However, Sakagami Kazuma quickly regained his composure.
He had absolute confidence in his class—especially in his student, Ryūen Kakeru.
After all, in a way, the two of them were cut from the same cloth—the type who would stop at nothing to achieve their goals.
If not for Sakagami's tacit approval, Ryūen would never have risen to power so swiftly.
So he picked up his phone and immediately sent Ryūen a message:
[Sakagami Kazuma]:"Ryūen, how's the class doing lately?"
Meanwhile, Hoshinomiya Chie hummed a little tune under her breath, her gaze drifting subtly toward Chabashira Sae.
(Oh, Sae-chan, Sae-chan…)
(This time, our class got the intel thanks to that Shimizu Akira from your class~)
(If not for him, I wouldn't have zeroed in on that broke second-year student so quickly…)
That's right—Hoshinomiya knew exactly what she was doing.
She had been the one to approach Yamamura-senpai (2nd Year, Class D).
Within minutes of conversation, she confirmed from the girl's evasive answers: Shimizu Akira already knew all the hidden rules.
A plan took shape in her mind.
But the school's ironclad rule loomed overhead—teachers were forbidden from interfering with student actions.
So she spent 80,000 of her own private points to make Yamamura swear secrecy.
This "transaction" made it perfectly natural for Yamamura to "coincidentally" strike up a connection with Ichihōse Honami.
Just imagining the look on Chabashira's face when the truth came out—Hoshinomiya's lips curled into a smirk, a light hum escaping her nose.
(Those 80,000 points were well spent!)
Thursday Morning.
Shimizu Akira had just finished his morning workout and returned to his dorm.
His sweat-drenched gym clothes clung to his back as he reached for the bathroom doorknob—
[Buzz.]
His phone vibrated abruptly in his pocket.
The name flashing on the screen made his brow twitch: Ichihōse Honami.
"Shimizu-kun!"
The voice on the other end carried a mix of hesitation and unshakable certainty.
"It was you, wasn't it?"
Shimizu's breath hitched, his grip tightening slightly around the phone.
(What is she referring to?)
The first thought that flashed through his mind—his secret alternate account.
(Did she find out…?)
(Was the million-point deal exposed?)
(How? How did she trace it back to me?)
(Don't tell me… she deduced my real name from the ID "Tsuki Ao"?)
But he quickly steadied himself and replied flatly:
"What are you talking about, Ichihōse-san? I don't follow."
*"That 1.3-second pause just now was very suspicious~"* Ichihōse's voice carried a teasing lilt. "So it was you!"
"..." Shimizu's expression twisted slightly.
"You were the one who sent Yamamura-senpai to approach me, right?" Her tone suddenly brightened. "Shimizu-kun, you're… unexpectedly kind, aren't you?"
Instead of the interrogation he expected, her words took a completely unexpected turn—leaving Shimizu momentarily stunned.
(Yamamura-senpai? That second-year info broker from Class D?)
His tense shoulders relaxed imperceptibly—at least his alternate identity was still safe.
"Sorry, but I genuinely have no idea what you mean." This time, his confusion was real.
"Still playing dumb? You're really something!" Ichihōse chuckled. "On the second day of school, I was the one who introduced you to Yamamura-senpai, wasn't I?"
"True." Shimizu admitted cautiously.
"Then…" Her voice suddenly turned serious. "Shimizu-kun, you did buy the hidden rules from her, didn't you?"
Shimizu froze.
(What's going on…?)
(Since when did Ichihōse, usually so easygoing, become this sharp?)
(She's acting completely unlike herself.)
He weighed his options.
Since she had already pieced things together this far, denying it outright would just seem disrespectful.
"...Yeah." He finally conceded.
"I knew it…" Her voice trembled with realization. "So you deliberately arranged for Yamamura-senpai to approach me and sell me that info at a discount, right?"
Suddenly, Shimizu understood.
(So that's it…)
(Someone specifically paid Yamamura to get close to Class B…)
(And since I met that info broker with Ichihōse last week…)
(No wonder she jumped to conclusions.)
"It really wasn't me," Shimizu clarified firmly.
A faint rustling came through the speaker. "Shimizu-kun… you're serious?"
"If I wanted to help," he tapped the microphone lightly, producing a crisp sound, "I'd just tell you directly. Why bother with a middleman?"
Silence.
Only the faint static of the call filled the air.
Just as Shimizu's thumb hovered over the end call button—
"Ah… I see." Ichihōse suddenly laughed softly. "It's still you, Shimizu-kun."
"The reason's simple." Her voice brightened, as if clouds had parted. "All four classes are rivals. You wanted to maintain your stance while still helping—so you chose this roundabout method, didn't you?"
(What kind of logic is this?! How did she arrive at that conclusion?!)
Shimizu massaged his temples, exhaling in exasperation.
Even after explaining so clearly, her thought process was like tangled earphones—stubbornly looping back to the same spot.
But then again… from Ichihōse's perspective, this deduction made a twisted kind of sense.
After all, every clue pointed eerily toward him—as if the coincidences were orchestrated.
"Don't worry, Shimizu-kun…" Her voice softened, carrying a playful lilt. "I'll keep this secret forever.
"This is a promise between just the two of us… hehe."
"Without your help, Class B would've been at a disadvantage from the very first month…"
"Please accept these 80,000 points. It's not much… but next month, I'll make it up to you properly!"
"Well then—" Her words sped up abruptly, tinged with haste. "Goodbye, Shimizu-kun!"
Before he could respond—the call ended.
Shimizu stared at the "Call Ended" notification, then at the instant transfer of 80,000 points that followed.
For the first time in a long while… he was left utterly speechless.
After so many instances of being framed for things he did do…
He never expected to one day be credited for something he didn't.
(Seriously… who's the idiot out there doing good deeds and not taking credit?!)