However, events did not unfold the way Ichimaru Honda and Haruka Satou anticipated.
Seeing Nazuna Asahina, whom he hadn't seen in a while, Ren Katsuragi smiled and greeted her.
"Long time no see, Asahina-senpai."
"Come in. Sit to the left of Fuka-nee."
"Okay, Katsuragi-kohai!"
Receiving Ren's reply, Nazuna walked happily toward the seat he pointed to.
Did Nazuna not know what the two second-year leaders were thinking? She knew perfectly well.
But she chose to gamble, affectionately calling him "Katsuragi-kohai" in such a formal setting. Ren's acceptance meant he publicly acknowledged their good relationship.
Even if he hadn't accepted it, it wouldn't have mattered much. She wouldn't have lost anything, aside from a moment of awkwardness.
The potential rewards far outweighed the risks.
More importantly, Ren had transferred a massive amount of points to her on the first day of school. Knowing things weren't that simple, Nazuna had specifically investigated his actions on that first day.
He had chosen to extort every other senior, yet he made a different choice for her.
After gathering intelligence, Nazuna pondered what made her different. She concluded that it was her approach.
While others greedily took the bait of 80,000 personal points and chose to trade with him, Nazuna had taken the initiative to lower the transaction cost out of kindness.
And that kindness was met with his favor.
Since then, she had trusted and obeyed him unconditionally. When she became the "lucky winner" later on, she didn't take the easy 20 million yen payout like the others. Instead, she unhesitatingly chose to secure a future job at the Katsuragi Group.
Nazuna believed that with this connection to Ren, even if he didn't pay her special attention, her position would be far better than anyone else's.
The White Cat special exam proved her gamble correct.
Faced with unknown variables, Ren might have countermeasures for everyone else. But if kindness was given to him unknowingly, then that kindness would eventually be returned.
The guests hadn't all arrived yet. Ren remained silent, and no one else dared to stick their neck out.
Under the shocked gazes of Honda and Satou, the leaders of Third Year Class C and Class D entered the private room. Even students from Class A of the second and third years arrived.
Except for Fuka Kiryuin and Nazuna Asahina, who were assigned seats by Ren, everyone else found a spot at random.
Silence filled the room. Everyone waited for the person at the head of the table to speak.
With the exception of the leader of Third Year Class A, the key players from every class were gathered here.
Tap. Tap.
Ren drummed his fingers lightly on the table. Seeing all eyes focused on him, he finally spoke.
"The purpose of calling everyone here today is simple. I just want to ask: Do you want to graduate from Class A?"
He had seen enough of the childish infighting in each grade. It was time for the games to end.
With Japan's aging population, Ren didn't want to waste this group of talent that had already been screened and trained.
No one spoke immediately. But except for the student from Third Year Class A, everyone looked at Ren with hungry anticipation.
Didn't they come to this school specifically for the promise of a 100% employment rate?
"Third Year Class A senpai, there's no need to look at me with such a conflicted expression."
"You should know that the number of special exams isn't fixed. Just because there's only half a year left doesn't mean your class is safe."
"Or do you honestly think President Horikita can hold the fort indefinitely?"
Ren smiled lightly at the senior, every word cutting deep.
If this senior truly trusted Manabu Horikita implicitly, he wouldn't have accepted the invitation to come here.
It was fine when left unsaid.
But now that it was brought into the open, the eyes of the leaders from the other three third-year classes shifted.
They heard the implication in Ren's tone: he was preparing to make a move against Third Year Class A.
Although the third year was currently suppressed by Manabu Horikita, if the other three classes truly united, Class A's chances of victory would plummet.
"Ren-sama, you must be joking," the senior said, his clenched fist loosening weakly as he forced a smile.
From the looks of it, given Ren's influence over the other classes, his threat was entirely credible.
Manabu Horikita's Class A could suppress Class B, Class C, or Class D individually. But it couldn't suppress a united front of three classes.
"Then, Katsuragi-kohai, what is your plan?"
Fuka Kiryuin, free from the pressure the others felt, tilted her head and looked at the impassive boy.
"Point Equilibrium. We will control the Class Points of all four classes so they remain exactly the same."
"If the class points are identical, that means all four classes are Class A."
"Which means everyone gets to enjoy the school's promise of a 100% employment rate."
Ren rested his chin on his clasped hands, his indifferent gaze sweeping over the crowd.
"For every special exam from now on, I will dictate the strategy. We will maximize the profits from each exam and ensure the Class Points of all four classes remain level."
"If any senpai doesn't want to participate, you can leave right now. I won't stop you."
Having laid out the bulk of his plan, Ren gave them a choice.
Take their class and fight for that slim, solitary hope of reaching Class A alone, or trust him to deliver on the goal of everyone graduating from Class A.
"Katsuragi-kohai... what is the price?"
Nazuna Asahina, her brain working in overdrive, asked with feigned caution.
The others had tacitly avoided asking about the cost, hoping to get something for nothing. But Nazuna asked because she wanted to see how the others would choose.
"Eighty percent. I will take eighty percent of the Personal Points earned from every special exam."
Ren stated the price calmly.
Hearing this, everyone in the room breathed a collective sigh of relief. He was only taking the Personal Points earned from the exams, not touching the Class Points.
A one-time fee was infinitely better than a recurring tax.
No one left. Even the student from Third Year Class A chose to stay, indicating that he would try his best to "persuade" Manabu Horikita. And if that didn't work, he would raise the banner of rebellion within his own class.
Faced with a choice between Ren Katsuragi and Manabu Horikita, even a fool knew who to back.
Seeing that no one had left, Ren continued.
"I want to remind everyone: we don't need weeds. If you find any troublemakers in your class who refuse to cooperate, kick them out immediately."
When he said the word "weeds," Ren gave the Class A senior a meaningful look.
"I will act as the guarantor to ensure everyone graduates as Class A."
"But if anyone gets any ideas they shouldn't have at the last moment..."
"If you cross me, don't expect to walk away in one piece."
After serving the carrot, Ren revealed the stick.
The overwhelming background of the Katsuragi Group behind him carried unparalleled deterrence.
Having such power and insisting on "fair competition"? Only an idiot would do that.
Sitting at the head of the table, Ren's indifferent expression broke into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
"Everyone cooperates for a win-win, and finally, we all graduate happily. I don't think that's difficult."
"Right?"
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