"An insider? Is that really necessary?"
Karuizawa Kei was confused.
She wasn't stupid, but she wasn't especially smart, either.
Even now, she still didn't understand the rivalry between the classes.
"You don't need to understand. Just agree to it, and I'll protect you from now on."
Makoto Nishikado made her a promise.
He already had influence in Class D, so protecting Karuizawa Kei would be easy.
"Okay. I'll do whatever you say."
Karuizawa Kei agreed without hesitation, not even pausing for half a second.
So what if she betrayed her class?
Makoto Nishikado was a good man who was willing to protect her. From now on, she would cling to him like a parasite.
As for Class D, aside from her little group of friends, she didn't care much about anyone else.
Betraying Class D gave Karuizawa Kei no qualms at all.
Even if she later learned about the rivalry between the classes, she wouldn't change her mind.
For her, getting into Class A wasn't a particularly important goal.
"Unless something unexpected happens, Class D won't be getting many Personal Points each month from now on."
"As a reward for helping me, I'll give you 5,000 Personal Points every month."
"If you help me out a lot, I'll give you an extra bonus, too."
With that, Makoto Nishikado transferred the points through his Personal Terminal. Another 5,000 Personal Points appeared in Karuizawa Kei's account.
"What's going on? The school won't be giving us points next month?"
Karuizawa Kei was startled.
She had already spent quite a lot of her Personal Points.
At this rate, they definitely wouldn't last until the end of the month.
"It's like this..."
Makoto Nishikado explained all the information he'd gathered over the past few days.
He told her about his relationship with Horikita Suzune, but concealed Kushida Kikyo's true nature, only saying that Kushida Kikyo had also joined his side.
"From now on, you'll publicly join Horikita Suzune's side and help her manage the class."
"In reality, you'll be my insider in Class D. When the time comes, you'll help me."
Makoto Nishikado spoke meaningfully.
He had a good idea of how things would develop with Horikita Suzune, but he still needed to prepare an extra move.
"Didn't you say you were her teacher?"
Karuizawa Kei was quite surprised.
When she'd heard Makoto Nishikado had already recruited Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo, she'd thought she was a little unnecessary.
She hadn't expected him to have a plan like this, too.
"I'm her teacher, but I'm also the leader of Class B."
"She can trust me, but she absolutely can't trust everything I say. Especially when it comes to the competition between classes, she should keep her guard up against me."
"If she has no defenses at all, then as her teacher, I should teach her a lesson."
Makoto Nishikado narrowed his eyes, as though he could already see Horikita Suzune confronting him in the future.
That girl really didn't understand a thing. Letting her experience setbacks was a gift from her teacher.
When the time came, Makoto Nishikado would reach out and tap Horikita Suzune between the eyebrows with one finger.
Forgive me, Horikita. This is the last lesson.
"Okay, I understand. So I should just act normally around her?"
Karuizawa Kei nodded, feeling a little conflicted.
She'd once worried about Horikita Suzune's situation in the class, only to learn that Horikita Suzune had already reached out to someone outside it.
"Collect whatever information you can about Class D, big or small, and send it to me. Photos would be best."
Makoto Nishikado reminded her.
"Okay, I'll remember."
Karuizawa Kei committed all of it to memory.
Unlike the strong, flashy girl she pretended to be around everyone else, she was quite obedient in front of the master she depended on.
"Show your normal personality from now on. If anyone gets suspicious, say you changed for my sake."
"Also, pay attention to your movements. You often touch your stomach."
When Makoto Nishikado said that, Karuizawa Kei was startled.
"Is it really that obvious?"
She couldn't let anyone find out that she'd been bullied.
And yet Makoto Nishikado had seen right through her.
"From now on, you can live your life without worrying. If anything comes up, you can come to me. I'll protect you."
Makoto Nishikado took out his Personal Terminal and exchanged contact details with Karuizawa Kei.
Looking at "Makoto Nishikado" in her contact list, Karuizawa Kei really did feel safer.
"After going through such terrible bullying, it's already remarkable that you've managed to stay strong and keep going."
