Chapter 303 Already Bought the Okamotos / Arranging Women for Her Boyfriend
After school, a low wave of discussion broke out in the Class C classroom.
"Hey, did you see the post on the school forum? The one by Ryuen Kakeru."
"Saw it! He said he's looking for three people in Class C he's 'interested' in... what's he trying to do?"
"Speaking of which, I've seen those guys from Class D hanging around my club lately."
"There aren't even any special exams this month. What exactly are they up to?"
Hirata Yousuke stood at the podium, looking at the buzzing crowd with a slightly exhausted expression.
"Everyone, please quiet down. Regarding this matter, I already reported it to the Student Council this morning."
He sighed helplessly.
"The Student Council contacted Class D. Their reasoning is that they're worried about more students like Yamauchi-kun harassing their girls. Considering Manabe-san actually was harmed last time, and Ryuen hasn't done anything tangibly 'out of line' yet... the Student Council says they won't intervene for now."
"When you put it that way... it makes sense."
"After all, Yamauchi was expelled for harassing a Class D girl."
"If our girls were being harassed by guys from another class, we'd probably do the same thing..."
Ryuen had actually found a legitimate excuse this time.
Akira took out his phone and browsed the school forum. Ryuen's style was always flashy; he didn't even bother with a pseudonym. Akira searched for "Ryuen Kakeru" and found the latest post aiming at three specific people in Class C.
Three people?
Besides Ayanokouji's "X" identity and Kushida's "Anonymous," who was the third? Could it be him as "Yue"? Wait, without Hiyori's help, Ryuen shouldn't be able to lock onto "Yue" just yet. He scanned Ryuen's history—besides this provocative post, there was nothing else notable.
Akira then clicked on the current top post:
New President Nagumo Miyabi re-emphasizes the 'Meritocracy' principle; announces upcoming 'Ability Evaluation Standard' for the new school year to visualize every student's capabilities.
Very official. He checked the poster—it was the News Department. So this was the direction of Nagumo's reform?
Reading through it, however, revealed only inflammatory slogans. Nagumo was vague about the actual details of these "Ability Standards." Akira immediately thought of the comprehensive entrance tests. Since he received three pieces of intel daily, he had actually seen his own entrance results one day:
Academic Ability: E- Judgment: B Intelligence: E- Athletic Ability: A Cooperation: E-
This rating was a far cry from his actual performance now. In academics, for instance, he was currently top of the class. It couldn't possibly be E-. It seemed Nagumo intended to exploit this discrepancy.
"Shimizu-kun, can I bother you for a moment?"
Akira looked up to see Yukimura Teruhiko walking over, adjusting his glasses and holding a test paper. "Regarding the problems Class A set last time, there are a few points I still don't quite grasp. You're the only one in class who got a perfect score... could you explain them?"
"No problem." Akira took the paper and quickly pointed out the key logic. Yukimura's foundation was solid; unlike Karuizawa Kei, he didn't need to be taught from scratch, he just lacked flexibility. With a bit of coaching from Akira, he had an "aha!" moment and bowed in thanks.
"Shimizu-kun," Yukimura hesitated, pushing his glasses again.
"The thing is... I'd like to treat you to dinner. I actually have many more questions I'd like to ask."
'Yukimura is probably a total 'iron-straight' guy' Akira thought. Usually, you save the "I have more questions" part for when you're actually at the table.
"Sure, let's go."
Since Sudo was at club activities and Ike was busy agonizing over how to invite Shinohara out, a meal with other classmates sounded nice.
"Miyake, Ayanokouji, if you're free, come along too!" Yukimura called out.
"Okay."
"Yeah."
Ayanokouji and Miyake Akito joined them. As the four walked out, Akira asked, "Ayanokouji, since when did you get so close to Miyake and Yukimura?"
"During the pairing exam, Sudo dragged me along," Ayanokouji said helplessly.
"He said Yukimura's teaching was too serious and insisted on an assistant. Since Miyake was my partner, we just ended up hanging out."
Yukimura asked seriously as they walked, "Shimizu-kun, how do you schedule your study time? Your progress is incredibly fast! You took first place this time, and your performance at the sports festival was amazing."
"Nothing special," Akira replied easily.
"Just finish what needs to be done within the planned time. Don't procrastinate. Review immediately after class, warm up before training, and keep it up long-term."
"Everyone knows that," Miyake Akito chimed in. "But few can actually stick to it like you do."
