As summer gradually approached, the boys' most eagerly anticipated class arrived: swimming.
With the lesson taking place in the special pool classroom, the boys in the changing room excitedly imagined the sights awaiting them.
The boys trickled out to gather in the open area beside the pool.
Since the girls took longer to change, and some were shy enough to need to come out in groups, the boys could only wait expectantly.
They gathered in twos and threes, chatting among themselves.
Natsukawa also came over to wait beside the bare wooden decking.
Natsukawa had not chosen a sun-protective swimsuit that offered plenty of coverage. Instead, he wore ordinary swim shorts, as did most of the other boys.
Natsukawa's abdominal muscles were sharply defined and aesthetically pleasing.
Ishizaki Daichi approached Natsukawa with Komiya Yego to greet him. Ishizaki said enviously:
"Hey, Natsukawa. I didn't expect you to have so much muscle."
"I just work out occasionally."
"Looks like you've been getting along pretty well with Ryuuen lately?"
Ishizaki grumbled dejectedly:
"I only submit to him occasionally. Deep down, I don't accept him at all! There's nothing we can do. Yamada Albert betrayed us, and Ryuuen's such a pain to deal with that this is our only option..."
Komiya complained too:
"Yeah. Once Ryuuen brings all the boys under his control, he plans to get rough with the girls who won't submit to him. I really can't stand how he does things!"
Ishizaki continued:
"Of course, Ryuuen doesn't plan to touch the girls who stay neutral or don't object to him being the leader. That's the only reason I reluctantly agreed to follow him..."
It seemed Class C would be unified much sooner than Natsukawa had expected.
Natsukawa offered them a few casual words of comfort: if they took things less seriously, as he did, they would be fine. After venting, Ishizaki and Komiya calmed down and began chatting with Natsukawa about other topics.
Ishizaki and his group were the hardest boys to bring into line. Since even they had been forced to submit, Ryuuen would probably soon complete his takeover of Class C.
Smiling, Ryuuen walked toward Natsukawa with Albert following behind him.
"Yo! Natsukawa, you've got a pretty good physique! You're even more toned than I am!"
Ishizaki responded:
"What do you want, Ryuuen?"
"Shut up, Ishizaki. Still haven't accepted it? You're both losers I've beaten!"
"Otherwise, I wouldn't mind teaching you another lesson. Right, Albert?"
The black boy nodded woodenly.
Ryuuen shot Ishizaki a vicious look, and Ishizaki fell silent in anger.
Natsukawa shook his head. These guys had a love-hate relationship, too. By the latter part of their first year, they would become Ryuuen's loyal companions, thoroughly won over by his unique charisma.
Natsukawa replied with a smile:
"A perfect body makes it easier to make friends with girls. Don't you agree, Ryuuen?"
Generally, as long as someone did not openly oppose Ryuuen's rule over the class, he would not do anything to them. Hiyori, Nishino Takeko, and Yuuya Tokito in the original story, for instance, had all gotten along just fine...
Of course, having read the original, Natsukawa also knew that Ryuuen was cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and at one point had cared deeply about the class.
That was why Natsukawa could chat with him like an ordinary friend.
Ryuuen said with a smile:
"That's just like you, Natsukawa. I agree with that view!"
"But right now, I have absolutely no interest in toying with those low-class women! Just look at all the fantasizing idiots around us."
"Mm-hmm. You're not that kind of boring person either, are you, Natsukawa?"
Natsukawa replied mildly:
"Who knows?"
Ryuuen nodded and smiled:
"All right, let's drop that."
Ryuuen continued:
"I came to discuss a pretty good plan with you. Of course, all you have to do is follow orders!"
Natsukawa asked in puzzlement:
"Huh? You're including me too?"
Ryuuen nodded:
"I think you're very useful, unlike those idiots."
Ishizaki exclaimed:
"Hey! Ryuuen, why are you looking at me? What's that supposed to mean?"
Ignoring Ishizaki, Ryuuen continued:
"Anyway, I do need a little help from you for this operation, Natsukawa. That's fine, right? You said before that you didn't care who the leader was. Consider this a contribution to the class."
Ishizaki interrupted:
"Ryuuen, hearing you talk about contributing to the class is pretty funny, isn't it? Does this plan involve Class C?"
Ryuuen said in a low, exasperated voice:
"Albert, shut this idiot's mouth for me!"
