Classroom of the Elite: I Can Issue Master's Tasks

Holding a girl's soft, sweet-smelling body felt wonderful, especially when she had plenty of cushioning.

But the girl herself had stopped functioning.

"N-Nangong..."

It was her first time being held by a boy, her first kiss on the forehead, her first time feeling his presence and that inexplicable sense of safety so keenly...

Ichinose Honami was so embarrassed she had no idea what to do. Her mind went blank, though she still instinctively wanted Nangong Cheng to take his hands off her.

Nangong Cheng obediently let go.

But letting go was one thing.

Ichinose Honami seemed to have lost the ability to move. She stayed leaning against him.

And as luck would have it...

Chie Hoshinomiya finally arrived.

"Ichinose? Nangong?"

Seeing them in such an intimate position, a strange look flashed through her eyes.

"What are you two..."

"Did I come at a bad time?"

Hoshinomiya to Chabashira: Your Student Is Quite a Catch

"No, teacher. You came at exactly the right time."

After Nangong Cheng patiently explained, Chie Hoshinomiya understood the whole story.

"So the two of you joined forces to set up the Student Council vice president? That took guts."

This year's students were full of surprises.

No, Nangong Cheng was the surprising one.

Having attended Advanced Nurturing herself, Chie Hoshinomiya understood better than students like Ichinose Honami just how...

Unthinkable everything Nangong Cheng had done was.

And her intuition as a woman told her something else.

If Horikita Manabu was the finest Student Council president in Advanced Nurturing's history, Nangong Cheng might become the first Class D student in its history to rise up and topple Class A.

I can't let Chabashira have him.

He seems interested in Ichinose, and she even agreed to pretend to be his girlfriend. Maybe I can use that...

Chie Hoshinomiya's gaze discreetly swept over Ichinose Honami and Nangong Cheng again. She already had an idea.

Ichinose Honami had no idea her homeroom teacher was planning to package her up and deliver her to Nangong Cheng.

Her head was still spinning.

[Task Complete]

[Task Reward: Host receives 1,000 Points]

The notification helped her come back to her senses, and she hurriedly stepped away from Nangong Cheng.

But his embrace and kiss seemed to have left a lingering effect. Even now, her body felt strangely weak.

Nangong Cheng, meanwhile, casually rubbed his nose and caught a faint, pleasant scent.

"It wasn't a big deal. I just didn't see any reason to be afraid. We're all students, after all."

"Besides, if Miyabi Nagumo can be vice president, why can't I?"

By now, Horikita Manabu had probably finished talking with Horikita Suzune. Who knew whether those two exasperating siblings had cleared up their misunderstanding?

Even if they hadn't, it wasn't a big problem.

Helping Horikita Manabu put Miyabi Nagumo in his place should be enough to get Nangong Cheng a Student Council position.

Once he turned Horikita Suzune into an obedient little sister, Horikita Manabu might never finish repaying him.

"Then I'll look forward to seeing what you do next, Nangong."

"Since everything's settled, I'll be off~"

Chie Hoshinomiya tactfully left. She knew staying would only get in the way of the two of them.

Besides, Nangong Cheng had just given her a fresh way to needle Sae Chabashira.

Sae, your student really is something. But I have Ichinose, and soon your student will be mine.

How did that saying go again?

He's quite a catch.

"Hmm-hmm-hmm~"

Nangong Cheng watched Chie Hoshinomiya skip away humming. He could more or less guess what she was thinking, but as far as he was concerned, it remained to be seen who was scheming against whom.

He turned back to Ichinose Honami.

"Mother Ichinose, let's eat."

"...Nangong, it is lunchtime, but don't you think you should say something before we eat?"

Ichinose Honami had mostly collected herself. Still, seeing Nangong Cheng avoid any mention of what had just happened left her feeling uneasy.

She wasn't exactly angry.

After all, she had been somewhat prepared. Given their relationship as Fated Partners, this level of intimacy was bound to happen sooner or later.

