Chapter 47

Confused, are you? If you drop out, she'll forget all about you. No, she doesn't even think of you as anything right now; the proof is that she didn't even show up herself." I forced my brain to calm down, trying to persuade a frantic Ayanokoji. "It's certainly not worth it. But since you're targeting Class D like this, the people in our class will either become your obedient slaves or be expelled sooner or later. Watching Sudo get expelled by you is like watching myself die a slow death! I'm a guy who doesn't care. I'm not afraid of your tactics! Can't I just be a hero here and drop out with you?" "You'll regret this, Ayanokoji-kun." "At least I don't regret it right now! Hurry up and choose! The hearing is almost here! Either we both drop out or nothing happens, decide now!" Ayanokoji pressed his trembling fist right in front of my eyes. "Hahahaha! Ayanokoji-kun, you're afraid of being expelled here too, aren't you? Even though you're putting on a heroic act, deep down you're scared to death, right?" In such a tense situation, I actually laughed out loud. "Who wouldn't be? But even a rabbit will bite when cornered, even if I'm just a useless guy." Ayanokoji didn't hide it, admitting it frankly. "A useless guy? You're the hero of Class D today! I give up, we'll go cancel the complaint in a moment." I let go of Ayanokoji and raised my hands in surrender. "Please make the call to cancel it now; I can't trust you." Ayanokoji insisted. "Yes, yes. Ishizaki, please dial the Student Council President while Ichinose watches... tell him we've reconciled with Class D and forgiven Sudo. Cancel the complaint... The Student Council President asks why? Tell him it's thanks to his sister... Yes, say exactly that." Watching Ichinose nod after witnessing Ishizaki finish the call, Ayanokoji finally let go of me and squatted to the side, gasping for air. "You know, I won't just admit defeat like this, and neither will Ryuen, whose plan you cracked." I used the glass window on the classroom door as a mirror to straighten my jacket and said to Ayanokoji. "Was it that Ryuen who instigated this? With Horikita here, our Class D won't be easily defeated by you." Ayanokoji bluffed. "We'll see... and you too! You big liar, Miss Ichinose! From now on, we're enemies. Don't let Yume come to fish for information again; you're just using her feelings." After saying that, I gentlemanly tossed a handkerchief to Ichinose and left with Ishizaki and the others. Suzune Horikita! This is the second time I've lost to your schemes! I never expected you to have your subordinates under such tight control... impressive! A woman like you, in the past, would surely have been the type to topple kingdoms and ruin cities, right? No wonder you were assigned to Class D... Making your subordinates go down with me? Even Sakayanagi isn't as ruthless as you. Being able to crack my perfect calculations twice, I admit you've got some skills. However, I, Kitazawa Minya, always repay my grudges! You just wait, I'll be back! I'll make you kneel before me!

"They're gone, Ayanokoji-kun." Ichinose looked worriedly at Ayanokoji, who was still slumped on the floor, breathing heavily. "Finally, we're saved... Sorry to trouble you, Ichinose, but I have to ask you not to spread the word about this. Just tell everyone outside that you helped resolve the matter, okay?" "I can do that, but what about Horikita-san..." Ichinose was a bit surprised; Ayanokoji could have been the hero who repelled Class C, yet he chose silence. "She had no choice but to make me do this. If I could help it, I wouldn't want to play the hero either... If word gets out, the people in Class D might start picking fights with Class C again, and it would never end. Our class still needs some time to catch its breath." "I understand, Ayanokoji-kun." "Right, I still need to rush to the shopping mall! Excuse me!" "Eh? What else is there!? Wait for me!" Ichinose felt more and more that there was a story behind this guy, and she followed him, confused.

Volume 1: First Signs of Brilliance : 28 A peaceful lie is better than a divisive truth. A peaceful lie is better than a divisive truth. -- Saadi

"Hahahahaha!" The private room for Class C at the karaoke bar echoed with unrestrained laughter. "Three fives... stop laughing, Ryuen. What else could I have done in that situation?" I gloomily fiddled with the dice cup in my hand. When your luck is down, you get cavities even from drinking cold water; playing dice, I could probably hit my own foot. "Four fives, no... hahahahaha! Kitazawa, you're too pathetic, being threatened by a little lackey who has a crush on her master, hahahahaha! Just thinking about it, I can't help but... cough, cough..." Ryuen rolled on the sofa, laughing until he choked, while the girls on either side patted his back repeatedly. "Six fives... is it really that funny? And it was your plan that got exposed, and that fat woman Ichinose even stuck her nose in..." "Hahahahaha! You lost, honor student! I don't have a single five! Hahahahaha... you've lost a total of 25,000 points today!" Ryuen lifted the dice cup, laughing so hard he slapped the table. "Bad luck! I really am cursed... I'm done playing!" After flipping the table, I slumped back in a lazy posture, and by some coincidence, I accidentally put my hand on Ibuki's thigh, only to get kicked again. "Don't be like that! Whether it was Texas Hold'em, Blackjack, or Pai Gow... I couldn't beat you at anything, but ever since Horikita beat you in the midterms, your luck has been in a straight downward spiral! Hurry up and keep playing, let me win some back!" "Sss... I realized that, which is why I stopped playing... Ibuki-san, next time just pinch me! Your precious legs are more than I can handle..." "Get lost! I think you deserve it. If you ask me, why don't you just stop causing trouble in the next exam?" "Ibuki-san, are you jealous? Don't worry, in my heart, no matter how smart Horikita is, she doesn't compare to even a fraction of Ibuki-san." Ibuki narrowed her eyes and looked over. "Ibuki-san, Minya-kun is insulting you, saying you're stupid." Shiina whispered a translation from the side. "Σ( ° △ °|||)︴Don't! Ibuki-san, that's not what I meant." "Hmm, then you better explain it to me properly." "...!" Afterward, Ibuki gently massaged my whole body, which helped clear my brain a bit. "Ryuen, honestly, with Classes B and D teaming up, we're in a bit of a bind... Should we contact Class A? Even if it's just to have them keep Class B in check." I lay on the table, suggesting without looking up. "You know that guy Katsuragi; he won't go looking for trouble at a time like this unless Class B comes knocking on his door." Ryuen acknowledged the feasibility of the strategy. "How about we sell some class points to them?" "Sell class points? That's interesting... Indeed, there's nothing in this school that can't be bought. So, as long as both sides agree, class points from other classes can be bought too, right?" "Yeah, and with an added condition, we can get them to actively keep Class B in check. I know of a school contract that uses points as a constraint; it would come in handy right about now."