"We are bound to get these one hundred Class Points. If we do, everyone will have 110,000 personal points next month!"
Totsuka Yahiko laughed with considerable excitement. During the first month, he had been living in fear, terrified that a single problem might arise. But seeing the Class Points maintained at one thousand, his entire person couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"Mn, however... we cannot slack off. The other three classes have definitely set their sights on these one hundred points as well."
Shikime Natsu smiled. After all... points were just like money; who wouldn't want more?
As for the degree of desire, the four classes were actually about the same. Class A wanted to maintain their lead, Class B and Class C wanted to catch up, and as for Class D, there was a high probability they just wanted to secure basic subsistence first, right?
Although 10,000 points wasn't much, it was better than nothing.
"That is true."
Totsuka Yahiko nodded.
"However... Class D should have some troubles, right? For example, Yamauchi Haruki, whom the leader mentioned before. It seems his academic grades aren't very good. This time, he should be within the expulsion range."
Hashimoto Masayoshi brought up Yamauchi Haruki. In a certain sense, Yamauchi Haruki could be considered quite successful; basically, the entire school knew this guy. Some people, to prevent their partners from not knowing this bad-luck-inducing fellow, even specially took photos of Yamauchi Haruki and posted them to their social circles so everyone could recognize him.
"Correct, but Class D won't just sit and wait for death."
Shikime Natsu nodded. Although Shikime Natsu also disliked Yamauchi Haruki, the people of Class D would absolutely not give up on anyone in order to advance to Class A.
Even if it was a guy like Yamauchi Haruki who dragged them down.
Hirata Yousuke was someone who valued his partners considerably. Shikime Natsu had contact with Hirata Yousuke and understood this bit about him.
"If they don't want to be expelled, they should be holding study groups, right?" Totsuka Yahiko spoke up.
"That's right. Do you need me to fish for intelligence? Leader?"
Hashimoto Masayoshi looked at Shikime Natsu. As long as Shikime Natsu wanted intelligence regarding Class D, he could take action at any time.
Even if the opponent was Class D, Hashimoto Masayoshi would absolutely not underestimate them. This was what Shikime Natsu had said, and Shikime Natsu's words were the gospel.
Hashimoto Masayoshi believed that only Shikime Natsu could lead him to graduate from Class A. It wasn't just because of Shikime Natsu's observational and judgment skills, but also Shikime Natsu's teaching ability—he could actually improve the overall strength of the class!
Although some leaders could bring out the potential in some people, those like Shikime Natsu, who directly improved abilities, were truly a minority.
A sensation named 'fanatical loyalty' was burning fiercely in Hashimoto Masayoshi's heart.
"No, strictly unnecessary. Doing our own part well is enough."
Shikime Natsu shook his head. There was no need to care about such things. Whether a boy was expelled or not was none of Shikime Natsu's business. After all, Shikime Natsu wasn't familiar with them at all, and even had some friction with the Yamauchi Haruki trio.
Anyway, as long as the beautiful girls weren't expelled, then there was no problem. Shikime Natsu still wanted to spend a happy three years of high school with the beautiful girls.
"Yes."
Hashimoto Masayoshi nodded. Since Shikime Natsu had said so, there was no need to pay it excessive attention. Shikime Natsu had his own sense of propriety.
"By the way, Katsuragi, is there any new news from the Student Council?"
Shikime Natsu's gaze landed on Katsuragi Kouhei, who was silent not far away.
"No. Basically, it's just processing some miscellaneous chores."
Katsuragi Kouhei shook his head, no special expression on his face. Merely being the Student Council Secretary, the news he could know was indeed too little.
"Is that so..."
Shikime Natsu couldn't help but rejoice that he hadn't joined the Student Council. Wasting time on meaningless things would truly be too hard on himself.
Especially hearing that there was still only Tachibana Akane as the sole girl in the Student Council, Shikime Natsu rejoiced even more.
"Work hard, Katsuragi. Who knows, maybe one day you'll be promoted."
Shikime Natsu comforted Katsuragi Kouhei.
"Mn."
Katsuragi Kouhei nodded. For now, he could only take it one step at a time. Even though he had joined the Student Council, his understanding of Horikita Manabu was estimated to be not as deep as Shikime Natsu's.
This was the terrifying thing about Shikime Natsu; one could say he had made connections widely.
Of course, Shikime Natsu was also at odds with the second-year Nagumo Miyabi. As someone on Shikime Natsu's side, Katsuragi Kouhei naturally also guarded against Nagumo Miyabi.
"Alright, dismissed for today."
Shikime Natsu spoke. The focus following this would be the midterm exam. However... it was just a midterm exam. For the current Class A, it would be a breeze. Of course, what standard they needed to reach to secure the one hundred Class Points was unclear.
