Houtarou Oreki Classroom of the Elite

After finishing their meal, Houtarou contacted Suzune and invited Kikyō as well.

Yesterday, Kikyō had vented her frustrations to him all evening. With the island exam likely starting soon, he decided to sell some basic information about its location and timing — details that wouldn't give much advantage even if known.

His system quest had an 8-day time limit, suggesting the island exam would last several days.

Since Kikyō's weekly meeting would happen on the island, he decided to increase her affection +1 first to lower her resistance.

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"So, Oreki-kun, what's the money-making plan for today?"

Despite her late-night venting session, Kikyō showed no signs of fatigue. She maintained her sweet smile and cute demeanor.

Having been summoned early without details, she seemed pleased to be included in the money-making scheme but wanted more information.

"That depends on how much money Ryūen has." He said.

"Oh." Her interest visibly faded.

Through her Class C contacts, she'd learned that Kakeru was a violent tyrant.

When Daichi and others had opposed him by joining Houtarou's store plan with 36 others, Kakeru had taken revenge.

Daichi still bore the scars from the beating.

He's a real delinquent — isn't that terrifying?

If they tried to squeeze points from him now, he'd remember them.

Retaliation would surely follow.

"Ryūen hates me, so he'll take his anger out on me." Houtarou said, studying her reaction.

"Oh." Kikyō nodded gently, cutely interlacing her fingers with feigned composure.

"..."

You're too easy to read, little girl.

Houtarou turned to Suzune beside him. She had maintained her usual cold demeanor, still clutching her vocabulary book.

He positioned himself in front of her.

"Let's shake hands first." He said.

"??" Suzune gave him a strange look.

Then she glanced at Kikyō.

Oh. She remembered.

Yesterday he had done the same thing with her, explaining that Kikyō's charm was too strong and he needed to check if he was wavering.

And now Kikyō was right here, deliberately acting cute.

Could Houtarou be wavering now?

With a stern face, Suzune lent him her strength. She raised her right hand, and their hands clasped.

〖 Do you want to use Restoration Ability on Suzune Horikita? 〗

Yes!

He quickly selected the system option.

"???" This scene left Kikyō dumbfounded.

So, as she suspected, these two must be dating.

She thought about her weekly meetings — Houtarou had said she made him realize he wasn't good with girls, that he needed her for experience.

Was she just experience points for his and Suzune's relationship?

Was she actually helping Suzune succeed? Was she beneath Suzune?

Damn!

"Kushida-san, mind your image." Houtarou quickly let go of Suzune's hand and reminded her.

"I hate this~ But I'm not getting angry." Kikyō quickly composed herself.

Suzune ignored her and continued walking forward, probably because Kushida had also dumped garbage on her before.

Kakeru was already up ahead.

He was leaning against the deck railing, with his 2-meter-tall follower Albert standing beside him.

"Well, if it isn't Houtarou Oreki. And he's brought two beautiful ladies with him—" Kakeru's tone seemed somewhat flirtatious.

Actually, the deployment was already set. He had sent Class C students out to socialize — though socializing was just a pretense, the real purpose was to test the loyalty of these students and swiftly deal with any easily swayed spies.

Another purpose was to deliberately make everyone think he was a tyrant, and that some people in Class C wanted to rebel against him.

Mio had even pulled off a trick to gain sympathy.

Though they didn't know the exam's content, direction, or rules yet, first they needed to plant this external image. This way, Mio and the supposed rebels could have an unexpected effect.

So Kakeru was in a good mood.

Seeing Houtarou approach, Kakeru harbored grudges over being tricked out of money from the 36 students' store and his 800,000 Points. However, his current goal was to target Class B and collect points first.

He'd leave this guy aside for now.

Before Houtarou could make his request, Kakeru took the initiative to greet him.

"Want to drain my points again? I have gathered some points." Kakeru said, "But unfortunately, I only have 100,000 left. Spent the rest."

He really hadn't demanded Points from his classmates this month.

Class C's Class Points weren't high, and collecting Points every month was causing complaints from classmates. To get Points, he decided to earn them himself.

Besides, he felt Houtarou was toxic, collecting Class C's Points through him only to take them from his hands. It was disgusting.

Now Kakeru's account only had a mere 103,000 Points.

"100,000? Well, that will have to do." Houtarou said, "I have some information to sell you."

"I won't fall for it."

"Are you sure?" Houtarou said calmly, "This concerns the exam. You might not have noticed, but this exam's questions are on the island. The ship has been circling the island for a long time, only approaching it today — likely the school wants us to observe the island properly. At this distance, camera equipment could reveal some unique locations."

"..." Kakeru.

Is that so? He also thought it was strange.

This ship kept circling the island, making people feel dizzy.

"I've transferred the points to you." He said quickly, then prepared to get up, "Let's go Albert!"

"??"

"Go borrow camera equipment! If the information is accurate, there must be something on this island we can get now that could provide shortcuts during the exam later!" Kakeru's instincts were sharp.

Albert hurriedly followed.

"However." He turned back with a smile, "To sell such important information for just 100,000. Do you think this exam will still have simple scores like 100 or 200 points? So Class A can maintain their overwhelming lead? Well unfortunately, according to my information, the student council president got 400 points in this exam. Houtarou Oreki, even you can get your feet wet at the shore!"

"..."

This guy is dumb?

"Why do you think I would sell you the information so cheaply?" Houtarou said, "I'm a Class A student — how would Class C climbing up benefit my Class A? I'm selling you this information because you won't have enough preparation time."

Just as he finished speaking, the ship's speakers crackled to life.

It was Class A's homeroom teacher, Tomonari Mashima-sensei, making an announcement.

[Beep! Microphone test!]

[Students, please change into your gym clothes in 10 minutes. Confirm your designated backpacks and luggage items, and bring your phones to gather on deck. Please leave all other personal items in your rooms. You may not be able to use the restroom for a while, so please take care of personal matters.]

[We will now conduct a special exam.]

In other words, the exam was really about to begin.

"..."

Damn. This means there's absolutely no preparation time left?

But.

"Thank you for your charity, Ryūen." Houtarou had already received Kakeru's transfer.

Then he also transferred points to Suzune and Kikyō.

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