After the midterm exams, Tokyo officially stepped into June. The afternoon sun radiated its full heat, streaming through the wide, spotless glass windows into the classroom and casting dazzling patches of light across the floor.
Inside the Class A classroom, the central air conditioning humd to life. Amid the low, droning whir, cool air flowed continuously from the vents, causing the pages of open textbooks on the desks to sway gently in the breeze.
A far cry from the grim atmosphere of Class D, Class A's approach to the midterm exams went sothing like this:
So... did you eat?
Yeah, I ate. You?
too.
The end.
With an average score approaching eighty, they had steamrolled right over it, fair and square.
What midterm exam? Just so random mutt by the roadside.
Compared to that, what they cared about far more was—
Katsuragi stood at the lectern, hands braced on its edges. A hint of a smile surfaced as he announced to the entire class:
"The notification from the Student Council has arrived. I successfully passed the screening and have beco a mber of the Student Council."
The Class A students, each previously occupied with their own tasks, raised their heads in unison.
The next instant.
"Whoa—!"
Fuyuji launched himself up from his seat, taking the lead in stirring up excitent. The whole class erupted in cheers.
"Even if it's just as a general affairs officer."
"Aww~" A unified, drawn-out sound carried a note of teasing disappointnt.
"It's fine. Currently, I am the only first-year student in the Student Council."
"Whoa—!"
The cheers reached a climax, thunderous acclamation echoing throughout the class.
"Katsuragi-san! You truly are the strongest!" Totsuka waved his arms wildly in adulation from below the lectern.
"Katsuragi is invincible!" Fuyuji dashed up to the lectern in two strides, raised both arms high toward the class, and roared.
"Katsuragi is invincible!" All the boys in class echoed in unison.
"Damn it!"
Totsuka watched Fuyuji, who had effortlessly roused the entire class's emotions, and clenched his fists in grief and indignation. For the first ti, he felt just how utterly useless he was as a sidekick—he couldn't even outshine soone else when it ca to cheering for Katsuragi.
The trace of a smile on Katsuragi's face froze. His cheek twitched as he looked at Fuyuji beside him, who was madly singing his praises.
How his position as a general affairs officer in the Student Council had co about—no one knew better than Fuyuji. Although he had no idea how Fuyuji had actually gotten in touch with the Student Council President, there was no doubt that so behind-the-scenes maneuvering by Fuyuji had played a part.
And now, this move by Fuyuji gave him an inexplicable sense of deja vu—
"In order to celebrate Katsuragi-kun becoming a general affairs officer of the Student Council, he has decided to treat everyone to a al! Half an hour from now, et up at the Keyaki Mall! His treat!"
"Whoa!!"
Deafening cheers spread throughout the school building.
"Wait—"
Before Katsuragi could finish his sentence, Fuyuji had already led a flock of Class A boys out of the classroom, scattering like birds and beasts.
Left behind were Katsuragi and Totsuka, frozen on the spot and staring at each other.
Twenty minutes later.
"All-you-can-eat yakiniku feast..."
"Kaiseki cuisine..."
"Premium steak..."
Fuyuji and the group of Class A boys kept muttering the nas of the foods they each craved, while simultaneously tilting their heads up to gaze at the neatly lettered signboard of the student cafeteria. In perfect sync, they lowered their heads.
"Aww~"
"While I don't mind treating you all to a al, please have so consideration for my wallet as well," Katsuragi, who had been left trailing behind, caught up and said with resignation.
With the ager savings he had, if the entire Class A group were to let loose at so restaurant in Keyaki Mall, one al would probably be enough to leave him borrowing money from Totsuka for the next several months just to get by.
"That's true. Having the dignified leader of Class A subsisting on the free mountain vegetable set al every day—such conduct truly damages Class A's image." After muttering these two sentences, Fuyuji strode into the cafeteria.
"Mm." The group of Class A boys nodded in agreent and followed him inside.
Within the cafeteria, a blend of aromas from various foods filled the air.
After sitting for a short while in the student cafeteria, the Class A girls arrived soon after.
Accompanied by a beep from the cafeteria's ticket machine, under Katsuragi's somber gaze, Fuyuji, his expression perfectly normal, retrieved a deluxe extra-topping udon bowl.
Carrying his spoils, Fuyuji swept his gaze over the Class A students gathered together and eating amid a spirited atmosphere, then made his way to the corner where the Class A oddball crew had assembled and sat down.
Beside him, Morishita, who had ordered curry, was taking small sips of miso soup. She cast a silent glance at Fuyuji's dinner.
Yamamura had also ordered udon and was eating quietly, small mouthful by small mouthful.
Setting down his udon, Fuyuji took out his phone, opened the chat with Horikita Manabu, and prepared to help lighten Katsuragi's workload in the Student Council.
