Chapter 747 - 747: Cooperation
Nobody could have predicted that Ryūen Kakeru would be willing to kneel and apologize.
This man usually gave off the impression of someone proud and arrogant. Even when he did something wrong, he never seemed to feel guilty about it.
Horikita Suzune had originally thought this meeting would end without results. After all, Ryūen had pulled tricks on all of them before, and that alone made it hard to accept him.
But seeing Ryūen move without hesitation, as if he truly intended to kneel, completely overturned Suzune's previous impression of him.
"Ryūen-kun, there's no need for you to kneel."
Ichinose Honami's mind was still a little blank. She had stopped Ryūen instinctively earlier, and now that she had come back to herself, her expression became serious. "If you want to apologize, you can apologize to Mako-chan."
If Ryūen knelt here, it would probably become huge news.
"Fine. Is this sincerity enough for you to believe me?"
Ryūen did not care at all. "Or do you want me to give you some compensation too?"
"No, no, that's enough. I'll tell everyone about your attitude."
Honami hurriedly refused. She was not the type of girl to aggressively corner others in the first place. Since Ryūen had shown a willingness to apologize, she could not really keep pushing him.
To be honest, the atmosphere had become very strange.
After Ryūen said those words, it became difficult to criticize him. The things they had been about to say earlier suddenly would not come out.
Because Ryūen had indeed shown an attitude of wanting to cooperate, and he was even willing to kneel for it. That sincerity was something neither Honami nor Suzune could ignore.
"So you don't resent me anymore?"
Ryūen suddenly smiled. "Even if you want to come over and hit me a few times, I won't fight back. What do you think, Horikita?"
Suzune immediately understood.
No wonder he had not brought Ishizaki Daichi and the others today. He had probably wanted her and Honami to focus all their attention on him.
If Ishizaki and the others were here, and even their leader had to kneel, then those underlings would have to kneel too.
"I have no interest in fighting. Besides, the person directly involved is no longer here, so I don't have much right to pursue it further."
Suzune lightly brushed over the matter of Yamauchi Haruki's past. "But if you're willing to go as far as kneeling, then I'm willing to hear your plan against Class A."
"Not bad. Your goal really is direct, Horikita. You always go straight to the point."
Ryūen praised her, then continued, "Although Class A has an enormous amount of private points, those points can only be used to buy item cards and ensure nobody gets expelled. Once the exam starts, their starting point isn't that different from ours."
"He can buy over a group of people. Even if our people don't agree, the first-years and third-years are areas we can't control."
Suzune's tone was cool.
"Hehehe, you're right. Mitoma is too strong. He's the Student Council president, and he has connections with the third-years. As long as he's willing to offer enough private points, there will be people in both the first and third years who follow him."
It sounded exaggerated, but everyone knew Ryūen was not fearmongering.
Because it was true.
"Horikita, that's exactly why we need to cooperate."
Ryūen's voice lowered. "Class A's class points are higher than all of ours combined. If we let them take the top three spots, do you really think we'll still have a chance to catch up?"
At present, Class 2-A had shown no intention of forming cross-class groups. They were clearly preparing to keep the rewards to themselves.
The rewards for the top three added up to a full six hundred class points, equal to the combined total of Class 2-C and Class 2-D.
If Class 2-A swallowed that reward too, there would truly be no way to defeat them.
"Class A has no intention of grouping with us. Aside from worrying that we might deliberately drag them down, there's also the issue of reward distribution."
Kanzaki Ryūji spoke up. "Even if we manage to seize the top three, each class would receive at most around two hundred points."
"That concern is pointless, Kanzaki."
Ryūen snorted. "What time do you think this is? You're still worrying about how to split rewards? Are you planning to leave all those rewards for Mitoma?"
"I'm only reminding you that there's a difference between aiming for the top three and simply sniping Class A's groups."
Ryūji replied calmly, "Those are two different goals. I don't believe we can monopolize the top three."
"Don't be so gloomy. Are you saying the combined strength of our 118 students can't handle Class A?"
Ryūen smiled faintly. "Your class has Shibata, Ichinose, and you. Class C has Hirata, Kōenji, and Sudō. I don't think our people are necessarily that much worse than Class A's."
