A handsome man's smile, coupled with such cunning words, should be able to win over many girls.
Kushida Kikyo narrowed her eyes, an alarm blaring in her heart; it seemed she had met her match today.
"It's my first time meeting a friend like Suzuki-kun. You don't seem as cold as the rumors say."
"Do you want to hang out sometime?"
"Ahaha, I think everyone would welcome Suzuki-kun."
Image not available in this version.
Chapter 15: The Little Princess Makes Her Move
Although it was a naive idea, Kushida Kikyo had thought about getting along with everyone.
No matter who she met, everyone would smile at her, tell her their troubles, ask for her help, or ask her to do something.
This feeling of being noticed was, without a doubt, a necessity for Kushida Kikyo's life.
However, she saw someone she didn't want to see at this school.
"Hey, Suzuki-kun, were you and Horikita friends before?"
Kushida Kikyo didn't want to continue with the small talk. Her previous judgment of him was completely wrong; this guy wasn't asexual at all, he was clearly a carnivore.
"Not very close. In comparison, I have more in common with her brother." Suzuki Toru didn't feel like he was lying, as he was about to join the Student Council, so he would definitely talk more with Horikita Manabu.
Kushida Kikyo's eyes sparkled, wondering what she was thinking.
"Actually, I also want to be friends with Horikita. If you know her, could I trouble you to help me a little?"
Saying that, she added, "I asked Ayanokoji-kun to call Horikita out for me before, but when she saw it was me, she immediately turned and left."
Kushida Kikyo showed a pitiful expression, biting her lip slightly and looking up at Suzuki Toru, her eyes full of expectation, making it impossible to refuse him.
"Although I'd love to help, I don't have her current contact information, and we're not in the same Class," Suzuki Toru said with regret.
"Eh, doesn't Suzuki-kun know Horikita?" Kushida Kikyo smiled, blinking her eyes.
Suzuki Toru pondered for a moment: "You can try calling her out, saying her brother's friend wants to talk to her. If it goes well, I should be able to make her understand your desire to be her friend."
Kushida Kikyo said shyly, "You're really going to a lot of trouble for me, Suzuki-kun."
"After all, Kushida is very cute; any normal person would try to help," Suzuki Toru smiled.
"You really know how to compliment girls, but I'm a bit surprised that Horikita actually has a brother," Kushida Kikyo probed, "Is her brother also at this school?"
"The current Student Council President, Horikita Manabu, is her brother," Suzuki Toru casually dispelled Kushida Kikyo's last trace of doubt.
"Eh!?"
Several girls collectively made that Class C high school girl sound. They probably never imagined that the reclusive Horikita Suzune could be related to the Student Council President.
"Ahaha, so that's how it is. Thank you for telling me so much." Kushida Kikyo subconsciously brushed her hair, her face full of smiles.
However, her smile was a little forced.
This reaction was intriguing, like she was surprised and uncertain, with a hint of unwillingness and annoyance. Suzuki Toru then shifted his gaze to the bags in their hands.
"You're probably heading back to the dorms, right?" Saying that, Suzuki Toru extended his hand to them, "I'm going back too. If you don't mind, I can help you carry some."
"Th-that would be too much trouble for you." The girl with twin pigtails quickly waved her hand, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.
"Sorry, I'm a bit clumsy and only thought about how to quickly get along with others. Did I come on too strong?" Suzuki Toru came back to his senses, revealing a hint of apology.
As expected, the handsome man's face was very impactful, and coupled with his so-called kindness, it immediately made the girls look at each other, then quickly avert their gaze.
"N-not at all..." the twin-tailed girl whispered.
Kushida Kikyo's face darkened. This guy was indeed the same type of flirtatious man, openly trying to win over her friends right in front of her.
"Suzuki-kun is very gentle with girls. I guess I have no choice but to let you handle this." Kushida Kikyo took the lead, handing her bag to Suzuki Toru, "I understand that feeling of wanting to get along with everyone."
It's a bit light, is it clothing?
