In fact, after the information is refreshed, they always want to attack me!

Akira Shimizu: After all, you're the homeroom teacher, aren't you? I'm just a student.

After sending the message, Akira Shimizu immediately put his phone on silent mode and placed it face down on the table.

......

As soon as the school bell rang, Kikyo Kushida lightly leaped onto the podium, clasped her hands together, and revealed her signature sweet smile.

"Everyone~" Her voice was clear and melodious, "Consider this class fund collection a small token of support for me and Hirata-kun! Of course—" she winked playfully, "it's okay if you don't vote for me, as long as everyone enjoys participating!"

A few well-intentioned cheers came from the back of the classroom, and Kushida bowed slightly.

Meanwhile, Hirata Yosuke was leaning against the door. After Kushida finished speaking, he naturally chimed in, "Just as Kushida-kun said, this is just a regular class activity." He smiled and spread his hands. "Whoever you support, please follow your own judgment. After all—whoever becomes class president this month..."

He paused, then continued, "What we hope for most is that Class D can become a comfortable place for everyone to be."

The air in the classroom seemed to be split into two streams.

After a whole night of deep thought, coupled with the influence of Hirata Yosuke and Kushida Kikyo, two key figures in the class, and their highly convincing explanation yesterday—

The vast majority of students in the class have accepted the proposal to collect class fees.

After all, it's only a quarter of your personal points, and it's a one-time thing, not something you have to hand over every month.

Most students had already taken out their phones and were lightly tapping the screens with their fingertips.

The transfer notification sounds rang out one after another—25,000 points is not a small amount for ordinary students, but at this moment it is like some kind of invisible ticket, exchanging for a place in the group.

Haruki Yamauchi and Kanji Ike were currently surrounding Kikyo Kushida, their faces plastered with fawning smiles, obediently handing over their 25,000 points.

Akira Shimizu thought that the reason these two guys were so vehemently opposed yesterday was probably just because they didn't like Yosuke Hirata.

However, not everyone is convinced.

Koenji Rokusuke hummed an unknown tune, his slender fingers elegantly twirling his keychain as he strolled out of the classroom, oblivious to everyone else, as if the class meeting had nothing to do with him.

"..." Sudo Ken followed behind him and left the classroom without looking back.

The same goes for Karuizawa Megumi's group of gyaru (gal) girls.

She was having a lively discussion with Matsushita Chiaki, Mori Nene and others about tonight's karaoke plans, occasionally bursting into silvery laughter, clearly not caring about the class funds at all.

As Shimizu Akira gazed thoughtfully, Karuizawa Megumi suddenly noticed his gaze.

Her slender fingers trembled slightly as she grabbed her phone in a flustered manner and began rapidly tapping the screen.

"bite--"

Akira Shimizu's phone immediately beeped. He glanced down and saw two messages pop up on the screen:

[Karuizawa Megumi: I will absolutely not compromise on the class fund issue! Shimizu-kun, don't overthink it!]

Immediately following closely behind was another urgent message:

[Karuizawa Megumi: ...I will transfer your points to you on time every month! You can rest assured about that!]

There was a palpable sense of panic in her words, and the exclamation mark at the end was used with extra force, as if to emphasize her determination through the screen.

Chapter 53: 053 Watashi, if it weren't for Shimizu Akira protecting him...

Actually, when Karuizawa Kei learned that next month's points would be converted into individual points at a ratio of 100 times the class points, she was probably the most panicked person in the class.

(What! So it's not a fixed 100,000 points every month after all!)

Just last Friday, she reached that secret protection agreement with Akira Shimizu: she would pay 80,000 points every month in exchange for his protection within the class.

This should have been a perfect deal, but who would have thought that just a few days later, she would find herself unable to afford to hire the other party.

(It's all because of that new limited-edition cosmetic set! And that fancy restaurant dinner over the weekend...)

She glanced furtively at her phone balance, and the glaring "2500" sent a jolt of pain through her stomach.

Right now, she can't even scrape together 3,000 points, let alone 25,000.

"Megumi, what's wrong? You look a little pale?" Matsushita Chiaki came over with concern.

"N-nothing~" She forced a signature sweet smile, but her fingertips made the phone case creak.

This is the price of being a top hottie—you have to maintain a glamorous image and not show any weakness, while also putting on a brave face when you're in financial straits.

However, what's really making her panic right now isn't just her wallet.

(Watashi, if it weren't for Shimizu Akira's protection...)

Karuizawa Kei is completely different from the solitary Horikita Suzune.

She knew better than anyone that she was like a vine clinging to a host—a parasite. Without the protection of others, she wouldn't even be able to sleep peacefully in this school.

(80,000 points... I need at least 80,000...)

Her fingertips unconsciously traced the unsightly scar on her abdomen as she mentally calculated the situation.

Although the class started with 100,000 points, she has played on her phone during class dozens of times in the past two weeks.

Not to mention those two idiots, Yamauchi and Ike Kanji, whose absences alone have cost them countless class points.

(I'd be grateful if I could hold onto 600 points... well, I'd better be conservative, half is fine! I'm not greedy at all!)

Five hundred means that at the end of the month, the individual's points will be at most fifty thousand, which is a full thirty thousand short of the agreed eighty thousand.

