"The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present" - Niccolo Machiavelli
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「May 23th︱Mourning︱Advanced Nurturing High School Class 1-D's Classroom
Yamasaki was heading to the classroom as usual when he heard a voice calling him.
-"Hey, Yamasaki!" Sudo said with a big smile plastered on his face.
-"What's up, Sudou?" Yamasaki replied.
-"I was wondering if you want to go to the convenience store. There's something I want to talk to you about," Sudo said.
"Let's see what it is all about." Yamasaki thought to himself.
They made their way to the convenience store, and Sudo bought some cup noodles on the way.
-"So, what do you want to talk about?" Yamasaki went straight to the point.
On average, boys immediately turn to the problem, while girls would prefer to address certain issues before addressing the issue.
-"Oh yeah, but first..." Sudo took a cup of noodles from the bag and gave it to Yamasaki
-"Here, have some." - Sudou handed a cup of noodles with a chicken, a classic meal of an average Japanese salaryman.
-"Thanks." Yamasaki said as he gratefully accepted Sudou's offering.
-"No problem, just think of it as a way of repaying you for convincing me to study for the midterms and not giving up on me," Sudo said.
After they finished their food, they walked towards the gym, and Sudo let out a deep sigh.
-"Alright, I want to ask you something," Sudo said.
-"What is it?" Yamasaki asked.
-"Is there any other reason that Horikita wanted to save me from getting expelled?" - Sudo asked the question that was on his mind ever since he successfully passed the midterms.
"I think I have a pretty good idea of what he truly wants to know." Yamasaki thought to himself.
Then Sudo continued and said, "Horikita has been changed. She is a much more approachable and talkative person to other classmates in our class. It really shocked me when Horikita sincerely acknowledged my and the other two's efforts without condescension."
"Selective attention. Sudou seems to be the type that pays attention to things that concern him directly, but can be easily misdirected if not self-aware." Yamasaki thought to himself.
-"Yamasaki, did you do something about it?" Sudo asked.
-"Not really. Horikita is actually nice." Yamasaki replied.
-"What do you mean?" Sudo asked.
-"It seems Horikita wants to reach Class A, but she still cares about her classmates," Yamasaki elaborated.
-"I see. That's good to hear. I knew there were other reasons," Sudo said.
-"So, how are you doing in the basketball club?" Yamasaki asked.
-"I'm doing well! Although I still have a long way to go in academics, I'm very good at sports, especially basketball! Sudo replied in an excited tone.
After all, this was one of the few areas where he was confident in himself.
-"Glad to hear it. So, the coaches have noticed your skills?" Yamasaki asked.
-"Yes, I'm getting a lot of attention from them and the club advisors," Sudo replied to Yamasaki's inquiry without much thought.
-"What's different about club advisors?" Yamasaki inquired.
-"Oh Yeah. I forgot you're not in any club, right?" Sudo asked curiously.
-"Yes, I am not." Yamasaki confirmed Sudou's doubts.
-"In that case, the basketball club advisors are in charge of the club itself. They determine who gets to participate in tournaments and stuff like that. I was thinking of asking them if I could join this summer tournament," Sudo explained.
-"I understand now. Good work, Sudou. You've earned it," Yamasaki complimented.
-"Thanks, man. It's not guaranteed, but there is a possibility," Sudo said, scratching his head.
After talking for a bit longer, their conversation ended as they made their way to the class.
As the two passed through the classroom, they were greeted by several of their classmates.
Everything returned to normal in Class 1-D.
After their midterms were over, everyone celebrated getting a passing grade in all of their subjects, which also meant that none of them got expelled.
Of course, this didn't mean that they were back to their old ways of being the class of defectives.
Hirata, Horikita, and the rest of the tutors reminded everyone that they aren't safe yet, because they are surely being monitored until now. Plus, they were still waiting for their allowance for the next month, and none of them wanted their already-low points to get worse.
But for now, they deserved to enjoy the rest of the week and treat it as a moment of rest after weeks of preparing and studying for the midterms.
It was now Friday, and everyone was ready for the weekend to arrive... at least the ones who arrived at the classroom early. There's still about ten minutes before their first period begins.
Yamasaki arrived at the classroom where there were only a few people.
He glanced at Horikita, who was talking to other girls.
She has changed.
She makes a sincere effort to accept other people.
That being said, she is still determined to reach Class A no matter what.
This time, it is for different reasons.
Horikita no longer looks down on people who lack academic ability or intelligence and has learned to honestly acknowledge others' strengths.
As a result, she's no longer as harsh on the idiot trio as she was in the beginning and has a fairly good relationship with them.
Yamasaki saw her interaction with her brother, and after he pointed out her mistakes and she despaired, he validated her efforts, her journey, her dream, but did not victimise or idealise her either.
For example, her interactions with the girls in Class D.
Initially, she rejected them all, but now, she's trying to communicate with them, even though she's not used to it.
From the Class D girls' perspective is slowly starting to gain the reputation as a "beautiful girl who's trying her best to become friends with them while fumbling over her words."
It's no wonder she's becoming popular.
By the way, Kushida is furious about this.
Well...normally she would, but now she is surprisingly calm.
Why?
Well... it goes back to the past.
Flashback
This scene is happening in Kushida's room.
-"You really hate her that much, huh?" - Yamasaki muttered these words, both to himself and to Kushida, as if hoping that describing the situation out loud might make the situation more manageable.
-"You have no idea," - Kushida rolled her eyes.
-"Well, you still haven't told me why you hate Horikita with passion." Yamasaki shrugged. "I mean, you were the one who was pushing her to be friends with you. I can't really understand your side from the sidelines."
-"Fine," Kushida let out a deep sigh and sat back against her chair. - "I suppose I can tell you all about it now. Since you already know everything about me, I might as well tell you the rest of the story."
That's the thing about the secrets. The hardest part is to tell the first. After that, the friction becomes reduced significantly.
-"The floor is all yours." - Yamasaki leaned back as well and gestured for her to proceed.
- "You see, the biggest reason why I hate Horikita-san is that she knows something she shouldn't. She came from the same middle school that I attended. We weren't classmates, but I knew she was a student from my old school the moment I first laid eyes on her." - Normally, one wouldn't speak of their deepest secret with such ease, and yet, Kushida was surprisingly clear-headed when doing so.
Almost as if she was hoping for this day to happen.
Before, Kushida was very sceptical about whether Yamasaki really was a good person, as Hirata described during the midterms.
She had seen too much of the darkness in people's hearts to believe it, whether it was in her middle school days or even at this school.
But now, she believed it.
She believed it without a single doubt.
Kushida reminisces about all the events connected to Yamasaki.
He was the only person who made sure the boys' plan to secretly record girls in the class without their consent. Not to mention, he was the same person who ensured that girls could enjoy the swimming pool with minimal intervention from the boys.
That was one of the very few times she enjoyed herself while wearing her mask.
In addition, he was always willing to help others, but only if the other person wouldn't do their part half-heartedly. He won't show superficial kindness, but he won't reject others if the matter is urgent and/or important.
He was polite and approachable with everyone, but he wouldn't hesitate to bluntly call out your misbehaviour towards him or the others, and yet he didn't look down on anyone, even those at the bottom of the social hierarchy.
And above all, he didn't reject her.
The way his voice softens every time he mutters her name...
The way he patiently listens to her fears, frustrations, and dreams...
The way his unyielding yet soft gaze lingers more than a normal person would...
It was all proof.
He was, without a doubt, a good person.
Not a pitiful, weak, good person, but a capable one, who could protect himself and help others without flaw.