While he was at it, following his usual playbook, he sent the call recording of Horikita Suzune's loan request to Horikita Manabu. Her tone had been as stiff as if she were reading a ransom letter, while the wording was as awkward as a confession to a secret crush—the overall effect being akin to visiting her father's murderer to borrow money.
By now, he should be done with his Student Council duties. It was ti to hit him with so more sisterly shock and awe.
A few minutes later, the ssages were sent. Fuyuji rubbed his hands together in anticipation and excitedly picked up his chopsticks. Then his movents ca to an abrupt halt. Expressionless, he turned to look at Morishita next to him.
"Where's the beef in my bowl?"
Morishita casually shifted her gaze away from Fuyuji's bowl, her cheeks stuffed and chewing. She speedily gulped down the food in her mouth and declared with righteous confidence:
"The special exam is coming up in two more months. I need to seize the ti to stock up on energy. According to books, beef is an excellent source of protein, containing all the essential amino acids the human body requires. It's the single best choice for storing energy."
"..." Never mind the fact that the content of the special exam still hadn't been confird—what the heck was this about starting to stockpile energy two months in advance? Are you preparing to hibernate?
"Morishita-san," Fuyuji said with an amiable expression, "perhaps you could order another serving?"
"I can't finish another one. Mustn't waste food," said the sa Morishita, who had eaten only five and a half strands of noodle at the ran shop, as she shoveled a bite of curry into her mouth.
"And what about ?" Fuyuji's smile grew increasingly gentle.
"Didn't I give you the carrots? They're the most well-known source of nutrients, you know. They boost your immune system." Morishita used her chopsticks to point at the towering heap of bright red carrot pieces in Fuyuji's bowl, their edges now slightly softened from soaking in the broth.
"If I recall, doesn't the great Miss Morishita hate eating carrots?"
"How could that be? Refusing to eat carrots is sothing only little kids do." Morishita kept a straight face, striving to make herself appear more credible.
"Really? She apparently often uses her leftover carrots to feed the fish. As a result, the fish in the tank have been replaced batch after batch."
"The great Morishita absolutely would not lie." Morishita puffed out her chest slightly.
"In that case," Fuyuji revealed a malicious grin, "Let's compete! A carrot-eating contest. The loser forfeits the right to be the guide for the special exam two months from now."
"..." Morishita's chewing motion halted.
For a mont, the only sound at the table was the faint noise of Yamamura quietly eating her noodles.
"How about it? The great Morishita, who always stays true to her word~" Fuyuji deliberately dragged out the final syllable.
In that instant, Fuyuji actually perceived a mixture of conflict and disbelief flickering in Morishita's eyes, along with a hint of resentnt that seed to say, You won't even let have this?
"Guh..."
The usually expressionless Morishita was now chewing the beef in her mouth with all her might, as if she intended to grind it to pieces just like a certain soone.
"Here... it's fine, you can have my portion, really."
Yamamura, who had been quietly watching the two bicker, timidly interjected. After hesitating repeatedly, she reached out and transferred her portion of beef into Fuyuji's bowl.
"S-since I haven't really eaten much of my portion yet... i-is this okay?" Yamamura cast a nervous, furtive glance at Fuyuji.
"Of course it's fine, as long as you don't mind." Fuyuji grinned as he picked up the beef with his chopsticks, then turned to taunt Morishita. "As expected, Yamamura is nothing like that stingy great Morishita."
"I-I certainly don't mind."
"Consider yourself lucky this ti, Fuyuji Mikage." Morishita, visibly relieved, still kept up her stubborn front.
"Likewise, Morishita-sama."
The beef entered his mouth. The rich, savory aroma of the at instantly blood across his taste buds, forming a subli pairing with the smooth, springy, and pleasantly chewy texture of the udon.
Mm... as expected of the spoils I painstakingly snatched from Katsuragi-san. It's simply delicious.
Just as he quickly polished off his dinner, the phone in his pocket vibrated.
[Ding! 200,000 points deposited!]
Having fleeced Horikita Manabu's coffers once again, Fuyuji looked at his increasingly plump digital wallet with imnse satisfaction.
He could more or less guess why Horikita's little sister had suddenly co to him to borrow points. Otherwise, why would he have only lent out 80,000? After all, as long as her brother could pay off the debts, how could I, the grand Minister of Revenue of Class A, possibly be unable to dispense the silver?
Horikita's little sister! It's regrettable that I couldn't help you much this ti. Should you encounter difficulties again, please be absolutely sure to seek help from your one and only friend—Fuyuji Mikage! Though you have lost points, and your brother has also lost points, you still have ! I can perfectly well serve as your sole friend, offering you every form of support except actual help. And while I'm at it, I'll keep up the good work and squeeze your brother's wallet dr—
Just as the smile blood on Fuyuji's face, the phone he was about to pocket was smoothly swiped away by a small, unclean hand stained with a bit of curry sauce.
