005 Self-Righteous Yagami Takuya / Wait? Where'd My Class Funds Go?
It was Wednesday morning.
When Shimizu Akira woke up, he could clearly feel another person beside him. Kushida Kikyo was curled up in his arms, a sweet expression on her sleeping face.
Looking closely, this girlfriend of his truly was a flawless beautiful girl with a sweet appearance.
Before he could appreciate the sight for long, Kikyo suddenly frowned and mumbled indistinctly, "Student Council President... it should be me!"
Was she having a nightmare? Then again, who on earth was she fighting in her dream for the Student Council President position! Was it Horikita or Ichinose?
About five minutes later, Kushida Kikyo finally opened her eyes slowly. She blinked, looking at Shimizu Akira in a daze, and then rubbed her shoulder against his like a cat.
"Akira-kun... good morning."
"Good morning." Akira ruffled her hair.
"Were you dreaming just now?"
"Mhm..." Kushida Kikyo gave a cold snort. "I dreamed about the Student Council election. I lost to that woman Horikita, and then I cried in front of the whole school... I wanted to die."
Akira laughed. "It was just a dream."
"A dream isn't okay either, because I am definitely going to be the Student Council President!" Kikyo sat up straight.
"I've been eyeing the power of the Student Council for a long time! Handing it over to someone else? Don't even think about it!" Akira couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
Wow, his girlfriend was being so blunt about her ambitions right in front of him!
Then again, the Student Council President of this school truly held significant power.
Usually, they could intervene in student disputes, the school would consult with the Student Council for every special exam, and major decisions or institutional reforms required their cooperation. They even had a considerable say in adjusting school rules.
Just like last year when Nagumo Miyabi, on a whim, directly lowered the treatment of Class D.
Kikyo turned her head to look at Akira. "By the way, Akira-kun, regarding the new students, I noticed several with very good data. For example, Ishigami Kyo and Amasawa Ichika from 1st Year Class A, Yagami Takuya from Class B, Utomiya Riku from Class C, and Nanase Tsubasa from Class D.
The individual abilities of these people basically exceed 80 or even 90, and their comprehensive values are around 70."
Indeed, the ability values of ordinary students usually range between 40 and 50. Though, one shouldn't use Akira's off-the-charts data as a reference standard. From this perspective, the overall quality of this year's freshmen was indeed high.
"Among these people, there should be at least one White Room assassin, right?" Kikyo, having long known about the White Room's existence from Akira, speculated.
"Not necessarily. White Room assassins might use disguises; their data might not be this good." Akira thought of how Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's data wasn't particularly flashy either; an assassin might consciously hide their strength.
Then, he suddenly remembered something and asked, "Right, I'm still a bit concerned about that past incident of yours. Among the freshmen, are there any of your former kouhais or people you know?"
Kikyo recalled carefully. "On the day the OAA data was released, I looked through everyone's profile pictures and abilities. There were no faces I recognized." Then there really shouldn't be any.
After all, Kikyo had said she remembered all the kouhais she had interacted with back then. If they were truly from the same middle school, it was impossible for her not to recognize them.
This afternoon, Horikita Suzune announced the punishment results regarding Housen Kazuomi's words and actions from yesterday noon.
All personal points confiscated, 50 class points deducted from Class D, a written apology submitted, and a major demerit recorded. As for the 1st Year Class D homeroom teacher, Shiba Katsunori, publicly revealing the 2nd Year class rankings, the school judged it as no fault because he defended his actions by saying they were "intended to stimulate the motivation of fellow Class D students." No punishment was issued.
Regarding the issue of unequal expulsion penalties between the 1st and 2nd years, the school made an adjustment: the 1st years' punishment changed from "confiscation of personal points for the next three months" to "deduction of 100 class points from their class."
"Eh? They didn't change it to identical conditions, but changed it to class point deductions instead!
This punishment... how should I put it?
But since it involves class points, those guys shouldn't dare act recklessly anymore."
This adjustment of the punishment conditions was somewhat acceptable. 100 class points meant everyone in the class would receive 10,000 fewer personal points per month, which was already significant pressure for most freshmen.
Although it was still different from the 2nd years' expulsion penalty, since class points were involved, an individual's behavior would affect the collective interest of the entire class.
This way, others would more or less start monitoring each other's behavior. In any case, it was the freshmen's first special exam; it seemed the school didn't dare use the harsh penalty of expulsion right out of the gate.
However, in Akira's view, if the first special exam wasn't intended to involve expulsion, there was no need to force it into a cross-grade exam. Wouldn't it have been better to just hold a separate special exam for the freshmen? Like their uninhabited island exam back then. They just had to force them together!
