Watching Katsuragi head back to the cave, Qiuyue sat down in a clearing nearby for a while.
Before long, the plastic bag was lifted again, and two figures emerged from inside.
Qiuyue spotted the familiar head of blond hair behind Katsuragi and quickly stood up to greet them.
"Hey, Classmate Hashimoto. Fancy seeing you again."
Qiuyue: (Hashimoto, I'm counting on you. As long as you confirm who I am, I don't even need to infiltrate Class A. I just need a chance to get close to Katsuragi, and I'll have succeeded.)
(If all else fails, I can only say I went back to Sakayanagi afterward and told her I'd join her. But that excuse is way too flimsy. Katsuragi probably won't believe me, and he might just ignore me and leave.)
(Then my only option would be to cry, make a scene, and threaten to hang myself. I'd cling to Katsuragi and pickpocket his card.)
(And if that still doesn't work, I'll just offer to trade him the identity of Class D's leader. With this many plans, surely one of them will work.)
What Qiuyue didn't know was that Katsuragi had already asked Hashimoto Masayoshi inside whether the claims about Qiuyue Qi were true.
But Hashimoto was a double-crosser. He'd already sold Katsuragi out to Ryuen on the second day of the exam. There was no way he'd tell Katsuragi the truth about Qiuyue.
Hashimoto said that Sakayanagi had indeed approached Qiuyue and offered him a few points. Qiuyue had accepted and agreed to act as Class A's spy in Class D.
Katsuragi said he understood, but still wanted to meet him. Once Hashimoto confirmed Qiuyue was with the Sakayanagi Faction, Katsuragi brought him outside to meet Qiuyue.
"Yeah, Classmate Qiuyue, we meet again. Classmate Katsuragi, he really is one of ours."
"So you really are working for Sakayanagi."
"I told you that from the start, didn't I?"
The three of them each had their own agenda.
Qiuyue: (Good thing I didn't call Kamuro. Bringing Hashimoto was the right move. What a double-crosser. The factional infighting in Class A has gotten this bad, huh? They don't even care about the class's interests anymore.)
(Poor Katsuragi. He still trusts his classmates, unaware that Sakayanagi would rather see Class A lose than give up control of the class.)
(This works out well for me. I need to use the fake identity Hashimoto gave me to get closer to this bald guy.)
(With my Pickpocket Talent, I only need half a second to swipe it. I'll take a quick look at the name, then put it back. The whole thing won't take more than two seconds, and the mission will be complete.)
Katsuragi: (Someone Sakayanagi thinks she needs? This Class D student must be pretty capable. Too bad he's with the Sakayanagi Faction.)
(Still, it doesn't matter. If I do well enough in this exam, my classmates will understand.)
(So it doesn't matter that he's with the Sakayanagi Faction. The class's interests still have to come first.)
(More importantly, what is he after? What information did Sakayanagi send him to gather from Class D?)
Hashimoto: (...Katsuragi, I'll just pretend he's one of the princess's people. I'll go along with it, screw you over, and make this kid owe me a favor. Maybe he'll help the princess recruit him later.)
"You're Qiuyue, right? Sakayanagi sent you to Class A, so you must have some information. Sakayanagi isn't here right now, but you can report it to me instead."
"Aw, don't be so formal. Come on, come sit closer so we can talk."
Qiuyue warmly invited Katsuragi to sit beside him.
"No need. Just say what you have to say from there."
"Uh... I'm just worried the walls might have ears. Come closer, and we can keep our voices down."
Katsuragi finally relented and sat down, though he still left some distance between them.
"Oh... right, Classmate Hashimoto, why don't you head inside? I have a few things I'd like to discuss with Classmate Katsuragi."
Hashimoto: "??? All right."
After Hashimoto went inside, Qiuyue launched into more of his nonsense.
He told Katsuragi roughly where Classes D, C, and B had set up camp, as well as how they were using their points.
Qiuyue: (I'll start by using some mostly useless information to break the ice.)
"Is that all? It's not particularly useful, but thanks for the information. You can leave if there's nothing else."
"Classmate Katsuragi, do you know how big a promise Sakayanagi made me? Actually, I prefer something more concrete to what she offered."
"What do you mean?"
"I could switch sides and join you, Classmate Katsuragi."
"Oh? What do you want in return? I can't offer you much just for that information."
"Of course. I have information about the leaders of Classes D and B. Do you want it or not?"
"I can't trust you. If you can't show me an actual card, I won't believe you."
