Deal

Shinomiya had to explain and apologize repeatedly before he managed to calm this little ancestor down.

"I still don't get it. Is your spending really that outrageous? Are the dishes that expensive?"

Kushida questioned Shinomiya's earlier remarks.

"For meals, the two of us spend around 180,000 a month. My own living expenses and other costs come to about 120,000. That's roughly 300,000 every month."

Shinomiya told Kushida his calculations.

"But why? What are you buying that costs so much?"

"Each meal costs around 1,000 points. Clothes and daily necessities aren't too bad, but whenever I see something that catches my eye, I buy it. Naturally, my spending goes up," Shinomiya said honestly.

Kushida no longer wanted to criticize Shinomiya's spending habits. Although she had become somewhat extravagant lately too, she would never reach Shinomiya's absurd level.

As for cutting back on expenses, Kushida knew without even thinking that Shinomiya could not do it. Otherwise, he would not be trying to find ways to make money.

"How do you want me to help?" Kushida asked helplessly.

"Do you know Ichinose from Class B?"

"I know her, but we're not close."

"That's enough. Just back me up and arrange a meeting."

Inside a private room at a café.

Shinomiya and Ichinose sat facing each other.

Shinomiya could not help sighing. Kushida really was efficient.

A stranger, a transaction, and the need to make a good impression.

All the elements were in place. Shinomiya once again put on the signature smile he believed had never failed him.

"Hello, Ichinose. I'm Shinomiya Yo from Class D. I came here this time because I'd like to trade information with Class B."

Ichinose smiled and nodded in response.

"What would Shinomiya like to trade for?"

After speaking, Ichinose looked at Shinomiya with an angelic smile.

So dazzling!

What is this?!

There is truly no stronger person in this world!

Even more dazzling than Kushida and her signature smile!

Shinomiya was utterly defeated and froze in a daze.

"Shinomiya? Are you all right?"

Seeing that Shinomiya was completely unresponsive, Ichinose turned to Kushida beside him for help.

Seeing Shinomiya acting like an idiot, Kushida directly pinched the soft flesh at his waist.

Hiss!

The pain brought Shinomiya back to his senses.

"Ah... sorry! Let's continue. It's about the school rules..."

Shinomiya told Ichinose about the school's anomaly and offered to sell the various school rules for 500,000 points.

He even produced a contract certified by the Student Council.

Ichinose was tempted. After contacting the others in her class to discuss it, she ultimately decided to make the trade.

The two sides signed the contract. Seeing the 500,000 points deposited into his account, Shinomiya smiled as well.

"Pleasure doing business!" Shinomiya and Ichinose shook hands symbolically.

After seeing Ichinose off, Kushida returned and looked at Shinomiya, who was eating a parfait.

"What about Class C? Their class is rather closed off. I don't know anyone there." Kushida casually pulled out a chair and sat down.

"It's fine. They'll be here soon. I'm quite familiar with Class C." He took another bite of his parfait.

Before long, two muscular boys walked in.

They were Ryuuen Kakeru and Albert Yamada.

"Yo! The old friends are here."

"I ordered coffee for you two."

Shinomiya pushed two cups of coffee toward them.

"What exactly do you want from us?" Ryuuen Kakeru did not bother with pleasantries and went straight to the point.

"Anyway, it won't do you any harm.

To be honest, I didn't expect you to be the one who won in the end." Shinomiya smiled.

Ryuuen Kakeru did not respond. He merely stared at him.

"All right, I'll be direct."

It was the same pitch he had used on Ichinose.

Ryuuen Kakeru was not as straightforward as Ichinose.

"Why should I trade with you? I can investigate it myself."

"Whatever makes you happy. Just a friendly reminder: the later you buy it, the more you lose. And buying it from a teacher costs 1,000,000."

Ryuuen Kakeru contacted others to have the teachers verify it and received an affirmative answer.

"400,000."

"500,000. No bargaining. Classes A and B have already bought it. Think it over."

Ryuuen Kakeru fell into thought again.

"Add one condition. You can't tell your class this information."

"Deal!"

The two quickly completed the transaction and signed the contract.

Before leaving, Ryuuen Kakeru threw down a challenge to Shinomiya.

"Shinomiya Yo, I'll defeat you someday. Just wait."

"Oh. Sure, sure. I'll be waiting." Shinomiya answered perfunctorily, still checking whether the points had arrived. He did not even look up.

Ryuuen Kakeru was not angered by this. He simply turned and left.

After confirming the points had arrived.

"Ah, that feels good. An easy 1,000,000 points."

Shinomiya looked at Kushida. "Is there anything you want to eat? My treat."

Kushida snorted. "You already owe me. Go next door right now and buy me a tiramisu."

Before Shinomiya had even had his fill of showing off, Kushida was ordering him around. He could only obediently do as she said.

He placed the tiramisu in front of Kushida.

Kushida gestured for Shinomiya to sit beside her, then gently stroked his head.

"That's my good baby."

Shinomiya was somewhat speechless. Had she just learned how to train a dog?

A stick, then a treat.

That's way too crude!

Does Kushida want to train me?

Well, I'll let the silly child have her fun.

Shinomiya obediently rubbed himself against Kushida's palm.

Kushida was a little surprised.

This works that well?

I should use it more often. Hehe!

"Kushida, if you want, tell the class that information."

Kushida froze. "Didn't you just sign a contract saying you can't tell anyone?"

Shinomiya sat up straight. "That applies to me, not you. Besides, don't you want the whole class's recognition and gratitude?" Shinomiya looked at her with encouragement in his eyes.

Kushida was tempted as well.

"Still, don't expect too much from the people in our class. Nine times out of ten, they won't listen."

Shinomiya leaned back in his chair as he offered his assessment.

Seeing this, Kushida grabbed Shinomiya's hair with both hands and vigorously ruffled it. "I'm the master. Don't tell me what to do."

Shinomiya immediately begged for mercy. "Yes, yes, yes, I was wrong."

"How do you know people in Class C? You have to report everything to me." Kushida's grip tightened.

"That happened not long after school started. I hadn't even begun doing things for you yet," Shinomiya explained.

"I don't care! No matter what it is, you have to report it to me!"

"Okay! Okay! Okay!"

After Shinomiya accepted Kushida's training, the two finally parted and returned to their dormitories.

After washing up, Shinomiya lay on his bed.

Let's see what result the memory palace has analyzed.

Shinomiya sank into the depths of his consciousness and discovered many things from the past that he had not noticed before.

Wait!

What is this?

I was tricked?

Damn it, that bastard Koenji had been secretly working out since way back then.

That guy really was born rebellious!

Shinomiya also discovered that he had encountered quite a few ill-intentioned people before.

However, their schemes had all been casually crushed by Shinomiya. Mainly because Shinomiya never played by the rules.

I never knew I was this "popular"!

Some had also been dealt with by his family. No wonder some people disappeared after he met them only once.

All those things Shinomiya had either not known about or simply had not cared about in the past now surfaced one by one.

The world really is dark!

The analysis of his past memories progressed rapidly, and it had already finished analyzing everything from before Shinomiya graduated elementary school.