I came, I saw, I lost! (Classroom of the Elite Fanfiction)

『』『』『』『』『』

The next day, Kumagawa woke up from his bed.

As usual, he felt no particular desire to get up, but life had a funny way of forcing people to move forward, whether they wanted to or not. With a sigh, he sat up and stretched, his joints cracking slightly.

Then, something caught his eye.

On his desk, a small envelope rested neatly on top of his scattered belongings. It was white, decorated with an adorable yet strangely unsettling chibi drawing of Anshin'in-san winking playfully.

『...Well, that's ominous. 』

He tore open the envelope and unfolded the letter inside. His eyes lazily scanned the neatly written words.

『』『』『』『』『』

To my ever-unfortunate underclassman,

How are you feeling? No, wait, let me guess. Probably awful. Headache? Dizziness? Sudden existential crisis brought on by the realization that your skull isn't as indestructible as your ego? Don't worry. That's just the natural consequence of getting a literal piece of your own skull lodged into your brain.

I'd say don't do that again, but knowing you, you probably will.

Anyway, since you're reading this letter, that means you're still alive. Hooray! You defied death once again. Not that it means much, considering your whole existence is basically one long, drawn-out losing streak.

Now, I know what you're thinking—'But Anshin'in-san, why aren't I dead? Why am I still functioning like a somewhat normal person despite my brain resembling a scrambled egg?'

The answer is simple: you're still you. Even without your little "All Fiction" cheat code, you remain an absolute freak of nature.

But—and this is important—there are limits. Even for you. Normally, a hit like that would leave someone in a vegetative state, but instead, you're up and about, probably scheming your next blackmail target. Truly, an inspiration to us all.

However, let's be real. A skull fragment in the brain? Not exactly a minor inconvenience. So, I've decided to give you one last push. A farewell gift, if you will.

Don't bother wondering how. You should know by now that my 7,932,135,441,523,222 Abnormalities and 4,925,916,526,110,643 Minuses, for 12,858,051,967,633,865 skills in total, transcend things like 'logic' or 'consent.'

But that's it. This is my final assist. After this, you're on your own. If you decide to get bludgeoned to death next time, well... try not to die.

Oh, and one last thing—once you're back in our world, everything will reset as usual. So even if you end up missing a lung, your spine, or, I don't know, your entire moral compass, it'll all be return to nothing. As long as you can graduate, anyway.

So work hard, Kumagawa-kun!

It's not like winning has ever been your thing.

With love, Your ever-so-gracious upperclassman,

Anshin'in-san.

『』『』『』『』『』

『...She really hasn't changed. 』

A slow chuckle escaped his lips as he leaned back, stretching his arms over his head. Then, without hesitation, he tore open the bandage wrapped around his head. His finger traced the spot where the student council president's punch had landed.

Smooth.

There should have been something—a crack, a dent, a hole leading straight to his brain—but now, it was as if nothing had ever happened.

『Well, if she says I'll be fine, I guess there's nothing to worry about. 』

Kumagawa let out a sigh, tossing the bandages onto his desk. His gaze flickered back to the letter, still sitting there with its ridiculous chibi Anshin'in doodle smiling up at him.

A letter from someone who wasn't supposed to exist in this world. Someone who, despite all her nonsense, always knew everything.

『Watching from somewhere, huh? 』 He murmured, tapping the paper with his finger.

『Or maybe... you're just a sore loser who can't stand the thought of me dying without permission. 』

Either way, it was typical of her.

Kumagawa stood up, stretching his arms before tossing the now-empty envelope onto his desk.

『Now my plan is ruined. 』

He let out a soft sigh.

He took his uniform from the chair. He tightened his tie—not too neatly, just enough to look presentable—and ran a hand through his hair.

Even if the wound was gone, in this world, that kind of recovery was unrealistic.

Back in his original world, something like this wouldn't be a big deal. The concept of skills, of abilities beyond human logic, was natural there. But here? There was no such thing. No skills, no supernatural healing, no absurd durability. If someone took a blow strong enough to lodge skull fragments into their brain, there was only one outcome—permanent damage, or worse.

So if someone were to find out that Kumagawa had taken a punch strong enough to put him in the hospital for months, only to be walking around like nothing happened, questions would start piling up. And that was troublesome.

『Well, I do like playing pretend sometimes. 』

With that thought, he adjusted the bandage over his head. It was a small, insignificant thing, but it was enough. As long as he looked the part, people wouldn't think too much about it. That's how reality worked, after all.

