COTE: Dominating The So-Called Geniuses!

He then reached into his schoolbag and pulled out a small ceramic bottle. Without preamble, he began speaking, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather.

"Did you know?" Yuki started, holding up the bottle. "There's a type of medicine from my home country. Traditional, ancient, and still unmatched in certain ways."

Karuizawa didn't react. She barely registered his words, her mind still stuck on the scar and what it represented.

"For instance," Yuki continued, "modern medicine would require surgery and steel plates for a severe fracture. But this medicine? It can heal bones in a month with just external application."

Karuizawa's unfocused eyes began to narrow slightly.

"And scars," Yuki added, his voice dropping slightly. "Modern techniques might involve skin grafts, long recovery times, and mixed results. But with this,"—he shook the ceramic bottle lightly—"even deep scars can be erased. Two months, tops."

Her breath hitched.

"... A medicine that removes scars?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Her eyes fixated on the bottle. If such a thing truly existed, did it mean she could finally be free of that ugly reminder of her past? Could she finally stop feeling sick every time she saw her reflection?

Yuki nodded. "Apply it twice a day. Consistently. The scar will fade completely."

He took three steps forward and placed the bottle gently in her hand. Karuizawa gripped it tightly, her fingers trembling as if she feared it would vanish.

But something gnawed at her. Things like this didn't come for free.

"What... what do you want from me?" she asked hesitantly, her voice a mix of hope and suspicion.

Yuki's lips curved into a faint smile. "Smart," he said approvingly. "You understand there's no such thing as a free lunch."

Karuizawa's grip on the bottle tightened, her unease growing.

"I need someone to help me," Yuki said simply, his tone matter-of-fact. "Someone resourceful, capable, and willing to act when necessary. In short, Karuizawa-san, I want you to work for me."

"Eh?!" Karuizawa's jaw dropped. She blinked at him, unsure if she had misheard. "Th-that's it?!"

Yuki tilted his head. "That's it," he confirmed. "In exchange for that medicine, I expect your cooperation for the next three years."

Karuizawa stared at him, torn between disbelief and confusion. Work for him? That was all he wanted?

"Think of it as a partnership," Yuki added, his gaze steady. "You'll benefit from this arrangement as much as I will. And I'll make sure you don't regret it."

Karuizawa glanced down at the bottle in her hands. The promise it held was too precious to ignore. She bit her lip, her mind racing.

"... Alright," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll do it."

Yuki's smile widened, and for a brief moment, Karuizawa thought she saw a flicker of triumph in his eyes.

"Good," he said, his tone warm yet firm.

"Then let's make this partnership worthwhile."

###

Karuizawa wasn't unfamiliar with the harshness of life. She had been a normal, cheerful girl once, someone who enjoyed the comfort of her daily routines. But that all changed when a boy from a different class, who was secretly liked by mean girl from her class, confessed to her. This sparked the jealousy of the girl, who decided to make Karuizawa's life miserable.

Being the target of constant bullying, Karuizawa soon found herself trapped in a nightmare of ridicule and violence. Her appearance, once her pride, had become the source of all her torment. But then, here she was, in front of a foreign student who had offered to help her in exchange for some tasks.

She was ready to do whatever it took to erase her painful past, even if it meant accepting this offer. But the catch was so simple, almost disappointingly so. No romantic advances, no grand promises of affection—just a simple "do things for me."

The sting of her own insecurity surged through her. Was that all she was worth? Was she not beautiful or desirable enough for something more?

In the back of her mind, Karuizawa's thoughts spiraled. She was disappointed—maybe even insulted—but she didn't show it outwardly.

Yuki, who was usually calm and composed, seemed a little annoyed now, as if he had been misunderstood. "Don't think of it as simple. Doing things for me isn't just regular work," he said, his voice taking on a sharp edge.

Karuizawa flushed slightly at the implied rebuke. Was he implying that she wasn't capable of handling whatever he needed done? The discomfort in her chest grew as she tried to figure out what his words meant.

