"Hyakkaou Private Academy, huh…"
Rinji's eyes narrowed slightly.
Sothing felt off.
Yesterday, he had a gamble with the student council president of Hyakkaou. Though he didn't want to admit it, his win was barely a win.
That student council president, Momobami Kirari, had invited him to Hyakkaou. He'd refused then, yet today, Shuchiin's principal just happened to receive a formal invitation from them. Combined with the pressure from the parents today, everything felt too conveniently tid.
"Was this all part of your plan, Momobami Kirari…"
"Hmm? Rinji, did you say sothing?"
"Principal, do you know soone nad Momobami Kirari?" Rinji asked.
"Of course." The principal nodded. "She's a big na in Japan's financial world, and the student council president of Hyakkaou Private Academy."
"A high schooler with that much influence in finance? This country's really falling apart."
Now Rinji was mostly sure.
This was all orchestrated by Kirari.
According to Momo, she sotis visited her family's casino, so she probably already knew about Rinji and his connection to Momo. Yesterday's encounter was clearly a pretext to get close to him, and this exchange program had likely been planned since then.
Rinji took the invitation from the principal and smiled.
"Alright, I'll go have a look."
"That's great! If you agree…"
"Hold on."
Just as the principal was about to finalize it, Sagara frowned deeply.
"I've heard of that school. It may not have as long a history as Shuchiin, but it's been around for over a century. Still, the atmosphere there has beco... questionable in recent years."
"A school full of gamblers? Of course the atmosphere's ssed up," Rinji chuckled.
"You've heard of it too?"
"I've played a few gas with students from there before. All they seem to care about is gambling."
"Honestly, I don't recomnd going," Sagara said bluntly.
Rinji had started to behave more like a normal student thanks to Shuchiin and the student council's influence. Sending him to a twisted place like that could undo all the progress. When Shirogane beca student council president, Sagara had been relieved. It ant one more year of pressure on Rinji to reform.
But now, with these ddling parents, everything was thrown off.
She totally understood why Rinji wanted to ship them to Africa. When she first heard about it, her own urge was to kick their doors down and dunk their heads in the toilet.
But she held back.
Even if Rinji was a bit unhinged, his environnt had so restraining effect. At least at Shuchiin, he hadn't done anything Sagara couldn't tolerate.
Hyakkaou, on the other hand, was different. If he went there, she really feared his inner darkness might awaken again.
"It's fine. Just a different school, and only for a month," Rinji smiled. "I'll be back after that."
"But… sothing still feels wrong."
Sagara's unease was only growing. At Hyakkaou, no one could keep him in check. If sothing disastrous happened, there'd be no fixing it.
"It'll be fine. Just a little educational visit."
Rinji grinned wickedly.
"Perfect chance to et those gamblers."
---
"So… Rinji-kun, you're transferring schools?"
"No, just a one-month exchange."
In the student council office, all the mbers were gathered.
Besides Shirogane, Kaguya, Ishigami, and Chika, Iino was there too.
Shirogane had invited her today—she was now a new mber.
"This is because of that chaotic election speech, isn't it?"
"Sort of. So parents complained," Rinji said with a grin. "And just in ti, Hyakkaou Private Academy sent an invitation. The principal figured sending there for a month would shut the parents up."
"That's… not the worst solution, I guess…"
Shirogane frowned slightly.
"But the reputation of that school…"
Hyakkaou and Shuchiin had two things in common: both were prestigious schools with over a century of history, and both had students from political and financial elites. Basically, they were schools for rich brats.
The difference was that Shuchiin was a normal high school, while Hyakkaou's policies were anything but normal—like encouraging students to gamble.
Rinji had never heard of any other school that encouraged gambling. At most, gambling would get you detention or expulsion.
"Honestly, for a regular student, that place would be hell," Shirogane sighed.
He couldn't imagine what would've happened to him if he had ended up there.
…Actually, probably nothing. He never had money to begin with. No money, no gambling.
"My dad told about that school before," Chika said. "He really doesn't like it—says the atmosphere is terrible."
"Maybe we should call it off," Iino said anxiously. "If nothing else, I could go talk to the parents with Rinji-kun and ask for forgiveness—"
"Absolutely not."
Rinji refused instantly.
"No matter what their reason was, the fact that they ca after ans I already spared them by letting them live. apologize? Not happening. No way."
"But…"
"I don't think there's a problem," Kaguya said suddenly.
Her expression was different from the others who were worried.
"You should have more faith in Rinji-kun. Even that school can't do anything to him," Kaguya smiled. "If anything… maybe worry about that school instead."
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