Albert then wrapped an arm around Ishizaki and covered his mouth with his large hand.
Ishizaki could only make muffled noises.
Natsukawa replied:
"I'm not interested in all that talk about contributing to the class either. You can think of me as a class member who'll cooperate without submitting to your authority. Of course, I'll decide whether to help you."
"First, tell me what you need my help with."
Ryuuen said with a smile:
"That's fine. This plan is just something you can do on the side, Natsukawa! I only want you to gather information on Classes A and B and see whether they're doing anything strange this month."
"I noticed that you seem particularly good at talking to girls, so I included you."
Natsukawa retorted:
"I don't even know that many girls in Class C. Where did you get that idea?"
Counting Ibuki, Zhuteng, and Hiyori, there really didn't seem to be anyone else.
Komiya interjected:
"Ryuuen, why are we gathering information on Classes A and B? I don't understand."
Ryuuen answered Natsukawa first:
"Well, you're better at it than Ishizaki and the others, at any rate. Natsukawa, I think you have a talent for communication, don't you?"
Then Ryuuen gave a low, cold chuckle:
"Let's leave that aside for now. I'll tell you something interesting."
"A mysterious person actually approached me a couple of days ago, saying they wanted to sell me the real information about this school. What a joke! Why would I spend points on a deal that puts me at a loss? They'd better hope I never find out who they are!"
"Mm-hmm. Of course, it wasn't a complete waste! I picked up one valuable piece of information from what they revealed!"
"At Advanced Nurturing, the benefits of being placed in your desired job or advancing to another prestigious school after graduation are privileges reserved for students who graduate from Class A!"
Natsukawa nodded without a change in expression.
Mm-hmm. The day after receiving the points from the deal with Katsuragi and the others, I'd thought I'd try to bluff Ryuuen too.
I hadn't expected this crafty guy to refuse the deal outright.
Ishizaki, who had been enjoying the show, struggled free of Albert's hand upon hearing this and asked:
"Mmph, Ryuuen, what's that supposed to mean?"
Ryuuen shook his head disdainfully and said:
"What an idiot. Just do as I tell you!"
Natsukawa offered an explanation.
"You mean the four classes, A, B, C, and D, are competing against each other, right?"
Ryuuen nodded and smiled:
"Mm-hmm. As expected of someone smart. Your brain works better than Ishizaki's and the others'."
Ishizaki said:
"Hey!"
Ryuuen said with distaste:
"Interrupt again, and I'll have Albert shut your mouth again!"
Ishizaki reluctantly settled down.
"Fine! Hey, Albert, why do you obey Ryuuen so readily? Damn it! Okay, okay, haha, I'll stop..."
Ryuuen continued with a quiet chuckle:
"Anyway, since that mysterious person approached me with a deal, they'll definitely approach people in the other classes too."
"Mm-hmm. Your task is to find out who's in charge of the other classes in your spare time."
"Classes A and B are the ones standing in our way and posing a threat. Watch for any particularly strange behavior from them this month. If you find anything, just report it to me through the phone app!"
Once he finished, Ishizaki and Komiya agreed as well. Having calmed down, they understood what Ryuuen and Natsukawa meant.
Only Class A had special privileges!
Ishizaki muttered:
"Hey, Ryuuen, I'm not doing this to help you! I'm just contributing to Class C. This concerns everyone in the class, after all."
Ryuuen asked Natsukawa:
"What do you think? Something you can do on the side like this shouldn't be a problem, right? It's for the class, after all!"
Natsukawa nodded casually.
Since Ryuuen had noticed this, that was a good thing. The more Class Points they retained, the more personal points they would have.
Ishizaki said glumly:
"Hey, Ryuuen, don't you trust our abilities? Why do you have to drag Natsukawa into this? Komiya and I can handle something this minor ourselves!"
Ryuuen retorted:
"Go try striking up a conversation with any girl in our class later and see whether you succeed, will you? I don't see this ability of yours."
His face reddening, Ishizaki argued:
"W-well, gathering information doesn't necessarily mean talking to girls from other classes."
Ryuuen's expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he thought in frustration:
What a bunch of idiots I have for allies.
When's the exam? Then I can pick out a few more smart lieutenants like Natsukawa!
Ryuuen said coldly:
"All right! You guys carry on chatting!"
"Let's go, Albert. We'll rest over there."
Then Ryuuen and Albert left.
A little while later, the girls also began emerging from the changing room.