A Wager with the Chairman

Everyone complained about not using these (), I changed the earlier ones, but I really couldn't be bothered with the later ones, so just bear with it.

() indicates inner thoughts.

Qiuyue first went to the repair shop to leave his phone for fixing, then wandered aimlessly around the school for a while before heading to the Chairman's Office once more.

"We meet again, Qiuyue-kun. Last time, you didn't seem to introduce yourself..."

Qiuyue: (Speechless. Don't you already know my name? Whether I say it or not, you'll look it up anyway, so I just didn't bother.)

"My apologies. I was so nervous in the Chairman's Office that I forgot for a moment. Sorry about that."

"It's fine. I'm not the type to hold onto such trivial matters. So, Qiuyue-kun, are you here to buy the drone this time?"

"Yeah, pretty much. But there's also something I need to ask of you, Chairman... no, two things."

As he spoke, Qiuyue openly turned on his phone's voice recorder in front of Chairman Sakayanagi.

Chairman Sakayanagi just smiled, not paying any mind to Qiuyue's actions.

"Oh~ It seems Qiuyue-kun has earned quite a lot of points over this past month. Buying a drone and two requests—that means the first-year classes' high class points this month are your doing, aren't they? You can tell me what they are, but I'm very busy, you know. You got lucky that I was here both times, but next time might not be the same. So, Qiuyue-kun, you should start learning to trust your homeroom teacher."

Qiuyue: (No matter what, denying it is the right move... If you're not here, I'd rather go to Class A's homeroom teacher than Teacher Chabashira.)

"...I understand. My requests are: first, to repair this phone; second, to change the lock on my room so no one can buy a key card from the dorm manager or teachers. And the one who made the first-year class points so high isn't me."

Qiuyue: (That trio might treat others' rooms like public property, buying keys directly like in the original story. Just don't mess with mine.)

Chairman Sakayanagi's eyes sharpened.

"Then I'll hold onto your answer for now, Qiuyue-kun. Changing the lock so no one can freely duplicate your room key card is simple. But your phone... you wouldn't just be fixing it, would you?"

"Of course. I want this thing installed inside it during the repair, undetectable, while the phone still works normally."

Chairman Sakayanagi was silent for a moment, then stood up. The atmosphere turned very serious, and he looked at Qiuyue with an extremely stern gaze.

"Qiuyue-kun, do you know what you're saying? If I'm not mistaken, this is a bug, isn't it? What are you planning? I hope you can explain yourself."

"I know this borders on a crime—invasion of privacy. Don't worry, it's for a guy. I have no interest in others' trivial matters. Besides, I'm already planning to discard this bug; its battery is almost dead. Once I achieve my goal, it'll be useless."

"I see. Then I'll try to trust you this once, Qiuyue-kun. But if you step even slightly out of line, I'll personally have you arrested."

Chairman Sakayanagi returned to his usual smile, walked over to the sofa, and slowly sat down.

Qiuyue: (...You smiling tiger. What's there to smile about? What's so funny?)

"Thank you for your trust, Chairman. I won't betray it. So, how many points will this cost?"

"Phone repair: 50,000 pr. Monopolizing your room key card: 100,000 pr."

Qiuyue: (You old bastard! You're trying to fleece me!)

"Chairman, isn't that too expensive? A phone repair at a shop is only a few thousand pr, and why is changing a lock even more?"

"Are you treating this place like a shop? You're having that thing installed inside it. Charging this amount is only natural, isn't it? Changing the lock—literally, monopolizing it yourself—that's the price."

"Fine. How long will it take?"

"I'll have everything done by tomorrow. The phone will be delivered to your room as before, along with the drone."

Qiuyue: (Sigh... I haven't even earned many points yet, and now I have to spend so much. It hurts to part with them. And spending these points would just tell him I was behind the first-year stuff. Not that telling him matters, but I don't want to waste them.)

"Chairman, unfortunately, it seems I don't have that many points."

"...Qiuyue-kun, you... Fine, I'll take it that you don't. But you don't look like you're giving up. What do you plan to do?"

"This school has special exams, right?"

"Of course."

"Special exams are meant to increase class points, aren't they?"

"That's right. What are you getting at, Qiuyue-kun?"

"I want to make a bet with you, Chairman. Whatever the next special exam is, you and I each choose two classes. Add up the class points those two classes earn in the exam. The higher total wins. This transaction needs to go through, but I don't have the points to pay. If I win, I don't have to pay. If you win, I'll hand over all my points."

After hearing this, Chairman Sakayanagi picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said casually.

"Qiuyue-kun, why would you think I'd accept your bet? And didn't you say you don't have enough points to buy? Either way, it seems like I'm at a loss, doesn't it? Right, Qiuyue-kun~"

Qiuyue: (Just keep playing that game.)

"Then how many points do you think I have, Chairman? Or is it that you're afraid to take this bet?"

"Heh, a clumsy provocation. My guess is that you have around 3 million pr, Qiuyue-kun. You don't want to spend points to buy this, and you've been hoarding them so carefully—are you planning to use points to switch classes?"

Qiuyue ignored the Chairman's question and asked directly.

"This bet, Chairman—are you taking it or not?"

Chairman Sakayanagi leaned back on the sofa, looked up at Qiuyue's eyes, and said with a half-smile.

"I can take it, but the stakes need to change. If you lose, Qiuyue-kun, you drop out."

Qiuyue: (Oh ho... I've overplayed my hand... He's targeting me. According to the upcoming plot, Ayanokoji will act under Chabashira's threat in the special exam. If I secretly help another class, I shouldn't lose. If the stakes include some points, it's still worth the risk.)

"Deal. But then the stakes aren't equal. If I win, Chairman, you'll need to give me 10 million pr."

Chairman Sakayanagi's hand holding the teacup paused for a moment.