"So, does anyone have a problem with what I just said?" I asked, letting my words hang in the air like a challenge. The classroom was utterly silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. I could see their faces—some confused, some hesitant, others already calculating their options. No one dared to speak, not yet. They were all still grappling with the implications of my proposal.
Ryuen stood casually to my left, his ever-present smirk hinting at his amusement. Ishizaki, on the other hand, looked completely lost, his brow furrowed as he glanced between me and the rest of the class. It wasn't surprising—he had no clue about the details of the plan.
To put it simply, the plan wasn't complicated—it was designed to function like a bank. Each student would contribute 50% of their points to a shared pool under my control.
"Can you explain it just one last time?" someone asked from the back of the room, their voice hesitant but tinged with a mix of curiosity and doubt.
I sighed, loudly enough to let my irritation show, running a hand through my hair. "Alright," I said, my tone carrying just enough edge to make a few people shift in their seats. "Let me explain it as clearly as humanly possible so we can put this conversation to rest."
I glanced around the room, making eye contact with a few students, letting my gaze linger just long enough to make them feel the weight of the moment. Ryuen stood to my left, arms crossed and smirking as though he was thoroughly enjoying the show. Ishizaki, on the other hand, looked like he was about to ask yet another dumb question, so I shot him a warning look to keep him quiet.
"Here's how it's going to work," I began, my voice firm and steady, ensuring there was no room for misunderstanding. "Starting this month, every student in this class will contribute 50% of their points to a shared pool. For this month, that means 50,000 points from everyone. This collection will happen every single month, no exceptions."
I paused for a moment, letting the initial shock settle in before continuing. "Now, I know what you're thinking. 'What happens to the points after that? Who gets to use them? What stops someone—like me—from abusing the system?' Valid questions, but let me make this crystal clear: these points will be stored safely and untouched. Not by you. Not by me. Not by anyone."
I let that sink in, watching as a few skeptical faces began to soften. That was the trick—address their doubts before they could turn into outright resistance. "This pool will be managed under my leadership, with oversight from Ryuen to ensure transparency." I gestured toward him, and he gave a lazy wave, his smirk widening. "If that's not enough to reassure you, let me sweeten the deal."
I leaned forward slightly, my tone shifting to something more persuasive. "There will be an interest rate applied to the points you contribute. Think of it as an incentive for those who are smart enough to commit. For example, if a student contributes 600,000 points over the course of a year, they'll earn 1% interest. That means by the end of the year, they'll have 606,000 points if they decide to withdraw."
The room was still silent, but I could tell they were beginning to come around. Even the most stubborn students couldn't ignore the potential benefits.
"And there's one more layer," I added, my tone turning more strategic. "To ensure fairness, there will be a voting system in place to choose who keeps the money."
"So does anyone have a problem right now?"
A moment of silence passed before someone finally spoke up. "Wait," the voice came, cautious but firm. "Since it's your idea Takashiro-kun, how about you manage the points yourself? You seem to know how this functions better than anyone else, and you clearly have the knowledge to make it work."
"That's a fair point," I replied. "But the reason I proposed a voting system to select the person in charge was to prevent any issues of trust or favoritism. This way, the class decides who keeps the points, not just me. It ensures that no one can claim bias or accuse anyone of mismanagement later on."
I paused for a moment, letting my words settle before adding, "That said, if you don't want a vote and you'd prefer I take full control of managing the points, I have no issue with that either. It honestly makes things simpler for me. But I'm giving you the option because this system is supposed to benefit all of us, and transparency matters. So, what will it be?"
The room stirred slightly, murmurs rippling through the students as they exchanged uncertain glances. I could see the gears turning in their heads, some weighing their trust in me, others thinking about the implications of handing over that much responsibility.
I leaned back slightly, my posture relaxed but my gaze sharp. "Decide quickly," I added, my tone carrying a subtle warning. "The longer you hesitate, the more time we waste. The choice is yours—vote for transparency or trust me to manage the points directly. Either way, the system moves forward."
The murmurs grew louder. Ryuen, standing to my side, watched the scene unfold with his trademark smirk, clearly enjoying the show. Ishizaki looked like he wanted to say something but wisely kept quiet, probably sensing it wasn't the right time to test my patience.
Finally, someone from the back of the room hesitantly spoke up. "If we vote, how do we know you won't just sway the results in your favor, Takashiro-kun?"
I met their gaze directly, unflinching. "You don't," I said bluntly, my voice cool and composed. "But consider this—if I wanted full control without your consent, I wouldn't be standing here giving you the option to vote in the first place. I don't need your permission to lead. I'm offering this vote as a courtesy, not an obligation. Think carefully about what that means."
The room fell silent again, the weight of my words pressing down on them. I leaned forward slightly, my smirk sharpening into something more predatory. "Now, make your choice."
