Hachiman’s Classroom of Strength’s Supremacy

Chapter 086: She Looks Weak and Helpless, but Her Attack Power Is Top-Tier!

There is no such thing as a free lunch. And if a lunch appears to be free, it is certainly the most expensive one.

As the student council president of this school, standing at the peak of the student hierarchy, Horikita Manabu understood this very well.

So, if Sakayanagi wasn’t interested in the one-million-point reward, then whatever she truly wanted must be something significant.

At that moment, he heard Sakayanagi Arisu’s voice.

“I want to join the student council,” Sakayanagi Arisu said.

“……”

Horikita Manabu responded, “Hmm, considering how you’ve resolved this issue, I acknowledge your capability, Sakayanagi Arisu. I will allow you to join the student council.”

Horikita had made his stance clear.

He had overturned his previous rejection of Sakayanagi’s request to join the student council.

However—

“No, President, you may have misunderstood me,” Sakayanagi Arisu said, flashing an adorable dimpled smile. “What I meant is, I don’t want to simply become a secretary or treasurer in the student council. What I want is to become the student council president.”

“Oh—”

Before Horikita Manabu could respond to Sakayanagi’s bold declaration, a boy with short yellow hair who had been observing the situation couldn’t help but react.

This was Nagumo Miyabi, the vice president of the student council.

Because when it came to the position of student council president, that was his role to inherit. Once Horikita Manabu stepped down, he was supposed to be the sole candidate to ascend.

And now—

A first-year girl suddenly appeared out of nowhere?

Moreover—

Sakayanagi looked so delicate and weak, yet her attack power was overwhelming?

The position of student council president wasn’t some candy she could just snatch at will.

“As a student of Advanced Nurturing High School, having the ambition to become the student council president is commendable,” Nagumo said. “But I think people should also take a good look at their own abilities.”

“……”

“Sakayanagi-san.”

“I’m speaking with the student council president,” Sakayanagi Arisu interrupted. “Nagumo-senpai, could you please not interrupt so casually?”

Uh—

Nagumo’s expression froze in an awkward but still polite smile.

However, Kiriyama, who knew Nagumo well, understood that he was actually quite angry.

Nagumo treated males and females very differently.

He was far more lenient toward girls, especially beautiful ones. But now, facing this adorably cute underclassman, Nagumo was actually getting mad?

Yes, he was.

Because—

Right now, Sakayanagi was essentially… trying to take away something that belonged to him.

And just moments ago, she had not hesitated to offend him—no, rather, she had openly declared war on him.

After all, Nagumo was overwhelmingly likely to be the next student council president.

And now, they were officially rivals.

“So, you want to become the student council president,” Horikita Manabu said. “What you’re asking for is my recommendation, correct?”

“That’s about right,” Sakayanagi Arisu said. “As a student of this school, I will naturally abide by its rules.”

Ordinarily, there were two conditions to becoming the student council president:

1. A recommendation from the previous student council president.
2.
3. Winning the most votes in an all-school election.
4.
“……”

Horikita adjusted his glasses.

“The school is willing to give you one million points as compensation for providing the test paper,” Horikita stated. “But my nomination for the next student council president cannot be given away that easily.”

In other words, even though this school valued ability above all and almost anything could be bought…

Buying the qualifications to become a student council candidate should also be possible.

However, the message Horikita conveyed was—

One million points weren’t enough!

This might have been a way to make Sakayanagi either offer more or back down.

But—

Even after being rejected, Sakayanagi’s expression didn’t change at all.

“Then, I’ll also need 200 votes from second- and third-year students,” Sakayanagi said.

“I want the nomination to be the next student council president candidate, as well as 200 votes from the upperclassmen during the election.”

“This is the price I’m asking for.”

“……”

Horikita Manabu.

??

At this moment, in the student council office, senior Tachibana Akane and Kiriyama both turned their attention toward them.

Because Horikita had essentially said, “Your exam paper is worth one million points, but that’s not enough.”

Yet, instead of backing down, she made an even bolder demand.

Not only did she want to secure her candidacy, but she also wanted to directly take votes from the upperclassmen!

