Yamauchi Haruki and Ike Kanji were both poor bastards. Their combined points didn't even amount to sixty thousand; the total was fifty-seven thousand. Yamauchi Haruki had fifty thousand (mostly borrowed), while Ike Kanji had seven thousand, having lent a portion to Yamauchi Haruki.
The rest could only be treated as debt. Shikime Natsu hoped to collect it all back next month, but... no matter how one looked at it, that would be somewhat difficult.
After returning, Shikime Natsu intended to purchase authority directly from Mashima Tomoya. As soon as any points appeared in the phones of Yamauchi Haruki and Ike Kanji, they would be immediately transferred to his own phone. Otherwise, heaven knows if those two guys would fulfill their promise or secretly hoard them.
After Kushida Kikyou and Mei-Yu Wang had taken their favorite dolls, Shikime Natsu sold all the remaining dolls back to the staff at the original price. Thirty-three thousand points arrived in his account instantly, which was much faster than getting money from Yamauchi Haruki and Ike Kanji.
"Sorry to keep you two waiting."
Shikime Natsu smiled at Kushida Kikyou and Mei-Yu Wang, his gaze no longer falling on Yamauchi Haruki and his group.
Sudou Ken looked at the scene before him and couldn't help but sigh with emotion. It was a good thing he hadn't agreed; actually, he had been somewhat tempted at the time, but fortunately, he had refused.
As for Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, he maintained full vigilance. At this moment, his gaze fell upon Shikime Natsu. This guy really wasn't simple. Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's estimation of Shikime Natsu rose once again.
Is he able to handle everything with such ease...? Truly terrifying.
Shikime Natsu left together with Kushida Kikyou and Mei-Yu Wang. He found an excuse to go to the restroom, then activated "Presence Erasure" and returned to Yamauchi Haruki. Using his outfit-changing ability, he directly helped Yamauchi Haruki change into "The Emperor's New Clothes." Of course, he still preserved the last shred of dignity for Yamauchi Haruki; the final piece was not removed.
After all, if Shikime Natsu were to really strip off the last piece of equipment, he truly wouldn't be able to bring himself to do it.
"Haruki, what are you doing? Even if you lost, there's no need for this, right?"
Ike Kanji looked at Yamauchi Haruki with a face full of horror. In Ike Kanji's eyes, Yamauchi Haruki intended to change into the Emperor's New Clothes in broad daylight. The crowd, which hadn't yet fully dispersed, erupted in noise.
This had nothing to do with Shikime Natsu anymore. Since the guy liked to call him a pretty boy in public, then naturally, he had to pay a price.
"Then let's go pick out clothes~"
Kushida Kikyou revealed a cute smile to the reappearing Shikime Natsu.
"Mhm."
Shikime Natsu nodded.
"Shikime-san is so amazing. How did you manage to catch all the dolls at once? I've tried several times before and never succeeded."
Mei-Yu Wang's eyes were sparkling. For a girl, being able to catch cute dolls was quite a remarkable ability.
"Well, that relies on practice and feeling. Also, the positioning of the dolls inside matters. It was also because that doll just happened to be in the ideal position that I could do it."
Shikime Natsu conducted theoretical guidance. The truth, of course, was that he was using cheats. Wanting to win without cheats? That would be a joke.
"So that's how it is."
Mei-Yu Wang nodded. Since Shikime Natsu said so, it must be correct. If you wanted to question Shikime Natsu's theory, then you should try clearing a claw machine with one coin first.
"If there are dolls I want in a claw machine next time, can I ask Natsu to catch them for me?"
Kushida Kikyou looked at Shikime Natsu with big eyes, acting coquettishly as she leaned slightly closer to him.
This guy really was a bona fide method actor. She was clearly so disgusted when he touched her that night, yet now she was taking the initiative to lean in. It really was hard on her.
"Of course, leave it to me."
"Then thank you, Natsu~"
Kushida Kikyou revealed a sweet smile very happily.
Under Kushida Kikyou's lead, the group arrived at a men's clothing store.
"What type of clothes does Natsu intend to buy?"
Kushida Kikyou turned her head to look at Shikime Natsu. With her own financial standards, she would have to hesitate for a while before buying an expensive piece of clothing. But Shikime Natsu had just obtained over fifty thousand Personal Points from those two idiots, plus the points obtained from the shop staff; basically, he could live very comfortably this month.
