Chapter 74: Shimizu Yuto Is Perfect for This! Unprecedentedly Perfect!
As Yuto walked toward the basketball court, a cheerful smile appeared on his face.
He had gained far too much tonight.
Manabu had transferred five million points to him.
And Horikita Suzune had become an excellent tool... cough, an excellent helper!
Suzune would not only become Yuto's helper in the student council.
She would also help raise Class D to Class A.
Since she yearned for Manabu's recognition, Suzune would definitely work with all her strength.
So with such an excellent helper around, Yuto should have a much easier time dealing with both the student council and Class D from now on.
"Thank you..."
"Mm?"
Yuto turned his head in surprise and looked at Suzune, who had quietly thanked him.
"What are you thanking me for?"
If anyone should be thankful, shouldn't Yuto be thanking her?
After all, thanks to her, he had earned five million points.
He would also become student council vice president later.
"You threatened my brother with the recording because you were standing up for me, weren't you..." Suzune said quietly, turning her head away from him.
"Nope. You're thinking too much, Horikita."
"I just didn't like your brother's attitude toward his own family."
"Also, I wanted to extort five million points from him while I was at it," Yuto answered casually.
Suzune glanced at him while pressing her thin lips together.
She knew he was lying.
If Shimizu Yuto had truly planned to extort her brother with the recording, he would not have taken the initiative to tell Manabu that he had not saved it.
So the extortion did not exist.
Yuto had simply been unable to ignore it and wanted to help her vent a little.
As for the five million points, hadn't Yuto originally planned not to accept them?
It was her brother, Manabu, who had insisted on transferring them to him.
Thinking of these things, Suzune felt a warmth she had never experienced before rise in her heart.
She felt that this must be what it was like to be protected by someone.
The warmth spreading through her heart softened even her cold aura a little.
Lowering her guard, she spoke in a sighing tone.
"Shimizu, you really are amazing."
"Why are you suddenly praising me...?" Yuto asked strangely.
"Because my brother has been incredibly outstanding since childhood."
"No one has ever made him suffer a loss."
"You should be the first person to do that."
Suzune's answer made Yuto unsure whether to laugh or cry.
"Horikita, are you praising me, or are you praising your brother?"
"That depends on how you understand it."
Suzune lightly curled her lips, showing an almost invisible smile.
Since this was her first time praising a boy, Suzune felt a little embarrassed.
So she changed the topic.
"The basketball court is not far ahead."
"I won't go in with you."
"After all, you'll attract everyone's attention. I don't want people staring at me."
"Fine. See you later."
Yuto casually waved his hand, then parted ways with Suzune.
She stood in place and watched his departing back.
After the distance between them reached about twenty meters, Suzune moved her slender legs beneath her school skirt and followed him.
With her cold and proud personality, Suzune had no interest in other people's affairs.
Especially not intense conflicts between others.
But the bet that was about to happen at the basketball court involved Shimizu Yuto.
She wanted to see it.
"After all, Nii-san told me to learn from Shimizu."
"So observation is an essential step."
After finding herself a proper excuse, the slight embarrassment and unnatural feeling in Suzune's heart faded a lot.
After stepping into the basketball court, Yuto was sending Manabu a message.
It was about wanting to bring Suzune into the student council to help.
After all, no matter how one put it, Suzune was Manabu's younger sister.
If he was going to pull someone else's sister into the student council, he should at least tell her brother.
Besides, Manabu was the student council president.
If Suzune wanted to enter the student council, she needed his approval.
Yuto did not know what Manabu was doing.
However, only ten seconds after he sent the message, Manabu replied.
[Shimizu, I have no objection to you letting Suzune join the student council. Although she is difficult to deal with and communicate with, her ability is still quite good.]
Looking at Manabu's reply, Yuto could not help retorting.
"Compared to your sister, you're the one who's harder to deal with and communicate with."
Although Suzune was cold, that pretty face of hers at least showed some expression.
But Manabu?