Then, without another word, he stepped out of his room and made his way to the elevator.

When the doors slid open, he was met with an unexpected sight.

『Good morning, Kushida-chan. Fancy meeting you here in the morning. 』

"Ahaha, what a coincidence, Kumagawa-kun! Good morning to you too!" Kushida's smile was instant, bright, and perfectly rehearsed.

But Kumagawa saw it—the slight twitch in her fingers, the microsecond delay in her response. She was tense. Not that he could blame her.

『Oh, I see you're in high spirits. That's good. It'd be a shame if someone was in a bad mood this early.』

Kushida's smile didn't waver. But her grip on her bag tightened. She kept up her usual act for a few seconds longer, her sweet, bubbly expression never faltering. But then, as if a switch had been flipped, the mask cracked.

Her smile thinned. Her eyes sharpened. And when she finally spoke again, her voice was low and quiet.

"...You really are a disgusting person, aren't you, Kumagawa-kun?"

『Ehh, that's a little harsh, don't you think? I mean, it's still early in the morning, but I'm already getting cursed out of nowhere. Did I do something to you, Kushida-chan?』

She scoffed, brushing past him as she stepped out of the elevator. Kumagawa followed, hands in his pockets, whistling a random tune as they walked through the lobby.

Then, right before they reached the entrance, they ran into someone.

"Good morning, Kushida-san! Ah, and Kumagawa-kun too!"

Ichinose Honami greeted them with her usual cheer, a bright, infectious energy that filled the space around her.

『Yo, Ichinose-chan. What a great way to start my morning. It's nice to see someone who doesn't look at me like I'm a walking disease.』

Ichinose tilted her head, confused. But before she could say anything, Kushida—who had immediately switched back to her "good girl" persona—clasped her hands together with a light giggle.

"Kumagawa-kun and I were just talking! Right, Kumagawa-kun?" Then, she turned to him, "Let's get along well from now on, okay?"

Kumagawa smiled.

『I hate lies. Therefore, Kushida-chan, I can't get along with you.』

And with that, he walked away.

Kushida stood frozen, her fingers curling slightly as she watched his back disappear down the hall.

'I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him.'

Just like Horikita. Just like Ayanokouji. She hated everyone who saw beneath her mask. That's why she needed to deal with him. If she could, she would have done the same to Kumagawa. She would have destroyed him. Expelled him.

...And yet.

A quiet, nagging sensation in the back of her mind.

The feeling that if she tried to erase him or mess with him, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

"...Kushida-san?"

"!!"

Ichinose's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She blinked, turning to face the girl beside her.

"What was that just now?" Ichinose asked, tilting her head. "It seemed... tense."

Kushida's usual smile returned in an instant, bright and flawless.

"Ahaha, nothing at all! Kumagawa-kun just has a unique way of talking, doesn't he? I'm still getting used to it."

"That's true! The other day when I was talking to him..." Ichinose trailed off, laughing lightly.

Kushida smiled, nodding along, but her mind was elsewhere.

Thankfully, Kumagawa was weird.

His reputation as the most bizarre and hated student in the school hadn't changed. Even if she said something about him... even if she tried to turn people against him... they would probably just shrug it off.

It's just Kumagawa doing Kumagawa stuff.

Kushida kept smiling, nodding along to Ichinose's chatter, but inside, her thoughts were running in circles.

She needed a guarantee.

If she was going to try and get rid of Kumagawa, she had to be absolutely sure it wouldn't backfire. Because for the first time, she wasn't certain.

"Ahaha, I should get going now! See you later, Ichinose-san!"

With that, she quickly walked away, her smile still perfectly in place.

『』『』『』『』『』

"How is your head?"

Just when Kumagawa arrived in class, Horikita approach her and ask about his wound.

Well, granted, it was because of her brother's doing. She must have felt at least somewhat responsible. Even if she didn't particularly like him, the fact that her blood relative had done something so violent to a classmate was probably weighing on her.

『I say I'm doing pretty well. But if you're asking if I'm still alive, then yeah, I am. 』

"...That's not what I meant."

『Well, if it makes you feel better, your brother already paid for his sins. Quite literally. 』

"What do you mean?" Horikita narrowed her eyes.

Kumagawa just chuckled, brushing past her as he made his way to his seat.

『Nothing much. Just that last night was a very profitable one. 』

No one knew about the incident last night except for four people—Manabu, Horikita, Ayanokouji, and Kumagawa himself. The student council president wasn't the type to go around talking about his mistakes. Ayanokouji, as always, preferred to stay out of unnecessary trouble. Horikita wasn't the kind to gossip either especially about her brother. And Kumagawa... well, he had no reason to bring it up.

