Ruling from Behind a Curtain, Am I Controlling Hirata the Superman?

[Hirata]: "The speech is over... but..."

[Tsukishima]: "Hirata-kun, don't worry about Takara Temple. He's a conglomerate heir—can't control him. Horikita and Ayanokouji can wait for now too."

[Tsukishima]: "Next up is points. Go find Ichinose from Class B and propose a collaboration. They put up the points, we put up the manpower, and we deal with Class C together. You can call a meeting to discuss it with everyone, and use a representative format."

[Tsukishima]: "Representatives should be divided by group type. For example, Karuizawa Kei from the gyaru group, Yukimura Teruhiko from the study group."

[Tsukishima]: "Note: the number of group representatives should be either five or seven—must be odd. That way, whether things succeed or not, you can push them forward."

[Tsukishima]: "After you pick them, send me their names so I can take a look. It's not that I don't trust you—it's that you're too soft-hearted. I don't know why you're so fixated on class unity, but with your personality, this class will never unite."

[Tsukishima]: "That's the gist of it. Alright, running the class like this should be about right."

[Tsukishima]: "Oh, right. Choose the representatives before dealing with points. The first thing they discuss after being selected is how to ease the class's point situation. Then propose the collaboration with Class B. Don't mess up the order. If Class B refuses to cooperate, come to me. In short, the first agenda item must pass smoothly and be resolved perfectly."

[Hirata]: "Tsukishima-kun... I understand. I'll do as you say."

[Tsukishima]: "Alright, I've got things to do now. And regardless of whether Class B cooperates, we're going after Class C. Also, from now on, don't message me unless it's important, and don't ask me what to do. If it weren't for those idiots in our class and Class C messing with me, I wouldn't bother with this kind of thing."

Hirata looked at the messages on his phone, then slipped it into his pocket.

He didn't really care if he was a puppet. As long as the class could be harmonious, he'd do anything.

But Tsukishima didn't even seem to want him as a puppet. Still, when there was a problem, he had to ask.

Was this training me? Or testing me?

Hirata shook his head, pushing those thoughts down.

What mattered now was the class, not his own pride.

"Done talking about class matters?"

The Boss Lady smiled as she watched Tsukishima put down his phone.

Tsukishima chuckled. "This school, I swear. So many damn problems."

He raised his phone again and sent a message to Yamada.

[Tsukishima]: "The Boss Lady has some questions. She told me to ask you."

[Yamada]: "What questions? If I can solve them, I will."

[Tsukishima]: "About the benefits of the dessert shop, the cooperation format, shop hygiene, manga hygiene, manga copyright issues, and potential friction between manga-driven customers and regular customers."

[Yamada]: "...There are that many problems?"

[Tsukishima]: "I don't know either. I work here, so I can recommend manga table by table, slowly. But you guys can't, so these issues come up."

[Tsukishima]: "Better to draft a proposal or something. Since it's a collaboration between our Manga Club and Sweet Talk Dessert Shop, it needs to be formal."

[Yamada]: "Got it. I'll work hard with the other members. Tsukishima, you better serve the Boss Lady well!"

[Tsukishima]: "???"

He let out a long breath and smiled. "Let's start today's study session, Boss Lady. I can't wait. Oh, and I had the Manga Club president draft a proposal. We'll look it over before deciding."

The Boss Lady laughed. "Tsukishima-kun really handles everything so neatly, doesn't he?"

In Class D, Hirata began the election for class group representatives.

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji watched the class heat up, then glanced at Horikita, who was packing up to leave. "Uh... shouldn't we stay and watch? Hirata-kun doesn't seem like the type to come up with this kind of plan, does he?"

Horikita kept packing. "Just a flock of weak sheep."

But you're not a wolf either...

"And besides, he's just a puppet being pushed forward. Hah. Says he has no interest in the class, but now he wants to rule it."

Horikita left. Ayanokouji stayed in his seat, watching her go. A puppet... Horikita-san really has no self-awareness.

But still... Yuto Tsukishima... who are you?

An ordinary student couldn't pull off something like this.

In Class C, Ryuuen Kakeru listened to his subordinate's report and laughed. "Elections... hahaha... how interesting. Barely a handful of people, and they're already playing the election game. Truly fitting for Class D's defective products!"

"Let's go check out that shop! Bring a few people, but keep it low-key. First, feel him out—see what he's really about."

7 PM.

Tsukishima moved between tables with a tray, his movements practiced.

The wind chime rang softly. Two figures stepped inside.

Ryuuen scanned the shop, his gaze locking onto Tsukishima. A smirk curled on his lips.

"Oh, isn't this the big shot from Class D? Don't you still have over a million points? Why are you working here?"

Ishizaki and Ibuki stood flanking him, with Albert behind.

It looked like a scene straight out of a gang ambush.

Tsukishima's face wore a robotic smile, triggering a robotic response. "Welcome to Sweet Talk Dessert Shop. How many guests, and what would you like to order?"

Ryuuen kept his hands in his pockets and leaned in close. Tsukishima frowned and stepped back, but Albert's hand clamped down on his shoulder.

Just as Albert's hand was about to make contact, Tsukishima suddenly grabbed Albert's middle finger, twisted it hard, and used the pain to force him to the ground. In the same motion, he shoved the crepe in his hand into Albert's black mouth before he could yell.

"Please refrain from touching our staff, commodity of the triangular trade era. Our staff must maintain bodily cleanliness for professional reasons."

Albert struggled to rise, but like a man whose testicles had been seized, he couldn't resist the agony of his trapped fingers, and with a crepe stuffed in his mouth, he could only whimper.

Ryuuen's face darkened instantly. His eyes widened, he arched his back, and raised his arm high to strike down, but a hand caught him.

Ryuuen turned to see Student Council President Horikita Manabu and Vice President Nagumo Miyabi.

"What's the meaning of this, President Horikita? Trying to shield the defective goods of Class D?"

Horikita Manabu said nothing, only looking at Tsukishima.

Nagumo Miyabi raised an eyebrow at Tsukishima. "That crepe's a waste."

Tsukishima wore a smile like a machine's and pressed his fingers down again.

"Ughhh!!!"

"Ryuuen-kun, since all of you blocked every exit I had and engaged in inappropriate physical conduct that led me to misjudge the situation and react with defensive aggression,"

"It counts as self-defense."

"And you, for conspiring with your classmates to bully and oppress, will have a certain amount of personal points and class points deducted."

Daichi Ishizaki was furious, but he couldn't throw a punch in front of the Student Council President, so he only shouted in defense: "We just wanted to talk to you!"

Tsukishima nodded, still wearing that mechanical smile. "Mm. Then I could use 500,000 points to make a deal with the second-year Class D seniors to have them tail Class C members one by one, 24/7. Don't worry, I'll make sure they don't lay a hand on you. How about it?"

"Or maybe 1,000,000 points to buy a 72-hour encirclement chat service for everyone in Class C, including the homeroom teacher. Ryuuen-kun probably thinks that plan's not bad either, since it's just surrounding you in the bathroom for 72 hours to chat."

Ryuuen stared at Tsukishima for a few seconds, then suddenly sneered.

"Fine. You're tough."

"But we'll see, Yuto Tsukishima."

He turned and left. Ishizaki and Ibuki quickly helped Albert up and followed.