What she admired most was that he didn't have to spend every waking moment pleasing others as she did.
He only did what he wanted, was blunt when he felt like it, and yet he still won people's favour—even their respect.
How does he do it?
"I wish I could be like him. If I had his ability, my ideal world would never have been destroyed," - she thought, a desperate longing welling up inside her.
She fantasised about a life where she didn't have to hide her dark side, where she could say what she truly felt and have people like her even more for it. A life where her friends wouldn't abandon her if they ever learned her secrets.
Yamasaki Isao had this ability, and she wanted it more than anything.
That's why she was willing to unveil everything.
All for the sake of her happiness.
- "That explains why she doesn't have the slightest clue who you are, but it does make me curious how you know her. You say you two weren't classmates, and yet you're completely sure that she came from the same school as you."
-"I know a lot of people from my old school, Yamasaki-kun. If you think I'm popular around here, then you could say I was even more popular in middle school. I knew the names of almost everyone, whether it was a student or a teacher, someone from my year or not. No matter who it was, I knew who they were."
-"I assume they treated you as an angel over there, too?" Yamasaki asked a rather obvious question with an obvious answer, only for the sake to keep the conversation going.
-"You have no idea," Kushida shook her head in amusement. "I realised a lot of things about me long ago. I realised I was blessed with good looks compared to a lot of the other girls there. I was better at memorising than most students, so I excelled at academics. I was also good at sports and confident when it came to socialising. If the people here see me as an angel, the people in my old school saw me as a goddess."
-"Did you like being treated that way? Like a goddess?" - Yamasaki understood Kushida's feelings.
-"I'm definitely not a genius, but I was treated like one when I was younger," Kikyo continued to explain. "And it felt intoxicating. Being praised as a genius, called by different people a 'child prodigy', it was all like a drug to me. I wanted more of it, so I kept on working hard to be that girl. I was the best in my class, the idol, and people praised me for my achievements. I never wanted it to end. I wanted to be praised by people for as long as possible."
"For most people, praise is like sunlight. Nice when it shines. But they can live without it. For someone who needs admiration, it's like oxygen. Without it, they start to fade. They stop feeling real. Deep down, people like Kushida don't believe the good words. They think, 'If you really knew me, you wouldn't say that." So, every compliment slides right through the cracks, leaving them more desperate than before. It's a painful paradox. Chasing something they can never truly keep.' - Yamasaki thought to himself as he attentively listened to Kushida's backstory.
-"But when I entered middle school, I started meeting people who were superior to me in every field. I was starting to get hit by the reality that I'm not the best, and I hated it. Every time I lost, my chest would feel heavy. Sometimes I'd throw up from stress. That's how I felt when I was no longer the best. When I was no longer being praised by everyone."
-"I can't imagine what it must have felt like for you," he spoke in a sincere tone, before placing his hand on her shoulder gently.
"Wanna know the worst part about it?" she let out a sardonic laugh. "I was surrounded by people that I had no chance of beating. I didn't bother trying because I knew I would lose horribly. So I searched for a way out. To escape from the suffering I felt. I wanted to find something where I wouldn't lose to anyone. I wanted recognition again. I wanted people to praise me again. However, it couldn't be anything related to academics or sports."
"Everything I'm hearing from here on out, these are Kushida's real thoughts. It's what she really feels under the mask that she shows everyone." The young man thought to himself.
-"And the solution that you came up with is being nice to everyone?"
-"Pretty close, but that wasn't the point," she shook her head before reaching out her delicate hands on the window. "The answer I thought of was that I would get people to 'trust' me more than anyone else. I wanted them to think of me as someone they can approach anytime. That way, I would regain my place above the people around me... by being more popular than anyone else."
-"That sounds exceedingly hard to do," Yamasaki commented. He knew better than that this type of life doesn't come with a severe cost on mental health.
-"It was, because it came at a price. To get people to trust me, I had to hide myself in return. I had to repress my emotions, put on a fake smile, and spread a false notion that I'm someone you could count on. I extended my hand to boys so disgusting that just seeing them made me feel unpleasant, and to girls so irritatingly ugly it made my stomach turn..." - Kushida clenched her fists as she felt an immense wave of displeasure run through her.
Kushida thought of the people whom she had to befriend during her years in middle school. Many of them were students whom she would never even think of approaching if she had no desire to be popular.
"The girl sitting across from me is extraordinary. Her social skills were refined beyond what normal high school students would normally have. Her ability to read and respond to social cues, to make people feel valued while simultaneously extracting information, speaks of intensive training and exceptional natural talent." - Yamasaki analysed Kushida's mental state and her ability to influence social dynamics and integrate herself into any group.
To Yamasaki, Kushida Kikyo is someone who possessed an exceptional insight and acting skills.
-"I did all of it to become popular, and I got what I wanted. Classmates, senpais, kouhais, teachers, parents, and even strangers I met while walking the halls... they all knew who I was. It was stressful, but I became someone who was liked by everyone, and through my actions, I realised I couldn't lose to anyone anymore. When I realised that, I was truly happy."
Yamasaki nodded slowly as he absorbed every detail patiently.
-"So, in conclusion, you wanted to surpass everyone around you by becoming more popular than they are. From there, you started showing everyone your mask instead of your feelings, fooling the people around you into thinking you're an innocent angel. As you got into it, your popularity grew as well and took you back to the top of the social hierarchy. Did I get it right?"
Kushida smirked. "So far, you're right on the mark. But that's not all of it. I still have something important to tell you."
-"I'm all ears," - Yamasaki muttered those, permitting Kushida to continue her thoughts.
Kushida took a deep breath before continuing with her explanation.
-"After I became popular again, I started to understand something else. As I became known to a lot of people, I earned their trust, too. And after I earned that trust, I discovered the one thing that I would continue to strive for in the years that would come to pass."
-"And what's that?" Yamasaki gently probed Kushida.
-"Trust between two people isn't easily formed, but it can be ripped apart in a snap. Nonetheless, it can be developed with time and care, leading to a bond between those two people. And behind that trust and bond are the secrets that individuals keep from everybody else."
"It aligns with the hypothesis I formulated before my encounter with Kushida," he thought to himself, though he kept his attention directed to the girl and listened to her for now.
-"When someone truly trusts another person from the bottom of their heart, they disclose the secrets they keep inside them. It's what happened to me." At this point, a smile had begun to form on her face. "I knew the secret crush of the most popular boy in class, as well as the unexpected troubles of the smartest person in class. From the most serious secrets to the most trivial ones, I knew them all. I took all of it like pieces in a collection. Every time I made a new friend and learned of their deepest secret, my heart would pound with excitement. Not only did I love to get praised by everyone, but I also derived great pleasure from being entrusted with other people's secrets, things as important to them as their very own lives."
Kushida then withdrew from the window and turned around, before she threw her arms out wide and began twirling around in pure glee.
It was like watching a child being given some candy for the first time.
-"I was the most trusted person around. Everyone loved me. It gave my life meaning, especially after realising that I could never match the true geniuses and prodigies in my school. But..." - She stopped in her tracks all of a sudden, being reminded of one thing she disliked about this arrangement.
-"...There was something I didn't notice at the time. The 'trust' that I longed for could only be gained from living with a mask. I spent every day living with an enormous amount of stress in my heart..."
Kushida gasped softly when she felt a pair of arms wrap around her from behind and a sudden weight on the crown of her head, causing her to look up. Yamasaki let his head rest on top of hers, and it didn't seem like she minded it at all.
