Amasawa Ichika, who had always been brimming with confidence, fell into an uncharacteristic silence.
"Installing a listening device on me—are you trying to uncover the school's secrets through me?"
Kaoru chuckled lightly. "If you planted bugs in the Student Council or the teachers' office, you might uncover even more secrets."
Amasawa Ichika froze for a moment.
When had she ever planned to bug the teachers' office?
"What a shame. Though your idea is clever, the school would never permit such behavior."
Kaoru continued, "Secretly installing listening devices and cameras with the intent to monitor faculty would be seen as a deliberate challenge to the school's dignity and a violation of its rules. In severe cases, expulsion isn't out of the question."
Hearing this, Amasawa Ichika fully grasped his implication and grew furious.
This guy was blatantly framing her!
"Senpai, jokes should have their limits, don't you think?"
Amasawa Ichika gritted her teeth. "Suddenly accusing me of wanting to monitor faculty—you'll need evidence for that, won't you?"
By now, Kaoru merely offered a faint smile.
"I am the Student Council President."
He toyed with the listening device. "This is the evidence."
Amasawa Ichika felt an inexplicable sense of humiliation.
Aside from one particular person's name, no one had ever made her feel this way. It was the first time she had been bested in such a manner.
"Fine, I'll admit defeat this time."
The girl took a deep breath, her gaze fixed intently on Kaoru.
"Kaoru-senpai, I'll remember you."
With that, Amasawa Ichika turned away without hesitation.
She had only taken a few steps when Kaoru's voice came from behind.
"Did I say you could leave?"
Amasawa Ichika froze in place, regret beginning to seep in.
She shouldn't have recklessly approached him earlier, and she definitely shouldn't have planted the listening device on Kaoru.
She had underestimated the world outside her own.
"After waiting so long, won't you stay and chat a bit longer?"
Kaoru spoke with a hint of nostalgia. "To be honest, this listening device brings back memories. It's how Nagumo and I first crossed paths."
Amasawa Ichika realized she had severely underestimated him.
He had seen right through her deliberate attempt to strike up a conversation—no, he had seen through this entire carefully orchestrated "chance encounter."
No one carries a listening device around unless they know a worthwhile target is about to appear.
"Kaoru-senpai, your observational skills are truly frightening. Were you just acting with me earlier?"
Amasawa Ichika turned back to face him, meeting his gaze, and couldn't help but smile wryly.
"I thought I could at least make your heart flutter a little. Seems I miscalculated."
"You didn't miscalculate. I was indeed planning to keep your photos."
Kaoru thought for a moment, then added, "Don't worry, I won't leak them."
His words shattered the composure Amasawa Ichika had struggled to maintain.
They were just a few photos—she wouldn't mind giving them to him—but why did he have to phrase it so indecently?!
This guy was doing it on purpose!
"Heh. Kaoru-senpai, I think it's best we cut the nonsense now and not waste any more time."
Amasawa Ichika said coldly, "You want to know what Nagumo-senpai and I talked about, don't you?"
Kaoru shook his head: "No, I'm not curious at all. I expect he'd only spout nonsense, like offering you benefits if you could get me expelled."
Amasawa Ichika narrowed her eyes slightly, noticing that Kaoru had said "you" (plural), indicating he had already received prior information.
No wonder he seemed so confident—he probably had eyes and ears everywhere in the school.
At that moment, Amasawa Ichika once again raised her assessment of Kaoru's threat level significantly.
"If you're not curious at all, Mitoma-senpai, why did you stop me?"
Amasawa Ichika blinked, "Are you planning to persuade me to abandon my cooperation with Nagumo-senpai?"
"Whether you cooperate or not makes no difference to me."
Kaoru rejected her words, but the feeling he gave was that he was dismissing her along with it.
Amasawa Ichika grew even more irritated; it felt like she was being looked down upon.
"It seems I need to correct your misunderstanding, senpai, or you might easily end up at a disadvantage."
The girl spoke with a hint of sarcasm, "First of all, Nagumo-senpai did contact us first-years. He promised 20 million Personal Points to anyone who could get you expelled, but..."
Amasawa Ichika paused, wanting to observe Kaoru's reaction.
Unfortunately, not only did Kaoru show no change in expression, but he also continued her sentence for her.
"But Nagumo knows it's difficult to expel me anytime soon, so he wants to teach me a lesson instead."
Amasawa Ichika opened her mouth, then closed it without speaking.
Wasn't this supposed to be her turn?
"If I'm not mistaken, he probably wants you to cooperate with him to get someone I care about expelled."
Kaoru finished the words she was about to say.
Amasawa Ichika's expression was a sight to behold.
After holding back for a long time, she finally managed to say, "Did someone tell you in advance?"
"No, I guessed."
Kaoru said, "Because my weaknesses are obvious, sometimes I use them as bait like this."
Amasawa Ichika felt the powerlessness of punching cotton.
In front of this person, she couldn't find any opportunity to counterattack.
However, asking herself honestly, she felt that if she were Nagumo Miyabi, she would be very frustrated right now.
The man before her had too many advantages.
Just as Amasawa Ichika was feeling somewhat depressed, Kaoru suddenly said, "Your academic ability is high. Would you partner with someone from my side?"
"Partner with you?"
Amasawa Ichika looked at him strangely, "Aren't you afraid I might get your person expelled?"
"You can try, but I don't recommend it."
Kaoru threw the listening device toward Amasawa Ichika, who caught it reflexively.
"I don't have a Hypnosis App, but there are people who can make you accept my hypnosis whether you want to or not."
Amasawa Ichika silently pocketed her listening device, feeling completely exposed.
"See you next time, kouhai."
Kaoru smiled at her before turning and leaving.
Amasawa Ichika suddenly felt intensely curious about him, not just because of what he had said to her, but also because of his utterly confident attitude.
He hadn't told her who she would be partnering with, nor had he explained the consequences of refusal.
It was as if he didn't care about her at all, or was completely certain she would come to him voluntarily next time.
"This guy is quite troublesome."
A male student approached Amasawa Ichika, "He probably noticed me earlier. His observational skills are really sharp."
"Well, he is the man who calls himself the Apex." Amasawa Ichika cast a sidelong glance at him.
"But you're the one who said you weren't interested in Kaoru-senpai."
The boy fell silent for a moment. "I just happened to run into you two here."
Amasawa Ichika couldn't be bothered to expose his thoughts and changed the subject.
"I need to discuss the specifics with them now. Are you coming?"
"Since we're rarely out, I'd like to properly experience high school life for a while."
The boy's implication was simple—he didn't have faith in Amasawa Ichika's plan and wanted no part in it.
Then, he realized something was off.
"You're really going to agree to it?"
"Why not?"
Amasawa Ichika licked her lips, her eyes sparkling. "Since he dared to invite me, I have no reason to back down."
The boy was momentarily speechless and said helplessly, "He's not our target. You'd better be careful."
Amasawa Ichika naturally knew who the real target was, but she had never been particularly interested in them to begin with.
Instead, she had come here with admiration and respect.
Compared to the target, she was now more intrigued by Kaoru Mitoma.
Since Kaoru said they could give it a try, she was genuinely willing to test the waters.
The boy didn't attempt to persuade her further.
After leaving his warning, he quickly turned and left, as if the two had never met.
Amasawa Ichika took out her phone, a gleam of eager anticipation flashing in her eyes, and sent a friend request to Kaoru.