Publicly Breaking Ties, Class C Eavesdropper

"Hahaha, how un-beautiful, Tsukishima boy, what are you going to do now?"

That voice was unmistakably Handsome Guy Takara Temple, thoroughly enjoying the show.

Hirata forced a faint smile, turned to Tsukishima, and said, "Tsukishima, let's go eat together."

Tsukishima patted Hirata on the shoulder, crossed his arms, and asked, "Who told you I have a ton of points? Who put you up to moral blackmail and a forced demand?"

"And you even found someone to use as a pawn. By the way, aren't you three pretty close? Why give up on Sudo? If Sudo had gotten angry and laid a hand on me, he'd definitely be expelled—I wouldn't let him off."

"Yamauchi, Ike, you two have dealt with me before. You should have some idea of my personality, right?"

"So was Sudo's expulsion part of your plan too?"

"Or do you stand to gain something if Sudo gets expelled?"

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

The class began murmuring: "Sudo really is... a bit impulsive..."

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

"Could it be Class C? The news that Tsukishima has a lot of points might have come from them."

"Why would Class C do that?"

"Who knows."

Class D's students buzzed with discussion.

Yamauchi and Ike's faces turned pale: "Everyone, don't listen to him! We're all part of Class D, isn't it right to contribute to the class? If it were me, I'd definitely share all my points! We're doing this for everyone's good!"

"Do you really want to keep eating vegetable set meals forever? Don't you want to try desserts? Don't you want to pay off your points?"

The others paused: "If Tsukishima really has a lot of points, it's only fair he helps us out..."

"Those vegetable set meals really are awful... the points..."

Sudo had also calmed down—he wasn't a complete gorilla after all. He turned to look at Yamauchi and Ike: "Is what he said true?"

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

Tsukishima couldn't help but laugh, clapping lightly. "So am I an outsider or an insider? When you want my points, you moralize me by saying we're all one group, but when you need to rally people, I'm suddenly an outsider again?"

Sudo frowned, his gaze toward Ike growing more suspicious.

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

Tsukishima let out a sneer and raised his voice: "I'll tell you straight up—I still have over a million points, all from 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 blowing through your points?"

"Did you consider me when you broke the school rules left and right? When you disrupted the teacher's lessons and disturbed other students' studies, was that 'being a group'?"

"You want money, you're short on points, and suddenly you remember we're a group?"

"I see you bastards really know how to play the game."

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

Tsukishima slammed a book from the back desk onto the floor at his feet, cutting him off harshly: "Tell your mother! Who the hell do you think you are? Are you my son or something? If you get expelled, what's that got to do with me?"

"When you were blasting your game console in class, did you ever think about disturbing my lesson?"

"You only ever think about yourselves!"

"Well, I guess we're all the same class—I only think about myself too!"

Hirata's expression turned grim: "Tsukishima..."

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

Tsukishima ignored them both. His mood was just right, and dealing with them would break it.

He turned to the trio and sneered: "As for you three idiots, you're all just pawns. Let me guess—Class C put you up to this, right?"

"After all, Class D is only competing with Class C right now. Chabashira-sensei said that if we beat Class C in the midterms, we'd get 100 class points. And knowing this school's style, ha! Where else would those points come from?"

"So Class C, to protect their own interests, got you three to stir up trouble and throw Class D into chaos, so they can focus on Class B. Tsk tsk, nice plan!"

He suddenly lowered his voice and looked toward the door: "So, is there someone from Class C listening outside right now?"

Hirata lunged forward—this was his last chance to keep Class D united!

"Hey! What are you doing?"

Hirata silently dragged a boy back inside, careful to keep it restrained, just pulling him by the arm.

Kushida covered her mouth in surprise: "Yuji Nomura, why you..."

Yamauchi and Ike exchanged glances and quietly shrank back.

Sudo snorted and turned his head away, unwilling to admit he'd been used.

Tsukishima burst out laughing: "Hahaha, there really is, there really is!"

He hadn't actually expected anyone to be eavesdropping—he'd only said that to give Hirata an out. If Hirata went out and came back saying someone was there, it'd be fine...

But man, your reaction is really something—bolting the moment you hear 'Class C'! Now you're caught red-handed. What's the plan?

Yuji Nomura gave a cold snort: "I was just passing through! Let go of me!"

He struggled a bit, but Tsukishima pulled Hirata aside and waved his hand: "Right, right, right, you were passing through—passing through a place that's neither a bathroom nor a cafeteria. Goodbye, go eat."

Yuji Nomura let out a dry laugh: "Since when do I need to explain where I'm going to a defective product from Class D?"

Tsukishima shook his head: "Wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare. After all, you're the big-shot delinquent from Class C~ Your Highness, may you be blessed. Your Highness, you may leave now."

He opened his mouth to say something, but caught sight of Hirata's bloodshot eyes. A chill shot from the base of his spine straight to the crown of his head. He stiffened his neck, snorted coldly, and left.

Tsukishima swept his gaze over the rest of the class and sneered again: "Alright, see ya. I'm off to eat. Oh, and since I'm in a good mood today, I'm gonna get the most expensive set meal—and I'm having two of them!"

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

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

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

With that, he laughed loudly and left.

Tsukishima rolled his eyes, then exited the classroom to go eat.

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji watched him leave: Shattering the class's false unity, then using a common enemy to reunite them, and finally handing everything over to Hirata... As long as he later gives the points to Hirata, he can transform himself from someone indifferent to the class into someone who deeply loves it, becoming its true ruler... Truly impressive, Tsukishima-kun.

He turned his gaze to Horikita beside him: Horikita-san, what will you do? Will you keep to your previous strategy?

Horikita Suzune silently watched Tsukishima's retreating back, her hand unconsciously clenching tight.