The girl blushed deeply at how close he was, but at the same time, she felt grateful that he was still here, listening to her.
It gave Kushida the much-needed courage to utter her next words, which she was nervous about.
-"And then... that incident happened. You probably already know what happened. But during my final year in middle school... everything changed. Before it, I had a blog where I posted a lot of stuff anonymously, most of which was about my real feelings about everything around me. It was the only place where I could let out what I truly felt within, and then one day it wasn't anonymous anymore."
Kushida's eyes became downcast, and she shifted her attention to the ground.
- "I didn't know what to do at first... I had no idea how to save the image of myself that I've built up for three years."
-"Did they find out about your mask?" - Yamasaki inquired of Kushida the key question.
Kushida didn't say anything at first, but the way her hands tightened their grip on his arms was the answer in itself.
-"Somehow, there were people who managed to connect the blog to me and told everyone in my class about it. I didn't know what to do, but I knew that the longer I kept my mouth shut, the bigger trouble I'd be in. In the end, I couldn't stop myself from letting out everything that I knew."
Yamasaki tilted his head. - "What did you do then?" - Yamasaki gently probed Kushida's most private memory.
-"Believe me, I didn't want to do it to everyone. But... there was no helping it. Everyone agreed with each other, and they all rejected me. I thought that... because they didn't hesitate to hurt me with their words, they can't complain if I hurt them in return. After all, if you get attacked, it's only natural for you to fight back."
-"Yeah...I can imagine the scene. What happened after that?" he muttered, urging the girl to continue.
She took a deep breath, bracing herself for what she would tell him next.
-"That day, the 'ideal me' that everyone once placed on a pedestal was shattered. Everyone's respect and envy disappeared right away, replaced by fear and hatred. I needed to save myself, because it wasn't the kind of attention I wanted. So, I decided to fight back with the only weapon I had against all of them..."
-"So, you used the 'truth' as a weapon, and everyone started to get at each other's throats, forgetting you entirely." Yamasaki finished the sentence for her, realising what she was about to tell him.
-"What else could I have done? Everyone didn't see me in a positive light anymore, and I needed to save myself before something happened," she shrugged, slowly removing his arms from her. "All it took to get them to stop looking at me was revealing their secrets, one by one. I listened to all of their secrets when they revealed them to me, and I simply gave them back to them."
- "What happened afterwards?" Yamasaki encouraged Kushida to go all the way, as she had already unveiled so many details on the cause of the friction between Kushida and Horikita.
-"Just as I hoped, they turned their attention from me to each other. Every dirty secret about them and the whole class came out. The people who secretly hated someone else in the classroom tried to defend themselves, but they eventually admitted it. Nobody was safe from having their secrets out in the open. And with secrets so volatile as the ones that some of them possessed, the whole class imploded from within."
"Lies don't hurt people. Truth is the deal dagger." - Yamasaki could only imagine what Kushida meant by those words, but it wouldn't be far-fetched to say that the results of her actions ended in chaos for her classmates. If the secrets she knew about them were as deep as she made them out to be, then the sense of betrayal between them must be grand.
-"That explains why you want to get rid of Horikita. Fortunately, I personally confirmed that Horikita genuinely has no idea about you, nor about that incident."
-"It's strange." - Unexpectedly, Kushida shifted to a different topic.
-"What's strange?" - Yamasaki reciprocated the question to Kushida.
-"Usually, I wouldn't dismiss my suspicion no matter what. Even if only 1% chance that Horikita might remember me, I would not hesitate to expel her." Kushida shared her most personal thoughts, more than anyone else she had in her life.
- "However..." - Kushida stared at Yamasaki with an intense gaze.
-"And yet, when you say it, I can't help but feel that your words are probably true. Now I feel calmer and reflect on my story logically; it really does make sense why Horikita would not remember me."
-"So what are you gonna do?" - Yamasaki inquired despite having a rough idea of her future direction.
-"After that incident, I swore I'd never repeat my mistakes. I wanted to be trusted by everyone again. I wanted to regain my place above everyone else again. That's why I was so excited about starting my new high school life here. I was so excited to start over, and I was determined not to mess up this time, but... it turned into my worst nightmare instead."
-"It's when you saw Horikita again, wasn't it?" - Yamasaki wasn't there, but from the direction of the conversation, he could guess the answer.
Kushida nodded. "On the school bus that we were both on, I saw Horikita-san. The one person who knows about what happened in my old school... was also going to the same high school. And as long as she's in this place, I'll never be able to start over. That's why... I have to get rid of her. Horikita-san is the only remaining piece of my past that is still in this school, a past that I'm trying to get rid of." - Kushida deeply sighed as if being relieved of finally concluding the most unpleasant memory of her lifetime.
-"So... what do you think? Now that you know everything, now that I've told you about my past, what do you think of me now?" she asked slowly, feeling nervous about the answer she would get from him. Even though she was willing to tell him about her past now, it didn't make her prepared for what he might say to her afterwards.
Will Yamasaki hate her now?
Will he decide to stay away from her?
Will he choose Horikita over her?
These questions were slowly filling her mind, driving her crazy with invasive thoughts, but she had no answer to any of them.
All she could do was hope that he would still be accepting of her and what she's like...
-"My answer doesn't change. You are my friend, Kushida. I can't just ignore the time we spent together." - Yamasaki's tone was soft yet firm, as if no other answer had ever surfaced in his consciousness.
A massive wave of relief filled Kushida's entire being.
She felt immensely relieved that he didn't hate her or worse.
Even before that night, Yamasaki was one of the very few people she didn't dislike.
After confirming her true intentions and her true feelings towards Yamasaki, she had become very fond of Yamasaki by now.
She had no idea what she would have done if he rejected her...
-"R-Really? You don't... hate me for being like this? Or even afraid of me?" - Kushida's feelings were in turmoil.
A part of her was overjoyed by an unconditional acceptance, and another part of her refused to acknowledge it due to fear that she might be disappointed or worse, left behind when the opportunity arises.
-"What's wrong with wanting to be loved? What's the big deal if you want security to live your life to the fullest in your own way? The actions you did in the past do not invalidate the time we spent together." - To Yamasaki, Kushida Kikyo was the most human person in this school. The only reason Kushida walked the path of self-destruction because she didn't see any other way to live her life.
To reject Kushida's true nature is to deny the 'ugliness' within oneself as well.
But not Yamasaki.
Yamasaki Isao has accepted himself fully. He mastered his 'shadow' completely, presenting himself in an approachable manner while not succumbing to his worst impulses.
That's not hypocrisy. That's self-mastery.
- "Yamasaki-kun..." - Kushida's voice was uncharacteristically soft and smooth.
This feeling of unconditional acceptance...
The warmth of another person's embrace...
At this moment, Kushida was, without a doubt, happiest that she ever was.
All the previous compliments and praises gave a heartfelt satisfaction, but they were short-lived, leaving her empty and craving more.
But this?
The happiness, the quiet joy, the peace enveloping her body far surpasses the superficial compliments she receives every day from others.
Yamasaki understands something about people who crave attention more than anything.
The more applause they get, the emptier they often feel. Applause feeds the performance, not the person. It feeds the mask, not the soul.
People like Kushida thrive in this environment because they know how to play the game. They know how to make themselves unforgettable.
But here's the tragedy.
The very thing that makes them succeed in public isolates them from other people.
They crave admiration, but fear genuine intimacy.
They want love, but can't trust it unless it's constant, overwhelming, almost worshipful.
The attention seekers are not aliens. They are simply an exaggerated reflection of what society already values: Attention, admiration, image.
