The Chairman's Office.
This wasn't Yukio's first visit here. Last time, he had met Sakayanagi's father and Ayanokouji's father in this very room. Now, he had returned for a meeting with Acting Chairman Tsukishiro.
Unlike Chairman Sakayanagi's formal approach, there was no secretary present. Tsukishiro was working directly in the small reception room outside the main office—not in the ornate, artfully decorated office that Sakayanagi once used. No need for knocking or formalities—once you entered, you could see Tsukishiro immediately.
Yukio found it curious. In the face of power, Tsukishiro seemed… unusually grounded. He deliberately chose not to sit in the chairman's seat of authority, but rather in the modest outer room.
"Welcome, Yukio-kun," Tsukishiro greeted with his usual squinted eyes, giving nothing away behind those unreadable pupils. He clearly recognized Yukio, motioning politely to the small couch—the very spot where Yukio and Sakayanagi had once shared an earbud.
"I've actually been waiting for you," Tsukishiro said, voice light yet meaningful. "The power of the student council president at Advanced Nurturing is greater than even I expected—as acting chairman, I must admit, I was surprised."
Yukio sat down leisurely, entirely unfazed by Tsukishiro's status or demeanor. "Then I assume Acting Chairman Tsukishiro already knows why I'm here?"
"Of course." Tsukishiro responded with a smile. He had done thorough research before arriving at Advanced Nurturing High School, including an in-depth understanding of the unique position the student council held. He had also prepared for how to handle Yukio.
While Tsukishiro didn't know Yukio's full background, he considered him a rare genius—one not molded by the White Room, but a naturally gifted mind. Talented, ruthless, and morally questionable—Tsukishiro believed such a student was destined for greatness. Perhaps not in the uppermost circles of society, but certainly prominent within its core.
Therefore, rather than pressing him, Tsukishiro had chosen to approach diplomatically. "You must be here regarding the additional special exam. As per the student council's mandate to protect all students' interests, such an exam cannot proceed without your consent. However…" He leaned slightly forward. "You, Yukio-kun, are exceptional. And I'm sure you understand—what benefits the student council may not necessarily benefit you personally."
Yukio's interest deepened. The implication was clear: Tsukishiro knew full well that this internal voting exam couldn't proceed without the student council's approval—but still proceeded boldly. Why? Because he was betting on buying Yukio's approval… with personal incentives.
At first, Yukio had assumed Tsukishiro had failed to grasp the student council's influence—that he was rushing to get Ayanokouji expelled. But now, it seemed Tsukishiro was well aware of the stakes.
Which meant… all Yukio had to do now was sit back and watch what price Tsukishiro would offer.
In this moment, Tsukishiro needed Yukio—not the other way around. If Yukio succeeded in his plan, couldn't be expelled. Simple as that.
"I knew I wasn't mistaken about you," Tsukishiro said, clapping softly in approval. "It's rare to see someone your age remain so calm in this kind of negotiation."
Such praise from a man of Tsukishiro's rank would have flattered most students. But Yukio remained expressionless, unmoved—as serene as a still lake. Internally, he could only chuckle. What a performance.
Yukio's composure far exceeded Tsukishiro's expectations. Realizing he couldn't dominate the conversation, Tsukishiro had no choice but to lay his offer on the table. After all, he was the one at a disadvantage.
"I won't beat around the bush. I'm offering thirty million private points," Tsukishiro said plainly. "Interested?"
The message was crystal clear: thirty million personal points in exchange for Yukio's approval.
To an average student, thirty million was unimaginable. Even if they spent thirty years at Advanced Nurturing, they could never save that much on their own.
Tsukishiro believed Yukio would be tempted. With this kind of money, Yukio could use around 60% to protect his class from elimination in the special exam. The remaining ten million? Pure profit.
Tsukishiro wasn't just familiar with the student council's authority—he'd also investigated Yukio's dealings, including the contracts he signed with the other three classes to receive monthly point payments. Those were school-certified, and as acting chairman, he had full access to them.
The conclusion? Yukio had a clear obsession with acquiring private points. He was aggressive, relentless in his pursuit of wealth.
So Tsukishiro tailored his approach accordingly—give the man what he wants. A massive payday in exchange for a nod of agreement.
It was a win-win. Yukio could protect his own class, earn a handsome bonus, and let the other classes suffer. After all, weren't they competitors?
"…That's quite a generous offer," Yukio replied with a mild smile. He had to admit—Tsukishiro was bold. This was a price few students could resist.
But thirty million? Yukio wanted much more than that.
To a normal student, thirty million might last their entire academic career. But to Yukio, who aimed to gather a staggering three billion… it was a drop in the ocean.
Besides, Yukio had discovered something else in this voting exam: a massive opportunity. He wanted the exam to proceed.
He just couldn't let Tsukishiro realize that. He had to play it coy—no need to reject free money.
"Thirty million… I can hardly imagine what I'd even do with such a huge amount," Yukio mused aloud, feigning awe. It was a disguised prompt—clearly signaling that the offer wasn't yet good enough.
Tsukishiro's brow twitched. Damn, this kid really was greedy. Thirty million wasn't enough?
Still, whatever. The money had been left behind by the previous chairman, Sakayanagi's father. Tsukishiro hadn't even received his first paycheck yet—he didn't care if he blew it all.
But he couldn't appear like a pushover either.
"Haha. How about forty million?" Tsukishiro leaned forward. "That's my final offer. All the private points I can currently access, all left by the former chairman. If you're still not satisfied, then we can end this conversation here. I can't give you any more."
"And even if I'm only acting chairman for now… I can always implement more special exams down the line. I'm in no hurry."
A classic negotiating tactic—feigning retreat to pressure Yukio. The message was clear: take the deal now, or lose everything.
And Yukio… had only just begun to calculate how much he could squeeze out of this.
...
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