Seeking the Chairman's Special Approval, Sakayanagi Father and Daughter

"May I ask what this is about?"

Horikita Manabu glanced at the blond-haired handsome man on the sofa and asked.

Yuto Tsukishima got straight to the point: "It's like this—I'm planning to learn how to make desserts from the Dessert Shop owner. Is the school okay with that?"

Horikita Manabu paused for a moment, adjusted his glasses, and kept his expression unchanged: "Learning how to make desserts?"

Tachibana Akane and the blond-haired handsome man also looked over. Clearly, in all their time at this school, they'd never encountered a question like this before.

Yuto glanced at Horikita Manabu and asked, puzzled: "Is there a problem? The school doesn't allow it?"

The blond-haired handsome man lazily sat up straight, raised an eyebrow, and cut in: "It's not that it's not allowed—it's that this school never considered this issue when it was founded. By the way, I'm Nagumo Miyabi, Class A, second year, Student Council Vice President."

Yuto nodded at him: "Class D, first year, Yuto Tsukishima. So, for something with no rules, who makes the call?"

Nagumo Miyabi looked at him with interest: "Generally speaking, the Chairman has the final say."

Yuto nodded: "Then do I need to go ask the Chairman? Also, where's the Chairman's office?"

Horikita Manabu finally spoke, his voice calm: "The Chairman doesn't usually meet with students easily."

His fingers tapped on the wide desk, as if pondering something.

Yuto rolled his eyes: "Does the Chairman usually lock the door?"

Tachibana Akane, clutching her folder, said: "Well, no... but..."

"Would I get expelled for going to see the Chairman?"

"No, you wouldn't..."

"Then I'll just walk in and ask, won't I? If the Chairman gives a straight answer, it'll be over in less than three seconds."

Nagumo Miyabi leaned back on the sofa again and pointed at the seat in front of him: "Classmate Tsukishima, have a seat first. I'm curious—why do you want to learn to make desserts? Are you short on points and planning to work part-time? I heard Class D, first year, isn't doing too well."

Yuto didn't sit, just shook his head: "I'll learn if I have the time. Points are fine for now. Anyway, should I go to the Chairman's office or not?"

Nagumo Miyabi said: "Sit down first, let's chat. The Chairman isn't going anywhere."

Yuto looked at Horikita Manabu: "Fine, I'll find it myself. Getting information out of you guys is harder than taking a dump."

With that, he turned to leave.

Nagumo Miyabi laughed: "The Chairman's office is on the top floor, right-hand side. Classmate Tsukishima, once you've learned, can you let me have a taste?"

Yuto didn't look back, just gave an OK sign, and kept walking out.

At the Chairman's office door, Yuto knocked. A steady voice came from inside: "Come in."

Yuto pushed the door open and entered. Inside were two people: a middle-aged man sitting behind the desk facing the door, and Sakayanagi Arisu.

Sakayanagi Arisu sat on a small sofa to the side. When she saw Yuto enter, she frowned but said nothing.

Yuto ignored her, gave a slight bow to the Chairman, straightened up, and said: "Chairman, hello. I'm Yuto Tsukishima from Class D, first year. The Student Council suggested I come ask you about something."

The Chairman glanced at Sakayanagi Arisu and nodded: "Go ahead."

"It's like this—I'm planning to learn how to make desserts from the Dessert Shop owner. I checked the School Rules and didn't find any related regulations, so I came to ask if it's allowed."

Sakayanagi Arisu's frown deepened, like a little old lady.

The Chairman's expression didn't change. He nodded and asked: "Classmate Tsukishima, can you tell me your reasoning?"

"It's like this—the high-intensity competitive learning style of this school makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. So, to avoid being expelled due to mistakes in special exams, I plan to learn a skill. That way, I won't have wasted my time here."

"Preparing a fallback first? That's a good strategy. But from what I know, you're adapting pretty well to this school, aren't you?"

Yuto's expression didn't change, unsurprised that the Chairman knew about his actions: "I did acquire some points through various means, but that deviates from my original purpose in coming here."

"I'm sixteen years old. My main goal should be learning knowledge and skills to prepare for the future."

The Chairman raised an eyebrow: "I believe competition that follows social rules is also beneficial for students' growth."

Yuto kept a poker face: "Working part-time to earn money is also part of social rules."

The Chairman clasped his hands together: "But that would take time away from your studies, which doesn't seem great for your growth."

This Chairman really knows how to beat around the bush.

Yuto cursed inwardly but kept his face neutral: "It can reduce the time spent worrying about classes, classmates, and various opponents."

The Chairman's eyes shifted slightly. He glanced at Sakayanagi Arisu, who was tapping her cane, then looked again.

Sakayanagi Arisu shot him a glare. The Chairman then turned to Yuto: "Maybe we can hear the opinion of a Class A student. Classmate Sakayanagi, what do you think?"

Sakayanagi Arisu rolled her eyes: "Father, stop pretending. He saw your nameplate the moment he walked in. He probably already knows our relationship."

The Chairman laughed: "Your observation skills have improved. So, what do you think about this matter?"

Yuto sighed inwardly. As expected of a battle-hardened capitalist warrior—he didn't treat him like a person at all, just fodder for father-daughter banter.

Sakayanagi Arisu looked at Yuto and asked: "So, you're not planning to learn manga anymore?"

Yuto shook his head: "I've learned how to draw manga. The rest—storylines, using various tools, common manga techniques, paneling, and such—I'll get familiar with those the more I draw."

"Working at the Dessert Shop lets me use free desserts to attract Manga Club seniors to give me guidance. I can also leave my finished manga at the shop as freebies to collect feedback."

"Plus, I get free desserts. It's a pretty good deal for me."

Sakayanagi Arisu tapped her cane with her finger and suddenly laughed. "So, what are you planning to offer to convince my father?"

Tsukishima was starting to lose his composure. "Come on, sis, you're always ready to scheme? Trying to leverage me already?"

Sakayanagi raised an eyebrow. "Ara, this is a transaction—the core of this school."

Tsukishima stopped bothering to hold back. "Then I might as well just spend points to have the staff teach me. Besides, with your lifestyle, what do you even lack? Want me to go undercover on Kiyotaka Ayanokouji?"

Sakayanagi shook her head and smiled. "Classmate Ayanokouji... I'll handle him personally. No need to trouble you, Classmate Tsukishima."

The Chairman just watched the two interact, saying nothing.

Tsukishima rolled his eyes. "Fine, if it's a no-go, it's a no-go. It's not like I have to learn from them. Worst case, I'll spend some points to buy instructional videos. I'll just switch to learning something else."

Sakayanagi laughed. "You really are interesting, Classmate Tsukishima."

Tsukishima pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed. "Classmate Sakayanagi, your definition of 'interesting' might be a bit off. This is my survival strategy. To put it bluntly, I don't have the Chairman as my dad. I have to work and live."

"To put it harshly, if I had the Chairman as my dad, I'd stir up way more trouble than you."

The air went silent for a moment.

Sakayanagi Arisu's smile didn't waver, but her eyes flickered slightly.

The Chairman cleared his throat softly and tapped his fingers twice on the table.

"Classmate Tsukishima," the Chairman finally spoke, "your request is approved."

"However," he paused, "your final exam grades cannot drop."

Tsukishima bowed. "Thank you for your understanding, Chairman."

He turned to Sakayanagi. "Sorry, that was a bit rude just now."

Sakayanagi Arisu smiled. "What you said was the truth. No offense taken."

Tsukishima nodded. "Goodbye."