Conversation in Progress

In the end, Qiuyue yielded under Sakayanagi Arisu's death glare and sat down where she had indicated.

Once Sakayanagi Arisu saw Qiuyue take his seat, she also sat down across from him.

"Classmate Qiuyue, aren't you curious why we sought you out?"

"No."

Qiuyue replied instantly, showing no interest.

"It seems Classmate Qiuyue is quite clear on how we found you."

"Cheating."

Qiuyue tilted his chair back, staring up at the ceiling, and answered Sakayanagi Arisu's question just as quickly.

Kamuro Masumi, standing beside Sakayanagi Arisu, seemed not to have fully cooled down from her earlier anger. Seeing Qiuyue's shameless attitude, she couldn't help slapping the table again.

"Can you be serious?!"

"Classmate Kamuro, I'm the one speaking with Classmate Qiuyue right now. You don't need to talk."

Sakayanagi Arisu said in a cold tone.

"But he—"

"Classmate Kamuro."

Sakayanagi Arisu turned her head to look at Kamuro Masumi, calling her name once more.

Qiuyue thought: (...Did I go too far... She's not going to come after me with a knife in the middle of the night, is she... Kinda scared now.)

Seeing this, Hashimoto Masayoshi quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Alright, alright, Classmate Kamuro, let the Princess handle her business first."

Sakayanagi Arisu recomposed her expression and faced Qiuyue again.

"My apologies, Classmate Qiuyue, for making you witness that. Let's continue."

Qiuyue thought: (I need to find myself a way out, or I'm really afraid this girl might actually come after me with a knife in the dead of night.)

"No, no, no, Classmate Sakayanagi, I'm the one who should apologize. I was rude to Classmate Kamuro just now. I'm truly sorry. Sorry about that, Classmate Kamuro."

Kamuro Masumi let out a cold snort, turned her head away, and refused to even acknowledge Qiuyue.

Qiuyue thought: (...)

"Classmate Qiuyue, what did you mean by saying I was cheating just now? Don't misunderstand—we found you through our own efforts."

Qiuyue thought: (Does she really know that I'm X? No, Chairman Sakayanagi has his limits, no matter what.)

(Or did she figure it out herself? I don't buy it. Even Ayanokoji hasn't found me out yet, and you have? Trying to trick me? Not a chance.)

"Cutting corners. You and Chairman Sakayanagi are father and daughter, right? The Chairman told you about my existence, didn't he?

But don't get me wrong—I only asked the Chairman if I could leave campus. I'm the type with strong homesickness, you know."

Qiuyue still tilted his chair back, spreading his hands out to either side.

Hashimoto Masayoshi and Kamuro Masumi were both momentarily stunned by Qiuyue's words, and they seriously reevaluated the Class D student before them.

Sakayanagi Arisu's smile grew wider. Resting her chin on her hand with interest, she looked at Qiuyue.

"Classmate Qiuyue, just as my father said, you're an interesting person.

The school's website lists the Chairman's surname. You made the connection when I introduced myself just now, didn't you? To link that so quickly—Classmate Qiuyue, you're quite impressive."

"I'm not that impressive. Just a coincidence, a lucky guess. Look, I'm a Class D student, after all."

"Classmate Qiuyue, no need to rush to deflect. My father only told me there was someone in Class D who would interest me—nothing more. We checked the surveillance and saw you went to the Chairman's Office.

Since you say you asked the Chairman about leaving school to go home, why not ask your homeroom teacher about such a matter? Or did you not ask about that at all? Did you go see the Chairman for something else? I'm very curious."

Qiuyue thought: (Looks like the old man really didn't tell her anything. The fact that she can ask this question means she doesn't know I'm X either.)

(But that old man still mentioned my existence to his daughter. Isn't he practically begging her to come contact me?)

"Classmate Sakayanagi, I really just asked if I could leave campus. I miss home a lot. I didn't ask the homeroom teacher because I thought it'd be more convenient to go straight to the Chairman.

And besides, Classmate Sakayanagi, even if I did go to the Chairman for something else, I wouldn't tell you. And are you really sure the interesting person he mentioned is me?"

Sakayanagi covered her mouth with a light laugh, her cunning gaze fixed directly on Qiuyue.

"Even if it's not you, Classmate Qiuyue, you've still caught my interest now.

So, Classmate Qiuyue, please answer me this: how many points did the Chairman say it would cost to leave campus and go home?"

Qiuyue thought: (How the hell would I know... Play dumb. Just play dumb now.)

"Huh? That's a thing? So I can leave campus by spending points? Classmate Sakayanagi, you're amazing! I never thought of that before."

Qiuyue stopped tilting his chair, propped his arms on the table, put on a shocked expression, widened his eyes, and clapped his hands.

What Qiuyue didn't realize was that, to others, his acting was far too over-the-top—his insincerity was completely obvious.

So much so that both Hashimoto Masayoshi and Kamuro Masumi twitched at the corners of their mouths, feeling physically uncomfortable.

"Classmate Qiuyue, there's no need for that in front of us. Playing dumb won't do you any good. Showing off your true abilities is the right choice."

"Because we're Class A. We can use Points to buy Classmate Qiuyue into Class A."

Qiuyue: (Here it comes, the classic empty promise. Do you think I'll fall for it? 20 million Private Points—if you start saving class funds from scratch, with half the monthly class points, it'd take ten months.)

(There are always times when class points have to be spent. Ten months is practically a year. You want me to play turncoat for a whole year, all for the sake of your empty promises? Even a dog wouldn't take that deal.)

That was what he thought, but what Qiuyue showed was something else entirely.

Qiuyue stood up excitedly, his face brimming with enthusiasm, and looked at Sakayanagi Arisu with eager anticipation, grabbing one of her hands with both of his.

"No way!? Classmate Sakayanagi is going to buy me into Class A? Thank you so much! From now on, if Classmate Sakayanagi says east, I won't go west. Whatever you say, goes—even if it's black, I'll turn it white.

And also... about those Points to go back home... how many would that take? Classmate Sakayanagi?"

Sakayanagi Arisu pulled her hand free from Qiuyue's grip, took a handkerchief out of her pocket, wiped her hand clean, then held it up.

"Classmate Kamuro, please throw this handkerchief away for me later.

Since Classmate Qiuyue has made his choice, let's go. Classmate Qiuyue, next time we meet, we'll be opponents. Don't get yourself defeated before you even face me.

Let's go, Classmate Kamuro, Classmate Hashimoto."

Sakayanagi Arisu stood up, leaning on her cane as she walked toward the library door, her two followers trailing close behind.

"Hey... Classmate Sakayanagi, didn't you say you were going to buy me into Class A? Why are you leaving? And you still haven't told me how many Points I need to go home."

Qiuyue spoke as he watched their retreating figures.

Qiuyue: (Sakayanagi herself knows that they can't actually buy someone into Class A right now. Otherwise, she wouldn't be dangling empty promises—she'd be showing off the Points.)

(If you could really get that many Points right now, I'd go to Class A with you this instant. But you can't. Rather than relying on others, I prefer to rely on myself.)