It's not about breaking the mask overnight. It's about something much deeper.
Can a person driven by praise change?
The answer is complicated.
At the very core, there lies a paradox.
The mask protects them, but it also imprisons them. They cannot take it off without feeling exposed. And yet, they cannot truly connect while wearing it.
For change to happen, there must be a moment when the pain of the mask outweighs the fear of vulnerability.
Kushida's journey is not about destroying her ego.
It's about softening it.
It's about letting the self be human again.
Not extraordinary, not invincible, but simply enough.
Most people don't wear masks to the same extent as Kushida, but don't we all wear masks of our own?
Don't we all edit our lives before showing them to the world?
Don't we all have moments where we'd rather be admired than understood?
When we judge the attention seeker, maybe what we're really judging is our own hunger for approval reflected at us, but magnified.
The paradox is that people like Kushida crave love more than anything, but their very defences against rejection make it impossible for them to truly receive it. And isn't that in some way the story of all of us?
We long to be loved as we are, but we fear being rejected as we are. So we polish, we edit, we perform, but the performances keep us apart while our souls crave closeness.
She is a mirror of the human struggle between performance and authenticity, between fear and longing, between mask and self.
To understand them is to understand ourselves.
To judge them too harshly is to forget that their mask is only a heavier version of our own.
This deep need for admiration isn't a flaw in someone's character.
It's a survival strategy.
Beneath all that pride lives a deep, unbearable shame.
For them, admiration isn't a luxury. It's a lifeline. They depend on it the way lungs depend on air. Because without it, the false self, that shiny version of them, starts to crack.
And behind that mask is a haunting emptiness they can't bear to face.
That's why they have to be the centre of every room.
Why do they tell stories that make them look larger than life?
Why does every compliment, every bit of attention feel like a hit of oxygen?
It's not about ego in the way most people think. It's about survival. Every word of praise, every look of admiration keeps the illusion alive just a little longer. But when the applause fades, when the spotlight moves away, they face what they've been running from all along.
That deep well of shame and worthlessness they've spent a lifetime trying to bury. So their need for admiration isn't just a craving. It's their way of staying alive in a world where silence feels like suffocation. They aren't really seeking love or connection. They're searching for a mirror that reflects the perfect image they need to believe in."
"Loving someone who's always performing leaves very little room for you to simply exist. But the highest cost falls on the person themselves. They live in a constant state of quiet anxiety. Always managing, always curating, always afraid the applause will fade. They're trapped inside the image they've created, terrified that if the mask slips, everyone will see how fragile they really feel underneath. It's a cruel paradox. The more they perform for love, the less loved they actually feel because deep down, they know the praise isn't for them. It's for the version they've built to be acceptable, admirable, and perfect, and that only deepens the emptiness inside. Some of these people reach great heights, success, beauty, and even fame. From the outside, it looks golden, but inside, those are golden handcuffs, a cage that sparkles. They can't stop performing. They can't stop proving. Even when the audience has gone home, they're still on stage, afraid to take off the costume, afraid there's nothing real underneath."
-"Hey, Yamasaki-kun." - Kushida's voice was uncharacteristically soft compared to her usual high-pitched 'angel' persona voice and her rough voice when she vented her anger on the school rooftop.
-"Yeah?" - Yamasaki was curious about the topic Kushida wished to talk to.
-"Do you think my wish to make friends is wrong? I just want everyone to like me." - Kushida verbalised the question that had been on her mind for quite a while, but simply never saw the right opportunity to express it.
-"Why do you ask?" - Instead of giving a direct response, Yamasaki returned the baton to Kushida, hoping for her to elaborate more on her question.
-"Well...Until now, I always believed that to feel appreciated, I needed to do what others would not do. Doing favours for others without being asked to, listening to other people's problems when I couldn't care less, talking with girls with rotten personalities, being friendly with the boys so repulsive that my back shivers." - Kushida's body shakes from the mere thought of remembering all the times she did favours for others while hiding her true feelings.
Even so, a part of her hoped that there was an alternative to her way of life, or was it predetermined?
-"This methodology is what allowed you to feel appreciated, to be seen more than anything else you tried. People naturally cling to something that works over some abstract idea that contradicts the reality they experienced." - Yamasaki's response was concise and logical.
Most people would probably find Kushida's way of life incomprehensible, but Yamasaki could understand where she is coming from.
Having no way out and not being shown any other path to live her life, she settled for the only way out without losing herself in the process.
Yes...Even if it came at the expense of her own freedom or happiness, she did what she had to do to find her place in this world.
-"Most people would say that one should strive to be honest and express whatever feelings they have at the moment." - Kushida states a more socially acceptable answer.
Kushida didn't actually believe the Yamasaki she knew would give such an answer, but she was still intrigued by how he would respond to her question.
-"I think that those people who can say that because either they have never experienced true rejection, or they simply desire something else over approval, or they are simply lying to themselves." - Yamasaki laid out all the possible reasons why certain people have the luxury to express themselves with little reservation.
Koenji is only more on the extreme side of the spectrum, though...
-"I did know quite a few people like them. The smart ones, the athletic ones, the popular ones, the ones who are accepted naturally without a mask. I realised early in life that I'm not an average person, but I am not a genius either. And being second doesn't satisfy me." - Kushida contributes to the question by naming the categories of people who would have little difficulty connecting with people without strategy or manipulation.
-"And you responded with the method that worked, even if it came with drawbacks. What's wrong with that?" - Once again, Yamasaki repeated the main topic of conversation to his chestnut-haired female classmate.
-"Yes. Even now, I still believe that this is the only thing my existence has value. As far as I can remember, I lived my entire life under constant pressure. For me, there was no way to be accepted while being unable to express my real feelings." - Kushida sincerely expressed her deepest frustrations and dreams while indicating that up until now, she has no regrets about her way of living.
"Kushida already has everything that it takes to become popular. Appearance, ability to read the room, and personality. Kushida is too concerned with considering her emotions as either 'good', 'bad', 'right', or 'wrong'. Her sole limitation is that she unnecessarily bottled up her negative feelings instead of using them efficiently. There's a big difference between wanting appreciation and needing admiration. Wanting appreciation is human. It's how we stay connected. When you've worked hard, and someone says, "You did great." It feels good when you cook for the people you love, and they enjoy it. That warmth you feel is belonging. It reminds us we matter. That what we do has meaning.
However...
Needing admiration is something else entirely.
It's not a quiet wish.
It's a hunger.
Sharp, restless, endless.
It's like chasing a feeling that never lasts.
This isn't about joy anymore.
It's survival.
"Kushida never experienced unconditional acceptance. She learned early in life that the only thing to be mattered is not being authentic, but what role you play and how that leads to others being better off compared to your true self. In that sense, Kushida is more honest with herself than most people." - Yamasaki identified Kushida's core limitation and how to overcome her personal insecurities.
-"The way I see it, it's alright to enjoy praise, it is okay to enjoy being appreciated for the results of your efforts. It only becomes a problem when your ability to be happy depends entirely on constantly shifting opinions and feelings of others. Then that happens, can you really say it's your desire?" - Yamasaki expresses his honest thought on Kushida's way of life, and validates her way of life, regardless of how different it is, in contrast to his personal lifestyle.
-"What do you mean, and how am I supposed to do that?" - Kushida was curious about Yamasaki's thoughts, but she was confident that whatever this man said, it would not be a baseless thought nor an attempt to manipulate her or coerce her.
This man always gives reliable advice.
