In truth, Kaoru wasn't just occupied with student council work; he was also contemplating another important matter.
Shortly after Kushida's birthday, Horikita Suzune's would follow—less than a month apart.
Every time he thought about this odd pair, Kaoru couldn't help but feel a strange mix of emotions, especially since Kushida had explicitly hinted that she wanted to celebrate Horikita Suzune's birthday together with him.
That alone would have been manageable, but the day before happened to be Valentine's Day, coinciding with Horikita Suzune's birthday.
Having just resolved Airi Sakura's matter, Kaoru could already feel a headache coming on.
Before he could even begin to think of a solution, Kiriyama Ikuyo came knocking.
"Our exam results are out. Class 2-A lost a full 150 Class Points, while our class gained 100."
Despite the victory, Kiriyama Ikuyo seemed hesitant to speak. "But... Nagumo-kun completely ignored Class 2-A. He didn't lift a finger, and now Tonokawa and the others are being questioned by their classmates."
Unlike the relatively calm first-year students, the upperclassmen had immediately faced another special exam upon returning to school.
Because of this, Tachibana Akane hadn't had time to seek out Kaoru these past few days—her class was still locked in a life-or-death struggle with Class 3-B.
Kiriyama Ikuyo and the others weren't faring much better. Despite having moles like Tonokawa Sosuke and the lower-ranked classes stirring up trouble, Nagumo Miyabi still refused to acknowledge them.
They had tried to lure Nagumo into their carefully laid trap, only for him to not only see through it but also disdain even bothering to act.
This wasn't just out of contempt—there was a strategic benefit.
Nagumo's reasoning was simple: if his classmates wanted to overthrow him, fine. He'd let these incompetents see what would happen without him.
What followed was an odd spectacle.
While everyone else scrambled to act, Nagumo remained indifferent, amusing himself and even harassing Asahina Nazuna at one point, completely ignoring the movements of other classes.
His antics left Class 2-A in an awkward position.
Far from breaking free from Nagumo's influence, Tonokawa Sosuke had instead cost them 150 Class Points, filling the class with resentment.
Kaoru considered the situation. If he were in Nagumo's place, he might not have taken the same approach, but inaction was also a valid strategy.
What he hadn't anticipated was that Kiriyama Ikuyo and the others lacked even the ability to force Nagumo's hand. Clearly, he'd overestimated them.
"What's your next move?" Kaoru asked.
Kiriyama Ikuyo hesitated awkwardly. "There's one last special exam before finals. Tonokawa and I discussed whether we might be able to corner Nagumo-kun this time."
The exam hadn't started yet, and Kaoru didn't intend to say much, merely stating, "You've worked hard, senpai. The gap between your class and Class A is getting smaller, right?"
At the mention of this, Kiriyama Ikuyo couldn't help but smile. "Heh, it's still over 400 points now, but everyone in class is really motivated."
From being the former kings who were knocked down to earth, to breaking free from their subjugated position and climbing step by step to where they were now, Kiriyama Ikuyo felt the future was promising, despite some minor frustrations along the way.
"Congratulations, senpai," Kaoru said. "I think getting Nagumo to withdraw from the competition next semester won't be a problem. The key is to deplete his Personal Points—the rest will be much easier."
Kiriyama frowned. "That's easy to say, but people like Tonokawa-kun aren't trustworthy. They could betray us at any moment."
He trailed off, hesitating to continue, because Tonokawa Sosuke had hinted—intentionally or not—about his collaboration with Kaoru.
Compared to Asahina Nazuna, Kiryūin Fūka in their class did have some minor issues—she wasn't good at pleasing men.
"No problem. Don't we have a more suitable candidate?" Kaoru chuckled. "In these troubled times, someone stepped forward, stood by Nagumo's side, firmly supported him, and kept saying they wanted to take down Tonokawa-senpai and Mizowaki-senpai."
Kiriyama was stunned for a moment before his eyes widened. "Are you talking about Iijima-kun?"
This person was practically their only spy currently embedded in Class 2-A, and his identity still hadn't been exposed.
"Your schemes didn't succeed. Now, Class 2-A will likely revert to being under Nagumo Miyabi's control. If you want Tonokawa-senpai and the others to act, you have to isolate them now—make them feel that if they don't take down Nagumo, everyone else will take them down."
"In the meantime, Iijima-senpai will be our ally. Nagumo will definitely return to his command position in the next exam. As long as someone begs him to come back, he won't refuse—he might even reward that person."
"Once he's back in his original position, given his personality, he'll probably retaliate. Whatever he did to you before, he'll do a hundred times worse—just to make you remember the cost of defiance."
"So, your task is simple: just endure."
As long as they endured Nagumo Miyabi's retaliation, he would inevitably spend his Personal Points recklessly. Kaoru could even imagine Nagumo taking the opportunity to attack him as well.