They could only do their best. Anyway, there were still two weeks, enough time for Shikime Natsu to give the crowd in Class A another wave of reinforcement.
"Masumi, let's go."
Shikime Natsu looked at Kamuro Masumi by his side and smiled.
Since just now, Kamuro Masumi had been listening from the side without interjecting. After all, what followed would be private time for the two of them. Mn... the reason was that she wanted Shikime Natsu to tutor her; there were still some parts she didn't understand.
Shikime Natsu naturally knew those little thoughts of Kamuro Masumi's and naturally did not refuse. After all, the time the two spent alone together was truly relatively little.
Even when they were in the dormitory, it was basically Sakayanagi Arisu coming over to act as a maid, heating milk for the two, serving meals, and the like.
[Close up. The curve of the back. A T-back perspective.]
"Mn."
Kamuro Masumi picked up her school bag and followed Shikime Natsu's footsteps.
"Ara, you two. It really is a coincidence."
Sakayanagi Arisu's gaze landed on Shikime Natsu and Kamuro Masumi, her exquisite little face filled with smugness.
She said it was a coincidence, but in reality, Sakayanagi Arisu had been specially waiting for the two in this place, leaning on her cane.
Mn, that's right. The validity period of Shikime Natsu's massage had ended. They had agreed on one month, and it really was just one month. For basically the entire month of April, Sakayanagi Arisu had been a maid at Shikime Natsu's place. However... she had never experienced such physical relief before. She originally thought this relaxed feeling would last forever.
Until... waking up this morning, Sakayanagi Arisu discovered her body had returned to that somewhat heavy feeling from before. After experiencing that relaxed sensation, Sakayanagi Arisu didn't want to return to the painful days.
Mn, it could be roughly expressed as 'I could have endured the darkness, had I not seen the light.'
She originally thought of directly finding Shikime Natsu to explain the situation, but Sakayanagi Arisu quickly dispelled such a notion. If she took the initiative, wouldn't she be manipulated by Shikime Natsu just like before?
That kind of situation was absolutely not allowed!
She was no longer Shikime Natsu's little maid; she could now stand before Shikime Natsu again as his opponent!
As for the little look in Kamuro Masumi's eyes beside Shikime Natsu, Sakayanagi Arisu naturally noticed it too. It was nothing more than dissatisfaction at her disturbing their alone time, but... Sakayanagi Arisu was happy to do so.
Especially since Shikime Natsu was her exclusive masseur; she absolutely couldn't give him up easily!
"Sakayanagi, do you have business with us?"
Shikime Natsu glanced casually at Sakayanagi Arisu. This smug brat, who was bad at games yet loved to play, was now coming to his door on her own initiative. She probably wanted him to massage her. Sigh... when a man has charm, there's really no helping it. A mere smug brat, wanting to take advantage of him again.
"Right now, I am not Shiki-san's maid. I am of equal status with Shiki-san."
Sakayanagi Arisu spoke, directly emphasizing the status of the two. Their status was equal.
"Sakayanagi, I have always treated you as an equal status, you know~"
Shikime Natsu laughed softly.
Treated as an equal status?
Sakayanagi Arisu didn't feel that in the slightest. Basically, during April, the moment she went over, she had to massage his shoulders and pound his back. She even washed his feet as many as five times!
A full five times!
From childhood to adulthood, Sakayanagi Arisu had never seen anyone who looked down on her this much. Shikime Natsu was the only one.
"Ara, what Shiki-san says is quite interesting."
"Alright, so... how do you intend to challenge me?"
Shikime Natsu just stood there, and Sakayanagi Arisu felt a powerful, domineering aura.
Facing Shikime Natsu, she was the challenger.
"Let's use this midterm exam as the challenge."
Sakayanagi Arisu held up an index finger, a smile in her eyes.
"Competing on midterm exam grades?"
Shikime Natsu looked at Sakayanagi Arisu, a flash of disbelief passing through his pale golden pupils. This guy, surely she wouldn't give away a free kill so obviously?
Was the strength he displayed in the recent quiz not enough to shock Sakayanagi Arisu?
That was a perfect score in all subjects. In the entire school, there were no grades that could compare to his.
Whether they were simple or difficult questions, to Shikime Natsu, they were merely answers that could be written out with a casual wave of the hand.
"No, Shiki-san is so smart, I definitely can't beat you..."
"That is natural."
"XXX!"
Taking advantage of the moment Sakayanagi Arisu paused, Shikime Natsu quite naturally added such a sentence, directly causing a vein to pop on the young girl's forehead. She was quite displeased.
This guy's attitude was simply too atrocious. She merely complimented Shikime Natsu slightly, and this guy actually pushed his luck.
Of course... Sakayanagi Arisu also admitted that in terms of learning ability, she was indeed not Shikime Natsu's opponent, but... couldn't he be a little humble?
