Shikime Natsu followed behind Mashima Tomoya and soon arrived in front of the School Chairman's Office.
"I'll leave the rest to you. I'm heading back first."
Mashima Tomoya spoke to Shikime Natsu. As Shikime Natsu's teacher, all he could do now was bring him to the Chairman's Office. If he were to go in and sit in on the meeting, his interference as a teacher would be a bit excessive.
After all, it wasn't long ago that Hoshinomiya Chie had just been warned once. Mashima Tomoya did not intend to follow in Hoshinomiya Chie's footsteps. Of course, there was also the reason that Mashima Tomoya trusted Shikime Natsu considerably; everything this child had demonstrated since enrollment had exceeded his imagination.
Moreover, Katsuragi Kouhei, whom Mashima Tomoya had thought might become the leader of Class A, had also become Shikime Natsu's subordinate, working for him. Even those Student Council spots were obtained by Shikime Natsu.
As for Sakayanagi Arisu... he didn't know what had happened, but at least Sakayanagi Arisu's current behavior was a bit more restrained. Although she hadn't completely submitted to Shikime Natsu yet, Mashima Tomoya believed it was only a matter of time.
The power that the entire Class A had condensed within a single week was quite formidable. Even if Shikime Natsu wasn't in the class right now, they could still act according to Shikime Natsu's arrangements.
Knock, knock, knock!
Shikime Natsu knocked three times on the Chairman's door.
"Please come in."
A response came from inside quickly; the voice didn't sound old.
After opening the door, Shikime Natsu saw Sakayanagi Narumori for the first time. It could be said that the only similarity between him and Sakayanagi Arisu was that head of silver-white hair.
Of course, the silver-white hair was different on Sakayanagi Arisu; on her, it had a certain allure. However, on Sakayanagi Narumori, it just appeared somewhat aged.
"Excuse me."
Shikime Natsu walked in and gently closed the door.
"You are Shikime-kun, correct? Please, have a seat anywhere."
Sakayanagi Narumori had a shallow smile on his face. His eyes were sizing up Shikime Natsu. He didn't know how many times he had seen this face in the student profiles, but this was the first time he was actually meeting Shikime Natsu.
"Many thanks."
Shikime Natsu wasn't overly reserved either. He simply found a seat relatively close to Sakayanagi Narumori and sat down. After all, he was here to talk today.
"I've heard Mashima-sensei and Arisu mention you. You are a quite excellent child."
When starting the chat, Sakayanagi Narumori directly threw out praise like "You are excellent."
There was actually no need to say such things; Shikime Natsu was quite aware that he was excellent.
"You praise me too much."
Shikime Natsu nodded slightly, his gaze landing on Sakayanagi Narumori.
"So... what did you plan to talk to me about by coming to see me today? Of course, if Shikime-kun has enough points, buying the position of Chairman is also possible, you know."
Sakayanagi Narumori smiled. He clearly knew about Shikime Natsu asking the teacher at the start of the school year if everything in this school could be bought, including the Chairman's position. It was just... a matter of points.
"That won't be necessary. I'm not interested in the Chairman's position. I came here today mainly for one thing. According to my understanding, this exchange student special activity has not been held in previous years. Why is it being held this year?"
Shikime Natsu spoke straightforwardly. Asking questions like "what exactly is the challenge in the exchange student activity" would be impossible to get an answer to. After all, Mashima Tomoya hadn't given the answer to that question earlier, and even if it was the Chairman, the answer would remain unchanged.
Therefore, Shikime Natsu pointed directly at the issue itself.
Listening to Shikime Natsu's words, Sakayanagi Narumori continued to maintain the smile on his face while gazing at Shikime Natsu.
"The school will not easily let students know about its exams. As for what is tested and why it is tested, students don't need to know either."
Sakayanagi Narumori spoke slowly. These words were indeed very clear: he refused to answer.
One had to realize that Shikime Natsu had spent quite a bit of time just to meet Sakayanagi Narumori once. If he were to wrap things up hastily like this, even he would feel it was a pity.
"It's because of Hoshinomiya-sensei, right?"
Shikime Natsu's eyes did not dodge; he looked straight at Sakayanagi Narumori. This guy looked like he had a poker face. No matter what he heard Shikime Natsu say, or what reaction he might have, this guy didn't seem like he would show much expression.
He just wore that faint smile with a calm gaze. It seemed his facial expression management was quite a bit better than Sakayanagi Arisu's.
"This matter..."
Compelled Truth.
"That is correct."
