In the end, the matter of buying exam questions from seniors was entrusted to Ryunosuke. This allowed him to escape from the study group and go find a way on his own.
Megumi actually wanted to come along, but considering her average academic scores, she was afraid she wouldn't pass if she didn't study seriously. Finally she abandoned her intention, sat back down next to Suzune, and began asking carefully.
Suzune taught her patiently. This was mainly because Megumi's personality was very good; she didn't get angry easily no matter what happened, which gave her no reason to be harsh.
Even the cold and arrogant Suzune seemed to meet her "natural enemy" when facing someone like Megumi. It seemed the two of them could become good friends.
Ayanokouji who was beside them couldn't help but think so.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
On the other side, Ryunosuke had spent 20,000 personal points to buy those exam questions. However, he had one problem: he wanted to get them for free. But of course that was impossible; if he didn't pay points, the seniors wouldn't give the questions.
Hope his classmates would do fundraising? Forget it... that was impossible. Asking those delinquent students to pay money was the same as asking for their lives. Besides, they didn't have a single point this month; they had to wait for next month's points to be disbursed.
Ryunosuke stroked his chin, thinking of a strategy. Suddenly he remembered Class C. This might be exploitable, but if he went alone to meet Ryuen Kakeru, most likely he wouldn't return safely.
Considering that person's temperament, Ryunosuke wouldn't just be beaten up, his money would be robbed, and his questions would be stolen. In the worst case, he might even be blackmailed into becoming a spy.
It wasn't that he was overthinking, he was just considering the worst possibility to be vigilant.
While thinking, his gaze focused on the library. He remembered someone, and the corner of his lips slowly lifted.
How could he forget the "anomaly" in Class C?
The genius and strategist of Class C, Shiina Hiyori.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
Inside the library.
Hiyori was sitting in a chair, turning the pages of a book titled The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes very intently. Her long silver hair glistened blown by the gentle breeze from the window, looking as soft as silk.
This literary girl reading was Shiina Hiyori from Class 1-C.
This should have been a peaceful afternoon time for her... but Hiyori looked up and stared at the young man before her.
The young man was writing something on draft paper, seemingly writing a novel. This instantly attracted Hiyori's interest. She wanted to approach to see, but felt somewhat hesitant. For quite a while she pretended to read while occasionally stealing glances at the young man.
Finally, unable to stand it anymore, she asked softly, "Are you... writing a novel?"
Ryunosuke's writing movement stopped. He put down his pen, looked up at the beautiful literary girl before him, and nodded softly.
"You could say that. I'm planning to write a novel. I heard this school doesn't prohibit students from submitting manuscripts outside, so I want to try. Want to read?"
Hiyori's eyes sparkled, she even stood up enthusiastically. "May I?!"
Ryunosuke nodded and pushed his draft paper toward Hiyori.
The girl received it with both hands as if holding a treasure. She read its contents and was instantly captivated by one sentence in it:
"The speed at which cherry blossom petals fall is five centimeters per second."
Hiyori seemed to sink into an ocean of knowledge, very carried away by its contents. She read very seriously.
After a while, Hiyori finished reading the manuscript of about 20,000 words. She looked at him with a gaze that seemed to ask: Is there more?
Ryunosuke spread his hands, signaling it was finished. After all, that was a manuscript he had just written on the spot; being able to complete 20,000 words was already very impressive.
Hiyori sighed slightly disappointed but still returned the manuscript respectfully. "Thank you. Your content I think is very worthy of publication, even more than that. If you're confused about choosing a publisher, I suggest sending it to MF Bunko, because they're very friendly to beginner writers."
"Thank you for the suggestion," Ryunosuke replied, then continued, "Does submitting a manuscript require points? I heard at this school everything requires points. My points are running low now, I might not be able to send it."
Hiyori thought for a moment. "At this school, if you want to submit a manuscript, it seems to require an administrative fee of 20,000 points. The rest the school will handle. You... don't tell me you don't have 20,000 points?"
Hiyori covered her mouth in shock.
Ryunosuke shrugged resignedly. "Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Akasaka Ryunosuke from Class 1-D. The class that got a score of 0 points in the first month. Do you think I still have points?"
Hiyori gaped. After realizing the young man was from Class D, she finally understood why Ryunosuke was struggling.
For Classes A, B, or C, 20,000 points was an amount easily spent, but for Class D it was impossible unless they were very frugal from the first month.
Hiyori, who didn't want such a good work to be buried just like that, took out her phone. She didn't want to see this work go to waste.
"Akasaka-kun, how about... I lend you my points? You can return them when you have points later."
Hiyori was actually prepared if those points didn't come back, but she didn't regret it because that work was very valuable to her.
