COTE: Popularity System

The next day, after school.

A private room.

Takada Hikaru and Katsuragi Kōhei sat facing each other.

Standing beside Katsuragi was his subordinate, Totsuka Yahiko.

"Although I knew the day would come when we'd contact each other when we exchanged contact information."

Katsuragi Kōhei paused, then observed the young man across from him with a strange look. "I didn't expect you to contact me this noon."

Takada Hikaru chuckled softly. "I was quite surprised by that too."

"Hey!"

Just as the two were exchanging pleasantries, Totsuka Yahiko, standing nearby, spoke up irritably, "What business do you have with Katsuragi-san? His time is very precious."

Hearing his words, Takada Hikaru wasn't angry. Instead, he shifted his gaze to him, assessing his capabilities.

[Name: Totsuka Yahiko]

[Academic Ability: C]

[Intelligence: C]

[Judgment: D]

[Physical Ability: D]

[Teamwork Ability: B]

With stats like these, he wouldn't be out of place even if he were thrown into Class D. But ironically, Totsuka Yahiko was a student of the original Class A.

However, this also conforms to the current state of most companies. No matter how excellent the company, once the number of people increases, there will always be a few whose abilities don't match their positions.

Perhaps the school considered this point when placing someone like Totsuka Yahiko, who is lacking in various aspects, into Class A.

"Totsuka!"

Seeing his follower causing trouble again, Katsuragi Kōhei frowned in displeasure. "Be a little quieter on the side."

"Yes..."

Totsuka Yahiko obediently shut his mouth and stopped speaking, but the expression on his face remained dissatisfied.

Someone who didn't know better might think Katsuragi Kōhei was his crush.

"Takada-san, I apologize for Totsuka's behavior just now." Katsuragi Kōhei bowed slightly.

He had only appeared twice, yet he had already apologized twice. If he were to enter politics or become a corporate executive in the future, he might be the perfect candidate to stand in front of the camera and say "sumimasen" to the audience.

"Kōhei-san certainly has it tough."

Takada Hikaru smiled lightly, then took out his terminal. "The reason I asked you to come today is that I hope you can take a look at these videos."

Katsuragi Kōhei was stunned for a moment, then took the terminal with some confusion.

Upon seeing the content of the video playback, he narrowed his pupils, his face showing surprise.

Takada Hikaru explained, "An interesting incident recently occurred between Class C and Class D. After some investigation, I found there was room for outsiders to intervene."

The video he provided was divided into several segments.

The first segment showed Class C students passing by a nearby convenience store after the violence had ended. The school's camera quality was guaranteed, clearly showing the injuries on the Class C students and their movements while walking.

In this video, the Class C students only had minor facial injuries, weren't bleeding from the nose, walked smoothly, and the three of them were even chatting and laughing as they returned.

The second video segment was from a later time. The Class C students involved in the violence were now covered in bruises, their eyes swollen shut, purple contusions around their sockets, and one even had a cast on his arm. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were severely injured.

Undoubtedly, Class C had lied about this violent incident, deliberately exaggerating their injuries.

Katsuragi Kōhei's expression turned serious. "I can't believe Class C would go to such lengths."

He could understand Ryūen Kakeru, the Class C leader, wanting to test the strength of the other classes. But to severely injure their own classmates for this purpose was terrifying.

Takada Hikaru said with a relaxed smile, "Kakeru-san is indeed surprising, but perhaps the most surprising thing is that the school allowed such a person to enroll."

Katsuragi Kōhei's face darkened slightly, his serious gaze fixed on the young man across from him. "Takada-san, you probably didn't just want me to watch this video, did you?"

"That depends on what Kōhei-san decides to do."

"What do you mean?"

"Just like Kakeru-san wants to test the strength of Class D, I also want to better understand the leaders of the other classes."

"Are you trying to use this to assess my ability?"

Katsuragi Kōhei understood his intention, then crossed his arms, "But why should I do as you say?"

Takada Hikaru said with a smile, "Naturally, because there are benefits. If this video is handled well, it should be possible to force Ryūen Kakeru, Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Kyōgo, and Suzuki Hidetoshi from Class C into expulsion."

"If we don't aim for expulsion and instead aim to extract benefits from Class C, you might be able to gather 20 million private points before graduation."

Hearing these words, Katsuragi Kōhei was slightly taken aback.

Following the Third Year class transfer incident, the fact that 20 million points can buy a class transfer is no longer a secret to the entire student body.

Although he was confident in leading his class up to Class A, having 20 million private points on hand would definitely be safer.

"If there is such a huge benefit, why don't you pursue it yourself?" Katsuragi Kōhei looked seriously at the young man across from him.

"Kōhei-san, do you think I care about this?" Takada Hikaru said with a completely relaxed expression.

Katsuragi Kōhei nodded slightly. "Indeed... you once gifted 20 million points to a Third Year student. Based on that action, most people, including myself, would choose to believe you have the ability to earn that amount again. The huge benefits in my eyes might be insignificant in yours."

"However..."

He changed the subject, "If you aren't interested in class competition, then why do you need to know the abilities of the other class leaders?"

Takada Hikaru said with a smile, "After all, I have many friends in Class A. If you guys bully the little darlings in my class too severely, I reckon I'd be sad for a while."

Katsuragi Kōhei closed his eyes in deep thought. "So, if the situation gets too bad, you would still get involved in class affairs?"

After pondering for a moment, he finally opened his mouth and said, "It's regrettable. While using this video might indeed yield benefits, it would also offend Class C. It seems you will only be able to learn my caliber during the special exams."

"That's not right."

Takada Hikaru shook his finger. "All your actions will contribute to my evaluation of you."

Fearing offending Class C, he gave up the opportunity to gain benefits. This, in itself, reflects Katsuragi Kōhei's personality.

"Is that so? But I believe making a judgment based only on this level of information will lead to considerable error."

Katsuragi Kōhei felt that there was nothing left to discuss and that he could leave the cafe's private room.

But before leaving, he remembered something. "This morning, the school distributed the points for Class 1-A and Class 1-B. Was that related to you?"

"I offered a small suggestion to the Student Council." Takada Hikaru replied.

"As expected, you were behind it." Katsuragi Kōhei looked at him with a hint of admiration.

Although whether the private points were distributed now or later didn't make much difference to the Class B students, being able to change the distribution of private points from a later date to the present proved Takada Hikaru's capability.

"I still have things to attend to, so I must excuse myself."

Katsuragi Kōhei returned the terminal, then said to the green-haired young man beside him, "Totsuka, let's go."

"Yes."

Totsuka Yahiko replied, then lifted his chin toward Takada Hikaru. It was as if he were saying, 'See how great Katsuragi-san is?'.

Takada Hikaru didn't get angry. Only when the two were about to leave did he speak to their retreating backs.

"I forgot to tell you something. Actually, I already sent this video to Arisu-san. If I'm not mistaken, she has probably already gone to negotiate with Kakeru-san from Class C."

Arisu?

Sakayanagi Arisu?

Katsuragi Kōhei was stunned upon hearing this.

He was currently vying with Sakayanagi Arisu for control of the class. If Sakayanagi Arisu could bring benefits to the class through this incident, wouldn't he be guaranteed to lose the internal class struggle?

(End of Chapter)

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