At 9 PM, Shimizu Akira stared absently at his phone when a new notification popped up:
[Kushida Kikyō]:"Here's a photo from our beach trip last summer~"
Followed by three more:
[Kushida Kikyō]:"You did well this time, Shimizu-kun. This is a special reward—just for you. Keep it secret!"
[Kushida Kikyō]:"If I find out other boys got this too... you know what'll happen, right? (＾▽＾)"
[Kushida Kikyō]:"Looking forward to our next collaboration."
His finger tapped the image before he could think.
The photo showed Kushida in a pink bikini, standing on a sunset-lit beach.
The swimsuit accentuated her curves—slender legs, a cinched waist, damp hair clinging to her cheeks in a playfully sensual way.
As a man, he couldn't deny it was a great photo.
He replied bluntly: "Received."
No point overthinking it. If a girl sends a bikini pic, accept it graciously.
Hesitating would be out of character.
(Does she think I orchestrated Karuizawa's vote switch?)
(Actually... that's plausible.)
Karuizawa had glanced at him before suggesting Kushida.
But did Kushida really think being class leader was a prize? To Shimizu, it was a hassle.
"Now that the 25K fee's settled, it's time for the cameras."
Other classes had been notified. Only D-Class lagged.
With the election over, Kushida had no excuses.
Another message arrived—from Sakayanagi Arisu (main account).
[Sakayanagi Arisu]:"You charge quite the premium."
Shimizu knew exactly what she meant.
But playing his role, he feigned ignorance:
[Shimizu Akira]:"?"
[Sakayanagi Arisu]:"No use pretending. I asked my father."
Shimizu's breath hitched.
Her father was the chairman. If she'd checked, his identity was blown.
Yet he remained skeptical—Sakayanagi loathed flaunting her connections. This had to be a bluff.
[Shimizu Akira]:"Who's your father?"
[Sakayanagi Arisu]:"Sakayanagi Naramori, the school chairman."
[Sakayanagi Arisu]:"Regardless of who you are, here's today's fun fact."
After reading her spiel, Shimizu countered:
[Shimizu Akira]: *"A-Class barely lost points. 3 million for cameras is a scam."*
[Sakayanagi Arisu]:"Still probing? You know I hate being watched. I don't care about the cameras—it's the two weeks of footage that matters."
[Sakayanagi Arisu]:"Enough to analyze everyone's habits, quirks, and weaknesses. If sold to rivals, even A-Class would struggle. Know thy enemy, no?"
Shimizu's gaze lingered on "two weeks."
She hadn't consulted her father.
Only this week's data existed.
No way he'd reveal that.
[Sakayanagi Arisu]:"I'll take this up with your 'mystery seller.' Bye."
She logged off—then messaged his alt-account.
[Sakayanagi Arisu]:"Can I rent for just one day?"
Shimizu smirked. Clever girl.
A-Class didn't fear surveillance. They wanted the old data erased.
24 hours was enough.
[Tsuki Ao]:"No daily rentals. Full lease only."
[Sakayanagi Arisu]: *"500K to delete all A-Class footage. Deal?"*
[Tsuki Ao]:"Princess, stop testing me. Package deal or nothing."
[Sakayanagi Arisu]:"Then answer this: Did you already sell our data to others? If so, I won't rent."
Shimizu pondered.
So that's her worry.
If he'd leaked A-Class's secrets, renting was pointless.
But he'd never planned to sell footage.
[Tsuki Ao]:"I don't sell data. Just lease access."
[Sakayanagi Arisu]:"How unexpected. Prove it."
[Tsuki Ao]:"Ask the student council. They'll vouch for fairness."
—A prepped safeguard.
[Sakayanagi Arisu]:"Neutral mediators? I'll verify tomorrow."
[Sakayanagi Arisu]:"By the way... which other classes did you offer this to? All four?"
Shimizu ignored the bait.
[Sakayanagi Arisu]:"Even if you hold C/B/D-Class footage, next month your lease expires. The school just banned point-based rentals. At best, you're subletting. How long until your access vanishes?"
Shimizu's brow arched.
Sharp. She'd deduced his lease was temporary.
But he typed eight words and sent them:
[Tsuki Ao]:"Take it or leave it. Goodnight."
He held all the leverage.
Even if no one bought, the school guaranteed 400K per camera.
This was a win from the start.