For such words to come from Ryūen's mouth made Honami look away in slight embarrassment.
"It's rare to hear praise from you. How surprising."
Suzune's expression did not change. "Are you planning to use us to form an all-elite group?"
"My plan is to place capable people where they're needed."
Ryūen spoke directly. "Instead of fighting among ourselves, we should unite against the outside. As long as Class A remains undefeated, all of us are just spinning in place. The labels Class B and Class C are nothing but decorations."
Suzune fell into thought.
In truth, she had also considered whether they should cooperate with other classes.
Forming groups entirely within one's own class could certainly maximize benefits, but that only mattered if they could actually secure those benefits.
Having three classes work together to form elite groups, letting the best students lead the fight against Class 2-A, was indeed the best option currently available.
Continuing to fight alone would only leave them going in circles.
Ryūen's meaning was clear.
They would first work together to crush Class A, then compete against one another afterward. Otherwise, none of them would ever catch up.
"I can understand the proposal, but what about the weaker students?"
Honami's thinking was simpler.
If they pulled out the best students, the weaker students in their classes would have an even harder time.
"You're still planning to care about those people at a time like this?"
Ryūen looked baffled and said speechlessly, "Don't tell me you don't even have six million. Just make those people form one group, give them private points, and let them fend for themselves."
Honami awkwardly scratched her cheek.
Of course, her class had six million in reserve, but that was basically all they had.
"Since we're cooperating anyway, aside from all-elite groups, we can also help each other as much as possible to avoid expulsions."
Suzune proposed, "We don't need to do the best. We just need to do better than the first-year and third-year groups."
Honami looked surprised.
She had not expected Suzune to say something like that.
"Do whatever you want."
Ryūen smiled strangely. "Hehehe. Maybe the item cards you sell will end up saving people too."
If each card sold for one hundred thousand, then selling ten cards would equal one million.
That was enough to save one student from expulsion in a six-person group.
Suzune pretended not to hear.
In truth, her class's current situation was awkward. At most, they could barely gather around two million private points, and even then, not everyone would be willing to hand over their savings.
When she had asked them to prepare a reserve, many had reluctantly handed over only half, thinking that such a small amount of private points would not be useful anyway and might as well be spent for fun.
Then yesterday, they had finally started panicking and regretting how freely they had spent money. Quite a few of them acted as if the end of the world had arrived.
The reason Suzune suggested mutual assistance was because she had realized that, without it, her class's morale would be the first to collapse.
She had heard that quite a few students had contacted Class 2-A, trying to slip into Class 2-A's groups. Many had even sold their item cards already.
Putting those matters aside for now, since they had agreed to join forces, all that remained was selecting names and building an all-elite group capable of fighting Class 2-A.
And so, today's meeting ended quickly.
Just as Suzune walked out of the café, Honami naturally patted her shoulder.
"Hehe, looks like we'll be working together again, Suzune."
Fortunately, Kikyō was not here.
If she had said that line, Suzune would definitely have suspected she was talking about the times they had "cooperated" in bed.
"I didn't expect Ryūen-kun to go that far. Suzune can now take care of her classmates too. It feels like the only person who hasn't improved is me."
For some reason, Honami's voice suddenly became much quieter.
Suzune did not know what she was thinking.
Had she taken care of her classmates?
Still, she could tell that Honami's mood had become somewhat negative.
"Ryūen-kun is simply someone who will use any means necessary to achieve his goal."
Suzune said, "If kneeling benefits him, then he'll kneel without hesitation. The atmosphere earlier was completely controlled by him, and we were the ones startled by his actions. Although cooperation is beneficial for us as well."
As she spoke, Suzune suddenly thought of Kaoru.
How would he have reacted?
He probably would have actually made Ryūen kneel.
After all, Kaoru had no shame at all. No one was more of a rogue than him.
Thinking of that, the corner of Suzune's lips curved slightly in a smile even she barely noticed.
Honami looked at her with slight surprise, then smiled gently. "Suzune really is amazing. No wonder he likes you so much."
Suzune's face remained expressionless.
She did not know what Honami was talking about, nor did she know which "he" Honami meant.
"Actually, Suzune was already planning to cooperate with us, right?"
