Looking at the frail Kanda Shuichi, Chabashira sighed to herself. Oh well, maybe buying him something to help him out a bit won't hurt.
"How many points do you want?"
What?
What do you mean by that?
"I didn't ask for any points."
"How many points would it take for you to give up competing with Ayanokouji?"
Kanda Shuichi hadn't expected Chabashira-sensei to think that way. He just wanted to mess with her a bit—after all, she didn't really act much like a teacher.
But she actually thought he was after points? What's that about, Chabashira-sensei?
Seeing Kanda Shuichi stay silent, Chabashira Sae continued talking, totally ignoring his reaction.
"How about 100,000 points a month? I've gathered some info on you—you're always eating expensive meals, and even when you cook, you pick the best ingredients. But with 100,000 points a month, you'd still be able to eat well."
Just so I won't against with Ayanokouji, you're trying to buy me off? What do you take me, Kanda Shuichi, for? Do you think I need your 100,000 points a month? Are you trying to insult me with money?!
"Deal!"
Hearing Kanda Shuichi's confirmation, Chabashira Sae let out a quiet sigh of relief. Good, it's only 100,000 a month—manageable. As for Kanda Shuichi backing out, that's unlikely. With how accustomed he's become to eating lavishly, he'd probably have a hard time going back to regular meals.
Seeing the 100,000 points hit his account, Kanda Shuichi decided he should tell Chabashira-sensei the truth; otherwise, she'd be too pitiful.
"Chabashira-sensei, actually, I—"
"Don't push it."
How am I pushing it? I was just trying to say I had something else to say. What's your problem?
Seeing Kanda Shuichi go silent again, Chabashira-sensei sighed.
"If there's something else, just say it."
"Actually, I think it's not great for you to always keep such a stern face. Can you give me a smile?"
The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward. Then Chabashira Sae flashed a smile like that of a demon.
"Is this the smile you were asking for?"
With the streetlight casting shadows, her face looked especially terrifying, and Kanda Shuichi shuddered. It was like seeing a ghost!
"No, no, too scary! How about just showing a shy expression?"
"Ah! Stop it!"
"Sorry, I pushed it too far!"
"So stop pulling on my ear..."
After a moment, Kanda Shuichi rubbed his ear, looking at Chabashira, who seemed refreshed.
"I just wanted to tell you about something that happened today."
"Something that happened today?"
"Yeah, actually, it was me who orchestrated Ayanokouji's move to save Yamauchi. Or rather, it was part of a plan we had set up."
Chabashira Sae's mind went blank for a second. Why? Saving Yamauchi doesn't benefit you. Why would you save him?
Seeing her confused expression, Kanda Shuichi felt a bit smug and then proudly explained his plan to the bewildered teacher, of course, keeping the contract part secret.
Terrifying! This student is terrifying!
This move not only created a common enemy for most of the class but also made sure others wouldn't casually betray him. On top of that, he reinforced his "pitiful" image in the class.
As for other motives, Chabashira Sae couldn't think of any right now, but she felt this situation might have even further-reaching effects.
What else could his purpose be? Obviously, to leave Class D with a scapegoat! If one day Class D has to expel someone, Kanda Shuichi can rally the class to sacrifice Yamauchi Haruki.
So, did I just get tricked into paying 10 private points? No, it's 100,000 every month!
"Kanda Shuichi, does the 100,000 points each month still stand?"
"Get lost!"
…
These adults… can't keep their word!
Chabashira Sae took a deep breath, feeling like she couldn't continue talking with Kanda Shuichi; otherwise, she'd end up feeling like an idiot herself.
"This 100,000 can be an advance on next month."
With that, Chabashira left, but it seemed she was still sticking to the monthly 100,000-point agreement from before.
Kanda Shuichi stretched in satisfaction. After all this time, his stomach had just about digested everything, so it was time to walk back.
He had barely taken a few steps when he spotted a familiar figure near the railing up ahead.
Oh, isn't that Kushida Kikyo? What's she doing here this late?
Might as well say hi.
But the next moment, he froze. What the… did I just wake up too fast?
"So annoying! Just because she's cute, she's gotten so full of herself!"
Then, he heard the sound of someone kicking the railing hard.
*Bam! Bam!*
Hmm, looks like I've stumbled onto some kind of hidden scene.
Kanda Shuichi quietly took out his phone and started recording…
While the camera flash and shutter sound couldn't be disabled, recording only gave a notification at the very end. As long as he stopped recording right when she kicked the railing, she'd never notice.
"So annoying! So annoying! So annoying!"
*Bam! Bam! Bam!*
"Why doesn't someone like Horikita just drop dead already? That stupid girl!"
Kanda Shuichi watched as Kushida vented for almost a minute until she finally stopped. He quietly ended the recording and put away his phone.
"Ahem!"
The sudden cough made Kushida's whole body tense up. She slowly turned her head and saw Kanda Shuichi standing under the streetlight.
"Ka…nda…? What are you doing here?"
"Chabashira-sensei called me out here to talk."
Hearing Chabashira-sensei's name, Kushida's expression instantly turned tense.
"Chabashira-sensei? Where?"
"She left about five minutes ago."
Five minutes. She'd only been here two or three minutes herself, so Chabashira-sensei definitely hadn't witnessed anything. Kushida quietly sighed in relief and looked back at Kanda Shuichi.
"You… saw everything?"
Kushida's expression was extremely unpleasant, her voice cold and low, completely different from her usual angelic demeanor. Oddly enough, Kanda Shuichi actually preferred her like this; even her voice sounded much better than the fake high-pitched one she usually used.
"Do you believe me if I say I didn't hear anything?"
Kanda Shuichi put on a helpless look on purpose, then walked toward Kushida.
"And, I always had a feeling you weren't exactly as you appeared to be. This side of you... this is the real you, isn't it?"
No one is flawless, and no one can be friends with everyone. Even saints have preferences and dislikes. After all, people aren't machines.
So, seeing Kushida act like this, Kanda Shuichi thought it was normal—this was human.
"All that time acting sweet and gentle must have built up a lot of pressure, huh? I was just wondering when you'd let it out. Didn't expect to run into it head-on like this. It must be fate."
As he walked and talked, Kanda Shuichi arrived right in front of Kushida Kikyo.
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