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Ignoring the sharpness in her words, Yukio leisurely surveyed the D-class students with great satisfaction, revealing his trump card: "I have the midterm exam answers here, and I'm thinking of selling them."
"By the way, what's your name?" he asked again.
Repeating the question as if the conversation couldn't proceed without her answer, Yukio firmly held the reins of the situation.
"What?! Midterm exam answers?!" The red-haired Sudo was the first to react, craning his neck excitedly as if to leap across the table: "Really? Is that even possible? Hey, you're not trying to trick us, are you?!"
The D-class students who were restraining Sudo also became agitated: "Really? With the answers, we can pass the midterms without the hassle of studying!"
"Please sell them to us! We really need those answers!"
For these poor-performing students, the daily grind of attending study sessions was torturously dull. Memorizing knowledge points that just wouldn't stick felt like a death sentence.
But now, it was different with the answers in hand! No more study sessions, and they could go back to having fun.
So, no matter what, they were determined to get those answers!
Yukio didn't answer any questions, his gaze still fixed on the aloof girl opposite him, dominating the whole situation as if he were a king with no one able to change the scenario.
The aloof girl, Horikita Suzune, furrowed her brows deeply. She wasn't sure whether his words were true or false, but she had to seize even the slightest chance.
She had been struggling to tutor the likes of Sudo and other poor students, feeling that these guys just weren't cut out for studying. Without the answers, they were probably doomed to expulsion.
That would make it even harder to rise to Class A!
Under immense pressure, Horikita reluctantly conceded to Yukio, gritting her teeth and forcing out each word: "Horikita, Suzune."
It had to be said, Horikita was sufficiently aloof and looked outstanding with her long hair shining like polished piano black cascading down her back, her features clear under her icy demeanor.
It was almost a temptation to break that icy exterior and see just how fragile she might be inside. So, Yukio naturally played his part mischievously: "So, it's Horikita. Sorry, the part about the answers was just a joke."
"!" Horikita's face turned even colder, as dark as the bottom of a burnt pan, a surge of anger rising from being played!
Sudo, who was barely able to stay put, exploded: "Huh?! Just a joke? You really are asking for a beating!"
"Ha ha ha!" In contrast, the C-class students snickered and laughed under their breath. As expected, Yukio was never at a loss.
Horikita's face darkened, her eyelids drooping slightly as if not wanting to show her discomposure: "Yukio, right? If there's nothing else, please leave. Don't disturb our study."
"Enough joking around." Yukio, having had his fun, finally got down to business: "25,000 private points, and I'll sell you the midterm answers."
Hearing the price, Ishizaki couldn't help but feel embarrassed. True to Yukio's style, he had asked for a price 10,000 points higher than the senior's!
Tossing around the topic of the midterm answers, Horikita couldn't quite discern the truth from the fiction, glaring at Yukio: "How do I know this isn't another joke?"
The students of Class D were somewhat surprised; it was their first time seeing Horikita, the proud and cold girl, at a loss. So, there was someone in the school who could handle her!
Yukio shook his head amusedly, almost mocking Horikita's naivety: "The transaction record will remain on the school phone, and the school's financial center will have corresponding records."
"If it's a scam, you can complain to the school, and we'll likely have to pay an additional fine. What's there to worry about?"
Hearing this, the D-class students realized it made sense!
They began to urge Horikita: "Horikita, why not agree to it? With the answers, we won't have to fear expulsion!"
"Yeah, Horikita! We've spent all our private points, and this month our class points are zero. Consider it a loan from us. Once we get more points, we'll definitely pay you back!"
"Horikita, you can't just leave us in the lurch, right?!"
Urged by her classmates, Horikita's cold face found it hard to maintain its composure. Weighing the pros and cons, she realized that if she could get the answers for 25,000 points, it seemed like a good deal.
So she locked her gaze on Yukio: "Okay, but I need to know the source of the answers, or the deal is off."
Horikita's reasoning was simple: she needed to confirm the source of the answers. Otherwise, who knew if this 'answer' was real or just another cruel joke from Yukio?
As long as she had the source of the answers, Horikita could conduct her investigation to confirm their authenticity.
"No problem," Yukio Yoritaka readily agreed, not showing any hesitation or guilt, and disclosed the source of the answers. His frankness reassured Horikita, making her believe the answers were likely genuine.
However, for assurance, she still needed to investigate further.
While thinking about the investigation, Horikita remained wary of Yukio. Despite being peers, he had managed to obtain the answers from seniors and then sell them, balancing the cost. In contrast, she was diligently tutoring her classmates... Was this the difference? This was just between Class D and C. What about the even smarter students in Class B and A?
No, Horikita quickly denied in her mind, thinking Yukio was just being clever. She was determined not to fall behind him, now aware of the resourcefulness of senior students.
After understanding the source, Horikita immediately took out her school phone to make the transaction. But at this point, Yukio had Ishizaki come over to send the answers to Horikita and make some money off her in the process.
Ishizaki was overjoyed! He had not expected to recover the extra 5,000 points he paid to the senior, let alone earn it back from his peers.
And this money, as Yukio seemed to indicate, was his to keep!
Ishizaki happily completed the transaction with Horikita. Once everything was settled, Yukio left the study room with Ishizaki.
Outside the library, Yukio made a new plan: "Ishizaki, go sell the answers to Classes A and B as soon as possible. Now that Class D has bought our answers, there might be someone smart enough there to compete with us, and I don't want that."
"Just keep the price as low as possible. The students in Classes A and B are undoubtedly strong academically and may not need the answers, but you can sell them cheaply as a 'safety net.'"
"Understood!" Ishizaki, having made some money, was thrilled. Following Yukio was indeed the right choice. Even just a sip of the soup was satisfying.
Ishizaki recalled how, on the shopping day at the beginning of school, Yukio had told him to buy whatever he wanted, assuring him he wouldn't lack private points in the future.
Now, Yukio had kept his promise, further solidifying Ishizaki's resolve to stick with him.
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