The Freeloader Queen's Lunch, the Four Classes' Situation Under Control

Noon, the school cafeteria.

"There sure are a lot of people."

Sakamayanagi Arisu looked at the bustling cafeteria and remarked.

Tatsuya Sakuya said, "If you're not eager to eat, there's something wrong with your brain. Besides, it's peak dining time right now. Go save us some seats first. Tell Kamuro Masumi what you want to eat."

Since Sakamayanagi Arisu had difficulty moving around, only Tatsuya Sakuya and Kamuro Masumi lined up at the automatic ticket machines by the cafeteria entrance to buy meal tickets.

"I'll have the deluxe thick-cut black pork cutlet rice bowl, with a double portion of pork cutlets."

Standing beside the ticket machine, Tatsuya Sakuya shamelessly pointed at the pricey signature dish on the screen.

Kamuro Masumi rubbed her eyes in disbelief.

This guy had not only traded trash talk with Sakamayanagi in the gym earlier, but now he was actually ordering such an expensive meal without the slightest psychological burden. She had never seen anyone so shameless.

"You're really letting a girl treat you without a shred of guilt?"

Kamuro Masumi swiped Sakamayanagi's student card to buy the meal tickets, glaring at Tatsuya Sakuya irritably.

"A beautiful girl is treating me, so of course I should eat something good. Besides, isn't it Sakamayanagi's student card being swiped? Why are you worrying about it?"

Tatsuya Sakuya took the heavy tray from the pickup counter and retorted with complete confidence.

Kamuro Masumi: "..."

The table held the meals Kamuro had brought over.

Sakamayanagi had a delicate sashimi set with a tiny portion, Sakuya had a steaming bowl of thick-cut black pork cutlet rice, while Kamuro herself had only ordered the cheapest sandwich.

"Mm, come to think of it, that game of chess made my mouth completely dry."

After sitting down, Tatsuya Sakuya sighed and glanced at Kamuro Masumi.

"Kamuro, could I trouble you to buy me a drink from the vending machine outside?"

"Huh? Why should I run errands for you?"

Like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on, Kamuro Masumi instantly bristled.

"A friend comes from afar—shouldn't that be a joy? As a guest invited by Sakamayanagi Arisu, Sakamayanagi Arisu is already treating you to lunch. Shouldn't you show a little appreciation?"

Tatsuya Sakuya slowly pulled his phone from his pocket and pointed at it.

"I think the canned beer in that vending machine outside looks pretty good, don't you, Kamuro? Especially the kind you didn't pay for."

Tatsuya Sakuya deliberately stressed the words "didn't pay for."

What a vile bastard.

What did he mean by pointing at his phone?

Could it be that he still had a backup of that video?

He had emphasized "didn't pay for," hadn't he? Was that deliberate, or was it an accident?

It was definitely deliberate by accident.

Seeing Tatsuya Sakuya's smug expression, Kamuro Masumi felt her anger flare up.

"Ah... I suddenly feel thirsty."

Kamuro abruptly stood up, nearly knocking over the glass on the table with the force of her movement.

She glared at Sakuya through gritted teeth, forcing out several words one by one.

"Tatsuya, I'll go buy it for you. You. Just. Wait. For. Me."

Sakamayanagi Arisu said, "Bring me one too while you're at it."

There was no canned beer in the vending machine at all.

Had it sold out, or had it never been there?

That guy had definitely done it on purpose, right?

Kamuro muttered to herself in front of the vending machine, then casually took three bottles of Coca-Cola.

On the way back, Kamuro Masumi suddenly came up with an idea.

I'll make you drink it.

I'll make you drink it.

I'll make you drink it.

Kamuro Masumi violently shook the Coke intended for Tatsuya Sakuya. Thinking about the expression he would make later, she began to feel delighted.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Sakamayanagi."

Kamuro Masumi returned to her seat.

"Did I miss anything while I was buying drinks?"

Did she just ignore me completely?

Am I even a person?

Am I really even a person?

Three huge question marks filled Tatsuya Sakuya's mind.

Sakamayanagi Arisu said, "No. We were just talking about you two. So you already knew each other."

"We got acquainted through a fight, after all."

Tatsuya Sakuya casually brushed it off.

"There wasn't any beer in the vending machine. Here, your Coke."

No, no, I can't laugh yet. I need to hold it in. Once he opens the cap, that'll be my victory.