Sakayanagi Narumori suddenly froze for a moment. Originally, he had wanted to say "I cannot answer this matter," and then use some diplomatic rhetoric to stall Shikime Natsu.
From the moment he heard Shikime Natsu ask such a question, Sakayanagi Narumori knew that this guy would be a quite troublesome fellow. For troublesome fellows, the method Sakayanagi Narumori generally chose was to stall them, even if he had initially looked forward to meeting Shikime Natsu.
Given their current statuses—one a Chairman, the other a student—it should have been simpler than simple for him to stall a student who knew almost nothing about this school.
But... just now, he had unknowingly spoken the truth?
"Hoshinomiya-sensei interfered with the students' normal competition. This is a measure taken by the school to maintain fairness."
Sakayanagi Narumori spoke up to supplement his answer. Since he had already said it, there was no way to take it back, so he offered an explanation.
To ensure fair competition.
"Is this kind of behavior certain to be fair? What if I never intended to sell this information to Class D in the first place, and it was just that Hoshinomiya-sensei happened to offer a reward?"
Shikime Natsu's gaze fell on Sakayanagi Narumori. There was not a shred of nervousness in those pale gold eyes, as if he were just stating the facts.
"Then... doesn't the school's interference count as destroying the fair competition between students? Now, apart from Class D, basically everyone knows the basic rules of this school. Only Class D doesn't know."
"I also conducted a day of study in Class D and found that Class D's study atmosphere is very different. I think the Class D students who went on the exchange can also discover the differences here, right?"
"The meager Personal Points reward is just a cover; the school's true purpose is to let Class D perceive the basic rules of this school, right? Even if it's just to make them restrain their own behavior slightly."
"Doesn't this affect the class gap that should have existed?"
Shikime Natsu stated his conjectures word by word.
Of course, Class D really did have fools like Yamauchi Haruki who treated these ten thousand points like the reward matches in the Tennis Club.
Sakayanagi Narumori had a bit of a headache. Sure enough, Shikime Natsu really was a little fellow who caused quite a headache.
Naturally, the expression on Sakayanagi Narumori's face didn't change at all; he maintained a very gentle expression.
"I cannot judge Shikime-kun's thoughts, so naturally, I can only handle it based on the interference made by Hoshinomiya-sensei."
"Inability to judge thoughts shouldn't become a reason to easily interfere, right?"
Shikime Natsu continued to speak.
Listening to Shikime Natsu's words, Sakayanagi Narumori's expression changed slightly. Talking with Shikime Natsu really didn't seem like talking to an ordinary student. Even given their statuses—one Chairman, one student—Shikime Natsu didn't show any intention of fear.
One could even say he was a bit too aggressive. How many sentences had he himself spoken? How many sentences had Shikime Natsu spoken?
"What Shikime-kun says is correct; this cannot be a reason for easy interference. However... Shikime-kun is being so aggressive. Are you not afraid that I will retract the Personal Points from the transaction between Shikime-kun and Hoshinomiya-sensei?"
Sakayanagi Narumori watched Shikime Natsu's reaction, only to find that this guy didn't show any worry or any particular expression.
"I asked Hoshinomiya-sensei, and she said this matter wouldn't affect me. Moreover... if it really would affect me, it wouldn't be me actively contacting you, Chairman Sakayanagi, right?"
Shikime Natsu chuckled lightly. Of course, Sakayanagi Narumori could directly use the Chairman's authority; perhaps he could directly and forcibly take away the 1.5 million from him.
But Shikime Natsu had absolute confidence that this wouldn't happen. He had his Lucky Aura turned on; the Goddess of Luck wouldn't let him lose.
Before coming here, Shikime Natsu had already considered the worst-case scenario.
"Correct. Transactions between students and teachers have never been prohibited in the school."
Although he only said this one sentence, Shikime Natsu could roughly guess the second half: as long as one wasn't the party at fault, they basically wouldn't be punished.
Hoshinomiya Chie was the party at fault, and she was the one who initiated the transaction. So, this was entirely Hoshinomiya Chie's problem, and the school's handling would also be directed at the staff member.
Originally, Shikime Natsu thought Hoshinomiya Chie was going to be fired, but seeing she was still remaining in this school, it seemed this school's tolerance for teachers was considered not bad.
"Then... let's return to my question, Chairman Sakayanagi. Does this kind of activity held by the school affect the students' fair competition?"
Shikime Natsu didn't continue to be led astray by Sakayanagi Narumori and returned to the most crucial question. No matter what, he had to pin this label on them.