That guy's face was completely made of ice.
The "ice face" Yuto spoke of was currently reading the message Yuto had sent him.
It was about letting Suzune join the student council.
"Let Suzune join the student council... huh."
"That might be a good idea. At the very least, it can help her grow quickly."
Manabu still had six months left as student council president.
At this school, the student council president would step down in October.
That meant Yuto, Suzune, and the subordinates Yuto chose would have to establish themselves in the student council within those six months.
Otherwise, it would be difficult to oppose Nagumo.
Manabu recalled the way Yuto had threatened him with expulsion and murmured to himself.
"I somehow feel that Shimizu Yuto won't even need six months to establish himself in the student council."
After all, Yuto was exceptionally bold.
Even after knowing Manabu was the student council president, he had still dared to threaten him with a recording and expulsion.
He truly was not afraid of offending him.
But that was fine too.
After all, if he was not even afraid of the student council president, would he fear Nagumo Miyabi, who was merely the vice president?
However, Manabu had one concern.
Would Shimizu Yuto become a second Nagumo Miyabi?
"Judging from Shimizu Yuto's actions since enrollment, he is even more capable than Nagumo."
"While his personality is bold and unrestrained, his thoughts are also more meticulous than Nagumo's."
"If he successfully defeats Nagumo, then what will he do after becoming student council president?"
What would Yuto do after becoming student council president?
He would probably throw the position to Suzune or Ichinose Honami.
Because Yuto hated trouble.
He also hated taking care of others.
The student council president had to handle many matters at this school.
Yuto would absolutely find it troublesome and toss the position aside!
Manabu was worried Yuto might become a second Nagumo.
But he could only press that concern down into his heart.
He also had no choice but to pull Yuto into the student council and make him vice president.
Because Yuto was too suitable!
Unprecedentedly suitable!
Yuto not only had abilities Manabu admired.
He had also offended Nagumo Miyabi.
If Yuto wanted to live a peaceful school life, he had to eliminate Nagumo, who had become his enemy.
As for Yuto, who was currently being thought about by the Horikita siblings, he had already begun his basketball bet with Oda Ishikai.
Half an hour after the one-on-one basketball match began, Yuto's hair tips were damp with sweat.
He looked at Oda, whose face was full of sincere defeat, and smiled.
The scoreboard placed at the side of the basketball court showed the result.
Shimizu Yuto—twenty-three.
Oda Ishikai—seven.
"No way. The president actually lost to that first-year!"
"He didn't just lose. The point gap is huge! It was a complete stomp!"
"..."
The watching students and basketball club members all stared in shock at Yuto, who stood proudly in the court.
In truth, they had all come to watch Oda crush Shimizu Yuto.
But they never expected to see the exact opposite.
It was the first-year, Shimizu Yuto, who crushed basketball club president Oda Ishikai!
Sudo Ken from Class D was also among the spectators.
He had personally heard the bet between Yuto and Oda, so naturally, as someone passionate about basketball, he came to watch.
Although he was annoyed, extremely annoyed, Sudo had no choice but to admit that the two of them were far better at basketball than him.
"Hah... Shimizu, you're a complete monster."
"Whether it's dribbling, attacking, or personal defense, you left me shocked speechless."
Oda breathed heavily and praised Yuto with admiration.
"Thanks for the praise."
"Senpai is also very good. At least you're much better than Nagumo Miyabi."
Oda's mouth twitched.
Was this guy implying that at least he had not been shut out?
After all, Nagumo had been completely shut out by Yuto.
He had even had his ankle twisted by Yuto's feint.
"Well then, a bet is a bet."
"Senpai, please transfer the points."
Yuto smiled and handed his student ID to Oda.
"Don't worry. I won't go back on my word."
"Hey, Koyama, bring me my phone!" Oda shouted to one of the basketball club members.
"Coming!"
Oda used his phone to transfer one million five hundred thousand points to Yuto.
Then he invited him enthusiastically.
