Saiki Kusuo's eyebrows twitched slightly. He knew this price was ridiculously high.
"Fifty thousand points... Is that too much? But these freshmen probably don't know the real value. I bought the midterm exam answers for thirty thousand points last year, so I'll make a profit of twenty thousand points this time! I'll squeeze some oil out of these freshmen and improve my meals a bit!"
'One second he's thinking about a date with Kushida, and the next, he's trying to scam points from us first-years?'
Saiki Kusuo wasn't sure what to say.
'He bought it for thirty thousand and now wants to sell it for fifty thousand? What a businessman... But this way, Kushida probably won't buy the answers. Our exam scores won't be as high, but as long as we don't lose all our points, it's fine. Plus, it'll keep our class rank from rising too much and drawing attention.'
At this thought, Saiki Kusuo's lips curled slightly. Despite the unexpected turn, things were still going his way.
He glanced at Kushida Kikyo, who kept smiling.
"Fifty thousand points? Let me ask my classmates what they think," Kushida said, pulling out her phone.
"Fifty thousand points? Does he really think I'll fall for that bullshit?"
Kushida's inner thoughts were the opposite of her cheerful expression.
"Saiki Kusuo, you know this price is absurd, right? Bargain with him already!"
'Sorry, I have no plans to do that,' Saiki Kusuo thought, hearing her unspoken words. To him, the answers were useless.
"Doesn't he think this is too expensive?"
Kushida wondered, her fingers gliding across her terminal as she forwarded the message to the group chat.
Kushida Kikyo: Everyone! I asked the upperclassman, and the answers cost fifty thousand points. What do you think?
The class responded quickly.
Hirata Yousuke: Fifty thousand? Seems pricey. What do you guys think?
Miyake Akito: Feels unnecessary. Too expensive. With forty people in the class, it's over a thousand points per person.
Ike Kanji: Agreed, it's too much.
'At least they're not completely clueless,' Saiki Kusuo thought, his lips twitching. Not buying the answers was better; it would keep their scores from skyrocketing, and he didn't want the class to advance to A-rank too soon.
He knew A-rank students were a target for others.
Kushida Kikyo: But I think the answers are important... This exam affects our points, and I want our class to have more! QAQ
Saiki Kusuo noticed Kushida's insistence and heard her relentless inner monologue.
"I have to buy the answers this time, not for the scores, but to target Horikita Suzune! With her antisocial personality, even if everyone buys them, she won't. It'll make her stand out even more, and the class will distance themselves from her. I won't let her off easy—I'll make her drop out! Horikita Suzune, you bitch!"
'...'
Saiki Kusuo pressed his lips together. Kushida's obsession with Horikita Suzune was terrifying.
Buying answers just to make someone drop out?
'She's gone off the deep end, but her plan won't work. The class isn't that stupid...'
Ike Kanji: Then I think we should buy them! Kushida went through so much trouble to talk to the upperclassman for us! We can't waste her efforts!
Sudou Ken: I agree.
Yamauchi Haruki: Yeah, me too!
'Huh?'
A giant question mark appeared in Saiki Kusuo's mind.
Hadn't some of them just opposed it? How did they change their minds so quickly?
He glanced at Kushida, wondering if she was also a psychic.
Hirata Yousuke: Let's vote. Who wants to buy the answers? We'll split the cost!
Hirata started a poll, and the class quickly voted in favor, even Karuizawa Kei, who had been skeptical. After she voted, the other girls followed—except Horikita Suzune, who voted against.
She didn't need the answers and likely didn't want to conform.
'Ugh...'
Saiki Kusuo felt trapped. If he voted against, he'd be labeled a weirdo like Horikita.
He had no choice but to vote in favor.
39 votes for, 1 against.
Buying the answers was now a done deal.
Hirata Yousuke: Kushida, go ahead and buy them. We'll transfer the points to you afterward!
Kushida Kikyo: Got it! But fifty thousand is too much. I'll try to bargain for a lower price!
Ike Kanji: Kushida's so kind!
Yamauchi Haruki: Thanks for your hard work!
Sudou Ken: Appreciate it!
'Are they deliberately ignoring me?'
For Saiki Kusuo, it was a good thing, but now that the decision was made, he couldn't stay silent.
Even splitting the cost, it was over a thousand points per person.
Enough for several coffee puddings.
"Upperclassman, can you lower the price?" Kushida asked, putting down her phone. With no response from Saiki Kusuo, she had to negotiate herself.
"No! Fifty thousand is fifty thousand!" Sato replied immediately.