Showing His True Colors in Public, Class C's Eavesdropper

"Hahaha, how unbeautiful, Tsukishima boy. What are you going to do now?"

You could tell from the moment he opened his mouth that it was Handsome Guy, Takara Temple. He was clearly enjoying the show.

Hirata managed a strained smile, then turned to Tsukishima. "Tsukishima, let's go get lunch together."

Tsukishima patted Hirata on the shoulder, folded his arms, and asked, "Who told you I had a ton of points? Who told you to guilt-trip and pressure me?"

"And you even got someone else to do your dirty work. I thought you three were pretty close. Why are you throwing Sudo under the bus? If Sudo got angry and attacked me, he'd definitely be expelled. I wouldn't let him off the hook."

"Yamauchi, Ike, you've both interacted with me before. Surely you know enough about my personality not to think I'd let something like that slide?"

"So Sudo dropping out was part of your plan, too?"

"Or would you actually benefit from Sudo dropping out?"

Hirata looked at Yamauchi and Ike, staring straight at them, but said nothing.

The rest of the class began whispering among themselves. "Sudo really is... a little impulsive..."

"So Yamauchi and Ike were planning to sacrifice Sudo for points?"

"Could they be the ones who spread the rumor that Tsukishima had a ton of points? Maybe it was Class C."

"Why would Class C do that?"

"Who knows?"

The Class D students were abuzz with discussion.

Yamauchi and Ike went pale. "Don't listen to him! We're all members of Class D. Isn't it only right to contribute to the class? If it were me, I'd share all my points! We're doing this for everyone's sake!"

"Do you really want to keep eating the Mountain Vegetable Set Meal forever? Don't you want to try some desserts? Don't you want to pay off your points?"

The others fell silent for a moment. "If Tsukishima really does have a ton of points, it'd only be right for him to help us out..."

"The Mountain Vegetable Set Meal really is awful. Points..."

Sudo had recovered by now. He wasn't actually a gorilla, after all. He turned to Yamauchi and Ike. "Is what he said true?"

Ike immediately replied, "How could it be? We're the Class D trio! We're friends. How can you trust an outsider over us?"

Tsukishima couldn't help laughing. He clapped slowly. "So am I an outsider or one of you? When you want my points, you guilt-trip me by saying we're all one group. But when you need to win someone over, suddenly I'm an outsider?"

Sudo frowned, suspicion creeping into his eyes as he looked at Ike.

He slowly unclenched his fists and took half a step back.

Tsukishima scoffed and raised his voice. "Let me make this clear: I still have over a million points, all earned by selling information. Half of the few hundred thousand you scraped together is in my pocket. So what?"

"Did you think about today when you were spending like crazy?"

"When you were breaking the School Rules left and right, did you think about me? When you disturbed the teachers during class and kept other students from studying, weren't we all one group then?"

"When you want money, when you're short on points, suddenly you remember we're all one group?"

"I've gotta say, you assholes sure know how to play the game."

A student spoke up. "But if you'd just told us—"

Tsukishima suddenly hurled the book from the desk behind him at the student's feet, rudely cutting him off. "Told you what? Who the hell are you? What am I to you, your dad? If you drop out, what's that got to do with me?"

"When you were hammering away at your game console in class, did you ever think about how it might keep me from paying attention?"

"You really only think about yourselves!"

"Well, no wonder we're in the same class. I only think about myself, too!"

Hirata's face darkened. "Tsukishima..."

Takara Temple laughed. "Hahaha, Tsukishima boy, I'm starting to like you~"

Tsukishima ignored them both. He was in just the right mood, and talking to those two might ruin it.

He turned to the trio and sneered. "As for you three idiots, you're all just being used as someone else's pawns. Let me guess: Class C put you up to this."

"After all, Class D is only competing with Class C right now. Chabashira-sensei said that if we score higher than Class C on the midterms, we'll get 100 Class Points. And considering how this school works, haha! Where else could those points possibly come from?"

"So Class C wants to protect its own interests. They got you three to stir up trouble and make Class D turn on itself, while they focus on taking down Class B. What a brilliant plan!"

He suddenly lowered his voice and looked toward the door. "So, I wonder if someone from Class C is listening outside right now?"

Hirata lunged for the door. It was the last thing he could do to keep Class D united!

"Hey! What are you doing?"

Hirata silently dragged a boy back into the classroom. He was careful not to overdo it and only held the boy by the arm.

Kushida covered her mouth in surprise. "Yuji Nomura? Why is it you...?"

Yamauchi and Ike exchanged a glance, then quietly shrank back.

Sudo merely snorted and turned away, seeming unwilling to admit he'd been used.

Tsukishima laughed. "Hahaha, there really was someone! There really was!"

He hadn't expected anyone to actually be eavesdropping. He'd only said it to give Hirata an opening. All Hirata had to do was go outside and come back saying he'd found someone...

But come on, man, your timing was terrible. The moment you heard "Class C," you should've bolted! Now you've been caught red-handed. What are you going to do?

Yuji Nomura snorted. "I was just passing by! Let go of me!"

He struggled, and Tsukishima pulled Hirata aside, waving a hand. "Sure, sure, you were just passing by. Passing by a place that wasn't the bathroom or the cafeteria. See you. Go get lunch."

Yuji Nomura chuckled. "Do I have to tell some defective from Class D where I'm going?"

Tsukishima shook his head. "Of course not. You're a fine gentleman from Class C, after all~ My lord, may you be blessed with good fortune. You're free to go."

He opened his mouth to say something, but then he saw Hirata's bloodshot eyes. A chill shot from the base of his spine all the way to the top of his head. He stiffened his neck, snorted, and left.

Tsukishima swept his gaze across the class and scoffed once more. "All right, see you. I'm going to get lunch. Oh, and I'm in a good mood today, so I'm getting the most expensive set meal. Two of them!"

"Hirata, I'll leave the rest to you."

He straightened up, patted Hirata on the shoulder, and started to leave.

Takara Temple stood up too, walked over to Tsukishima, and patted him on the shoulder. "Tsukishima boy, you've become even more beautiful~"

With that, he laughed loudly and left.

Tsukishima rolled his eyes, left the classroom, and went to get lunch.

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji watched him leave. He'd shattered the class's fake unity, then brought them together again with a common enemy, and finally left everything to Hirata... If he gave the points to Hirata afterward, he could go from someone indifferent to the class to someone who loved it, and become its real leader... He's impressive, Tsukishima.

He turned his gaze to Horikita beside him. What will you do, Horikita? Will you stick to your previous strategy?

Horikita Suzune silently watched Tsukishima's departing figure, her hand unconsciously clenching into a fist.