Manabu adjusted the glasses on his face, then rested his chin on both hands while staring straight at Ryunosuke. The pressure he emitted felt very strong.
However, Ryunosuke didn't care at all. He knew very well that this man's weakness was his own younger sister. As long as he could hold that weak point, he had a chance to negotiate with him.
Without hesitation, Ryunosuke immediately sat on the sofa and crossed his legs, as if not caring that the person in front of him was the great Student Council President.
Seeing this attitude, Akane wanted to reprimand him, but Manabu raised his hand to stop her. He stared at this junior of his; seeing Ryunosuke's aura that was completely undaunted, a hint of interest appeared in his eyes.
Not just anyone could face his aura without feeling intimidated. From this point alone, it was enough to make Manabu feel interested.
Manabu asked in a serious tone, "I want to know, what business does Junior have coming to find me?"
"Is there a difficulty in your class? If so, please submit a complaint officially, rather than coming directly to the student council. You've crossed the line, Kid."
From the start, Manabu was already giving a warning to Ryunosuke.
However, Ryunosuke wasn't afraid in the slightest and calmly returned the gaze.
Manabu also smiled thinly. "It seems this year's Class D students aren't all trash as usual."
Manabu leaned his body against the chair back and narrowed his eyes. He deliberately gave information indirectly—appearing casual, but actually intentional. He wanted to see how far this junior in front of him could analyze that one sentence.
Sure enough, Ryunosuke pretended as if he was thinking hard. In fact, in his heart he already understood everything. However, on the surface he had to act like a beginner; couldn't be too smart to avoid suspicion, but also couldn't be too stupid to remain valued.
After thinking for about ten seconds, Ryunosuke asked Manabu, "Does this school divide its levels based on the order A, B, C, and D?"
"From what you just said, Class D seems to be the worst."
"If Class D is the worst, then conversely, Class A is the best. I'm not wrong, am I?"
Manabu immediately straightened his body and stared at him with a shocked expression, as if looking at a monster.
"You can analyze that much from just one sentence of mine?"
Manabu now had to view this junior in front of him seriously. Even for himself, it wouldn't be possible to analyze that much information from just one short sentence.
Seeing the serious expression of the Student Council President, Akane also realized this junior was no ordinary person. Able to deduce the school structure from just a few words... no wonder Manabu was being this formal.
Manabu adjusted his glasses again and sat back down, but this time his expression was far more serious than before.
"You came here to find information, right?"
Facing Manabu's question, Ryunosuke immediately nodded in acknowledgment, then added one thing.
"In my class there's also a female student with the surname Horikita. I'm curious, do you two have a relationship?"
Manabu smiled thinly. "I have to admit, you're very sharp. She's my younger sister, though she's a bit useless."
He acknowledged it very honestly, but there was also a tone of resignation. His sister had always clung to him since childhood, even insisting on entering the same school as her older brother. As a result, Suzune really did follow him here.
Honestly, Manabu didn't want Suzune to enter this school. This school used the law of the jungle; a child like Suzune was too easy to lose. With Suzune's personality of usually having no friends, fighting alone in this ability-focused school would only make her ostracized.
Manabu was very worried about his sister. However, when seeing this young man in front of him.
(Maybe I can ask this young man for help to look after my sister, as long as I give him enough benefits...)
(But that's if this young man doesn't have other objectives...)
Manabu pretended to think for a moment, then said to Ryunosuke, "Your name is Akasaka Ryunosuke, right? Sincerely, I invite you to join the student council."
Akane standing beside him was shocked. She didn't expect the Student Council President to invite a new student who had only entered for two days into the student council. Something like this had never happened at this school, which proved how much Manabu valued the person in front of him.
Ryunosuke deliberately stroked his chin while thinking, calculating how to maximize benefits, then asked.
"What benefits do I get if I join the student council?"
Manabu smiled. As long as it could be transacted with benefits, that was better. He was actually afraid if someone couldn't be negotiated with regarding benefits.
Manabu explained the benefits of joining the student council. "After joining, every month there will be a bonus of 100,000 points that comes in. This is additional, not included in class points."
Manabu took that opportunity to leak a bit more information. School rules forbade speaking bluntly, but giving hints was still allowed.
Facing Manabu who kept giving information subtly, Ryunosuke snorted inwardly.
(What a siscon!)
But on the surface, he remained calm and continued his game.
"I see. That means, next month's points aren't necessarily 100,000 points. That's right, isn't it, President?"
Manabu smiled again, this time with a look full of appreciation. He didn't expect this junior to be so brilliant. If he leaked just a bit more, this school's secrets might be completely stripped by him.
Manabu maintained his boundaries. For the sake of fair competition among students, he didn't intend to leak more information. He pushed the student council acceptance letter in front of Ryunosuke.
Ryunosuke didn't hesitate anymore. Free 100,000 points would be a shame to pass up. Besides, this was one of his purposes in coming here.
He immediately signed the letter and returned it.
Manabu nodded satisfactorily, then took out his phone and transferred 100,000 points to Ryunosuke right then.
Seeing the additional 100,000 points on his phone, Ryunosuke felt curious.
"Does the student council always give salaries upfront a month early?"
Manabu shook his head. "No. Usually it's given on the first of the following month. This month's payment is my investment in you."
"Of course, that money is yours. It's just that this is one month's salary in advance, so next month you won't receive it."
Ryunosuke sneered a bit inwardly; he thought he could get an additional 100,000 points for free. However, he still accepted the Student Council President's goodwill because he indeed needed it for his next plan.
Seeing Ryunosuke accept it, Manabu nodded satisfactorily and instructed.
"Come tomorrow to report. I'm sure tomorrow, when the homeroom teachers from other classes hear this news, they'll be shocked with their mouths agape."
Manabu showed a smile full of hidden meaning.
"Only the second day of school and already entering the student council, moreover from the worst Class D. It seems you won't be able to be an ordinary person anymore, right?"
This was Manabu's purpose. On the surface he invited Ryunosuke to join the student council, but actually he was binding him to emerge to the surface. As long as he was in a visible position, he had no choice but to help his class.
And because his sister's class was the worst Class D, if that class wanted to rise in rank, to some extent they would have to rely on this young man's help. Even if he didn't want to intervene, his homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, would definitely not let him go so easily. After all, that homeroom teacher was almost crazy wanting to raise her class level.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
Shortly after, Ryunosuke left the Student Council President's office. Now, the points he possessed totaled 200,000. Still far from financial freedom, but this was a solid small step, wasn't it?
His lips slowly curved into a smile.
"This school is really amazing!"
"Being able to get money this fast... something unthinkable in my previous life. I really love this school."