Chapter 325 My Manager Isn't Stupid / Comparing Him to Nagumo?
The fifth day of the special exam.
Shimizu Akira and his group were out for their morning run. The school had announced that the final project on Thursday would include a long-distance relay race. The total distance was 18 kilometers; each group had to distribute the distance among members, ensuring everyone ran at least 1.2 kilometers.
"No way! Another relay? Didn't we get enough of that at the Sports Festival?" Ishizaki Daichi grumbled while running.
"It's different," Hashimoto Masayoshi wiped sweat from his forehead.
"This focuses on endurance, not sprinting."
"Heads up, everyone!" Katsuragi Kohei pointed to a warning sign.
"There's a wild boar notice ahead. Stay away from the back trails."
"Oh~ interesting!" Koenji Rokusuke, who had been strolling at the back, perked up.
"I was getting bored. Since I can't get into the upperclassmen's beds... a wild boar sounds like a perfect distraction!"
"This guy really knows how to enjoy himself, doesn't he?" Ryuen Kakeru cursed.
"Koenji is a 'T-Rex' after all... plus he's rich and flashy!" Ishizaki's voice dripped with envy.
"Don't—don't do it, Koenji..." Yukimura Teruhiko, out of breath, called out.
"We have to be at the meeting point by noon! If you miss roll call, you're disqualified!"
"Hmph~ Since I promised to give you the bare minimum of cooperation, I'll return on time." Koenji's voice faded as he sprinted off.
"Wait for me to return with a boar carcass! Hahaha!"
"Leave him. That kind of man will return if he says he will. If he wants to skip lunch, let him," Miyake Akito, the group leader, said calmly.
The tension between Ryuen and Koenji seemed to have thawed slightly, likely due to the "sincere" encounter in the bath...
After another ten kilometers, Yukimura suddenly cried out in pain: "Ow!"
The team stopped. He was clutching his ankle, face pale.
"Sorry... I think I sprained it."
"Hey! Four-eyes, I knew you'd drag us down!" Ishizaki glared.
"Heh, leave him. We'll head ahead and rest early," Ryuen glanced at Akira, then led Ishizaki and Albert forward.
"Ryuen! You—!" Miyake was furious but held back.
"Wait, let me look." Hashimoto knelt to check the ankle. Swelling was already visible.
"I'll help you walk," Miyake said. Katsuragi moved to the other side to support him. This left Akira and Ayanokouji without a spot to help.
They decided to run ahead to the cafeteria to grab extra food for the others so they wouldn't miss lunch.
As they ran, Ayanokouji noted, "Besides Class D, the others are fairly united. If we hadn't taken in Ryuen's group, we might have scored quite well."
"True, but without them, we wouldn't have the multiplier for all four classes," Akira replied. Everything had pros and cons.
Ahead, the second-year students in their group, like Mikutani, were watching them. Realizing they were spotted, the seniors awkwardly looked away and sped up.
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By 12:30 PM, the rest of the group arrived.
"I'm sorry, everyone," Yukimura bowed. "The school doctor said it's a mild sprain, but I'll be a burden for a few days."
"It's fine, just focus on the written tests," the group comforted him. Since daily attendance only affected a small portion of the score, it wasn't fatal.
"Even if we come in last, I won't let you be the one expelled," Miyake promised.
Akira, eating his pork cutlet, was deep in thought. He had accepted Haruka and Airi's confession last night. There was some physical intimacy in the utility room, but it was far too cold in January to do anything more.
He was still baffled by how Kikyo had convinced them to join a harem.
'Is Kikyo the real succubus?' he wondered. He'd have to reward her properly back at the dorms after the exam.
"Akira-kun!" Karuizawa Kei sat down beside him.
"You were spacing out."
"Just thinking. How are things on your end?"
"I've been working on what you asked!" Kei whispered.
