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"Any other ideas? Keep talking." Horikita Manabu's tone was flat, clearly not believing that Akira only had that one thought.
"Of course I do." Akira nodded. "Since the rules for the exam papers are so strict, can we spend points to buy scores for the midterm exam?"
"You can't buy them for other classes." Horikita Manabu rejected it immediately, then added, "But you can buy scores for your own class. One hundred thousand points per point."
"That's certainly not cheap." Akira clicked his tongue.
Horikita Manabu didn't respond, simply waiting for him to continue.
"Then conversely, can I spend 100,000 points to reduce another student's score by one point?" Akira followed up with a new question.
Horikita Manabu raised an eyebrow at the words. "You shouldn't have such deep-seated hostility toward Class D, should you? Or is there someone in the class you particularly dislike?"
"I'm mainly afraid of others making a move on me." Akira's tone was calm.
Horikita Manabu raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. "With your caution, you still need to worry about that?" He paused for a moment, his tone becoming certain. "However, I can tell you clearly that there's no such possibility. The rules only allow for increasing scores, which is meant as mercy for those failing students who are just one or two points short. After all, the school ultimately promotes cooperation. A class is a single entity. Otherwise, why do you think you were notified on the first day that your class and homeroom teacher wouldn't change for three years?"
Akira finally breathed a sigh of relief, the tension in his brow dissipating slightly.
It wasn't that he truly hoped a classmate would be expelled, but he was genuinely worried about someone tripping him up in secret. In this school, who could say for sure?
It was just a question.
Horikita Manabu saw his relieved yet still questioning look and suddenly realized. This guy had probably been holding back a week's worth of questions.
But on second thought, he'd looked after his sister many times and was now a candidate for Vice President of the Student Council, so he didn't mind. He gave a slight wave of his hand, signaling for him to continue asking.
"President, then how much authority does a homeroom teacher have?"
"Not as much as you think. This school has always promoted students discovering and solving problems on their own. On the surface, the school strictly forbids teachers from interfering in student affairs, and even positions like class representative aren't allowed to be established. Any violation results in not only a fine but also a disciplinary record. The power of the Student Council is far greater than that of the teachers."
He suddenly added as if remembering something, "Speaking of which, it seems something like this happened in your Class 1-D during the first month. Ms. Chabashira appointed two vice class representatives, right? I heard about it. She had a significant amount deducted from her salary because of that."
Akira found this quite interesting upon hearing it.
So even vice class representatives weren't allowed to be established?
In that case, Chabashira had actually done quite a few out-of-line things for Class D behind the scenes.
"You shouldn't have any more questions, right?" Horikita Manabu felt his throat getting dry and took a sip from his teacup as he spoke.
Akira did have many questions today, and he estimated that Akira shouldn't have any more doubts by now.
Overall, he was quite satisfied with his performance.
Being able to think of modifying the exam papers had actually exceeded his expectations.
After all, the upperclassman from the previous grade who thought of this method had successfully graduated from Class A.
Akira smiled somewhat awkwardly and waited for him to put down his teacup before cautiously speaking. "Actually, I have a few more questions I'd like to ask. The second-years and third-years should also have special exams, right?"
"They do exist." Horikita Manabu nodded slightly. "However, the exam papers for the third-years are currently unobtainable, as there's no higher grade to trade with."
"But thinking about it carefully, in theory, couldn't someone have bought the midterm exam papers from the upperclassmen who were third-years at this time last year?" Akira pressed further.
"The third-years didn't buy them." Horikita Manabu answered frankly, his tone calm. "Not everyone is as far-sighted as you. To us at that time, the third-year papers were far too distant to be worth the trouble. The gap in class points between Class A and Class B was also very large. So, surely you haven't already collected the first and second-year papers?"
Since the third-year midterm exam hadn't taken place yet, it was naturally impossible for Akira to have their midterm papers.
At most, he could only get the first and second-year midterm papers from the third-year students.
"Well, actually, I only have the first-year papers here." Akira waved his hand with a bit of embarrassment. "I just suddenly thought of the possibility. I didn't necessarily think that far ahead."
Akira rubbed his chin and threw out another question. "Then President, do you know if any of the third-year upperclassmen have sold first or second-year exam papers?"
Horikita Manabu was clearly taken aback, a flash of surprise crossing his gaze behind his lenses. "You... why ask that all of a sudden?"
After a brief silence, he still picked up his phone. "Let me check."
Notification sounds chimed one after another.
Horikita Manabu scanned the screen, his expression gradually becoming subtle. "Not yet..." He suddenly paused and looked up at Akira. "However, Sato from our class says he already gave the first-year papers to you."
Akira naturally picked up the conversation. "Regarding that, I am indeed aware of it. Since that's the case, President, I think it's time to repay my debt to you."
"You're saying you're here to repay the favor?" Horikita Manabu looked at him with sudden surprise. "I remember I did help you last month. However, that favor isn't so easily repaid."
The total amount of the last transaction was as high as 12 million points. According to the 30% commission rate, that'd be 3.6 million points.
Horikita Manabu suddenly leaned forward. "Could it be that you're planning to transfer 3.6 million points directly to me?"
Akira shook his head gently. "Of course not in such a simple way as points. I'm referring to a proposal, an opportunity for you to easily earn over five million points."
Horikita Manabu's eyes flickered slightly. "Oh? Only I can do it? You can't do it yourself?"
Akira met his gaze frankly and nodded slowly. "Yes, this matter requires you, President. Anyone else, myself included, would have no chance of success. I hope you can sell the second-year midterm papers to Nagumo for a price of at least 5 million points."
