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

Akira Shimizu didn't even turn around; he just shook his phone, and the transfer interface was clearly displayed on the screen.

(That bastard... his mind is always on points!)

Kikyo Kushida was extremely gloomy at this moment.

(...Even if he agrees, it's only a verbal agreement! I don't believe he'll keep his word at all. What if he intentionally or unintentionally reveals it to other classmates afterward?)

(Ultimately, it all boils down to... I don't believe him at all! I don't trust anyone! I only believe the other person's dark past!)

(However, I don't know anything about the other person's dark past, so I have no way of controlling them at all!)

Kikyo Kushida's fingernails almost pierced her palm as a dangerous thought flashed through her mind—

(Since the other party has no dark history, can't I just create one myself?)

But then she shook her head inwardly: (No, not quite...)

(Ultimately, this is just a little election tactic. Is it really worth going to such lengths? This is the first time I've ever done something like that!)

Chapter 64: 063 I'll leave your handprint on my clothes.

Akira Shimizu was completely unaware of the dark thoughts churning within the girl behind him.

In his view, Kushida's reaction was perfectly normal—intelligent people always dislike uncertainty, just like how they hate opponents who don't play by the rules when playing chess.

These kinds of people always want to keep the initiative firmly in their hands, and even cooperation is designed to be a one-sided exploitation.

(But there's no such thing as a free lunch.)

Akira Shimizu fiddled with his phone, his gaze calmly fixed on the campus goddess before him.

(She's clearly an impeccably beautiful girl...)

(But surprisingly cunning.)

(As Ayanokouji was right, the other party's real target was me.)

Compared to an elusive date, 80,000 personal points are clearly more tangible.

"Kushida-kun," Shimizu Akira said slowly after thinking for a moment, "are you worried that I'll change my mind later and leak your plan?"

Before the other person could respond, he continued, "But have you considered this—given your popularity in the class, even if I told someone, who would believe me?"

"...Shimizu-kun, are you really, really not going to tell me the truth? Can you turn around, look me in the eyes, and say it again?" A girl's timid voice came from behind, her tone filled with unease.

"Alright." Shimizu Akira sighed helplessly, thinking that this classmate was far too insecure.

Just as he turned around, Kikyo Kushida suddenly reached out and grabbed his left hand tightly, then pressed his hand against her chest without hesitation.

"Huh? What are you doing...?" Shimizu Akira was momentarily stunned, but the soft touch from his palm made him instantly understand the other party's intention.

What is she trying to do? Is she deliberately giving him a perk?

"As expected of Shimizu-san!" Kikyo Kushida smiled innocently. "You controlled the pressure perfectly; hopefully, it won't leave fingerprints, right?"

"Could you close your fingers and squeeze a little harder, three or four times?"

"you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Please feel free to touch it, Shimizu-kun."

"...Alright, since you've put it that way..."

Akira Shimizu did exactly as instructed.

"Hmph~..." Kushida's ears instantly flushed crimson, but he forced a calm smile and said, "Shimizu-kun... you really are quite ruthless, aren't you? But you're very obedient, and I don't dislike that about you."

She suddenly leaned closer, her citrus-scented hair brushing against Akira Shimizu's cheek: "Now, my clothes also have something on them, you know~ I'll protect them with plastic wrap. If you don't want to be called in by the police, you'd better keep our secret conversation at the coffee shop today... well, you'll have to keep it a secret."

Akira Shimizu stood frozen, watching the other person's figure slowly disappear, before finally coming to his senses: "What kind of threat is that...?"

He pulled out his phone from his pocket, the recording interface always lit up. The screen's glow reflected his twitching lips: "With the whole thing recorded... you're basically giving this away for free, aren't you?"

Yes, he recorded it.

After all, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had specifically reminded him, and he already had some wariness towards the other party.

So the recording never stopped from the moment the two began their private conversation.

(Whose incriminating evidence did they have?)

......

Kikyo Kushida quickly transferred the 80,000 points.

Akira Shimizu stared at the payment notification on his phone, raising an eyebrow—

(Where did she get this money from? Did she borrow it from other classmates?)

But now that he had the points, he didn't bother to investigate further.

Regarding the so-called "handle" the other party had, that recording is enough to prove that it was the other party's initiative from beginning to end, and had nothing to do with him.

That said, can fingerprints on clothing really be used as evidence?

In the dead of night, Akira Shimizu lay on his back in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

(etc...)

He suddenly frowned, a strange sense of déjà vu washing over him.

(Has this trading pattern happened far too many times lately?)

Memories flashed by like a revolving lantern—Karuizawa Kei's awkward blush as she transferred money, Horikita Suzune's sharp eyes as she paid with a cold face, Sakayanagi Arisu's elegant posture as she swiped the bill with a playful smile... and today's Kushida Kikyo.

(This is the fourth one...)

Akira Shimizu sprang to his feet, then suddenly chuckled in the darkness: "Could it be... I have an unexpected talent for business? Is it almost time for the fifth customer to open?"

He was instantly wide awake, rolled over, grabbed his phone from the bedside table, and skillfully switched to his rarely used secondary number.

The screen glaringly displayed "read"—the message from Long Yuanxiang of Class C remained unanswered, not even a punctuation mark was spared in the reply.

On the other hand, Honami Ichinose from Class B was even more decisive, ending the chat with a polite yet firm refusal.

"Uh..." He couldn't help but rub the screen with his thumb, giving a self-deprecating twitch at the corner of his mouth.

It turns out that the so-called "transactions with beautiful girls are guaranteed to succeed" was just wishful thinking on my part.

......

Inside Ichinose Honami's dormitory on the upper floor of the dormitory building.

