"That person is Ryuuen Kakeru, the leader of Class C, Shimizu-kun." Sakayanagi elegantly withdrew her gaze, a meaningful shallow smile on her lips, explaining to her companion across the table.
Akira then pulled himself out of his thoughts, his gaze thoughtfully following the figure that had already disappeared.
So that imposing boy was the rumored leader of Class C.
"Do you think... he is qualified to be our opponent?" Sakayanagi gently poked a crisp green leaf with a silver fork, frowned slightly as she put it into her mouth, her movements exuding an innate nobility.
"That's your thought. I've never considered anyone an opponent."
"I see, so you consider everyone trash? How truly condescending, Shimizu-kun."
"Cough..." Akira choked on these words, almost spitting out the noodles in his mouth.
He helplessly looked up at the girl opposite him—how exactly did this Sakayanagi-san twist his original meaning?
He was clearly just stating a fact, but how was it interpreted as such an arrogant statement?
"Hehe... just kidding." Sakayanagi covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her laughter like a silver bell. "Of course I understand what you really mean."
Akira didn't respond, just continued to focus on enjoying his lunch.
On Wednesday morning, the three pieces of information that refreshed were all junk, so he decided to try his luck in the cafeteria.
Unexpectedly, he met Sakayanagi dining alone here.
This Class A strategist was actually eating a free set meal. He'd originally planned to take the opportunity to ask her about ways to obtain S-System information, but by a strange coincidence, he witnessed a meticulously planned farce by Class C.
"By the way," Akira put down his chopsticks, "Sakayanagi-san, through what special channel did you obtain those key pieces of information?"
"On the first day of school, a kind person told me all the information." Sakayanagi's lips held a mysterious smile. "Shimizu-kun, you only have three chances to ask questions. My answers will only be 'yes,' 'no,' or 'irrelevant.'"
Akira frowned slightly. These clever people were always obsessed with such guessing games. Things that could be stated directly had to be packaged as obscure riddles.
But he still decided to cooperate with the game, as the information itself held such value.
After a brief thought, he posed his first key question. "Did the other party's act of disclosing information violate the current school rules?"
"No." Sakayanagi smiled slightly, as if enjoying his reasoning process.
This answer immediately narrowed the scope to four most probable answers: newly enrolled first-year students, alumni who'd already graduated, former faculty and staff, and those who dropped out without completing their studies.
These four types of people, even if they disclosed information, strictly speaking, wouldn't be in violation of school rules.
Akira pondered for a moment, his gaze sharply fixed on her expression. "Did this person... successfully graduate from this school?"
Sakayanagi paused for a rare moment, then slowly nodded. "...Yes."
This question eliminated three answers in one go.
"I see." Akira's eyes suddenly cleared. "On the first day of school, you met a graduate who returned for an event, and from him, you obtained the complete internal school information system?"
"Absolutely correct." Sakayanagi clapped her hands cheerfully, her voice as clear as a silver bell. "Because they're alumni who've already graduated, they're neither bound by current school rules nor are they faculty members, and more importantly—they all successfully completed their studies." She leaned forward slightly, adding, "These upperclassmen often understand the school's... unwritten rules better than current teachers."
"Using the information channel of graduates... this entry point is indeed unexpected." Akira unconsciously showed an expression of admiration.
As expected of Sakayanagi.
He'd indeed never considered this angle for obtaining information.
"Hehe... didn't expect that, did you?" Sakayanagi keenly caught the fleeting admiration in his eyes, two shallow dimples appearing on her cheeks, her tone filled with ill-concealed triumph. "So, Shimizu-kun, how did you obtain information?"
"Me?" Akira shrugged. "I just bought it with points from a second-year upperclassman."
"It seems my method was superior this time." Sakayanagi elegantly sipped her miso soup. "Shimizu-kun, you've completely lost to me this time."
"Who's competing with you..." Akira glanced at her, lowered his head, and continued eating his noodles. "Forget it, if you think you won, then you won."
"But..." Akira suddenly looked up. "I'm very curious, why would that upperclassman be willing to reveal such important information? What did you use as an exchange? After all, the other party is already a prospective university student, so it's impossible that he gave it to you for free!"
Sakayanagi's finger, holding the spoon, paused imperceptibly.
This subtle change didn't escape Akira's keen observation.
—It seems he touched upon a sensitive topic.
Could it be a monetary transaction? Or perhaps...
But Akira didn't continue to press, merely continuing to enjoy his food as if nothing had happened.
Sakayanagi asked, feigning casualness. "By the way, Shimizu-kun seems to be quite close to Kamuro-san from our class."
"Yes," Akira replied without looking up. "She's a very easygoing person, and her personality suits me well."
"Oh?" Sakayanagi raised an eyebrow slightly. "Kamuro-san always seems so cold. Moreover..." Her voice lowered a few notches. "You and I both witnessed her in that state at the convenience store. Shimizu-kun's criteria for choosing friends are truly... special."
As the last mouthful of noodles went down, Akira stood up, ready to leave. "It's just right for me. No one is perfect, and everyone has a few flaws."
Sakayanagi watched his retreating figure silently, her thoughts drifting back to the afternoon of the first day of school—
"Why should I tell you information? What's in it for me? Points? Heh... I'm not a student anymore! That stuff only works in school! Outside, it's just numbers." The upperclassman impatiently waved his hand, his suit cuff revealing an expensive wristwatch. "Money? Save it, little girl. I graduated from Class A, my family has mines, and I'm going to the University of Tokyo soon..."
"But... you said you're the Chairman's daughter? Chairman Sakayanagi indeed allocated all resources to Class A. Alright! For your father's sake, I'll tell you everything I know!"
"So unappetizing..." She glanced at the considerable amount of leftover free food, pouted, and muttered.
If she hadn't seen Akira today at noon, she wouldn't have deliberately ordered this vegetable set meal to gain sympathy. As it looked now, it seemed to be of no use at all.