While she wouldn't give up this pleasure for anything, she was truly curious if there was any way to reduce or, better yet, remove this nauseating feeling when she is surrounded by others.
-"You should not happily agree with what everyone says and point out what you think is wrong. For example, if there are boy that boys who keep ogling at the girls. You can point that out to the boys with a little bit serious tone, not just let them ogle you or other girls." - Yamasaki gave neutral advice on how Kushida could address her personal limitations without sacrificing anything.
-"Is that so?" - Kushida was surprised, not by the solution itself but that it didn't cross her mind.
The solution was so simple, yet it was very effective.
-"People will see that you don't defend the wrong people for wrong reasons, but you won't accuse them randomly, just be fair with everyone. With this, others will see you as more reliable, and those everyday interactions won't stress you too much. Humans should express their emotions but be able to control them. What you have done until now is just keep building up the negative emotion, not controlling it. You can't be happy 24/7." - Yamasaki's solution was simple.
Her mask must become a tool to reach her goals, not her entire identity that limits her potential.
-"You are really smart, aren't you, Yamasaki-kun?" - Kushida emitted her honest feelings, a mixture of admiration, happiness, awe, and a bit of fear.
-"Not really. I am probably the most normal person at this school." - Yamasaki denied her compliment without hesitation.
Yamasaki never perceived himself as a smart person, much less with a fancy title like 'genius'.
-"Hehe, you sure are modest, Yamasaki-kun." - Kushida chuckled, thinking to herself that her mysterious, brown-haired friend was only modest.
-"Is that so?" - Yamasaki neither confirmed nor denied her comment.
-"Okay, I will ask you just out of curiosity. How would you deal with those hopeless perverts?"
-"You mean Ike and Yamauchi or the overall guys' attitude towards you and the other girls in class in general?"
-"Both, especially those two sorry for excuses human beings, Ike-kun and Yamauchi-kun." - Kushida expressed her true feelings without an ounce of hesitation.
Well..that's pretty much the consensus of every girl in Class D, and outside of it as well.
-"Ike doesn't want to succeed. He wants to be seen. With Ike, praise him by saying that to you, a model behaviour like studying hard, showing a more appropriate behaviour towards the girls as 'cool', and you can subtly encourage other girls to do the same."
-"Do I praise him regardless of the result?"
-"Initially, yes. The beginning is often the most difficult part. Ike is the most literal embodiment of the 'typical' high school student. Guys like him only take studying seriously when it becomes a means to reach a goal or the type of person they want to become, not out of obligation, fear, or peer pressure. Only when the pursuit won't become just a means to reach a goal, but your identity, only when the habit would become ingrained in you." - Yamasaki logically explained his approach to address one of the most problematic people in Class D.
-"That's... actually makes sense. What about Yamauchi-kun?" - Naturally, Kushida suggested undoubtedly the most defective student in Class D with no redeeming qualities.
-"An attention seeker with an inferiority complex." - Yamasaki gave a concise yet rather polite way of describing Yamauchi Haruki.
-"Hehe, that's rather a blunt response, Yamasaki-kun." - Even though Kushida said those words, there wasn't a single care in her expression nor in her eyes.
-"It's rather tame compared to what other classmates would say about him." - Yamasaki immediately understood the implication behind Kushida's words, but he feigned obliviousness.
- "I know. I am just teasing you. So, how would you have me deal with Yamauchi-kun?" - Kushida immediately understood Yamasaki's intent in having her hear this.
Yamasaki is using her to rehabilitate the idiot duo of Class D, using her as a proxy and to control the Class D boys through her.
She wasn't dissatisfied, though.
Why would she?
She knows that if she, the angel of Class 1-D, were able to bring the idiot duo to take their lives more seriously, her classmates would undoubtedly shower her with praise and admiration.
The mere thought of it brought immense joy to Kushida's heart.
-"Give him a small responsibility and say that this is all he will ever receive. If he refuses, simply ignore him completely. No anger, no disappointment, no moral lectures. If he complies with your words, take it seriously, praise him for the effort, not the result. If he ever feels like escaping, you can indirectly tell him that your opinion of him and every other girl in the class will be ruined beyond repair, while others make an effort to do better, while he will be left behind. That would get under his skin more than anything else."
-"Hmm...Well, it does make sense when you hear this stuff yourself." - Kushida contemplated Yamasaki's words to reform the remaining two idiots of Class D, and found herself rather agreeing with Yamasaki's approach.
Simple, direct, yet effective, and without having her go against her persona.
By 'rehabilitating' Ike and Yamauchi, a massive weight would be released for Kushida, the girls and the class itself.
-"But, are you sure this is gonna work? Most people would either recommend using authority, pressure or lecturing to get guys like them to take things seriously. Even by the class standards, those two are something else." - Kushida was still partly sceptical about Yamasaki's approach.
-"All things are difficult before they are easy, no? If change were that easy, life would be too simple. Besides, the positive effects of change won't stop with only them. When others would see those two, the bottom of the class hierarchy, improving, others would either have to improve themselves or risk making a fool out of themselves. Besides, it's not like you reached where you are right now immediately, am I wrong?"
-"No, you are right. Even if I can make friends better than anyone else at this school, I have made multiple small blunders in middle school, which fortunately didn't lead to any serious issues." - Kushida turned her head towards Yamasaki to utter the next words with a small yet first genuine smile on her face.
-"Thank you, Yamasaki-kun. I feel like this is the first time I was genuinely happy talking to someone."
Yamasaki shows a small smile as well.
-"So I am Kushida."
Returning to the present...
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Unexpectedly, Sakura typed a message to Yamasaki in a private chat.
[Isao-kun, are you free tomorrow?]
[I am, Airi. Why do you ask?]
[If it does not trouble you, I want us to hang out together, just the two of us. There is a nice shop I found, and I figured it would be great if we could spend some time together. You don't want to?]
[Of course I will go, Airi. What time and place?]
After reading Yamasaki's reply, Sakura's eyes widened slightly.
She really wanted to hang out with Yamasaki.
She pursed her lips and smiled softly, her eyebrows arching in quiet joy.
The joy sakura felt couldn't be suppressed.
Thump, thump!
With one hand pressed over her chest, Sakura felt shy and nervous, but she mustered her courage and quickly typed "OK" into the chat box.
[How about next the entry of Keyaki Mall at 10:30 a.m.?]
After sending the message, her body softened, and she slumped onto her desk, her full chest pressed against the smooth surface.
"I can't believe it... I actually had Isao-kun agree to go on a date. Should I dress up to meet him this weekend, or should I stick with my usual look?"
After the initial wave of nervousness passed, Sakura found herself in a bit of a dilemma.
But soon, she made her decision. Since she had agreed to go to the drink shop with a boy she liked, she figured she should put some effort into dressing up.
Now, Sakura began to have the thought of wanting Yamasaki to see her at her best.
As the saying goes, women dress up to please themselves, but often, they dress up to impress the man they care about.
Sakura Airi, who had always been extremely shy, had originally planned to keep a low profile, maintaining her simple, unnoticed appearance in class until graduation. She didn't want to stand out.
But now, her thoughts were starting to change.
Sakura wanted to dress up and show the boy her beautiful side!
-"Hmm..." - The pressure on her chest made Sakura feel suffocated, making it difficult for her to breathe.
She immediately straightened her back and stopped lying down, trying to ease the discomfort.
Yamasaki, knowing how shy Sakura could be, left the decision of when they would meet up to her.
[Okay, how about 10:30 in the morning?]
[That works. Where should we meet?]