Katsuragi spoke with calm conviction, each word firm and emphatic.
Qiuyue appeared perfectly composed, but inside, the corners of his mouth were already stretching from ear to ear.
Qiuyue: (Hahahaha! I've got you now. Heh heh heh. Ryuen, don't blame me. Blame yourself for taking too long to act.)
"I have an actual card with me right now. It's Class D's. I want Class A to pay me 800,000 private points every month."
"800,000 private points a month is too much."
Qiuyue: (Tsk... How did Ryuen in the original story manage to get 800,000 private points a month in exchange for a leader's identity and some supplies? That deal doesn't seem fair.)
(I don't get it... Never mind. I wasn't planning to take monthly payments anyway. I already had a one-time payment in mind.)
"Then pay me 2 million private points in one lump sum after the Special Exam."
"...Fine. I'll find a teacher and have them draw up a contract."
Katsuragi stood up, ready to find a teacher.
"No need. Surprise! I've been here the whole time, Classmate Katsuragi."
Hoshinomiya-sensei sprang out from behind a tree with a smug grin.
Katsuragi stared at Hoshinomiya-sensei in surprise, then seemed to realize something and turned sharply toward Qiuyue.
"If this was your plan from the beginning, why go through all that trouble?"
Qiuyue: (Did you expect me to tell you that I never planned to make this deal in the first place?)
(Tsk... This is ridiculous. I just like to keep a backup plan for everything. This one was too risky. Ibuki is going to steal Horikita's card later, and even if the fake card I'm holding has Horikita's name on it, things could go wrong if anyone notices something.)
(I was keeping this as my last resort. I'd only use it if I couldn't get close to Katsuragi. But Katsuragi acts like men and women shouldn't even sit near each other. I never got a chance.)
"I thought it'd be fun. What's wrong with that?"
"Teacher Hoshinomiya, you can bring out the contract now."
Qiuyue reminded Hoshinomiya-sensei.
"Sure thing, Xiao Qi~"
With a radiant smile and cheerful steps, Hoshinomiya-sensei handed the contract to Qiuyue.
"? What's that supposed to mean, 'Xiao Qi'? Why are you calling me that? If you're going to call me something, at least don't put 'little' in front of it."
"Huh? You don't like it? I think Xiao Qi is lovely. Don't you, Xiao Qi~?"
"...Call me whatever you like. Let's take care of business first. Classmate Katsuragi, here's the card."
Qiuyue sighed helplessly and took a wrapped card out of his pocket.
Katsuragi took it and unwrapped it.
"...Horikita Suzune... If she's the leader, why is her card in your possession?"
Katsuragi asked the obvious question.
"...A student from Class C transferred into our Class D. I'm holding the card to throw her off, that's all."
Qiuyue: (Heh heh, I thought this through in advance. Class A is using the same strategy, so you have no reason not to believe me.)
Katsuragi took the contract and picked up a pen, ready to write his name.
"...Wait. I want to watch you write it."
As he spoke, Qiuyue quickly moved closer to Katsuragi, coming within pickpocketing range.
Qiuyue swiftly used his Flying Dragon Cloud-Searching Hand, then glanced sideways at the card. It had four large characters on it.
---Totsuka Yahiko
"All right, you can leave now."
Katsuragi finished signing the contract and immediately ordered him to leave.
Qiuyue and Hoshinomiya-sensei walked back together.
Qiuyue: (Now that Katsuragi knows who Class D's leader is, Ryuen can't sign a contract with Katsuragi anymore. That means Ryuen will probably try everything he can to get his hands on Class B's leader card.)
(Also, should I go back and cover my tracks, and have Horikita give me the card so I can pretend to be the leader on paper? No, that'd be overdoing it. If Horikita doesn't withdraw because of this, I'll be screwed.)
"Xiao Qi~ I'm heading that way now~ Bye-bye~"
Hoshinomiya-sensei cheerfully said goodbye to Qiuyue, her two basketballs bouncing along with her steps.
"Good grief... I told you not to call me that..."
Qiuyue rubbed his forehead in exasperation.
"Should I call you Classmate X, then? Or maybe you could give me Sae's...?"
Hoshinomiya-sensei flashed a sly smile, giving Qiuyue goosebumps.
"...Forget it. Just call me Xiao Qi."
"Sure thing~ Xiao Qi~ Bye-bye."
Qiuyue: (...This big Pink-Haired Schemer... Sigh... I've strayed further and further from the plan I wanted to keep hidden.)
Before you continue