Suzuki Toru glanced at the brand; it seemed to be high-end, probably costing one or two tens of thousands of individual points?
Don't the guys in Class D know how to save points?
Even though it was just a subtle glance, Kushida Kikyo still noticed where he was looking.
This guy is really flirtatious, even peeking at girls' clothing. Could he be interested in her?
But thinking of Horikita Suzune, Kushida Kikyo hesitated for a moment.
Perhaps this isn't so bad.
...
A new day, Suzuki Toru arrived at the Class A classroom.
By this time, a week had passed since the start of school, and everyone had almost gotten used to life at this school.
"Suzuki-kun, have you made any progress these past few days?" Sakayanagi Arisu greeted him proactively.
I accidentally gained a million points, can I say that?
Suzuki Toru glanced at her cane. Just snatching this cane would fulfill two or three wishes, which was truly tempting.
"I've done some preliminary preparations. I'll be able to join the Student Council soon."
"Hehehe, I'll be looking forward to it." Sakayanagi Arisu smiled, "However, it seems I can't afford to fall behind either."
Suzuki Toru scrutinized her suspiciously, but she suddenly turned her face, her gaze meeting Hashimoto Masayoshi's on the other side. He nodded, seemingly understanding.
"Um, can everyone please quiet down?" Hashimoto Masayoshi stood up, "Sakayanagi has something very important to tell us. Could you please spare a few minutes?"
Hearing his words, the previously somewhat noisy classroom quieted down considerably, and most students turned their gaze towards him.
Hashimoto Masayoshi was well-liked, so his intervention would be effective, at least more so than Sakayanagi Arisu, who was still like a middle schooler, shouting to get attention.
"Strange, what is she going to say?"
"Ahaha, is she going to confess to someone now?"
"You're not a loli-con, are you?"
There was a slight commotion, and even Katsuragi Kohei couldn't help but look at Sakayanagi Arisu.
"Sakayanagi, what important thing do you have to say?"
Facing Katsuragi Kohei's question, Sakayanagi Arisu slowly raised her eyes, meeting the gaze of the entire Class A, then a slight smile appeared on her face.
"Of course, it's about the true nature of this school, the truth that has been hidden from all of us since the beginning of the school year."
Is she finally going to start making her move?
After observing for a while, has she become disappointed?
No, perhaps she's just bored.
Suzuki Toru silently took out his notebook, which was already filled with a lot of content, but he still decided to add a few more notes.
On the other side, Katsuragi Kohei also guessed what Sakayanagi Arisu was going to say.
"How much have you found out?"
"Hehe, everything, of course. I'll tell you all of it, word for word."
The more Sakayanagi Arisu smiled, the more uneasy Katsuragi Kohei felt, always sensing that she was well-prepared.
Chapter 16: We Are The Champions
"First, let me ask, how many individual points do you still have?"
Although they didn't know what Sakayanagi Arisu was up to, many people gave answers.
Some said seventy thousand, others ninety thousand, but basically no one had spent more than half, and most students had only spent one or two tens of thousands.
"As expected, it's close to my expectations. I thought there would be some idiots who would spend all their points at once." A hint of disappointment flashed in Sakayanagi Arisu's eyes; she didn't understand why she was disappointed.
"Hey, stop rambling. Just say what you have to say!" Totsuka Yahiko urged impatiently.
"Hehe, please don't rush. There's still a little time before class, and I believe you'll soon find it worthwhile," Sakayanagi Arisu said slowly, "After all, next month you might not receive an equal amount of individual points."
As soon as her words fell, many astonished sounds erupted throughout the classroom.
"Really?!"
"Wait, what exactly does that mean?"
"Why won't we have the same individual points next month?"
Her words were like a stone thrown into a pond, causing a thousand ripples. Everyone was dumbfounded, unable to believe what they had heard.
"Sakayanagi, is your information reliable?" Katsuragi Kohei said in a deep voice.
"Absolutely true. It took a little time, but I got the upperclassmen to confirm it. If you don't believe me, you can also verify it with them." Sakayanagi Arisu smiled slightly, "Just by looking at their point records for this month, everything will be clear."