As senior students of this school who had experienced numerous special exams, they understood the reality of the situation—

Among the third-year students, 142 remained.

Among the second-years, slightly fewer—only 122 students were left.

So, in total, there were only 264 upper-grade students. Yet, Sakayanagi Arisu opened her mouth and directly demanded 200 votes.

This was simply outrageous.

Unbelievable!

“Sakayanagi-san,” Nagumo, despite being brushed off earlier, could no longer stay silent. “You might not have understood, but President Horikita has already rejected you.”

“Of course, I can see that,” Sakayanagi Arisu said. “But my conditions remain unchanged.”

“Rather, since my health is not very good, coming all the way to the student council and leaving empty-handed would be a bit of a pity.”

“However, as a mere first-year student, I should show respect to my seniors instead of arrogance, so—”

Sakayanagi Arisu spoke humbly. “I will reduce the compensation I am requesting.”

“I only need 150 votes from upper-grade students.”

“And, of course, President Horikita’s recommendation for candidacy.”

“No, this makes absolutely no sense,” said senior student Tachibana Akane, who had been standing behind President Horikita.

Sakayanagi had completely confused her.

Sakayanagi had clearly been rejected—so why was she still increasing her demands?

“Really? But I think the student council president has already understood,” Sakayanagi said.

Uh—

At that moment, everyone noticed that Horikita Manabu had closed his eyes, as if he were engaged in some intense internal struggle.

“Sakayanagi, what you’re doing is dangerous,” Horikita Manabu said. “You will be hated by everyone. Especially by the upper-grade students.”

Would she really be hated by the upperclassmen just because she wanted their votes?

No.

That shouldn’t be the reason.

Nagumo Miyabi was a man who had led Class B to surpass Class A last year and had even taken control of the entire second-year student body.

He was definitely not lacking in intelligence.

“!”

And now, Nagumo finally realized it.

Just moments ago, he thought this underclassman had strong attack power, with her sights set on the student council president position he had long coveted.

But—

He had still misjudged her!

Because—

Her attack power was off the charts!

Yes.

Although she had been rejected by President Horikita, if she kept raising the stakes—

Then Horikita would be put in a passive position.

And could Sakayanagi continue raising the stakes? She absolutely could.

Since the leak of the first-year test papers, the school had to save face, so they were forced to change the exam.

However, they also had to maintain certain limits—they couldn’t just expel a large number of students all at once.

That was why the test papers Sakayanagi provided had been extremely helpful.

It was a solution that satisfied everyone.

But.

Even though it had protected the school’s reputation—

This was only the first-year test.

And now… what if the second-year and third-year test papers were suddenly leaked as well?

No way. No way. Sakayanagi-san, surely not—

“Sakayanagi-san, I advise you not to do anything too dangerous,” Nagumo Miyabi immediately said, having realized the situation.

“Dangerous?” Sakayanagi Arisu said. “It is indeed quite dangerous, because my classmates happened to see some upper-grade students… secretly stealing the school’s test papers.”

“And after committing such an act of theft, they even had the audacity to openly read the stolen papers in class, in the cafeteria, and even in the library,” Sakayanagi continued.

Uh—

In that instant, the upper-grade students suddenly felt like they had suffered a huge loss.

Because everyone knew that no one had actually stolen the test papers.

They had merely understood the patterns of this school and taken advantage of them by acquiring past test papers from previous students.

And now, just because of that, they were going to be reported?

Would the second- and third-year students now have to go through the same ordeal as the first-years?

The school would have no choice but to change the test questions.

But—

“Wait, are you saying that you didn’t just leak the first-year test papers, but also have access to the second- and third-year exams?” Nagumo Miyabi asked.

Sakayanagi Arisu kept talking about leverage.

That meant she must have something on hand.

So was this the same tactic again? Had she prepared the second- and third-year test papers as well?

Was she about to ruthlessly report the so-called test paper theft and drag everyone down with her?

But—

“You are overestimating me,” Sakayanagi Arisu said. “I don’t like wasting time, so I didn’t bother with such trivial matters.”

“So my leverage is simple—agree to my conditions, and I won’t report this incident.”

