Don't you thank me yet

After the second day of classes concluded, the time slowly drifted toward five in the afternoon.

Makoto Nishikado led the students of Class B to Gymnasium No. 1.

Gymnasium No. 1 was currently hosting the club orientation, an event that had been specifically announced over the broadcast system.

Before arriving, Makoto Nishikado had already explained the necessity of joining a club to the students of Class B.

"The rules of this school are full of unknowns, but one thing is certain—here, if you perform exceptionally well in a club, you can earn private points."

"No matter how strange it may seem, at its core, this is still a school, and a school will never turn away students who can bring it prestige."

Even without inside information, Makoto Nishikado was certain of this.

The clubs at Sakurajima are by no means simple gatherings of interest; they are involved in formal competitive tournaments.

From school-level leagues to national-level competitions, every match tugs at the school's nerves.

If one can stand out in these events, it not only earns points for the individual but also allows the school to make a name for itself among its peers.

For any school hungry for reputation, the development of its clubs is of the utmost importance.

Advanced Nurturing is naturally no exception.

By the time the entire Class B had arrived, Gymnasium No. 1 was already buzzing with noise.

A red carpet was laid out in the center of the gymnasium stage, and club representatives were taking the stage one by one, introducing their clubs with enthusiastic words.

After each representative finished their introduction, they would step off the stage and head to an area on the side of the gymnasium where simple tables had been set up.

Interested first-year students would follow, and the club representatives would patiently answer their various questions.

Some handed out meticulously crafted club brochures, while others enthusiastically displayed their club's certificates of honor.

After all, there are only about four hundred students in the entire Advanced Nurturing High School, and it takes at least three people to start a new club.

Except for large sports clubs like the basketball and soccer teams, which don't have to worry about recruitment, other clubs were racking their brains to attract new members.

"Everyone disperse, go find the clubs you're interested in first."

Following Makoto Nishikado's order, the members of Class B scattered accordingly.

As for Makoto Nishikado himself, he did not head toward the Go club area for the time being.

While waiting for someone, Makoto Nishikado opened his personal terminal.

[Name: Makoto Nishikado]
[Class: 1-B]
[Student ID: s01t004661]
[Gender: Male]
[Account Points: 1086452]

"Exaggerated, they just gave me a million like that?"

As agreed, all students in Class B handed over 50,000 private points, totaling 2 million private points.

Because he had warned them yesterday, none of the Class B students had spent extravagantly, and all were able to come up with the 50,000 points.

Of these 2 million, 1 million served as the class fund, kept by Honami Ichinose as a reserve to prevent expulsion.

The other 1 million was entrusted to Makoto Nishikado, making it convenient for him to spend money at any time to explore the rules of this school.

This trust was heavy, making Makoto Nishikado feel a bit embarrassed.

He had always been used to acting alone, and he hadn't expected to receive this level of trust in a school full of competition.

In the original work, Honami Ichinose worked so hard for Class B that she even reached a state of Darkening without giving up, and after failing, she even considered dropping out to make room for Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

Now, Makoto Nishikado could understand that feeling.

Beyond the private points, system notification chimes were also constantly ringing in his mind.

In just this one day, the students of Class B had contributed 1 million emotional points to him.

These emotional points came from admiration for his decisions, as well as various emotional fluctuations generated during their interactions with him.

I have to say, Class B is truly a great place.

"That's because you're capable, everyone admires you."

A slightly weary voice sounded beside him.

Makoto Nishikado turned his head and saw it was Yuki Himeno.

She stared with dead fish eyes, not having left according to Makoto Nishikado's instructions; she likely had no interest in the clubs.

"You look like you don't have much energy. Is there no club you want to join?"

Makoto Nishikado asked with a smile.

Yuki Himeno leaned in close to him and complained in a low voice: "I'm in the Go-Home Club, why do I have to come here too?"

She was mediocre in every aspect; she had neither athletic talent nor an artistic cell, and she really couldn't think of any club that suited her.

In her view, attending the club orientation was a complete waste of time.

Furthermore, she had neither the interest nor the energy to join a club.

Why did she have to tag along?

Makoto Nishikado raised an eyebrow, teasing, "Actually, you could have refused. Were you hoping I'd step in and turn them down for you?"

He knew full well that the reason every student from Class B was present, beyond the importance of the club activities themselves, was another crucial factor—this club orientation was hosted by the Student Council.

According to the intelligence gathered by Honami Ichinose, the Student Council President was none other than the leader of Class A, Horikita Manabu.

Horikita Manabu, who could maintain Class A's status while simultaneously protecting all his classmates, had become an idol for the students of Class B.

Everyone had come to this club orientation hoping to catch a glimpse of this exceptional class leader.

Since everyone wanted to come, those who didn't were forced to go with the flow.

Thus, Yuki Himeno was "voluntarily" here.

Even if it was a forced sort of voluntary, it was still voluntary.

Much like a corporate slave who cannot refuse their boss's demand for overtime, they are destined to have endless work.

"I have to read the room, too. You know that, yet you still bully me," Yuki Himeno muttered under her breath.

As Makoto Nishikado's desk mate, she had long harbored "deep-seated grievances" against him.

Every day after class, Makoto Nishikado's desk was surrounded by people wanting to ask him all sorts of questions, leaving her own seat packed and inaccessible.

She decided to take this opportunity to vent her frustrations.

"Himeno, I actually have a way to help you. You could become my loyal dog—no, I mean, my sidekick."

Makoto Nishikado intentionally slipped up his words.

[Triggered Yuki Himeno's emotions, obtained 1597 emotion points.]

Yuki Himeno glared at him, retorting irritably, "Both of those ways of saying it are outrageous! And why me, anyway?"

She could understand why Makoto Nishikado would need a sidekick.

As a class leader, Makoto Nishikado would inevitably find himself spread too thin.

Naturally, he could delegate less difficult tasks to a sidekick.

But why her?

There should be plenty of people in Class B willing to help Makoto Nishikado.

"I'm doing this to help you. Think about it: you usually can't refuse people's invitations because you have to read the room to avoid being ostracized, right?"

"But if you say you're running errands for me, wouldn't you have a reason to refuse them?"

"I'm the class leader; you helping me counts as official business. They wouldn't have the nerve to stop you."

Makoto Nishikado struck the pose of a caring, silver-tongued, and shamelessly thick-skinned leader.

He acted as if he were looking out for Yuki Himeno, though his eyes held a hint of cunning.

He was clearly just looking for free labor, yet the way he put it, he was solving a massive problem for her.

"I feel like you're lying to me."

Yuki Himeno was extremely conflicted.

Her reason told her that Makoto Nishikado's logic held up.

But emotionally, she couldn't accept it.

This guy Makoto Nishikado wanted her to do his dirty work and expected her to be grateful for it.

Was there any logic in that?

The illogical Makoto Nishikado remained righteous, his tone sounding remarkably like the Golden-Haired Milk Dragon.

"Am I not helping you solve an urgent problem? Hurry up and say thank you!"