"What business do you have looking for me? Keep it brief, don't waste my precious time."
Ryunosuke spoke in a flat tone while enjoying the sea breeze on the balcony. Manabu adjusted the position of his glasses on his face.
"Good job this time!"
Ryunosuke laughed dismissively. "I don't need your praise. Just say it, what business do you have?"
Turning around, he leaned his back against the balcony railing with a casual and relaxed expression. Manabu could only smile bitterly.
"Talking with smart people, indeed nothing can be hidden. In that case I'll be direct; thank you for helping Suzune occupy the Class D leader position."
Behind the door, Suzune who was eavesdropping looked somewhat dazed.
(Nii-san... all this time has been paying attention to me?)
Ryunosuke let out a long breath. "You're welcome. Besides, this is indeed part of our cooperation."
"I help you educate Horikita Suzune and protect her during three years at this school so she won't be bullied by others. In exchange, after graduation, you must hand over all your points to me. That's the content of our agreement."
"We're just making a transaction, no need to thank me."
Whether Ryunosuke deliberately said it so Suzune could hear, he revealed almost all important information. His purpose was so the other party would know that her older brother had been paying attention to her all this time.
Suzune who was eavesdropping behind the wall bit her lips tightly. She finally understood Ryunosuke's reason for asking her to stay; the man wanted to clear up the misunderstanding between her and her brother.
(Really meddlesome...)
Although her inner self said so, the corner of her lips slightly curved forming a sweet smile. Clearly her mood was very good right now.
Manabu adjusted his glasses, feeling something was off.
What did he mean suddenly talking like that? As if deliberately wanting to be heard by someone. Could it be...
Manabu seemed to realize something. He glanced briefly toward the door, then let out a long sigh. "You... are doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
Ryunosuke showed a satisfied expression and laughed without burden. "Who knows? I'm too lazy to deal with your sibling affairs. I'm just receiving your money, and occasionally providing additional services."
He turned toward Manabu. "You also don't want, after graduation, the misunderstanding with your sister still isn't resolved, right? Consider this extra service, don't forget to add the payment."
Manabu gave an annoyed sharp gaze. "Come out, Suzune. I know you're eavesdropping there..."
Suzune nervously gripped her skirt and walked out from behind the door. When she saw her brother, she reflexively shrank her neck and didn't dare look directly at him.
Manabu sighed. Was he too harsh on his sister before? To the point that Suzune is now so afraid of him...
Seeing Manabu spacing out, Ryunosuke elbowed his stomach. "Why are you spacing out? Quickly go hug your sister! You stiff person."
Manabu looked annoyed again, but he didn't argue. He slowly stepped in front of Suzune and said with his usual serious expression.
"Did you hear everything?"
Suzune nodded shyly, still not daring to look at her brother.
Manabu sighed softly; he might have indeed made a mistake, but fortunately everything wasn't too late. This was really thanks to that bastard Ryunosuke's help...
He raised both his hands, hesitated for a moment in the air, then steeled his resolve to give a warm hug to his sister.
Suzune's body trembled in shock; she didn't expect her brother would do that. She was momentarily panicked and confused about what to do, but finally reflexively leaned her body, enjoying this rare warm moment.
Ryunosuke didn't want to be a disturbance between them. He scratched his head and said resignedly.
"If there's nothing else, I'll go first. I won't disturb your reunion."
Manabu and Suzune simultaneously waved their hands, signaling him to quickly leave and not disturb their time together. Ryunosuke left with a flat face.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
What the siblings talked about next, no one knew. However, since that time, their relationship became much more harmonious because many misunderstandings had been cleared.
Well, family matters were settled, what remained was handling the traitors... Ryunosuke's gaze became cold.
He didn't believe this was just a coincidence that Yamauchi was targeted; 80% likely there was someone who leaked information. Including Yahiko's case from Class B; the fact that Class C could find weaknesses so accurately showed that person's information network was very wide. Having friends and connections in almost all of Class A, B, C, and D...
Only the "little angel" Kushida Kikyo was capable of doing that.
(But why did she involve me too? I never offended her. If she wanted to bring down Suzune that makes sense, because they went to the same school before and Kushida might be afraid her past secrets would be exposed by Suzune.)
(But me? When did I offend this person? Could it be just because I'm too close to Suzune, so I got dragged in too? Is it just because of that?)
It seemed that was the main reason. It's just that Ryunosuke thought too complicatedly and found it hard to believe the reason was that simple. He scratched his head in frustration.
"Fine. As long as she doesn't obstruct my path to making money, it's not a problem. But if she dares obstruct me..." Ryunosuke's gaze became very gloomy. "Then don't blame me if I act roughly, Kushida Kikyo!"
He emphasized that name very strongly; clearly he was truly angry. If someone dared obstruct his path to paying off debts—which was a life and death matter for him—then he didn't care how beautiful that person was, he would still kick them out of school.
If that giant debt wasn't paid off, he didn't know what the debt collectors out there would do to him. At worst he'd be sent to Africa like his father, to plant potatoes that were never finished being harvested.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
On the other side, Ryuen had returned to his class. He bore all the blame on himself, proving that he was a responsible "boss." Right now he was leaving his final messages...
After all, he was really expelled from school. He needed to arrange what his subordinates should do after he left.
But don't expect Ryuen to just leave obediently. He wasn't an obedient person.
This time he was kicked out because he was careless, but that didn't mean he couldn't return. Ryuen raised his cold gaze, his eyes filled with unlimited killing aura.
"Akasaka Ryunosuke! Don't you think this is over!"
"Let's just see later! I'll return to this school and fight with you again!"
"This time I lost by one step, I'll remember you!!!"
Ryuen gritted his teeth with hatred, truly planting Ryunosuke's name in his heart.
Even if he entered the grave, this feeling might be hard to disappear. This was the first time in his life he was destroyed so badly, without remainder, and without resistance.
He acknowledged Ryunosuke's strength and considered him a true enemy. He had made him a lifelong rival; if he couldn't defeat him, he would never feel at peace...