Which meant, as far as the rest of the school was concerned, nothing had happened.

He checked his balance on his phone again, the numbers lighting up the screen.

[2,090,185 points]

Almost two million. It was amusing, really. If someone asked him how much his life was worth, he would've said zero without hesitation. But now? He had a literal price tag on his suffering.

"Are you sure you can go to school?"

Kumagawa looked up from his phone. Ayanokouji stood there, just by the door, hands in his pockets. The classroom was still noisy with students chatting before the bell rang.

『Eh? Why not? Do I look that bad? 』

Ayanokouji's gaze flickered to the bandage on Kumagawa's head. He didn't say anything at first, just studying him with that emotionless expression of his.

"...No. You don't."

『Then it's fine, right? I mean, sure, a normal person would probably still be unconscious, if not in a coma, but I'm still breathing, I suppose, so that's a plus. 』

Ayanokouji didn't react to the joke. He just kept looking at him, as if trying to determine if Kumagawa was really human. Because as far as he knew, nobody could act this normal after having their skull cracked open. Even if the bleeding had stopped, even if there were no external injuries left, the damage should have been severe.

It was abnormal.

But before the conversation could continue—

"Good morning, everyone!"

Kushida arrived just in time, her bright, cheerful voice cutting through the room's morning chatter. As usual, she greeted everyone with a smile, effortlessly blending into the class like she belonged there.

"Good morning, Ayanokouji-kun."

"Morning."

『Good morning, Kushida-chan.』

She glanced at him. It was quick—just a brief flicker of her eyes—but Kumagawa noticed it. The way her expression stayed perfectly pleasant, yet her shoulders stiffened for half a second.

She still didn't know what to do about him.

"....Good morning to you too, Kumagawa-kun. But we already greeted this morning, how illy of you."

"...Good morning to you too, Kumagawa-kun. But we already greeted each other this morning. How silly of you."

She giggled, a light and friendly laugh, as if teasing a friend.

『My bad. Guess I just wanted to hear your voice again.』

Kushida's smile didn't falter, but he could tell. Just a little bit—just for a moment—she was annoyed.

As Kushida walked away to continue her usual morning routine of socializing, Ayanokouji turned his attention back to Kumagawa.

"...Do you two know each other well?"

『In truth, we're childhood friends who made a secret promise under the cherry blossoms. Or maybe we're archenemies, locked in an eternal struggle. Or, you know, maybe she just hates my guts. 』

Ayanokouji didn't respond right away. He was used to Kumagawa's way of speaking by now.

"...I see."

Ayanokouji didn't ask any further. He simply noted the way Kushida had reacted to Kumagawa earlier—how her smile remained intact, yet something in her posture betrayed her discomfort.

There was definitely something between them.

But if Kumagawa wasn't going to give a straight answer, there was no point in pressing.

Just as their conversation was wrapping up, Horikita approached, arms crossed as she looked at Kumagawa.

"You're still joining the study group, right?"

『Hmm? Does that thing still exist after what happened yesterday? I mean, it felt more like a survival game than a study session. 』

"It still exists," Horikita replied flatly. "Ayanokouji will handle it. You just need to come."

"...I don't remember agreeing to that," Ayanokouji muttered.

Horikita ignored him, her focus solely on Kumagawa. Now that she knew he was still able to walk, she had no intention of letting him slip away. As long as he was physically capable of sitting in a chair and holding a pen, she would drag him there if necessary. Losing class points over something like this was unacceptable.

『Well, if you're that desperate for my presence, I guess I'll show up. 』 Kumagawa smiled.

Horikita sighed, but she didn't argue. With that, the conversation ended, and the school day officially began.

『』『』『』『』『』

And just like that, lunch break arrived. Kumagawa had already stood up from his seat, making his way toward the door, when Horikita called out to him.

"Kumagawa, remember to come to the library."

『Yeah, yeah, I got it. I'd never break a promise, you know. 』

"I'll drag you there myself if I have to."

『Scary. Don't you know you're not supposed to treat patients carelessly?』

Instead of backing down, her eyes only grew sharper.

『Alright, alright. See you there, Horikita-chan.』

Without waiting for a response, he strolled out of the classroom.

