Watching Kushida vent her emotions like a maniac, Kamio Tatsuya yawned, feeling a little bored.
"All right, you don't have to blame Horikita so much. Even without her, I would have gone after Class D."
Kamio Tatsuya's words brought Kushida to an abrupt stop. She looked at him suspiciously.
"Are you defending Horikita?"
"Think whatever you want." Kamio Tatsuya looked completely lazy. "Besides, you should know why I went after Class D, right?"
At the mention of that, Kushida's expression twisted even more.
"Yeah, you really can't blame Horikita for this. You should blame that bitch Chabashira! It's all because of that idiot, making trouble for no reason!"
Once Kushida started, she kept muttering and complaining for nearly an hour.
Seriously, weren't you thirsty?
"All right, let's talk business. Why exactly did you come here? You didn't come all this way just to deliver a contract, did you?"
Hearing that, Kushida gradually calmed down.
"Let's work together."
"Work together?" Kamio Tatsuya looked at her strangely. "How?"
"Although Class D has completely surrendered to you for now, not everyone is willing to submit. They have to follow your orders during special exams because of the contract, but—"
"you should understand that the contract can't control everyone."
That was true. Although they wouldn't dare openly oppose Kamio Tatsuya, they could simply put in a halfhearted effort whenever he gave them a task.
Even if Kamio Tatsuya saw through it, they could just claim that they lacked the ability to do better.
He couldn't expel them for that.
Then again, Kamio Tatsuya had never expected every student in Class D to obediently follow his orders. He only wanted to use them as pieces on a chessboard. As long as they served their basic purpose, that was enough.
But since Kushida had brought this up, she clearly had an idea in mind.
"Tell me what you have in mind."
"I'll help guide Class D, and you pay me points."
Kushida stated her demands without hesitation. Given her position in the class and her abilities, it would be easy for her to persuade the students of Class D to do something.
So she wanted to be my representative in Class D.
Kamio Tatsuya glanced at Kushida while repeatedly tapping his index finger against the table.
"How many points do you want?"
"Thirty thousand points a month. What do you think?"
Thirty thousand?
Kamio Tatsuya found it rather amusing. It was the last day of February, and there were just over two years left before graduation.
Even if he paid Kushida's entire salary upfront, it would only come to 700,000 private points. Hiring someone like Kushida for that price was extremely cheap.
So Kamio Tatsuya shook his head.
"I'll give you fifty thousand. Make sure you do a good job. If anything happens in Class D, remember to tell me."
Kamio Tatsuya wasn't stingy. If he used this piece, Kushida, properly, the benefits he could gain later would be considerable.
That was why he raised her pay directly to fifty thousand points.
Hearing Kamio Tatsuya's offer, Kushida also let out a sigh of relief. She had been a little nervous when naming her price, worried that he would think she was asking for too much.
But Kamio Tatsuya had actually offered her 50,000 private points every month. That was more than she had expected.
"Your employment starts tomorrow. I'll transfer the points to you then."
Kushida nodded, then looked a little curious.
"Aren't you worried that I'll take the money and do nothing?"
Kamio Tatsuya glanced at her and smiled calmly.
"Then I'll show the students of Class D the transfer records. I wonder what they'll think."
They would definitely wonder why Kushida had received a transfer from Kamio-kun. Were the two of them working together?
Once that happened, Kushida's reputation in Class D would be completely ruined.
That was something Kushida absolutely did not want to see.
After getting the hint, Kushida's face stiffened. Why did she suddenly feel like she had boarded a pirate ship?
Whatever. He already knew about my secret. Having one more thing he could use against me wouldn't make much difference.
After sending Kushida away, Kamio Tatsuya yawned. He chatted with Kamuro and Shiina for a while to strengthen their friendship, then went to bed.
The next day was Tuesday, March 1. After waking up, Kamio Tatsuya sent Kushida 50,000 private points as her employment payment for the month.
All he had to do now was take the contract he had received from Kushida the day before and have Okabe notarize it.
With that, Class D had at least fallen into Kamio Tatsuya's hands on the surface. In future exams against Class B and Class D, he would have another way to deal with them.
