Master's Task in Classroom of the Elite

"I can actually explain this."

Kikyo Kushida decided to gamble that Nangong Cheng had only heard a little commotion and hadn't seen what had happened.

Better yet, if Nangong Cheng hadn't taken any photos or recorded any audio, there would be no proof. She could say whatever she liked.

"Oh? Is there more to the story?"

"Don't tell me it's your family's fault?"

I'll play along as best I can.

Thinking about what was about to happen, Nangong Cheng struggled to keep from laughing.

"My family? Well, I suppose that has something to do with it, but mainly..."

To hell with my family.

Kikyo Kushida suppressed her surging emotions. Wearing a fake smile, she approached Nangong Cheng step by step, then—

She grabbed his hand and pressed it into place!

"It's your fault, Nangong."

Oh-ho-ho. That feels...

Even better than I imagined.

That afternoon in the fitting room with Sakura Airi, Nangong Cheng had only taken photos and feasted his eyes.

This time, though, he really got to enjoy himself.

Kushida sure was something. When she offered a perk, she meant it.

"What's the meaning of this, Kushida?"

"Are you trying to threaten me?"

Enjoyment was one thing, but he still had a part to play.

Nangong Cheng's expression turned combative in an instant, and he issued Kushida a task—

[Task issued: Nangong Cheng has accidentally discovered your unspeakable secret. But fingerprints are difficult to leave on a school uniform, so you must obtain evidence strong enough to make him keep quiet about it]

[Task reward: 1,000–5,000 Points, depending on how well you complete the task]

[Penalty for failure: Kneel on the ground and crawl in a dark, twisted manner for five minutes while calling out Nangong Cheng's name]

Volume One: 36, Accomplices Are the Closest People in the World

Huh?!

What do you mean, fingerprints are difficult to leave on a school uniform?

Say that again?

A thunderous boom seemed to go off inside Kikyo Kushida's head.

Just then, Nangong Cheng spoke again.

"Hey, Kushida..."

"Looks like you don't know enough everyday trivia. Clothes like school uniforms don't hold fingerprints very well, you know?"

Die, die, die, die!

Kikyo Kushida was so angry her chest hurt.

She had thought this would be a brilliant move. Instead, she'd made a clown of herself.

But was it really impossible to leave fingerprints on a school uniform?

She still wanted to doubt it.

Yet the task had been triggered over this very issue. That left her only one choice.

At this point, she might as well do the task.

What else could she do?

She couldn't let him touch her for nothing.

And she couldn't accept that punishment. She would rather starve, die of rage, get stabbed, or jump straight off the roof than suffer through it!

But desperation could make people quick-witted. Kikyo Kushida thought she still had a chance to salvage this.

She could use the task as an opportunity to photograph evidence of Nangong Cheng sexually harassing her. Better yet, she could steer him into saying something easy to take out of context.

"Tell me. What will it take for you to keep this secret... And could you stop moving your hand around?"

"What, you've never touched a woman before?"

Kikyo Kushida didn't tell Nangong Cheng to take his hand away. After all, something even more extreme than pressing his hand against her was probably about to happen.

What could she say? For now, she would endure it.

Once she had something she could use against Nangong Cheng...

"What are you talking about, Kushida? You're the one who grabbed my hand and pressed it against you. I thought you wanted me to touch you."

"As for keeping your secret..."

He had no intention of stopping.

Nangong Cheng saw no reason to turn down a benefit handed to him and pretend to be a gentleman. If anything, Kushida would probably call him an idiot in her head for doing that.

So he continued taking measurements by hand while stroking his chin thoughtfully with his free hand.

"That depends on how sincere you are, Kushida. Trying to frame me like that really hurt my feelings."

"Even if I had no intention of telling anyone before... you've made me feel like I have to now."

Kikyo Kushida cursed inwardly.

What an act.

His words sounded so righteous, but his increasingly brazen hand told a different story.

He just wanted to use this chance to raise his price, didn't he?

Even if I offered, would you dare take it?

"You can understand how I feel, can't you, Nangong? When someone accidentally discovers a secret you never wanted exposed, your first instinct is to shut them up, right?"