This afternoon, Akira didn't eat with Suzune, but instead had lunch in the cafeteria with Kikyo, Haruka, and Airi.
After all, he now had seven girlfriends; at times like this, he had to share the love equally. "The school forum has already posted news; 56 pairs have successfully teamed up," Haruka said while scrolling through her phone.
"Is it that many already? But the three of us don't have partners yet," Airi said softly with concern.
"It's not that many!" Kikyo explained with a smile. "Out of those 56 pairs, 40 are from Class 2-B—that is, Ichinose's side. Our class currently has zero pairs, so the remaining 16 are from Class A and Class C."
"After all, Ichinose mentioned in the group that her class intends to use the direct approach," Haruka sighed.
Since the Q&A game that night, a positive chemical reaction had indeed occurred among Akira's seven girlfriends. For instance, Haruka, who originally felt a sense of dislike toward Ichinose Honami—thinking she was too perfect to be real—had slowly come to recognize her as someone who was the same inside and out, and trustworthy.
A nice friendship had also sprouted between Kamuro Masumi and Sakura Airi; their personalities complemented each other, and they got along unexpectedly well.
As for Kikyo and Suzune! No need to ask about that one.
That night, Kikyo even created a "Girlfriends Group." The members included Kushida Kikyo, Horikita Suzune, Ichinose Honami, Hasebe Haruka, Sakura Airi, Kamuro Masumi, and Karuizawa Kei—seven people in total, with Kikyo serving as the group leader.
"Uh... can I join this group?" Akira asked, raising his hand. He hadn't even seen what the group looked like yet.
"No!"
"Akira-kun, you can't!"
"I don't think it's quite appropriate."
He was rejected in unison by Kikyo, Haruka, and Airi.
"In the group, we girls discuss topics that only girls talk about. It might be inconvenient for Akira-kun to be in there," Kikyo added with a smile.
"By the way, Horikita and Karuizawa mentioned in the group yesterday that two girls in the first year seem very interested in you—one named Nanase Tsubasa and the other Amasawa Ichika. Akira-kun, I think you need to explain yourself."
What? Information was already being shared to this extent? When did these seven women become so united?
Akira felt a sudden wave of pressure and hurriedly explained, "I really have nothing to do with them! Yesterday was just the first time we met; it's just a normal senpai-kouhai relationship!"
"Ho-ho, I know~"
"Akira-kun is quite nervous; how cute!"
Kikyo and Haruka looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh. "I know Akira-kun is fine!" Airi chimed in softly. The three of them actually knew Akira wasn't at fault.
Factually speaking, it was clearly those two kouhais who had approached him proactively. Those two shameless women!
"Fine! You guys dare to tease me!" Akira, realizing they were poking fun at him, immediately counterattacked. "Kikyo already came over last night, so Airi and Haruka, you two come to my dorm tonight!"
"Got it~"
"Um... okay." Haruka and Airi agreed with blushing faces, almost without hesitation.
Akira was momentarily speechless. Why did it feel like this was a reward for those two instead!
Just then, a slightly surprised voice came from nearby: "Eh? Isn't this Kushida-senpai?"
The four turned to look. A lowerclassman boy was standing nearby at some point. Akira recognized him; he was the baby-faced youth he'd seen on the OAA, named Yagami Takuya, if he remembered correctly.
Yagami Takuya smiled as he approached.
"Good afternoon, Kushida-senpai, Shimizu-senpai, and all the other senpais! I'm Yagami Takuya from 1st Year Class A. Sorry to interrupt your meal. Actually, I'm a kouhai from Kushida-senpai's middle school. Seeing a familiar senpai at the same school, I couldn't resist coming over to say hello."
A kouhai she knew? But Kikyo had clearly said this morning that she didn't recognize any of the freshmen.
Sure enough, Kushida Kikyo showed a hesitant expression, as if trying hard to recall.
"I'm sorry, Yagami-kun... I really don't remember you. And I'm confident that I remember all the kouhais from that year. If you were only one year below me, you would have only been in your second year of middle school when I graduated, right?"
Yagami Takuya was slightly startled, but quickly smiled again. "Senpai might not remember clearly. I was actually something of a transfer student. It seems senpai doesn't have much of an impression of me, but I remember senpai very vividly! Senpai has always been the object of my admiration."
Hearing this, Akira couldn't help but glance at Yagami Takuya. It wasn't that he was jealous because the guy admired Kikyo—he wasn't that narrow-minded. Rather, he just realized that the person who sent that message on the first day of school—the one who knew about Kikyo's dark history—should be this person.
