Kanzaki Saku watched Takanashi Rikka's slightly unsteady retreating figure until she disappeared around the corner, and only then did he leisurely tidy himself up and walk towards the classroom.
He was just calculating who to go play with next when he reached a certain corridor and stopped upon hearing deliberately hushed voices coming from the corner ahead.
The voices sounded a bit familiar.
Kanzaki Saku silently moved closer to the wall and peeked out slightly.
Beside the vending machine at the other end of the corridor stood two people.
One was Yuigahama Yui with her pink dango-head hairstyle, and the other was Kushida Kikyou, who was hunching her shoulders with a look of unease.
How did these two end up together?
Intrigued, Kanzaki Saku held his breath and focused his attention, listening intently.
"...So, Sister Yui, do you really have a way?" Kushida's voice carried a sobbing tone. "I-I really don't dare go back to face Sister Hui... The mission failed, and... and... anyway, I'm done for!"
"Oh my, Kikyou, don't panic." Yuigahama patted her on the shoulder. Although she was comforting the other, Kanzaki Saku could hear the suppressed excitement in her voice.
"I told you, we are in the same boat now. You help me, I help you—it's a win-win!"
"Are you really going to betray Yukinoshita Yukino?" Kushida confirmed this unbelievable news once again. After all, she wouldn't dare betray Megumi Kato.
Moreover, as the second-in-command of the Service Club, Yuigahama Yui's treatment surely couldn't be bad. What reason was there to betray?
"What betrayal! It's only called betrayal if you fail! If you succeed, it's called fulfilling the people's expectations!" Yuigahama's tone became impassioned.
"What future is there in following someone like Yukinoshita Yukino, who is obsessed with lust for men? Second-in-command of the Service Club? Hmph, my goal, Yuigahama Yui's goal, is the stars and the sea!"
Hearing Yuigahama Yui say this, Kanzaki Saku was actually a bit surprised. It was the first time he had heard that Yuigahama Yui wanted to backstab Yukino.
Before this, he had always thought Yuigahama just liked to stir up trouble and was a bit cringe, plus she might have harbored intentions of stealing her brother-in-law.
To think she would go straight for a fight to the death right off the bat.
It was normal for Kanzaki Saku not to know these things. From his perspective, he was completely unaware of Yuigahama's petty thoughts and little maneuvers.
After all, he was getting laid every day; where would he find the time to care about this?
Since he had bumped into it now, he had to listen carefully and understand what was going on.
Yuigahama Yui leaned closer to Kushida by the vending machine, lowering her voice, but it was still simple for Kanzaki Saku to hear clearly.
"You've seen it too. Ever since that man Kanzaki Saku appeared, look at how Yukinoshita Yukino behaves. She only has eyes for men and doesn't care about the future of us sisters at all! She isn't fit to be the Big Sister!"
"Sister Hui, who keeps her sisters in her heart, is the one with true Boss style!"
Kushida didn't feel happy just because Yuigahama was praising Megumi Kato. If it were the old her, she would certainly have puffed out her chest because someone praised Megumi Kato.
Because everyone in the Kato Legion was Sister Hui's family. But she, having failed her mission, would soon no longer be Megumi Kato's family. She was in no mood to hear people flattering Megumi Kato.
So she directly asked the question she was most concerned about: "When exactly do you plan to kidnap Kanzaki Saku?"
Kanzaki Saku, eavesdropping, was speechless. Kidnapping again? Is this really a female-oriented novel world or what? Always with the kidnapping. What is he, some legendary 'always-get-kidnapped' king?
Playing the kidnapping trope once is enough; any more and it gets boring!
If they really planned to kidnap him, Kanzaki Saku decided he wouldn't just surrender without a fight this time.
"Idiot! Of course we can't use brute force!" Yuigahama looked as if she hated iron for not becoming steel.
"Kidnapping is the worst strategy, and besides, didn't you guys already do that? If we kidnap him again, it'll make us look very low-class. If we're going to do it, we do something big! Something that catches Yukinoshita off guard and makes Sister Hui sit up and take notice!"
"Then we'll present Kanzaki Saku to Sister Hui! I become Sister Hui's ally, you complete your mission—everyone's happy!"
Eavesdropping, Kanzaki Saku nodded. As expected of you, Yuigahama Yui. You really live up to the title of 'Idea King' of the Service Club. Not playing by old tropes—nice one!
However, Yui, oh Yui. Thinking of using me as an entry ticket to curry favor with Megumi Kato? This operation feels worse than staying in the Service Club. Don't end up earning the title of a 'traitor with three surnames'.
Besides, isn't Yukino just a bit fond of 'exercise'? Everyone at this age is like that. Be understanding. Why go straight for a backstab?
Kushida was clearly moved by the beautiful future Yuigahama painted, but she still had concerns: "How big do you want to go?"
Yuigahama clenched her fist, eyes gleaming with ambition: "Have you forgotten? The 'Battle of the Hundred Clubs' is about to begin!"
The Battle of the Hundred Clubs? Kanzaki Saku searched his memory. It seemed to be Shuchiin's annual club showcase and competition event, where all clubs had to participate.
Through performances, competitions, and exhibitions, they competed for the Student Council's budget allocation and to attract new members.
Although the Service Club and the Kato Legion were special in nature, they were nominally registered as clubs in the school, so naturally, they had to participate too.
"You mean..." Kushida seemed to understand something.
"Exactly!" A calculating smile curled up the corners of Yuigahama's mouth.
"Right there at the Battle of the Hundred Clubs! In front of all the teachers and students! We will make the Service Club... no, make Yukinoshita Yukino completely lose face! At the same time, we'll display Kanzaki Saku for Sister Hui to see!"
She got more excited as she spoke: "I've already thought of the specific plan. The Battle of the Hundred Clubs has a segment called 'Core Club Member Showcase'. When the time comes, I will ruin Yukinoshita's reputation!"
Good lord. Kanzaki Saku raised an eyebrow. Yuigahama is planning a public execution of Yukino in front of the whole school. This isn't just backstabbing; this is making it impossible for Yukino to survive here.
And she wants to present him to Megumi Kato like a trophy. She really isn't leaving any leeway. She wants a complete break.
But how exactly is she going to do it? Kanzaki Saku was very interested in this part.
On the other side, Kushida was already stunned by Yuigahama's bold, or rather insane, plan. She stammered, "T-This is too risky, isn't it? What if we fail..."
"We won't fail!" Yuigahama was brimming with confidence. "I already hold a winning chip. It's absolutely foolproof!"
She patted Kushida's shoulder: "Relax, you don't need to do anything. After it's done, you just need to be the bridge between me and Sister Hui. Sister Hui will definitely reward you heavily then. After all, you'll have helped her fulfill her wish."
Kushida bit her lip. In the end, her fear of Megumi Kato and her desire to atone for her failure overwhelmed everything else.
She nodded vigorously: "Alright! I'll do it! Sister Yui, just tell me what to do!"
____
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