Besides, Nangong Cheng had only hugged her and given her forehead the briefest kiss. In a way, that was fairly restrained.

But when a man hugged and kissed a woman, then acted as if nothing had happened, that was just...

"Ahem!"

"If I said I'd only meant to hug you, Mother Ichinose, would you believe me?"

Nangong Cheng felt Beginner Acting had been worth every Point. Before coming to this world, he'd had almost no experience with women his age. Without it, she would have seen straight through him.

At least now he could put on an act, though it probably wouldn't help much.

Ichinose Honami still looked gentle, but her smile seemed rather forced. Nangong Cheng knew his explanation wasn't fooling her.

Was that any reason not to try?

He still had to go through the motions.

"But think about it, Mother Ichinose. That blond guy came over looking like he had designs on you. How could a devoted son like me stand for that?"

"I had to hit him hard enough to make him give up on you for good."

He even threw a punch for emphasis.

"Honestly..."

Ichinose Honami could only sigh.

Who would believe such blatantly exaggerated acting?

But what could she do?

Accuse Nangong Cheng of acting out of selfish motives?

He had achieved exactly what he claimed. Miyabi Nagumo probably wouldn't pursue her again.

At least for now, Nagumo's attention was likely fixed on Nangong Cheng, who had demanded a staggering five million Points from him.

So did she actually owe Nangong Cheng thanks?

It was absurd.

Ichinose Honami felt she needed to get back to her dorm and recover from the emotional roller coaster of meeting Nangong Cheng.

"I need to save money this month, so I'm planning to cook for myself. I won't join you at the cafeteria."

"I see... See you later, then?"

"Mm. See you."

Nangong Cheng knew the day's events had shaken Ichinose Honami, so he didn't press her to stay.

Since he was eating alone, he might as well tally up what he'd gained today.

[Host: Nangong Cheng]

[Core Ability: Master's Task (Lv. 2)]

[Secondary Ability: Beginner Acting]

[Experience: 70/100]

[Current Number of Task Targets: 7 (Horikita Suzune, Kikyo Kushida, Karuizawa Kei, Sakura Airi, Shiina Hiyori, Ichinose Honami, Sakayanagi Arisu)]

[Tasks Remaining: 0 (Five tasks may be issued per day; incomplete tasks do not count toward the limit)]

[Items Held: Person-Finding Cane]

The experience total was right.

Aside from Karuizawa Kei's selfie task, which remained unfinished, the tasks he had issued to Sakura Airi and Ichinose Honami today were complete.

The four tasks' base Point rewards had been 100, 500, 2,000, and 1,000 respectively. After doubling them and accounting for what he had spent, the number on the panel checked out.

"Hmm... What should I get?"

Nangong Cheng glanced at [Intermediate Acting], but his attention soon shifted to the [Gene-Enhancement Potion].

Only children chose between the two. He wanted both.

He didn't have enough Points yet, but he definitely would tomorrow. As for which to buy first, given the number and intensity of the grudges he'd provoked...

Power. I need more power.

"I Want to Be Mr. Nangong Cheng's Dog So Badly"

The next day.

The first thing Nangong Cheng did when he woke up was check his Points. The final figure had settled at [2,800].

Working backward, Karuizawa Kei had earned 300 Points.

The photo's quality couldn't have been that good.

Airi had scored 500 on her first try... though perhaps that was because she had more to show off.

Having wrapped up yesterday's loose ends, Nangong Cheng washed up and headed out.

Click—

A girl with long, straight black hair came into view.

Her dark hair fluttered in the breeze as she studied the book in her hands. It made for a beautiful scene.

As long as she didn't speak.

"Nangong Cheng."

"Why did you remove me from your friends?"

Nangong Cheng tapped his forehead.

Oh, right. He'd forgotten to add Horikita Suzune back yesterday.

But more than that, he wanted to know whether her conversation with Horikita Manabu had gone well.

"Did you sort things out with your brother?"

"..."

Horikita Suzune looked at Nangong Cheng with mixed feelings.

She sighed.