Chapter 004 Amasawa Ichika: The Plan Has Changed! My Idol Can't Just Be a Sidekick!
After that, Nanase Tsubasa didn't say much else. With another bow, she took her leave. Although Shimizu Akira had added her as a friend, he did not accept the transfer of 80,000 points.
For one, he wasn't short on private points at the moment. Secondly, the second-year class points were currently only at 800, meaning first-year students likely only received about 80,000 private points per month. If she transferred all of it to him, what would she have left for food and drink?
Horikita Suzune looked at Shimizu Akira with a hint of dissatisfaction in her eyes. This kouhai named Nanase Tsubasa seemed polite on the surface, but from start to finish, she had only spoken to Shimizu, barely interacting with anyone else.
And what was this? Approaching her boyfriend so proactively right in front of her, his current girlfriend? She clearly had hidden motives! Was she trying to become the "eighth person" or something?
"Those first-year Class D people are way too arrogant! To actually come to our door and demand points with such a lion's maw!"
"We weren't that wild back then; we were very respectful to our senpais!"
"But thinking about it, cooperating with an entire class is actually a pretty good idea."
"But they want us to pay 3.9 million? Setting aside whether we have enough points, I just can't swallow this insult!"
It was only the second day of the special exam. Most people in second-year Class B felt they didn't necessarily need to cooperate with first-year Class D, so a general sense of resistance prevailed. Shimizu Akira didn't pay much attention to these discussions; instead, he turned his gaze toward Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
After a moment of thought, he walked over and asked quietly, "Do you know that kouhai, Nanase Tsubasa? You must have noticed—the way she looks at you is quite complex."
"I don't know her," Ayanokouji shook his head. "It might be your imagination."
The person involved denied it once again. Shimizu couldn't help but think of that girl from Class 2-A last time; she was the same. There sure were a lot of girls with ties to Ayanokouji.
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The after-school bell soon rang. Chabashira-sensei made a rare afternoon appearance. "An announcement: it's been a week since school started. Today at 5:00 PM, the school will hold a club recruitment fair in the gymnasium. Interested students can go take a look."
After she left the classroom, Shimizu realized she was right. It had been over a week since the start of the term, and it was time for the various clubs to recruit new members. Speaking of which, the new captain in the boxing club's group chat had sent a similar message yesterday, telling everyone to gather at the clubroom as soon as possible after school.
Karuizawa Kei waved to him, and Shimizu nodded in response. The two walked out of the classroom together. The hallways were already filled with students heading toward the gym or clubrooms.
Before they even reached the clubroom, they heard the dull thuds of someone hitting a punching bag. Pushing the door open, they saw the new captain—third-year Ueno—practicing alone.
Seeing them enter, he stopped and took off his gloves. "Shimizu, Karuizawa, good afternoon! Sorry, I was supposed to prepare the recruitment props, but I couldn't resist getting some practice in as soon as I walked through the door."
"Good afternoon, Captain. It's fine, we can prepare together now," Shimizu waved it off.
On the other side, Karuizawa Kei had already started organizing flyers and display boards with another third-year manager. The current boxing captain, Ueno, had a personality that was worlds apart from the previous captain, Sato. He was very polite and wore thick glasses when he wasn't boxing.
It was said he joined the boxing club to stop being bullied. As he grew stronger through practice, he developed a singular passion for the sport. The previous captain hadn't been very optimistic about him taking over, but unfortunately, he was the only second-year at the time with sufficient strength.
However, watching Ueno rush to prepare materials with the managers and other members without even wiping his sweat, Shimizu felt that Ueno was just as serious and responsible as Sato. Being a good person was enough.
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Around 4:30 PM, the boxing club had finished setting up. At 5:00 PM sharp, the gymnasium doors opened. Club booths were lined up on both sides of the hall—Basketball, Soccer, Kendo, Tea Ceremony—the signs were diverse.
The boxing club's booth wasn't in a great spot, tucked near a corner, so not many freshmen came by. After ten minutes, the booth was still deserted. However, since every club had a chance to promote themselves on the gymnasium stage, there was no need to rush.
