Tsukishima strolled into the cafeteria, bought a Curry Set Meal, and sat in a corner to eat.
He wasn't about to buy two of the most expensive meals. He'd just been talking big. No one had taken him seriously, right?
He'd scraped together his points one at a time. Wouldn't he be better off spending them carefully?
[Kushida]: Tsukishima-kun, nicely done~ Yamauchi and Ike look greener than the Mountain Vegetable Set Meal now.
[Kushida]: If Hirata Superman hadn't protected them, Sudo would've beaten them up by now. The D Class trio has completely fallen apart! Yay!
[Kushida]: I'm so jealous. That must've felt great, tearing into them like that!
[Kushida]: Why aren't you saying anything?
[Tsukishima]: I'm eating. Haven't you heard that you shouldn't talk while eating or sleeping?
[Kushida]: So you're talking with your hands? We're chatting on our phones, hello!
[Tsukishima]: Don't get caught up in the details. Yamauchi and Ike have fallen out with Sudo, but that doesn't mean they'll fall out with each other. People without a group get bullied, and they're not stupid.
[Kushida]: That makes sense. But what are you planning to do about Class C?
[Tsukishima]: Class C? What does that have to do with me? That's Hirata's problem, isn't it? All he has to do is go down the D Class roster, talk to everyone one by one, build some empathy, then come borrow points from me. Easy.
[Kushida]: You're going to lend him points? Who are you? You're not the pervert I know!
[Tsukishima]: [rolls eyes] I never said I'd lend him any. Just because he asks me, does that mean I have to? I'll see how things go. I'm planning to buy a computer and a Digital Tablet, too. I probably won't have many points left by then.
[Kushida]: You really are loaded. No wonder Yamauchi and Ike want to get you. Now I want to get you, too.
[Tsukishima]: Heh. I'll draw you into a doujinshi sooner or later!
[Kushida]: Sure. Want me to come to your room tonight and strike a few poses?
[Tsukishima]: Get lost. I don't need that.
Buzz~
[Ichinose]: Tsukishima-kun, I heard what happened... Don't be too upset.
[Tsukishima]: [confused] I won't ask how you heard about something that just happened. I just want to know why I'd be upset.
[Ichinose]: Huh? You're not upset? After having that kind of conflict with everyone in your class...
[Tsukishima]: [pig sigh.jpg] There's no conflict, and there's no "everyone." Um... anyway, things are pretty good on my end.
Tsukishima's eyes shifted as an idea came to him.
[Tsukishima]: Hey, Ichinose, how about an alliance between Class B and Class D?
[Ichinose]: An alliance? But Class D...
[Tsukishima]: I know. Our D Class isn't united, and we're weak, but we have the same enemy. Class C is our common enemy!
[Ichinose]: But... [scratches head.jpg]
[Tsukishima]: Our D Class is really short on points. You know that, right?
[Ichinose]: You're not thinking of...
[Tsukishima]: That's right. Your class provides the points, and we'll put in the effort and time to harass and attack Class C. We'll wreck their morale and mess with their heads, so they won't have time to deal with Class B. It's a win-win!
[Ichinose]: But Class C is used to fighting. Wouldn't everyone in Class D be in danger?
[Tsukishima]: How so? At worst, they'll just get harassed. As long as they're careful, it'll be totally fine!
[Ichinose]: Hmm... I'll think about it. Also, you're not planning to have me give you the points so you can talk things over with everyone in Class D, are you?
[Tsukishima]: Hmm? How did you know?
[Ichinose]: So you really are planning to embezzle them?!! You can't do that!
[Tsukishima]: Tch. No wonder you're the Archangel who rules Class B. You saw right through me?
[Ichinose]: If you don't have enough points, just tell me. I can lend them to you. Tsukishima-kun, don't do things like this.
[Tsukishima]: I pay homage to the Archangel, I praise the Archangel, amen~~
That afternoon, the atmosphere in class was rather subdued. At least, it was much quieter.
Tsukishima sat in his seat as usual, but for once he didn't ask questions or speak up in class. After glancing at Hirata, he started editing a document on his phone.
The dismissal bell rang.
Tsukishima stood up and had only taken two steps when the person in front of him lowered their head and moved aside to let him pass.
He didn't pay it any mind and left through the opening.
He also sent the document to Hirata.
Only after he had left did the class begin to whisper among themselves.
"Tsukishima... He's so arrogant!"
"If you can't stand him, then go teach him a lesson."
"...Forget it. We'd get expelled..."
"Tch, you're just too scared!"
Takara Temple stood up and glanced at the few students. "How ugly!"
With that, he left.
Hirata sighed, then stood up and clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. "Could everyone be quiet for a moment? I have a few things I'd like to say about Class D, about us, and about Tsukishima."
He still had a good deal of influence, so everyone sat down.
He quietly placed his phone on the lectern. No one noticed except Kiyotaka Ayanokouji.
"About Class D, I think you all know by now... People say Class D is full of defective students, and it's true that each of us has our own flaws and problems. But at the same time, we must have some good qualities, or we wouldn't be sitting here!"
His voice grew impassioned.
"Sudo Ken has a straightforward personality. His grades aren't very good, but he's incredible at sports! The upperclassmen in the basketball club have all praised Sudo-kun's playing. He even has a chance of making it to the national tournament!"
Sudo looked to the side and gave a snort, but said nothing.
"Hasebe Haruka can be a little sharp-tongued, but she's also straightforward. Who wants a friend who's full of schemes? Besides, she's beautiful, and she could easily become a model."
"Tonokura Hideo may be quiet in class, but I once happened to see him talking enthusiastically at an electronics store. Tonokura-kun, you know a lot about electronic devices."
"..."
He began calling out students one by one, even Horikita Suzune, though Horikita Suzune didn't seem particularly appreciative.
Hirata paid it no mind and glanced at his phone.
"As for that arrogant Tsukishima you've all been talking about, do you know why he can work at a store? Because he went to the Chairman and got special permission from him!"
"He managed to earn over a million points in less than half a month after school started. He was alert while we were all caught up in our happiness. And while we were making noise, he was quietly studying."
"He truly doesn't care about the class. But as he said, have we ever cared about the class?"
Hirata spoke with anguish. "As class representative, after school started I was just like everyone else, lost in the false happiness of those 100,000 points. I didn't care about discipline in class. Even though I sensed something was wrong, I didn't even warn anyone!"
"..."
Kiyotaka Ayanokouji watched Hirata speak with such passion, then looked at his classmates, who were hanging their heads in shame.
Was he working on his speech while playing with his phone this afternoon?
But Tsukishima isn't the sort of person who likes to observe his classmates. So did he give Hirata an outline and let him improvise?
Tsukishima was controlling Hirata from behind the scenes, and Hirata was running the class according to Tsukishima's methods. Ruling from behind the curtain... It seemed the class had been brought together...
Next came the points.
He looked at Horikita, who was frowning. Are you getting impatient and wanting to leave? You didn't see through Tsukishima...
Before you continue