I could see a few students exchanging glances, their minds racing as they weighed their options. Some looked ready to trust me, drawn in by my confidence, while others appeared hesitant, uncertain about handing over control. The atmosphere was charged with a mix of anticipation and trepidation.
After a moment that felt like an eternity, another voice piped up, this time more assertively. "What if we decide to vote, and the person we choose doesn't manage it well? How do we hold them accountable?"
I nodded, appreciating the challenge. "That's a valid concern. Accountability is essential in any system. If you choose to go with the vote, I propose implementing a review process every few months. If the appointed manager fails to meet expectations or mismanages the points, we can hold another vote to replace them. That way, you're not just handing over the keys and hoping for the best; you're maintaining oversight."
The murmurs in the room shifted again, this time with a hint of agreement. They were beginning to see the potential in my proposal, the structure I was offering. "So, what do you all think? A vote for transparency and shared responsibility, or should I take the reins? The choice is yours."
Several students exchanged glances, their expressions revealing a mixture of contemplation and curiosity.
Then, one brave voice spoke up from the back of the room, cutting through the tension. "We want you to control the points."
"You really mean that?" I asked, keeping my tone casual while gauging their reactions.
A few nods confirmed their sentiment, and one student elaborated, "Honestly, it seems like you know what you're doing. Having you manage the points directly might be the best way to ensure everything runs smoothly."
"Alright, then. If that's the decision you've made."
Ryuen looked at me with his usual smirk.
He knew exactly what was unfolding. During our conversation yesterday, I had confidently stated that a girl would win the vote. However, I had no intention of allowing an actual vote to take place. I had proposed the vote as a strategic maneuver, knowing that it would ultimately leave them with no choice but to select me.
As the students began sending me their points, the atmosphere shifted from uncertainty to a newfound sense of purpose. One by one, they transferred their contributions of 50,000 points, and I could see the initial hesitation fading from their faces.
In total, 2 million points had been delivered to me.
Ryuen, standing off to the side, leaned in slightly, whispering just loud enough for me to hear, "You've done it, Takashiro. They're already hooked. But don't forget that the higher you climb, the further you can fall."
I nodded a slightly.
"Anyways, since we're done with this part, let's move on to the next agenda item," I said, shifting the energy in the room.
"The second thing I wanted to discuss is information gathering. I want every single one of you to collect as much intel as possible about students from other classes. This isn't just busywork; it's critical to our strategy. Names, habits, friendships, hobbies—anything you can pick up in passing conversations or casual encounters. Write it down in a notebook, save it on your phone, whatever works for you. Every detail counts."
A murmur of excitement rippled through the classroom as they began to grasp the significance of this task. I could see some students already jotting down notes, their expressions shifting from passive observers to active participants in our growing strategy.
"Also," I added, raising my voice slightly to capture their attention, "Ryuen sent over a map of the school highlighting areas where there are no cameras present. This is crucial information. You can use this to your advantage."
The students leaned in, their interest piqued.
"With this map, feel free to pick fights with students from other classes. It doesn't matter if you win or lose; what's important is that you establish a presence. The more we assert ourselves, the more respect we'll gain. And don't hold back—feel free to hurl insults and provoke them."
Their eyes lit up at the prospect of confrontation, and I could see the gears turning in their minds as they considered their options.
As I spoke, I watched Ryuen nod approvingly, clearly enjoying the thrill of the plan unfolding. His smirk had morphed into something more predatory, as if he could already envision the chaos we would create.
"Also how many students are currently in clubs?"
"I see..." I nodded, taking in their contributions. "Well, that's all I wanted to discuss for now. You guys can leave."
As the rest of the class began to gather their belongings and shuffle toward the door, I called out, "Ryuen, Ishizaki, Ibuki, and Albert, you four stay here."
Ryuen leaned against the wall, arms crossed, with that familiar smirk on his face. "So? What do you want to talk about, Takashiro?"
I took a deep breath, focusing my attention on Ishizaki. "Ishizaki, I want you to fight a student from Class 3D or 3C and lose. I need you to get injured."
Ishizaki's eyes widened slightly, surprise evident on his face. "Wait, you want me to lose on purpose? And get hurt? What's the plan here?"
"Ryuen explain him the plan..."
"You see Ishizaki, if you lose this fight and get injured enough, we will use this opportunity to threaten the upper classmen and try to gain points from them."
"Ibuki you will also join in with Ishizaki on this. I also need you to get injured."
Ibuki raised an eyebrow.
"So, I'm supposed to get hurt as well? How do I fit into this whole scenario? Why not send Ryuen or Albert?"