"If Shikime-kun's subjective will was not to sell the information to Class D, then naturally, it counts as affecting it."
Sakayanagi Narumori vaguely figured out what Shikime Natsu planned to do. However... Shikime Natsu really was quite bold, actually extorting and blackmailing him, the Chairman.
In all the years since the Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School was established, this was the first time Sakayanagi Narumori had seen such a student. It could be said to be quite interesting.
"I think Chairman Sakayanagi should be able to investigate Class A's surveillance. Last week, I already clearly stated the reason for not selling information to Class D. That was to test exactly how much of a gap there is between Class A and Class D given that the school divides classes based on students' overall abilities."
"You could say... this measure of Chairman Sakayanagi has affected my plan. This was a rare opportunity to see the gap between Class A and Class D and make a rough judgment for future competition."
The label was pinned.
Sakayanagi Narumori sighed slightly. Truly a sharp-tongued little fellow.
"Please state your objective, Shikime-kun. I have a meeting coming up."
Isn't that better?
having wasted his breath for so long, Shikime Natsu breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he didn't choose to pass the buck and make Hoshinomiya Chie compensate him.
"Points."
Shikime Natsu spoke bluntly. The beautiful girls of Class D would need his help next, so Shikime Natsu naturally wanted to have more points in his hand. Spending points on beautiful girls was absolutely worth it.
"Then how much does Shikime-kun want?"
Sakayanagi Narumori didn't voice a refusal but inquired further.
Shikime Natsu subconsciously wanted two hundred million points and three hundred Personal Points, but he also knew that he had only turned on the Lucky Aura; he wasn't omnipotent.
"How many points does Chairman Sakayanagi think can make up for this exchange student special activity?"
Shikime Natsu wasn't clear on what Sakayanagi Narumori's bottom line was. It was a pity; if Compelled Truth could be used again, it would be much more convenient. But... that use just now was mandatory; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to reach this step.
"In the school, compensation is generally triple compensation. The transaction between Hoshinomiya-sensei and you was 1.5 million Personal Points. So... I will give you 4.5 million Personal Points. That should be enough, right?"
This was the truth. Shikime Natsu chose to quit while he was ahead. After all, Sakayanagi Narumori was still the Chairman; he still had to give this Chairman a bit of face.
"Then many thanks, Chairman."
Shikime Natsu nodded. After receiving the points, his entire mood became quite a bit more cheerful.
However... it was still a bit little. After all, in this school, one needed twenty million Personal Points to perform some slight maneuvers.
Of course, it was only the second week of school. Shikime Natsu felt that what he had done was already about enough.
"By the way, Shikime-kun, I heard that child Arisu gets along with you quite well. That child's health isn't very good; I hope you can take care of her more. Hmm, this is just the grumbling of an old father."
Before Shikime Natsu left the Chairman's office, Sakayanagi Narumori spoke these words to him.
"Mn, I will."
Shikime Natsu nodded. He was getting along well with Sakayanagi Arisu right now; the other party was very happy, and he was very happy too.
"Also, if you plan to use today's conversation to engage in extortion or blackmail again, I will not agree to it."
Saying this as if Shikime Natsu were so bad. Seriously, where is the trust between people?
Leaving the academic area, Shikime Natsu turned off the recording pen and set off directly toward the dormitory area.
At this time, there weren't many people in the dormitory area either. Most people had just finished club activities and were planning to go eat before returning to the dorms.
As for the Go-Home Club, they had basically all returned to the dorms by this time.
Arriving downstairs, Shikime Natsu spotted a beautiful girl with long black hair—Horikita Suzune. At this moment, she was standing in place with a look of impatience on her face, holding the copy of Crime and Punishment he had seen on the bus that day in her hand.
However... the expression on the girl's face already indicated that she wasn't focusing her mind on the book right now.
"Sorry, kept you waiting, Horikita."
Shikime Natsu had clearly messaged Horikita Suzune, who was still in the dorms, just a few minutes ago. But looking at Horikita Suzune standing here now, it looked like she had been standing there for a long time.
He hadn't expected Horikita Suzune to be a method actor too. However... Shikime Natsu didn't feel any guilt. After all, compared to his agreed time, he was a whole three minutes early. If he wasn't late, there was no need to feel guilty.
"What kind of tricks are you planning to play today?"
Horikita Suzune noticed Shikime Natsu. She slowly raised her wine-red eyes to stare at him. She was still in that very angry appearance. Hmm, still quite cute.
"Let's go to my room."
____
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