I laughed so hard for quite a while before I was finally satisfied.
Next, the first thing I had to deal with was calming the RABBIT Squad's resentment.
Fortunately, there wasn't much they could do to me, and they still owed me a favor. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to act this brazenly.
"Scumbag."
Saki muttered through gritted teeth, her face full of disgust.
"The worst."
Moe licked her lollipop as she gave her verdict.
The real issue was that these girls were actually treating their benefactor with such a heartbreaking attitude.
"Sorry, sorry."
I answered casually.
"I just happened to think of something else that made me happy. Don't worry about it."
"...If you came here today just to watch us make fools of ourselves and laugh at us, then you've laughed enough, haven't you?"
Miyako stared at me coldly.
"If there's nothing else, then please leave. We'll accept the punishment you mentioned and complete it properly. But, Sensei."
She took a deep breath, her expression and tone incomparably serious.
"We will never forget this humiliation."
These little rabbits really weren't very likable.
Aside from the timid Miyu, every one of them loved talking back to me. Did they think they were only receiving symbolic punishment without reason? Did they have any idea who had made that possible?
Then again, because they were like this, I'd managed to collect quite a lot of excellent material from them, enough to completely offset my annoyance and leave me thinking they were adorable instead.
Just like Yukino had been back then, kneeling on the bathroom floor, begging me for help.
"Right, right."
I smiled.
"But that's not why I came. You've been curious this whole time about what's inside this bag, haven't you?"
"I have absolutely no interest."
Miyako continued putting on a brave front, but her eyes kept drifting toward the package in my hands, filled with unmistakable curiosity.
I stopped keeping them in suspense. Opening the bag, I revealed several stacked lunch boxes inside.
"Ta-da."
Miyu gasped.
"W-What!? D-Don't tell me that's..."
"That's right!"
I announced loudly.
"I figured you might not have brought enough supplies, and with the school's accounts frozen you couldn't buy any food, so I specially brought you all something delicious!"
"Seriously? You're being that nice?"
Saki questioned me, though she couldn't stop herself from swallowing.
I smiled.
"You can think of it as my apology for laughing at you just now."
Moe fidgeted awkwardly.
"W-Well... if Sensei insists... then I guess we can only..."
"Please wait."
At that moment, another calm yet stubborn voice interrupted from beside her.
Miyako spoke.
"We can't accept this so easily. Offering essential supplies when people have nowhere else to turn usually means something even more important will be demanded in return. That's a very common tactic. Until we know your true intentions, we cannot accept it."
"I mean, it's just an apology..."
"Anyone who believes that would only be deceiving themselves."
Miyako cut me off, her expression unwavering.
"We of SRT won't be fooled by such a cheap trick. Whatever you're planning, you should give up now."
In sharp contrast, the other members standing beside her all wore awkward expressions, unable to say anything.
Moe stiffly corrected herself.
"So... we can only... only refuse."
Saki hurriedly nodded.
"R-Right. Sensei, you should stop daydreaming."
The only dissenting voice came from Miyu.
"Uuu... but if this keeps up... aren't we really going to starve to death here...?"
I doubted things would actually get that bad, but after hearing those words, all the girls fell silent.
After a long pause, Miyako finally spoke.
"...We'll figure something out somehow."
But anyone could hear the uncertainty and confusion filling those hesitant words.
Perhaps realizing it herself, Miyako sighed, shook her head, and switched to the explanation she could confidently give anyone.
"It's true that we're hungry. But even so, if we don't endure this, then we won't be able to uphold our convictions. Trading away our convictions in exchange for an easy life isn't something we want."
The other three exchanged glances before voicing their agreement one after another, clearly reinvigorated by Miyako's resolve.
How beautiful.
Like flowers carefully cultivated inside a greenhouse.
I sighed inwardly before speaking unhurriedly.
"I understand how you feel. But if you're hungry, you won't be able to write proper reflection essays, will you? Don't give me that nonsense about enduring it through willpower. If the quality is too poor, I won't approve them. The final decision is in my hands. And when that happens... hehe."
My expression turned blank as I swept my gaze across the girls.
"It seems you still haven't recognized your situation. Your fate is still in my hands. Or would it be faster if I simply knocked all of you down and stuffed the food straight into those endlessly chattering mouths?"
I'm already sick of all the formalities.
The moment I tore away the mask of kindness, all I felt was overwhelming relief and exhilaration. I even regretted not doing this sooner.
Well, I guess it was because I bullied the weak and feared the strong. Besides, ordinary students always tried their hardest to show me their best side. They never did anything to annoy me.
The instant my words fell, the atmosphere completely changed.
"What...!"
Saki's body trembled.
"You despicable bastard! So you've finally shown your true colors!"
Moe frowned.
"Using such disgusting methods... For one second, I actually thought you were a good person."
Even Miyu put on a guarded expression.
"So the world really is ugly..."
Their hostility was entirely within my expectations, and I didn't care in the slightest.
I never lacked potential targets in the first place. If I could accomplish my goal, what did it matter if they hated me?
"...I see."
Miyako, who had remained the most rational all this time, nodded.
"So when negotiation failed, you resorted to coercion? It seems rumors really can't be trusted. I never imagined that Schale's Sensei, someone with such a good reputation online, would turn out to be such a despicable adult. What exactly do you want from us?"
How ridiculous.
Here it was again.
Why did they assume there had to be something worth coveting besides themselves?
The first person I ever met who couldn't believe anyone would help without expecting something in return, who insisted there had to be an ulterior motive, is someone I still laugh at even now.
Still, thanks to Takanashi-san, I had plenty of experience dealing with fools who suffered from this severe lack of security.
"You're pretty perceptive."
I smiled.
"I like smart girls like you. Now then, everyone in RABBIT Squad."
Meeting their hostile stares, I spoke softly.
"Let's make a deal."