"I tried to help Kiryuin Fuuka-senpai with her social life... though she's just like Koenji. She only cooked for herself when asked to help! I woke up early to cook for her instead. She called me an 'interesting woman' and even made me breakfast yesterday! Are we friends now?"
"Probably," Akira said. Kiryuin making breakfast for someone else actually made her seem more capable of human connection than Koenji.
Kei leaned in closer.
"I noticed something strange. The third-year girls are targeting someone. I overheard it in the restroom—a girl with purple hair and a bun."
Akira frowned.
"Tachibana Akane? Horikita-senpai's former secretary?"
"Yes! They're bullying her—waking her up at night, interfering with her studies. Her attendance and health are suffering."
Akira's brow furrowed. Nagumo must be behind this to get back at Manabu.
"Kei, find out who the leader of that group is. And tell Suzune I need to see her at night. Don't act on your own regarding Tachibana-senpai; let me handle it."
"Got it," Kei nodded. She understood that impulsive intervention often made things worse for the victim.
"So," Akira changed the subject, "what do you want as a reward? I owe you two requests now."
"Two? Wasn't it one?" The "little idiot" was easily distracted.
"The other was for when you lent me your phone," Akira reminded her.
"Oh... I can't think of anything," she pouted.
"I feel like if I just tug on your sleeve, you do most small things for me anyway~"
'My manager isn't stupid' Akira realized.
'She's saving up for something big.'
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At 10:30 PM, Akira met Kiriyama Ikuba behind the boys' dorm.
"I'm Kiriyama, Vice President from 2nd Year Class B," he said formally. "I'll be sabotaging Nagumo's score on the final day. I've recruited others to lower the average by about ten points. His group will likely land between 70 and 80."
"Thank you, Vice President," Akira nodded.
"Also, Nagumo is plotting something with third-years who dislike Horikita-senpai. I'll inform the President later." Kiriyama turned off his flashlight.
"If you keep your group above 80, you'll win. If you lose, I'll personally compensate you with 1 million points—my entire savings."
Akira was surprised. The guy was sincere, though apparently broke after two years under Nagumo's reign.
"I'm doing this for Horikita-senpai," Kiriyama added.
"I can't take Nagumo down alone. I need you kouhais. I thought the first year was safe from people like him, but then I heard about a mysterious person who rented out security cameras at the start of the year... that person's mind is as devious as Nagumo's. Keep an eye out for him."
Akira felt a rare wave of embarrassment.
'That person is me.'
Being compared to Nagumo was quite the insult.
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In a classroom on the second floor, Nagumo Miyabi sat with his eyes closed while his group cleaned. Mikutani entered.
"President, Akira's group is a mess. Ryuen and Ishizaki are constantly at odds with the leader, Miyake. Yukimura is injured, and Koenji is doing his own thing. They'll likely score between 60 and 70."
Nagumo almost laughed. "That's it? I thought he had a hidden ace."
His own group of elites would score at least a 90.
"I've already planted a spy in his group," Nagumo smirked.
"That person will betray the group on the final day. That is my 'Sure-Win Method.'"
He then turned to a 3rd Year Class D student.
"What about Horikita-senpai?"
"He's strong as ever. They'll hit 90 to 95."
"As expected of the former President," Nagumo smiled. "And Tachibana Akane?"
"Her condition is terrible, as requested."
Nagumo's smile became predatory.
"I can't wait to see the expression on Horikita-senpai's face when he hears the news."
He truly despised that secretary.
Announcement!
New Fanfiction!
Hikigaya's Path to Become a Jujutsu Sorcerer is Wrong as Expected
Following an unusual request from Yotsuya Miko, the world of Jujutsu is unveiled to the Service Club. However, Cursed Spirits are merely the beginning, as this world harbors far deeper secrets.
Magic and swords, curses and abilities, and the beautiful girls gradually gathering around... This kind of youth romantic comedy is definitely a huge problem.
Multi X-Over (Jujitsu Kaisen, SAO, Amagi Brilliant Park and others)
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