Ayanokouji nodded.
"As long as you do one small thing every day, you'll become powerful before you even realize it."
"When did you start training? Do you do it every day?" Miyake asked curiously.
Akira recalled the data he filled in before transmigrating.
"It's been nine years of daily training."
"Then you really are impressive," Miyake said sincerely.
"I heard your father was a hunter and you learned hunting skills young. Now you're in the boxing club, right? Any interest in the Archery Club? Come by and fire a few shots sometime. Last time at the sports festival, I held you guys back, which is why we only got third in the relay."
"Sure, I'll visit. And don't worry about the relay; it wasn't your fault."
Akira hadn't spoken much with Miyake before, perceiving him as a quiet, introverted guy. Talking to him now, he realized Miyake was actually quite decent. It seemed the ankle injury that cost them the relay still weighed on him.
In the cafeteria, they found a window seat. Yukimura turned the conversation to business: "Shimizu-kun, what form do you think the next special exam will take?"
Akira put down his chopsticks.
"Likely a cross-grade exam." Horikita Manabu had explicitly mentioned there would be at least one a year.
"I see..." Yukimura nodded thoughtfully. "And what about Ryuen's forum post? About finding three people in Class C?"
Ayanokouji ate in silence. Akira didn't answer either. In a sense, they were both the people Ryuen was looking for.
Miyake added, "Ryuen isn't someone who gives up easily. Once he targets you, he'll haunt you. I don't know who he's looking for, but you should both be careful."
This didn't sound like a bystander's warning; it sounded like personal experience. But Miyake finished his meal quickly and left for club activities before Akira could ask more.
"Someone is watching us," Ayanokouji whispered.
Akira looked and saw Ishizaki Daichi and Kondo Reon from Class D. Once spotted, they gave Akira awkward smiles. The scene reminded Akira of the boxing match incident.
'Does Ryuen really want another beating?'
...
"I'm off," Yukimura said, finishing his meal.
"I need to go to the library to get some textbooks and preview the third semester. Only studying can truly help the class."
He paused, his tone becoming more sincere.
"Also, Akira, thanks for tutoring Hasebe. And... I actually owe Karuizawa-san an apology, I just don't know if I'll get the chance."
With that, Yukimura left.
"Yukimura really is a good guy," Akira watched him go.
"Yeah," Ayanokouji agreed. "After the island exam, most of the class is growing."
Yukimura's growth was indeed visible. The boy who once argued with Karuizawa because he looked down on Matsushita Chiaki's grades had learned reflection and responsibility—from taking the fall for low rankings in the sports festival to patiently tutoring Sudo.
"So, Akira, do you plan to start contributing to the class too?" Ayanokouji asked suddenly.
"Well..." Akira shrugged. "I'll consider it when you have the same enlightenment Yukimura does."
Seeing Ayanokouji's helpless expression, Akira laughed.
Neither of them was particularly proactive about class affairs; Ayanokouji was being pushed by Chabashira Sae, and Akira was mostly "hired" by her with personal points—or he helped out for the sake of Kikyo or Suzune.
"Someone is following us again." Ayanokouji turned his head. Akira looked but saw nothing.
He thought for a moment and tested the air: "Is that you, Yamamura?"
"Um... yes, Shimizu-kun."
A few seconds later, Yamamura Miki from Class 1-A stepped out from behind a corner, looking embarrassed, her hands fidgeting.
"Did Sakayanagi send you to tail Ayanokouji?" Akira asked bluntly.
"Yes," she whispered, looking down.
Ayanokouji frowned slightly.
"I don't understand what Sakayanagi Arisu is thinking. Why tail me?"
"That..." Yamamura was flustered. She suddenly shuffled over to Akira and grabbed the edge of his jacket.
"Yamamura, why are you pulling my clothes? Didn't Sakayanagi tell you the reason?"
"She didn't... and Kamuro-san told me if I run into trouble... I should just find you."
Yamamura hid behind him, her voice getting smaller.
Akira was speechless.
'His girlfriend really knows how to find him work.'
But since Kamuro opened her mouth, and Yamamura was her best friend—plus he owed Yamamura for delivering those stockings late that night—he had to settle the debt.
He turned to Ayanokouji and sighed. "How about this: just add Sakayanagi as a friend and talk it out. She just wants to prove who's better; just give her a straight answer."
He then turned to Yamamura.
