"Good morning, Karuizawa-san."
"Oh? Matsushita-san. Good morning, Matsushita-san. Do you want to go shopping together after school today?"
"Shopping? I'm fine with that. Should we ask Shinohara, Sato, and the others to come along?"
"Of course! It's more fun when everyone goes shopping together."
"What about Amane-san?"
"Amane... Hmm, I don't think she'd be very keen. Never mind, I'll go ask her anyway."
Karuizawa carefully observed Amane, who was slumped on her desk, motionless and looking rather listless. Ever since summer officially began, Amane had become exceptionally lazy.
She would rush back to her dorm as soon as school ended and hadn't gone out with everyone for a long time.
"Amane, Matsushita-san and I just discussed going shopping after school. Do you want to come?"
Karuizawa quietly asked after making sure Amane was awake.
"I won't go. You all have fun."
Amane's weak voice sounded somewhat concerning.
"Amane, are you feeling unwell? You look a bit pale..."
Amane's complexion was more than just pale; it was alarmingly white.
"It's fine. I'll be better in a bit."
Amane gently patted her cheeks with her hand.
A faint blush immediately appeared on her pale cheeks.
"See? You look better now, don't you?"
Amane pointed to her rosy cheeks, showing Karuizawa.
"...You really don't have to force it."
Seeing Amane's amazing manual blush trick, Karuizawa couldn't help but feel a drop of sweat trickle down her forehead.
Amane looked like she was about to collapse.
"Well then, Amane, you should rest well. We can hang out again when you're free."
Amane didn't reply. The cowlick on her head twitched as if nodding. Karuizawa sighed and had no choice but to go back to discuss the after-school plans with Matsushita.
After gaining class points, Class D's previously gloomy atmosphere was swept away.
Having continuously experienced the loss of all points, student expulsions, and students being framed, Class D's atmosphere had long become incredibly oppressive.
It was only a straw's weight away from collapsing.
Because they couldn't change the status quo and were powerless to help their classmates, the suppression continued to accumulate. Just as the oppression formed a suffocating gloom that enveloped Class D.
It was Amane who pushed aside that heavy gloom for them.
After they witnessed the miracle of even the last-place class turning the tide against higher-ranked classes, some people's eyes were no longer dim.
When they received points again after three months, the entire Class D was in a festive mood. Even if it was only a mere 20,000-plus points, it was enough to give everyone in Class D a powerful shot in the arm, rekindling their confidence in the future.
And the one who ignited this fire was... "Ayanokoji-kun is here! Good morning, Ayanokoji-kun!"
"Ayanokoji-kun, do you want to go shopping together after school? Lots of girls are going too."
"Ayanokoji-kun, did you prepare lunch? I have a bento I made myself here. If you don't mind, please enjoy it."
"Ayanokoji-kun..."
Both boys and girls, many people, upon seeing Ayanokoji, felt as if a savior had arrived.
According to the news they knew, it was Ayanokoji who turned the tide when Amane was framed, ultimately causing Classes B and C to suffer a bitter defeat.
No one expected that this boy, who always sat in the corner with an expressionless face and occasionally seemed gloomy, would step forward when a classmate was about to be expelled, and even defeat Ryuuen and the highly renowned Ichinose Honami in one fell swoop.
Suddenly, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka became a celebrity in Class D and even in the first year.
If Ryuuen and Ichinose heard such rumors, they would probably scoff.
However, the students of Class D, who were completely unaware of the specific details, regarded Ayanokoji as a savior.
"Wow, surrounded by cute girls, how enviable," Amane said enviously, lie on the table and looking towards Ayanokoji.
"Those compliments should have belonged to you," Horikita Suzune said indignantly.
"Alright, alright. I was too active before, which made that mad dog Ryuuen target and chase me. I'm not interested in wasting time with them, so I had to let Ayanokoji take the blame for me."
Amane stretched and then continued to lie on the table.
Summer is indeed most comfortable when lying on a cool desk.
Seriously! Why is it July and the air conditioning still isn't on? This school doesn't need to save money to this extent, right? I'll report all of you sooner or later.
Just as Amane was still internally complaining about Chairman Sakayanagi's stinginess, Ayanokoji finally squeezed out of the crowd and returned to his seat.
"How does it feel to be worshipped as a hero?" Amane turned and teased Ayanokoji.
"To be honest, I'm a bit unaccustomed."
"Oh, it's always like this the first time. You'll get used to it."
As soon as Ayanokoji saw Amane's carefree smile, he felt a wave of irritation. The reason he was burdened with such troublesome matters was all thanks to Amane...
"I wonder who was so heartless to deliberately spread those hateful rumors. Now I'm practically being roasted over a fire."
Ayanokoji looked at Amane meaningfully.
"Someone shouldn't forget our agreement."
Amane's light remark completely left Ayanokoji feeling helpless.
To avoid that man, the only way was to find a more powerful backer than him.
But as a man who had once almost reached the summit, the only person stronger than him was that one individual.
Miyako Bang Dian.
The lazy girl sitting in front of him was his granddaughter, Miyako Amane.
In other words, to prevent that man from taking him away from here, he could only choose to obey the devil's arrangements in front of him.
To be played in her hands.
Hopefully... she wouldn't dump all the troublesome things on him.
Just as Ayanokoji was still lost in thought.
Chabashira walked directly into the classroom.
"Ayanokoji, come out with me for a moment. Everyone else, prepare for morning reading."
Chabashira finished speaking and then turned and left the classroom.
It was perfectly normal for Chabashira-sensei to talk to students as a teacher, but such conversations usually took place after school. This was the first time someone had been called for a talk before class.
Ayanokoji stood up, but his gaze was directed at Amane.
"Just do your best. Your relationship with me is just a transaction. I'm not the one controlling you; you are free. Besides fulfilling what you promised me, just enjoy your school life. Don't get bogged down by unimportant things. Your destiny is in your own hands, and no one can change it."
Amane finished speaking and then slumped back onto her desk.
She looked like she had once again fallen into a fierce battle with the Sandman.
"What if someone wants to break the wings of a bird soaring in the sky?"
"Then cut off their hands, because only pain can make one empathize."
"I understand."
Ayanokoji slightly bowed towards Amane's back, then strode out of the classroom.
He already knew what he had to do.
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