Ryunosuke squinted seeing the balance on Hiyori's phone which only had 23,000 points left.
"Thank you for your kindness, Shiina-san. But your points aren't many either. If you lend me 20,000, you'll only have 3,000 left. Can you survive this month?"
Hiyori shook her head. "It's okay. The school provides free food. 3,000 points is enough if saved. Besides, I rarely snack, I prefer reading books."
Facing Hiyori's kindness, Ryunosuke didn't accept immediately. He thought for a moment then took out the exam questions he had just bought for 20,000 points and handed them to Hiyori.
Hiyori received them confusedly. "This... first year exam questions?"
Ryunosuke nodded. "That's right. These are first year exam questions collected by our class from seniors. The contents are first semester exam materials. We want to ensure everyone in class passes."
"We already got information that the questions for the first three months every year are always the same. We just need to memorize the contents, and the exam will definitely be safe."
Hiyori looked at those questions and began to understand Ryunosuke's meaning. "You want to use these questions to replace my 20,000 points?"
Ryunosuke waved his hand. "I'm not that shameless. Oh right, what's your name? Until now I don't know your name." (Of course he was pretending not to know).
Hiyori answered frankly, "My name is Shiina Hiyori, just call me Shiina. I'm a Class 1-C student."
"Alright, then I'll call you Shiina-san."
After officially getting acquainted, Ryunosuke said slowly, "Shiina-san, you can take these questions back to your class and do fundraising. Considering how important this information is, they'll surely be willing to collect points. That way, your points will return."
Hiyori smiled thinly while covering her mouth. "Akasaka-kun is really good at calculating."
"This way, my point crisis is resolved, and your difficulty also disappears. Truly killing two birds with one stone."
"Not really, this is just a small trick that's nothing much," Ryunosuke replied modestly.
However, Hiyori's expression became serious. "This isn't just a small trick, Akasaka-kun. Being able to flexibly utilize school rules to 'cheat'—although I don't think this is right—but for the sake of class interests, this indeed must be done. You're already better than most people at this school because you thought of this way."
Ryunosuke hurriedly interrupted, "It wasn't me who thought of it, but someone else. I'm just the operational part."
"Oh, I see..." Hiyori didn't ask further, but she looked worried. "Then if you give these questions to me, what about you?"
Ryunosuke shook the questions in his hand. "Don't worry. I just need to pay 50 points at the copy shop across to copy it. The original document will remain in my hands."
Hiyori was finally relieved.
They went to make copies together, then Hiyori transferred 20,000 points to Ryunosuke as thanks.
"Thank you, Akasaka-kun. These questions will surely help many problem students in my class."
"You're welcome," Ryunosuke answered casually. He then gave advice, "Shiina-san, when collecting points later, set the price a bit high. Since only the two of us know the original price, it's okay if you take a bit more."
Hiyori chuckled hearing that cunning intention. "I'll consider it."
The two returned to the library to read quietly and exchanged contacts.
Hiyori felt she had found a great book friend because someone who could write such good literary work must be a good reader.
Ryunosuke's goal was achieved: his points returned, and he got a bonus in the form of a connection with Hiyori. It turned out the novel he wrote carelessly (plagiarizing work from his previous world) as a reason to approach the literary girl actually had potential to be published. This meant he could add income outside of school.
Hiyori even told about her relationship with publishers. "My mother is a novelist, but her works always fail in the market. My father, to fulfill Mother's dream, bought 51% shares in publishers like MF Bunko and Kadokawa so he has veto rights and absolute decision rights. My father really worked hard so Mother's works could be published."
Hiyori said that incredibly boastful thing with an innocent face.
Ryunosuke was shocked.
(Crazy, you're actually a rich kid!)
He briefly thought about just pursuing Hiyori for an easy life, but he was aware of his debts and Hiyori's parents surely wouldn't hand over their daughter to someone with financial problems.
While chatting, the topic shifted to class problems. Hiyori murmured, "The person who thought to buy these questions is really not simple. He must have realized the school rules from the first day. If so, why did he let Class D become like now?"
Ryunosuke answered, "There's a reason why Class D became Class D. Even if the person who realized that tried... (oops, almost slipped)."
He immediately corrected. "Even if that person tried, he couldn't save Class D because they wouldn't listen. If they were willing to listen, they wouldn't have gotten 0 points."
Hiyori seemed to understand. "Akasaka-kun must be very difficult being in a class like that."
She felt a common fate because Class C wasn't too friendly either—it was only filled with students who liked to fight. She herself could live peacefully because from the beginning she reported the school rules she found to Ryuen.
Ryunosuke laid himself on the table with a listless expression. "Exactly right, being in a class like that is torture."
Hiyori looked at him sprawled on the table and laughed softly while covering her mouth.