Because You Are an Opponent, Don't Reveal Your Full Strength

"Boss, the broadcast announced that the club orientation will be held at the First Gymnasium starting at five o'clock this afternoon."

Quick as a flash, Ishizaki and Albert returned to the activity room carrying a set of mountain vegetable meals.

"Let's still go to the orientation together this afternoon. I haven't submitted the application forms for the three of you yet; what if there's something more suitable?"

I took the application forms that Ryuen and the others had filled out yesterday from the drawer and laid them out on the table.

"It is indeed necessary to go to the orientation to scout for information. That Sudo was tearing up the basketball court yesterday afternoon. If he chooses the basketball club, we can take action soon."

Ryuen looked at the intelligence on Class C students he had organized on his phone and began selecting students suitable to act as bait.

After school, Hiyori and I arrived at the activity room.

School ended at three o'clock, leaving two hours until the start of the club orientation.

This time, instead of drinking tea and reading as I usually did, I took the plum juice I had brought and my prepared writing materials out of my bag.

I took out three paper cups, poured the juice into them, and carefully sealed the bottle opening.

During this time, Hiyori sat quietly by the desk, flipping through the materials I had organized.

I also remained silent, waiting, wanting to hear Hiyori's evaluation.

"The chronology of these stories jumps around a bit, but once you earnestly integrate them, it truly becomes a very fluid narrative. The story composed of these pieces will surely stir up a frenzy in this society. Masaryu-kun, your insights into Japan are truly profound."

I can only say that this work does indeed possess such magic; it's as if it has a special attribute that targets Japan, making one intoxicated by it. Hiyori's evaluation was spot on.

"In my mind, this entire complete story has already been assembled, but personally, I am not satisfied with this complete story. As a bystander, it is difficult for me to dig any deeper into it."

As my voice trailed off, the creaking sound of the activity room door being pushed open followed.

"Masaryu-kun, have you prepared yourself to welcome me?"

The one who pushed the door open and walked into the activity room was none other than Sakayanagi.

"It seems you have developed a slight misunderstanding regarding my actions yesterday."

Yesterday, I tapped Sakayanagi on the head three times with my cane, and then, when returning the cane, I used it as a clock hand and Sakayanagi's hand as the clock face, moving time forward.

"A man who says one thing but means another will be disliked by girls, you know. I have read the story of Journey to the West, hmm? I recognize the taste of this juice; it's very similar to the plum wine that Father brought home that day. It seems Masaryu-kun is clearing up my confusion."

Her tone was filled with resentment; it looked as if Sakayanagi was using telepathy to ask why I didn't show her any consideration.

This was only natural, as I had specifically asked Ryuen and the others to help set up a few billion little obstacles in the activity room during lunch break.

They couldn't stop a normal person, but for Sakayanagi, they were a natural chasm.

"Hiyori-san is much more considerate, after all."

However, these arrangements didn't really have any effect on Sakayanagi, as Hiyori had led her to the desk via another route.

"Isn't there a regulation in Japan? Are you allowed to drink alcohol?"

I was more interested in what Sakayanagi had said earlier, because the difference in taste between plum juice and plum wine is actually minimal; the latter just has a bit more sugar, which happens to cover up the astringent aftertaste.

"That's not it. Father had the wine confiscated by Grandfather the moment he brought it back to the mansion on the day of the interview. And then, well, this wine appeared on the dinner table that very night. Father only had a shallow sip, while Grandfather poured himself a full glass."

Sakayanagi, as if recalling something that made her happy, leaned her cane against the desk and smiled, spreading her hands.

"What a sad story. If it were me, my elders wouldn't know how much I had hidden away."

I covered my face with my hand, trying my best not to laugh out loud.

No wonder Chairman Sakayanagi was drinking glass after glass during the interview that day; it turns out that once he took the wine back, it no longer belonged to him.

"If it were my father, he wouldn't dare touch alcohol without my mother's consent."

It seems Hiyori's father is even more miserable. The original work only mentioned that Hiyori had a father who wrote mystery novels, with no mention of her mother at all. Now it seems there is a story behind that as well.

"Let's not talk about this... this topic that makes the Chairman sad. Isn't there a club orientation this afternoon? Sakayanagi-san, is there no club you are interested in joining?"

Although the orientation was scheduled to start at five, Hiyori and I had already seen many clubs setting up tents and materials when we passed by the First Gymnasium.

"Ara~ The board game clubs in this building have already been cleared out by me; I have no interest in them. However, I have developed an interest in you, Masaryu-kun."

Just like Hiyori earlier, Sakayanagi picked up the materials I had left on the desk and began to flip through them.

But before that, I had already tucked the latter half of the materials back into the drawer. I had a bold idea.

"Because we are friends, you won't target that woman? Masaryu-kun, you shouldn't only have this much of the manuscript, right?"

Sakayanagi, her appetite whetted, looked at me with a smile.

"Even if you smile until you bloom like a flower, I won't tell you the follow-up. Because we are rivals, I won't reveal any more of my cards."

To achieve the point-based strategy, it is inevitable to maintain a good relationship with other classes. In this regard, Class A, led by Sakayanagi, is truly a decent competitor.

Because Sakayanagi can sell her class as a commodity quite naturally—that is truly tempting.

By constantly pulling and tugging to keep Sakayanagi interested in me, this is the method I have prepared to deal with her.

"What if I am willing to join Masaryu-kun's club? Would we still be rivals then?"

Sakayanagi wanted to pry more information out of my words.

"From the moment I entered this school, Classmate Sakayanagi and I automatically became rivals. Barring any accidents, this relationship will persist until the day I leave this place. When that time comes, I would be more than happy to become friends with Classmate Sakayanagi, provided she is still willing then."

The point-based strategy Ryuen and I are employing is essentially equivalent to seizing the assets of the Sakayanagi family. Our hypothetical enemy is the school administration, and Sakayanagi can be categorized precisely within that group, which is why we cannot be friends at this stage.

It will only be when the Road Tyrant has Tsukishiro take over the school that my interests and Sakayanagi's will align, and only then will this relationship be temporarily altered.

"I think I understand the plan you and Ryuen have, Masaryu-kun. Despite having the opportunity to lead Class C to a comeback and rise to Class A within the first month, you chose to abandon it, instead illogically attempting to preserve the class points of the other classes. Ryuen-kun appears aggressive, but in reality, he is trying every possible way to force Class D onto the correct path. I am quite interested in the feasibility of your plan~"

Sakayanagi quickly grasped the key points from my words, figured out the stakes, and saw through the intentions of Ryuen and me.

This is nothing significant, as I never believed such a plan could be kept hidden for long; an open conspiracy requires no concealment.