"Senpaku, I am Sakamoto. What brings you here?"

First-grade students can be seen everywhere enjoying their "holiday".

This is a sea trip funded and organized by the school.

Top-notch restaurants, upscale recreational facilities, spacious swimming pool…

Everything was filled with a relaxed vacation atmosphere.

however,

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji stood by the railing beside the swimming pool.

The sea breeze ruffled the stray hairs on his forehead.

His gaze remained as calm as ever, even carrying a hint of scrutiny that was barely perceptible.

He didn't think this was just a simple vacation.

yesterday,

On the eve of boarding,

He had a brief conversation with his homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae.

The content of the conversation was still echoing in his mind.

Teacher Chazhu told him,

A few days ago, a "man" came to the school.

They explicitly demanded that Kiyotaka Ayanokoji be expelled from school.

Ayanokouji simply replied, "That's ridiculous."

But Chashu's next words carried a deeper meaning:

"As long as you're still in this school, the rules will protect you. But if you make a mistake, that's a different story."

Her words were a reminder.

Or rather... it's a veiled form of blackmail.

Ayanokouji naturally saw through her purpose: she demanded that Ayanokouji lead Class D to Class A.

Ayanokouji ultimately accepted this "task" with silence and ambiguity.

He knew who the "man" who asked him to drop out of school was.

But right now,

The more practical question is—how to get Class D promoted to Class A?

Or,

How to defeat that obstacle that stands like a towering mountain in our path?

Sakamoto.

Just as Ayanokouji was lost in thought,

The noise from the trio of idiots next to him interrupted his train of thought.

Haruki Yamauchi, Kanji Ike, and Kenji Sudo were huddled together.

His gaze lingered on the girls playing in the pool.

His face was beaming with simple excitement.

Yamauchi suddenly turned his head.

With a rare hint of confusion on his face, he asked:

"But speaking of which... it feels a little strange that the school is suddenly being so kind as to invite us on a luxury cruise vacation..."

Ayanokouji's gaze shifted slightly.

It seems that even those within the mountains instinctively sensed something was amiss.

He was thinking about how to guide their thinking.

Suddenly, a loud "gurgling" sound came from Ike Kanji's stomach.

"Ah! I'm starving!"

Chi Kuanzhi rubbed his stomach and started yelling.

"Who cares! There's a free feast anyway! Let's go try the luxury restaurants on the cruise ship first!"

The proposal was immediately met with a positive response from Yamauchi and Sudo.

"good idea!"

"Let's go! Let's go eat!"

Ayanokouji followed silently behind them.

The group arrived at the luxurious restaurant on the upper deck of the cruise ship.

Soft lighting, elegant decor…

The air was filled with the rich aroma of food.

Some students were already sitting inside eating.

Most of them were neatly dressed and behaved politely.

This stands in stark contrast to the casually dressed, even somewhat slovenly, trio of bumbling fools.

The three of them suddenly seemed a little flustered, and their momentum instantly diminished.

They awkwardly found a place to sit down.

Pick up the beautifully crafted menu,

Looking at those fancy English letters and incomprehensible dish names,

I was instantly lost in confusion.

"What...what are all these?"

Kanji Ike muttered to himself.

"I don't recognize many of the characters..."

Sudo frowned.

"Maybe...we should just leave?" Yamauchi hesitated, feeling uneasy.

"This kind of place doesn't seem to suit us..."

Ayanokouji looked at them, speechless.

It seems we won't be getting this "free meal" after all.

Just as the three were about to get up and slip away,

A voice came from the side:

"Do you need help?"

The group looked up.

A male student with short brown hair, an average appearance, and a somewhat composed demeanor walked over.

The trio of idiots paused for a moment, looking at him with some wariness.

Yamauchi hesitated for a moment,

Let's just admit it honestly:

"Uh... I'm having a little trouble understanding the menu..."

"It doesn't matter,"

"Many of the dish names are indeed quite elaborate. Let me introduce them to you; this dish is... and that dish is..."

He began to patiently explain the dishes on the menu.

His attitude was natural, without revealing the slightest hint of disdain or superiority.

It was just ordinary help between classmates.

Ayanokouji's gaze fell on the boy.

He recognized the other person.

This is Yahiko Totsuka, a student in Class A of the first year.

I saw him when I was investigating the composition of Class A.

But I didn't have much of a deep impression of it.

His gaze then swept to another corner of the restaurant.

I saw a familiar bald figure—

Katsuragi Yasuhei.

Katsuragi also noticed the situation here.

But he simply watched quietly, without saying a word to stop or interfere with Totsuka Yahiko's actions.

Katsuragi is quite familiar with Totsuka Yahiko.

At the beginning of the school year,

Totsuka Yahiko had a strong disapproval of Sakamoto's unconventional and attention-grabbing style.

Moreover, as a member of Class A, he was just like some other students in Class A at the time.

It subtly conveyed a sense of superiority and disdain for the lower-level classes.

At that time, he was closer to Katsuragi, who was steady and rule-abiding.

however,

Over time,

Sakamoto, with his impeccable performances, absolute strength, and indescribable unique personal charm,

He gradually won over many people in Class A.

Totsuka Yahiko's attitude also subtly changed.

His disdain for other classes gradually disappeared.

Instead, a more peaceful attitude has emerged.

Katsuragi guessed,

This shift was largely influenced by Sakamoto.

Everyone in Class A knew very well just how strong Sakamoto was.

But it is this Sakamoto,

Yet he never displayed any condescending attitude.

He will still communicate with people calmly.

They will lend a helping hand to others in times of trouble in an unexpected yet efficient way.

It was as if all of this was perfectly natural.

Perhaps it is this "unity of strength and humility" that is truly admirable.

He subtly influenced Totsuka Yahiko.

It also affected many people, including Katsuragi himself.

Katsuragi himself understood this.

His way of thinking was also slightly changed because of Sakamoto.

For example, regarding this seemingly luxurious cruise trip,

Katsuragi harbored deep doubts.

When I came to the restaurant not long ago,