COTE: Popularity System

On the other side.

The former Class 1-D, now Class 1-C.

"Ayanokoji, we're going to see Hirata next to discuss strategies for the exam." Horikita Suzune said with a serious expression.

"Horikita, I'm surprised to see you actually discussing things with others. I feel like I must be dreaming right now." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said in a calm tone.

"I can improve too, Ayanokoji." Horikita Suzune's voice suddenly grew colder, tinged with dissatisfaction, anger, and unwillingness.

"Though I don't want to admit it, besides my academic and athletic abilities, I am truly a Class D student in all other aspects."

"If I continue to approach problems with my previous attitude, it will only lead to a crushing defeat."

During the Sports Festival, Ryūen Kakeru, the leader of the adjacent class, had designed a plan to frame Horikita Suzune.

In the running race, he ordered his class's runner to continuously call out Horikita Suzune's name from behind, forcing her to look back and causing the two to collide while running. That student was severely injured, breaking a leg.

Ryūen Kakeru used this to frame Horikita Suzune, claiming that she intentionally harmed a student from another class, stating he would report it to the school and demand her expulsion.

Although the plan and rhetoric were crude, Horikita Suzune actually fell for it, truly believing she would be expelled from school, and even considered obeying Ryūen Kakeru's command to kneel and apologize to him.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was speechless about this.

Looking back while running means intentionally harming the opponent?

Usain Bolt would have something to say about that.

With his help, Horikita Suzune successfully overcame this "expulsion crisis" and did not have to kneel and apologize as Ryūen Kakeru demanded.

After this failure, Horikita Suzune recognized that her abilities were not enough in this school and gradually began to change in the direction Ayanokoji Kiyotaka desired, slowly becoming more like a leader.

At least, the current Horikita Suzune no longer places herself in such a high position and is not resistant to discussing plans with others.

Although Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was very relieved, he did not agree to her request at this moment.

"Horikita, it's better if you discuss strategies for the special exam with Hirata yourself. Even if you drag me along, I won't be of much use."

Horikita Suzune slightly furrowed her brows. "Ayanokoji, do you still want to continue your clumsy disguise? After your excellent performance at the Sports Festival, you can no longer be a so-called recluse."

Ayanokoji shrugged, imitating a helpless tone. "You also said I performed excellently at the Sports Festival. I merely benefit from my parents' grace, possessing excellent athletic ability. Matters requiring mental effort are not suitable for me to participate in."

"What about the Deserted Island Exam?"

"That was just a coincidence. If you hadn't caught a severe cold and couldn't continue the exam, I wouldn't have thought of changing the leader."

"Sigh..." Horikita Suzune let out a soft sigh.

No matter how Ayanokoji Kiyotaka explained, she knew that her deskmate possessed powerful abilities in many aspects.

However, she could never refute him verbally, and instead was often convinced by his logic.

"You don't have anything else to do, so it shouldn't be a problem to come along for a bit, right?" Horikita Suzune said.

"I have a date with Sato after school." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said.

"A date? Sato?"

Hearing his words, Horikita Suzune's eyes widened, and a surprised expression appeared on her face.

"Do you need me to point her out to you?" Ayanokoji Kiyotaka asked.

After the Sports Festival, thanks to his excellent performance, and joining Hirata Yosuke's small group, his status in the class had steadily risen. Consequently, some students in the class began to pursue him.

Sato Maya, one of the class's gyarus.

Not long ago, she expressed her affection for him and wanted to try dating him first.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka originally did not want to be in a romantic relationship with Sato Maya. Aside from her decent social skills, everything else about her was catastrophically bad. She was an unqualified tool.

But constrained by the fact that he hadn't taken Karuizawa Kei as a tool, he currently had too few usable tools.

So he stopped being picky and chose to accept her confession, filling his toolbox.

"No need, I can still recognize my classmates."

Horikita Suzune slightly furrowed her brows, looking at him in disbelief. "You actually got a girlfriend? Compared to my changes, your changes are truly terrifying."

"I still haven't figured out the situation myself." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said calmly.

"Then are you sure you won't participate in the discussion for the special exam?" Horikita Suzune asked.

"I told you, even if you include me, I won't be of much use."

Despite the current threat of expulsion from Chabashira Sae, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was not worried at all.

He had already demonstrated his abilities at the Sports Festival. Given his excellent athletic ability, that teacher, who wanted the class to rise to Class A, would naturally be reluctant to expel him.

Even if... for the foreseeable future, he publicly did not participate in class discussions.

— — —

School Courtyard.

Sakayanagi Arisu was resting in a small pavilion, accompanied by Kamuro Masumi, Hashimoto Masayoshi, and others.

"Ryūen-san, in this exam, you want to attack Class B?" Sakayanagi Arisu's eyes narrowed slightly, gazing intently at the tottering tyrant before her.

Ryūen Kakeru said with a twisted smile, "The key to this exam lies in the difficulty of the questions. If the exam we set is only at an elementary school level, then all of you in Class B can get full marks."

At that time, Class B would gain 50 class points for successfully fending off Ryūen Kakeru's class attack, and another 50 class points for exceeding Class A in total exam scores, accumulating a total of 100 class points.

"Ryūen-san must have other intentions, right?" Sakayanagi Arisu's eyes narrowed slightly, and a arc appeared on her lips.

According to this plan, Ryūen Kakeru's class would lose 50 points for nothing. Unless he was a saint reborn, it was impossible for him to help Class B unconditionally.

"Everyone in Class B has to give me 10,000 points each month." Ryūen Kakeru finally bared his fangs, stating his demand.

"Ryūen-san, even the current Katsuragi-san wouldn't agree to your request." Sakayanagi Arisu said with a smile.

According to the plan, Class B would gain 100 class points, and each person would give Ryūen Kakeru 10,000 personal points monthly, which seemed like a fair request.

However, after several special exams, everyone knew that class points could drop too easily.

Class B lost 200 points just during the Sports Festival. Even if they gained 100 class points through cooperation between the two classes this time, they could lose them all in the next special exam. The risk was simply too great.

"Then how much do you want?" Ryūen Kakeru frowned.

His bottom line was 5,000. Any less, and his class would suffer a loss.

"2,000." Sakayanagi Arisu smiled slightly.

"You really dare to dream big."

Ryūen Kakeru stood up from his seat, a cold sneer twisting his lips. "Your appetite is indeed much greater than Katsuragi's."

"That's just because Katsuragi-san is too naive." Sakayanagi Arisu said with a light chuckle.

As the leader of Class B, considering that class points could change at any time, she could only offer this price.

But Ryūen Kakeru's side naturally couldn't accept losing 50 class points only to get such a low-priced contract in return.

The plan to exchange Private Points for class points was doomed to fail from the very beginning.

After leaving the courtyard where Sakayanagi Arisu was, Ryūen Kakeru pulled out his terminal from his pocket and contacted others in his class.

"Get Hirata out here."

The tyrant of Class D issued his command.

(End of Chapter)

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