The row of high-ranking officials bowing in unison made Haruto press a hand to his forehead.
Headache.
Within the upper echelons of Japan, some of Haruto's identities weren't really secrets.
For instance, these men knew—
That Haruto was the de facto head of the Momobami family.
That he had close ties with Shinomiya Kaguya, heiress of the Shinomiya family.
That there were even whispers of an impending marriage alliance.
It was widely believed that the only reason the two great conglomerates were able to coexist peacefully now was thanks to Haruto.
This sort of "public acknowledgment" of his identity served the same purpose as when Haruto casually dropped his O5 status.
Because Haruto was strong enough.
Any strike against the conglomerates, if it aimed for the head, would aim at him. But once the spears were pointed his way, those same spears became dull and harmless.
Better to let him absorb the blows than risk the Foundation itself being dragged into trouble.
…Only, this wasn't quite the effect Haruto had been expecting.
Right now, the backs of those bowing officials were drenched in cold sweat.
Damn it all!
They were the non-conglomerate elites, the ones who had pushed for the construction of Advanced Nurturing High School.
The whole point had been to cultivate true talent—
To raise up capable individuals who wouldn't just be stamped and branded as tools of the conglomerates.
They thought they'd kept things discreet.
From the prototype project in Kyoto…
To the purchase of an offshore Pacific island, moving the school there…
To quietly pulling strings for more resources…
None of it had attracted the attention of the Shinomiya or Momobami families.
And yet, the one time they came to Sobu High for a bit of "talent scouting"—
They ran headfirst into the biggest boss of them all.
Disaster.
If this had been some major secret maneuver, they'd have at least been mentally prepared for the risk.
But this? They were just here to poach a few students, maybe borrow a handful of graduates.
If they'd known Haruto would be here, wild horses couldn't have dragged them to Sobu.
Haruto waved a hand, signaling them to sit down.
They obeyed, but even seated, none of them could regain the leisure of sipping tea like before.
All sat bolt upright, like elementary schoolers awaiting punishment.
Sobu's principal twitched at the sight.
Hah.
So that's how it is.
All swagger with me a moment ago, and now terrified by one of my students?
Pathetic.
And humiliating.
Not only could he not compare to his peers at other elite schools—now even his own student had more authority than him.
He might as well be dead.
"Since I happened to overhear, let's not waste time. Hand me a copy of the Advanced Nurturing High School's founding proposal. And while you're at it, give me the education exchange program you're trying to pitch Sobu High."
The officials glanced at each other.
Then, with the resignation of men going to the gallows, they handed over the folders.
Haruto flipped through them, and his eyes lit with faint interest.
The school's system was radically different from a standard high school. In fact, it was less a school than a highly accelerated training mechanism.
Their guiding principle could be summed up in four words: Strength Above All.
But this "strength" wasn't just academics.
It meant actual ability—knowledge, physical power, technical skills, social finesse, leadership.
Advanced Nurturing was designed as a condensed society in miniature, forcing students to mature and grow stronger under relentless competition.
Brutal for the students, perhaps.
But effective, at least on paper.
What really caught Haruto's eye, though, were the student names already shortlisted for next semester's first-years:
Horikita Suzune.
Kushida Kikyo.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
Familiar names.
It was only now that he remembered hearing bits about Advanced Nurturing before.
Haruto snapped the folder shut and smiled at the officials.
They immediately stiffened.
Cold sweat rolled down their foreheads.
"Mr. Haruto, sir—"
One tried to speak, but Haruto cut him off.
"An interesting system. I'm intrigued. And since you want outstanding Sobu graduates as assistants—Why not let me take the first slot? I'll serve as your trial-run exchange. Oh, right, proper introductions: Takimine Haruto, Sobu High, third year. Consistently top of my grade since enrollment. Unless something unexpected happens, I'll also be top of the national exams. You wanted exceptional graduates, didn't you?"
The officials looked ready to cry.
They had come for scraps, not to invite a lion.
Who in their right mind could afford to have him as an assistant?
Wouldn't that just hand over everything they'd built to him on a silver platter?
But refusing was unthinkable.
One word from Haruto, and Advanced Nurturing could be crushed before it even opened its doors.
In the end, all they could do was nod stiffly, despair etched in their faces.
Beside them, Sobu's principal sat in numb silence.
Who am I? Where am I?
Aren't I supposed to be the principal here?
When did school policy get decided without me?
He opened his mouth to protest, then shut it again.
He'd be retiring in a couple of years anyway.
Let this cursed responsibility pass him by.
"Anything else you gentlemen need to discuss?" the principal asked cheerily.
The officials shook their heads violently.
Then turned, waiting for Haruto's signal.
Only once he waved them off did they scramble to bow again and hurry out the door.
"Principal, aren't you grateful I spared you the headache? No need to thank me—it's only natural for a Sobu student to shoulder such duties."
Haruto grinned as he spoke.
The principal: I thank you, my ass.
Not long after, Haruto left the office.
For all his antics, the principal had treated him decently over the years—rarely calling him in despite his constant absences.
Probably thanks to his grades and the exchange student program.
All in all, not a bad man.
Outside, Yukinoshita Yukino glanced sideways at him.
"So… is there something abnormal about this Advanced Nurturing? You wouldn't volunteer as an assistant otherwise."
She knew Haruto well. He could barely be bothered to attend his own classes.
But Haruto shook his head.
"Nope. Nothing anomalous. Just thought I'd take a look."
A front-row seat to a live "hidden mastermind" drama.
Yukino rolled her eyes.
Of course. His twisted sense of fun again.
"Speaking of, how's the Service Club doing?" Haruto suddenly remembered Komi-san.
Yukino didn't answer.
But her expression said it all: Ask her yourself.
By then, they'd reached Class 3-5.
Haruto slid the door open—
And spotted Komi Shouko surrounded by a small circle of girls, chatting brightly.
Well, as brightly as Komi could manage, scribbling furiously in her notebook to reply to their chatter.
Haruto raised a brow.
"Oh? Looks like it's working."
She still had a long way to go before overcoming her communication disorder…
But at least she'd found a few friends to sit with.
Yukino puffed out her chest, as if to say: Naturally. Who do you think I am?
Haruto found himself increasingly adept at reading her little gestures.
Adorable, in their own way.
On impulse, he reached out and poked her in the waist.
"Kyah!"
Yukino let out a startled sound, like a cat caught off guard.