Reaching an Agreement with Sakayanagi Arisu

Onizuka raised an eyebrow slightly, looking toward Sakayanagi with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"Oh? I wonder what important matter Classmate Sakayanagi could possibly have? We haven't finished our last game of chess yet; surely you aren't here for a rematch, are you?"

Sakayanagi's smile remained indifferent, her expression calm.

"Well, there will always be another chance to decide the winner. However, there is indeed something I would like to discuss with you."

Once she finished speaking, Sakayanagi Arisu fell silent.

As soon as her voice faded, an invisible pressure began to fill the air.

Sakura looked at Onizuka with some unease, hesitating before whispering, "Um... should I step away for a moment?"

Just as Sakura stood up, Onizuka pursed his lips in thought, his gaze sweeping over her hesitant expression before he nodded.

He secretly felt that Sakayanagi's visit likely boded no good.

After all, she was someone always wrapped in precise calculations and inscrutable intentions; letting Sakura know too much might only drag her into unnecessary trouble.

"Alright, Airi, wait for me a moment. We'll continue once this 'young lady' has finished."

Onizuka spoke in as relaxed a tone as possible, offering a slight smile to reassure her.

He then signaled for Airi to wait for him at the spot not far away where Kamuro Masumi was waiting.

Once Sakura walked away, he took a deep breath, dropped his previous relaxed expression, sat up straight, and crossed his arms over his chest.

"So, Classmate Sakayanagi, why not get straight to the point? You went out of your way to disturb my leisure time today... it puts me in a bit of a difficult position."

He smiled faintly, his words carrying a touch of probing.

"I keep my public and private affairs quite separate. Since you sought me out specifically, it must be something urgent, right?"

"Naturally. Though it is a good thing—I wonder, Onizuka, are you aware of the special Vacation Exam?"

Onizuka raised an eyebrow, calculating internally—there wasn't much time left before summer vacation, yet Sakayanagi had sought him out at this moment specifically for the special exam.

This was somewhat unexpected.

However... as far as he knew, Class A had been plagued by internal strife since the start of the school year, and Sakayanagi's authority within the class was not absolute.

Perhaps this visit was related to that turmoil?

"Classmate Sakayanagi, I wonder what you could possibly need from someone like me, a 'mere Class D' student?" Onizuka's lips curled up, his words laced with amusement.

Hearing him say this, Sakayanagi laughed softly.

Sakayanagi laughed softly at his words, her eyes flickering with an unfathomable light.

"A 'mere Class D'? I imagine Ryuen and his group don't see it that way anymore, do they? After all... they fell into your hands and lost every shred of their dignity."

Onizuka smiled faintly, completely unmoved: "Their opinions are their own business. Surely what Classmate Sakayanagi wants isn't just to watch the drama of other classes, is it?"

Sakayanagi elegantly folded her hands on her lap, her gaze sharp.

"Of course, I am not here to watch the drama. Classmate Onizuka has strength, and that is exactly what I have taken a liking to."

She added softly, feigning indifference, "Our Class A has quite a few people who are 'rather interested' in you."

Onizuka smiled thinly.

"Rather interested? That sounds quite flattering. However, such 'interest' usually comes with strings attached, doesn't it?"

Onizuka didn't believe for a second that Sakayanagi was telling the whole truth. The other leader of Class A... he remembered a man named Katsuragi Kohei.

It was said that he acted quite steadily in his daily affairs; he didn't believe someone like that would casually go to war with others, let alone the least threatening Class D.

Seeing that Onizuka didn't believe her, Sakayanagi tilted her head slightly to the side.

"As expected, one should be open and honest when speaking with a smart person~"

She paused for a moment, her tone becoming softer, yet more seductive.

"I hope that when the time comes, Classmate Onizuka can cooperate with me to [take action against Class A]."

Onizuka was slightly stunned, then raised an eyebrow, his gaze carrying a trace of mockery.

Sakayanagi was actually taking the initiative to propose "taking action against Class A"? The implications of that were very intriguing.

"Oh? Why say that? The defeat of Class A wouldn't be a good thing for you either, would it?"

Sakayanagi maintained her composed smile, responding unhurriedly.

"Classmate Onizuka is right about that. However, my 'defeat' and the defeat of Class A cannot be equated."

She looked up at him, her voice gentle yet tinged with sarcasm.

"For this Vacation Exam, I will choose to take leave, and Katsuragi will be in full charge—"

"Put that way, Classmate Onizuka should understand now, right?" She smiled slightly, her eyes holding a profound and mysterious meaning.

"The defeat of Class A does not mean my defeat, you see."

Onizuka was not easily drawn into her rhythm; he picked up his coffee and took a small sip.

He revealed a playful smile and looked at the Sakayanagi before him.

"Classmate Sakayanagi, in that case, aren't you afraid that I might tell Katsuragi about your plan?"

Upon hearing this, Classmate Sakayanagi showed not a hint of panic; instead, she gazed at him with a cryptic smile.

"Classmate Katsuragi is such an upright person, isn't he? If it were him, there is no way he could ever betray his class the way I do, right?"

After saying this baffling remark, Sakayanagi continued:

"The answer is that the benefits Classmate Onizuka would gain from reporting me are far less than what he would gain by cooperating with me."

"After all, you and I are both people who act for the sake of profit at our core. Only those who can set aside their positions to weigh the costs are truly smart, aren't they?"

Onizuka remained silent for a moment, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepening. He found Sakayanagi's proposal interesting.

If he could obtain benefits so easily, why wouldn't he do it?

After a few seconds of thought, he nodded slightly: "Since that's the case, what reason do I have to refuse? However, Classmate Sakayanagi—"

He paused, his tone becoming a bit more cautious.

"Since you are asking me to deal a 'major blow' to Class A during this Vacation Exam, does that mean you already know the content of the exam?"

Hearing him ask this, Sakayanagi shook her head lightly and replied with a straight face.

"I don't know the specific content of the exam either. However, since Classmate Onizuka is a smart person from Class D, you must know that any form of exam has flaws that can be found if one lays out their plans cleverly."

A hint of sharpness flashed in her eyes; she was clearly very dissatisfied with Onizuka asking her such a question.

Onizuka nodded, giving her a thoughtful look.

"Since the content hasn't been decided yet, we'll talk about it when the time comes. I will ensure that this assessment does not disappoint you, Classmate Sakayanagi."

"I hope so."

With the matter settled, Onizuka had no desire to stay here any longer; wouldn't it be much more comfortable to call Sakura over and go shopping instead?

Watching the two leave, Kamuro Masumi came to Sakayanagi's side, feeling somewhat surprised as she looked at her gritting her teeth.

She had never seen any expression from Sakayanagi other than a smile, let alone the way she looked now.

Listening to Sakayanagi muttering curses under her breath: "Damn Onizuka, how dare he insult me using my family background? I will make you pay the price..." and things of that nature.

Kamuro Masumi very wisely decided to go order another cup of coffee.