After getting everything ready, Kamio Tatsuya went to school. In the first-floor lobby, he ran into Ichinose Honami from Class B.
"Good morning, Ichinose. You're pretty late today."
She really was. She had arrived just in time.
"I couldn't sleep well last night, so I woke up a little late."
Ichinose looked a little forced and downcast.
"Did something happen?"
Ichinose hesitated, then nodded.
"Kamio, what do you think this exam is really for?"
"What it's for...?"
Kamio Tatsuya was confused. Had Ichinose noticed something? Had she realized that this exam was just a nasty trick by the new acting chairman?
"We worked so hard to save up 20 million private points, and that gave us a chance to ask our classmates for help.
"If someone were expelled because we weren't strong enough during another special exam, then so be it.
"But having those points wasted on such a childish exam... Don't you think that's ridiculous? This exam is completely unreasonable."
She had a point. If a student were expelled because the class hadn't worked hard enough, Ichinose would probably feel that spending the rescue points was worthwhile.
But this simple class-wide vote really was ridiculous.
It made the school look as if it had run into financial trouble.
Now that she mentioned it, Tsukishiro's methods seemed pretty pathetic.
"Well, you're not completely wrong, but this exam also gives us protection points, doesn't it? I think they're worth about the same."
Hearing that, Ichinose gave a bitter smile.
"Yes, I understand. But I'm still worried. Unlike private points, protection points can't cover everyone."
So that was what Ichinose was worried about.
There was nothing I could do about that.
Still...
"Ichinose, although this exam is very unreasonable, I don't think it's childish."
Kamio Tatsuya's expression was serious.
"You may think this exam is too unreasonable, but things like this are bound to happen once you enter society.
"For example, a coworker you've worked with for years might suddenly be fired because the company ordered it. We haven't experienced anything like that yet, but I think you understand what I mean."
Ichinose gave another bitter smile.
"I know. That's exactly why I couldn't sleep last night. I'm sorry. I just can't accept it yet.
"We can use points to avoid expulsions this time, but what about next time? That's what I'm worried about."
"I know. That's why I'm not blaming you. I just hope you can face reality soon."
Damn you, Tsukishiro. You came up with this garbage on a whim, and I still have to make excuses for you. What the hell!
The two of them arrived at school while they were talking.
"Sorry for making you listen to me complain."
Ichinose looked apologetic.
"It's fine. If something is bothering you in the future, you can tell me about it too. Maybe I'll be able to help."
Hearing that, Ichinose's smile returned.
After parting with Ichinose, Kamio Tatsuya didn't go straight to the classroom. Instead, he went to the teachers' office and handed the signed contract to Okabe.
When he saw the contract, Okabe gave Kamio Tatsuya an openly approving look.
"Good work. I'll submit this."
"Thanks. I appreciate it."
When Kamio Tatsuya reached the classroom, the students had gathered in small groups. They were apparently still discussing who in the class most deserved to be expelled.
Thanks to that, the classroom wasn't as noisy as usual. That was a good sign, at least.
After returning to his seat, Kamio Tatsuya glanced at Tokito. The guy was sitting alone at his desk, looking at his phone.
Was he not planning to do anything?
Was he trying to draw everyone's attention away from himself and escape this crisis?
Kamio Tatsuya shifted his attention from Tokito to his own phone. He was writing a message to meet Ayanokouji after school.
Meanwhile, Ayanokouji received the message. Although he didn't know what Kamio Tatsuya wanted, he agreed to meet him.
Ayanokouji suspected that Tsukishiro's main target was him, but Tsukishiro had been sent by Ayanokouji's father. On the surface, he was there to target Ayanokouji.
So how could Kamio Tatsuya deal with that old bastard without bringing Ayanokouji in?
For Ayanokouji, the thing he wanted least right now was expulsion.
As long as Kamio Tatsuya played him the recording he had secretly made in the teachers' office, Ayanokouji would naturally become his ally.
At five-thirty in the afternoon, Ayanokouji found Kamio Tatsuya in a private room at a restaurant in the shopping center.
