novelraw Chapter 64
Chapter 64
Chapter 64
"At Yuanyue we move a little faster than other schools in math—especially geometry—so let's run a quick diagnostic. President and I put these questions together," Hashimoto said, dragging a whiteboard into the seminar room and wiping yesterday's equations away.
Spencer, seated opposite him, wasn't watching the board at all. She turned to Yan Huan instead, flashing a grin so wicked it could have curdled milk.
Yan Huan rubbed his aching muscles and ignored her.
Ever since she'd picked up that black tote stuffed with questionable manga, she'd acted as if she'd found a cheat scroll. She kept sneaking looks at him, wearing the same unsettling, déjà-vu grin.
He should have known: when An Le bought that doujinshi Bound Dragon at the expo, Spencer had probably downloaded the "director's cut" too.
Fine. Just wait, Spencer. I'll deal with you later.
He glanced around the modest seminar room—only the three of them present—and smirked. Figures.
Plane buzzed.
Bai Yi: "Sorry, Yan Huan. I've got an event this morning, won't be back till noon. Could you add me to the study-group roster when you fill it out?"
He replied with a cat-sticker thumbs-up, locked the phone, and did the math.
Counting Bai Yi, the group had... two members.
Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors were only "strongly encouraged" to sign up; only Spencer was compulsory. And since sophomores and juniors would be tutored by his own freshman Student Council—freshmen teaching upperclassmen—no one with any pride would show.
The whole thing was just Principal Hermes' elaborate excuse to serve Spencer a single dumpling of extra help after she'd already drunk the vinegar. Once the condiment was down, nobody cared what the dumpling tasted like.
So he and Hashimoto had split the subjects. Hashimoto would handle math and science; Yan Huan took grammar, reading, and social studies. First, the diagnostic; then Yan Huan would tailor a plan.
Spencer's Modifier was still a mystery. Not as flashy as Ye Shiyu's or Bai Yi's, not as visceral as An Le's. It didn't feel strong—yet it never seemed to go on cooldown. Absurd.
Time to mine data: he'd crank up the difficulty.
"Okay, let's see what we're working with."
Ten minutes later:
"Sis, are you drawing sigils or answering questions? You guessed every multiple-choice, and problem three only has four options—how did you bubble in an E?"
Hashimoto looked up in disbelief. Spencer stared at the question, then snapped, "It's your fault."
"My fault?"
"Why give only four choices? Add more!"
Hashimoto pointed at her, laughing in disbelief, then appealed to Yan Huan. "President, get a load of this."
Yan Huan sighed and stepped forward. Spencer was already on the verge of meltdown.
"Look, President—she can't solve a basic quadratic. Forget the rest. Either she never studied or she's... well, maybe she should repeat elementary."
"What?! I'm not stupid!"
Until that last word she'd looked bored; now she shot to her feet, flipping the table. Hashimoto yelped and ducked behind Yan Huan.
"Come out here and say that again—I'll deck you!"
"P-President, save me!"
Yan Huan righted the table with one hand and retrieved Spencer's half-finished test. He scanned it, deadpan.
"Equations... algebra's also a blank slate."
"See? She scored sixty-six. Why bother with the study group?"
Spencer bristled again, but Hashimoto was already invisible behind Yan Huan, muttering.
The fist lowered. Spencer folded her arms, glanced at Yan Huan, then looked away.
After a moment she muttered, "Hold up. You two keep saying... 'equation'? What is that, code?"
Silence.
Hashimoto peeked out, face a modern-art masterpiece.
"How did you even get into Yuanyue, sis?"
"Huh? They invited me! Said I met the criteria!"
She raised her fist; Hashimoto ducked again—then froze, staring past the window.
"President... look outside."
Yan Huan turned.
Across from the library, scaffolding was coming off the new teaching block. The exposed facade now bore an enormous, lifelike golden-lion emblem. Beneath the rampant beast, calligraphy spelled out:
"Spencer—Golden Lion Group."
The entire luxurious building was a donation from her family?
Yan Huan glanced at the test's header: Aria Spencer.
He turned back to Spencer, who still looked puzzled.
"I'm not lying! I'll bring the invitation letter if you want."
Hashimoto covered his face.
Yan Huan gave her a thumbs-up and smiled. "No need. I've seen your credentials."
"Huh?" She preened. "Good. So what's this 'equation' thing, secret slang?"
Hashimoto slid down the wall, defeated.