"Shimizu, you're this good at basketball. You should join the basketball club."
"This is where you can show your strength!"
Even though he had lost the bet, Oda had not given up on pulling Yuto into the basketball club.
"I'll pass."
"To me, basketball is just a sport. Playing once in a while is fine, but becoming a basketball club member is another matter."
"Besides, being good at one-on-one basketball doesn't mean I'm suited for team basketball," Yuto answered casually.
In a normal full-court basketball match, both sides would send five players on court.
It was five versus five.
In a full-court match, being individually excellent did not mean everything.
Knowing how to cooperate with teammates was extremely important.
After all, full-court basketball was different from one-on-one basketball.
It was not a solo fight.
Oda understood what Yuto meant.
But teamwork was something that could be built by practicing more with everyone in the basketball club!
Oda invited Yuto again.
Yuto politely refused once more.
In the end, he smiled and left the basketball court with his student ID, which now had another one million five hundred thousand points.
Suzune, who stood alone in a corner, watched Yuto's departing back.
She let out a soft breath.
Shimizu Yuto on the basketball court was a little...
Cool.
Although Suzune did not understand basketball very well, she could feel the powerful presence and momentum Yuto gave off on the court.
Even as a spectator, she could feel that presence and pressure.
It was enough to make her heart stir.
Suzune silently suppressed the swelling emotions in her heart.
Then she left the basketball court with the crowd and followed Yuto.
"Shimizu!"
The loud and urgent shout made Yuto furrow his brows.
He turned around and saw a red-haired gorilla...
No, wait.
It was Sudo Ken.
Sudo hurried over to Yuto.
Then he handed him an energy drink he had bought from the vending machine.
"I'm treating you!"
Yuto did not reach out to take the drink.
Instead, he said in dislike, "Say what you want. I'm going back to shower."
Despite his short temper, Sudo did not get angry at Yuto's unfriendly tone at all.
His face showed awkwardness and embarrassment, giving Yuto chills.
What was this delinquent trying to do?
"I really, really like basketball."
"So I want to join the basketball club, and I also hope someone can train me."
"Shimizu, you were able to beat the basketball club president, so I want to ask you..."
"I refuse."
Yuto rejected him without hesitation.
"You haven't even heard me finish..."
"Do I need to hear the rest?"
Yuto looked at Sudo in annoyance.
"You just want to ask me to teach you basketball, right?"
"Right, right, right."
Sudo nodded repeatedly.
"That's why I said I refuse."
"...Why?!"
"First, I hate delinquents."
"Second, I hate taking care of others."
"Do you understand now?" Yuto said, giving the reasons for rejecting Sudo without hiding anything.
Sudo gritted his teeth and tightly gripped the energy drink in his hand.
Yuto looked at him coldly.
If this delinquent dared to say anything threatening to him, Yuto would not mind teaching him a lesson.
He would make Sudo understand what it meant to invite disaster with his mouth.
However, in this school filled with surveillance cameras, Yuto could not take the initiative to teach a delinquent a lesson.
He would be punished.
He needed to sign a contract first, or wait for the other party to attack him.
Once he had "self-defense" as a reason, Yuto could fight back without worry.
However, things developed beyond Yuto's expectations.
Sudo did not make threats.
He did not punch Yuto either.
Instead, he suddenly bent down and bowed to him.
"Shimizu! Please teach me basketball!"
Yuto's mouth twitched as he looked at Sudo, who was bowing and shouting loudly.
This guy's action gave him the feeling of hearing, "Coach, I want to play basketball."
"Shimizu, as long as you're willing to teach me basketball, I'll do whatever you ask!"
Sudo's voice was full of determination.
Yuto fell into thought.
Although this guy was a delinquent, could he also become an excellent tool?
To raise Class D to Class A, he had to unite all the students in class.
And Sudo, like Ike and the others, was one of the poor students who would not follow discipline.
Perhaps now, Yuto could change Sudo.
…
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