“However, if you reject my conditions, then I’m afraid—”

“The entire school will soon know that second- and third-year students have been stealing and reading test papers.”

“And at that point, you will no longer have any backup test papers left to use,” Sakayanagi Arisu declared.

It seemed reasonable.

There was even a hint of arrogance in it.

But.

For Nagumo—

What the hell.

If the second- and third-year students were reported, and the school was forced to change the test papers—

Wouldn’t that mean a large number of students would have to drop out?

Because there wouldn’t even be a chance for them to save themselves.

With only three days left before the exam, there was no way the school could come up with a decent new test while also minimizing the risk of student expulsions.

So if they were reported and had to take a completely different test—

It would be a headache for everyone, but while the school would just find it troublesome, students who failed and got expelled would face real consequences.

And that risk… was too great to take.

Nagumo could see that Horikita-senpai had closed his eyes in thought.

And he had maintained that posture for five minutes.

Which meant that Horikita Manabu had actually realized Sakayanagi’s true goal from the very beginning.

That was why he was troubled.

And now, had Horikita already made his decision?

“I can give you 100 votes,” Horikita Manabu said. “And they will be evenly split between the second- and third-year students.”

“In other words, each grade will give you 50 votes.” But then, Horikita looked at Sakayanagi Arisu and added, “In return, you will no longer interfere with the upper-grade special exams.”

“If you can’t agree to this, then I will resist to the very end.”

This decision seemed to be the result of careful deliberation.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have added the condition preventing Sakayanagi from interfering with the upper-year exams.

After all—

If Sakayanagi got a taste of victory from this, what if she continued meddling in upper-grade exams?

That would be a major problem.

Horikita’s proposal was just an attempt to pacify her for now.

This solution wasn’t wrong.

However—

“President!” Nagumo looked over. “We second-years haven’t agreed to give up 50 votes yet. So I don’t agree with your decision.”

He didn’t agree?

Did he not want to hand over 50 votes?

Or—

“Nagumo, do you think your class can perfectly pass if the test is switched to Version B?”

“And even if your class can pass, what about the others?”

“You should know, there aren’t many second-year students left.”

“I suggest you think carefully,” Horikita Manabu said.

“……”

Nagumo fell silent at those words.

Because—

What did he mean by “there aren’t many second-year students left”?

Was the president deliberately pointing out that he had already caused too many of his peers to be expelled?

Was this a warning from Horikita?

And now, they had to give up 50 votes as well.

This kind of situation…

“I’ve thought about it carefully,” Nagumo said. “Even if we are reported, we second-years will not give in.”

“We second-years have unyielding resolve.”

“We have our own strategies for the exam.”

“How unfortunate,” Sakayanagi Arisu then looked at Horikita Manabu.

“……”

Horikita Manabu sighed. “The 100 votes will come entirely from the third-years.”

Then, he paused for a moment.

“And I will also nominate you.”

“Agreed.” Sakayanagi Arisu accepted the deal. “I will no longer interfere with the upper-year exams.”

Really now.

She wouldn’t interfere anymore—which meant she had intended to interfere.

That condition was definitely a necessary one.

“But in that case, we are now rivals,” Nagumo-senpai said as he stood up. “Because my goal is also the student council presidency.”

“What an honor,” Sakayanagi Arisu said. Maybe because she had secured the votes, she seemed to be in a good mood. “But I don’t think I will lose.”

Not thinking she would lose—so she was saying Nagumo would be the one to fail?

With that, Sakayanagi Arisu turned her cane and walked away, followed by the students of Class A in an orderly fashion.

They had an overwhelming presence.

Nagumo watched Sakayanagi’s back.

Sakayanagi Arisu looked delicate, fragile, and helpless—yet how was her attack power so terrifying?

However, he didn’t know that there were already people who had recognized Sakayanagi Arisu’s formidable strength and had deliberately encouraged her to join the student council.

Meanwhile—

When Hachiman returned from the cafeteria, he noticed a beautiful girl with a golden ponytail waiting for him on the path he had to take.

And in her hands, she held a folder wrapped in two layers of plastic bags.