"Smiling so happily..."
Morishita, who had just suffered a major loss, cast a suspicious glance at Fuyuji. After mumbling briefly, she turned her eyes to the phone screen.
And then, she saw the long string of transfer records from Horikita Manabu on the phone.
"..."
The air around them seed to freeze solid in that instant.
Two seconds later, Morishita abruptly turned her head. She looked at Katsuragi, who had just beco a Student Council general affairs officer, and then at Fuyuji, who had received a huge sum of money. She put on an expression that said, So you've finally stooped to this, let out a long sigh, and then shook her head in disappointnt.
She then shoved the phone back into Fuyuji's hand, whipped out her own phone with lightning speed, and prepared to dial the po—
"Oi!"
Fuyuji clamped a hand down on Morishita's palm. A rebuttal flew from his lips.
"It's not what you think!"
"Say no more. Turn yourself in, Fuyuji Mikage!"
The offensive and defensive roles on the field had instantly swapped. Morishita's eyes filled with a look of pity. "I was wondering why you've been so generous lately, even getting double servings of chashu toppings with your ran. So it turns out you were engaged in sothing as nefarious as human trafficking."
"What's more, I never imagined that Student Council President Horikita Manabu was that kind of person. There must be a vast and intricately complex chain of illicit interests behind you two. No matter. Today, I, Morishita Ai, shall carry out justice, placing righteousness above family loyalty!"
"You're the one who ordered the most extra toppings! Wait—no! That's not the point right now!" Fuyuji pulled back Morishita's hand. "In short, I can explain!"
"No need to explain." Morishita spoke with unwavering resolve. "I'll co visit you every year, and bring you magazines."
"Once you're out, if you can't find a job because of your criminal record..."
The veins on Fuyuji's forehead bulged.
"If people discriminate against you..."
His fists involuntarily clenched.
"If you can't get a girlfriend..."
His teeth ground audibly.
"And you end up holess."
Fury blazed from his eyes.
"Then co to the Morishita household. The great Morishita will, with great reluctance, deign to bestow upon you a job position."
"Well, I'm ever so obliged to the great Morishita," Fuyuji said through gritted teeth.
"Think nothing of it. I've always been very generous." Morishita tossed her head proudly, the ponytail at her chest swinging with the motion, and declared with haughty confidence.
"Regarding this, I wish to lodge an appeal! I request a higher court to hear my grievances!" Fuyuji slamd both hands on the table as he proclaid his innocence.
"In that case..."
Morishita pulled her hand back and sat down again. She roped in Yamamura, who had been silently watching the drama unfold from the sidelines. The two sat opposite Fuyuji across the table, one on the left and one on the right, like a pair of police officers interrogating a suspect in a detention center. Morishita narrowed her eyes and scrutinized Fuyuji.
"Suspect Fuyuji Mikage, you have 10 minutes. Please explain why there exists such frequent and large-scale financial transactions between you and Student Council President Horikita Manabu."
Fuyuji interlaced his fingers and rested his chin upon them, revealing a confident smile. "The reason, of course, is—"
The words he was about to speak instantly lodged in his throat. A drop of cold sweat rolled down Fuyuji's forehead.
Because of what?
That he'd stumbled upon an injured Horikita's little sister while feeding pigeons, carried her to the infirmary, resolved a minor friction between her and Horikita Manabu, and then proceeded to wildly flip-flop every ti Horikita sought his help, profiting imnsely from it?
"Your testimony, Fuyuji Mikage. Out with it..."
Underneath the lighthearted tone was Morishita's cold, indifferent little face.
"Because... because..."
Fuyuji muttered on the spot for a mont, cold sweat trickling down. Suddenly, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. His hands forcefully interlaced, and he spoke with decisive finality:
"Yes! There indeed exists a great deal of back-and-forth benefit transfers between Horikita Manabu and myself! I sold Katsuragi to Horikita Manabu like a piglet, and in exchange, received a finder's fee of 500,000!"
"There is indeed a vast and intricately complex chain of interests behind the Student Council! At its head are the Student Council President and Vice President—Horikita Manabu and Nagumo Miyabi! Furthermore, there exists between them so manner of ambiguous and dubious relationship! I am willing to atone for my cris by rendering ritorious service, taking the lead in exposing the cris of those two!"
Faced with this topic that was difficult to defend, Fuyuji decided to bury it with an even more explosive topic.
"I tell you, the two of them, actually..."
Oh ho!
The Class A students eating nearby, who had been eavesdropping on the gossip all along, nodded thoughtfully.
Naruhodo...
So that's the kind of relationship the two Student Council Presidents have. No wonder they always felt those two's dynamic was a bit strange.
A few weeks later, a bizarre rumor spread secretly through various school forums. Passed down by word of mouth among students over the years, it eventually beca one of the Seven Great Legends of the Advanced Nurturing High School.
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