[Just walk straight from the front entrance of our dorm building. There's a pavilion about 300 meters ahead. How about we meet there, Isao-kun?]
[No objections. It's a plan.]
[Great!]
Sakura's heart fluttered as she realised she had successfully made plans with Yamasaki.
With a happy bounce, she stood up and decided to head to the convenience store to buy some bread.
In junior high school, Sakura had always preferred buying bread for lunch to avoid the bustling crowd at the school cafeteria. She could quietly eat her meal wherever she pleased.
Now, with her bread in hand, she was free to sit wherever there was no one around.
After greeting many of his classmates, not limited to the members of Hirata and Hasebe's group, Yamasaki walked towards his desk to prepare for the first lesson of the day.
Unexpectedly, a girl with long brown hair and blue eyes approached Yamasaki.
-"Good mourning, Yamasaki-kun."
-"Good morning, Matsushita. It's unlike you to approach the first thing in the morning."
Matsushita, who was still hanging around after class, called out to Yamasaki when he passed by her, Karuizawa, Satou, and Mori.
Yamasaki's greeting was met with a smile.
-"I've decided that today I'll start helping you to become better socially. I said during swim class that I would help you if any problems arose, and what better way to solve a problem than to fix it before it can even become one."
"This certainly wasn't what I was expecting during that conversation." - Yamasaki's thoughts lingered on the brief conversation he shared with Matsushita during the swimming pool when he joined Hirata's group in the pool.
-"Me, Satou-san, and Karuizawa-san were about to go shopping at Keyaki Mall, so this is the perfect time to upgrade your wardrobe. The way you present yourself is crucial to excelling socially, and no offence, but I picture your wardrobe at the moment being extremely plain."
"How dare she say something so true that I can't refute it?!" - In contrast to his thoughts, Yamasaki was not upset in the slightest.
If anything, he would appreciate the guidance of a girl like Matsushita and other popular gyarus in the class.
Though to Yamasaki, the core reason Matsushita aligned herself with Karuizawa's clique, and not Kushida's or Shinohara's, is because due to fact her true personality is more aligned with Karuizawa's group and to avoid ostracism, expectations and worse, bullying.
Matsushita is not as 'kind-hearted' and approachable as Kushida, but neither is she as blunt and uncompromising as Shinohara.
-"Do I get a say in any of this?"
-"Why? Do you already have plans?"
-"No."
-"Perfect. Then don't be late. It's inappropriate to force the girl to wait for you."
Matsushita immediately left before Yamasaki had a chance to decline.
"Oh well. Shopping is nowhere as bad as it sounds if you understand the mechanisms behind it. In my opinion, even guys should possess at least some fashion sense. I'd better not forget to tell the members of the Hasebe group about this outing. I don't want to listen to Haruka's complaints later on." - Yamasaki quickly accepted hanging out with the girls from Karuizawa's faction.
As Yamasaki patiently waited for classes to start, he began to recall his recent activities behind the scenes...
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「May 2nd︱Afternoon︱The Chairman's Office
This event occurred a month after Yamasaki completed two contracts: S-System and the rental of Year 1 Class A-D cameras.
Yamasaki requested a private meeting with Chairman Sakayanagi in person, with no third parties, using the private contact details he received during their first meeting.
Usually, even among the elites, most people would stop, or they would run out of ideas.
But Yamasaki had no intention of stopping, nor was he the man who lacked initiative or creativity.
-"You really are cautious, aren't you, Yamasaki-kun? You even came to this meeting with the wig, contact lenses, and if my eyes are not deceiving, you even somewhat changed your facial features to change your appearance." - The Chairman's voice echoed with a mixture of recognition, cautious observation, and sincere admiration for Yamasaki's forward way of thinking and meticulous nature.
This boy not only completely altered his appearance but also used private points to request the Chairman to create an alibi by meeting with his classmates in the cafe and leaving midway to avoid suspicion. He even went so far as to use private points to create a false student identity and background, if anyone ever inquired on this and at a prior meeting a month ago or any future encounters they will have in the future.
-"In this school, cautiousness should be considered a default state of any student in this institution, especially for those who wish to strive to reach the top of school hierarchy, wouldn't you agree?" - Yamasaki reciprocated a question with another, indirectly answering chairman's question while not having to waste time and not reveal any unnecessary information even to a trusted third party.
"You are right, Yamasaki-kun." - As a man at the top of the ANHS hierarchy, he understood the mindset, and what it means students have to resort not just to survive but to flourish in this environment.
The young man in front of him understands this better than anyone.
After all, what stands in the way of a person's survival is not ignorance, it's arrogance.
-"Chairman." - Yamasaki's voice was soft yet firm, leaving no room for small talk or misdirection.
Yamasaki didn't waste any time.
He pushed towards his personal agenda right away.
-"What is it, Yamasaki-kun?" - Chairman responded to a brown-haired young man's question with patience and quiet intrigue about the he requested a private meeting which he had made a week ago.
-" I would like to purchase the highest percentage of Keyaki Mall profit revenues as much as possible with private points and using my authority as a student council vice president to modify the rule that no student can purchase access to Keyaki Mall profits acquired from selling services, goods, and so on."
From Yamasaki's observations and analysis, the most popular spots are these:
Family restaurants
cafes
karaoke
clothing stores
electronic shops
If in the previous two agreements the chairman could still barely maintain his composure, now it was shattered instantly.
-"D-D-Do you even understand what you are saying, Yamasaki-kun? Your previous suggestions already walk a very thin line between following and breaking the rules. If a student could have access to even 10% of Keyaki Mall properties montly earnings, it would eventually create a monopoly in the class hierarchy. The school would never allow that."
-"Of course, I understand that. I won't request anything outrageous. As a vice president of the student council and a fellow student of this prestigious institution, I am simply curious to test the purchasing power private points possess in this institution." - Yamasaki calmly expressed his thoughts on this matter.
Yamasaki proceeded without waiting for the chairman's permission.
-"The staff, the products, the salaries, the technology - each of them demands a fair reciprocation from usage by other parties. In this case, private points are used to maintain the infrastructure. All I am asking is a one-time deal to buy the highest percentage possible for the stores without overbearing the employees in the Keyaki Mall establishment. If such a purchase were possible, even if one possesses enough private points and authority within the school, it would create a disproportionate disadvantage for other classes if the person in question became proactive in class competition. After all, the first rule of this school is that points can buy anything." - Yamasaki finished his thoughts on his first request today.
-"..."
Chairman Sakayanagi was flabbergasted.
"This boy doesn't stop surpassing my expectations. On the second day, I was already flabbergasted when he proposed those contracts, and also requested purchasing 2 ANHS-issued phones: one that belonged to the former chairman before me, and a phone which was in the ownership of a class A graduate. Not to mention, he even went so far as to purchase a 3-year immunity against any action, accusation that revolves around him, whether it's through spreading false rumours, or immunity against any type of illegal access to all his phone accounts. Even going so far as to use private points to make sure no one would be able to override this rule, even with private points or authority. And here I thought his suggestions couldn't get any bolder..." - Chairman Sakayanagi thought to himself.
The Chairman started to evaluate the pros, the cons, and above all, the feasibility of this suggestion, without breaking the delicate balance of the school competition.
After a minute had passed, the Chairman brushed aside unnecessary thoughts and redirected his attention to the young man standing in front of him.
-"Under any other circumstances, I would not proceed to dive deeper into this matter with anyone else. Even if a student might possess enough private points and authority, it's still an enormous advantage, even if the student might be in a lower class. However..." - Chairman recollected his thoughts as he faced brown-haired to conclude his analysis, eyes filled with contemplation, and quiet anticipation.