Shimizu sat to one side, waiting patiently. Around 5:30 PM, an announcement came over the speakers: "Will the representatives of the boxing club please come to the stage for club promotion."
Shimizu thought Ueno would take the lead, but when he turned around, he saw the captain had turned pale.
"Shi-Shimizu... I'm really not good at speaking in front of so many people. Could I ask you and Karuizawa-san to go?"
Shimizu and Karuizawa exchanged a look, both wearing expressions of helplessness. Okay, he took back his previous thought. This captain of theirs couldn't even speak in public.
Shimizu sighed and patted Ueno on the shoulder.
"Captain, remember to write a speech in advance next time."
"I did! But as soon as I saw so many people, my mind went blank..." Ueno pushed up his glasses, looking away awkwardly.
Karuizawa Kei adjusted her collar and hair before waving to Shimizu. "Fine, since the Captain won't go, it's up to us."
The two walked through the crowd toward the stage. Shimizu could feel many eyes on them. As they stepped onto the stage, the crowd below quieted down.
Karuizawa took the microphone first. Although her "gyaru" persona was a disguise, speaking in public was second nature to her.
She said naturally, "Good afternoon, first-years. I'm the manager of the boxing club, Karuizawa Kei. Many people might think of boxing as 'violent' or 'dangerous,' but I want to tell you that boxing is a sport that requires high discipline, skill, and intelligence.
It doesn't just teach you how to punch; it teaches you how to control your strength, stay calm under pressure, and become strong! It's a great self-defense skill. If you feel your personality is a bit weak and want to change during high school, I highly recommend trying boxing."
Sparse discussions broke out below, and a few first-year boys looked interested. Karuizawa handed the mic to Shimizu.
He scanned the crowd. Nanase Tsubasa, Housen Kazuomi, and Tsubaki Sakurako—whom he had crossed paths with in the last two days—were nowhere to be seen. There wasn't a single familiar face.
Shimizu picked up the mic and continued, "Our manager put it well. But seeing is believing. Does anyone want to come up and experience boxing?" This was the recruitment method Captain Sato had used when they were freshmen.
"C-can we?"
"Hey, don't go! That's the second-year Shimizu Akira. His physical ability is rated 100! One punch from him and you're going straight to the infirmary!"
"Whoa, I just checked, it's true! Those stats are way too off the charts! Is he even human?"
A few freshmen who were about to step forward immediately fell silent after recognizing Shimizu. Karuizawa facepalmed and whispered, "I wondered why no one was coming... could they all have been scared off by you?"
Shimizu was also a bit speechless. "...Probably." He never expected that being too physically strong would actually discourage people from joining.
Karuizawa shook her head and grabbed the mic again, speaking cheerfully to the crowd, "Everyone, the boxing club doesn't expect you to reach the level of Shi—ahem, this member here! The training intensity is similar to other clubs, about an hour a day."
As she spoke, she put on a glove and gestured for Shimizu to hold out his palm, then delivered a light punch into it. "We welcome beginners, boys and girls alike. Like me—even though I'm a manager, I practice boxing too!"
Her punch looked quite sharp. Some students below were clearly swayed and began whispering. The boys also breathed a sigh of relief.
Shimizu cooperated by taking a defensive stance and smiled at the crowd.
"See? Even our manager can pick it up easily. If you're interested, come by our booth later for a consultation."
The atmosphere finally loosened. Several freshmen started heading toward the boxing club booth, where Ueno and the other manager immediately greeted them.
After the promotion ended, Shimizu and Karuizawa stepped down. "Good teamwork, Kei," Shimizu said.
"You reacted fast," she replied, taking off the glove and tossing her hair. "I hope we can recruit a few more freshmen this time."
Both had received 1 million private points from the former Captain Sato, and they both hoped to bring some fresh blood into the club. Besides, Karuizawa hadn't slacked on her boxing practice lately. While not at the level of a regular member, she was much stronger than an average person; a typical girl wouldn't be able to bully her anymore.
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When they returned to the booth, Yamada Albert had arrived. Knowing he wasn't good with words, he proactively acted as Ueno's sparring partner, using live demonstrations to show basic techniques. Karuizawa, meanwhile, was handing out flyers to passing first-years.
