Why is this girl coming after me again?
And she's asking for me by name. This is really getting troublesome.
"Should I refuse?"
Kamuro Masumi quickly typed a few more words when she saw that Shikime Natsu had read her message but hadn't replied.
"No need. I'll talk to her myself."
After replying, Shikime Natsu directly called Sakayanagi Arisu.
"Ara, I didn't expect Shikime-kun to call me himself."
Sakayanagi Arisu responded with a feigned look of surprise, her voice tinged with a bit of teasing.
"To take care of a student who isn't feeling well, you even arranged for Kamuro-san to follow me. You really are a thoughtful leader~"
This was a bit too passive-aggressive. Of course, Shikime Natsu didn't feel anything. After all, Sakayanagi Arisu deserved to be treated this way.
If Sakayanagi Arisu had been nearby during the deal with Ichinose Honami and the others, or during the deal with Hoshinomiya Chie, it would have caused Shikime Natsu a lot of trouble.
"You don't have to thank me so much, Sakayanagi-san. It's what I should do."
"Ara, Shikime-kun, you're so thick-skinned."
So passive-aggression didn't work, now she's being direct, huh?
What a smug brat.
"Calling me now, I assume... you've completed the deal, right?"
Sakayanagi Arisu's gentle voice sounded slowly. She was sitting on a school bench, her gaze resting on the green plants not far away.
"That's right. You can admit defeat now, Sakayanagi." Shikime Natsu was blunt.
"Ara, it seems setting the target at one million points was too low, to make Shikime-kun so confident."
Hearing Shikime Natsu's attitude, a small amount of dissatisfaction rose in the girl's heart.
"Are you thinking of breaking our promise?"
Shikime Natsu's tone was as if he didn't care at all if Sakayanagi Arisu broke the deal.
"Of course not."
Sakayanagi Arisu's proud self-esteem would never allow her to do such a thing.
She really is a proud one.
"I can't interfere with your actions now, can I? Could you tell me how you obtained the information about this school, Shikime-kun?"
Sakayanagi Arisu adjusted her tone slightly.
"So you couldn't even figure that out? I thought you were more capable, Sakayanagi..."
Shikime Natsu's tone was slightly surprised.
"XXX!"
Even a girl like her could get angry. Shikime Natsu's behavior was undoubtedly a provocation.
But soon, the angry expression on her face vanished. She was a master of facial expression control.
"It's related to Ichinose-san from Class B, isn't it?"
Sakayanagi Arisu slowly spoke a name.
"It seems I guessed correctly."
Shikime Natsu's momentary pause was all Sakayanagi Arisu needed to get her answer.
Just based on a guess?
Shikime Natsu didn't believe in such coincidences.
"Ever since you left, Shikime-kun, I've been sitting on this bench in front of the academic building observing. Only Ichinose-san's group of three from Class B left the academic area with a teacher."
"So I thought... if you wanted to know the school's secrets, you'd most likely start with Ichinose-san's group, right? After all, back in the classroom, you never suggested we pool our points to buy information from Mashima-sensei."
"This move is called 'borrowing a hen to lay eggs,' right? You gave the information to Ichinose-san and her friends, letting them buy the school's intelligence. That way, you didn't need any points as capital, correct?"
Sakayanagi Arisu's analysis was quite correct. This girl's powers of observation were truly remarkable, to be able to deduce this much just from seeing a teacher leave with students, and even figure out his strategy.
It seems Sakayanagi Arisu isn't just a backstabber after all.
"But... I'm curious, how did you get them to agree to hand over the information for you to sell? Statistically, the probability is very low."
Sakayanagi Arisu spoke while organizing her logic, the corners of her mouth curving into a smile. Clearly, she saw no flaws in her reasoning.
As for how to convince Ichinose Honami to buy, that was quite simple. Explaining the stakes would be enough, especially with the hundred thousand points everyone cared about.
"Sakayanagi, I don't focus on probability, but on possibility."
Shikime Natsu chuckled lightly, shifting into a more comfortable position on the sofa.
"Mm, a good answer. Now, as long as you successfully sell the information to Class C and Class D, I will have lost this game."
Even in defeat, Sakayanagi Arisu showed no sign of disappointment. After all, she could have come up with this method as well; Shikime Natsu had just been one step ahead.
"You don't need to worry about that, Sakayanagi. You should focus on finding a suitable maid outfit."
Shikime Natsu couldn't help but look forward to the sight of Sakayanagi Arisu in a maid outfit.
"If you don't have enough points, I can lend you some~"
This naturally referred to the ninety thousand points Sakayanagi Arisu would have to give him after he won, leaving her with only a few thousand personal points.
Considering this was only the first day of school, being left with just a few thousand points, and then having to spend more to buy a maid outfit, it basically meant that Sakayanagi Arisu would have to live on the cafeteria's free meals for the foreseeable future.
Although it was a bit pitiful... she needed to be taught a lesson.
This girl's personality was just too awful.
"Heh, there's no need. I will honor our agreement."
Sakayanagi Arisu snorted lightly. Even though her reasoning had been correct, she had still well and truly lost.
Of course, none of that was important.
"It seems the time ahead won't be too boring."
After hanging up, something called 'anticipation' appeared in Sakayanagi Arisu's eyes.
This provocation against Shikime Natsu was merely a test to see if he was worthy of sitting at the table to play against her. Now that Shikime Natsu was seated, and she hadn't even reached the table...
As someone who had always been a winner, this was her first taste of 'defeat'. This feeling... once was enough.
...If I want to play against Shikime Natsu, it won't do if I don't have any pieces of my own.
Sakayanagi Arisu opened her phone to the class roster, imprinting the information of every student into her mind.
Kamuro Masumi... Katsuragi Kouhei... Totsuka Yahiko... Hashimoto Masayoshi... Yamamura Miki, all of them are ruled out. Although the others currently support Shikime Natsu, it's not impossible to poach them.
It would just be very difficult. As long as Shikime Natsu successfully resolves this incident, his prestige in Class A will rise to a terrifying new height.
I can only look for an opportunity...
To think that being just a little late to make a move would put me in such a passive position.
An interesting man.
This game of chess... has only just begun.
"You're the worst!"
Shikime Natsu suddenly received a message from Kamuro Masumi. He instantly understood what she meant and felt a dark cloud over his head. That woman, Sakayanagi Arisu, had put the call on speakerphone!
___
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