"Ugh," Karuizawa groaned internally, before closing her eyes for a moment to calm herself. She didn't want to be weak. Not now, not when she was so close to freeing herself from the past.

Finally, with a deep breath, Karuizawa looked up at Yuki, determination in her eyes. "Fine," she said, her voice much firmer than she felt. "I agree to your conditions."

But there was something more she needed to ask. Something she couldn't keep bottled up anymore.

"I also have a request," Karuizawa continued, her tone much quieter now. "I need you to keep my past a secret. Don't tell anyone."

The weight of her words hung in the air, and for a moment, there was silence. But she wasn't done. She hesitated, eyes darting to the floor, unwilling to meet Yuki's gaze. "And… can you pretend we're in a relationship? Just for appearances. For the class."

It was humiliating. To even ask such a thing felt like admitting weakness. But Karuizawa had learned long ago that appearances were everything. Especially in a place like this.

If she could be seen as someone with power, someone who wasn't weak, maybe, just maybe, the bullying would stop. If she could make herself valuable, she could escape the cycle of abuse.

Yuki raised an eyebrow in surprise, his lips quirking into a faint smile. He had expected this, but he wasn't sure how to react. It was a bit more than he had bargained for, but Karuizawa wasn't just any student. Her potential was evident.

Still, he couldn't help but be a little taken aback by her bluntness. She wasn't just asking for help—she was bargaining for status, for protection. She had learned the hard way that survival meant making difficult choices.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully before responding. "Pretending to be in a relationship… that's a bit much," Yuki said, clearly not thrilled with the idea. But he didn't reject it outright. Instead, he changed the subject entirely.

"This school is different from what you're probably used to," Yuki began, leaning back slightly. "When I first arrived, I heard rumors about the 100,000 points students supposedly get every month. But do you know how that actually works?"

Karuizawa blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

Yuki continued, his tone casual but insightful. "The school has 160 freshmen in our grade alone. If they gave 100,000 points to each student every month, that's 16 million yen per month. Over three years, that's a huge sum. There's no way the school could afford that."

Karuizawa listened intently, unsure of where he was going with this, but she was smart enough to know there was a deeper point. Yuki always had a reason for everything.

"So, it's clear that students have to create value. Your class status, your points—everything will fluctuate. Maybe Class A will have the most points, but Class D will probably be the opposite. It's going to be competitive."

"Class D..." Karuizawa murmured. She had seen it for herself—some students in her class were struggling, while others were more confident. But Yuki had a plan, and she couldn't ignore it.

Yuki smiled, a little pleased with himself. "If you want to stay at the top of your class, you don't need to pretend to be in a relationship with me. All you need is information. That's your real value."

Karuizawa's eyes widened in realization. "You mean… I can use this information to boost my status? Tell the others about what you just said?"

Yuki nodded. "Exactly. If you share this analysis with your classmates, it'll show that you understand the system here. It'll elevate your position."

Karuizawa, a little hesitant, still wasn't sure about speaking out like this. "But… is it really okay for me to share what you've told me? Won't it cause trouble?"

Yuki shrugged, unfazed. "The more you stand out, the more you can help me in the future. It's all part of the plan."

Karuizawa felt a strange sense of clarity. This wasn't just about making herself safe. This was about building something real, something that would let her thrive in a place like this.

She nodded, more resolute than ever. "I'll do it. I'll tell them that I heard this from you."

Yuki gave her a satisfied look. "Good. You're smart. I think you'll do just fine."

Karuizawa, now more confident, straightened up. She didn't know what would happen next, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like she had some control over her life. And that was worth more than anything.

As Yuki watched her leave, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Kei Karuizawa might be troubled, but she had potential. With the right guidance, she could become an invaluable ally. And who knew? Maybe they would become something more than just a temporary alliance.

But for now, all Yuki cared about was making sure he stayed a few steps ahead in the game. And with Karuizawa on his side, the future was looking promising.

###

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