On the day of enrollment, she had used her international chess skills to post a bounty on the school forum, using a betting agreement to farm some experience.
Those who didn't follow the school forum were likely unaware of her strategy.
"Next month, individual points will be deposited based on our Class points, at a ratio of one to one hundred. Our Class points this month were one thousand, so we received one hundred thousand individual points."
"At the same time, our position in the grade ranking will also change according to the Class points, with Class A being the highest and Class D the lowest. In the school's eyes, the most excellent students are those in Class A, and the most inferior are those in Class D."
"A special reminder: only students who graduate from Class A will receive the school's promise, which is the so-called guarantee of advancement to higher education and employment. Those not in Class A will not be able to obtain these."
"Next, we are about to compete with the other three Classes. Whether it's to solidify Class A's position or to accumulate personal points necessary for living, Class points are very important."
"I hope everyone understands this. That is all."
After saying all this, Sakayanagi Arisu quietly sat in her seat, showing no expression on her face. This was just her beginning.
The classroom fell silent, and it remained so for a long time until someone finally broke the silence.
"Hahaha, but we were Class A from the start, which means the school has already recognized our abilities, because Class A students are the most excellent!" Totsuka Yahiko laughed joyfully.
It seemed some others shared the same thought, showing slightly relaxed expressions.
However, Katsuragi Kohei said with a solemn expression, "From what I understand, the other Classes' Class points are currently the same as ours; each Class has one thousand points."
"Did the school make a mistake?" Totsuka Yahiko complained, "If we're Class A, shouldn't there be a difference? Aren't the rankings all the same now?"
"I've already checked. Class 2 and Class 3 both have public notice boards displaying the rankings of the four Classes, but we in Class 1 don't have that yet," Hashimoto Masayoshi suddenly interjected, "This indicates that the school believes we are all on the same starting line right now. As for why they put us in Class A, I think the school must have another consideration."
"Huh? Then what's the point of Class divisions?" Totsuka Yahiko was surprisingly the fastest in the entire Class to accept this truth. "Being in Class A means we are the most excellent students, right? I completely don't understand the school's reason for doing this."
Perhaps unable to bear it any longer, Sakayanagi Arisu sighed, "Is it possible that the school believes that even if they gave one thousand Class points, the ranking next month would be clear at a glance?"
"They'll deduct Class points?" Katsuragi Kohei was the first to react.
"Not only will they deduct points, but they will also expel students," Hashimoto Masayoshi said as if with emotion, "I heard that over a dozen students have already dropped out in Class 2. When the Princess asked me to investigate, even I was startled."
He deliberately mentioned his relationship with Sakayanagi Arisu. This special title almost explicitly indicated that he had chosen another rising leader.
Katsuragi Kohei understood, his brows furrowed tightly. When did they start?
However, upon hearing about expulsions, many students' expressions changed.
"Only Class A students can freely advance to higher education and employment, which is already too much, but they're going to expel students too?"
"Hashimoto, how do we avoid being expelled?"
"I suddenly regret coming to this school."
Hashimoto Masayoshi blinked, then showed a refreshing smile: "I don't know either. Sakayanagi asked me to do all of this."
So, everyone's gaze returned to Sakayanagi Arisu.
"Please rest assured, I believe the school wouldn't expel anyone without reason. It's likely due to certain circumstances that they were forced to withdraw," Sakayanagi Arisu said with a faint smile on her lips, "Looking at Class 2, the Classes with the most withdrawals are Class C and Class D, with only one from Class A."
Seeing this, the Class A students felt considerably relieved.
"Whether it's about Class points or expelling a student, the school most likely has a corresponding process. To avoid the worst-case scenario, it's best to figure this out next."
Unconsciously, Sakayanagi Arisu began to stand in a leadership position, thinking on behalf of everyone.
"If we don't take the initiative, it might become very troublesome," Sakayanagi Arisu continued, "You don't want to passively accept the school's arrangements without knowing anything, do you?"