The vice-principal spat out the candy and began writhing on the ground, clutching his throat.
"Gueh! Gueh! Gueh! Gueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!?!?"
The students who had been crowding around the candy stall scattered like a receding tide.
It was complete business interference.
Kurumi could only stand there in panic.
"Wh… what's wrong, Vice-Principal!?"
When she crouched down to help him up, the vice-principal grabbed her shoulder tightly.
Then he rose as if crawling up from the depths of hell.
"You… you really fed me garbage…!"
Kurumi tried to run away in fear, but the vice-principal held her shoulder firmly.
He leaned in close, covering her with his dust-covered face, and whispered softly.
"Change the name of this candy right now…!
Change it to 'Yes-man Gekkou Candy'…!
If you do that, a lot of happiness will come to you…!"
Kurumi asked in a trembling voice, "H… happiness?"
The vice-principal suddenly switched to a coaxing, cat-like tone.
"Yes…! I will give you a prize…!
And among the supporters, there is a super first-class pastry chef…!
I will personally recommend you to that person…!"
"Su… super first-class pastry chef, a recommendation…!?"
"Yes…! If that happens, you can have your own shop in the future, with honor and money galore…!
Your future will instantly turn rose-colored…!"
"Um, well, that…"
Kurumi paused for a moment as if thinking, but that wasn't it.
She was simply scared because the vice-principal's attitude had changed so suddenly.
"I… I decline…
This candy is a precious recipe I learned from Chef Leo… kyaa!?"
Her shoulder was squeezed tightly, and Kurumi's words were cut off by the pain.
The vice-principal's voice suddenly turned threatening.
"If you refuse, a lot of misfortune will come to you…!
You will be scolded by teachers, fail your tests, be ignored by your classmates, and receive no recommendations…!
The cakes in the shop you finally open will grow mold, ghosts will haunt it, and you'll be buried in debt…!
Your future will turn pitch black…!"
Since Kurumi was a timid girl, the vice-principal thought he could easily intimidate her into compliance.
As proof, her trembling showed no signs of stopping.
The sky was overcast, and the girl shrank as if she had been thrown out onto a winter mountain.
But light broke through the clouds, and the "RPG Candy" lined up on the sales counter began to shine.
That glow reminded her of the candy the boy had made.
That light was like the sun to the girl.
Kurumi suddenly lifted her head and declared firmly.
"I… I decline!
This candy is a precious recipe I learned from Chef Leopin!
To me, Chef Leopin is far greater than any super first-class pastry chef…!
Of course, greater than you, Vice-Principal…!
And to me, he is the most important person of all!"
"Ky… kyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!?!?"
The moment she finished saying the name "Leopin," the vice-principal screamed as if a stake had been driven into his heart.
He released Kurumi's shoulder, which he had been gripping so tightly, and staggered backward in agony.
A vampire who had failed to suck blood.
The onlookers gathered, wondering what was happening.
"Guh… gigigi…! Gugigigigi…! In that case, the last resort…!"
The vice-principal thrust his hand into his tuxedo pocket and pulled something out.
…Bam!
What he thrust at Kurumi were two tickets.
Both had a face value of "1,000."
The portrait showed a girl with long bangs hanging over her eyes, looking down timidly.
"Th-that is…!" Kurumi exclaimed.
"Yes! These are the tickets you used to buy sugar at the school store!
I didn't want to use this method, but…
Using these tickets, I command you!"
"Uoh!" the crowd buzzed.
"Hey, the vice-principal is going to use a ticket to give an order!"
"Was that even allowed for teachers!?"
"What kind of order is he going to give…!?"
The vice-principal twisted his face into a grin and loudly proclaimed,
"Everyone, watch carefully! This is the moment a student deceived by garbage awakens!
By the power of my justice!"
He raised one of the tickets high toward the sky.
"Activation of the 'Slave Ticket' effect! I command Kurumi-san from Class 1-P!"
With his other hand, he pointed sharply at Kurumi.
"From now on, you are strictly forbidden from approaching Leopin-kun from the Special Training Class!"
"Uwooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!?!?"
The onlookers erupted.
"Le… Leopin Prohibition Order!"
"Does that mean you can never approach Leopin again!?
That doesn't really hurt or itch, does it…!?"
"It seems it does! Look at that girl Kurumi's face!
She looks like the world has turned into hell, full of despair!"
The girl at the center of the storm stood frozen, her face as pale as paper.
The vice-principal, seeing Kurumi's and the crowd's reactions, was in high spirits.
Feeling bold, he added an unnecessary remark.
"If you break this prohibition, Kurumi-san will be 'expelled'!"
The ticket the vice-principal held up vanished like a soap bubble.
This was the sign that the command had taken effect.
"Uwooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!?!?"
The crowd boiled over again.
"This is bad! If you get close to Leopin, you'll be 'expelled'!"
"That sounds super dangerous, right? You'll have to run away the moment he comes near!?"
"Looks like it! Look at that girl Kurumi's face!
She looks like the world has turned into heaven… wait, huh?"
The area fell silent.
The girl at the center was still trembling.
But her trembling was not from fear or sadness.
It was a trembling of gratitude and joy, having realized an unexpected happiness…!
"Th… thank you very much! Vice-Principal!"
The girl bowed so deeply her body nearly folded in half.
The vice-principal let out a dumb "Heh?"
The girl's cheeks, far from regaining color, had turned rosy.
"I've been worrying about it for so long!
My classmates have finally started needing me!
That made me very happy, but…
Deep in my heart, I always wanted to train more in making sweets under Chef Leopin!
Vice-Principal, you pushed me forward, right!? You told me to spread my wings and chase my dream…!"
Like a fledgling taking flight for the first time, the girl spread her arms wide and declared boldly.
"I will go to Chef Leopin right now! And I will be 'expelled'!
I will join the Special Training Class and stay by Chef Leopin's side until graduation… No, forever…!"
"Ky… kyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!?!?"