Chapter 299: The Arrival of Shirogane Miyuki

They shook hands briefly. Aside from a slight itch on his hand, Manyuda felt nothing unusual.

"Alright, let's go. Any classroom will do for our gamble."

"Sure."

"Wait, senpai, I also—"

Itsuki tried to follow but was stopped by Manyuda.

"Sumeragi, thank you for everything. But I'll walk this path alone." He smiled. "This should be my final opponent at Hyakkaou."

"What is this... You said we'd chase the dream of being king together… Senpai, you're so unfair, trying to run off alone."

Her resentful voice was low, but Manyuda heard it.

He patted her head and smiled. "This is my choice. I wanted to be king because of my family's influence. But you're different. You told me yourself—you want to be president out of your own desire."

"So you're giving up your dream?"

"I'm not giving it up. I just want to see the outside world. Maybe I'll find a new dream."

With that, he started walking away with the two girls.

"Wait."

It was Rinji who stopped him.

He stepped forward and grabbed Manyuda's hand, staring at his palm.

"What's wrong?"

Manyuda was confused by Rinji's sudden action.

Rinji didn't answer. He had spotted a small, barely noticeable pinprick on the back of Manyuda's hand.

"...Am I just being paranoid?"

"What is it, President?"

"Nothing… Are you feeling unwell?"

"Not at all." Manyuda shook his head. "I feel great."

"I see..."

Still uneasy, Rinji patted his shoulder. "I'll go with you."

"What?"

Not just Manyuda—even Miyo and Miri, walking ahead, froze for a moment.

Rinji was planning to join their gamble—why?

Could it be… he'd already figured it out?

"Um… Takamine-san," Miyo said in the most pleasant tone she could muster, "this match is only for Manyuda Kaede. If you want to participate—"

"Is there a problem?"

"Well..."

Rinji walked right up to her.

"You just poisoned him, didn't you?"

"...Huh?"

Manyuda instantly recalled Rinji checking his hand earlier and lifted his own to examine it. Finally, he spotted the tiny needle puncture.

It was extremely fine, just under the surface—no wonder he hadn't noticed at first.

The needle must have been inserted during their handshake.

"I've looked into the Momobami Clan. The Inbami and Yobami branches specialize in pharmaceuticals. Your family, Inbami, focuses on poisons, right?" Rinji said. "Of course, poison is just a matter of dosage—but it's your specialty."

"..."

Miyo clenched her teeth. She knew she'd been exposed.

She'd been extremely cautious. The needle was hidden in her finger. Even Manyuda hadn't noticed—how had Rinji?

Rinji hadn't seen the needle. But with years of sniper experience in warzones, he'd developed a talent for reading small movements—like Miyo subtly curling her finger during the handshake.

And recalling how she'd defeated Nishinotouin Yuriko, who collapsed in agony at the end, Rinji had already been suspicious.

"Poisoning someone in front of me—you've got guts."

His pupils turned red. The murderous intent in his eyes made Miyo and Miri tremble.

Only now did Miyo remember Totobami Terano's warning:

Don't get involved with Takamine Rinji.

She had to become family head—she was willing to risk everything for that.

But right now, she was staring at certain death.

"I was wrong. I'll hand over the antidote…"

"Too late. Anyone who challenges me has to be eliminated."

Rinji said coldly, glancing at Miri beside her.

"She's with you, right?"

"No, she's not involved—"

"Shut up, you filthy worm." Rinji cut her off. "I'll decide that."

"...What do you want?"

Cold sweat ran down Miyo's forehead.

She was completely trapped.

"You like these little tricks, right? I'll give you one last chance." Rinji's smile twisted. "It's the final day anyway. I'll play along. Use any trick you like. If you win, I'll give you all my votes."

"...And if I lose?"

"Then you and that little girl can go to hell."

---

"Hmm, so this is the prestigious Hyakkaou Private Academy?"

Standing at the front gate of Hyakkaou Academy, Shirogane Miyuki, dressed in the Shuchiin school uniform, couldn't help but admire the buildings inside.

"As expected of a top school. Just like Shuchiin, they're willing to put so much into the design of their academic buildings. It's truly spectacular."

Today was Friday—also the day Shirogane came to visit the student council president of Hyakkaou Academy, and to pick up Rinji.

"That said... this school is really lively. It should be class time right now, shouldn't it?"

Shirogane, unaware of Hyakkaou Private Academy's student council election rules, was puzzled as he looked at the crowd of students gathered outside the academic building.

The iron gate outside was open. Without much thought, Shirogane walked right in.

"Excuse me, could you tell me where your student council president is…?"

As he asked, the nearby students noticed him too.

Upon seeing his black school uniform and golden hair, all the students froze in terror and then scattered in panic, as if fleeing from a natural disaster.

Shirogane: ???