Classroom of the Elite, I Can Issue My Master's Missions-Chapter 19

Nangong Cheng saw that the atmosphere had settled down, and there was no need to continue.

"We'll see how many Class Points are left after the first month ends, then use Private Points to ask Chabashira-sensei for the detailed deductions. By then, we'll see who dares to break the rules despite the open-book exam."

"If there really are people like that, I'll leave the communication to Hirata and Kushida. After all, Horikita and I aren't very good at this sort of thing."

Although they had already decided to use Private Points to soar into Class A in the end, that would not happen until their third-year graduation season.

Before graduation, he still had to spend three years living in Class D, so it was naturally better if the atmosphere in class could be more harmonious. That was why he had to give them enough hope.

"Horikita and I actually hope everyone can work hard together. After all, it'll sound better when we tell people about it later, won't it?"

"So from now on, everyone just needs to attend class seriously and be a good student. That way, our Class D can retain quite a few points next month, and we'll have a better chance of catching up to Class A by then."

After Nangong Cheng finished painting them a grand picture, Yosuke Hirata and the others all wore relieved and expectant expressions.

But Horikita Suzune knew that this was merely Nangong Cheng's excuse. After all, this man's heart was not in Class D at all.

Still, she was not foolish enough to expose him.

She had also discovered that sometimes it really was better for people to be a little ignorant. At least they would not have so many troubles.

At the very least, it would let the people in Class D move forward with hope instead of giving up on themselves right from the start.

"I'm leaving. Don't bother me unless it's important."

Horikita Suzune tossed her hair and left coolly, but before departing, she subtly shot Nangong Cheng a look.

Nangong Cheng naturally had no intention of staying either. He immediately called out to Sakura Airi, who had remained inconspicuous at the side the entire time.

"Sorry, Sakura. Something came up again today. I'll definitely accompany you to buy a camera tomorrow!"

He only hoped there would not be any unexpected trouble tomorrow.

Nangong Cheng did not want Sakura Airi to say to him then, "I waited for a long time. I'm not waiting anymore."

That would really leave him unable to laugh.

As for Karuizawa Kei...

Considering the girl's excellent performance today, with a perfect attendance rate for the group event, he naturally could not show favoritism.

[Mission Issued: Send Nangong Cheng a selfie before midnight tonight]

[Mission Reward: 100–500 points, depending on Nangong Cheng's satisfaction with the photo]

[Mission Failure Penalty: Take and send Nangong Cheng a set of at least twenty provocative portraits]

Volume One: The Student Council Has Issued Slots—Come and Claim Yours

In front of the school building's main entrance.

Nangong Cheng successfully met up with Horikita Suzune.

"Let's go."

There were only a few possible reasons why Horikita Manabu wanted to see him. Combined with the message Horikita Suzune had passed on, Nangong Cheng already had a good idea.

Everything was steadily moving in a positive direction.

Horikita Suzune had no intention of speaking along the way, and Nangong Cheng naturally was not going to make things awkward by forcing a conversation.

The two of them soon arrived at the Student Council's entrance.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Come in."

Nangong Cheng pushed open the door.

The Student Council at Advanced Nurturing was enormous—large enough to resemble the offices of a major corporation.

"Good afternoon, President Horikita."

Nangong Cheng greeted him.

Setting everything else aside, Horikita Manabu was certainly capable. He had joined the Student Council in his first year and become Student Council President in his second.

But his abilities also had clear limits.

Because he could not suppress Miyabi Nagumo.

"First-year Class D, Nangong Cheng... You created a major sensation at school only a few days after the start of term. You're truly unexpected."

Horikita Manabu adjusted the bridge of his glasses.

He glanced at Horikita Suzune, who was silent beside him, then continued, "I called you to the Student Council this time mainly because I need to discuss what you did before."

"Is there anything you'd like to say?"

Nangong Cheng stroked his chin, pretending to think.

What was there to say...?

"Is the school planning to cancel the Behavioral Conduct Exam for the first month?"

"..."

Horikita Manabu stared at Nangong Cheng for several seconds before explaining, "Although your actions caused the established process to change, the exam will still proceed as normal."

Nangong Cheng nodded.

"Then is there still room to act on the matter I had your sister tell you about yesterday?"

"Of course."

Horikita Manabu folded his hands in front of him. His gaze toward Nangong Cheng contained several different emotions.

"Because the incident took place on the first day of school, even though you publicly exposed the school's secret on the second day, strictly speaking, the report can still be accepted."

"If you want, we can open a case today."

Nangong Cheng shook his head.

