The seventh day after classes began, outside the Student Council Office.
Knock, knock, knock—
"Come in."
"Hey, nice to meet you, Horikita-senpai."
U Amakasa greeted him like a carefree playboy. Perhaps that was just his nature.
"Oh? So you're the U Amakasa who extorted second- and third-years? You're quite an interesting person..."
The speaker stood beside Horikita Manabu. Only the two of them were in the Student Council Room.
"Thanks for the compliment, Miyabi Nagumo. Though I don't find you very interesting."
Nagumo's gaze grew dangerous as he tried to see through the person before him.
"You should call me senpai, first-year."
"Heh." Amakasa tilted his head with disdain. "You haven't given me any reason to respect you enough to call you that."
Amakasa treated Nagumo this way solely because Nagumo was standing in his way.
That day, Amakasa could have extorted a few more people, but Nagumo had sent his men to approach him and put a stop to his little scheme.
But that wasn't really why Amakasa disliked Nagumo. After all, cutting your losses was perfectly reasonable.
It was just that Horikita Manabu and Nagumo knew Amakasa had seen through the school's rules.
Both recognized his talent. The difference was that Nagumo wanted to bring Amakasa under his wing.
Nagumo believed in personal strength. He threatened that if Amakasa didn't join him, he would make sure Amakasa's class fell out of Class A—or get Amakasa expelled.
In short, it was a simple attempt to provoke him.
If Amakasa joined Nagumo, Nagumo would only look down on him.
Second year had already lost its appeal to Nagumo. He was eager to compete with Horikita and wanted to beat him.
And Horikita Manabu, a third-year, couldn't keep playing with him for much longer. Once Horikita graduated, Nagumo would set his sights on Amakasa.
All because Amakasa had shown what he could do.
Amakasa had only one comment on that.
A rabid dog with no leash.
While the two of them glared at each other, Horikita Manabu's lips curved into a slight smile. Amakasa was even sharper than he'd expected.
"The Student Council isn't a place for arguing. Amakasa, we know why you're here, so let's get straight to the point: 500,000 Private Points."
Horikita Manabu started by offering a low price.
"Three million Private Points for one, and five million for the second-year footage."
Amakasa named his price without hesitation.
Nagumo said, "You're asking for the moon, Amakasa-kun."
"I'm here to take yours. Got a problem with that?" Amakasa beckoned him with a finger. "Then come and take me on."
Nagumo said, "You?"
Amakasa said, "Me."
"Hahaha." Nagumo laughed a few times, then looked at Amakasa with amusement.
"Horikita-senpai, I believe the camera in the Student Council Room is broken. Would you mind turning a blind eye? Some juniors need to learn their place."
Horikita frowned slightly.
"Nagumo, you..."
"When someone openly challenges the Student Council President's authority, I don't mind putting him in his place. Of course, if I lose, it'll be five million per recording."
Amakasa cut Horikita Manabu off. Horikita immediately understood that Amakasa knew what Nagumo was planning.
Nagumo wasn't really that hotheaded. He'd arranged for the camera to be broken, all to set this up.
All he had to do was send a message from his phone, and his people would come rushing over.
On the surface, it was a violent shakedown. In reality, he wanted to see just how capable Amakasa was and how he would respond.
Nagumo licked his lips. "I really want to know where all that confidence of yours comes from."
With that, Nagumo sprang up, braced one hand against the table, and launched a fierce kick at Amakasa's head.
He wanted to end it in one blow—to make sure Amakasa couldn't get back up!
Yet, to Nagumo and Horikita Manabu's surprise, the fight was over almost as soon as it began.
Amakasa stopped Nagumo's attack with one hand and grabbed him by the ankle.
He yanked hard. Nagumo lost his balance, and before he could even react, a hand like a colossal palm smacked him across the face.
It all happened in an instant. Horikita Manabu had only blinked, and the fight was already over.
Meanwhile, the men Nagumo had positioned were still waiting anxiously for the signal.
They had no idea their boss had been knocked out in seconds after deciding to test the waters.
Amakasa, the one responsible, shook his hand, took a handkerchief from his pocket, and wiped it, as if what had just happened had nothing to do with him.
"Now you know. Though you can't hear me anymore."
Amakasa calmly walked around the table, which Nagumo's head had smashed through, pulled out the chair opposite Horikita Manabu, and sat down.
As for Nagumo, who was unconscious? There was no need to worry about him. They could get on with the deal.
Amakasa took a USB drive from his coat, placed it on the table, and slowly slid it toward Horikita Manabu.
"One recording of Class 3-A for 2.5 million Private Points. I'm sure you won't refuse, Horikita-senpai."
Horikita looked at Amakasa, who kept overturning everything he thought he knew. He seemed to have quietly made up his mind.
"Then you should also understand that you've been lively as ever in front of the cameras these past few days. Do you really think this footage is worth that many points?"
"Just as you said, Horikita-senpai. But I'm certain you'll pay the price I'm asking."
After all, it was better to have one more ally than one more enemy.
"Interesting. Tell me more."
Horikita Manabu picked up the USB drive and fixed his gaze on Amakasa.
Amakasa's lips curled into a smile as he held up a hand to indicate a number. "I only want eight million Private Points."
"Eight million?"
"Eight million Private Points, and I'll also hand over the Class 3-B footage to you.
"As for how many points you can get from Class 3-B, that's up to you."
Horikita Manabu considered it for a moment before speaking. "What are your conditions?"
Amakasa raised two fingers. "I want two spots in the Student Council."
"You don't seem to want to openly go up against Class 3-B. That means I can only use the footage to reduce the points they hold. I can't reduce Class 3-B's Class Points. That doesn't make it worth the price to me."
Amakasa smiled. "It really isn't worth that much. I'm the one losing out."
Then Amakasa added, "I can also give you the second-year footage, Horikita-senpai.
"Even though Miyabi Nagumo is a rabid dog who bites people, he knows how to play the game. Two recordings would cost one thousand points? No, ten million Private Points.
"As the person who brought an entire year under his control, I'm sure Nagumo can come up with that much.
"Of course, I have one more condition. Keep that rabid dog off my back until you graduate, Horikita-senpai. I don't want my school life to become unpleasant."
After hearing him out, Horikita Manabu smiled. This really was a highly profitable offer for him.
This junior knew how to play the game.
Amakasa's proposal made Horikita Manabu inclined to turn a blind eye to what had happened.
After all, it had happened right in front of the Student Council President.
Amakasa didn't think Horikita Manabu would use that to pressure him, but that didn't mean he wouldn't head off the possibility.
"I accept your conditions. But I'll give you ten million Private Points, plus a gift."
Horikita Manabu slipped the USB drive securely into his pocket, then took out his phone and tapped the screen a few times.
Before long, Amakasa's personal account had gained ten million Private Points.
But Amakasa wasn't pleased to receive ten million points. Ten million plus a gift—it was obvious Horikita Manabu wanted something from him.
What could Horikita Manabu ask Amakasa for?
There was no need to think about it. Horikita Suzune.
"Can I refuse, Horikita-senpai?"
"I'll offer you terms you can't refuse." Horikita sighed.
"I have a younger sister. Suzune was placed in Class D, which is enough to show where she falls short. I want to see her grow over the next year."
Amakasa sighed too. "So? What are these terms I can't refuse?"
"After I graduate, I'll give you all the points belonging to Class 3-A."