"5 million?" Horikita Manabu's brow twitched slightly, but he didn't immediately reject it. Instead, he signaled for him to continue. "Tell me your plan."
"Nagumo has already taken control of all four classes in the second year," Akira said. "They're currently facing a special exam as well, but unlike the first-years, they can only buy papers from the third-years. When I happened to run into him at the dessert shop, I overheard key intelligence. To save points, Nagumo has forbidden other classes from buying papers. They can only be purchased by him personally."
Horikita Manabu's fingers tapped lightly on the table. "So what you mean is..."
"As long as you can convince all the third-year students to maintain a unified front and jointly block the sale of papers to the second-years," Akira looked directly at him, "it'll force Nagumo to buy them at a high price."
Horikita Manabu suddenly chuckled. "Interesting. But why do you think I can do that?"
"Because," Akira said word by word, "you're the most outstanding Student Council President since this school was founded. And Sato-senpai said it himself. The entire third year, all four classes, are still under your leadership, holding the defensive line against Nagumo."
Horikita Manabu narrowed his eyes slightly. "Even so, I'm curious why Nagumo must buy them. After all, the second-years have already been through one special exam. They should have a considerable academic foundation."
Akira held up three fingers as if prepared. "There are three reasons."
"First, since the first-year exam papers already show questions clearly beyond the syllabus, following this trend, the second-year exam papers will inevitably have similar situations. More importantly, the average score of this exam will directly affect the class points. If I were Nagumo, I'd definitely buy the exam papers to increase the overall class points for the second-years and raise the total points offered."
"Second, Nagumo has already made promises to the four classes that he'd be fully responsible for purchasing the exam papers. If he breaks his word, with his proud personality, he probably wouldn't be able to tolerate losing face in public."
"Third, if he chooses to give up on the purchase, he'll also face the risk of his prestige being swept away, and the four classes will no longer be so obedient to him. This isn't only a chance for the third-years to catch their breath but also creates an opportunity for internal strife among other factions, like the opposition within the second-years. This should be the side Nagumo least wants to see."
Akira looked directly into Horikita Manabu's eyes, his tone decisive. "So this isn't a multiple-choice question, but a mandatory one. Nagumo must buy it. He absolutely has to. With the points in his hands, five million shouldn't be a difficult task for him. Of course, it's up to you to decide, President. Whether you don't sell to him or do, for you, it's a move that's purely beneficial and harmless."
"I have one question." Horikita Manabu's gaze darkened. "How do you know Nagumo has a large amount of points?"
Akira was slightly startled upon hearing this, but immediately regained his composure. "I naturally have my own sources of information."
Horikita Manabu propped his chin with both hands, his fingertips lightly pressing against his brow, lost in thought for a moment.
Interesting, truly interesting.
He hadn't expected Akira to come here with the intention of helping him weaken Nagumo's influence. He'd suggested monopolizing the third-year exam paper market to strike at Nagumo. Thinking about it carefully, this argument indeed held water.
He knew Nagumo better than anyone. Although that man's character had flaws, he'd mostly do what he promised. Otherwise, he wouldn't have let him join the Student Council as the Vice President back then. It could only be said that their philosophies were ultimately different.
Nagumo must buy the exam papers. This was his weakness.
He'd always led the four classes with crushing intelligence and force, using the so-called "random lottery to reach Class A" as a lure for the other three classes.
But if one day these followers discovered that their "leader" couldn't even get a single exam paper, would they still be so obedient?
The four classes didn't have much respect for Nagumo to begin with. Once he failed to deliver, they'd certainly take the opportunity to cause trouble.
Taking a step back, even if Nagumo wanted to flip the table and report the exam papers, he couldn't do it. That'd be no different from admitting defeat. All the classes in the second year, especially Class C and Class D, would be full of complaints against him.
After all, when a class could rely on the old papers to increase their points by more than ninety, on what grounds could he deprive them of this right?
Even Class A might not be able to answer all the questions beyond the syllabus correctly, let alone the other classes.
However... Horikita Manabu suddenly looked up at Akira. "Have you considered another possibility? The second-years might not have bought the papers from the third-years, but perhaps as early as their first year, someone obtained the second-year midterm exam papers from a graduated upperclassman?"
Akira froze for a moment, then shook his head. "If you didn't think of it, I naturally didn't either. But I feel there's a high probability that no one in the second year thought of this. After all, the entire second year is dominated by Nagumo, and even he didn't buy them in advance. Based on this, others would be even less likely to have that thought."
"Correct, your deduction is perfectly accurate." A faint curve appeared at the corner of Horikita Manabu's mouth. "I can tell you clearly that indeed no one in the second year thought of that. Only Nagumo found information about the old papers, and at that time, he bought the first-year midterm exam papers from me. I only started paying attention to him when Class B's average score exceeded 90 points."
Akira's expression shifted slightly upon hearing this. "Nagumo started from Class B? That's quite unexpected."
Horikita Manabu picked up his teacup, the rising steam blurring his gaze behind his glasses. "What, did you think he was an elite from Class A from the very beginning?"
"I did think so," Akira admitted frankly. "After all, his current style..."
"It's exactly that arrogance that ruined him." Horikita Manabu took a small sip of tea. "During the entrance exam, his condescending personality was fully exposed. Just like now, even something as shady as forbidding other classes from buying exam papers, he dares to talk loudly about it in public."
"So this time, you've caught his biggest flaw." He rarely showed a look of approval. "Shimizu, this 'gift' of yours has indeed given me quite a surprise."