Following the official process naturally guaranteed absolute enforcement, but the benefits he could obtain might be far less than what he could get by settling it privately.

"I'll try approaching them privately first... I'm done with my questions. Now it's your turn, President."

Horikita Manabu nodded, then shifted his gaze to Horikita Suzune.

"Suzune, go outside first."

"Brother, I..."

"Go."

Horikita Suzune bit her lip, looking as if she might burst into tears the next second.

Nangong Cheng was kindhearted and could not stand seeing someone in tears.

"President, there's no need."

"She's your sister, not an outsider."

As he said this, Nangong Cheng suddenly raised a question that had nothing to do with the current situation: "By the way, are you two from Chiba?"

Horikita Manabu fell silent for a moment. "We are. Why are you suddenly asking?"

Nangong Cheng smiled.

"Because you clearly care about your sister, President, but you act as if the opposite is true."

"I have a friend who's like that, so I was a little curious and asked. I didn't expect it to be true."

The conversational technique of I have a friend.

To people meeting someone for the first time, or those unfamiliar with this technique, they generally would not suspect whether the person really had such a friend.

Horikita Manabu was no exception.

Although he did not want to admit it, Nangong Cheng was right. He was actually quite inept at expressing his emotions.

Otherwise, he would not have led Horikita Suzune astray.

"Then what does Nangong think of my sister?"

"That's hard to say."

Nangong Cheng had already guessed what Horikita Manabu wanted to say, but setting aside how abruptly the topic had shifted—

the tone made it sound as if an old father were entrusting his daughter to him, and it honestly sent a shiver down his spine.

Horikita Suzune, who was sitting to the side, also rarely shifted her gaze onto him.

"As a student, she can be considered very outstanding. But as a person, she's failing."

"After learning about this school's situation and interacting with her several times, I judge that the school probably believes she lacks team spirit. If she can correct those extreme views, she'll meet Class A's standards."

A purely rational analysis, with absolutely no personal bias.

After all, Horikita Suzune's poor reputation could almost entirely be blamed on her own personality and beliefs. There really was not much to criticize about her in other respects.

Horikita Manabu sighed inwardly.

This was all his fault...

"Suzune, is there anything you'd like to say?"

Horikita Manabu decided to give his sister a chance to express herself and see how she would react to Nangong Cheng's evaluation.

"I..."

Horikita Suzune looked as if she wanted to speak but could not.

Too afraid to say it.jpg

Horikita Manabu felt somewhat disappointed.

He had already said this much, yet she still refused to acknowledge her shortcomings?

Nangong Cheng decided to add more fuel to the fire.

"Actually, I spoke with your sister once before, President. I don't know if it was just my imagination, but I always felt that I saw your shadow in her."

"Now it seems my intuition was right."

Lies did not hurt people. The truth was the sharpest blade.

Nangong Cheng had not never considered solving Horikita Suzune's personality problems gradually, but how should he put it...?

Borrowing the traditional medicine theory that "chronic illnesses require strong medicine," Horikita Suzune's personality problem had already become very serious at this stage. The fact that she had been assigned to Class D was one symptom of it.

A serious illness required a powerful remedy.

"Your sister probably became like this because of your influence, President. Similar cases are common in my hometown as well."

"Children are always young and ignorant, so they tend to regard their older brothers or sisters as role models. Of course, it could also be the result of a distorted comparative educational environment. Either way, this causes them to desperately imitate the person they consider the most outstanding, gradually losing the possibility of finding themselves."

Nangong Cheng looked at the two siblings, who had fallen silent at the same time, and gently lowered his invisible scalpel.

It was as if he were cutting through the thin membrane of misunderstanding.

"She's like a shadow following behind you, but she mistook you for the light guiding her forward. As a result, she took the wrong path from the very beginning."

"She should become Horikita Suzune, not Horikita Manabu's shadow."

Knock, knock.

After finishing, Nangong Cheng took a step back, as if giving the siblings some space to speak privately.

"I know roughly what you wanted to say just now, President Horikita, but I think you two need to resolve your internal conflict first."

"What do you think?"

Nangong Cheng turned sideways and waved, giving Horikita Manabu no chance to stop him.

"This is a rare opportunity. Have a good talk."

"Don't let misunderstandings become regrets."

"Bang."

The moment the door closed, Nangong Cheng let out a sigh of relief and lamented that he really was not suited to being a respectable person.

He lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then took out his phone, found Ichinose Honami's profile picture, composed a message, and pressed send.

[The Student Council has issued slots. Come and claim yours.]