The number sent a spasm through her stomach, and even her old injuries started to ache.

"You look so pale..."

"It's nothing~ I probably stayed up too late watching dramas last night." She forced a smile at Matsushita.

When she caught a glimpse of Akira Shimizu's probing gaze out of the corner of her eye, she instinctively grabbed her phone, only realizing how obvious her reaction was after sending the message.

(Oh no... he must have figured it out...)

(If I don't have any points left, will he dump me next month?)

Cold sweat trickled down my back.

This agonizing feeling of walking on thin ice made her temples throb and even her breathing become difficult.

...

(They're probably broke but still trying to hold on!)

(She doesn't want me to know she's out of points...)

Shimizu Akira glanced at the other person subtly before looking away.

On the first day of school, 100,000 points were distributed, and the other party transferred 80,000 of them.

Add to that the extravagant spending of the past few days...

I estimate that the balance is running low.

However, Akira Shimizu showed no intention of interfering.

His relationship with that girl was far from being one where he needed to meddle.

After all, they weren't deskmates like Horikita Suzune.

Although Horikita Suzune's personality is indeed awkward, she is surprisingly trustworthy when it comes to matters of interest.

For every point he gave, the other party delivered on their promise.

The 80,000 points gained from the last transaction are like this.

The same applies to exchanging 16,000 points for Mandarin tutoring this time.

"...See you at the library at 5:30 after school on Friday. I'll tutor you in Mandarin."

Speak of the devil, and he appears; Horikita Suzune suddenly turned around, her voice slightly hoarse.

Akira Shimizu couldn't help but take a closer look at her.

The girl had very dark circles under her eyes, clearly indicating that she hadn't slept well the night before.

Even so, she did not forget to keep her promise.

"Let's put the tutoring aside for now..." Shimizu Akira paused, then posed a familiar yet crucial question, "What are your thoughts on being assigned to Class D this time?"

Horikita Suzune's eyes suddenly sharpened. After a long silence, she slowly said, "...Although I'm very unwilling, it seems that the school's class assignment system is indeed fair and reasonable."

The images of last night, which kept me tossing and turning, resurfaced in my mind.

Akira Shimizu's words, "Your brother isn't alone either," pierced her long-held stubbornness like a sharp sword.

She even went so far as to message Horikita Manabu to verify the information.

My brother's brief reply is still flashing on my phone screen: [Akane Tachibana was indeed an indispensable asset to me in the student council]

She knew that neither her brother nor the boy in front of her ever told the truth.

After a sleepless night of struggle, Horikita Suzune finally figured out three things:

First of all, she had to admit that it was only natural that she was assigned to Class D.

—Her teamwork skills are almost nonexistent, and her social skills are even more appalling.

Just like the maverick Rokusuke Koenji in the class, despite his outstanding abilities, he was deliberately shunned by the vast majority of his classmates.

She had heard the rumors about the two of them in class.

Horikita Suzune was not a dull person.

She felt the rejection and disgust in those gazes more acutely than anyone else.

(If this continues...)

Not only would he be completely rejected by his brother, but even Shimizu Akira would probably be—

This thought made her unconsciously bite her lower lip.

However, she would rather take such thoughts to her grave than reveal even a trace of them to Shimizu Akira.

This is her own stubborn secret.

As for the second thing: she wants to take Class D as a starting point and personally push this class to the level of Class A.

Since fate has placed her in the lowest-ranking class, she has no choice but to lead this motley crew to accumulate class points and climb step by step to Class A.

This was both a promise to her brother and a reflection of her own pride, which wouldn't allow her to be at the bottom of the class. Besides, Class A meant more personal points, and staying in Class D would make even a normal life very difficult.

In any case, getting promoted to Class A has become her most important goal at this stage.

As for the third point: she also needs to find a trustworthy helper.

Her brother knows how to leverage the strength of others, so there's no need for her to insist on being alone.

He wants to do what his brother does!

She completely abandoned those naive ideas of "never relying on anyone".

Forget about yesterday once the sun rises.

Horikita Suzune ushered in the first day of her change.

Chapter 54: 054 You really only have transactions on your mind!

"Shimizu-kun..."

Horikita Suzune suddenly stretched out her slender hand, which trembled slightly as it hovered in mid-air.

Akira Shimizu stared at the suddenly appearing hand, and only after a moment did he realize—was this a handshake?

(Is this a sudden apology for what happened last night?)

Since the girl had taken the initiative to reach out, he naturally had no reason to refuse.

When he gently took her hand, he noticed that the girl's fingertips were icy cold and her palm was a whole size smaller than his.

His palm easily enveloped her four fingers.

"Horikita-kun, there's no need for that. I've long since forgotten about what happened last night," Shimizu Akira said, gently shaking the other's small hand.

"...Who apologized to you!" Horikita Suzune abruptly pulled her hand back, her ears turning red as she glared at him. "I only invited you to be my sole assistant! This handshake is the form of our contract. Do you agree or not?"

She had no idea that Akira Shimizu would so readily take her hand.

Normally, a boy should at least hesitate for a moment when faced with such sudden physical contact.

(As expected of a boy in his adolescence... he won't miss any opportunity to get close to any girl.)

This realization inexplicably irritated her.