"I don't know much about these things. What do you guys think suits me?"
Shikime Natsu handed the right of choice over to the two of them.
"Is that so... Then leave it to me and Mei-chan to look, okay?"
Kushida Kikyou tilted her head, her right index finger resting lightly on her cute cheek, pressing in slightly. The young girl's cheek looked quite soft and glutinous.
"Mhm!"
Mei-Yu Wang nodded and began to select clothes in the store with Kushida Kikyou attentively. If Yamauchi Haruki saw this scene, he would probably be so angry he'd have a stroke, right?
No, what Yamauchi Haruki needed to do right now was figure out how to salvage his dignity. After all, stripping clothes in public and causing a disturbance—the school wouldn't let that off so easily.
Just then, the phone in Shikime Natsu's pocket suddenly vibrated.
He took out his phone and glanced at the caller ID—Mashima Tomoya.
What does the homeroom teacher want with me? Generally speaking, unless there was a special reason, homeroom teachers basically wouldn't call students, unless it was a teacher like Hoshinomiya Chie who intended to intervene in conflicts between students.
"Sorry, I need to take a call."
He spoke simply to the two young girls who were choosing clothes for him, then walked out of the store. Ensuring that Kushida Kikyou hadn't followed and that there was no one else nearby, Shikime Natsu finally answered the phone.
"Is there something you need, Mashima-sensei?"
"It's like this. The school has decided to hold a one-week 'Exchange Student Special Event' starting next Monday."
Mashima Tomoya stated the matter very succinctly.
"Exchange student?"
Shikime Natsu frowned slightly. What kind of operation was this? Exchanging students with other schools?
This school seemed even more interesting than he had imagined. To be able to pull off this kind of activity in the second week of school.
"Yes, the rules are very simple. Each class needs to select three students to go to the other three classes as exchange students for a one-week study period."
"At the end of the exchange week, the exchange student can choose one student from the host class as an opponent to challenge. The winner will be directly rewarded with ten thousand Personal Points by the school."
"You will decide the three candidates for this exchange and submit the list. The deadline is seven o'clock tonight, and it will be officially implemented tomorrow, Monday."
?
Not across schools, but across classes?
And studying in exchange for a week?
Is there something wrong with the school leaders' heads?
If this kind of exam were held a few months later, at least after the school's rules were known, Shikime Natsu wouldn't have any objections. After all, it was free points.
But to hold it in the second week of school, and to let other classes come to his own class to observe the situation... For Class A, Class B, and Class C, it didn't matter much; they were basically the same. But for Class D, it was different. Class D didn't know about that point yet.
Even if it wasn't said out loud, just by observing, one could observe the abnormalities. Why was the class style of the students in Class A, Class B, and Class C completely different from Class D?
With a little guessing, they would definitely know there was a problem here.
Is this a hint from the school to the students? To prevent a certain class's points from being too low next month?
A reward of ten thousand points, compared to Class Points, was undoubtedly quite pitiful.
However, this was the school's arrangement. Shikime Natsu could only choose to ponder how to maximize the class's benefits, or rather, minimize the class's losses.
"Mashima-sensei, I have a key question that needs confirmation. During the week the exchange students are in other classes, will their personal conduct—such as lateness, classroom indiscipline, or any other behavior violating proper student conduct—have a negative impact on our Class A's Class Points?"
Hearing Shikime Natsu's words, Mashima Tomoya couldn't help but reveal a faint smile. Not bad. Shikime Natsu's intuition was as excellent as ever. He observed the most critical problem first, just like at the start of school. Very good.
If it would cause an impact, then the people sent over by other classes could destroy the entire class. Similarly, the three people he sent out could destroy the other classes.
But in that case, Class A wouldn't gain any benefit at all. It could even be said they would suffer losses for no reason, and even the Personal Points worth two million would become waste material. This 'strength supreme' philosophy would become a joke.
The tone of Mashima Tomoya on the other end of the phone was full of approval.
"The school administration has already considered this point. The answer given is: it will not."
"During this exchange student activity, all behavior of the exchange students and the resulting evaluation point fluctuations will be received by their original class."
Fortunately, the school hadn't done anything excessively brain-dead. Otherwise, Shikime Natsu really would have just let it rot. If they could all perish together, then what did his initial foresight and effort count for?
____
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