-"You are a special case, Yamasaki-kun. Even though this institution has flourished for 29 years, not a single student has used private points and the authority as a student council vice president to request something as radical as privatising the economy of ANHS itself. Your actions behind the scenes clearly indicate that you have little interest in the class competition, and considering your abilities, your decision is understandable. Since you are the same person who already surpassed the highest expectations this school could expect outside of conventional evaluation criteria, not just once but twice, I am willing to overlook certain matters and take these matters more seriously. I will have to discuss this with the board of directors one more time. This is only a one-time collaboration, understood? After you, this type of purchase won't be available not just for you, but for your generation, and for future generations as well. After all, even if the school wishes to produce superior individuals like you, this school still values structure above all."
-"What do you have in mind, Chairman?" - Yamasaki politely asked the most important question he had in mind for the past few weeks. He was probing the system to see how much of it can be bent without outright breaking the rules and getting on the bad of the upper management of the school, especially the chairman, and the board of directors.
-"Before I proceed, I have to ask you to agree under one condition. Otherwise, this deal is off. No negotiations." - Chairman's voice was uncharacteristically firm, making it clear that even if one possesses the economic power and social power, certain conditions can't be avoided to avoid complications with the higher-ups.
-"What condition?" - This question was within Yamasaki's expectations.
It would be absurd to comply with such a request without reciprocation.
-"You have to sign a private contract that your participation in class competition won't have any negative consequences. Don't worry. This contract will only stay with the related parties, and no one will disclose the details to anyone outside, including verbally and legally."
-"..."
Yamasaki patiently waited for the Chairman to elaborate on the conditions of this agreement.
-"You see, Yamasaki-kun, the sole reason your suggestion is contemplated at all is that due to your unique positioning in the school hierarchy. Your presence is unprecedented in the school, even compared to genius of previous generations like Horikita Manabu-kun and Nagumo Miyabi-kun. Otherwise, a person with your level of ability and financial advantage would have an enormous advantage against the upper classes in the class competition. Do you understand Yamasaki-kun?" - The chairman prescribes the influence Yamasaki has on the school, and how his actions can lead to unintended consequences that could spiral out of control.
-"So, as long as every single class would have a fair shot in a class competititon, there is no problem if I occasionally takae a bit more proactive role in class competition, regardless of my intentions, as long I don't create a disproportionate advantage for my class nor be a main reason for my class success, is that correct?" - Yamasaki asked a chief concern in his mind.
He didn't mind not participating in class competition.
He had little interest in it.
Not to mention, Yamasaki thoroughly analysed the first 2-week camera files and the documents acquired from Uehara-sensei. Yamasaki has fully acquired, analysed, and weaponised the data to evaluate the raw ability, potential for growth and the upper limit of each leader in Year 1.
The conclusion?
Yamasaki concluded that even if he participated in class competition, the occasional sparkles do not outweigh acting behind the scenes.
Yamasaki's principle was simple - act only when the benefits are high and with minimum risk.
If benefits do not outweigh the risk, no further action is required.
However, if he were prohibited from ever having the freedom to move proactively for the next three years, this would become quite problematic.
In that case, it might be better to set aside the deal entirely.
-"I am happy you understand the situation, Yamasaki-kun. Of course, it's totally okay to participate in the class competition with your classmates in the near future. After all, no one can know where you might feel the compulsion to participate, whether by internal or external factors. Just make sure not to overstep your boundaries. Not everyone is as capable as you are, Yamasaki-kun, understood?"
Fortunately, that's not the case.
Yamasaki avoided the one scenario he was concerned about.
All that is left is to sort out the details.
After discussing and settling smaller details, the Chairman typed something on his phone.
After a few minutes had passed, Chairman Sakayanagi redirected his attention to Yamasaki to discuss the feasibility of this plan.
-"As you already know, Yamasaki-kun, there are 40 students in the class, 4 classes in one year from Year 1 to Year 3, excluding those who got expelled or punished due to school rules. 3 years in high school. At the moment, 455 students live and study in this institution." - Chairman briefly summarised the situation before divulging the topic of interest for both parties present in the room.
Yamasaki nodded.
He already knows this.
-"As you probably know, Keyaki Mall is the major attraction for the students on the campus. I have just received the Keyaki Mall profit analysis. At this moment, 455 students, you included, have spent a total of 36,720,344 private points last month. We are willing to allow you to purchase a maximum 50% of its total earnings starting from April until graduation, but no more. Anything higher would be a detriment to the stores affiliated with the government or those who are supported by it. If you agree to pay 5,000,000 private points, the board of directors and I will approve your request to modify the school rules to have the right to buy a share of Keyaki Mall's profit revenues. Do you accept the conditions, Yamasaki-kun?"
-"I do." - Yamasaki nodded without hesitation.
-"Very well. I will make sure to converse with the board of directors to approve this matter and handle the remaining matters in the background. It would be in the best interest of both of us if you choose to keep this matter only to yourself, Yamasaki-kun." - Chairman nodded as he typed the message to the board of directors, who will have to meet again, for a similar reason as before.
The cause is the same person as in the prior event.
-"Of course, Chairman. " - Yamasaki respectfully nodded his head as a means to show he understood the position he is. He knew that he was very fortunate that he was permitted to go through with such an endeavour, even with limitations.
-"Haha. No need to be so formal. In our mere 2 meetings, you showed me more than most geniuses show in their entire lives. Such a request is manageable. Is there anything else you wish to discuss?" - For the first time, Chairman Sakayanagi laughed sincerely, seeing such an adult-like mannerism from a teenager.
If this boy were a little taller and if he didn't use honorifics, the chairman would easily believe the young man in front of him is an adult.
-"Even if my role as a student council vice president is unconventional, I am still a member of this school's tradition. Hence, I believe it's only appropriate to suggest a few ideas I conceived for this institution's rightfully earned prestige and its potential growing prosperity." - Yamasaki eloquently elaborated on his next
Yamasaki Isao's aim wasn't solely to extract maximum benefits with minimum moves, and nothing more.
Yamasaki Isao also considered the ways this institution can become more successful in its proclaimed endeavours.
-"Of course, Yamasaki-kun. Any ideas that would enhance the quality of our institution is more than welcome, especially if it comes from a person like you. What proposals do you have in mind, Yamasaki-kun?"
-" The first proposal is what I named Class War."
-"Oh? Elaborate." - The Chairman was intrigued by the young man's innovative nature and a desire for progress.
-"Class War is a battle between classes' with set rules if the classes decide there is no other way to settle their conflict. The class leaders use their class members to express their will, similar to a war announcement. A special meeting is held three days before the war to set rules and decide on what type of game will be along with what the winner would receive. The class that loses in a Class War must obey the terms set during the meeting without question. Types of Class War are varied based on the parties' consent." - Yamasaki gave a summary of a plan he conceived while half-sleeping during classes.
Unbeknownst to Chairman, this is Yamasaki's methodological way to both restrain and mock the master manipulators who take pleasure in imposing themselves on others while flaunting their moral superiority as if they are the conquerors of the world.
-"I see. If this proposal were enacted, the other classes would not have to worry about potential traitors ruining the class's chance of success due to factors beyond their control." - Chairman swiftly evaluated the possible benefits of this proposal if it were implemented into the school system.
-"Yes, the other classes would lose the incentive to proactively sabotage the other classes unnecessarily, while allowing lower classes to have more breathing room. Giving them a chance to rebuild their strength and continue to compete in the class hierarchy, which is what the higher-ups also want."