Honami said softly. "The reason you didn't come to me right away was because you were worried I might not be able to act against Class A."
It was not just that.
Suzune felt that Kaoru would not act against Class 2-B either.
However, having her thoughts directly pointed out like this made Suzune feel a little embarrassed.
"I... I hadn't decided yet. Class C is different from your class. I don't have that much control over them. They'll only listen to me when I can bring them benefits."
In truth, the situation was even more serious.
For example, Kōenji Rokusuke would never listen to her.
Suzune simply did not say that part.
"Is that so? Ayanokōji-kun and Sudō-kun have always listened to you, haven't they?"
"...Those two are hard to explain."
"And Kikyō and Kei too. Suzune is already very impressive now. Don't look down on yourself."
After Honami reminded her, Suzune suddenly realized that her relationships had indeed changed greatly.
Hirata Yōsuke, Kushida Kikyō, Karuizawa Kei, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, Sudō Ken, and even the nearly invisible Sakura Airi could now exchange a few words with her.
Without realizing it, she was no longer the solitary flower of her class.
In the past, she had always thought about how to solve problems alone.
Now, things seemed different.
At the very least, with help from Kei and the others, Suzune could control roughly half of the class's strength. Add Sudō and his side, and she could win over quite a few boys too.
She was already the leader of Class 2-C.
And everyone thought so.
"Don't look at how Kaoru and I usually joke around. Once exams are involved, I also want to make him suffer a little."
Honami winked. "Let's work hard together and give him a hard time, okay, Suzune?"
"Since you've put it that way, I can only respectfully accept."
Suzune finally showed a faint smile.
Honami smiled as well, but Suzune did not notice the shadow that flashed through her eyes.
'As expected. Everyone is working hard. I'm the only one still spinning in place.'
...
After they left, Nagumo Miyabi finally stepped out from the corner where he had been hiding.
"Looks like your discussion went smoothly."
"I only gave them a way down. Everyone knows that if they don't cooperate now, they can only sit back and watch Mitoma keep ruling the entire year."
"You're not worried Ichinose will help Mitoma?"
"I'd love it if that woman were that stupid. If she dares do that, it means Class 2-B is already finished."
"Heh. Maybe she really will. Women in love are idiots."
Ryūen looked at Miyabi, whose face was full of cold mockery.
Had this guy been mentally broken by being humiliated?
That resentment was practically pouring off him.
"Now that they're in the game, who are you planning to expel?"
"What if I name Ichinose?"
"That's possible. Flat rate, ten million."
"You're still thinking about money at a time like this?"
Miyabi snorted in dissatisfaction.
He had already spent more than ten million on Ryūen, yet nothing had truly been accomplished. "Can you take out Karuizawa and Kushida?"
"Depends on the situation. Four million for one. Eight million for both."
Ryūen did not even blink.
"Four million. Take out whoever you can."
Miyabi said coldly. Anyone could hear that he was running low on money. "I'll give you one million upfront. The rest comes when there are results."
"Deal."
Ryūen answered indifferently.
Miyabi did not care about that and asked, "How are you planning to deal with Mitoma?"
"Class A has too many private points. It's hard to get him expelled in one exam."
"As long as you can get in his way. Don't tell me you want to see him take the top three."
"That part is simple. Even you're joining the field this time. If we still can't do it, I won't need to go after him anymore. I might as well retire from life."
That was right.
This snipe against Kaoru included Miyabi's forces as well. He intended to gamble everything he had left and knock Kaoru down in one strike.
"Tell me all of Class A's information before the exam, especially their groups."
After leaving that sentence behind, Miyabi left the café.
Ryūen drank the last mouthful of coffee.
In his eyes, Miyabi was nothing more than an old tree about to rot away. He should hurry up and squeeze out the last batch of coins while he still could. Next time, he might not even get to see Miyabi anymore.
The only pity was that this old man's coin supply had shrunk.
It looked like four million, roughly the same as before, but in reality, Miyabi could only stingily take out one million for now.
Ryūen had no doubt that if he dared to ask for even one more point, Miyabi would start bargaining.
Today's meeting would soon reach Kaoru's ears.
Ryūen was very curious what reaction that man would have.