Facing Asuna's teasing, Ryunosuke didn't feel embarrassed, instead he puffed out his chest proudly and said in a very dominating tone.
"Even if you miscalculate your own family's money, I'll never miscalculate."
Asuna covered her mouth while giggling. "In that case, that's great, just help calculate our family's bookkeeping in the future, I'll pay you a salary."
"Sure! It's a deal, I'll go to your house to do the bookkeeping, the salary must be double." Ryunosuke said half-jokingly.
Asuna rolled her eyes beautifully. "Such a money-grubber."
Seeing the two of them chatting familiarly, Arisu, Masumi, Ai, and Miki felt uncomfortable in their hearts.
Regarding borrowing points, Ryunosuke agreed very casually, and asked Asuna to owe him one more meal, especially her homemade cooking.
Because last time he helped Asuna establish a club, the girl had treated him to her homemade cooking which was indeed very delicious. This made Ryunosuke remember it and want to taste it again.
Asuna was very happy to see her cooking skills acknowledged. She immediately agreed to the request, then ended the call. She intended to tell everyone this good news, but she was stunned when she realized there were several pairs of eyes staring at her sharply, which startled her.
Of course those gazes came from Arisu, Masumi, Ai, and Miki. Even the usually shy Miki showed an unfriendly gaze.
Asuna blinked her large amber eyes innocently. "Why are you all looking at me like that? Did I do something wrong?"
The four girls ground their teeth simultaneously and said: "Nothing!"
Asuna felt this was very strange, but she didn't think too much about it.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
On the other side, in Class C where Ryunosuke was, he had just hung up the phone. Seeing the chaotic scene before him, he couldn't help but sigh deeply.
"Haaah... this class of mine is truly beyond saving..."
Currently, the people in Class C were arguing very intensely. Because more than half of them were unwilling to spend personal points, they began blaming each other.
Ryunosuke really wanted to say: (As if your points are enough? Why are you fighting here, idiots?)
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
Meanwhile in Class D, the class managed by Hiyori, the atmosphere was currently very harmonious. They could be said to be the class with the most points.
Hiyori was already prepared to borrow money from Ryunosuke. She had already called and the other party had agreed, so they weren't in a hurry.
Ryunosuke was essentially lending money to Class B and Class D to help them resolve this crisis.
Of course, Ryunosuke wasn't helping for free so that they would owe him a favor for the Student Council President election later. This was the foundation of his power, what's called a debt of gratitude.
Now the only troublesome one was Class C. They were still arguing endlessly. Yamauchi, Ike, and Shimura were currently arguing with everyone.
"On what basis should we spend points? Just let whoever wants to leave, leave."
Yamauchi emphasized his stance that he wouldn't spend a single penny.
The entire Class C if combined—without counting Ryunosuke's—didn't have enough money at all.
Hirata currently really didn't know what to do. Soon after, the voting ended.
The names Yamauchi Haruki, Ike Kanji, and Shimura appeared at the front of the line on the blackboard. And the fourth name turned out to be Sakura Airi.
Airi widened her pupils, she looked at her classmates in disbelief.
Everyone averted their gazes out of guilt. Haruka clenched her fist unwillingly and stood up angrily.
"You all...!"
But before she could finish her sentence, Airi pulled the edge of her sleeve, signaling her to just let it go. Haruka sat back down irritably.
Airi herself didn't feel too surprised because she felt like an invisible person in class. Compared to all that, what she wanted to know more was whether Ryunosuke had voted for her...
Airi glanced briefly toward Ryunosuke with a sad expression.
(If I'm really expelled, maybe I won't be able to meet Akasaka-kun again...)
After going through various eliminations, finally only two names remained on the blackboard: Yamauchi and Airi. The class leader, Horikita Suzune, thought for a moment then gave a proposal to everyone.
"Just let Sakura leave."
Airi clenched the edge of her skirt unwillingly, then released it again, as if she had resigned herself to accepting reality.
Haruka stood up again. "I won't let Sakura be expelled! Don't you ever dream of it!"
Suzune's brows furrowed. "I'm only speaking based on facts. After all, she's the most useless one in this class. Please don't blame me, I'm just making the most appropriate assessment."
"You...!" Haruka was silenced by frustration.
Airi pulled her gently and smiled forcedly. "It's okay, Haruka. I really am the most useless, I've been troubling you all. Choose me, I beg you..."
Haruka bit her lip tightly. "Don't talk like that, Airi, I..."
"It's okay, give your vote for me, Haruka."
A few moments later, with an empty gaze, Haruka cast her vote for Airi. She really did it... Now everyone had voted, only Ryunosuke remained.
If he wanted to save Airi, he had to spend 20 million points from his own pocket. Ryunosuke hesitated slightly. He had once exploited Airi to gain profits equivalent to 40 million points. In that case... what else was there to hesitate about?
Ryunosuke stood up, preparing to go to the blackboard to draw the final line. Haruka, who had been staring blankly, seemed to jolt. She immediately got up from her chair, grabbed him, and ran out of the classroom with him.
Everyone didn't chase, intending to give the two of them time.
Haruka pulled Ryunosuke to beside a deserted vending machine.
There, Haruka finally couldn't hold back her emotions anymore and exploded. She grabbed Ryunosuke's collar while sobbing.
"I beg you..."
"Don't cast your vote for Airi."
"Especially you... don't do that!"
Haruka's body trembled violently. She knew that Airi liked Ryunosuke, that's why especially that man must not cast that final vote. She kept pleading desperately. "I beg you..."
Facing her, Ryunosuke placed his hand on the blue-haired girl's head and stroked it. "Calm down... from the start I didn't intend to choose Sakura, and I also won't let her go..."
Haruka's body jolted. She only heard the first part: Ryunosuke wouldn't choose Airi. That was enough for her.
Ryunosuke helped the still sobbing Haruka return to the classroom.
Meanwhile, Airi had been thinking for quite a long time. She wrote a love letter addressed to Ryunosuke. She wanted to make a brave confession of love at this last moment of hers.
Seeing Ryunosuke and Haruka return to class, Airi wanted to gather courage to stand up, but her legs wouldn't obey.
She... felt scared.