Yamauchi Haruki: I Really Want to Make Progress

"The remaining two positions for male class representatives will remain vacant for now."

"Huh? Vacant?"

Ike Kanji, sitting below, could not help but freeze for a moment, instinctively scratching his head.

"Class representatives embody the entire class's execution and serve as examples of discipline."

Tatsuya Sakuya looked down at everyone below him from the podium.

"Rather than settle for less, I'll conduct supplementary selections later based on everyone's daily performance, especially their actual contributions to the class."

His words neither shut the door completely nor failed to motivate the class.

Standing to one side of the podium, Chabashira Sae's eyes flashed with a rare trace of approval.

She checked the time, then stepped forward and spoke coolly.

"Everyone, return to your seats. Class officially begins now. Turn your history textbooks to page forty-two."

Throughout the entire lesson, the Class 1-D students, who had previously been lifeless and either sleeping or playing on their phones during class, behaved remarkably well for once.

On one hand, class performance was tied to Class Points. Without Class Points, there would be no Private Points, and without those, there could be no pleasant campus life.

For the students of Class 1-D, they had only recently obtained a get-out-of-jail-free card: the actual midterm questions. There was hope for next month's Class Points.

The morning classes ended quickly.

Chabashira Sae closed her lesson plan. Before leaving the classroom, she glanced toward Tatsuya Sakuya, who sat near the door in the back row.

"Shiba, come to the office with me."

Quite a few people in the classroom looked at him with awe.

In the past, being summoned alone to Chabashira's office usually meant getting scolded. But now, everyone understood that this newly appointed class representative secretary was obviously going there to coordinate class decisions.

The two walked one after the other to a corner of the special teaching building. Chabashira Sae stopped, turned around, and leaned against the cold railing.

Out of habit, she pulled a pack of ladies' cigarettes from her pocket. However, perhaps mindful of the school rules, she merely toyed with it in her hand without lighting one.

"I didn't expect this, Shiba."

Chabashira Sae studied the boy before her carefully, a meaningful curve appearing at the corner of her lips.

"I didn't expect you to use the actual midterm questions to seize complete control of the class."

"I merely acted according to my own beliefs, Chabashira-sensei."

Tatsuya Sakuya met her gaze with an indifferent expression.

"Besides, Class Points are tied to my Private Points as well."

Chabashira Sae chuckled softly. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and a trace of probing entered her voice.

"Still, coming up with the idea of obtaining actual midterm questions from upperclassmen isn't something an ordinary first-year student could do. It seems you understood this school's true rules even earlier than I imagined."

"If the rules do not explicitly prohibit it, then that means the school permits it, doesn't it?"

"That is indeed true."

Chabashira Sae put away the cigarettes and became serious again.

As far as she was concerned, Class 1-D needed a leader like him. After all, deep down, she still desperately wanted to reach Class 1-A.

"But don't celebrate too soon. Even if everyone passes and keeps their enrollment, a single set of actual exam questions will be nowhere near enough if you want the Class Points to rise next month."

Tatsuya Sakuya did not take Chabashira's words to heart. He merely said calmly,

"That is exactly what I need to consider next."

After school that afternoon.

Tatsuya Sakuya returned to Dormitory 217 in the boys' dorm.

He took a hot shower, changed into loose, comfortable loungewear, and sat down at his desk.

Spread across the desk was a roster of Class 1-D students.

Leaning back in his chair, Tatsuya Sakuya rapidly considered suitable candidates for the remaining two class representative positions.

Kouenji Rokusuke was the kind of lone wolf who was completely impossible to control.

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was a recluse who only wanted to hide his abilities.

Expecting them to take on class management in the short term was clearly unrealistic.

At least, they could not be controlled in the short term. If he wanted them to serve as class representatives, he would need to approach them privately.

Among the remaining boys...

Knock, knock, knock.

"Shiba, open the door."

A voice that sounded exceptionally urgent, even carrying a hint of fawning, suddenly broke the room's silence.

Tatsuya Sakuya frowned.

Who could it be at this hour?

He rose and walked to the entryway, twisting the doorknob.

Standing outside was a somewhat sleazy-looking figure: Yamauchi Haruki, the very person who had voted for him in front of the entire class that morning.

At that moment, Yamauchi Haruki's face was plastered with a flattering smile, and he carefully held an exquisite plastic gift bag in both hands.

"Hehe... Secretary Shiba, I'm not disturbing your rest, am I?"

As Yamauchi Haruki spoke, he sneakily craned his neck to peer into the room.

Tatsuya Sakuya put his hands in his pockets, his tone flat. "What is it?"

"Oh, listen to you. We're classmates, aren't we? As an ordinary classmate, isn't it only natural for me to check in on our newly appointed top leader?"

Yamauchi Haruki smiled broadly as he extended the gift bag toward him.

"These are Six Walnuts I bought specially for you. You handle countless affairs every day, so you must be exhausting yourself and using your brain all the time. Drink more..."

Tatsuya Sakuya was speechless.

Is Black Room's Greatest Masterpiece bringing that whole gift-giving routine to me?

Yamauchi Haruki, you really want to make progress, don't you?

"Don't accept rewards without merit. Just tell me what you want."

Tatsuya Sakuya blocked the doorway, with no intention whatsoever of letting him inside.

Seeing how direct Tatsuya Sakuya was, Yamauchi Haruki rubbed his hands together like a fly, edged half a step closer, and lowered his voice.

"Ahem... well, Secretary Shiba, during this morning's homeroom period, didn't you say there were still two vacant positions for male class representatives?"

"So?"

"What do you think of me?"

Yamauchi Haruki suddenly slapped his chest. His eyes brimmed with an extreme hunger for power, and his entire body seemed unusually excited.

"Secretary Shiba, I really want to make progress. Don't let my usual joking around fool you. I used to be a key member of the Student Council, you know. My organizational and coordination skills are top-notch."

"As long as you're willing to promote me to class representative, then in class, if you tell me to go east, I'll never go west. I'll be your loyal vanguard!"

Watching Yamauchi Haruki eagerly pledge his loyalty as though he wanted to acknowledge him as his boss on the spot, Tatsuya Sakuya had a different thought.

This guy's claim about being a key Student Council member was definitely nonsense.

He was actually full of thoughts about becoming an official and throwing his weight around.

If he promoted him to class representative, Class 1-D would truly be blessed.

"Yamauchi."

Tatsuya Sakuya's expression turned serious.

"Present, Secretary. Please give your orders."

Yamauchi Haruki brought his feet together, swiftly raised his right hand, pressed his joined fingers against the side of his brow in a salute, and fixed his eyes firmly on Tatsuya Sakuya, waiting for an order.

"I personally highly approve of your enthusiasm and passion for building the class."

Tatsuya Sakuya began delivering bureaucratic platitudes with a perfectly serious face. After all, he had only taken office today and needed to establish a positive image.

"But..."