"You picked a pretty fancy place. I can't afford to eat here."
The moment they met, Ayanokouji complained about his financial situation.
Class D currently had only 137 class points. All the points they had before today had been pooled together as rescue points for the student who might be expelled.
That left the students with only the 13,700 private points distributed today. Half of those had to be paid to Kamio Tatsuya as debt repayment.
That left them with 6,850 points. They were practically broke.
Since the average meal at this restaurant cost around 5,000 points, Ayanokouji really couldn't afford to eat there.
"Today's on me. Order whatever you want. Don't hold back."
Ayanokouji glanced at Kamio Tatsuya and suddenly remembered something unpleasant.
Horikita had once used the promise of a free meal to force him to do some work, so he was a little wary whenever someone offered to buy him food.
But this time, the person wasn't Horikita, so it should be fine.
Ayanokouji picked up the menu and ordered what he wanted.
"You didn't ask me here for no reason, did you?"
"I do have something to discuss." Kamio Tatsuya nodded. "Do you know that the school's chairman has been replaced?"
The chairman had been replaced?
Ayanokouji's heart skipped a beat. The previous chairman was Sakayanagi's father, and he had approved Ayanokouji's admission. In a sense, he had helped him greatly.
Now that he had been replaced, it clearly didn't sound like good news.
But why was Kamio bringing this up?
Ayanokouji didn't understand.
"The new acting chairman is named Tsukishiro. I met him once before. Does that name mean anything to you?"
Tsukishiro?
Ayanokouji shook his head.
No idea... Kamio Tatsuya felt a little disappointed. It looked like he would have to let Ayanokouji hear the recording.
"In that case, listen to this first."
Kamio Tatsuya took out his phone and played the recording he had saved earlier.
After listening to it, Ayanokouji still showed no expression, but he already had an answer in his heart. This man named Tsukishiro...
He had definitely been sent by Ayanokouji's father to get him expelled. What Ayanokouji couldn't understand was why Kamio Tatsuya's name had also appeared on Tsukishiro's expulsion list.
After the recording ended, Kamio Tatsuya put away his phone and looked at Ayanokouji.
"Do you have any idea what's going on now?"
Ayanokouji lowered his head and thought for a moment. He decided to test how much Kamio Tatsuya actually knew.
"I think that Tsukishiro guy is probably here because of me."
"I think so too." Kamio Tatsuya followed Ayanokouji's lead. "If I'm not mistaken, your father sent him, right?"
Kamio Tatsuya's words made Ayanokouji fall silent without hesitation.
Good. There was probably no need to test him anymore. He could just ask directly.
"How much do you know about me?"
"More or less." Kamio Tatsuya spoke calmly. "What do you think about Tsukishiro?"
"I'm just a student." Ayanokouji emphasized the point, then asked in return, "What about you? What do you think?"
In reality, Ayanokouji was a little worried. From his point of view, there was no doubt that Tsukishiro had been sent by his father to get him expelled.
Although he didn't know why Tsukishiro had also mentioned Kamio Tatsuya's name, Ayanokouji believed that Tsukishiro's real mission was to expel him.
As for expelling Kamio Tatsuya, that was probably just a cover.
Once Ayanokouji was expelled, Tsukishiro would leave.
Ayanokouji was worried that if Kamio Tatsuya found this out, he might team up with Tsukishiro to target him. That was why he had tested Kamio just now.
But Kamio Tatsuya had immediately exposed the truth. There was no point in pretending to be clueless anymore.
The only thing he could do now was win Kamio Tatsuya over and make him an ally, or at least prevent him from joining forces with Tsukishiro to target him.
And that made things interesting.
Tsukishiro's true goal was still unclear.
Kamio Tatsuya believed that he was Tsukishiro's real target, so he wanted to bring Ayanokouji in to fight against him and share the risk.
Ayanokouji, on the other hand, believed that Tsukishiro was targeting him and wanted to recruit Kamio Tatsuya as an ally.
Their thoughts happened to line up perfectly, but neither of them could reveal what they were really thinking.
Look what a mess this had become!
------
You can read 50+ more chapter on patreon com/JYouyi