COTE: Popularity System Chapter 20 20: Convincing Class 3-C's Leader

Night.

A KTV private room.

"Mashiki-senpai, I believe now is the best ti to start the plan. If we wait until closer to graduation to collect points, many people will convert their points into cash, and then the entire Third Year won't be able to gather 20 million private points."

After Takada Hikaru finished expressing his views, he fell silent, leaving the ti for thought to the Class 3-C student sitting on the side sofa.

Sato Mashiki pondered for a mont, then nodded slightly. "What you said makes so sense. While Third Year students can't yet exchange points for cash, gathering everyone to pool points as much as possible should allow us to collect the 20 million needed for a class transfer."

Sato Mashiki, the leader of Class 3-C, changed his tone. "However, just because I think what you said makes sense doesn't an I'll agree to the point collection plan."

"Since you already know about the special exam, I'll be direct. There's still a year left, and no one knows what kind of special exams we'll face next. Even Class C might be able to achieve a coback through a special exam."

Sato Mashiki said with a serious face, "It's too early to give up now."

If the next special exam offered a large number of class points to the winner, then Class C still had hope of rising to Class A.

"Mashiki-senpai, do you even believe what you just said?" Takada Hikaru found it amusing.

"Are you looking down on us?" Sato Mashiki frowned, his face showing a hint of anger.

"If I'm not mistaken, Mashiki-senpai's year seems to have Class A competing with Class B, and Class C competing with Class D, right? You can't even easily defeat Class B, let alone Class A, which is much stronger than Class B."

Takada Hikaru leaned back on the sofa and said relaxedly, "Even if there really are special exams with many rewards later, they will only be won by Class A or Class B. It won't be your Class C's turn at all."

In the Shogi Club and Chess Club, Takada Hikaru obtained the contact information of all the Third Year leaders and finally decided to communicate with the Class C leader first.

Class C's position was neither high nor low. It was stronger than the flawed Class D, but the gap between it and Class A and Class B was particularly large. It could be said that in the competition for Class A, Class C could at most be considered a participant, and no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't advance further.

"Sothing like this, if we don't try..." Sato Mashiki wanted to retort, but the words caught in his throat, and he couldn't finish.

Try?

They had already tried many tis. However, when facing Class A led by Horikita Manabu, they were completely powerless and lost terribly. Even Class B was often able to defeat them during special exams.

Just as Takada Hikaru said, Class C could at most compete with Class D, and had no way to compete with Class A and Class B.

Takada Hikaru said, "Mashiki-senpai, you just ntioned giving up, but I don't think this is giving up. This is just insurance for a final gamble."

When discussing matters with the Class 3-C leader, he had already ntioned the reasons for the previous seniors' failures: they converted their points into cash, thereby losing the chance for a final gamble.

"If you hadn't thought of it, it would be fine, but now I've inford you of the thod..."

Takada Hikaru paused, then continued, "By the ti graduation cos, you will surely live in regret."

"Why didn't I try to concentrate points back then? If I had gathered enough points to switch classes, I might have been able to graduate as a Class A student."

"This regret might accompany you for the rest of your life."

Influenced by the school, most Advanced Nurturing High School students' obsession with graduating from Class A had reached a fanatical level. If they had an opportunity to graduate from Class A but didn't try, they really might regret it for decades.

Just like Chabashira Sae and Hoshinomiya Chie, who had studied at this school, because they didn't graduate from Class A and their class fell apart, these two have harbored regrets for over ten years.

"Insurance for a final gamble?" Sato Mashiki frowned.

As Hikaru said, if they hadn't heard of pooling points to switch classes, it would be one thing, but now that they had, a seed was definitely planted in their hearts. In the end, if they didn't have enough points for a final attempt, they would certainly be filled with regret.

An ordinary person might have been persuaded by now. But Sato Mashiki, as the class leader, considered more things.

"Takada-kun, you should be able to imagine that we might not necessarily entrust the points to you for safekeeping, right?"

The contract stated that participants in the plan must entrust a portion of their private points to Takada Hikaru for safekeeping. Once enough points for a class transfer were gathered, a random drawing would be conducted by computer. After the person to transfer classes was selected, Hikaru would then pay the points.

Although Takada Hikaru guaranteed in the contract that he would absolutely not misuse the points and would voluntarily withdraw from school if he did, Sato Mashiki felt there was no need to entrust the points to a First Year student for safekeeping.

"Then, Mashiki-senpai, who do you plan to entrust them to?"

Takada Hikaru's face was calm, his finger resting on the sofa. "If we execute the plan, your Class C's points alone won't be enough. We need to bring in Class B and Class D as well, but as competitors in the sa year, you can't trust each other, can you?"

The school's teachers couldn't be relied upon either. Asking them to be guarantors would be fine. But if you asked them to help safeguard 20 million private points, they would refuse.

Sato Mashiki said with a helpless, bitter smile, "Horikita of Class 3-A. You might think I'm foolish for doing this, but Horikita is very trustworthy. If I entrust it to him, he will absolutely not keep the points for himself. I think even the leaders of Class B and Class D would agree."

'It's indeed quite foolish.' Takada Hikaru silently grumbled in his heart.

Takada Hikaru said, "Mashiki-senpai, did you forget that the Student Council can interfere with school rules? The Horikita Manabu you speak of is not only the leader of Class 3-A but also the Student Council President of this school."

"If he found out, he might use his authority as Student Council President to prohibit such a plan."

"No, impossible." Sato Mashiki quickly shook his head.

"The rule that you can transfer classes for 20 million points absolutely cannot be changed so easily."

If they did that, the school would contradict itself.

"However, the school can prohibit obtaining a huge amount of private points through a lottery, you know."

Takada Hikaru offered his opinion, "If I were the Student Council President, I definitely wouldn't be able to accept that I worked hard for three years to graduate from Class A, while soone else could just get into Class A by being lucky."

"Even if he wouldn't say it openly, he might secretly suggest to the school to prohibit such behavior."

"Mashiki-senpai, are you sure you want to tell the Student Council President about this?"