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Just then, the Student Council President's message arrived, saying that the school authorities had already intervened to investigate the store and would give him a reply by noon tomorrow at the latest.
That's right.
This Advanced Nurturing High School was already a well-known school in Japan, and its foundation behind it must not be shallow—perhaps several influential figures stood behind it, and even their children were currently studying at this school.
The school would naturally not stand by and watch students be bullied by outside businesses.
After all, in their eyes, competition among students and differences between classes were considered "internal matters"—if their own children lost to peers, they had to accept it, no matter how unwilling they were.
But if an outside business dared to harbor ill intentions, that was another matter entirely.
At most, they would just switch to another one.
There was more than one store in this school anyway, and losing that one wouldn't have much impact.
He suddenly remembered the situation when he was in junior high school—at that time, there was only one small store in the school, and during breaks or lunch, the counter was always lined with long queues. It sold out almost every day, and slightly popular snacks were snatched up as soon as they were put out.
Not to mention that this Advanced Nurturing High School was under closed management, and students couldn't leave school freely even on weekends.
For three years, students from first to third year almost entirely relied on the on-campus stores for their daily consumption.
Opening a store in such a place was simply a sure-fire business.
However, Akira thought about it and still decided to tell Kushida the news that the school authorities had intervened in the investigation.
He looked up at the classroom—Kushida was surrounded by several girls, laughing and talking.
"How was your date with Shimizu-kun? Where did you go?" a girl asked curiously.
"First, we went to eat parfait, and then we went to sing karaoke!" Kushida's eyes curved into crescent moons. "It was really fun—Shimizu-kun is truly very considerate and took my feelings into account in every aspect."
"You two were fulfilling last month's bet, right?" another girl chuckled playfully. "Kushida-san certainly keeps her word! Oh, by the way, we saw your message, and we won't be going to that store anymore either!"
"Hehe, thank you everyone." She nodded gently, the smile in her eyes becoming even softer.
Akira hadn't expected an immediate reply, so he withdrew his gaze after sending the message.
Unexpectedly, a few minutes later, he saw her pick up her phone from the desk, look at it, then smile and say something to the people around her. She then took her phone and stepped out of the crowd, coming to stand in front of him.
"Shimizu-kun, good morning!" Kushida walked to his desk, her eyes sparkling. "Has that store already been reported to the Student Council by you? That's really great!"
She then naturally added, "Actually, the Student Council President of this school is really efficient. The matter reported yesterday is already being handled today. No wonder the teachers and upperclassmen all say he's the most outstanding Student Council President in history—he's truly a very reliable person."
Just as Akira was about to respond, he glimpsed Horikita next to him pause her fingertips and subconsciously glance in Kushida's direction.
There was clearly a ripple of surprise in her eyes, but it vanished in an instant, though her tightly pursed lips secretly relaxed a bit.
—After all, it was her own brother being sincerely praised, anyone would be moved.
This subtle change naturally didn't escape Kushida's eyes.
The corners of her mouth curved into an even softer arc.
'So that's it.'
Akira understood in his heart.
'She just found out yesterday that Horikita Manabu is her brother, and today she's already eager to use praise to probe?'
'Looking at Horikita's reaction, it seems to be quite effective.'
Kushida's praise wasn't deliberate flattery—the Student Council President's efficiency was a fact, and coming from her mouth, it seemed natural and sincere.
"Oh, Horikita-senpai must be Horikita-san's brother, right? After all, you two have the same surname, which is quite rare in Japan." She said, as if suddenly remembering something, throwing out a new topic in a cheerful tone, her gaze subtly drifting towards Horikita.
"..." Horikita's hand, holding her pen, paused. She turned her face and shot Akira a cold glance.
'Could it be that this news was heard from Shimizu?!'
Only then did she belatedly realize—no wonder Kushida kept coming over today. It turned out Akira had let it slip.
What did those two talk about on that date yesterday? This person usually seems quite smart, how could he not notice being tricked into revealing information?
Or could it be... all high school boys are like this? As long as any cute girl dates him and gives him some perks, boys will agree to anything.
This thought had just emerged when she suppressed it.
"So," Kushida didn't mind her coldness. Instead, she leaned forward slightly. "Horikita-san must know her brother very well, right? How did the Student Council President become so excellent? Can you tell me, so I can also learn from his experience?"
The curiosity in her words was genuine and eager, making it difficult for anyone who heard it to feel defensive.
Horikita felt an inexplicable urge to confide—she'd always been unable to keep quiet about how excellent her brother was.
As a sister who respected her brother from the bottom of her heart, when asked such a question, there was almost no room for refusal.
Even if the other person was Kushida, whom she usually found somewhat annoying, it couldn't shake her desire to share—after all, her brother's excellence was far more important than the other party's fake smile.
She lowered her eyes, staring at the text in her textbook, her voice softer than before, with a hint of imperceptible pride. "My brother isn't really a naturally talented person. When he first entered junior high, he wasn't ranked first in his grade. But he woke up very early every day, consistently studying and exercising, never slacking off. By persevering day after day without fail, he has now become someone who is no less than any 'genius'."
"So, you don't need to ask any more—you can't do it." At the end, she looked up and glanced at Kushida, her tone containing undisguised bluntness.
In her opinion, Kushida was definitely not the type who could persevere and work hard day after day.
After all, when the last monthly exam results came out, the other party's scores in all subjects were consistently in the eighties—not bad, but far from reaching the standard of "giving it your all."
How could such a person learn her brother's years-long persistence?
"Is that so?" Kushida's smile didn't diminish at all. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, changing the subject. "If I can't do it, Shimizu-kun~ might be able to?"
That final "-kun" was spoken naturally and intimately—she'd just been calling him "Shimizu-kun," but now the address felt even more casual.
Akira subconsciously blinked. He hadn't expected the topic to suddenly turn to him, like watching a pass on a ball field and suddenly being hit by the ball, momentarily stunned.
He glanced at Horikita beside him—she was looking at him with an expression that said, "How did this topic turn to him?" clearly also not expecting Kushida to suddenly target him.