A Transaction

"You really are committed to being fair, Watanabe Hayabara. You're not showing Class D any favoritism at all." Horikita Manabu looked at Watanabe Hayabara, a meaningful smile tugging at his lips. His tone carried a hint of teasing.

"There's nothing to gain from showing Class D favoritism." Watanabe Hayabara neatly arranged the documents, then looked up with a smile of his own, his eyes glinting shrewdly. "I knew Kazuma Sakagami would come up with excuses like that. But what do you think of your sister's performance, President Horikita?" He abruptly changed tack, steering the conversation toward Horikita Suzune.

"Suzune has changed quite noticeably." Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses, a hint of pride barely detectable in his voice. Then he shifted gears again and fixed Watanabe Hayabara with a sharp gaze. "But what do you think really happened? I'd like to hear your take."

"The truth doesn't matter." Watanabe Hayabara spoke offhandedly, as if they were discussing some trivial matter. "Either way, both Classes C and D will benefit." There was something mysterious in his tone, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

"Both classes benefit, huh? I'm curious to see what these respective gains are that you're talking about, Public Morals Committee Member Watanabe." Horikita Manabu gave Watanabe Hayabara a long look, then turned and left with Tachibana Akane. Clutching the documents, Tachibana Akane hurried to keep up with Horikita Manabu. Before leaving, she glanced back at Watanabe Hayabara and pulled a face of disgust.

Watanabe Hayabara merely smiled at that, then turned and hurried toward the Special School Building.

The corridor in the Special School Building was dim, and the air carried a faint smell of dust. Watanabe Hayabara leaned lazily against the peeling wall, hands in his uniform pockets, and looked at Ryuen Kakeru standing some distance away. A playful smile tugged at his lips. "Everything's going smoothly, Ryuen Kakeru."

Ryuen Kakeru folded his arms and glanced sidelong at Watanabe Hayabara, his tone brazenly arrogant. "I just hope those three idiots don't do anything stupid over the next three days and ruin my plan." There was a trace of irritation in his voice. Clearly, he didn't trust those three Class C students.

"Whatever stupid things those three idiots do won't have much impact on our plan." Watanabe Hayabara spoke offhandedly, looking unconcerned, as though the outcome had nothing to do with him.

"Of course, you only think about things from the perspective of your own interests. It won't affect you." Ryuen Kakeru sneered, displeasure flashing in his eyes. "But if you don't get the job done, I'll change the price." His tone was an unmistakable threat, as if warning Watanabe Hayabara not to get too pleased with himself.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going. I'll provide the edited recording." Watanabe Hayabara didn't take the threat seriously at all. He waved a hand and turned to leave, then glanced back and said coolly, "And your threats don't work on me. Do you think I'd bother with an ant? It's hard to master the strength to step over an ant without killing it."

With that, he left on his own, leaving Ryuen Kakeru standing there. Watching Watanabe Hayabara walk away, Ryuen Kakeru gritted his teeth in fury and clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.

The next morning, the sunlight had just begun streaming through the classroom windows when Horikita Suzune strode over to Watanabe Hayabara's desk. She folded her arms and fixed him with a sharp glare, her voice edged with displeasure. "Watanabe, why didn't you help us? Why did you take Class C's side instead?" Her voice wasn't loud, but it drew curious looks from the students nearby.

"Watanabe has his reasons." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, seated a short distance away, heard Horikita's accusation and spoke up in Watanabe Hayabara's defense, his expression perfectly calm.

"This has nothing to do with you, Ayanokoji." Horikita Suzune glanced at Ayanokoji, her tone still firm, but kept her gaze fixed on Watanabe Hayabara. Clearly, she had no intention of letting him off the hook.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" Watanabe Hayabara put down the textbook in his hands and looked up at Horikita Suzune, a helpless smile tugging at his lips. "Your brother already gave me a heads-up that the Student Council would handle things fairly. Wasn't that a reminder? You can't expect me to get fired on my first day, Horikita." His tone was teasing, but he seemed to be telling the truth.

"Still, you didn't have to leave Class D in the lurch. Airi Sakura told me beforehand that she had high hopes for you." Horikita Suzune clearly wasn't buying his excuse. Her tone grew more urgent, and she even brought up Airi Sakura.

"Did she?" Watanabe Hayabara looked toward Airi Sakura, who was sitting nearby. When she noticed his gaze, she quickly lowered her head, her cheeks flushing. He looked away and said casually, "Don't worry, Horikita. I've already found proof that Class C deliberately provoked and attacked Miyake."

"Really? Then why didn't you provide it sooner?" Horikita Suzune immediately asked, confusion and a trace of anticipation in her eyes.

"No need to rush, Horikita. Don't you think it'd be fun to slap Kazuma Sakagami in the face?" As he spoke, Watanabe Hayabara pulled a small USB drive from his pocket and twirled it between his fingers. "This is a recording of my conversation with Class C's tyrant, Ryuen Kakeru. I've altered my voice to sound like one of the Class C students. In the recording, Ryuen Kakeru admits that he ordered those three Class C students to provoke a fight. With this, you're sure to win."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had been silently watching Watanabe Hayabara. At this, he lowered his head and fell into thought, his fingers tapping the desk unconsciously. Then he looked up at Horikita Suzune, wanting to see how she would react.

"How did you get this recording?" Horikita Suzune, as expected, asked the crucial question, her eyes full of suspicion.

"Obviously, after I won that one-sided fight, he wanted to save face. He had no idea I had everything under control." As he spoke, Watanabe Hayabara clenched his fist, a confident smile on his face, as though everything had gone according to plan.

"I see." After hearing Watanabe Hayabara's explanation, Horikita Suzune asked no more questions. She merely nodded, and much of the suspicion in her eyes faded.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka saw how readily Horikita Suzune believed him and quietly shook his head. He had already begun considering replacing his puppet.

Watanabe Hayabara keenly noticed the gesture. The smile on his lips faded slightly, and he turned to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, asking with a hint of curiosity, "You're shaking your head, Ayanokoji. Do you have something to say?"

At that, Horikita Suzune also turned to look, a trace of confusion in her eyes. She clearly didn't understand why Ayanokoji would react that way.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka met their gazes and replied evenly, "I just think Ryuen Kakeru wouldn't be so careless. Given his personality, he wouldn't leave evidence like this so easily. There could be a trap hidden in the recording."

"You're overthinking it, Ayanokoji." Horikita Suzune immediately objected. She clearly trusted the evidence Watanabe Hayabara had provided more. "Watanabe has already edited the recording, and Ryuen Kakeru is naturally reckless. It wouldn't be surprising if he left something incriminating behind." Her tone was certain, and she seemed displeased by Ayanokoji's doubts.

"Maybe." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka didn't argue further. He simply answered in a flat tone and lowered his head again, as though the conversation had never happened.