Asagiri Utsunomiya nodded and replied casually, "Okay, then find a seat and sit down."
"Then I'm definitely sitting next to you."
Kotoko Iwanaga didn't stand on ceremony and directly sat down in the empty seat to Asagiri Utsunomiya's right, then propped her chin with one hand and watched him with a smile.
At this moment, the classroom was completely quiet. Even Kaguya Shinomiya, whose personality was always calm to the point of absolute rationality, found the scene before her somewhat unbelievable.
Directly donating fifty billion yen to Shuchi'in Academy, not through installments, but paid in one lump sum, equivalent to directly buying a seat on the board of directors of Shuchi'in Academy, and then using the board's privilege to directly transfer into Class 1-A, all of this...
Was it all just for this Asagiri Utsunomiya?
What kind of Incubus was this? What kind of male version of Tamamon-no-Mae was this? What kind of super expensive gigolo was this?
Kaguya Shinomiya raised her right hand and stroked her left cheek, using this action to regain her composure, then silently pondered in her heart, 'Kotoko Iwanaga... is she his girlfriend?'
The reason Kaguya Shinomiya knew Kotoko Iwanaga was that when she was young, she had met her at a banquet hosted by Shinomiya Family. At that time, Kotoko Iwanaga had not yet lost her right eye and left leg.
Kotoko Iwanaga's family was very rich. Although slightly less than the Shiguya Group, if you were to compare them, Kaguya Shinomiya's status was actually not as high as Kotoko Iwanaga's.
On one hand, it was because of the rumors about her being an illegitimate daughter. On the other hand, the current head of the Shinomiya Family, Kaguya Shinomiya's father, Gan'an Shinomiya, had many children. Kaguya Shinomiya was only the eldest daughter. Before her were her third half-brother Un'yo Shinomiya, then her second half-brother Seiryu Shimoniya, and finally the current chairman of the Shuchi'in Academy board, who was also her eldest half-brother, Oko Shinomiya.
As for Kotoko Iwanaga, she was her parents' only child, and because of the kidnapping case when she was eleven, her parents doted on her immensely, almost fulfilling her every request.
Just like this time, if Kaguya Shinomiya hadn't originally advanced to the High School Department of Shuchi'in Academy, the Shinomiya Family would not have used the board's privilege for her. They would have simply considered someone who couldn't even pass the high school department's entrance exam of Shuchi'in Academy as trash, completely unworthy of name of the Shinomiya Family, let alone directly sponsoring Shuchi'in Academy with fifty billion.
Kaguya Shinomiya had a dedicated luxury car pick her up and drop her off every day for school, her bento was specially made by a high-class chef, and there were many servants at home, but only Chika Fujiwara and Ai Hayasaka, who were close to her, and she herself knew that the so-called eldest daughter of the Shinomiya Family only seemed glamorous. She couldn't even spend her allowance freely, or she would be scolded by the main Shinomiya family.
Seeing that the students in the classroom were all focused on Kotoko Iwanaga and Asagiri Utsunomiya, Miwa Ashikaga lightly tapped the podium with the pointer in her hand, raised her other hand to adjust her glasses, and said in a flat tone, "Everyone, stop. Class is starting."
◆◇◈◇◆
After the morning classes ended, inside Miwa Ashikaga's office.
Nominally, this was Miwa Ashikaga's office, but in reality, it had become a dedicated activity room for Asagiri Utsunomiya and Asuna Yuuki to discuss Survival Game-related matters and eat their lunch during the school break. Students occupying the private office of their homeroom teacher and a member of the school board was the ultimate act of defying authority + squatting.
"The commotion you two are causing is a bit too much, isn't it..."
Looking at the extremely elegant Kotoko Iwanaga who was drinking black tea, and Asagiri Utsunomiya who was drinking iced Coca-Cola next to her, Asuna Yuuki couldn't help but sigh, pressing a hand to her forehead.
"In just one morning, the news has spread throughout the entire Shuchi'in Academy. Donating a full fifty billion to the school just to be in the same class as a beloved boy – this is an event that has never happened in Shuchi'in Academy's history. You two have directly become celebrities at school."
Kotoko Iwanaga put down her teacup and asked with a half-smile, "What, Yuuki-san, are you jealous?"
"Don't... don't talk nonsense..." Asuna Yuuki first denied it with a stutter and quickly waved her hand, then explained in a way that only made it more obvious, "I... I just think there was no need for such a big commotion. The amount of attention you two are getting is too high. Besides, couldn't you have told me in advance? After Chika found out about this, she even came running to ask me what was going on. I didn't know how to explain."
"Explain what?" Kotoko Iwanaga first asked while maintaining her sweet smile, then said slowly, "You and Asagiri-san are just ordinary friends, right? What is there to explain?"
"I..."
"Alright, let's stop the teasing and chatting here."
Hearing Asagiri Utsunomiya say this, Kotoko Iwanaga puffed out her cheeks, complaining softly as if somewhat dissatisfied. "Hmph... So biased..."
Asagiri Utsunomiya directly ignored Kotoko Iwanaga's complaint and looked at Asuna Yuuki sitting opposite him, speaking in a flat tone: "Actually, Iwanaga-san wasn't specifically getting her parents to sponsor Shuchi'in Academy with so much money just to be in the same class as me. The so-called for me was just a smokescreen. What we really needed was a seat on the Shuchi'in Academy board of directors, and the information that status brings."
"Information?" Asuna Yuuki first asked with a small frown, then she looked puzzled as she spoke in a inquiring tone, "Information from the school board... What use is that? It won't be of much help for us clearing dungeons, right? Is it to make it easier to take leave so the homeroom teacher doesn't notify our parents? But spending this much money just for that... isn't that a bit exaggerated?"
Kotoko Iwanaga shook her head and said, "You don't need to worry about my parents. After all, I occasionally disappear for a while to deal with the matters of oddities. My parents might have vaguely noticed that I'm not quite like normal people, so they won't ask too many questions. As for Asagiri-san... there's no need to say more. My family's sponsorship of Shuchi'in Academy does include a part of what you just mentioned, for the convenience it provides you, but that's not the main reason."
Asuna Yuuki became even more curious upon hearing this and urged, "Then...?"
However, Asagiri Utsunomiya's next sentence startled Asuna Yuuki.
"I suspect that within Shuchi'in Academy, besides the three of us, there are two other Players."
Asuna Yuuki was stunned for a moment, then said hesitantly, "Two other Players? Who are they?"
Asagiri Utsunomiya paused for a moment, then spoke two names that Asuna Yuuki had not expected at all.
"Kaguya Shinomiya from my class, and—"
.
.
.
"Your good friend from the same class as you, Chika Fujiwara."