With a beautiful shot, the surrounding female spectators couldn't help but gasp in admiration.
A satisfied smile appeared on Miyabi Nagumo's face.
Although he'd long lost interest in women, the feeling of being admired still pleased him immensely.
"The score is 2-5. As expected of Nagumo-kun," someone remarked sincerely.
The match was nearly over, and Nagumo simply waved his hand dismissively.
"Good work, everyone. Take a break for now."
"Nagumo-senpai, you worked hard too!"
Among the participants in this soccer practice match were first-year students—new members of the soccer club.
Nagumo had once been part of the soccer club himself but withdrew after joining the student council.
Still, he occasionally dropped by to participate in club activities.
Today was no exception.
After P.E. class ended, Nagumo had come to the field and played with the club members for over an hour.
As he stepped off the field, Tonokawa immediately approached him, first handing him a towel, then offering a drink once he had wiped his face.
"Has Nazuna not returned yet?" Nagumo glanced around.
Though Asahina Nazuna rarely came to watch him, today was P.E. class—after returning her things, she should have stopped by to see him.
"The others who went with her said Asahina-san decided to stay behind and help in the storage room," Tonokawa Sosuke replied.
"Helping in the storage room?" Nagumo frowned as realization struck him.
Hadn't Horikita Manabu assigned Tachibana Akane to take the first-years to assist there?
The moment he remembered that Kaoru Mitoma was among them, irritation surged within him.
Suppressing his agitation, he spoke coldly, "What was Ryuen's response?"
"He said the price needs to go up." Tonokawa held up five fingers.
"At least five million."
A vein pulsed on Nagumo's forehead.
Were these first-years really treating him like some bank?
Demanding seven figures right off the bat—did they think he was some naive rich kid?
"Tell him he gets one million, and that's it. The student council can also help cover his tracks, so he shouldn't push his luck." Nagumo took a deep breath.
"If he can bring down Class A, the money will be transferred immediately."
Tonokawa nodded in acknowledgment.
"What about the first-years? Any volunteers to act as spies?" Nagumo asked next. Follow current novels on NoveI[F]ire.net
"Classes C and D have shown interest, but Classes B and A are harder to approach—especially Class B."
Hearing this, Nagumo's brow furrowed.
Why was Class B so tightly guarded?
Just as he was puzzling over it, Tonokawa lowered his voice.
"Someone's waiting for you over there."
Nagumo turned his gaze and spotted a girl sitting on a bench not far away, her hands resting on a cane as she quietly observed the field.
"Well, well. The interesting one is back."
A faintly mocking smile curled on Nagumo's lips as he strode toward her.
"Long time no see, first-year girl. Did my skills catch your eye?"
"My, my. Starting with harassment right away—seems the rumors were mistaken." Sakayanagi Arisu smiled faintly.
In the past, she wouldn't have minded such teasing, but now was different.
Nagumo's expression darkened. "What rumors?"
"Ah, the ones about Nagumo-senpai losing interest in women… Did I speak out of turn?"
Seeing his increasingly stormy expression, Sakayanagi tactfully cut herself short, inwardly surprised.
"Could it actually be true?"
"Just some slander from petty individuals." Nagumo Miyabi's face showed no expression.
"Since your class doesn't welcome you, are you now wandering outside?"
"That's too harsh. I simply chose to come out on my own." Sakayanagi Arisu tilted her head upward.
"The twilight scenery, the youthful energy of the sports field—such a view compelled me to pause and admire it. And then I happened to run into you here."
"Precisely proving you have no place left in your class, hence the spare time to enjoy the view." Nagumo didn't let up, continuing his mockery.
Sakayanagi wasn't the least bit angry.
A strange glint flashed in her eyes—she knew the more agitated Nagumo became, the more it confirmed the rumors were true.
"It seems Nagumo-senpai knows our class inside out. Could it be Katsuragi-kun who told you all this?"
Her tone held no hesitation, her smile almost leisurely.
This signal also conveyed to Nagumo that she was equally well-informed about the student council and his own situation.
Nagumo caught the signal and replied indifferently, "Katsuragi has now pledged his loyalty to me."
Even if Katsuragi was Kaoru's bait, he would swallow it without hesitation—because the former had become the leader of Class 1-A and that banner was highly useful to him.
"That's his personal decision. Class 1-A currently has no intention of pledging loyalty to anyone." Sakayanagi's voice was soft.
"Does your opposition matter?" Nagumo studied her with amusement. "A loser who carelessly lost the match versus a winner who triumphed fair and square—does your opinion hold any weight?"
Sakayanagi shook her head, then smiled faintly.
"No. The person standing before you now is someone waiting for an opportunity to turn the tables. She brings a plan valuable to both sides, here to negotiate with someone lacking a partner on how to handle Class 1-A."
The girl straightened her posture slightly.
The fading twilight bathed her delicate face, making her glow as if draped in a holy veil, her silver-white short hair shimmering.
Nagumo narrowed his eyes, shadows of dusk flickering across his face.
The last rays of light slipped past his shoulders, slowly sinking below the horizon, while shouts from the track field echoed behind them.
"Heh, no need to rush. The upcoming sports festival can be considered my gift to you." Sakayanagi paused.
"Once the student council elections begin next month, we can discuss it then."
"You're quite bold. Aren't you afraid I'll report this to your class?" Nagumo's smirk was ambiguous—colluding with an outsider against one's own class could easily be seen as betrayal.
"As long as it leads to checkmate, it doesn't matter how many pieces are sacrificed along the way." Sakayanagi's voice remained soft.
"Besides, your goal aligns with mine."
"Oh? I don't recall having any goals involving first-years." Nagumo feigned surprise.
"Wasn't it Mitoma-kun who had Katsuragi-kun join the student council? Wasn't it him who brought Katsuragi-kun to your side? Wasn't it him who made you lose respect?" Sakayanagi gazed at him calmly.
A chill ran down his spine—just how much did this girl know?
"Likewise, I share the same feelings as you. He took what was mine and unceremoniously pushed me to the bottom, constantly bullying me all the while." Sakayanagi Arisu clutched her chest as if deeply hurt.
"Right now, I wish nothing more than to repay his actions tenfold."
Hmm, Kaoru had spanked her once—she would return the favor sooner or later, at least ten times over.