"Albert seems too big to lose to the upperclassmen, and Ryuen is just a dick," I replied, glancing at Ryuen, who smirked in acknowledgment. "But you… you're a girl. If they injure you, we can put a lot of pressure on them. Plus, people are more likely to respond to a situation where a girl is involved. It evokes sympathy and gets attention."
Ibuki crossed her arms, considering my words. "So you want me to play the damsel in distress? I get it, but how do I make it believable?"
"Act as if you're genuinely trying to back Ishizaki up in the fight. Maybe take a hit to make it look like you're trying to protect him," I suggested. "We need to paint a picture of two brave fighters who just didn't stand a chance against the upperclassmen who were trying to bully them."
"Alright, I can work with that," Ibuki said, her determination returning. "I'll make sure it looks convincing."
Ryuen chuckled. "And once we've got them worried about the fallout, we'll swoop in for the points. You'll both play your roles perfectly. It's all about creating that drama."
I nodded. "Remember, we want to leave a lasting impression. After the fight, emphasize the injuries. Make them seem genuine but not severe enough to put either of you out of commission for too long. The goal is to keep the pressure on while making sure we come out on top."
Ishizaki looked at me, ready to get started. "When do we do this?"
"I'll set everything up," Ryuen said, his smirk widening. "I'll find a suitable opponent from Class 3D or 3C and make sure the fight is scheduled soon. We need to keep the momentum going."
"Also Takashiro can you explain to me how were you placed first in the list of hottest underclassmen by our senpais." Ibuki asked me curiously.
"I have been spending time with them a bit this week. Quite 'enjoyable' time actually. Also Ibuki where did you even get that list from?"
"Oh it's in the school forum but only for girls. You are even ranked 1st for the first year as well, however you don't have a name, they just call you 'mysterious sexy boy with red eyes and messy hair'."
I chuckled, shaking my head in disbelief. "Mysterious Sexy Boy with Red Eyes and Messy Hair? Now that's a mouthful. I didn't realize I was creating such a spectacle."
"It's true! They're obsessed with you. There are even fan discussions about you and theories on who you really are."
"Well that's just weird i guess."
"Who did you vote for, Ibuki, in the list?" Ryuen asked, his usual smirk playing on his lips.
"Oh, Ibuki-san, who did you vote for? Please tell me it's me. I can at least get one vote," Ishizaki chimed in, leaning forward with exaggerated eagerness.
"I, um, well, no one..." she stammered, her cheeks turning a shade pinker. "Why do you want to know who I voted for?"
Ryuen raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the awkwardness. "Oh come on, Ibuki, don't be shy! This is a safe space. We're all friends here... at least until the next class fight."
Ishizaki nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! You're the only girl here. You have to tell us who you think is the hottest! Nearly all the girl in class thinks it's Takashiro-san."
Ibuki rolled her eyes, trying to maintain her composure despite the embarrassment creeping up on her. "That's just... it doesn't really mean anything! People can have opinions, right?"
"Alright, alright! If you must know..." she huffed, crossing her arms defensively. "I guess if I had to choose someone, it would be Takashiro. But it's just a stupid list, and it doesn't mean anything!"
"So I'm your pick, huh? I'll take that as a compliment, even if it's just 'stupid'."
"Anyways, you guys already know what you have to do now, huh?" I said, steering the conversation back to our plan.
Ishizaki nodded, his enthusiasm returning. "Right!"
"Albert, you're going to keep an eye on them to prevent things from getting too far," I said in English, knowing that Albert didn't understand Japanese.
"Ok," he responded, his expression serious.
"Make sure to step in if things get out of hand. We want to control the situation without any real injuries," I continued. "This is all about creating a narrative, not actual harm Also I need you to stay a bit away during the fight and try to film it. If you can't ask Ryuen to do it." I knew this would be tough for Albert since he was a big guy.
"Got it," Albert replied, nodding.
"Ibuki and Ishizaki, focus on looking brave and hurt. We want to sell this performance as convincingly as possible."
"Leave it to me. I'll make it look like I'm really fighting for Ishizaki," Ibuki said with determination.
"And I'll play my part too," Ishizaki added confidently. "I won't hold back!"
"Alright then," I said, turning to Ryuen. "I'll leave that part up to you. Coordinate the fight and make sure it happens when it'll have the most impact."
Ryuen nodded, his smirk returning. "Don't worry, I've got this. I'll make sure the upperclassmen are ready to take the bait."
"Good. Just remember to keep things under control. We don't want this to escalate beyond our expectations," I cautioned, locking eyes with him.
"Of course," he replied with his usual annoying grin. "I know how to manage the chaos."
"Sure," I replied sarcastically, rolling my eyes at Ryuen's self-assured grin.
"Anyways, you guys can leave," I said, signaling the end of our meeting.
For me Ishizaki getting injured is the second important thing in this plan. As long as Ibuki get the most injuries, the plan will work out the best.