The campus was quiet around this time. Most students were either in clubs, the library, or wasting time somewhere else. Kumagawa wasn't really in a rush. After all, he wasn't the type to be excited about studying. But he had agreed, so he'd go.

That was the plan, at least.

『Oh? What's this? A surprise encounter?』

Standing by the vending machines, casually sipping on a can of juice, was Rokusuke Kōenji. As always, his posture was relaxed, yet every movement carried an air of arrogance. He noticed Kumagawa immediately, lowering his drink with a smirk.

"Oh my, how unusual. To think I'd run into someone as detestable as you at this hour."

『Now, now, you'll make me blush. 』

Kōenji sipped his juice, his smirk never fading.

"Don't misunderstand. I simply find you amusing. If I could, I wouldn't associate with you at all. But since we're classmates, there's not much I can do."

『Oh? That's surprising. I thought a man of your caliber wouldn't care about something as trivial as classmates.』

Kōenji let out a small chuckle.

"Indeed, I don't. But having a nuisance around is still unpleasant."

Kumagawa thought that this man was really similar to Miyanokōji Oudo in terms of arrogance. The difference was that Miyanokōji saw himself as the pinnacle of human potential, while Kōenji's arrogance was more flamboyant and self-centered.

In Kumagawa's eyes, that made him seem childish.

"You reek of a man who's up to something."

『Oh, I assure you, Kōenji-kun, if I were up to something, it would be something really, really stupid. 』

Kōenji chuckled, shaking his head slightly.

"Then I look forward to seeing what kind of stupidity you bring to this school."

With that, he crushed the can in his hand and tossed it into the nearest bin with ease. Then, without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away.

『What an interesting guy. 』

Rokusuke Kōenji was definitely an interesting guy, but that was it. There was nothing that made him "special." Even if he stood out among the other students with his confidence, arrogance, and ridiculous physical ability, it wasn't anything beyond that.

He was just another person who believed he was above the rest. A different breed of elitist, but an elitist all the same.

And Kumagawa had seen plenty of those before.

That's why, in the end, he didn't particularly care.

With that thought, he stuffed his hands into his pockets and, without any real urgency, made his way toward the library.

『』『』『』『』『』

When Kumagawa arrived at the library, he walks toward the meeting place.

"Okay, stop. Stop!"

『Hmmm? 』

Kumagawa blinked, turning his head slightly toward the source of the voice.

A girl.

He wondered what had happened. Since, as far as he knew, yelling inside a library was forbidden. Or maybe, just maybe, this world had different rules regarding libraries.

When he arrived at the source of the voice, he saw Ichinose from Class B stepping in between a fight—Sudo on one side, some unknown mob character on the other.

"What? This doesn't involve you. Stay out of it," the unknown student said.

"Doesn't involve me? I'm trying to use the library, so it does involve me. If you want to get violent, might I suggest that you do so outside?" Ichinose retorted.

Hit by that fact, the unknown mob hesitated.

"Besides, don't you think you're provoking him? If things continue like this, I'd have to report it to the school. Do you want that?"

"S-Sorry. We don't want that, Ichinose."

Kumagawa watched the whole thing from a distance. He was already seated, arms resting on the table, watching with interest like he was observing a play. He wondered what would happen next.

The unknown mob fled with his tail between his legs. Sudo clicked his tongue but backed off, and Ichinose spoke briefly with Horikita and the others before they all left together.

When they left, unfortunately, the didn't pass by Kumagawa who is wathing in some other corner within the library.

Unfortunately, they didn't pass by Kumagawa, who was watching from another corner of the library.

"Kumagawa-kun?"

Ichinose had spotted him. She approached with her usual brightness, tilting her head slightly.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

『Well, you see, I was told there would be a study group here. But now, there's no one. I'm starting to wonder if this was a prank. Maybe they told me to come here when there was never a study group to begin with. Could it be? I'm getting bullied right now?』

Ichinose blinked, then let out a small laugh.

"Ahaha, no way! That's definitely not it."

『You say that, but the evidence is right in front of us. I was told to come here, and now I'm all alone. Isn't that exactly how bullying works? First, they isolate you. Next, they take your lunch money. Then, before you know it, you're being chased around the schoolyard by a gang of delinquents.』

"That's... a bit of a leap, don't you think?"

『Maybe? 』

Ichinose giggled, shaking her head.

"Don't worry. If your study group is Horikita-san and the others, they just left earlier. But in any case, are you okay?"

『What's wrong? 』

"You're in Class D, right, Kumagawa-kun?"