-"Oh dear, and here I thought you would only settle for private points. It seems you are much more ambitious than you look like, Yamasaki-kun." - Chairman couldn't help but shake his head with an equal combination of amusement and bewilderment. "Indeed. Your proposal is certainly intriguing. I will. Anything else?"
-"Do you wish me to proceed with the suggestions, Chairman?"
-"Before that, let me offer you tea with biscuits. It would seem like this conversation would last longer than I ever expected."
-"Thank you for your hospitality." - Yamasaki only nodded politely and graciously walked towards the sofa in the office in consideration of Chairman Sakayanagi's courtesy.
Or rather, this is the bare minimum social etiquette expected of a man who stands at the top of the school hierarchy; he had superior understanding of human nature.
-"Anything else, Yamasaki-kun. What other ideas did you come up with?"
Yamasaki internally signed of this one-sided expectation, even if it was sincere and benign.
Yamasaki moved his right hand to his right pocket to place something on the table.
A badge.
-"Four million personal points for one badge."
Chairman's eyes flew wide open, his voice full of disbelief.
-"What kind of badge could be worth four million personal points?"
-"What if I offer one million yen to buy the badge back?" Yamasaki Isao gave a faint smile.
For a while, Chairman Sakayanagi couldn't follow what Yamasaki was saying anymore. He'd spend four million personal points to buy his badge, and then he'd spend one million yen to buy his own badge back.
What in the world is going on here?
However, he quickly caught on as his eyes widened at the realisation that crossed his mind.
-"I see. This way, you really can get around the school rules, but there's no guarantee the school won't step in anyway."
The whole process was surprisingly straightforward.
Yamasaki Isao simply included an additional middleman in the personal point transaction. Neither side was directly exchanging personal points or yen.
Instead, the thing being traded was this badge in front of them, neatly sidestepping the school ban on buying and selling personal points.
Essentially, Yamasaki Isao uses the same tactics as gambling institutions in Japan and outside to operate within the legal frameworks of society without outright breaking the rules.
Both in Japan and outside of it, you can't use money to draw directly. You have to buy a special in-game item first, and only then can you draw. Arcade tokens work the same way for everyone. Both the officials and the players know what's going on.
The process looked simple, but it actually cut down a lot of risk. It meant that if the school found out, instead of immediately cracking down, they'd hesitate, unsure if they should get involved.
Even so, there was always going to be some risk, no matter how small.
After all, at its core, both sides are still trading personal points. As long as the school steps in to stop it, there's a good chance the whole thing will be shut down.
Of course, Yamasaki accounted for all variables.
"That's where I request your cooperation as proof of your sincerity, chairman. The collaboration between the two of us may happen beyond your typical contracts within the school. You can never know when the time will come for more intricate matters. Hence, I sincerely request that you, the highest authority in this institution, be in charge of selling the badges through trusted intermediaries ,and I'll be responsible for buying back the other party's badges through specific second-year students who agree to sell their private points to the buyer. The main parties in the transaction are different. The school would rather avoid a convoluted matter such as this. After all, for all intents and purposes, the agreement is mutual from all sides, and no one got hurt in the process." - Yamasaki patiently summarised the next bomb he was quietly preparing behind the scenes to push his agenda even further.
Chairman Sakayanagi had to take another look at the man in front of him.
You could say he was breaking the rules, but he cleverly avoided the areas the rules actually covered. Say he wasn't breaking the rules, but at the end of the day, he really was.
Chairman Sakayanagi was once dumbfounded.
-"This approach shouldn't be a problem." Chairman Sakayanagi said after thinking for a moment. - "The core issue is whether you actually can pay in yen, Yamasaki-kun. If you can't pay, it immediately becomes fraud."
-"Koenji Rokusuke, a classmate of mine from Class 1-D, is the future heir to a zaibatsu. You are free to confirm his participation in this agreement through trusted intermediaries of your personal choice. Please ensure this matter is only between the two of us. After all, this deal brings immense benefits to him as well, outside of conventional means to acquire private points. He should have no problem with this approach, even if he is not aware of all the details. After all, sometimes, people are better off being ignorant of certain matters in life."
Chairman Sakayanagi immediately connected the dots behind Yamasaki's plan and nodded.
-"If it's a zaibatsu, they definitely have the means to help you pay in yen. How are you going to make sure he'll actually help you? Koenji-kun can't directly exchange private points, and if he uses your method, he lacks credibility."
"When it comes to large cash transactions, the more complicated the process, the more intimidating it is, making people hesitate and eventually give up. On the other hand, the simpler the process, the easier it is for people to act on impulse, without even having time to hesitate, which actually makes the transaction more likely to succeed."
Chairman Sakayanagi thought it over and decided to trust Yamasaki Isao.
-"Alright, I will cooperate on this matter." - After reading through the contents, the Chairman fell silent for a moment.
Chairman Sakayanagi glanced at another contract. The contents were mostly the same, just with a few changes, like Party B having to pay four million private points within twelve hours.
Although the school forbids students from contacting the outside world, it still tacitly allows students to use personal points to buy certain privileges. Spending some personal points to have the school help with a transfer isn't that hard. After all, if there are no rules, how could there be privileges that go beyond the rules?
The whole point of privileges is that they exist for people like them, who have abilities beyond those of ordinary students. The only real risk here is the transaction itself.
However, as long as no one complains to the school, the school turn a blind eye to avoid unnecessary trouble. Otherwise, if Koenji had contacted seniors in private for the past month, the school would have intervened a long time ago.
In a place like ANHS that imitates real society, private points are basically the same as money. Anything you can solve with money in the real world, you can do the same here.
For example, you can revoke punishments, protect students from expulsion, buy special privileges, and even change the rules. And the student council president is like a local politician, holding a lot of power and having a say in the school's systems and decisions.
If you have both of these things, you're basically unbeatable. Otherwise, Horikita Manabu wouldn't be trying so hard to stop Nagumo Miyabi from taking the stage.
What profits did Yamasaki make today?
Staggering to say the least.
Now that Yamasaki secured half of the total Keyaki Mall profit revenues, he will gain 50% of its profits every month without having to lift a finger. For this month alone, Yamasaki would receive 18,360,172 private points spent on Keyaki Mall stores.
And this is not even mentioning the upcoming months...
In addition, this deal with badges might be one-time, but it's no less impressive.
Yamasaki has a total of 8 badges for 8 people of interest who expressed an interest in participating in this secret deal. More specifically, 5 second year and 3 third years.
1 badge is worth 4 million private points. 8 badges are worth 32 million private points. The chairman agrees to buy these badges for 8 million points. Hence, Yamasaki would receive 24 million private points.
The upperclassmen would receive more private points by selling their private points as they are close to graduation.
Koenji would receive a legitimate means to buy private points using his family's reputation and wealth as proof of the legitimacy of the deal he engages in.
The Chairman gains a long-term alliance with the capable student and a way to enable the prosperity of its students while maintaining plausible deniability.
And Yamasaki fully reconciles the relationship with the seniors he bargained with on Day 2, while quietly recruiting potential allies in the second and third years, who don't fully align with Naruto, and accumulating 24 million private points just for selling the badges.
Not to mention, the "Class War" would prevent individuals like Ryueen, Sakayanagi, and Nagumo from manipulating students behind the scenes, which was merely one of the proposals Yamasaki had for the school.
What else does this young man have in store for others in the future?
Will it be the school that will ultimately subside Yamasaki's will, or will it be the other way around?
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