Yan Huan clutched his chest—last night's chest workout throbbed at the touch—and croaked, "That's enough for today. We'll log the roster... and we've basically grasped your academic situation."
"Huh?"
Inside the seminar room, victory and defeat had already been decided.
The Student Council—utterly defeated!
At the doorway, an elderly man in a tailored suit quietly withdrew the gaze he'd been using to observe the scene inside and heaved a silent sigh.
He was none other than Principal Hermes of Yuanyue Academy.
Clutching his chest, he raged inwardly in perfect sympathy:
"This world is just that cruel!!"
But despair was forbidden; true strength meant rowing against the current.
There was still hope!
Hermes had already resigned himself to abandoning the idea of forcing Spencer into the study group after receiving countless complaints about her. Even if he tried, she'd probably refuse.
Fine—let the Club Wars settle it once and for all.
Get her into the Track-and-Field Club, win the tournament, and everyone would be happy.
Yet he had never imagined that Spencer, with her temperament, would show up early for school—specifically to attend the study group.
Why?
Hermes refused to believe she'd come to study.
There was only one explanation.
Beauty.
Hermes pressed himself flat against the doorframe and studied the room with the stealth of a thief who'd just discovered truth itself.
Spring—the season when every creature seeks a mate.
Teenagers this age crave romance, strutting like peacocks in heat.
As a human being, Spencer might be lacking.
But as a living organism, her instincts were intact!
The desire to pursue an outstanding mate and propagate the species was universal.
Therefore, in Hermes' eyes, Spencer's sudden diligence had a single motive:
She was aiming at Yan Huan!
Hermes' breathing hitched; lightning flashed across his mind.
Aha! I have an idea!
If I dangle Yan Huan as bait, she'll settle down.
When boys and girls first interact, they always show their best sides to attract a partner.
"So, if I secretly play matchmaker..."
Heh-heh.
"What matchmaking, Principal? What are you doing loitering here?"
The next moment, a cool female voice cracked behind him like a thunderbolt down his spine.
His pupils shrank; he turned and saw a petite, stunning girl leading several students out of the elevator.
Sakuramiya Hitomi.
She smiled—yet the smile was terrifying.
D-done for!
Hermes suddenly remembered: the Sakuramiya princess had been hanging around the student council all along.
At first she'd claimed she wanted to "experience student-council life," but every time she assigned Yan Huan backbreaking tasks she'd delivered pointed warnings to Hermes.
Sss...
Sweat beaded on Hermes' forehead. He cleared his throat, produced a handkerchief, and blotted his brow.
"Ah-ha, I was merely inspecting the library's book inventory and thought I'd check on the study group the council is running. Sakuramiya, why are you bringing so many students?"
"These classmates haven't joined any clubs yet. Since the student council handles club placement, I thought we'd reserve a seminar room and get it sorted."
Sakuramiya Hitomi approached, her smile softening only slightly.
"However, Principal Hermes, this Spencer girl hardly meets Yuanyue's admission standards, wouldn't you agree?"
"V-Vice-President Sakuramiya, Linmen's education system weighs overall quality, not just grades. Spencer has her own... bright spots."
No wonder Hashimoto complained that rich families made this school impossible to navigate.
On the left, the Golden Lion Group's Spencer hadn't even been chased off yet; on the right, the Sakuramiya princess appeared.
Yuanyue was private—kept afloat by donors with astronomical clout.
But the saying went: every favor becomes a shackle.
How much influence was too much?
One mountain always rose higher; sometimes the titans behind them clashed.
Luckily, it was Sakuramiya Hitomi speaking, not the entire Sakuramiya clan.
She gave a small smile and said, "That's best, Principal Hermes.
"I trust the school has a robust student-evaluation system, and I'm willing to believe Spencer is a well-qualified, intelligent, healthy candidate who meets Yuanyue's benchmarks.
"After all, even after enrollment, poor performance can trigger expulsion—correct?"
Cold sweat trickled down Hermes' back.
"Well..."
Before he could answer, Sakuramiya turned to the students behind her.
"Everyone, please wait for me in Seminar Room L502. I'll notify the club recruiters."
"Yes, Vice-President~"
Most of the go-home club members chatted their way past Hermes, offering polite good-mornings.
Only the last few gloomy boys and girls crept by in silence.
An Le was among them.
When she'd heard Sakuramiya's words, she'd clenched her fists.
This morning, Park Seo-mun had come to school, her face still wrapped in thick white bandages. Only after confirming Spencer's seat was empty had she dared sit down.