"That's what we thought too, but won't you intervene?" Kiriyama had already come to trust this junior's abilities.
If it were him, he could probably suppress Nagumo in the second year.
"He'll probably come looking for me himself." Kaoru did want to get involved in the second-year affairs, but unfortunately, he still had to figure out how to handle their birthdays and Valentine's Day.
After Horikita Suzune's birthday came Kamuro Masumi's, then Karuizawa's and Sakayanagi Arisu's—their birthdays were practically clustered together.
If not for having dealt with similar situations before at the agency, Kaoru would probably have lost his mind by now.
Kiriyama hesitated to speak further and silently helped him with student council work.
With finals approaching, many clubs needed inspections—like weeding out the half-dead ones.
...
"Your energy seems off today. Who kept you up all night playing with them again?"
A needle-like voice reached Kaoru's ears as Kamuro Masumi propped her elbow, long strands of hair cascading beside her ears.
The dazzling spring sun cast a shimmering halo behind her, illuminating her slightly upturned nose and pursed lips.
Yet her gaze held a suspicious glint that made Kaoru feel uneasy.
"Couldn't sleep last night because I was thinking of you."
Kaoru remained expressionless, his eyes flickering toward her thighs—today, she was wearing black knee-high socks again, leaving a stretch of pale, plush skin exposed.
It was tempting to reach out and touch.
Masumi had long grown immune to his corny pickup lines. She didn't react at all, not even a hint of irritation.
"What exactly were you thinking about?"
Kaoru was surprised she'd actually engage with the topic. For a moment, he wondered if he'd crossed into an alternate timeline.
"Probably the same thing you were thinking."
Kaoru smirked. "What's the worst thing you've ever done, Masumi?"
"The last person I'd tell is you."
"Mm, so I've been disciplining this disobedient Masumi in my imagination instead."
"How disgusting."
Masumi curled her lip. "Stuck in your fantasies—guess that's all you'll ever amount to."
Kaoru's expression turned odd. If she didn't want him imagining it… did that mean she wanted him to actually do it?
"I heard you often take girls to the special instruction building for dates?" Masumi suddenly said.
The rumor had been circulating lately.
Kaoru didn't even need to think—it had to be Haruki Yamauchi spreading nonsense.
Too cowardly to name Airi Sakura outright, let alone mention what really happened that day, he'd resorted to whispering half-baked gossip instead.
"If it were you, Masumi, would you go on a date with me there?"
"No. Because it's disgusting."
"If even you wouldn't, then obviously no one else would either. That building isn't some romantic hotspot."
"The rumors about you keep piling up. Some say you toyed with over a dozen girls in middle school before tossing them aside."
"Others claim I'm skilled in dark magic, secretly hypnotizing and conditioning beautiful girls. Would you believe that?"
"You definitely messed around with girls before."
"..."
Well, this conversation was going nowhere.
Kaoru realized how deeply rooted prejudice could be—people doubted him now, just as they had back at the agency.
At least there were no paparazzi here at school.
After a brief silence, Kaoru suddenly asked, "Is there anything you've wanted to do but never dared, Masumi?"
Masumi hesitated. "...Can I hit you?"
"Sure. But only if you stand up first."
Kaoru cheerfully guided her. "Lift your foot and stomp on my chest—barefoot, in stockings, or with shoes on, whatever you prefer."
Masumi fell silent for a moment. "...Are you only this perverted with me?"
She suspected Kaoru had double standards.
After careful observation, she'd noticed he never spouted such vulgarities around Miki Yamamura, Ai Morishita, or Arisu Sakayanagi.
"Masumi, I think you might be a little too self-conscious."
Thud!
Kaoru nearly toppled over as she kicked his chair—this time, she'd wisely aimed for the seat instead.
The classroom had grown accustomed to the noisy bickering from the back row—this quarrelsome pair fought like cats and dogs every day.
Aside from Miki Yamamura stealing a glance, no one else paid them any mind.
"Am I the only one who gets the brunt of your bad mood?"
"Sorry, but my bad mood happens to be caused by a certain someone."
"Honestly, I'm asking sincerely—do you have any regrets, Masumi?"
"My regret is ending up in your hands."
"Is there anything you want to do?"
"I don't want to talk to you."
"..."
Kaoru frowned.
It seemed getting her cooperation was impossible. He'd have to rely on Sakayanagi Arisu instead.
When noon arrived, he seized the moment as Sakayanagi left the classroom and immediately followed her.
"Let's have lunch together today."
His words were casual as he fell into step beside her. Sakayanagi looked slightly surprised before breaking into a soft laugh.
"Fufufu, so you've finally remembered me?"
Kaoru turned his gaze toward her.
What was with that resentful tone?