"You can go back. Sakayanagi won't blame you. I'll explain to her."
"Um... thank you, Shimizu-kun." Yamamura let go and bowed deeply.
"I owe you another favor... I'll definitely repay you!" She then hurried away.
Ayanokouji, though looking annoyed, followed Akira's advice and added Sakayanagi Arisu. He messaged her directly saying he wasn't interested in playing and told her to stop the tailing.
"Did she reply?" Akira asked.
"Yeah. She said 'Understood.'"
"By the way, you actually noticed Yamamura? You're that sharp?"
"I had related training during the White Room period," Ayanokouji explained casually, then looked at him.
"Want to learn? I can teach you."
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Akira didn't agree immediately, saying he'd consider it during winter break.
Training from the "White Room" sounded like some secret ops training.
According to Ayanokouji, while no White Room student could match Akira's raw physical stats, they possessed a much wider array of skills. Akira was confident he could learn those skills quickly given his nearly maxed-out physical foundation.
However, Akira had a thought: the White Room was a facility for geniuses, and this high school aimed to produce the best Class A graduates.
Do their goals overlap? Could there be an "ultimate battle" between the two in the future? The possibility seemed high.
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Sakayanagi Arisu stared at the message from Ayanokouji.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka: I have never considered you an opponent.
Harsh and direct. And for some reason, the phrasing felt familiar—like a line from that band anime she watched out of boredom where a green-haired girl said something similar.
"Quite high and mighty," she murmured. She viewed herself as someone with high self-esteem who naturally looked down on others. But now, she felt Ayanokouji was standing even higher, not even acknowledging her existence.
"Sakayanagi-san... I'm back." Yamamura Miki entered the cafe, panting. "I'm sorry, I couldn't find out Ayanokouji's scores..."
"It's fine. Hashimoto already sent them to me." Sakayanagi waved her off. Tailing was in Yamamura's comfort zone, but asking for grades was too much for her. That was a job for Hashimoto Masayoshi.
Hashimoto's data showed Ayanokouji's scores were all below 60, barely middle-of-the-pack. Sakayanagi wasn't a fool; she saw the intentional point-suppression immediately.
'How arrogant.'
She had set so many difficult science problems, and he didn't even deign to answer them seriously.
"But... I know what Shimizu-kun got!" Yamamura added quickly. "He got perfect scores in all science subjects!"
Akira had told her himself.
In her heart, Akira was a great person, and she felt she owed him many favors.
Though, speaking of which, those stockings she delivered last time were torn... did Akira and Kamuro really do those "shameful things"?
She felt a strange sense of loneliness, as if she were the only one left out.
Sakayanagi didn't notice her subordinate's inner thoughts.
"Perfect scores..." She smiled slightly. "In the end, Shimizu-kun understands me best, knowing how much effort went into making those questions."
At least her heart wasn't completely ignored. In this school, someone appreciated her talent.
"Tsk!" she huffed. "I specifically messaged Chabashira Sae to make Ayanokouji go all out—and this is the result?"
She figured Ayanokouji suppressed his scores because Chabashira failed to enforce the demand. While she suspected Ayanokouji was behind Yamauchi's expulsion, she still blamed the teacher.
"What is with that sensei? Is her brain single-threaded? Can't she make him handle Yamauchi and get high scores for the class? For the masterpiece of the White Room, handling three things at once is child's play."
The more she thought, the more annoyed she got. She sent several complaining messages to Chabashira Sae. Oddly, the moment she hit send, her mood improved. Negative emotions like stress and dissatisfaction are best transferred to others. As long as she was happy, why care about anyone else?
"Um..." Yamamura asked timidly, "Should I continue tailing Ayanokouji-kun?"
"No need."
"Then... should I go back to the dorm?"
"Answer me first," Sakayanagi tapped the table.
"You have such a low presence. How did you get caught this time?"
"Ayanokouji-kun found me... actually, he noticed me this morning."
"Hehe, I see." Sakayanagi chuckled.
"What if... I asked you to tail Shimizu-kun? What do you think?"
"That..." Yamamura showed a rare sign of resistance, her fingers twisting.
"I've received too much care from Shimizu-kun... can I please not tail him?"
"Oh?" Sakayanagi leaned forward, resting her chin on her finger.
"An interesting reaction. Our usually obedient Miki is raising an objection for Shimizu-kun's sake."
"I just feel... it's not right. He's always looked after me. Tailing him feels like betraying his kindness."
