Matsuo Eiichiro

"Pleasure working with you!"

Suzune no longer lowered her head, raising her eyes to look at Satsu. Her face was flushed, as if she had just been forced to do something shameful.

Although she and Satsu were shaking hands as a matter of courtesy, their hearts were not as harmonious as their outward appearances suggested.

"You bastard! You took such a huge advantage of me, just you wait and see how I'll boss you around later!" (Horikita Suzune)

"Hey, hey, hey! What do you mean I took advantage of you? You just said something you didn't mean!" (Kato Satsu)

Satsu withdrew his hand, and after politely bidding farewell to Suzune, he headed to the classroom alone.

He didn't choose to go with Ayanokoji because, after what had just happened, the atmosphere between the three of them was a bit too awkward.

"To not let your objective fail, to not be at a complete loss, you even said you liked me. What else can I say?" (Kato Satsu)

"I can only work hard myself. After all, you are Horikita Suzune~" (Kato Satsu)

"The plan to make money targeting Nagumo Miyabi must be accelerated. Lingering with Suzune will only lead to deeper entanglement." (Kato Satsu)

Satsu lowered his head, contemplating his plan, completely unaware of Suzune's reprimand of Ayanokoji behind him.

"That hurts!"

Ayanokoji rubbed his chest, protesting as he looked at Suzune, "Pens are for writing, not for stabbing people!"

With a crisp "snap," Suzune closed the cap of her pen and looked at Ayanokoji indifferently, "Talking nonsense, this is your punishment!"

"I did that for your plan! Don't you want Satsu to join?" Ayanokoji said dejectedly.

"I don't need him! I didn't say I'd sacrifice this much for it!"

Seeing Ayanokoji continuously pressing his chest, Suzune said impatiently, "Alright, stop pretending. It didn't even stab that deep, and you blocked some of my force, didn't you?"

Speaking of which, Suzune couldn't help but praise, "Ayanokoji, your reaction speed isn't bad."

"It was just a coincidence."

"A coincidence?"

Suzune repeated it under her breath but didn't dwell on it. "Regarding the study group, if you and Kato can't handle it, you'll atone with your lives!"

After speaking, Suzune left quickly without waiting for Ayanokoji's reply.

"There's no need for that, atoning with one's life." Ayanokoji muttered.

"However, with Satsu's participation, the study group should be easily managed."

Outside the school, in an unknown apartment building.

Matsuo Eiichiro, as usual, neatly put on his school uniform, preparing to go to school.

As soon as he opened the thick iron door of the apartment, Eiichiro couldn't help but look at his father sitting in the living room.

His father, once gentle and refined, was now unrecognizable. His hair was messy, his face covered in stubble, his once-white lab coat wrinkled and rumpled. Empty wine bottles were scattered around the table, a picture of destitution and despair, a man lost in alcohol.

The source of all this began when Eiichiro's father, Matsuo, lost his job.

Eiichiro's father, Matsuo, was originally an excellent butler. At first, Eiichiro didn't pay much attention to his father's unemployment, thinking he would find a job soon.

But reality was incredibly cruel. No matter what kind of position it was, Matsuo's resume would disappear without a trace.

Even when applying for a dishwasher job, Matsuo was rejected. His income was zero, but household expenses were not.

Finally, one day, Matsuo seemed to realize something and gave up on life and himself, starting to drink heavily.

Eiichiro had tried to talk to his father, but his only response was his father's boundless silence. Matsuo's silence was enough to drive someone mad.

Even though Eiichiro cleaned the room countless times, Matsuo didn't seem to appreciate his son's thoughtfulness and always made a mess in front of Eiichiro.

Looking at the mess in the room, Eiichiro forced a smile and said to his father, "Father, I'm going to school now. It's okay, Father! I'll find a way to help with the household expenses."

"Actually, I've already found a part-time job. I'm very capable, aren't I? Hahaha! So, I'll be back late tonight..."

Seeing that his father wasn't paying attention, Eiichiro wisely stopped talking and closed the door to leave.

As soon as he closed the door, the smile on Eiichiro's face vanished, and melancholy and anxiety instantly filled his heart.

He hadn't actually found a part-time job. Like his father, Eiichiro couldn't find any work, not even as a convenience store cashier.

Things had also taken a turn for the worse at school. Eiichiro, who had just entered his first year, had everything going smoothly. His grades were among the top in his class, and his relationships with teachers and classmates were harmonious.

But not long ago, strange things started happening one after another. His homework was no longer graded by the teacher, and neither were his tests.

The teacher ignored his questions after class. The teacher even publicly announced that no student was allowed to associate with Eiichiro anymore.

Eiichiro had tried to communicate with the teacher more than once, wondering if he had done something wrong. But the teacher acted as if he didn't exist.

Looking up at the blue sky, Eiichiro felt for the first time that the sky was so distant.

"Matsuo!"

Hearing that familiar and sweet voice, Eiichiro subconsciously regained his gentle smile and replied, "Nanase!"

Looking towards the staircase, the sweet-smiling girl was waving at him. Eiichiro always felt a ray of light shining into his heart, briefly dispelling the gloom.

"Uncle Matsuo, is he still in a bad mood today?"

Eiichiro nodded helplessly.

"Then I'll buy some gifts and go see him after school."

"Thank you, Nanase," Eiichiro said gratefully.

"Nanase Tsubasa, we need to hurry, we're going to be late for school!"

"Coming!"

Hearing her friend's call, Nanase Tsubasa quickly replied, "Matsuo, I'm heading off now."

"Yeah!"

Eiichiro nodded slightly.

Nanase, how am I supposed to tell you about the current situation at my house?

As soon as he arrived at school, Eiichiro was stopped by a security guard. "Matsuo Eiichiro, right? I'm sorry, but we can't let you in."

"Is it because I'm late? There's a reason for that, I..."

Eiichiro prepared to explain himself, as he had been targeted quite often over the past few days and such incidents were becoming common.

But today was different. Without waiting for Eiichiro to finish, the guard pulled out a paper notice.

Eiichiro focused his eyes on it, and it clearly read: "Notice of Expulsion."

"What is this! I can't accept this. I haven't done anything wrong, why are you doing this!" Eiichiro shouted.

However, he was met only with the guard's cold dismissal.