Only then did Kushida Kikyo show a look of realization. "Ah... you're Yagami-kun! Indeed, I remember you had very good grades. So you really did get into this school."
Yagami Takuya smiled with satisfaction. "Senpai finally remembered! That's great! To tell the truth, I've looked up to senpai for a long time. My entrance grades were decent, and I got an A rating. How about teaming up with me?"
Kushida Kikyo refused without a second thought. "Sorry, Yagami-kouhai. I have a boyfriend, and I will only consider teaming up with a female kouhai." She loved Akira so much; how could she team up with a kouhai she'd barely spoken to?
"Is that so!" Yagami Takuya sighed with regret. Haruka and Airi thought he would take the hint and back off, but to their surprise, Yagami Takuya turned his gaze toward Shimizu Akira.
"In that case, senpai, can you permit Kushida-senpai to team up with me?"
Haruka and Airi both frowned, and Kikyo's smile vanished completely.
What was wrong with this person?! Could he not hear the polite refusal?
Akira also instinctively put down his chopsticks and looked at Yagami Takuya coldly.
"Are you asking me if I can let my girlfriend team up with you?"
"Yes." Yagami Takuya maintained his polite smile. "After all, this exam involves the risk of expulsion. I believe choosing the most suitable partner is the rational move. My academic ability is A, while senpai's is B. If we team up, there's a high probability we can enter the top 10% and get the 10,000-point reward. That's beneficial for senpai too, isn't it?"
"What you're saying makes sense." Akira nodded. "But the premise of teaming up is mutual consent. Kikyo has already clearly refused; why are you coming to ask me?"
"Because I feel that, as senpai's boyfriend, you should value her interests more than emotions." Yagami Takuya looked directly at Akira. "If senpai truly cared for her, you should advise her to team up with a more excellent partner rather than being obsessed with a private relationship like being boyfriend and girlfriend."
That statement was quite rude. Haruka couldn't help but want to speak up, but Airi gently pulled her sleeve. Kikyo's face also turned cold, but she didn't speak, just quietly watching Akira.
Akira was silent for a few seconds and suddenly laughed. "Yagami-kouhai, you said just now that you've looked up to Kikyo for a long time, right?"
"Yes."
"Then, you should understand her personality very well." Akira said slowly, "Kikyo looks gentle and easy to talk to, but she is actually more stubborn than anyone at her core. Once she decides something, no one can change it, including me. In fact, most of the time, I'm the one being led by the nose by her."
He stood up and walked in front of Yagami Takuya.
The height difference between the two was significant; Akira was clearly a head taller than his kouhai, and he looked down at him.
"Furthermore, you've got one thing wrong. I never make decisions for her. She is my girlfriend, not my possession. Who she wants to team up with, or doesn't want to team up with, is her freedom. And I only need to support her choice and ensure that no one can force her to do something she doesn't want to do. That's enough."
The smile on Yagami Takuya's face finally stiffened. But soon, he returned to normal, took half a step back, and bowed slightly. "It was my rudeness. My apologies, senpai, senpai. I hope you enjoy your meal." With that, he turned and left.
Once he was far away, Haruka snorted. "What was that? That guy... he's so self-righteous. Did we really have to spell it out that clearly for him to back off?"
"His words just now seemed to be about teaming up, but in reality, he was testing us," Kikyo said in a low voice.
"Testing Akira-kun's attitude toward me, and testing our relationship."
"Testing?" Airi was puzzled.
"Yes." Akira sat back down.
"He deliberately made that unreasonable request just to see how I would react. If I showed hesitation, or really tried to persuade you to team up with someone else, he would conclude that our relationship isn't solid."
"And then?"
"And then he might use more direct means to approach you or try to drive a wedge between us." Akira looked at Kikyo.
"This person outwardly seems to have a good impression of you and acts proactively. Are you sure you met him in middle school?"
"I'm very sure I didn't." Kikyo shook her head.
"I couldn't forget someone as conspicuous as him. But he seems to know a lot about me. Moreover, I feel like he doesn't really like me at all; he just wants to use me to achieve certain goals. That passionate attitude of his is a fake, just like Ayanokouji was at the beginning."
Kikyo had been a popular figure since childhood; she could tell who only liked her on the surface and who was sincere almost at a glance from their eyes, movements, and behavior. This Yagami Takuya's attitude and tone were passionate, but his eyes lacked warmth. There was a clear disconnect between his words and his body language.
"I see!" Akira thought for a moment and reached a direct conclusion. "I think this person is, in all probability, an assassin from the White Room."