An hour later, seven or eight freshmen said they would visit the club for a trial tomorrow night. The captain, Albert, and others began packing up. Shimizu and Karuizawa were tidying the remaining flyers when a cheerful voice called out from behind.
"Senpais, are you recruiting? I'm quite interested in the boxing club!"
They turned around to see a girl with red twin-tails standing a few steps away, smiling and pointing at her cheek. Shimizu observed her calmly. She was cute, less than 1.6 meters tall, wearing black over-the-knee socks, and radiating a "little devil" type kouhai vibe.
Was it his imagination, or did every girl in this first-year batch look like they stepped out of different styles of bishoujo games? Their personalities were very distinct.
"And you are?" Karuizawa asked.
"I'm Amasawa Ichika, Class 1-A!" The girl took a small hop forward with a brilliant smile. "I saw your demonstration earlier and thought boxing looked so cool! So I wanted to come and ask about it."
Shimizu was slightly startled.
'Amasawa Ichika?' The kouhai mentioned in the intel who later enjoyed teasing Kikyo? He couldn't help but look at her a few more times.
She was indeed cute, but she didn't seem particularly special. How did a girl like this manage to suppress Kikyo? He couldn't figure it out.
Amasawa immediately noticed his gaze and blinked rapidly. "Oh, Shimizu-senpai! Staring at me the moment we meet? Don't tell me you've fallen for me?"
She was certainly confident. Shimizu denied it without hesitation. "Not at all. I've just seen your data on the OAA and thought you were quite excellent in all areas."
Karuizawa pouted instinctively and naturally wrapped her arm around Shimizu's. "Akira-kun is already my boyfriend!"
"Oh? Is that so? My apologies for being rude!" Amasawa bowed with mock politeness.
"So, Amasawa-san," Karuizawa said, though she was annoyed, she had no reason to reject a new student as a senpai. "What do you like about boxing?"
"Hmm... how should I put it?" Amasawa tapped her chin. "I just like strong people! Not mentally strong, but physically strong. The boxing club must have many strong guys, right? And the strongest guy in this school is in this very club!"
Karuizawa's expression soured. She was definitely after her boyfriend.
"The boxing club isn't just for anyone. Girls, especially, should be cautious," Karuizawa's tone grew cold.
"And it's very rare for girls to be regular members."
This wasn't entirely a lie. Although they said girls could join, the training was grueling.
Amasawa shook her head. "You misunderstand! I don't want to be a member; I want to be a manager! I don't want to fight boys; I've had enough of that. I just... like watching boys compete seriously."
"The manager position is decided by the captain and current members," Shimizu said seriously.
"And being a boxing manager isn't easy. You're responsible for equipment, scheduling, and sometimes assisting with training. It's not just for watching the show."
"I know," Amasawa said with a smile. "I was a basketball manager in middle school, so I'm familiar with the process. Besides, isn't it a manager's job to help with recruitment? It didn't seem to go very well earlier. If you don't mind, I can help promote it to the first-year classes tomorrow morning. I guarantee at least five new members by tomorrow afternoon. How about it?"
The recruitment really hadn't been ideal. Only seven people had shown interest, and who knew how many would actually stay. If Amasawa could really bring in five people, it would be a huge help.
"Also," Amasawa picked up her phone and glanced at the OAA data, "Senpai's girlfriend... her Academic Ability is only a D-, right? Hmm? This cross-grade partner exam seems quite dangerous. My own Academic Ability is an A. I could actually partner with Karuizawa-senpai."
Karuizawa was about to retort but froze upon hearing that. She pulled up Amasawa's data:
Academic Ability: A (87) Physical Ability: A- (83) Adaptability: D+ (38) Social Contribution: C+ (57) Overall: B (68)
She really had an A in academics and an A- in physical ability. That was extremely rare for a girl.
Shimizu narrowed his eyes. "You're willing to help us recruit and proactively offer to team up with Kei. You wouldn't be this nice for no reason. Tell me, what's your condition?"
Amasawa clapped her hands in satisfaction.
"As expected of a senpai! Besides becoming a manager, I do have one tiny request." She tilted her head.