"So... I plan to compete with Kamuro-san on exam grades."
Sakayanagi Arisu directly designated Kamuro Masumi.
Meanwhile, Kamuro Masumi, as the person involved, had a face full of confusion. How did this suddenly get pulled onto her? This guy definitely did it on purpose, right?
Thinking of dealing with Shikime Natsu through her—wishful thinking!
"I refuse!"
Kamuro Masumi snorted coldly. Sakayanagi Arisu had already wasted quite a bit of her time with Shikime Natsu; she couldn't let this guy waste any more. To think she had even sympathized with Sakayanagi Arisu a little.
She didn't expect... this guy to be so cocky. She had only just ended her maid career, and suddenly she was jumping around again.
"No need to rush, Masumi. Let's listen to Sakayanagi finish first."
Shikime Natsu, on the other hand, looked at Sakayanagi Arisu with interest.
Kamuro Masumi looked at this appearance of Shikime Natsu and knew this guy's playful nature had flared up.
Moreover... was he confident in defeating Sakayanagi Arisu? Letting her compete with Sakayanagi Arisu on grades?
Kamuro Masumi felt the difficulty was huge. One had to know that in the last quiz, Sakayanagi Arisu's grades were only below Shikime Natsu's.
While Shikime Natsu's grades were all perfect scores, Sakayanagi Arisu might find it hard to beat Shikime Natsu, but crushing the crowd of Class A members in grades was no problem for her.
"I heard Shiki-san is very good at teaching people. So... if Kamuro-san's grades in any three subjects in the midterm exam exceed mine, it counts as Shiki-san's win. Conversely, it is my win."
Sakayanagi Arisu gave a light laugh. Shikime Natsu's ability to teach people was indeed quite good. Sakayanagi Arisu had also listened to Shikime Natsu's lectures. For those with a relatively weak foundation, Shikime Natsu's lectures were undoubtedly quite good.
However, for someone like herself who had basically mastered most of the knowledge, the effect that could be achieved was basically very little. The key lay in the ability needed to solve problems. Some questions only required mastering the basics to answer, while others required ability and shifts in thinking.
This was not an ability that could be mastered solely by relying on instruction.
Two weeks time, winning in three subjects, and facing Sakayanagi Arisu, the second place in both the quiz and the entrance exam... for someone with average grades, it was almost impossible.
"No problem. Then... the wager?"
Shikime Natsu returned to the point he was most concerned about.
"If I lose, I'll be your maid for another month. If you lose, you be my male servant for a month. How about it?"
Sakayanagi Arisu spoke, a hint of anticipation flickering in her purple pupils.
"I didn't expect Sakayanagi to like being my maid so much. Was the past April not enough for Sakayanagi?"
Shikime Natsu gave a light laugh.
"Ara, Shiki-san, the formal competition hasn't even started yet. Are you that confident in Kamuro-san?"
Listening to Shikime Natsu's incomparably arrogant words, Sakayanagi Arisu stared straight at Shikime Natsu.
"That is natural. I have considerable confidence in Masumi."
What is this idiot saying?
Hearing these words from Shikime Natsu, a charming crimson flush couldn't help but surface on Kamuro Masumi's cheeks. Considerable confidence in her or something...
Clearly, her grades in Class A were only average. To want to defeat Sakayanagi Arisu could be said to be as difficult as ascending to heaven.
"Oh? Is that so? Then let's decide on this."
Sakayanagi Arisu snorted lightly, slightly displeased with Shikime Natsu's behavior of directly expressing trust in Kamuro Masumi.
He was wary of her in every way, but trusted Kamuro Masumi considerably, right?
I will definitely make you pay the price!
A trace of seriousness flashed through Sakayanagi Arisu's eyes. If she won, she could make Shikime Natsu massage her. After all, as a male servant, such small matters definitely had to be done. If she lost, as a maid, Shikime Natsu definitely wouldn't want her to be uncomfortable when massaging him, so he would still give her that special massage to make her body feel light and airy.
No matter what, in this competition, she had the advantage. When Sakayanagi Arisu turned around, the corners of her mouth hooked up into a subtle arc.
It was her win.
"Wait, Sakayanagi. As for the wager, I feel just this bit isn't enough. Add another 100,000 personal points. Otherwise... I won't agree to this contest."
Ah! The annoying voice rang out.
100,000 personal points. They were clearly just distributed today, and this guy had already set his sights on her 100,000 personal points?
Wasn't that a bit too excessive?
From the start of school until now, the points Sakayanagi Arisu had truly spent on herself were only a little over ten thousand, and ten thousand of those points were for buying the maid outfit!
But... if she didn't agree, this contest wouldn't be established, and then she would have no way to gain the advantage.
"I understand."
Sakayanagi Arisu squeezed out a few words. She wanted to win this contest!
____
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