether Suzune could change Ayanokoji's mind. He wasn't interested in getting involved anyway.

The next day, Hoshinomiya came to hold the morning meeting again. But since Yuan Yuyuan had warned her in advance, she walked into the classroom looking dejected, with no juicy news to share.

"Good morning, everyone. For the reasons you all know, the points were only distributed today. However, since the incident took place in the Special Building, where there are no security cameras, there's some disagreement about what happened. If anyone witnessed the incident, you can report it to the school."

Seeing that no one else had anything to say, Hoshinomiya pursed her lips and continued, "I'm sure you all know the hearing is next Tuesday. In that case, this morning's meeting is over."

Only then did everyone finally show some emotion, shouting in surprise.

"What? We only have a week? Doesn't that mean Class D is in serious trouble?"

"Yeah, exactly. So it looks like... uh... they're in serious trouble. Serious trouble."

Watching their half-hearted acting, Hoshinomiya burst out laughing.

"Alright, alright, quit pretending. I'll be off, then."

Yuan Yuyuan thought the school's approach was pointless. They were looking for witnesses because there was no camera footage from the Special Building—but who could prove a witness had actually seen anything instead of just lying? He'd much rather have Kushida use kindness to pressure Ayanokoji into helping. Ayanokoji might be emotionless, but he could still make judgments! He'd know better than to make such a cute girl hate him. That was all that mattered.

No sooner had he decided than he pulled out his phone and messaged the two-faced beauty. But the reply he got was this...

"Ew... Why do I have to ask that creepy, gloomy guy for help?"

Yuan Yuyuan narrowed his eyes. Kushida had really forgotten her past pain already.

"Oh, I see. Then I won't force you, Kikyo. It seems that, rather than asking that gloomy guy for help, you'd rather let everyone see your other side. Fine, then."

Kushida Kikyo panicked. After spending all this time together, she'd thought she and Yuan Yuyuan were at least friends. She hadn't expected that the person who always comforted her when she vented would refuse to tolerate even a single complaint from her at a moment like this.

"Don't! I'll do what you say. I really know I was wrong. Please don't tell anyone else."

But then she got a notification that her message hadn't been accepted. Kushida wasn't stupid. Yuan Yuyuan had no reason to give up a pawn he'd already brought completely under his control. He was making her apologize in person. But Chabashira was still droning on at the front of the room... This was a class meeting, and they were discussing Sudo's possible expulsion. If she left now, wouldn't her carefully cultivated image fall apart? For the first time since arriving at this school, where she'd always felt in control, she was overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness.

Kushida Kikyo finally made it through the class meeting, only to be approached by the Idiot Trio. She put on an agreeable front for a little while, then excused herself. "Ah, sorry, I have to step away for a moment. I saw a senpai I'm on good terms with, so I'm going to ask him about something."

"Kushida's even going to all this trouble for Sudo. She's so cute."

Ignoring that idiot Ike, Kushida Kikyo hurried over to Class B. When she arrived, she saw Yuan Yuyuan acting as if nothing had happened while flirting with Himeno Yuki. Furious, Kushida could only swallow her anger and, as sweetly as ever, ask someone in Class B to pass on a message.

"Um, could you call Yuyuan over for me?"

By sheer coincidence, the person she asked was Chihiro Shiranami, who'd been chatting with a friend. She thought it was strange that Kushida, the school celebrity, was connected to that guy Yuan Yuyuan—and even called him so affectionately. Still, she went over to pass on the message.

"Yuan Yuyuan, Kushida wants to see you."

"Kushida who? I don't remember knowing anyone with the last name Kushida."

Poor Shiranami had no idea what was going on.