"Kindness?" Sakayanagi laughed.
"In this school, kindness is the most expensive currency. But..." she shifted her tone, "since you say that, I'm curious. In your eyes, what kind of person is Shimizu Akira?"
"He's very gentle... he's helped me and Kamuro so much! He's a great person!" Yamamura answered without hesitation.
Sakayanagi stared out the window.
'A gentle, great person?'
Neither word seemed to fit.
'An incubus! A human incubus!'
Her number two maid was likely going to be devoured by Akira soon.
"Never mind." Sakayanagi retracted her gaze. "New task then. Watch Ryuen Kakeru and Shiina Hiyori."
Yamamura relaxed but looked confused.
"Why?"
"Intuition," Sakayanagi picked up her cold tea.
"Our Ryuen-kun seems to be plotting something again. How can such an interesting thing lack Sakayanagi Arisu?" She swirled the cup.
"Even though Shimizu-kun said Hiyori is the smartest girl, I don't think I'm inferior to her in any way."
Yamamura's eyes drifted to Sakayanagi's cane.
'Isn't it obvious? At least physically, Shiina Hiyori is much stronger than my leader.'
"Yamamura? I feel like your gaze is very rude."
"Ahem... I'll go start tailing them."
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After parting with Ayanokouji and returning to his dorm, Akira collapsed into his kotatsu.
Curling up in the warmth during the dead of winter was pure bliss. Last night, he hadn't even gone to bed, sleeping directly in the kotatsu. Who could refuse that?
Thinking of warmth, he thought of Class D. In this weather, their dorms didn't even have AC. He messaged Hiyori and Ibuki Mio.
Ibuki Mio: Freezing to death! That 'Little Sun' heater Ryuen has is useless!
Shiina Hiyori: It is quite cold. I usually stay at the library or cafe until 9 or 10 PM before returning to the dorm.
A 'Little Sun' heater?
That barely warms your shins. But Hiyori was smart, staying in public places with free heating. Akira imagined Class D shivering. He didn't blame himself for taking Class C's spot; he blamed Nagumo Miyabi.
'Stop the AC? Wait until Class D starts dropping from colds, then see if Nagumo is still laughing.'
Shiina Hiyori: Actually, Ibuki and I decided to install AC these next few days.
Shiina Hiyori: Ryuen-kun thinks it's a sign of weakness, but the third semester is far away and the next special exam is nowhere in sight... Health is most important.
Shiina Hiyori: Tomorrow is Saturday. If you're free in the afternoon, want to help Ibuki and me pick an AC?
Akira wanted to know her investigation progress and cared about their warmth, so he agreed. Then, a new message popped up:
Kushida Kikyo: I already bought them.
'Bought what'?
The follow-up image made Akira freeze—it was three boxes of Okamoto condoms. Kikyo had proactively prepared protection? And the classic Okamotos too. They were famous for being ultra-thin—especially the 0.01, which felt like wearing nothing. Three boxes with three in each meant nine times. Kikyo was thorough.
'Well, I'm fine, but can Kikyo handle it?'
Kushida Kikyo: By the way! To ensure we have a great experience on Christmas Eve...
Kushida Kikyo: I won't be coming to see you for the next few days.
Akira narrowed his eyes.
'Okay, so no Kikyo until Christmas Eve.'
Kushida Kikyo: However, I know Akira-kun gets frustrated sometimes~ I've already arranged a suitable person for you.
'A suitable person?'
Ten seconds later, Hasebe Haruka's messages jumped out:
Hasebe Haruka: Kiyoshi-kun, you're free tomorrow morning, right?
Hasebe Haruka: Remember during tutoring when I promised you a 'bonus'?
Hasebe Haruka: Airi and I even prepared new swimsuits and sunscreen!
'What a coincidence' Akira thought. Kikyo sent a playful emoji: Yes, I arranged it.
Akira couldn't help but laugh.
Was this girlfriend too considerate? Proactively arranging such "bonuses" for her boyfriend. He loved this side of Kikyo. Such an understanding girlfriend was a rare find. Truly the perfect angel he decided on at the start of school.
Then, his phone vibrated again.
Kushida Kikyo: No thinking about going all the way with them!
Kushida Kikyo: Don't forget Haruka is one of my people.
Kushida Kikyo: Your first time MUST be mine!
'Okay, never mind.'
Miss Kikyo was still plenty suspicious.
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