Yet when she saw An Le, she sneered,
"Just wait—Spencer will be expelled soon. Once she's gone, you'll have a lovely semester."
...
Was Spencer going to be expelled because she'd stood up for An Le?
As An Le passed Hermes, her fists tightened.
On her shoulder, Xiao Muzi flicked its tongue and grinned dangerously.
Then Sakuramiya's voice rang out behind her.
"An Le, please wait a moment."
"Eh?"
An Le turned back to see Sakuramiya's gentle smile.
"I'd like a word with you, An Le."
"M-me?"
"That's right."
"O-okay..."
Cheeks flushed, An Le returned. She bowed and wondered what the vice-president wanted.
Hermes wiped his brow again.
"Then I'll leave the student council to its work. I'll tour elsewhere."
"Certainly, Principal. Take care."
"G-goodbye, Principal..."
Only An Le bowed properly. When she straightened, Sakuramiya's kindly smile greeted her.
The vice-president was elegant and beautiful. Girls claimed to dislike her, but An Le suspected most were simply jealous—of her grades, of a family background that rivaled any heiress.
When someone that perfect upheld every rule with impartial ruthlessness, the egos of other "young masters and princesses" inevitably bruised.
"Vice-President Sakuramiya, what exactly did you—"
"Ah, it's simple. You haven't joined a club, so I contacted the presidents of the Anime Club and the Gaming Club. You can join either directly—no interviews, no tests."
"E-eh? That's... too much trouble for you?"
Sakuramiya tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear and smiled behind her hand.
"Officially the school can't force clubs to accept members. The student council is powerful, but so are the clubs—they can refuse. And with Club Wars approaching, every member must compete. Adding new people now is... awkward."
She gently took An Le's hand.
"You seem shy, so I thought I'd shortcut the process. Those two presidents have already given up on winning this year's Club Wars, so they're relaxed about it."
An Le gulped, suddenly stammering.
"I-I-I, how can I trouble you, Vice-President Sakuramiya?"
"It's no big deal," Sakuramiya said with a gentle smile. "You're the President's childhood sweetheart. Everyone in the student council gets along, and since you're his friend, you're automatically one of us. Helping you is only natural."
"Thank you so much, Vice-President Sakuramiya."
"Just call me Sakuramiya, An Le."
"O-okay, Sakuramiya."
"Hehe, you're adorable."
Sakuramiya Hitomi hid a giggle behind her hand, making An Le flush even deeper. Behind her perfect manners, however, Sakuramiya's mind flashed with a triumphant "Plan successful."
Scheming~
In truth, she didn't give a fig about An Le. The girl was soft and malleable, the type who looked born to be pushed around. Even if she was the President's childhood friend, she was still a harmless little fluffball.
The real target was Spencer.
Spencer and An Le were on friendly terms. By pulling An Le to her side, Sakuramiya effectively planted a mole next to Spencer—someone who could feed her information and spring traps.
Yesterday, she'd had Nara dig up the latest news: Spencer was teetering on the edge of expulsion. There were only two ways Spencer could stay.
First, pass at least half of her mid-terms.
Well... judging by that 66 on the placement exam, the odds were laughably low. Sakuramiya filed that possibility under "ignore." If it somehow looked like Spencer might scrape by, Sakuramiya could always sabotage her study group and finish the job.
Second, win the upcoming Club Wars.
Hermes, that old geezer, had arranged for Spencer to join the Track-and-Field Club as her ace in the hole. Anyone could see that under Captain Owen, the track team was the clear favorite this year. Hermes would bend the rules so Spencer could swoop in, claim victory, and stay enrolled.
Sakuramiya refused to let the old man have his way.
Spencer had superpowers and her sights set on the President—far too dangerous.
For the sake of—*ahem*—protecting the President, Spencer had to be expelled, no matter what.
Sakuramiya watched the grateful An Le hurry toward the classroom ahead, her own gracious smile fading degree by degree. She shot a cool glance inside at Spencer, who was still strutting around like she owned the place, then quietly pulled out her phone.
A group chat was already open on the screen—every club's recruiter in one place. The latest message came from Hua Zhaofeng, the Track-and-Field Club rep and Park Seo-mun's devoted lapdog: "On my way."
With a blank expression, Sakuramiya @everyone and typed:
Sakuramiya: "@everyone All club recruiters, please head to seminar room L502 on the library's top floor immediately."
Hua Zhaofeng: "Roger that, Vice-President."
Sakuramiya laid down her first card.
(End of Chapter)