『Yes...? 』

"I heard something strange about your class's midterms. Apparently, you guys are getting a different test from the rest of the first years."

『Different test? Isn't that normal? 』

Ichinose shook her head. "As far as I know, all first-year students take the same exams. But this time, for some reason, Class D's test material is different. I don't know the details, but I thought I'd let you know since it might be important."

『Hmm. I see, I see. And? 』

"I don't know, but... I'm worried. If this test is harder than usual, and someone fails, there could be a dropout." Ichinose smiled wryly.

『Ohh, so that's what you're worried about. How kind of you, Ichinose-chan. But don't worry about me. I'm surprisingly good at handling worst-case scenarios. 』

"That's... not very reassuring," she said with an awkward chuckle.

Then, as if something came to mind, she tilted her head and asked, "By the way, how did you do on the last mock exam?"

Kumagawa blinked. Then, without missing a beat—

『Perfect score. 』

"Ehh?!"

『Just kidding. I failed spectacularly. You should've seen it. It was a work of art. 』

"...That's not something to be proud of, you know?"

『Well then, since I'm about to be dropped from school, I need to write my last will. See you in hell, Ichinose-chan. 』

He turned on his heel, as if genuinely about to leave.

"H-Hold on!" Ichinose grabbed his sleeve, looking slightly panicked. "Don't just accept expulsion like that!"

『Why not? I mean, I'm broke, I'm useless, and I can't study. If I were a normal person, I'd be in tears right now. But luckily, I'm not.』

Ichinose frowned.

"...Are you really okay with that?"

Kumagawa respond with a smile.

Ichinose stared at him for a moment before letting out a sigh.

"...Honestly, you're kind of a pain, Kumagawa-kun."

『I get that a lot. 』

『』『』『』『』『』

『Now then, what should I do? 』

Kumagawa strolled through the hallway, hands in his pockets, humming a tune he made up on the spot. The study session had ended before he even arrived.

But at this rate, he was definitely going to be expelled.

With the midterms coming up, he had been planning to use his wound as an excuse to get out of the exams. A little push was all it would take—just a slight nudge, and blood would come pouring out of his head. The class would panic, Chabashira would probably be forced to call for medical attention, and in all the chaos, he'd be excused from the test.

A foolproof plan.

But now it was ruined.

Without resorting to cheating or any unfair kind of play, there was no way Kumagawa could win in a fair and square manner.

His grades were abysmal. That was a fact. Even if he tried now, it wouldn't change anything. No matter how much time he spent staring at a textbook, the words wouldn't stick. It wasn't just a matter of effort—it was like trying to scoop water with a broken bucket.

Even in this world, nothing ever went the way he wanted. And just like always, he had been dealt the worst card at the worst time, in the worst possible situation.

A written test. A simple, unavoidable hurdle that every student had to clear. Yet for someone like Kumagawa, it was practically a death sentence.

His grades weren't just bad—they were beyond saving. He wasn't just at risk of failing; he was guaranteed to fail. No matter how much he studied, no matter how much effort he put in, the outcome wouldn't change.

And in this school, failure meant expulsion.

That was the situation.

He had no study habits. No motivation. No support. No secret weapon to pull out at the last second. Just a sinking ship in the middle of a storm.

Kumagawa tilted his head back, staring at the ceiling as he walked.

『Now then, what should I do? 』

Kumagawa smiled.

Even in the worst situation, even in the worst possible timing, even in the worst possible way, even if he was dealt the worst possible hand, even if he achieved the worst possible outcome...

As a Minus, he would laugh in the face of hardship.

Which meant—

『If I can't win fair and square, I just have to win unfairly. 』

After all, there was no rule saying he had to play fair.

In the first place, Chabashira was the one who told them about the material the test would cover. But Ichinose said that the test's material would be different than what they were expecting.

So it's not his fault, right?

With that thought in mind, he made his way to the only capable man he knew could solve this.

Knock. Knock.

A few seconds later, the door to the student council office slowly creaked open.

"Hmm? Kumagawa Misogi? What are you doing here?"

The one who answered was Tachibana, a third-year student and secretary of the student council.

『Tachibana-senpai. How is your love life going?』

She fumbled, visibly caught off guard. "H-Huh?! What are you—what does that have to do with anything?!"

『Nothing really. Just thought I'd ask. You always look so serious, so I figured maybe you needed a little romance in your life.』

"Leave," she said flatly.

『Ehh, that's so cold. But, well, that's not why I'm here anyway. I need to talk to Manabu-senpai.』

"I'm sorry, he's a little busy right now."