"You should be a little prouder of who you really are."
With that, Makoto Nishikado turned away and waved as he left, his back to Karuizawa Kei.
A real man never looked back at a girl in tears.
Neither of them noticed the figure watching them from the shadows.
She was too far away to hear their conversation.
But she clearly saw Makoto Nishikado turn and leave, and Karuizawa Kei break down in tears.
That evening, after taking a shower, Kushida Kikyo lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.
Thinking about what had happened during the day, and how Karuizawa Kei had already made her move, left her feeling conflicted.
She'd only followed them to see if she could find something to use against them, but instead she'd witnessed a scene that made her uncomfortable.
Although Makoto Nishikado had turned her down, if she guessed right, a second and third bitch would soon come along, one after another, throwing themselves at him.
Good men were a rare commodity these days. If you came across one, you had to fight for him.
"Scumbag!"
Kushida Kikyo took out her Personal Terminal and couldn't help cursing.
She still remembered what Makoto Nishikado had said to her that night.
She really wanted to hear it again.
It was worth mentioning that, following Makoto Nishikado's example, she'd bought a voice recorder, too.
"What a jerk. Why hasn't he messaged me first yet?"
Kushida Kikyo stared at her silent Personal Terminal, practically fuming.
In the end, she was the one who sent Makoto Nishikado a message first.
[Kushida Kikyo: I'm under a lot of psychological stress right now. You need to help me find a way to relieve it.]
[Makoto Nishikado: Kikyo-chan, can't you think of something yourself?]
[Kushida Kikyo: Cut the nonsense and help me. Otherwise, I won't help Horikita Suzune in the future. It's an equal exchange!]
[Makoto Nishikado: Hmm? So you're planning to help her?]
[Kushida Kikyo: You'd better thank me properly. A few compliments would be nice, too.]
[Makoto Nishikado: Kushida is so beautiful she could make the fish sink and the geese fall! Kushida is lovely and brilliant! Kushida is peerless!]
Kushida Kikyo laughed happily, sending Makoto Nishikado a huge wave of emotion points.
She typed "Give me a few more compliments" in the input box, then silently deleted it.
[Kushida Kikyo: You have to help me first. Then I'll help you. Hurry up and think of something.]
[Makoto Nishikado: You can meet Horikita Suzune alone sometime, get a karaoke room for the two of you, and then block the door.]
[Makoto Nishikado: The dorms are well soundproofed, so you could even go straight to her room.]
[Kushida Kikyo: What good would that do?]
[Makoto Nishikado: You can insult her one-on-one, right to her face. She'll have to put up with it if she wants your help bringing the class together, and you won't have to worry about anyone else finding out you're venting.]
[Kushida Kikyo: Are you actually a genius? I've wanted to insult her for ages. Are you sure she'll agree?]
[Makoto Nishikado: I've already discussed it with her. She agreed.]
[Kushida Kikyo: Hmm? You mean the two of you have been talking about this behind the scenes?]
[Makoto Nishikado: Horikita said that if you're willing to help her, she'll do anything.]
[Makoto Nishikado: If you don't believe me, ask her right now. Insult her to her face tomorrow.]
[Kushida Kikyo: That's not what I meant... You have to come, too. You're someone I want to insult to your face!]
[Makoto Nishikado: Aren't you afraid rumors will spread that you, Horikita, and I are in a love triangle?]
[Kushida Kikyo: Cut the nonsense. Come!]
[Makoto Nishikado: Hahaha, I'm not going.]
[Kushida Kikyo: Come!!!]
[Makoto Nishikado: Beg me. Send a voice message.]
[Kushida Kikyo: Please, I'm begging you. Come get yelled at.]
[Makoto Nishikado: Fine. When I have time.]
[Kushida Kikyo: &*￥＃＆%!]
Ignoring the final barrage of profanities that wouldn't pass the filter, Makoto Nishikado watched the steady stream of system notifications and happily turned off his Personal Terminal.
"Kikyo-chan is still too generous."
Before you continue