Living off Miss Horikita

Chabashira-sensei and Ayanokoji discussed the current social system. Kazami thought they really had too much time on their hands. That was the prime minister's business; even if they had opinions, they were useless. About five minutes later, the rooftop social studies session finally got back on track, and they finally reached the most important matter of the day-Ken Sudō's expulsion.

In a calm voice, Ayanokoji proposed a solution none of them had expected.

"In that case, I can buy the missing point. Please sell me that missing point, Chabashira-sensei."

Kazami's eyes brightened slightly at those words, and inspiration flashed through his mind. So that's what they mean by points being able to buy anything. Looks like there'll be more room to maneuver later. At this school, it wasn't just points that could be traded and resources that could be resold. Even exam scores, eligibility to advance, and the threshold for expulsion were all negotiable. With enough points, even the rules could give way.

How realistic. In that case, Ayanokoji and Chabashira-sensei's social studies discussion earlier did serve some purpose. After all, this school simulates society ahead of time. That must also be why its graduates can all accomplish something.

My current assets total around 450,000, and I have some electronics I can turn into cash, too. I wonder how much it'll cost to change the rules for the next exam...

When Ayanokoji asked her to sell him a point, Chabashira-sensei burst into laughter as though she had gone mad. His train of thought interrupted, Kazami silently took out his phone and began recording.

Once she had finally laughed enough, Chabashira-sensei stubbed out her cigarette and returned to her cold, businesslike expression as she named her price. "One hundred thousand points. Transfer one hundred thousand points to me right now, and I can sell you that point."

Once the price was settled, Horikita volunteered to cover part of the cost.

At that moment, Chabashira-sensei's gaze shifted slightly toward Kazami, who stood to one side. The question in her eyes was obvious; she clearly intended for him to contribute some points, too.

Faced with the teacher's hint, Kazami put on a pitiful expression. "Don't look at me, Sensei. I really don't have any points left. I'm still living off Horikita, after all."

Emotion Points from Suzune Horikita +9.

A vein twitched faintly at Horikita's temple as she said coldly through gritted teeth, "Nobody will think you're mute if you keep your mouth shut."

She took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress her anger. "Every time I start to feel a little more respect for you, you just have to open your mouth..."

Seeing Horikita looking both angry and helpless, Kazami muttered, "You were the one who forced me to come up to the roof. But speaking of which, Horikita, you actually wanted to respect me? I never expected that. You're quite the tsundere yourself, aren't you?"

Chabashira-sensei helplessly pressed a hand to her forehead, lit another cigarette, and exhaled a cloud of smoke. We're here to discuss serious business, all right? I didn't invite you to a tea party.

Not bothering to watch the two fool around any longer, she settled everything outright. "Since someone is covering the cost, that settles it. Go back and tell Sudo his expulsion has been revoked. He's in the clear."

Kazami called out to Ayanokoji. "Ayanokoji, hurry up and bring Sudo over to kowtow to Sensei."

Chabashira: !!

"What are you trying to do? I worked hard to get my teaching license. Don't get it taken away."

Hearing that, Kazami abandoned the idea of bringing Sudo over to kowtow in gratitude.

"So you're a tsundere too, Sensei. You did such a good deed, yet you won't even accept any thanks. But there's no need to thank me for saving your job."

Chabashira: ...

And just like that, the threat of expulsion hanging over Sudo's head came to an end. After Chabashira-sensei left, Kazami and the other two also left the rooftop one after another.

As night fell, Ayanokoji's dorm room hosted a small gathering. Having successfully escaped expulsion, Ken Sudō had taken the initiative to organize a meal and invite his friends over, celebrating his narrow escape.

Snacks covered the table, drinks clinked together, and the room was lively. With gratitude all over his face, Sudo thanked Ayanokoji, Horikita, and Kazami, his words full of sincerity.

Kazami waved a hand. "You don't have to do that. I really didn't help."

Ayanokoji, who had actually helped, very naturally passed all the credit to Horikita without mentioning himself, leaving her alone in the spotlight.

With Horikita's patient tutoring of Sudo beforehand laying the groundwork, Sudo was moved at that moment, and his affection for her shot straight to the maximum. Romance had come calling for the boy.

Having taken Ayanokoji on as her lackey at the time, Horikita naturally did not expose his lie. Lively as the gathering was, Horikita had never liked such noisy, chaotic occasions. After staying a short while, she said goodbye and left.

Just after Horikita left, Yamauchi couldn't resist discussing her personality in front of everyone, muttering all sorts of complaints. "She's just so cold. Sure, she helped Sudo, but that attitude..."

Before Yamauchi could finish, Sudo, now acting as her knight in shining armor, dealt with him. He reached out and clamped Yamauchi's head firmly under his arm in an intimidating, gorilla-like hold, using plenty of force and perfectly demonstrating what it meant to put romance before friendship.

"Don't talk about Suzune like that! She's actually a really good person. She kept helping me study!"

Watching this, Kazami could hardly miss what Sudo was thinking. He was even calling her by her first name now. But if Sudo knew Ayanokoji was the reason he hadn't been expelled, who knows whether he'd... Ahem. Having Kushida as the one gay person in class is enough. We can't have any more.

Kushida and Horikita would be fine, but Ayanokoji and Sudo? I don't dare imagine it. I'd have nightmares.

The sudden punishment instantly left Yamauchi struggling to breathe. His head was locked firmly in place, and his entire face turned red.

Watching in alarm beside them, Ike hurriedly tried to stop him. "Let go, Sudo! Keep squeezing and Yamauchi's going to start foaming at the mouth! You're seriously going to kill him!"

After that little farce, the gathering gradually wound down. Once everyone had enjoyed themselves, they got up to say goodbye and left Ayanokoji's room one after another.

In just a short while, the once-noisy room fell quiet, leaving only snack wrappers and drink bottles littering the floor, along with Ayanokoji and Kazami, who had stayed behind.

Kazami stretched and stood up to leave. "It's getting late. I'm heading back to sleep, too."

Just then, Ayanokoji looked toward the corner of the table and noticed a phone that had been left behind. "This looks like Kushida's phone. She forgot to take it."

The reason it was so easy to identify was that Horikita's phone only had a very ordinary case, while Kushida's had not only a pretty case, but also lots of keychains and cards stuck to the back.

Kazami stopped at those words, thinking he could drop it off on his way and save Ayanokoji a trip outside. "Then I'll drop it off on my way. You stay here and clean up."

Ayanokoji nodded and handed Kazami the phone. "Okay."