Even gangsters knew that you needed connections to get by.
If all you could do was fight on your own, you were nothing but a small-time punk.
Under the tutelage of the great Teacher Ximen, Horikita Suzune had realized that she'd been a small-time punk herself.
If she wanted to improve, the first thing she needed to do was build a team.
Someone like Honami Ichinose was indispensable to a team.
In Class D, only Kushida Kikyo and Hirata Yosuke had that kind of talent.
Neither of them was easy for Horikita Suzune to get along with.
Hirata Yosuke was a little weak-willed. He turned a blind eye to conflicts between classmates, always giving in to keep the team at peace.
Kushida Kikyo was a little strange. She seemed to dislike Horikita, yet her actions showed she was always trying to get closer to her.
If Horikita had to choose, Kushida Kikyo was the better option.
"She should be able to do it, right?"
Horikita Suzune looked at Honami Ichinose and compared the two.
Kushida Kikyo always wore a sweet smile and could chat with anyone in class.
She seemed to possess an innate magic that made it easy for her to close the distance between herself and others.
She was like a dazzling sun, radiating warmth and drawing people around her closer without them even realizing it.
In that regard, she and Honami Ichinose were probably about evenly matched.
If Horikita could win Kushida over, Class D should be able to unite like Class B... right?
"No, that's impossible."
Horikita Suzune glanced again at the lively Class B students and couldn't help shaking her head.
Just as Makoto Nishikado had said, even though she knew Class B's strategy, she couldn't possibly imitate it.
The gap in the students' individual qualities was simply too great.
Even if she could learn from Makoto Nishikado, and even if Kushida Kikyo could take Honami Ichinose's place, it still wouldn't be enough.
She couldn't help wondering: why was the gap between the two classes so vast?
Perhaps she could shift all the blame onto the other Class D students.
Horikita Suzune could easily make excuses for herself, saying that the students in Class D were simply too awful, leaving her helpless.
But that was how weak people thought.
As Horikita Suzune compared the students in Class D with those in Class B, she was also comparing herself with Makoto Nishikado.
The conclusion she reached made her realize she couldn't blame her classmates.
Makoto Nishikado glanced at Horikita Suzune and, after seeing her sigh, nodded to himself.
If he could make Horikita Suzune recognize her shortcomings, then he hadn't taken Horikita Manabu's money for nothing.
"Everyone, the unique nature of Advanced Nurturing may make some of you uneasy."
"But you need to believe that when it comes to unity, our Class B is invincible."
As he spoke, Makoto Nishikado gave Honami Ichinose a meaningful look.
Honami Ichinose knew exactly what she should say at a time like this.
"I've already looked into it. Class A has two leaders, and it seems they're fighting among themselves."
"Class C hasn't chosen a leader yet. Apparently, they're going to settle it with a fight."
"As for Class D... there's no need to say more."
Remembering that Horikita Suzune was still there, Honami Ichinose forcibly swallowed the criticism she'd been about to make.
She didn't need to say anything. Horikita Suzune knew all too well what Class D was like.
She couldn't bear to look at it herself, so Honami Ichinose didn't need to say anything more.
"The next three years will be a long journey, and we'll face many exams along the way."
"But I'll say this now: even if we don't win every time, we will be the ones who win in the end."
"During that time, I won't let a single person drop out. That's my promise, and it's something we'll work together to make happen."
"In this school, where ability is everything, Class B's priorities are unity and growth."
"When we graduate, I hope everyone will have grown a great deal here and enjoyed a fulfilling high school life."
When he finished, Makoto Nishikado looked at Chie Hoshinomiya.
She showed no reaction, only watching the scene before her with a cheerful smile.
After the meeting broke up, Makoto Nishikado went to find Chie Hoshinomiya.
"Makoto Nishikado, did you want something from me in private? Don't tell me you've fallen for your teacher?"
Chie Hoshinomiya smiled brightly.
Under normal circumstances, a teacher should have been pleased to see that class meeting.
But the system had clearly indicated that Chie Hoshinomiya gained a large number of emotion points from seeing Horikita Suzune attend Class B's meeting.
The reason was simple: Horikita Suzune belonged to Class D, and Chie Hoshinomiya was the person who least wanted to see Class D rise.
"Teacher, helping Horikita grow is a key part of my cooperation with the Student Council president. Don't get in my way."
Makoto Nishikado didn't mince words. He warned her outright.
"I don't understand what you mean. Why would I give a student from another class a hard time?"
Chie Hoshinomiya kept smiling, though a hint of perfectly timed confusion entered her expression.
Without the system's notification, Makoto Nishikado might almost have believed her.
"Just remember what I said, Teacher. I believe you want our class to graduate as Class A, too."
Makoto Nishikado's face remained completely serious.
People who wanted to win didn't grin at a time like this.
"All right. I promise."
Chie Hoshinomiya gave her word.
She said it lightly, but Makoto Nishikado hadn't asked her to do anything more.
He would take it as a sign that he trusted her, just as he trusted the other Class B students.
After all the Class B students had left, Horikita Suzune was the only one who remained.
"Planning to contact Kushida Kikyo?"
Makoto Nishikado had already guessed what Horikita Suzune was thinking.
"How did you know? Oh, right. This was your idea in the first place."
Horikita Suzune was surprised, then decided it made sense.
"Kushida and Honami do seem similar on the surface. I'll contact her for you."
"Can I persuade her? She doesn't seem to like me."
"Don't worry. I'll give you a demonstration. Just watch me work."
Makoto Nishikado smiled and took out his Personal Terminal to contact Kushida Kikyo.
[Makoto Nishikado: If I can get in touch with Horikita Suzune and make her your friend, how will you thank me?]
[Kushida Kikyo: Really? Thank you so much, Makoto Nishikado.]
[Makoto Nishikado: Spare me the empty words. Have you got a more tangible reward?]
[Kushida Kikyo: ...]
"You jerk!"
Kushida Kikyo's expression twisted as she furiously hammered at her bed.
What reward, you! Having a beautiful girl like me in your contacts is a blessing you wouldn't get in three lifetimes! You can't even do me a small favor without demanding a reward? Do you have a heart at all?*
Kushida Kikyo typed out a long string of insults.
Once she'd calmed down, she deleted everything she'd written.
Horikita Suzune had attended the same school as her before, though they hadn't been in the same class. Kushida Kikyo remembered her face.
I don't know if she knows. That means she knows!
Kushida Kikyo decided to put up with it.
[Kushida Kikyo: All right, Makoto Nishikado. What kind of reward do you want? How about I treat you to a meal?]
Makoto Nishikado glanced at the system notification.
[Makoto Nishikado: Kikyo-chan, you really know how to bend without breaking.]
"Who are you calling Kikyo-chan?!"
[Kushida Kikyo: Then I'll call you Makoto-chan from now on. That's only fair.]
[Makoto Nishikado: A meal alone isn't quite enough to make it worth my while. I'll tell you what reward I want when we meet.]
[Kushida Kikyo: Aren't you worried I'll change my mind, Makoto-chan?]
[Makoto Nishikado: I actually hope you do. Then I won't have to hold back.]
"Tch. Who are you trying to scare?"
[Kushida Kikyo: Haha, I was only joking. Then it's a promise.]
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