『That's unfortunate. 』

Tachibana barely had time to react before Kumagawa slipped past her and into the student council office.

Inside, seated at his desk, was Horikita Manabu. His piercing gaze landed on Kumagawa, scanning him from head to toe before settling on the unnecessary bandage still wrapped around his head.

"...Are you okay?" he asked.

『Mentally, I'm in shambles. Physically? I'm also in shambles.』

Tachibana scowled, shutting the door behind them.

"You can't just barge in here! Show some respect!"

『I would, but I'm about to be expelled, and I figured desperate times call for desperate measures. 』

Manabu leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "Explain."

『Gladly. You see, Manabu-senpai, it turns out that Class D is getting a completely different test than the other classes. A much harder one. And while I'd love to pretend I have the brains to survive that, let's be honest—I'm as hopeless as they come. So, I figured, why not go to the student council president? You guys exist to maintain fairness in this school, right?』

Tachibana furrowed her brows "What are you talking about? The test for first years hasn't changed in four years—"

"Tachibana!"

Manabu's sharp voice cut through the room. Tachibana immediately shut her mouth, covering it with both hands, but it was already too late.

『Um, President. 』

Manabu exhaled through his nose, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"What is it...?"

Manabu's already know where this is going. It's not that its a secret, if more observant student try to dig a little deeper, the would know this kind of information. But to think because of a blunder....and its Kumagawa of all people.

『Did my ears deceive me, or did she just say the first year midterm test hasn't changed in four years? 』

"Forget what you heard."

『Oh, I'd love to, but unfortunately, my memory is perfect when it comes to things I shouldn't know. 』

Tachibana looked away; her lips pressed into a thin line. Manabu, on the other hand, remained calm.

『You see, I'm in Class D and at serious risk of failing. I don't mind getting expelled, but I'd rather it happens because of my own stupidity. 』

Manabu remained silent, but the slight narrowing of his eyes told Kumagawa everything.

Chabashira lied.

If, for the last four years, the content of the test hadn't changed, then that meant she had deliberately given out the wrong test material to Class D. The rest of the classes seemed to have received the same exam as previous years, which meant only Class D had been set up to fail.

Kumagawa's smile widened as he tilted his head.

『Hey, hey, President. How much for your first-year midterm test?』

Manabu's expression didn't change. "...Are you going to cheat?"

『Of course not. I'm just going to copy the answers word for word. Sentence for sentence. Number for number as a reference. It's definitely not cheating. 』

"That's the very definition of cheating."

『Ehh? Is it? But what if I just happened to find an old test somewhere and memorized it? Is that really my fault? 』

Manabu closed his eyes briefly before sighing.

"10,000 points."

Kumagawa clutched his head dramatically.

『Ahh... My injuries... My skull... The pain...! President, how could you?! I might not even live to see tomorrow, and now you expect me to pay you 10,000 points?』

Manabu let out another sigh, rubbing his temples. "...Fine. 5,000 poin—"

Before the words had even fully left his mouth, Kumagawa immediately straightened up and grabbed Manabu's hand in a firm handshake.

『Deal. 』

Manabu's eye twitched. For a brief moment, it looked like he wanted to punch him. Manabu withdrew his hand and let out a tired sigh.

"Tachibana, handle the transaction."

Tachibana hesitated but ultimately nodded, pulling out her tablet. "You're really going through with this, President?"

"It doesn't matter. If he has the points, the deal stands."

Tachibana then processed the transfer. A few seconds later, Kumagawa's points dropped by 5,000, and in return, he received a digital copy of the first-year midterm from four years ago.

He scrolled through it lazily before tilting his head.

『Huh. This doesn't seem too bad. 』

"If that's all, leave."

『Alright, alright. Thanks for your business, President. I'll be sure to come back if I ever need more... references. 』

Kumagawa waved casually and strolled out of the room, whistling as he went.

Kumagawa initally plan to report Chabasira, ensuring she'd face consequences that might affect her career at this school. And eventually, she'd be fired and she wouldn't be able to get another teaching job. Her record would follow her wherever she went, drowning herself in cheap alcohol at some rundown bar, ranting to strangers about how unfair life was. She'd live the rest of her days bitter and exhausted, blaming everything but herself for how things turned out.

But Kumagawa wasn't that cruel.

It wasn't like he'd go out of his way to completely destroy her life.

After all—

『Doing one good deed is pretty good. 』

Thankfully, Kumagawa was a good person.

『END』

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