By putting his bottom line clearly on the table, Tsukishiro made something very clear to Yukio—despite being the acting chairman, even he couldn't freely conjure up vast amounts of private points within Advanced Nurturing High School.
After all, private points were just virtual data within the school's S-System. They held no real-world monetary value and weren't connected to actual financial institutions. Their use was strictly confined to the school, with the rare exception being special exams involving the outside world—like the Workplace Special Exam where students traded them for cash with bus drivers.
Even with such limitations, Tsukishiro didn't have full control. He could only use whatever leftover points the previous chairman, Sakayanagi's father, had passed down.
To Yukio, that was excellent news. It meant Tsukishiro's resources were finite—and that made his plan even more likely to succeed.
"Forty million, huh? Still a bit low," Yukio said mildly, "but… if Acting Chairman Tsukishiro can agree to one more condition, then I'd say this special exam becomes… very worthwhile."
Tsukishiro almost shifted in his seat. Still a bit low?
This kid's appetite was outrageous.
But Tsukishiro was intrigued. He wanted to hear the condition anyway—it would help him understand Yukio better. And the more he understood, the easier it would be to control him. After all, he expected to need the student council president for many future matters.
Tsukishiro nodded warmly and gestured with his hand. "Please, go ahead. Any condition within my power, I'll grant it."
Seeing that, Yukio no longer held back. "This internal voting exam awards a Protection Point to the most praised student. Acting Chairman Tsukishiro, would it be possible to allow trading of Protection Points?"
"I'm confident I'll come out on top in my class. I'll definitely receive the Protection Point. But to me, it doesn't hold much meaning. I've never worried about being expelled."
"I'd like to transfer the Protection Point… to someone I want to protect."
Tsukishiro blinked in surprise—then broke into a knowing smile, his face creasing with wrinkles.
Ah. So that's what this was.
The young boy loves.
Even a prodigy like Yukio, once taken by affection for a girl his age, couldn't help it. At that age, romantic feelings often triumphed over personal gain.
Tsukishiro had reviewed Yukio's profile in detail. As the first-year student council president, he was under special observation—and one note in particular stood out: Yukio seemed close to a certain female classmate.
It wasn't hard to guess where the Protection Point was going.
As for making the point "tradable"? That was just a formality. If Yukio really liked the girl, he could "sell" the point to her for, say, a single private point—or just give it outright. Who could stop him?
And the best part?
Tsukishiro did have the authority to allow it.
Just as the chairman could freely implement special exams, the acting chairman's powers were immense—only the school's founding logic, like "anything on campus can be bought with private points," remained untouchable.
Everything else? Fair game.
That included allowing trades of Protection Points.
Helping a young couple? No big deal. And it helped Tsukishiro curry favor with Yukio—a win-win. So he happily agreed.
"No problem at all," Tsukishiro said, smiling like a benevolent elder. "I may be old, and I can't chase youth like you, but if I can help with something small like this, let me do it."
He quickly turned to his computer and started typing. Within minutes, Yukio's phone pinged—forty million private points had arrived in his school account.
Tsukishiro paused and looked up. "Looks like the points went through. I've also changed the system setting to allow Protection Point trades."
"The new rule is valid for one year. After that, any changes will depend on the next chairman—because, by then, I may no longer be at Advanced Nurturing."
"But for this upcoming special exam in three days, you won't need to worry."
Success.
With the rule change in place, Yukio's plan was rock solid. On the surface, he remained calm and unreadable, but inside he was thrilled—Tsukishiro had swallowed the bait and had no idea what Yukio's real intentions were.
The only mystery left?
Why did Tsukishiro want to get close to him?
Tsukishiro was supposed to be Ayanokouji Atsuomi's man. Why befriend Yukio? He didn't even know Yukio's background.
Perhaps… it was worth one last probe.
Yukio smiled pleasantly. "Then I'll rest easy. Still, this sudden voting exam has upset many students. Without a good justification, it's going to cause backlash."
"I plan to tell them the student council's authority simply isn't as strong as the chairman's."
"That would shift the blame to you, Acting Chairman Tsukishiro. Wouldn't that be… a little inappropriate?"
"…"
Tsukishiro's expression twitched. Damn, this kid. Not only did he take the money and get the system changed—now he wanted to dump the blame too?
Still, maybe it was for the best. Thick-skinned and sharp-witted—this kid had real potential. Maybe he was the right person to entrust "her" to.
After all, his own time… was limited.
"Hahaha, Yukio-kun, you jest," Tsukishiro laughed it off. "I was the one who proposed this special exam, after all."
"If it were inappropriate, I wouldn't have arranged it in the first place."
Translation: he'd take the heat. It was his exam anyway, and by tomorrow, first-years would be roasting him no matter what. He might as well bear the brunt—and use it to send Yukio off with another favor.
That settled it for Yukio.
Tsukishiro truly wanted to befriend him. And that made things much more interesting.
It implied Tsukishiro wasn't here just to take Ayanokouji away. If that was the only goal, there'd be no need to cozy up to anyone. He'd just grab Ayanokouji and leave.
But now?
Tsukishiro was clearly aiming for something more.
Fascinating, Yukio thought, eyes glittering.
This little test… had yielded a far greater discovery than expected.
It seemed Tsukishiro and Ayanokouji Atsuomi… weren't as aligned as they appeared.
...
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