Chapter 6

"I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have said that. It's getting late, so I'll be going now." Yuan Yuyuan regretted speaking without thinking. After all, he still had information to sell to Class D. If Class D performed well enough, Hoshinomiya's negative feelings would erupt completely, and that would be the perfect time to act. Though he was the one who'd set things in motion, he was only doing it for points. What bad intentions could he possibly have? He just had to claim he knew nothing about their history, then make it clear he'd help Hoshinomiya crush Class D. After leaving the school building, Yuan Yuyuan took out his phone and contacted Horikita Suzune. "I've got the contract. Have you talked it over with your classmates, Suzune?" Horikita Suzune replied with a troubled sigh, "Don't ask. I spoke to Hirata from our class. He seems interested, but when I told him the whole class would have to share the cost, he wasn't sure." "That's understandable. Popular people like him tend to think of others, and you've only just started school, so you don't know each other well yet. He might also be wary that the two of us are setting him up. So, you haven't told him about the contract?" "No. As soon as he looked troubled, some girls came and led him away." "Huh? He really is popular. Then tell him we can sign a wager agreement. If the information isn't worth the price, I won't take a single point. But if it is, I want one million personal points every month." "And if Class D signs the agreement, I'll refund your share in full, Suzune. Consider it a reward for helping me exceed my target. I can also give you an extra two hundred thousand points as a thank-you for your efforts, but you can't let anyone else know. It'd be bad for business." "This information is worth far more than a million, but I came to make a sincere deal with Class D. If everyone in Class D can't trust me, then I'll have to make this a one-time transaction." Yuan Yuyuan hadn't tried to jack up the price on Horikita Suzune. It wasn't just because she knew the information's value; he was also leaving himself a backup plan. If he needed to, he could let the others in Class D know that while they all had to pay points every month, someone who was already distrusted hadn't paid a thing and had even received a reward. Horikita Suzune would then be ostracized, or even bullied. He might even be able to plant a spy in Class D while he was at it. "Is that so? I'll give it a try. And don't sneakily call me by my name when I'm not paying attention." "Ah, how rude of me~ Well then, see you tomorrow." After hanging up, Yuan Yuyuan treated himself to a lavish meal. In the afternoon, the Class B classroom was nearly full. Many students looked anxious, until Yuan Yuyuan appeared at the door. Seeing how late he was, Ichinose couldn't help complaining. "Why did you take so long, Yuyuan? We've got the club orientation soon. There's still a little time, though, so let's choose our class officers first!" "Does this school even have those positions?" Ichinose shot down Yuan Yuyuan's question with unshakable confidence. "But wouldn't it be weird if our class didn't have any officers?" "Whatever makes you happy." Yuan Yuyuan had never judged people by their looks. He'd had his embarrassing fantasies, sure, but that didn't matter! What mattered was that Ichinose had this angelic image, yet she'd suggested it herself. Wouldn't she face criticism if she ended up as class representative? It seemed she really did have Class B firmly in the palm of her hand. "Then let's start with class representative. I nominate Yuyuan. What does everyone think?" "Me? Wouldn't Honami be the obvious choice?" She was so kind. I could cry. She'd just handed the position over to someone else, but Yuan Yuyuan knew that even if he actually became class representative, it wouldn't make a difference. Most people would still only follow Ichinose's every word. He might as well do her a favor and let her have the position. After some back-and-forth, they wrapped things up with Yuan Yuyuan saying he wasn't cut out to be a class officer and, if he absolutely had to take one, he'd be fine with the title of vice representative. By the time Class B arrived at the gymnasium, it was already packed. Most of the students were discussing which clubs they liked and wanted to join. Only two people stood at the front of Class B, bickering pointlessly. "It's your fault for taking so long to decide, Yuyuan. At least the orientation hasn't started yet." "You're too popular, Honami. If you don't end up as class representative, I'll be beheaded in public." "It's not that bad. I think you're more capable than I am, Yuyuan." While placating Ichinose, Yuan Yuyuan took the opportunity to observe the leaders of the other classes. Class C, the one below them, had a red-haired delinquent. Judging by the fear on everyone else's faces, he ruled through violence, but he didn't look all that strong. Was the Black guy beside him his bodyguard? As expected of Class D, there was no leader at all. They were split into little groups, and the ones who seemed to have the most influence were a popular boy and girl, plus a gyaru. The only person Yuan Yuyuan knew, Horikita Suzune, was talking to a gloomy-looking boy. As for Class A, there was a stern-looking, bald... badass, and Sakayanagi Arisu. Wait... Sakayanagi Arisu? Yuan Yuyuan furrowed his brow. Why was she here? As the Chairman's daughter, shouldn't she know better than to invite suspicion? And she'd always acted so mysterious, spouting chuunibyou nonsense about burying false geniuses and the like. Why had she come to a school that had been closed off for three years? Yuan Yuyuan had met Sakayanagi Arisu because their fathers were close friends. She was cute, with strikingly lustrous silver hair, and her frail body, weakened by congenital heart disease, always inspired a strange desire to protect her. But after she'd visited the White Room, she'd become completely bizarre. Yuan Yuyuan's protective instincts had vanished, and he'd gradually distanced himself from her to avoid catching it. He'd just pretend he hadn't seen her. Sakayanagi? He barely knew her. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. The silver-haired witch had already spotted Yuan Yuyuan and was coming over with one of her followers. "It's been a long time, Yuyuan. I was surprised when Father told me you'd be coming here too." "Well, it has been a while, Arisu. Don't tell me you've shifted your target and come here to bury me?" He really didn't want to draw attention on the first day, so Yuan Yuyuan brought up one of Sakayanagi Arisu's embarrassing old stories, hoping she'd take the hint and back off. "You're still such a joker, Yuyuan. The one I intend to bury is that false genius. Compared to him, you're the true genius I've always been chasing." Yuan Yuyuan was stunned. He hadn't expected Sakayanagi Arisu to still be able to say something so nauseating without even changing expression, after all these years.