"Rinji-kun…"
"Secretary Fujiwara, could you stop looking at like I'm heading off to die? It's just a school transfer."
Chika wiped her tears with a handkerchief.
"But… but soone like you, Rinji-kun, who trusts people too easily, is going to get cleaned out at Hyakkaou!"
"Did you forget how your tabletop gaming club lost to ? Fujiawara 'Cheater' Chika."
"I don't have much to give, but here—take this. Maybe you'll need it…"
Fujiwara handed Rinji a deck of cards.
He took them and opened the box. It was the sa magic deck the Tabletop gaming Club had used to play blackjack with him last ti.
"Though I doubt I'll need this... I appreciate the thought."
Rinji put the deck into his backpack.
"Rinji."
Shirogane Miyuki walked up to him and, after a mont of hesitation, spoke.
"If you run into any trouble, co to us. We might not be of much help, but the student council will always have your back."
"...Thank you."
Rinji smiled at everyone who had co to see him off.
The entire student council was present.
It was Tuesday, the day Rinji was to leave for Hyakkaou Private Academy. Everyone from the student council had co to the school gate to send him off.
He had genuinely felt warmth in this student council.
"Well then, I'm off."
Lifting his backpack, Rinji turned to the group.
"It's just one month. I'll be back right in ti for the sports festival and resu student council duties, so... so Fujiwara, could you stop making that face like I'm heading to the gallows?"
He finally couldn't take the way Fujiwara looked at him—like a grieving relative seeing off a death row inmate.
"But... I asked my dad about that school yesterday. It sounds really dangerous," she said, teary-eyed.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to lose my underwear over there."
"I'm worried they'll force you into a dress and take embarrassing photos..."
"Goodbye."
Though he knew she was just concerned, Rinji didn't want to hear any more of it.
Looking over at Ishigami, who had kept his head down the whole ti, Rinji figured he was still blaming himself.
He stepped up and gave Ishigami a light punch on the shoulder.
"Let's rank up this weekend."
"...Okay."
Sotis, just a few words are all it takes—no need for anything more.
As Rinji walked away, the student council mbers stood at the school gate watching until he disappeared from view.
---
"Hey, little Rinji, I heard what's going on over there. Sounds like you've got so clueless idiots causing trouble again, huh?"
"It's nothing, Grandpa George. Just minor stuff."
Walking down the street, Rinji answered his phone.
The call was from George, who had sohow caught wind of Rinji's second suspension. Though still in Japan, George had instantly panicked.
He had co to Japan specifically to make sure the boss's son wouldn't be mistreated. Yet not even half a year had passed before another incident occurred.
"How can it be minor? You treat yourself like an outsider too much," George scolded over the phone. "We've already traced the families who co-signed that complaint against you. I estimate they'll be bankrupt in three days. After that, you can decide what to do with them—"
"They were just being used. No need to deal with them specially."
Rinji laughed.
"Just ship them off to Africa or the Middle East sohow and let them fend for themselves."
"No problem. Leave it to your Grandpa George."
"Thanks, Grandpa George."
"You're always so polite, little Rinji."
After a few more words, Rinji ended the call and put his phone away.
Those families that wanted him expelled were finished, but Rinji didn't have ti to worry about such insignificant people. His focus was on tracking down the true culprit behind this incident.
He stopped in front of a grand building, looked up at the sprawling high school campus, and smiled.
This was Hyakkaou Private Academy.
From here, he could see students in red uniforms—it was the school's standard attire.
What struck him as odd was the complete absence of any visible staff.
As he stepped onto the campus, a girl wearing the red uniform stopped him.
"Excuse , this is Hyakkaou Private Academy. Outsiders are not allowed to enter."
The girl had long black hair in a side ponytail and wore a stern expression. She looked at Rinji as if she were facing a foreign invader.
"Are you the disciplinary officer?"
"No. I'm the student council secretary."
"A secretary, huh."
He thought of thier own secretary, Fujiwara Chika, who was always goofing off.
Compared to her, this one seed rigid and dependable.
Just a bit dull.
Rinji pulled an envelope from his backpack and handed it to her.
"This is an invitation letter from your student council president. I was told I could co here any ti for academic exchange."
Upon hearing that it was from the president—Kirari Momobami—the girl looked briefly stunned. She quickly scanned the letter and confird Rinji's identity.
"So you're the student transferring from Shuchiin?"
"Not transferring. I'm just here for a one-month exchange."
"I believe we sent you our school uniform yesterday." She frowned at his black Shuchiin uniform. "Why are you still wearing your old school's uniform?"
"Didn't feel like changing."
"It's school policy! Once you're a Hyakkaou student, you must wear the uniform. You—"
Before she could finish, Rinji stepped forward and grabbed her head.
"You—"
"Don't take yourself so seriously, little girl."
He was smiling, but his voice turned cold.
"I didn't co here to beco one of you. Take to see Kirari. Now."
"What..."
"Rules here don't matter unless I say they do."
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