Houtarou Oreki Classroom of the Elite

"My points have decreased."

Since Arisu had revealed her ambition to become Student Council President, helping her might result in her taking on Class A's responsibilities. So Houtarou was willing to chat with her.

Moreover, after sitting down, she kept looking at him with quite a cute expression.

She was already wielding a girl's weapons — quite unfair.

"I exchanged most of my points for cash." He said, "I have less than 500,000 points on my student ID. And regarding school points, Sakayanagi-san, what's your view? If you had 20 million points, would you choose to keep them as points, or would you rather have the equivalent in cash?"

He was curious.

Arisu was one of the few people in this school who thought similarly to him, while also being exceptionally intelligent.

"Me?" She paused for a moment, "Probably cash. Even though students are confined here for three years, everyone has used and will continue to use cash in the future, right? So, giving them cash directly — don't you think they'd become more loyal?"

In other words, using actual money was more direct and could move people's hearts more effectively.

After all, Points were just Points. Though they could be used for purchases, having real money in hand felt very different.

As expected of you.

Houtarou thus understood that Arisu was also an ambitious person.

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After lunch, he left the cafeteria and messaged Suzune.

The conversation with Arisu had served to express that he had no hostility toward her, and she had given an interesting answer.

However, while cash was good, Points were still the currency of this school. His account only had 320,000, which would be a huge sum for other freshmen, but for him, it was essentially borrowed money from the person who had transferred the 1 million earlier.

If they made any unreasonable demands, he would have to return the Points.

Thus, today's goal was to first secure that 1 million. When it came to making money, Houtarou was always single-minded.

He directly contacted his efficient tool, Suzune.

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Masumi watched him leave the cafeteria.

Because of Arisu's slow movements, Masumi usually waited for her, but today Arisu seemed content to stay seated.

She remained in her spot, her beautiful brows furrowed in deep thought.

"By the way, are you really interested in becoming Student Council President?" Masumi asked.

"..."

"Sakayanagi?"

"..."

"Sakayanagi-san?"

"I'm listening, Kamuro-san, but surely you understand that pretending not to hear means I don't wish to answer." Arisu said.

So that was it — she didn't want to answer.

Masumi made a mental note of this slight. Though she always came when called, Arisu had chosen to ignore her.

The humiliation stung, and she silently promised herself to return the favor someday.

But hadn't Arisu and Houtarou just discussed the Student Council presidency? What could she be pondering that was more important?

Was there something more significant than becoming Student Council President?

Perhaps it was about Houtarou having fewer than 500,000 points? Really now, how bourgeois — since when was having less than 500,000 considered poor?

She herself had less than 200,000, after all.

"However." Arisu's voice cut through Masumi's racing thoughts, "If I become Student Council President, I'll specifically appoint Kamuro-san to the council."

Oh? Masumi's attention snapped back immediately.

She had been serving this little girl like a faithful servant, partly hoping for exactly this kind of opportunity.

If Arisu joined the Student Council and became president, surely she'd bring her faction along, right?

"As for Kamuro-san, while your academic performance isn't stellar, your ability to execute tasks is quite good. I think I'll create a special position for you — the Student Council pet. Though no previous council had such a position, I'll establish it when I become president. This role will be exclusively yours, Kamuro-san." Arisu said.

"..."

Masumi's face fell.

Heh. A pet position? She refused.

However, Arisu continued, "Then I'll use the Student Council President's authority to give the pet a raise. 100,000 points per month, Kamuro-san, and as a pet you won't need to do anything. Don't you think it's a good position?"

She became cute again.

But Masumi maintained her stoic expression.

Heh. Did this little girl really think she would accept so easily?

Arisu stopped her teasing.

"But." She said, "Oreki-kun is really quite cunning. He's steering me toward becoming Student Council President — or more precisely, he wants me to take that position so he can shift Class A's responsibilities onto me. Oreki-kun dislikes trouble, after all. By pushing me to such heights, he probably wants me to lead Class A."

Oh… So Houtarou was actually working for Class A's benefit?

Though relegated to being Arisu's loyal follower, Masumi remained confident in her abilities.

While the Kōhei faction had numerous supporters, Masumi doubted his ability to protect the class.

After all, taking a conservative and steady approach wasn't necessarily safe.

As Arisu had taught her, true safety came from actively attacking and widening the gap until opponents could never catch up.

So, seeing Houtarou's efforts reassured Masumi as a Class A student.

"Then after you become Student Council President, will you appoint him as vice president?" she asked curiously.

"No, I won't let him join the Student Council at all." Arisu said firmly, "I will make the Student Council practical, but he absolutely won't be part of it."

So she actually harbored ill feelings toward him?

As Student Council President, she would have free rein over appointments. Yet even after achieving such a position, she wouldn't grant him any role.

Then why did she still interact with him, purposely sitting beside him?

Sometimes when Masumi's mind wandered, she noticed Arisu doing the same — just watching Houtarou's studying posture in the next seat.

Was Arisu being... petty?

Masumi couldn't make sense of it.

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"..."

In the back seat, behind Arisu's reserved booth, a man sitting with his back to them pushed up his glasses.

His presence had always been commanding — but that was when everyone acknowledged him as Student Council President.

Now, with his back turned to them, Manabu discovered his presence had diminished considerably.

He had been sitting here for half an hour, yet neither Houtarou nor Arisu had noticed him.

Still, going unnoticed wasn't the issue.

He had overheard their conversation. Despite being the current Student Council President with six months left to serve, they spoke as if he were easily replaceable.

His feelings were complicated.

What's more, these two seemed indifferent about becoming Student Council President.

Don't they realize Miyabi's dream is to become Student Council President?

Don't they understand the significance of the President's authority? And yet they treat it so casually?

Is this really the character of the incoming freshman class?

What Miyabi desperately aspires to, they merely see as a tool for their own convenience.

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Meanwhile, as Manabu wrestled with his thoughts, Houtarou had already met up with Suzune, his reliable ally.

Suzune was dependable and punctual whenever summoned. She had likely rushed over, her straight black hair and dark stockings lending her an elegant yet alluring presence.

She was truly beautiful.

Houtarou realized he'd spent his lunch with the school's most adorable girl, only to meet with its most striking beauty right after.

Many boys would surely envy his position if they knew.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, his phone vibrated.

Having been recently restarted, it played the automatic transfer notification sound.

Ding!

『1,000,000 Points have been credited to your account!』

『Sender - Unknown』

Upon seeing this notification, Suzune — who had been approaching — suddenly halted.

She stood frozen, staring at the scene before her with visible hesitation, unsure whether to continue forward.

After all...

"You really are different from everyone else." Suzune said, "You claimed to be short on points and needed to secure that first million. But you're not lacking funds anymore, are you? You've just received a million."

She felt her presence was now unnecessary.

"..." Houtarou appeared momentarily lost in thought.

Then he bowed his head to examine the transfer notification.

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