Mastering Kikyo's information in advance for no reason. Clearly faking his social attitude. Harboring inexplicable hostility toward him. With so many suspicious points, who else would Akira suspect if not him?
"An assassin from the White Room?"
"Him?" Haruka and Airi showed looks of astonishment.
After all, Akira had mentioned that people from the White Room were very capable fighters, but just looking at his appearance, Yagami Takuya's harmless baby face really didn't fit that impression.
"In short, the three of you should be careful of this Yagami Takuya. Especially Kikyo—if anything happens, call me anytime, and I'll rush over immediately." After the four finished eating, Akira specifically warned them.
"Mhm, we know!" The three nodded seriously. Kikyo also took out her phone and started typing.
"Right, I'll notify the others in the group too!" You really couldn't deny it—this girlfriend group had quite a few benefits.
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2nd Year Class A.
Just as Sakayanagi Arisu had predicted, since school started a week ago, almost no one publicly discussed her fainting during the class voting exam anymore. Or rather, no one dared to gossip right in front of her.
She glanced at her phone and found that Nagumo Miyabi had sent a list. Amasawa Ichika, Ishigami Kyo, Yagami Takuya, Utomiya Riku, Tsubaki Sakurako, Housen Kazuomi, Nanase Tsubasa.
Nagumo Miyabi: Sakayanagi, the White Room assassin is among them.
Sakayanagi Arisu couldn't help but roll her eyes. Wasn't that obvious? There were only a few conspicuous people in this year's freshman class; of course the assassin would be among them. What she really wanted was the internal data in Nagumo Miyabi's hands, such as detailed data from the entrance exams, to see if there were any abnormal traces. But this man clearly had no intention of doing as she wished.
However, putting Nagumo aside, Sakayanagi Arisu did see a familiar name on the list. Ishigami Kyo. If she remembered correctly, she seemed to have met this person at a banquet when she was a child; he was friends with Kanzaki next door. Then he couldn't be the White Room assassin.
As for Housen Kazuomi... he caused such a big scene right from the start, which indirectly caused the 1st and 2nd year punishment conditions to be brought closer together. A gorilla like that probably wasn't it either.
Forget it. Sakayanagi rubbed her temples. Information was still too scarce. Analyzing like this based only on speculation didn't really have much meaning.
"Princess, I've finished my inquiries." Hashimoto Masayoshi walked up to Sakayanagi Arisu and briefly reported on the recent situation.
"Among the other three classes, 2nd Year Class D has already completed pairing with all the freshmen and has been organizing study sessions in the library these past few days. 2nd Year Class B and C only have a few individuals teamed up with kouhais they know. As for the first years... Class D has no intention of contacting us at all; most of Class C has already paired with 2nd Year Class D; Class A and B maintain their attitude, requiring payment in personal points before considering cooperation, even if I use the name of Class A."
This time, Sakayanagi Arisu didn't involve Yamamura Miki. Hashimoto was indeed better at this kind of proactive information-gathering work.
Staking out and monitoring—that was Yamamura Miki's specialty.
After listening to Hashimoto's report, Sakayanagi stroked her chin.
"1st Year Class D... that's the class controlled by Housen Kazuomi, right?"
"Yes. He seems to have unified the class through violent means, but it's not stable inside; many people are privately complaining about it."
"As expected." Sakayanagi gave a light chuckle. "Those who rule through fear are often the first to be consumed by it. Speaking of violence, how is Ryuen Kakeru doing?"
"Um... no movement for now. The vast majority of Class C still doesn't have partners." Hashimoto shook his head.
Regarding the pairing situation, it could be clearly seen through the OAA system; as long as no team icon was displayed after 8:00 AM, it meant the student hadn't found a partner.
"Let's do this." Sakayanagi thought for a moment and said slowly, "Compile a spreadsheet and filter for freshmen with individual abilities of B or higher and comprehensive abilities over 55 on the OAA. After that, students in our class can try sending team invitations to these students. If necessary, we can also use a portion of personal points as a condition for cooperation."
"I see!" Hashimoto immediately grasped her intention. "Princess means that as Class A, our academic advantage is obvious. For the sake of long-term relationships over the next two years, it's necessary to establish a good foundation of cooperation now?"
"Exactly." Sakayanagi nodded slightly and smiled. "Reputation and credit take time to accumulate."
Subsequently, she took out her phone and transferred 1 million in class funds to Hashimoto. It wasn't until Hashimoto caught a glimpse of her account balance that he was completely stunned. Wait... when did the class funds become 12 million? He remembered that after the class voting exam ended, there were clearly 24 million.
Only a month has passed, and 10-odd million is just gone?
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