Onizuka had handed over full responsibility for the test papers to Kushida and Ayanokoji.
As for when the two of them decided to spread the news, that had nothing to do with him. In any case, he had smoothly obtained the points he was owed.
After paying the points, Horikita Suzune left without looking back. Perhaps she thought the matter was over and there was no need to keep paying attention to it.
In Onizuka's eyes, Horikita Suzune was nothing special. She was determined to make it into Class A, yet did nothing. Did she think Class D had what it took to win the next challenge?
Not every exam would have old exam papers like these.
In the end, nothing had changed, had it? Certain people in the class would fall into crisis and eventually plunge into the abyss.
Hah. What a ridiculous dream.
Soon, the sky grew dark.
After a busy day, Onizuka suddenly realized he'd forgotten to buy dinner again.
There was nothing for it. He dragged his tired, hungry body into the elevator and headed downstairs to the 24-hour convenience store to buy a ready-made meal and fill his stomach.
Before long, Onizuka picked out a serving of eel rice from the shelves and put it in the self-service microwave, waiting for the timer to finish.
He couldn't help thinking of Horikita Suzune again. Somehow, she seemed like the kind of person who would boldly proclaim her dream.
Something like, "I absolutely... absolutely will make it into Class A..."
"I absolutely... absolutely will make it into Class A..."
Huh???
Why did it sound as if Horikita Suzune herself were voicing the scene he'd imagined in his head?
"I... can't... my little sister..."
Onizuka heard another strange line of dialogue and realized he hadn't imagined the earlier one. He looked helplessly toward the corner nearby.
She really was like a ghost that wouldn't leave him alone... Horikita Suzune...
He walked over slowly. Since he was already here, and his food wasn't ready yet, surely he could watch a little drama to go with his meal?
When he reached the corner, he saw a bespectacled boy pinning Horikita Suzune against the wall, while Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was hiding behind a nearby vending machine.
Well, who said life had no audience? It was a live show everywhere you looked!
The boy slowly raised the hand he'd been using to restrain Horikita Suzune, as if he were about to slam her to the side.
At last, Ayanokoji could no longer stay hidden. With an extremely swift movement, he grabbed the boy's raised arm.
Ooh! What a heroic rescue!
Onizuka watched the whole spectacle from a distance in silence.
From their argument, Onizuka gradually learned that the bespectacled boy was the student council president of this school: Horikita Manabu.
Onizuka had previously focused his investigations on the first-years, and knew the leaders of the second and third years only by name.
This was his first time seeing one of them in person.
What surprised him was that Horikita Manabu really was Horikita Suzune's older brother. He'd thought it was just a coincidence.
While Onizuka's thoughts wandered, Ayanokoji and President Horikita suddenly began fighting.
Though it was really just President Horikita attacking him.
After exchanging a few moves, President Horikita seemed to notice something unusual about Ayanokoji and stopped attacking.
As the scene gradually fell silent, Onizuka realized it was time to leave, or he might well be discovered.
But nothing in the world could escape Murphy's Law: whatever bad thing you worried about would eventually happen.
A black cat suddenly leapt beside Onizuka, let out a piercing cry, then quickly ran off.
All three of them turned to look at once.
Onizuka was certainly nimble, but he couldn't scale walls and rooftops like a cat.
Trapped in a corner, he had nowhere left to hide.
"Hey, everyone. Have you eaten? I haven't, so I'll be off first!" With that, he turned to leave.
"Onizuka Tsukasa!" President Horikita suddenly called out his name.
For a moment, the scene seemed to freeze. Onizuka stopped in his tracks and turned to look at President Horikita.
"What is it, President Horikita?" Onizuka narrowed his eyes slightly. He had a feeling something troublesome was about to happen.
President Horikita paid no further attention to Ayanokoji, who was standing nearby, and walked straight toward him.
"You had a lot of fun during those first few days of school."
"Not at all. It was the upperclassmen who went easy on me."
"During the first few days of school? What did you do, Onizuka?" Horikita Suzune, standing nearby, couldn't help asking.
President Horikita walked up beside Onizuka and said, "Even if you're looking out for your juniors, there's no need to hand over more than a million points, is there, Onizuka?"
Hearing President Horikita say that, Horikita Suzune's eyes widened. She asked in disbelief, "What did you do, Onizuka?"
Onizuka glanced at Ayanokoji in the shadows. Ever since he'd removed himself from the center of the situation, Ayanokoji had stood to one side without saying a word.
Tsk. What a pain.
Seeing that Onizuka didn't seem inclined to answer Horikita Suzune's question, President Horikita paused, then laid out Onizuka's "crimes."
"Onizuka Tsukasa of Class 1-D began challenging nearly every outdoor club in his first week of school, wagering ninety thousand points each time."
"According to an incomplete tally, at least ten students lost their points to him, and a much larger number of students signed contracts promising not to reveal what happened."
"He competed across more than a dozen sports, and so far, his record stood at zero losses."
After saying this, President Horikita gave Horikita Suzune a subtle glance.
"In any case, I've already seen what you and Ayanokoji are capable of. I'm looking forward to seeing just how interesting you two can become."
He brushed past Onizuka and left the alley.
Tsk. He'd known it. Nothing but trouble.
He'd expected the things he'd done to be dug up eventually, but it was still a little too soon.
"Onizuka, when did you... start making your moves?"