Horikita Suzune couldn't argue with Watanabe Hayabara. It wasn't just because she had asked him to help her classmates; everything he'd said was right. She had no obligation to help them, so she felt a little better.
Ayanokoji watched Horikita's reaction and shook his head slightly. But he couldn't argue with Watanabe Hayabara either, because deep down, he agreed with what Watanabe Hayabara had done.
Watanabe Hayabara had indeed noticed Ayanokoji's behavior. Ayanokoji had clearly given up on Horikita Suzune and was preparing to look for another puppet.
Chabashira Sae watched everything unfold without comment. "A student who's both excessively rational and excessively dangerous. Still, he has what it takes to lead his class to Class A."
Watanabe Hayabara exchanged a glance with Chabashira Sae, then paid her 100,000 personal points to cancel Ijuin Wataru's expulsion.
After paying the points, Watanabe Hayabara waved. "See you. I'm heading out. I've got things to do."
Chabashira Sae, Horikita Suzune, and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka watched Watanabe Hayabara leave in silence.
"All right. Now that the points have been paid, you can let everyone know that Iju's expulsion has been canceled."
"Horikita, you've gotten a little sense of Ayanokoji's abilities, haven't you?"
"...Who knows? I just think he's an irritating student."
"What? You think I'm irritating...?"
With the business taken care of, the three of them started chatting.
"With you two around, maybe the class really can make it up to the top."
"Let's leave him aside for now. I'm definitely going to make it to one of the top classes." As Horikita spoke, she pointed at Ayanokoji, who showed no reaction.
"Horikita, does Watanabe Hayabara have a goal of making it to Class A?" Chabashira Sae asked.
"Well... I'm not sure."
Horikita Suzune didn't give a clear answer, and Chabashira Sae had more or less expected that. So she changed the subject slightly.
"Class D has never advanced before. That's because the school has cast you aside as defective products. How do you plan to climb up from here?"
"Teacher, may I say something?" Horikita Suzune stared into Chabashira Sae's eyes.
"Maybe most of the students in Class D really are defective products. But being defective isn't the same as being useless."
"What's the difference between something useless and something defective?"
"There's only a fine line between being defective and not. I think that with a little repair and modification, something defective could become useful."
"It's strange, Horikita. I can hardly believe those words came from you." Chabashira Sae looked astonished, then gave a faint smile.
"Then I'll look forward to it. As your homeroom teacher, I'll watch over your future with great interest." With that, Chabashira Sae left the rooftop and headed for the teachers' office.
Watanabe Hayabara sent Kushida Kikyo a message, asking her to meet him on the field that night.
"Kushida, you must be under a lot of pressure right now. After all, a lot of trash in your class is attacking you, especially those two." Chabashira Sae gave an evil grin.
"Did Watanabe ask me out here to comfort me?" Kushida Kikyo still spoke in her cute, playful tone.
"It's been a while since I've seen the real you. Has anything changed in your outlook, Kushida Kikyo?" Watanabe Hayabara didn't indulge her.
"Watanabe Hayabara, you missed me, huh? Knowing that I'm in a terrible mood because that bunch of trash is getting on my nerves, you still came to see me." Kushida Kikyo's voice turned cold.
"If I died from overexertion because of Little Kikyo, I wouldn't mind. Any other cause, though, is out of the question. I value my life, after all. Besides, you're not capable of that, are you, Little Kikyo?"
"You didn't ask me here just to mock and ridicule me, did you?! Watanabe Hayabara!"
"Of course not. I really do feel sorry for Little Kikyo, so I asked her to come. After all, Horikita came up with the suggestion, but Little Kikyo has to take the blame. Poor Little Kikyo."
"Watanabe Hayabara, I know what you're getting at. I can give you my body and let you do whatever you want with me, but you have to help me destroy Horikita!" Kushida Kikyo gritted her teeth.
"Oh, my. Little Kikyo hates Horikita that much? But I can't quite bring myself to hurt Horikita, so I have to turn down that deal, Little Kikyo."
"Then we have nothing to talk about. Get lost, Watanabe Hayabara."
"If Little Kikyo talks to me like that, I don't mind making her true nature public." Watanabe Hayabara shook his phone.
"You..." Kushida Kikyo clenched her teeth and held back her anger. "What do you want?"
"Nothing in particular. I just thought I'd come see Little Kikyo. Or is it so wrong to want to learn about her past?"
"If you don't want anything, I'm leaving." As she spoke, Kushida Kikyo started to walk away.
"How about this? Tell me your story, and I'll grant you one favor. But it has to be within the bounds of my principles. What do you say, Little Kikyo? Tempting, isn't it?"
"My story..." Kushida Kikyo thought it over briefly, then began to tell it.
"..."
"I'd really like to see your blog, Little Kikyo. I bet it's pretty interesting."
"So, can I ask for my favor now, Watanabe Hayabara?!"
"Nope. Actually, I lied. A favor is a valuable thing; I don't hand out promises like that so easily, Little Kikyo."
"You..." Unable to contain her anger, Kushida Kikyo swung a fist at him, but Watanabe Hayabara caught it in one hand.
"You have no right to fight back against me, Kushida Kikyo." Watanabe Hayabara gave her a sinister smile.
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