Kamuro handed the Coke, which had been shaken eighty-one times, to Tatsuya Sakuya. A faint curve appeared at the corner of her lips.

Hey, she smiled just now, didn't she?

Something had to be wrong.

Had she poisoned the Coke?

But the bottle cap hadn't been opened.

Was I overthinking it? Maybe there really was no problem?

But she definitely smiled. I definitely saw it.

Was I supposed to admit defeat?

Tatsuya Sakuya accepted the Coke from Kamuro Masumi, his mind racing.

Just drink it already.

Weren't you thirsty?

"Tatsuya, Coke tastes best while it's cold. If it reaches room temperature, it won't taste good anymore."

Kamuro Masumi grew a little anxious when she saw that he still was not drinking it.

"Sakamayanagi, open the Coke for me. My hands are a little full."

Kamuro Masumi, how would you handle this?

Tatsuya Sakuya suddenly came up with an excellent idea.

"No, no, no. Sakamayanagi can't open it for you."

Kamuro Masumi replied with a slight stutter.

"Why not?" × 2

They spoke at the same time.

"Because I accidentally dropped that bottle of Coke earlier. If you open it carelessly, it might spray everywhere."

Seeing that her plan had failed, Kamuro Masumi had no choice but to confess.

So there really was a problem.

Now he could finally relax.

Tatsuya Sakuya picked up a juicy piece of pork cutlet and put it into his mouth.

"Mm... freeloaded pork cutlet rice really is the most delicious food in the world."

Across from him, Sakamayanagi elegantly picked up a small piece of salmon with her chopsticks and spoke with a smile.

"Tatsuya, you seem to have adapted quite well to your current life."

"However... I'm curious."

"With your abilities and intelligence, why did you end up in Class 1-D, the place known as the Defective Product Depot?"

"Defective products?"

Kamuro Masumi seemed to have heard something interesting.

Tatsuya Sakuya swallowed the rice in his mouth, then pulled out a tissue and wiped his lips.

I am Tatsuya Sakuya. Time to start lying.

"My initial guess is that, by the school's standards, I didn't meet the requirements for Class 1-C and could only enter Class 1-D. Still, Class 1-D is pretty good. Everyone speaks so nicely, and they're all incredible talents. I really love it there."

Sakamayanagi Arisu laughed at his absurd excuse.

"Is that so? But from what I know, Class 1-D's current situation does not seem very optimistic."

She took a sip of Coke, her gaze becoming meaningful.

"It has only been a little over half a month since school began, yet your class's discipline has been absolutely dreadful. Tardiness, leaving early, playing on phones, sleeping in class..."

Tatsuya Sakuya did not argue. He merely picked up another piece of pork cutlet.

"Now, compare that with Class 1-A."

Sakamayanagi Arisu slowed her pace, but her voice carried the calm composure of someone in control of the entire situation.

"Under the overall management of Katsuragi and myself, everyone has maintained a high degree of self-discipline and order. It may be somewhat rigid, but at least no mistakes will occur."

She was implying that she had not yet completely taken over Class 1-A, though the situation was still under control.

"As for Class 1-B, Ichinose Honami is implementing her gentle system built on trust."

"That false utopia maintained through personal charisma may appear orderly on the surface, but in my eyes, it is so fragile that it would shatter at the slightest touch."

"As for Class 1-C..."

"That person named Ryuen Kakeru is carrying out a dictatorship through violence and intimidation. Still, it is nothing more than something unfit for the public eye."

In just a few simple remarks,

she had laid out the current state of all four first-year classes with perfect clarity.

Sakamayanagi already understood the situation in the other three classes so thoroughly.

Listening from the side, Kamuro Masumi was secretly alarmed.

Tatsuya Sakuya said, "It seems Sakamayanagi is very concerned about the situation across the entire school."

Sakamayanagi Arisu launched the most crucial probe of the day.

"Tatsuya, have you never considered... taking Class 1-D to Class 1-A's position?"

"With your intelligence, if you became serious, it should be a very interesting challenge."

Take that bunch of freaks in Class 1-D to Class 1-A?

Wouldn't that just make their lives easier?

At the very least, they should get a taste of hell.

For the time being, he saw no need for it.

Tatsuya Sakuya answered crisply.

"Too troublesome. For now, I only intend to stay out of things. As long as nothing affects my life, that's enough."