"...Yeah, I can understand that."

Keeping a pitiful, tearful expression on her face, Kikyo Kushida caught Nangong Cheng's hand as it continued its relentless exploration.

"Right? But what's done is done. All I can do is hope you'll accept my heartfelt apology."

Oh-ho-ho.

Nangong Cheng couldn't help letting out a soft hum.

Honestly, Kushida had guts.

"Hmm... Your sincerity certainly carries weight, Kushida. I suppose I have no choice but to accept your apology..."

"But maybe you should hide your phone a little better?"

Now that he had spotted it, Kikyo Kushida didn't fly into a rage. She had already taken the photo.

Still, her feelings were complicated.

Only she knew how much she had wrestled with herself before making that decision.

Kikyo Kushida might be two-faced, say things she didn't mean, and form little cliques, but when it came to chastity, she considered herself a good girl.

But now...

Well, what was done was done. She could only see this through. It was the path she had chosen.

"Sorry, Nangong~ I'm just a poor, weak, helpless girl~ This is the only way I can protect myself."

"You understand, right?"

Nangong Cheng only smiled.

Understand? As if!

Kushida, it's one thing to fool other people, but don't fool yourself too, all right?

If this year at Advanced Nurturing weren't such an unusual one, you really could have put on quite a show for your classmates.

"Of course I understand. It's only natural~"

"Whether you're a boy or a girl, you have to learn to protect yourself when you're out in the world."

That was what Nangong Cheng said, but his hand showed no sign of slowing down.

Amid all that, he found a moment to glance through the System Shop. There he spotted something that could prove useful both now and in the future—

[Kato Taka's Hand: No woman in this world can resist your hands. Rumor has it that someone once used them to pet a cat. Hopefully, you'll put them to better use. Cost: 5,000 Points]

Good stuff. Should I buy it?

After all, 5,000 Points was no small amount right now.

But he still had a long way to go before he could afford a third Gene-Enhancement Potion. Besides, his intermediate acting skill was already overkill for fooling a bunch of innocent-eyed high schoolers, so there was no rush to upgrade it.

As for other skills... none felt especially urgent.

Hell, I'm buying it!

You only get real returns when you make a real investment!

There was also the [Advanced Bedroom Arts] he had seen on the first day. He would probably have to buy that when it came time to put theory into practice.

For now, it was time to show Kikyo Kushida what "wild enough to shake Asia" meant.

"But I don't think that evidence alone is quite enough. Since I'm such a kind person, I suppose I'll do you one more favor, Kushida."

"No..."

Need.

The rest of her refusal stuck in her throat.

Kikyo Kushida instinctively recalled the most painful experiences of her life and the moments when her negative emotions had overwhelmed her. She hoped they would help suppress the sudden storm of hormones.

But they didn't help much.

If sheer willpower could overcome her physical instincts, she wouldn't have needed to vent her negative emotions through anonymous posts online in the first place.

Nangong Cheng kept a close eye on Kikyo Kushida's reaction. He only meant to teach her a lesson, not push her too far.

"Kushida, anyone can see you've been suppressing your feelings too much. That's why you ended up like this. And I think you've experienced for yourself that it's better to let things out than bottle them up."

"As it happens, I study traditional Chinese medicine. My family passed down an [Ancient Massage Technique] specifically for this."

"It's hard to explain in words. Let me demonstrate, and you'll understand."

Like hell I believe you!

Kikyo Kushida was genuinely struggling to hold it together.

If she hadn't been fighting with all her might to stay rational, she might already have made a spectacle of herself, turning into a bad girl who could do nothing but roll her eyes, stick out her tongue, and flash peace signs.

But...

Everyone has their limits.

Nangong Cheng, you're evil to the core. I swear I'll make you pay for this someday!

After making that final threat in her heart, Kikyo Kushida gave up resisting and let the overwhelming current sweep through her body and mind.

Well, would you look at that...

It really is intense.

But if Stress-Relief Gum could solve this, why did she have to resort to this?

"Click—click—"

Through the haze, Kikyo Kushida heard a camera shutter. She shot upright as though jolted from a deathbed.

"Back among the living?"