A New Target

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

Seeing Ichinose's terrified expression, Hasebe asked with concern.

Ichinose didn't respond at all. The only sound coming from her was her teeth chattering.

Why is this lunatic standing here in broad daylight? Are those two students beside him his friends? (Ichinose Honami)

Come on, how could a lunatic like that have friends? They must be students the school sent to keep an eye on him. (Ichinose Honami)

The school actually sent two students to monitor him! (Ichinose Honami)

Faced with Ichinose's strange reaction, Ayanokoji and Hasebe were both confused. Why would someone suddenly make an expression like that?

She looked as frightened as if she were trapped in a cage with a beast.

More than Ichinose's expression, Satsu was interested in the thoughts she'd just had. Monitoring!

So I really am being watched in secret. Who could it be? (Kato Satsu)

After the incident where he'd beaten up school staff had been dealt with, Satsu had wondered whether someone might be keeping an eye on him.

But in all this time, he hadn't noticed anything unusual. Sometimes he'd even wondered if someone had taken care of the problem for him, or if there was some other reason it had been settled.

The incident had been handled far too lightly. There had been witnesses and a video recording. He could easily have been expelled.

Forget it. There's no point dwelling on that now. The most important thing is the situation right in front of me. (Kato Satsu)

If Ichinose suddenly loses control and blurts everything out, I'm in trouble. (Kato Satsu)

Satsu kept close tabs on the thoughts of the two beside him. Just as they were about to ask Ichinose what was wrong, Satsu stepped forward first.

"Hey, are you..."

The moment she saw Satsu approaching, Ichinose turned and ran without hesitation. She kept whimpering as she fled, practically scrambling away on all fours.

"What a strange person. Is there something behind us?"

As she spoke, Hasebe looked back down the hallway, but saw nothing except sunlight and shadows.

"Everything looks perfectly normal!"

"Maybe there's some other reason," Ayanokoji said slowly, though his eyes unconsciously lingered on Satsu.

Ichinose kept staring at Satsu. The problem is obviously him, but judging from what he said just now, he doesn't seem to know her. (Ayanokoji Kiyotaka)

Excellent academic ability, a strong physique, and an extensive information network. Was the school really not mistaken when they assigned Kato Satsu to Class D? (Ayanokoji Kiyotaka)

Hearing all this, the corner of Satsu's mouth twitched slightly. He can tell Ichinose is afraid of me just by looking at her? Give me a break. That's no fun.

Still, this encounter with Ichinose had given Satsu an idea—an idea for making money.

Ever since buying a second phone, Satsu had plunged right back into poverty. He could still get by, but now that he'd decided to reach Class A on his own, he needed far more than he had.

Twenty million points was the goal. So how was he going to get them?

Take points from those broke Class D students? No, no. Of course I should take them from whoever has money! And who at this school has the most money? Who's most likely to be able to hand over twenty million points?

Miyabi Nagumo and Horikita Manabu!

"Alright, why don't we grab something to eat before heading back to the dorm?"

Hasebe responded enthusiastically to Satsu's suggestion.

"Sure, sure!"

Then she turned to Ayanokoji beside her. "Ayanokoji, want to come with us?"

"I..."

Ayanokoji's gaze darted back and forth between Satsu and Hasebe. He hesitated before saying, "I think I'll pass. I want to go to the supermarket later."

I don't have anything to buy, obviously. What would I do while you two are flirting right in front of me? (Ayanokoji Kiyotaka)

"Okay, then it'll just be Satsu and me." With that, Hasebe took Satsu by the hand and hurried off with him.

"See you later, Kiyotaka! We'll be in touch!"

As Hasebe pulled him along, Satsu still remembered to wave goodbye to Ayanokoji, who waved back.

"Sure!"

Sometimes, I really envy someone like Satsu. (Ayanokoji Kiyotaka)

With good looks, socializing becomes so much easier. His popularity with girls is especially enviable. (Ayanokoji Kiyotaka)

The sun had not yet set completely, and the hallway was bathed in a dusky golden light. Ayanokoji turned and walked away from Satsu and Hasebe, leaving them behind.

Without pausing or saying a word, his expression blank, he headed off on his own as the two of them chatted and laughed.

That evening, Satsu sat alone, thinking about his plan to earn points. There was never enough, it seemed. Since the start of term, he'd worried about points more than once.

He'd already settled on a goal, but neither of the two men he'd chosen was easy to deal with.

Horikita Manabu and Miyabi Nagumo were undoubtedly the two top cards in the deck. The latter had united the entire second year, along with some of the third years.

At this school, Miyabi Nagumo was undeniably a boss-level figure. Other than being a little weak physically, there was hardly anything wrong with him.

Horikita Manabu, on the other hand, was even more impressive. At such a young age, he'd earned a fifth dan in karate and a fourth dan in aikido.

His academic ability was impeccable too. Calm and powerful, Horikita was practically a perfect person.

Most terrifying of all, this monster also had a strong sense of solidarity. He could talk about the class as a collective in a way that showed tremendous leadership.

Even against Miyabi Nagumo, Horikita Manabu could keep the upper hand. Calling him the highest trump card in the deck was well deserved.

Trying to snatch food from these two tigers might cost him his teeth. But nothing ventured, nothing gained.

There were other ways to earn points at school, such as competitions through club activities, but that would undoubtedly take too long. He wasn't trying to earn just enough to cover his living expenses.

"I'll start with Miyabi Nagumo, the lower trump card! He threatened me before, anyway," Satsu muttered.

Now that he'd picked a target, all that remained was to come up with a plan.

Satsu took out a piece of paper and sat beneath the desk lamp, lost in thought. But before long, he ran his fingers through his hair in frustration until it stuck up like a bird's nest.

"I've got no money and no people. I can't put any plan into action!" he muttered irritably.

"I'll need to get some money together for start-up capital first."

The contradiction left Satsu at a loss. He was trying to make money, but to make the big money, he first had to get a little money.

"Wait!"

A sudden flash of inspiration gave Satsu an idea. "There's still one person who has plenty of money and is easier to deal with than Miyabi Nagumo or Horikita Manabu."

"Honami Ichinose!"