Chapter 17: It's Time To Blackmail

A week had passed by since our enrollment.

A faint headache lingered as I groggily got up.

I don't think I can buy cigarettes here.

I wonder if it's the placebo that's causing this headache.

Nicotine withdrawal shouldn't be happening to this new body of mine.

Or have I smoked to the point of my soul being infected?

Anyway, after a quick wash, I headed to class. 

For some reason, no matter when I enter the lift it's always empty. The pale golden reflection of myself made me subconsciously ponder a few things.

[Blackmail Target: Kei Karuizawa]

The beautiful system screen floated at the edge of my vision. It felt surreal that I could someone this virtual screen with a simple mental click.

Staring at the name for a while I reviewed all the information I currently have about her.

Karuizawa Kei was bullied in the past, for reasons unknown. She endured mental and physical torture to the point where she almost began considering suicide. There's also a big slash wound near her waist somewhere.

She's a traumatized human being.

To save herself she'll declare her relationship with Hirata today, which is fake and this will establish her position in class as the Queen Bee.

Karuizawa will effectively save herself till the Zodiac Exam where she's then manipulated and used by Ayanokoji like a puppet on strings in the coming future.

To be honest, a sense of sadness for her lingers in my heart.

Her story is something I can heavily relate to. After all, in my time, during the chaotic 2010, bullying was as bad as in Asian countries in the West if not more. My own school was terrorized and there were four instances of students having committed suicide.

Because of this, I can fully understand Karuizawa's feelings, her trauma, her mental state, her life tethering on a faint string of hope and courage...

I admire her.

But at the same time I desire her.

Easily subdued people like her were the ones I loved bullying the most.

She had escaped from her harsh fate in middle school only to land in my hands, a bully far worse than the ones that she faced in her previous school.

She'd been bullied to the point of suicide but I've...

I...

My days in high school exposed me to the vulnerability and weakness of humans.

As I transitioned into a bully everyone scorned, high school taught me something that would become the core of my life later on.

It taught me control.

Domination over another fellow, breathing and lively, human being.

Karuizawa couldn't hope to escape.

A puppet forever bound to strings.

Only, the puppeteer would be different.

And this time, Ayanokoji won't be able to 'save' her.

Ayanokoji...

I've been subtly isolating him from the girls in the class.

If it's a peaceful life he wants I'll make sure he lives that.

I don't need him interfering in my plans.

I've successfully separated him from Horikita for now. The 'Manabu attacking Suzune' incident won't pass and Chabashira's scheme of bringing Horikita and Ayanokoji together by revealing his grades won't pass either thanks to my machinations.

Obviously, Horikita won't go storming to her complaining about her placement in Class D this time.

I won't let the Rape Accusation event pass either. I won't let him manipulate Karuizawa. I won't let him get in contact with Ichinose. I won't let him get in contact with Hasabe and Airi.

I won't let his social circle expand.

In my world, Ayanokoji is an infection that can't be allowed to spread.

Not until I have the antibodies to destroy him.

...

I greeted Ayanokoji, Hirata and Horikita and sat down.

Class went by as normal.

I did my best to focus on class. Though I told Horikita I wasn't interested in becoming a top student, that was a lie. If possible I'd like to become the highest scorer in this school. I've indulged in continuous pleasure for many years of my life up till I was imprisoned. 

Rather than feeling incredibly lost, I'd rather try studying considering my above-average memory. Maybe I can become a diligent and kind student?

Maybe.

Well, whatever. Once I've blackmailed Karuizawa she'll relieve my boredom. Till then I'll just give it an earnest go.

However as the class progressed, I noticed something odd.

My classmates, at irregular intervals, were sneaking peeks at me. I recognised the nature of their glances.

Curiosity.

Before getting caught and imprisoned I lived a few months in pure paranoia. It caused me to become hyper-aware of my surroundings. The feeling of someone looking at you from the shadows...

It irritated me.

I showed no change outwardly. Sometimes making eye contact to gauge their reactions and besides some embarrassment at getting caught, there's no other emotion I can identify. Seems like it's not a big issue.

As time passed I finally noticed another clue.

And this clue solved the mystery.

They were also glancing at Horikita

Are they scrutinising the relationship between us?

Did someone spot us together and spread rumors? Or maybe it's Kushida working her magic? Though I still feel it's odd. Was this a matter worth glancing at me frequently throughout three classes?

...

Days began to pass in a mundane manner.

Perhaps only I knew this was the calm before the storm.

"You've improved," Horikita commented.

She sat in front of me in casual clothes, marking my sheet full of answers. She frequently drew a circle over my questions indicating my answer was correct.

"Thanks to you. You're a much better teacher than I thought." Ryuji stretched his limbs, though that gesture made him wince immediately.

"Have you been regularly going to the gym?" Horikita raised a brow, "Quite diligent."

"I'm just preparing myself. If the school divides us into numerous criteria as I showed you last week then I'd like to get my physical strength to B+ at the very least." 

"You seem scared of the school."

Horikita stared at me with a scrutinising gaze, "Your behaviour is a bit too frantic to my liking. Is there something you've been hiding from me?" 

Hah? Isn't she a sharp one? One thing I've noticed about these kids is that they're quick to catch on. It's almost as if they pick up inconsistencies out of nowhere. If this was my past life regular 16-year-olds would still be thinking about vaping or sex.

Has my behaviour been frantic?

I don't believe so.

Going to the gym and studying has been my simple routine alongside a few minor activities like calculating the precise time Horikita showers and so on.

Nevertheless, the amount of information I have about this school is very convenient. I've pulled Horikita in, established contact with Ichinose and pissed Kushida off.

And by now, Karuizawa had thoroughly become the queen of the class.

It's time I made a move.

"Well, it's not that I know something but a bit of a scary speculation."

"Hmm?" Horikita looked interested.

"What do you think is the greatest appeal of ANHS?" I asked, a cryptic look deliberately coloring my face.

Horikita frowned and instantly understood what I was implying.

The real reason students dreamt of getting into ANHS is because it boasts a 100% employment and college entry rate.

A direct ticket to success.

But what if there were hidden conditions to this?

"I'm worried that if our class continues to act as it is we'll be stripped of that reward."

___________________

A/N- I'm speechless, you guys have outdone yourself tbh. I kind of regret the ps goals because I can't clear my backlog now T-T.

We've reached 500ps, I'll post the bonus for that in an hour or so (strategic upload haha)

The Next Bonus Chapter will be at 750ps if we reach that before the end of the week and reset. The first Blackmail has been done successfully and the lemon is on patreon.

You can read ahead here—

Patreon.com/AlmightySkyDxddy

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