Honami Ichinose held her phone, her fingertips gently tracing the screen. After hesitating for a long time, she finally sent a message in the class group chat.

Honami Ichinose: Everyone, please pay special attention to following the school's daily conduct rules recently! (。o?-)?

Shibata Hayate: Received! Don't worry, squad leader, I've already emphasized it to everyone!

Ryuji Kanzaki: Understood. We'll also be careful not to disclose any information to other classes.

Chihiro Shiranami: We'll definitely keep what Ichinose-san said! (?o?o)??

Shibata Hayate: But speaking of which, how did the class president know all this inside information? You suddenly called a meeting during lunch break today; the students in Class B were all startled! (⊙_⊙)

Honami Ichinose: Ahaha... Actually, a senior from Class D in the second year approached me to make a deal~ But I can't reveal who it was (^_^;)

Ryuji Kanzaki: I understand. This does involve privacy issues. Ichinose-kun, although everyone contributed 10,000 points this time, please convey our gratitude to that senior.

Honami Ichinose: Okay, I'll contact her right now! (?o?o?)?

Honami Ichinose breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, she had exchanged contact information with the other party when she met at noon.

She opened her phone's contacts, found the contact named "Mountain Village Senior," hesitated for a moment, and then sent a message.

Honami Ichinose: Yamamura-senpai, thank you so much this time! If it weren't for your reminder, our Class B might have been in a passive position in the first month of school... (＞人＜；)

Mountain Village Senior: No need to thank me, I was just doing someone a favor. In fact, thanks to you, I've earned a decent amount of points.

Honami Ichinose: Eh? Someone asked you to do this...? May I ask, who asked you to do this?

Mountain Village Senior: Sorry, I can't reveal this, and the other party doesn't want to tell you either. Besides... it's best if we don't contact each other anymore; I don't want to be targeted by the vice president.

Honami Ichinose: Huh?! Vice-Chairman—

Mountain Village Senior: Anyway, let's block each other! Next time we meet, just pretend you don't know me!

The moment the message was sent, the other person's profile picture turned gray.

Honami Ichinose stared blankly at the screen, her fingertips hovering over the keyboard, unable to react for a moment.

—Entrusted by someone?

In other words, the person who actually reminded Class B... is someone else entirely?

Chapter 65: 064 What? Only our Class C is still in the dark.

The lights were still on in the teachers' office at 8:30 p.m.

Tomoya Mashima was still flipping through the English dictionary.

As the homeroom teacher of Class A, he usually appears somewhat aloof in front of his students, and is accustomed to maintaining an appropriate distance from each student.

But those who know him well know that this seemingly aloof teacher harbors a deep and genuine concern for his students.

Before taking over a new class, he would always study all the students' information carefully three days in advance, just to understand the characteristics of each child more quickly.

In terms of lesson preparation, he dedicates at least three hours every day to ensure the quality of each class.

If we were to choose the most competent teacher for first grade, without any behind-the-scenes manipulation, Majima Tomo would undoubtedly be number one.

Majima turned another page of his lesson plan. He noticed that his thermos was empty, so he got up to get some hot water.

He froze for a moment as he turned around.

The teachers' office, which should have been empty, was now full of people.

Chie Hoshinomiya from Class B was grading homework with her head down, while Kazuma Sakagami from Class C was leaning back in his chair, twirling a pen in his hand; most surprisingly, even Sae Chabashira from Class D was sitting in her seat, her fingertips rhythmically tapping the table.

Majima glanced subconsciously at the wall clock.

At this time, he should have been the only one in the office.

I occasionally run into Sakagami, but it's rare to see everyone here like today.

His gaze lingered on Sakagami for a few more seconds.

As colleagues, they maintained superficial politeness but were never able to develop a deep friendship.

Majima could never agree with Sakagami's biased and indiscriminate approach to protecting his students—regardless of whether they were right or wrong, this homeroom teacher always sided with his students, even resorting to underhanded methods behind their backs.

However, Majima had to admit that Sakagami did indeed prioritize the interests of the class.

This obsessive defense may stem from a teacher's sense of mission, or it may simply be driven by the year-end bonus for the class's academic advancement.

But whatever the reason, it doesn't really matter, as long as the result is good.

As for the other two—Hoshinomiya Chie and Chabashira Sae—they were old acquaintances of his.

The three of them were in the same grade in high school, but in different classes.

Now, after all these twists and turns, we've ended up working together at this school again—it's quite a coincidence.

However, as a friend, Tomoya Mashima couldn't honestly say that they were competent teachers.

Hoshinomiya Chie's private life can be described as unrestrained.

She changes boyfriends more often than she changes classes. Majima doesn't want to interfere with her personal choices, but the problem is that she even sneaks out for drinks on weekdays, walking into the classroom the next day with dark circles under her eyes and reeking of alcohol.

It's no wonder that someone in this state can't teach students well.

Chasashi Sakae, on the other hand, is the complete opposite extreme.

She has a cold personality and, apart from a short-lived relationship in high school, she has never been in a relationship again in all these years.

Majima guessed that perhaps it was her ever-present cigarette that deterred most of her suitors—after all, not all men can tolerate the lingering smell of tobacco on their partner.

As for her teaching attitude? She was even more perfunctory than Hoshinomiya.

He arrives at the last minute for class and leaves immediately after class; none of the classes he teaches have ever successfully advanced to the next level.

Rather than a teacher, he's more like a workplace ghost who clocks in on time.

However, in terms of actual ability, their teaching skills are actually no worse than his.

Otherwise, how could they retain their teachers given the stringent teacher recruitment standards of the High School of Education?

Majima still remembers that when she first joined the school, Chabashira Sae was a meticulous teacher. Her lesson plans were written neatly and in detail, and she never missed a tutoring session after class.