Chapter 29

"No, that'd be too obvious... Better to sell it to another leader in Class 1-D, Hirata." That's right, I'd just picked out this lucky handsome guy. "That pretty boy? Did he steal your woman or something? You're going after him pretty hard..." "No way... It's just class competition. Healthy competition!" As if I'd ever admit something like that! "I don't believe a word you say! You filthy capitalist! But I don't know Hirata... How about you come with me to meet someone later? He used to be in the soccer club, so he should know Hirata." "That'd be great!" Just then, I also got a reply from Kaneda saying he'd found out what I needed. Everything was ready; all I needed was the right opportunity. And with my luck through the roof today, I soon met that opportunity in a private booth at a restaurant. "Let me introduce you. This is Miyabi Nagumo, Class 2-A's resident evil mastermind and the Student Council's current number two." Senior Igari sat down as if she owned the place. "And this is Minya Kitazawa, the wicked capitalist of Class 1-C." "Hello, Nagumo-senpai! Um... Igari-senpai, I prefer the title 'Poison Scholar,' after Jia Wenhe from Romance of the Three Kingdoms." "Whatever... I bet that Three Kingdoms guy wasn't as rich as you." "You flatter me." "I've heard a lot about you, Kitazawa." Nagumo seemed easy to talk to. "Really? Am I that famous?" I hadn't expected the big shots to know about me when I'd been keeping such a low profile. "Actually, I had someone provide you with the second-years' answer sheet last time. What do you need this time?" Nagumo asked with a smile. I quickly told him my plan. "Fake exam questions for another class? Sounds interesting." "But what if someone else in Class D also buys the real exam questions?" Igari asked curiously. "Then I'll need you two to stick to the plan. Once it's done, I'll give you two two million points. Or, if you'd prefer, I can pay you in cash after graduation. It's simple: just tell Hirata to release the questions about three days before the exam." "???" Igari still hadn't figured it out. "I see." Nagumo nodded. "The best time to release the questions is a day or two before the exam. If anyone else has a copy, they'll probably release it around then, too. Hirata has a lot of influence in his class. If they have two sets of questions to compare, his will seem more trustworthy. If he releases his first, anyone who comes after him will be in an awkward position." "As expected of you, Nagumo-senpai. Exactly right. And that means the others won't have a copy of the real exam questions by then." "Why not?" Igari said, looking completely lost. "Because people only think of using exam questions as a last resort. They won't consider it until they're desperate. If they get a copy before they've even thought of that option, they won't bother checking for another one." Nagumo sounded like he knew human nature inside out. "Exactly. Even if someone gets the real questions beforehand and doesn't care how it affects Hirata, they can still release them, and having two sets will throw Class D's studying into chaos. Getting the slackers to memorize five sets of answers is one thing, but ten might be a bit much." I stroked my nonexistent beard. "?﹏?" Igari looked utterly horrified. How could the two of us be so ruthless? "You're pretty good, Kitazawa. Want to join my side?" Nagumo invited me. "I'm not looking to do that for now, but I'd be more than happy to work with you, senpai—on all sorts of things." "Work together? Right, that's what this is: cooperation. I could help you with this brilliant plan. I could even get Hirata to take the questions willingly and thank you profusely... But what's in it for me? I don't want points or money." Nagumo put it plainly. "Then what do you want, Nagumo-senpai?" You could've said so earlier. I was only worried you'd ask for nothing at all. "Honami Ichinose. I want you to help me get her. I hear you have plenty of points. If she asks to borrow some from you in the future..." "I'll turn her down without hesitation. She's in Class B, after all—she's my opponent. Don't worry, senpai." I answered without a second thought. "Huh? I heard you're quite the ladies' man, Kitazawa. Doesn't it bother you?" "Honami isn't my woman, and she's not even my type! If you like her, go ahead. No need to be polite. But this deal has to stay secret forever. I don't want to make enemies for no reason." Heh, another beastly senior. So uncouth! I'd never use underhanded schemes to chase girls. We're not the same kind of person! Nagumo and Igari exchanged a glance, then both nodded. "Deal! Kitazawa, here's my number. Just send the exam questions to my email..." "No problem, senpai. But I'll only send photos taken with a phone. I'll handle the layout and printing myself." "Photos are perfect. They'll look more natural that way! Hahahaha! That's settled. Igari and I still have something to discuss, so we'll talk more another time." Nagumo gestured that I could leave. "All right. See you both." With the upperclassmen on my side, Class D was in for a rough time, even if they didn't completely fall apart. Maybe Hirata would be so shaken by this that he'd never recover, and then Karuizawa would be mine! No, wait. Hadn't I said I wouldn't use schemes to chase girls...? Volume 1: Making My Mark — 17: The Cautious Have Eyes in the Back of Their Heads The cautious have eyes in the back of their heads. —William Robert Robertson

On Monday, I got a carefully prepared set of questions from Kaneda. It was a fake, designed to cover different material from the real exam questions. "You really worked hard this weekend, Satoru!" Seeing Kaneda's tired, dark circles, I could tell this hadn't been easy to put together. "It was nothing. Shiina, Oda, and a bunch of other top students helped me." Kaneda smiled and waved it off. "Was the study group short-handed?" "No. Nishino and Suzuki were there all weekend, so students from other classes won't suspect a thing. It's just that Sakagami-sensei said the exam material might change, and that caught us off guard." "It's fine. We know what the final questions are, so what's there to worry about? Ryuen hasn't shown up at the study group, has he?" I patted his shoulder and asked. "No. Ryuen-san knows better than to show up and scare everyone in class." "He's just too lazy to come, isn't he? Never mind. I'll go find him... Where do they usually meet to discuss things?" "At a karaoke place. It's cheap, so it doesn't cost many points." "That... really does sound like him. I'll check it out this afternoon." "Just don't get into an argument with Ryuen-san, Minya. He's done quite a few things lately that cost the class points... He says he's testing something." Kaneda hurriedly added. "What are you thinking? I'm just going to give them some money and tell them about the gift we're sending Class D. He's the leader, after all." "That's good... That's good..." Kaneda looked relieved. "After school"