Chapter 9

"I'll give you all the points I have. And when the Student Council election comes around, I'll vote for you. The former president's vote still carries a lot of weight at this school."

"Are you trying to sell me a pipe dream? A million points will do. Here's to a successful partnership."

"Here's to a successful partnership."

Then Yuan Yuyuan changed the subject and stared straight at Horikita Manabu. "Now that we've finished discussing business, let's talk about something personal. What's your relationship with Suzune, President-sama?"

"Is it because we share a last name? Suzune is my younger sister."

"That's not all. You glanced at Class D while you were onstage, didn't you? I thought you were a cold-faced, secretly lecherous man who liked sneaking peeks at pretty girls, but when I heard your last name was Horikita too, it all made sense. I can't believe I misunderstood you. I'm truly sorry for my rudeness." Yuan Yuyuan put on a contrite expression that no one would believe.

Horikita Manabu had grown used to Yuan Yuyuan's strange ways of addressing him. Without changing his expression, he explained why he'd done it. Even he didn't want to be mistaken for a pervert.

"How interesting. You noticed? I just wanted to see how much Suzune had grown since I last saw her a few years ago."

"Did you notice anything?"

"Nothing extraordinary, but I was surprised that Suzune made two friends on her very first day."

"That's a remarkably low bar. So Suzune really was a handful back then."

Horikita Manabu looked as if he didn't want to discuss his sister's past.

"That's right. But since Suzune has started learning to make friends, there's no need to bring up the past."

"Fine, then I won't disturb you while you reminisce about your sister. But I don't think Suzune has grown as much as you imagine. I'll be going now."

Seeing Horikita Manabu frown in thought, Yuan Yuyuan enjoyed the thrill of speaking in riddles before leaving.

"It's already this late. I should've mooched a meal off him. I'd better pick up some ready-made food at the convenience store."

After choosing a bento, Yuan Yuyuan spotted someone he knew: Kamuro Masumi, whom he'd seen that afternoon.

"So she's stealing. Birds of a feather, I guess. No one around Arisu is normal. Is this why she's being threatened? And it's only the first day, yet she's already stolen twice. She looks like a pro, but people keep catching her..."

Yuan Yuyuan crept over with a mischievous grin and leaned down to whisper in Kamuro Masumi's ear.

"Well, if it isn't Masumi. Arisu's the one who's supposed to be looking after you, but she hasn't even treated you to a meal? You've already resorted to making a living through theft on your first day."

At Yuan Yuyuan's words, Kamuro scrambled in a panic.

"Yuan Yuyuan? When did you get here?"

Yuan Yuyuan raised the bento in his hand and said matter-of-factly, "Isn't it obvious? I saw everything. Masumi tried to steal something on the first day of school, and both Arisu and I caught her."

Kamuro Masumi looked around. When she saw that no one was paying attention, she hurriedly pulled Yuan Yuyuan into a corner.

"How do you know about Sakayanagi... Never mind. What do you want? Don't think you can order me around like that girl."

"Of course not. I just thought it was funny. Don't worry about it."

Yuan Yuyuan looked at Kamuro innocently, though his eyes kept darting toward the employee behind the counter.

Kamuro looked at Yuan Yuyuan, who might as well have come right out and said he was going to rat her out, and scowled.

"You say that, but the moment you walk out of here, you'll report me."

"I never do anything that doesn't benefit me, so you can relax. Stealing isn't a big deal anyway. Masumi must've been brainwashed by Alice. Don't worry about it."

"But you and Sakayanagi are obviously the same kind of person. Don't think I can't see through your act. Neither of you are good people. If someone like you gets something on me, you'll squeeze me dry."

"That's so mean. I can't believe Masumi thinks that of me. I really don't mean any harm. I just wanted to tease you, but I didn't expect you to overreact like this. I'm sorry. I'll get going, then. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

"How am I supposed to relax? People like you can't be trusted!"

Yuan Yuyuan slowly formed a question mark.

"Don't give me that. Have you been watching too many adult movies? Do I really have to—"

Yuan Yuyuan planted both hands on the shelf behind Kamuro Masumi.

"Masumi, you don't want anyone else finding out that you stole something, do you?"

With Yuan Yuyuan's face inches from hers and his warm breath against her skin, Kamuro could only lower her head and show him the back of it.

"Idiot, you're too close. I knew it would be like this. You and Sakayanagi even say the exact same things."

"Come on, that's classic main-character syndrome. I was just teasing you because your reaction was funny."

"I let you off once because we knew each other and you're my friend's bodyguard. You're the one who kept pestering me afterward."

"Okay, I've granted your wish. Remember to give me a five-star review. I'm leaving."

Yuan Yuyuan ignored Kamuro Masumi's flushed face, paid for his food, and headed back to the dorm.

First Semester: You Aren't an M, Are You?

"Is Masumi following me? I didn't expect her to be a pitiful little pervert who was both a thief and a voyeur. She's kind of cute."

Caught, Kamuro came out from behind the wall with an indifferent expression.

"Of course I am. You said the same things as Sakayanagi, but you didn't order me around like she did. How could I possibly go home feeling safe?"

"I told you I was just teasing you. First you wanted me to threaten you, and now you want me to order you around. Tell me, Masumi, are you playing some kind of thrilling game where you call it stealing but write it as exhibitionism?"

"At least make me do something, okay? I get the feeling you're up to no good."

"I can, but come find me in Class B after first period tomorrow. Although..."

"What are you up to now? Don't look at me with that creepy expression."

"Nothing. I just suddenly thought you were cute, Masumi. I don't even have any proof that you're a thief, yet you keep pestering me to give you a task. Tell me, are you an M?"

"W-what do you mean, an M? I just thought you wouldn't let me off that easily. And what does that have to do with being an M? You caught me stealing, so it's only normal that you'd threaten me. If you don't ask me to do anything, how am I supposed to know when you'll decide to tell someone about this for fun?"

Yuan Yuyuan watched Kamuro Masumi vent her... dissatisfaction without pausing once, then shrugged helplessly.

"Okay, okay, let's say that's it. Then make sure you show up on time tomorrow, Masumi. After that, we'll be even."

"Why did you pause weirdly in the middle? And you don't have to tell me that!"

Kamuro Masumi turned and walked away, leaving Yuan Yuyuan with only the back of her purple-haired head.

"She's really interesting. With a personality like that, Arisu's definitely going to train her into a loyal puppy. I kind of want to... Never mind."

After returning to the dorm and scarfing down his food, Yuan Yuyuan took stock of his interesting school life. First, there was his adorable classmate Masumi. Rather than say she was enjoying—