"I really like guys who can cook. One of my dreams is to have a strong, reliable senpai cook a meal for me. Good taste is a prerequisite, of course. I want Shimizu-senpai to cook a specific dish for me."
Karuizawa frowned immediately. "Hey, you're pushing it! Akira-kun is my boyfriend. Why should he cook for a stranger like you? I don't agree."
Amasawa blinked and looked at Shimizu.
"What does senpai think? It's just one meal. I'll solve your recruitment problem and guarantee your girlfriend's safety in this exam. You should understand the pros and cons."
Shimizu didn't hesitate. "I'm sorry. I do cook, but I only cook for my girlfriend. Cooking specifically for you? Impossible."
They didn't talk much more. Before leaving, Shimizu simply said, "If you change your request, like asking for private points, we could talk."
Then he turned and left with Karuizawa.
"Tsk, even more resolute than I imagined," Amasawa muttered.
She hadn't expected Shimizu to reject the cooking request so bluntly, leaving no room for negotiation.
But then again, there was an unplanned variable in this recruitment: Shimizu and Karuizawa were dating.
The information she was given didn't mention this at all. Thinking about it, it made sense; they were a couple, so why would she agree to let a stranger have her boyfriend cook for her? Any normal guy probably wouldn't have agreed either.
She thought for a moment and called Housen Kazuomi.
"What? Why are you calling all of a sudden? Did you get the kitchen knife?" Housen's loud voice came through the receiver.
"No," Amasawa sighed in a cute tone. "The plan failed. I couldn't get him to agree to cook for me."
"Huh?! What happened?!"
Amasawa briefly explained the situation.
"Tsk, that man is sharper than I thought! Hmph, he is an A-rank in overall ability after all..." Housen grumbled.
According to their original plan, after Shimizu agreed to cook, Amasawa would have "sold" him some niche kitchenware, forced him to buy it, and then used the excuse of the meal to smuggle a knife out to Housen. Then Housen would self-inflict a wound to frame Shimizu for an assault, leading to his expulsion.
Now, it seemed the plan was good, but the first step was a no-go.
"Also! I don't know what that girl Nanase Tsubasa is thinking. After I left, she spoke to Shimizu a lot! I don't think she has any intention of getting him expelled!" Housen added.
"Hmm... maybe she's fallen for Shimizu-senpai?" Amasawa laughed.
Actually, she knew a bit about this.
Nanase had a childhood friend who indirectly died because of Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. Because of that, she likely felt Shimizu was just an innocent person caught in Ayanokouji's wake, leading her to feel sympathetic toward him.
Before the term started, Acting Director Tsukishiro had called Amasawa, Ishigami Kyo, Yagami Takuya, Utomiya Riku, Tsubaki Sakurako, Housen Kazuomi, and Nanase Tsubasa to his office. He offered a 20-million-point bounty for the expulsion of either Shimizu Akira or Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. At the time, Nanase had said, "Shimizu Akira is just an ordinary person caught up with Ayanokouji. Only Ayanokouji Kiyotaka is in the wrong."
But then again, Shimizu was dragged in by Ayanokouji. That's what happens when you're friends with the "Masterpiece."
"I saw that Ayanokouji Kiyotaka at noon. He doesn't look as amazing as Tsukishiro said. He's just a sidekick to Shimizu! He looks like nothing special, not even worth my pinky finger!" Housen said disdainfully.
"I suggest you don't underestimate Ayanokouji-senpai. Anyway, that's all. Bye." Amasawa hung up without listening further.
She didn't call to hear Housen complain.
Not worth his pinky? Pure nonsense. If that Masterpiece got serious, he'd probably beat Housen until he couldn't take care of himself.
"Come to think of it, I haven't gone to play with Ayanokouji-senpai yet..." Amasawa murmured.
It was all because Shimizu-senpai was so difficult that she hadn't had time to meet her childhood idol.
Children raised in the White Room all held some form of complex longing or worship for that Masterpiece. She certainly wouldn't believe Housen's rhetoric.
How could Ayanokouji Kiyotaka be a mere bystander or a sidekick to Shimizu? He was definitely faking it.