While they were talking, speak of the devil, Ryuen Kakeru walked into the classroom with a bandage on his nose.
Ryuen Kakeru headed toward Natsukawa, where they had gathered. The other students noticed this too, but none dared provoke Ryuuen. They went about their own business, though their voices grew much quieter.
Ryuen Kakeru said with a laugh:
"Haha, looks like you're having fun chatting!"
Ryuuen walked over near Natsukawa and took out his phone.
Ishizaki said angrily:
"Ryuuen, you bastard! What do you want?"
Ryuuen said with a smile:
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not here for you."
Ishizaki responded loudly, while Komiya stood nervously beside him, ready to fight.
"Are you going after Natsukawa? I won't just stand by and watch! Natsukawa isn't that sort of person, and he isn't interested in violence or who becomes the leader. Ryuuen, don't even think about using your dirty tricks on my new friend."
Ryuuen deliberately provoked Ishizaki with a nonchalant reply:
"You idiot! So you do know that!"
"Damn you!"
Natsukawa Tatsuya waved a hand, stopping the angry Ishizaki from being toyed with by Ryuuen.
Natsukawa smiled at Ryuen Kakeru.
"I'm sure you didn't come here for something like that, Ryuen."
Ryuuen held out his phone.
"Natsukawa, I like dealing with smart people! Let's be friends. You're pretty capable! Unlike those other idiots, you don't care who leads the class, either."
"Once I've united Class C, I'll need a smart lieutenant like you!"
Natsukawa replied casually:
"Good luck, then. I think the class needs a leader too."
The two then added each other on the messaging app.
Ishizaki said, "Natsukawa, how can you be friends with Ryuuen? You can't trust him!"
Natsukawa said with a smile, "It's fine. We're all classmates. I can judge for myself!"
Ryuen Kakeru then addressed Ishizaki Daichi and Komiya Yego:
"Hey, you two, add me as a friend too!"
Ishizaki replied:
"What for? I'm not adding you!"
Ryuuen sneered:
"Oh? Does that mean you're scared? I was thinking of arranging a fight with you two sometime when I'm free."
Ishizaki said angrily:
"You bastard! Who's scared? Fine, I'll add you!"
Komiya took out his phone too.
"That bossy tone of yours really pisses me off! Come on, then. I'll add you! But I won't give you any chances to ambush me over the next few days!"
And so the three added one another as friends...
By then, Ishizaki and Komiya believed Ryuen Kakeru wasn't there to pick a fight, and they relaxed.
Ishizaki thought that class was about to start, after all, so Ryuuen wouldn't dare cause a huge disturbance in the classroom.
Unfortunately, he was wrong...
Ryuuen put away his phone, and as he turned to leave, he caught Ishizaki off guard with a kick that knocked him to the floor, then attacked Komiya.
"Ryuuen, you underhanded bastard!"
"Haha, anyone who refuses to accept my rule had better be prepared for this!"
And so Class C descended into chaos again. The two sides fought.
Shiina Hiyori glanced over worriedly, then sent a message through the app.
〔Tatsuya, are you okay?〕
Natsukawa Tatsuya watched their fight with interest and replied:
〔Don't worry, I'm fine. That's just how they are. You'll get used to it.〕
Ibuki Mio, who had arrived at the classroom, also gave the group fighting over there a disgusted look.
"Tch, what an annoying turn of events!"
This time, Ibuki disdained teaming up with them against Ryuuen, so she didn't join in. She wanted to fight him one-on-one instead.
A few minutes later, the bell rang, and Ishizaki and the others could only reluctantly break off and return to their seats.
Clutching his stomach, Ishizaki muttered dejectedly:
"That bastard Ryuuen really is sneaky. It hurts..."
Ryuuen gave them a provocative look and returned to his seat too.
During class, the students who were good at studying listened attentively. Those who weren't all seemed rather frustrated by Ryuuen's behavior and were pondering how to deal with him.
As a result, there wasn't a widespread breakdown in classroom discipline with everyone doing their own thing. It was marginally better than Class D in the original story. Perhaps this was also why Class C had slightly more Class Points after a month.
Natsukawa guessed that Sakagami would surely offer hints and turn a blind eye in certain respects, and afterward, there would no longer be scenes of violence under the classroom surveillance cameras.
It's fine. The points due to be deducted in the first month can't be saved anyway, and the students won't know which student caused a deduction or why.
Natsukawa then lowered his head, took out his phone, and sent Chuto Rika a message.
〔Chuto-chan, could you lend me some points? Don't worry, I'll pay you back very soon.〕
Chuto Rika, who had been listening attentively, received the message and looked down to check it.
Huh? A message from Natsukawa.
Zhuteng opened it, feeling a little puzzled and secretly delighted for a moment.
Hehe, have Natsukawa and I already become such good friends that we can borrow money from each other?
Zhuteng quickly replied:
〔Of course, Natsukawa. I still have 80,000 points, so just tell me how much you need.〕
There was no helping it. Natsukawa had bought too many things yesterday, spending his points rapidly until he only had a little over 10,000 left.
He didn't have many contacts on his friends list yet, either. As his analysis had indicated, Zhuteng really was a useful pawn.
〔Zhuteng, just lend me 50,000 points. I'll pay you back as soon as possible!〕
Chuto Rika then transferred the points.
Although she didn't know why Natsukawa Tatsuya had spent his points so quickly, she didn't think much about it.
To her, Natsukawa Tatsuya was a trustworthy friend.
If Natsukawa had something urgent to deal with, she would do her best to help. Even if she didn't get the points back this month, it would be fine. Besides, it might bring them closer.
〔Take them if you need them, Natsukawa. You can pay me back whenever you like. The school gives us plenty of points, and what I have left will be enough for this month.〕
I'm so touched!
Is this what being kept by a rich woman feels like?
No wonder Koenji liked doing this early on...
Right. Natsukawa suddenly thought of Koenji.
During the first school year, before the secret got out, he had lived so comfortably by using money from outside to buy points from third-years.
I need to buy an anonymous account right away and get a share before he does.
After class, Natsukawa went to the first-year teachers' office in the school building.
Since the homeroom teachers of Class A and Class B taught English and Sakurajima history and culture respectively, they had each gone to teach a class and hadn't returned to the office yet. At that moment, only Kazuma Sakagami and Hoshinomiya Chie were in the first-year office area.
Natsukawa knocked on the door, then entered after hearing someone say, "Come in."
A flicker of excitement crossed Sakagami's face when he saw Natsukawa. Hoshinomiya Chie also looked at Natsukawa with interest.
"Hello, I have something to discuss with Teacher Sakagami."
Hoshinomiya Chie spoke with a smile:
"Oh, where did this handsome boy come from? Have you found someone you like? Would you like me to introduce you to a few girls from my class?"
Kazuma Sakagami interrupted Hoshinomiya Chie's outrageous remarks.
"Hoshinomiya-sensei, this has nothing to do with you. Be serious. He's a student in my class."
Kazuma Sakagami then quickly stood up and smiled at Natsukawa.
"Haha, Natsukawa, you're here. Let's talk somewhere else."
As he spoke, Kazuma Sakagami also gave Natsukawa Tatsuya a meaningful look.
Although the homeroom teachers got along well, they were also competitors.
Sakagami probably didn't want Hoshinomiya Chie to pick up any information.
Natsukawa played along.
"Yes, you asked me to come today, didn't you, Teacher Sakagami? You wanted me to notify everyone what time the class meeting would be."
Kazuma Sakagami then led Natsukawa Tatsuya through another door farther inside, into a private lounge and reception room.
Before you continue