The Layout

"Heh, I didn't expect someone to notice me so quickly."

"It seems some things need to be set in motion earlier than planned."

Under the cold moon, the boy offered a chilling smile, his figure gradually dissolving into the darkness...

Just like that, time quickly arrived for the midterm exams.

Perhaps it was due to the help from the study sessions, or perhaps it was the answers to previous years' exams that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had purchased at the last minute.

But as for the results, the grades were quite impressive; after all, aside from Sudo Ken, who missed the passing mark by a single point, everyone else had essentially made it through safely.

"Sigh~ what a pity. Sudo-kun only missed it by one point. He isn't going to be expelled just like that, is he?"

"Expelled? I don't think so. I seem to recall a specific rule in the school handbook stating that points can purchase anything within the school. I imagine points could buy a passing grade too."

"Though, I wonder how many points it would take to buy a single point." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Horikita Suzune, who usually lacked presence in the class, spoke up simultaneously, which was a rare occurrence.

"Really? Let's go check."

Hearing this, the students of Class D beamed with joy, none of them having realized that points could be used in such a way.

As for Rinya, who had been sitting in the back without making any moves, he had no intention of letting this opportunity slip by.

After all, favors are a form of currency; if you can spend them on valuable people, the benefits they bring will undoubtedly be returned to you tenfold in the future.

Without waiting for Ayanokoji and the others to take action, Rinya approached their homeroom teacher, Chabashira, on the field immediately after class.

He then explained his idea of wanting to purchase one point to help Sudo Ken.

Chabashira was somewhat puzzled, as the two of them should have had no interaction in their daily lives.

But seeing the look of absolute sincerity on his face, Chabashira couldn't help but chuckle: "Heh, interesting, truly interesting."

"Something like this has never happened before."

"Fine. Give me 100,000 points now, and I'll sell it to you."

Seeing her smirk, clearly expecting him to be caught in a bind, Rinya smiled faintly, picked up his phone, tapped it a few times, and said calmly: "Oh, is that so?"

"Ding~ You have received a transfer of 100,000 points. Please check your balance."

As the sound rang out, Chabashira stared at the balance on her phone in disbelief. After checking repeatedly to ensure it wasn't a fake, she was left completely stunned.

"W-what? You're a student, where did you get so many points?" This sudden, masterful stroke left even the usually composed Chabashira subconsciously shocked.

"As for that, please forgive me for not being able to disclose the details. However, you can rest assured that the source is legitimate. Teacher, you are welcome to look into my acquisition methods later."

"Hmph, I'll take your word for it for now."

Staring at the transfer notification on her phone, Chabashira couldn't help but glance at the boy standing before her, looking so carefree. For some reason, compared to those who were deliberately hiding their true selves, this guy felt even more unfathomable.

In the afternoon, inside a secluded booth at a cafe, the boy sipping his coffee seemed somewhat surprised by the girl who had suddenly appeared.

"Huff~ huff~ So you were here, Rinya."

Looking at the girl, who was panting and flushed, Rinya couldn't help but feel surprised: "Hm? Horikita Suzune?"

"You came looking for me, is there something you need?"

"I've come to return half of the points you spent to help Sudo Ken-kun."

As she spoke, Horikita Suzune reached for her phone, but Rinya naturally refused to accept it.

"Heh, why would you return them? Isn't it normal for classmates to help each other?"

"That may be true, but while I don't understand why you would suddenly step in to help, or how you have so many points, I don't think it's appropriate for you to shoulder the entire cost alone."

"Is that so? Well, I don't see anything inappropriate about it."

"You..."

Horikita Suzune had originally wanted to use this opportunity to contribute to the class and let everyone realize her value.

Unfortunately, as it stood, Ayanokoji was right—this guy really wouldn't agree.

"Hmph, what a weirdo, just like him."

Watching the girl who had run over panting now leave in a huff, Rinya couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.

"But from here on out, there should be some fun things to watch."

That night, although the trio of idiots led by Sudo Ken kept wanting to visit to express their gratitude, Rinya certainly wasn't going to welcome men into his room.

Therefore, after refusing under the pretext of feeling unwell, Rinya deliberately lowered his voice and suggested that the three of them invite Horikita Suzune, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, Kushida Kikyo, and Hirata Yosuke—who had helped them during the study sessions—to hold a celebration party somewhere, noting that it would be more meaningful that way.

The three were overjoyed upon hearing this, nodding repeatedly and agreeing that this was the only way to truly express the joy of their narrow escape. Consequently, they became even more grateful for Rinya's immense help, which allowed the three of them to share in this festive atmosphere together.

As the primary beneficiary, Sudo Ken even began calling Rinya his "good brother" directly, promising that if there was anything he could do in the future, he should just ask, and he would never let him down.

Seeing their leader act this way, the other two followed suit loudly: "Brother Rinya, same here!" Ike nodded.

"Heh heh, same here!" Yamauchi patted his chest, grinning from ear to ear as if he had found a powerful backer.

However, just as the three of them walked away in high spirits, the boy who had been faking illness at the door began to laugh, his chuckle growing from a faint sound to a full-blown laugh.

"What a pity. If it had been Ayanokoji or Horikita who saved you, it might have actually taught you gratitude and growth. But unfortunately, since I was the one who saved you first, I only want you to drag more people down with you—and hopefully, drag that girl Horikita Suzune, who hasn't grown up yet, down into the mud along with you."

"Ayanokoji, from the moment you decided you wanted to help Class D rise to Class A, we became enemies."

"Hehe~"

Perhaps they will never realize, even until the day they die, that they are being invisibly forged into a chain capable of holding others back from moving forward.

Especially in future important exams and class activities, the effect of this chain will become increasingly apparent, and it will ensnare more and more people.

As for the mastermind behind all of this, I fear no one will ever be able to see who he truly is.

For in the face of absolute strength, if one does not join, the only outcome is to be eliminated~

If you find this book to your liking and wish to avoid losing it next time, please remember to add it to your bookshelf.