Speedrun Midterm Exams?

Karaoke private room.

Yuki Gyukai looked at the room number, confirmed it was correct, then led his people in, pushing the door open and walking inside: "Sho Ryuuen, some things can be said over the phone, why go out of your way to book a private room to discuss them?"

Sho Ryuuen, who had been singing in the room moments ago, saw the newcomers and put down the microphone, signaling Yamada beside him to turn off the music.

Then he directed the other members of Class C to gather around Yuki Gyukai and Ryuji Kanzaki.

"Yuki, for safety's sake, you wouldn't mind if we did a quick pat-down, would you?"

"Why do something so pointless? Sho Ryuuen, you should know I don't do unnecessary things."

By now, every corner of the room with a camera had been covered by black balloons, meaning no one outside would know whatever happened inside.

However, considering Yuki Gyukai's terrifying combat ability, not a single person from Class C dared to step forward for the pat-down.

So, for the moment, the atmosphere was a bit tense.

Seeing that no one from Class C dared to approach, Sho Ryuuen, sitting on the sofa, furrowed his brow slightly.

He turned his gaze to the composed Yuki Gyukai:

"This is for safety's sake too. After all, you have a history of filming videos.

I wouldn't want footage of our discussion to end up in other classes."

Knowing Ryuuen was referring to the incident with Class D, Ryuji Kanzaki looked to Yuki Gyukai, waiting for his opinion.

Sensing Kanzaki's gaze, Yuki Gyukai's smile didn't waver. He reached out and pushed the Class C members aside, ignoring their expressions, and sat down next to Ryuuen as if it were the most natural thing.

"Cooperation requires a cooperative attitude. Such a lack of trust makes me a bit sad, but..."

Yuki's tone shifted:

"Considering that cooperation is built on mutual trust, I'll allow your Class C people to pat me down."

Without the expected tense standoff, the Class C members let out a quiet sigh of relief.

After all, they knew all the surveillance in the room had been blocked by them, so even if everyone in the room got beaten up, the only evidence would point to Class C inviting the two from Class A.

Whether there would be consequences was uncertain, but at the very least, both sides would likely lose class points or be confined to the dorms for about half a month.

"Hey, Yuki!" From the corner, Mio Ibuki walked over with a look of impatience.

Because the room's lights weren't fully on, it was somewhat dim, but that didn't hide Mio Ibuki's well-proportioned long legs and her spirited, sharp demeanor.

She stopped in front of Yuki Gyukai, her tone dripping with irritation: "So, from what you just said, you're allowing a pat-down, right?"

As she spoke, her hands moved without pause. Under everyone's watch, she reached out toward Yuki Gyukai's coat pocket.

Slap!

"Tch! What are you doing?!"

Staring at her suddenly grabbed wrist, Mio Ibuki was caught off guard, her face filled with shock as she fixed her eyes on the man in front of her.

The smile on Yusoku Gyukai's face had already faded, replaced by a thick, malicious intent.

In the dim light, two rows of stark white teeth were bared in the air.

His left hand, gripping Mio Ibuki's wrist, exerted a little force, pulling her into his embrace.

At the same time, under everyone's gaze, he swept the clutter off the table with his feet and crossed his legs on top, pried open a drink can on the table with his right hand, and casually brought it to his lips.

"Like I said, cooperation is built on trust. I can allow you to pat me down, but... how can you guarantee that the terms of your cooperation are beneficial to our class?"

In an instant, the atmosphere in the room turned sour. The earlier calm gave way to a sudden, tense standoff, as if violence would erupt if Sho Ryuuen didn't give a reasonable explanation.

Caught off guard by all this, Sho Ryuuen frowned, then turned a cold gaze to Mio Ibuki, who had acted on her own and was now struggling in Yuki's arms:

"Mio, I don't recall giving you any orders to take action."

Facing the accusation, Mio Ibuki, pinned by one hand, shot a cold glance at Ryuuen beside her and let out a disdainful snort.

After all, she was different from the others in her class—she hadn't submitted to Ryuuen's rule.

Though Ryuuen had defeated her with violence and taken control of the entire Class C, she didn't approve of his methods. For now, she only worked for him for the sake of the class.

But who would have thought that a simple, unauthorized pat-down would land her in such an awkward position?

She deliberately avoided everyone's eyes, struggling and counterattacking with her arms, knees, and thighs, but in the end, it was all useless.

Instead, her struggles only looked like she was offering Yuki Gyakukai a free show.

After all, her home was a dojo. She had trained in martial arts with her parents since childhood and been raised like a boy.

Her short, practical haircut was born from that upbringing.

But now, every counterattack she attempted was futile, utterly insignificant before Yusoku Gyakukai's absolute strength.

Feeling Mio Ibuki's struggles weaken, Yusoku casually let her go.

"Blue-Haired Little Hedgehog, can you not start throwing punches and kicks before I've even finished speaking?"

Freed by Yusoku's release, Mio Ibuki scrambled to her feet, straightened her clothes, and immediately lashed out with a roundhouse kick aimed at Yuki Gyakukai's head!

Predictably, it was caught effortlessly with one hand.

What's more, the hand holding his drink didn't even waver.

The gap between them was clear at a glance.

"Ibuki, I'm starting to think I didn't pick the wrong nickname for you. You really are like a little hedgehog."

A malicious smirk curled at the corner of his mouth as he tossed Mio Ibuki aside:

"You want to fight? Fine. But there's business to discuss first. After we're done, we'll head to the Fitness Room next door and have a private session."

Watching Mio Ibuki slump onto the sofa in dissatisfaction, he shrugged indifferently.

Then he turned to Sho Ryuuen, who had been watching the show for a while. "Now then, Ryuuen, why don't you tell us the real reason you invited Class A here?"

So in the end, there was still no pat-down.

After all, Yuki Gyakukai would never let anyone search him.

Allowing others to touch his clothes or body was no different from grinding his dignity into the dirt.

Then, With Yuki Gyakukai and Sho Ryuuen seated on the sofa, everyone else stood on either side, listening to the conversation between the two class leaders.

"Take a look. These are past exam papers I got from the upperclassmen."

Without wasting words, Sho Ryuuen pulled out several exam papers from beside him and placed them in front of Yuki Gyakukai.

"Since points can buy anything, and you know our class is full of idiots, I took a different route and bought past exam papers from the upperclassmen. Guess what I found?"

Meeting Ryuuen's vicious grin, Yuki picked up the papers in front of him.

One was from the second year, one from the third year—both midterm exams, with identical content.

"So?" Yuki Gyakukai set the papers down, folded his hands under his chin, and stared calmly at Sho Ryuuen:

"Ryuuen, you should know Class A doesn't need these past exam papers. Even without them, we can pass the exams. So tell me your real goal."

"Of course I know Class A and Class B don't need these papers. But you should understand that this midterm exam will increase class points based on class performance, and at the same time... it can also create failures to force expulsions."

And who would be expelled?

What a hard question to guess!

A vicious smile curled at the corner of Ryuuen's mouth as his cold gaze swept across everyone listening nearby.

For a moment, a chill ran down everyone's spine.