An angel in the three-dimensional world

The only slight regret was that he still hadn't fully accomplished his grand recruitment undertaking today. His future subordinate had mercilessly rejected him, costing him a little of his royal dignity. But that was fine. He would bide his time and gather his strength, awaiting the right moment. A mere willful subordinate would sooner or later submit obediently to his grand kingly enterprise!

Were it not for me, who knew how many would proclaim themselves emperor, and how many would call themselves king?

After Matsushita, Hasebe, and Sakura introduced themselves to one another, they gradually grew more comfortable, and casual conversation naturally followed. Hasebe turned her head toward Kazami, who stood beside them.

"By the way, Kazami, you really have a consistent style when it comes to making friends. How come everyone you know is a cute girl?"

Matsushita nodded repeatedly in agreement. "Now that you mention it, you're right. Horikita, Kushida-every one of them is a cute girl with outstanding looks. Hehe, your social circle really is enviable."

The two took turns teasing Kazami about his circle of friends until he spoke up in protest.

"Listen to you two. You're completely overlooking a genuine close friend of mine. Doesn't Ayanokoji deserve a mention? Where does he fit into all this?"

"Ayanokoji?" Hasebe retorted. "That's still only one guy, okay? Compared with all your female friends, the ratio is seriously uneven."

Unconvinced, Kazami added another candidate. "There's Hirata too! Hirata's also a reliable good friend of mine!"

Sakura, who had been listening quietly all this time, timidly raised her little hand. "I feel like... Hirata is everyone's friend, not just Kazami's."

Kazami: ...

He hadn't expected Sakura to stab him in the back, but Hirata really was everyone's friend. The whole class recognized him as a nice guy. He was indeed a friend to the public, hardly Kazami's exclusive close friend.

Forget it. There's nothing left for me to do here anyway, and I'm all alone right now. I really can't handle this. Kazami turned and ran off.

Watching him flee, Matsushita gritted her teeth in anger. That guy had actually dumped everything on her and slipped away. She would settle the score with him when she had time.

Soon it was lunch break. The school cafeteria bustled with noise as students ate and chatted in groups. Kazami met up with Ayanokoji and Kushida. Their three-person team was officially assembled, ready to begin today's main task-putting Ayanokoji's past exam paper plan into action.

On the way, Ayanokoji briefly explained the plan to Kushida. After listening attentively, she couldn't help praising him. "So there's a way to avoid the risks of the exam and find a shortcut to passing. Ayanokoji, you're so clever."

Faced with a girl's sincere praise, Ayanokoji passed the credit off without a change in expression, lying without the slightest hint of guilt. "Horikita came up with this method. I'm just carrying it out."

Kazami, listening beside them: ...

He really could lie without even blushing, though his expression hardly ever changed anyway. Besides, Miss Horikita was still working hard to organize elementary and middle school material for Sudo and the others. Her approach was entirely conventional and had nothing to do with shortcuts like this. Should I say to Ayanokoji later, "You wouldn't want Horikita to find out..." Ahem, what's gotten into me lately? Why do I keep wanting to use methods like that? Class D really is a filthy melting pot that's changed me. I wasn't like this before.

Kushida noticed nothing amiss and went on to ask the key question in earnest. "Then how exactly are we going to do it?"

That question hit the nail on the head. Kazami thought for less than a second. This was why they had invited Kushida in the first place; otherwise, he could have done it himself. "Obviously, we have to send whoever on our team has the best figure, the best looks, and is the most mouthwatering."

Kushida froze at his words, looking utterly bewildered, and instinctively let out a questioning sound. "Huh?"

The next second, Kazami and Ayanokoji moved in unison, raising their hands to point at Kushida.

Kushida looked flustered and hurriedly waved her hands in refusal. "Me? No, no, no! Mouthwatering...? Couldn't Kazami just go?"

Kazami immediately shook his head, refusing firmly. "What are you thinking? There's something wrong with my head. What if the negotiations break down? It's too risky. Absolutely not."

Kushida nearly rolled her eyes. You actually know there's something wrong with your head. A rare moment of clarity.

In the end, by a vote of two to one, Kushida was chosen as their negotiation ambassador. The three looked around and settled on a second-year student sitting in a corner of the cafeteria not far away.

Once they had their target, Kushida took a deep breath, arranged her expression, and approached him to negotiate, launching her personal cuteness offensive.

The second-year student named his price outright. "You want a complete set of past exam papers? Fifty thousand points. Nonnegotiable."

The exorbitant price of fifty thousand points made Kazami frown. That was a little steep, completely beyond what he had expected, and not worth it at all.

But this was where bringing Kushida along paid off. Kazami had fallen victim to it before. The girl opened her large, dewy eyes wide, her gaze clear, and looked softly at the second-year student with a pitiful expression. Cute, sincere, and sweet-she struck men right in their weak spot.

After one gentle appeal, then another, the second-year student's stiff attitude softened. The coldness on his face melted away completely, and he could no longer maintain his tough demeanor. Kazami shook his head. How useless. He only lasted two rounds. I'd have lasted at least eight.

Unable to withstand Kushida's cuteness offensive, the second-year student sighed helplessly and lowered the price himself. "Five thousand points. I really can't go any lower. That's my bottom line."

She had cut the price straight from fifty thousand points to five thousand-a full tenfold difference. Kushida's cuteness offensive really was powerful. Sure enough, cute girls aren't nice to goblins for no reason. Then when Kushida... No, Kushida is an angel, not some wicked woman.

But according to Chabashira-sensei, everyone in Class D was a defective product. Someone like him, who was just there to make up the numbers, didn't count; the more outstanding someone was, the greater their flaws. Kazami shook his head, dismissing those thoughts. Who cares? Kushida hasn't done anything to wrong me. Why think so much about it? Nobody's perfect, after all. There's no such thing as a perfect person. Besides, if we're talking about outstanding, Ayanokoji's the real monster. Even if Kushida has a problem, it should only be a small one.

Still, they should be able to pay even fewer points for the past exam papers. Kazami leaned close to Kushida and quickly whispered in a low voice, coaching her on what to say.

After hearing Kazami's advice, Kushida's cheeks flushed slightly. She lowered her head a little bashfully, her voice soft and sweet. "I... I didn't come all this way to ask you just because I wanted your help or anything..."

Her bashful manner, denying what she meant, was paired with a sweet voice and a girl's blush.

The second-year student fell instantly, hooked so thoroughly that the corners of his mouth lifted. He pressed his palms together as though worshipping an angel. "Oh-you're truly an angel descended into the three-dimensional world."