In Tokyo: They are heavily dependent on me

Chapter 32. Rich people! They're despicable!

On the forum for Kosaki High School, the two most popular posts are—

[In preparation for the upcoming school festival! The Student Council welcomes all submissions!]

[The Kendo Club President accepts all challenges! Defeat her and you can become her boyfriend!]

Further down are some posts that aren't as popular, such as rumors about a certain popular character, the brass band's decision to participate in the Kanto region's brass band competition next month, and an upcoming social event with a neighboring school...

At that moment, the tram started to shake. Hoshino Kaoru gripped the swaying handrail above his head with one hand, focusing his attention on the post that interested him most.

Kendo Club President?

He clicked on the related post, which contained a photo of a girl who appeared somewhat frail, with a slender body and limbs, holding a bamboo knife in her hands, and exuding a solemn aura.

[It's said that the captain of the kendo club started practicing kendo at the age of eight and has been practicing for ten years! He has never lost a match so far.]

[And she's of mixed Japanese and British descent! She's incredibly cute in person... I've made up my mind! I'm going to beat her!]

......

[How's it going? Three days have passed already.]

I give up. I got beaten so badly that even my own dog didn't recognize me.

Kaoru scrolled through the comments under the post, and after a while, the sound of the train arriving at the station rang out.

He put away his phone, got off the train before the doors closed, and followed the flow of people out of the station.

Today is Monday. Last week, he promised to give Ms. Shoko a reply regarding joining the club.

In order to avoid being punished by staying after school to clean up and copy the "Student Code of Conduct" which has more than a hundred rules, he decided that he would join the Kendo Club!

Upon arriving at school, with ten minutes to spare before class, he was called to Ms. Shoko's office.

Mizukami Orina was also called over.

"Has Mizukami decided which club she wants to join?"

Xun looked at the young lady's profile and mentioned it with some concern.

"I haven't decided yet."

"Then you're doomed. Ms. Shoko has never liked students who can't keep their word. Mizukami will soon have to copy all of the more than one hundred student rules just like me."

"Hoshino-kun is really shallow. You can only see the surface of things. You should be grateful for my mercy in pointing out your shortcomings."

The two arrived at the office door.

Just as Xun was about to knock on the door, it opened automatically.

Ms. Shoko stood at the door, staring intently at the two people in front of her with a serious expression.

"Come in and sit down."

"Thanks."

The two sat in two seats that seemed to have been prepared in advance.

"This is the 'Student Code of Conduct' I copied, and the completed application form for joining the department."

Kaoru handed over the completed homework. Ms. Shoko glanced at the neat handwriting on the notebook and nodded gently.

"Have you remembered this? Will you make the same mistake again?"

"No, absolutely not!"

Xun said with absolute certainty.

Ms. Shoko then looked at the club application form he handed her.

The words "Kendo Club" were written on it. She paused for a moment, then looked at Kaoru with some concern.

"Hoshino-kun, do you know kendo?"

"No, what's wrong?"

"Then let's switch to another club. The president of the kendo club... is very cruel to the students who take the entrance exam. I'm worried that you'll get beaten up like a pig's head."

Ms. Shoko looked worried, clearly not lying.

"Shoko-sensei, you should believe me. My goal is to conquer those insurmountable peaks! Soon, you'll see me in the finals of a kendo tournament!"

Kaoru was very confident. Mizukami, who was standing next to him and had heard these words, glanced at him but did not say anything.

"Alright then, if you get beaten up like a pig's head, remember to come to the infirmary and I'll bandage you up."

Ms. Shoko put away the club application form he handed her, then looked at Mizukami.

"By the way, Mizukami-kun, you don't need to join any clubs. Also, the cleaning duties you're in charge of this week will be handed over to Hoshino-kun."

"Understood."

She nodded slightly, her face full of confidence, as if everything was unfolding exactly as she had anticipated.

"Hey! This isn't fair! Why?!"

Hearing that she was to help her clean, Kaoru, feeling resentful, stepped forward.

The other teachers who entered the office were startled by his loud voice. Fearing that he would disturb others, Ms. Shoko stood up, grabbed his ear with one hand, and pulled him out of the office.

"Listen up, the school plans to build a new library next month."

"What does this have to do with me... Teacher, you're blatantly protecting someone, and right in front of me, the student ranked first in the class!"

Xun covered her ears, trying to relieve the burning pain coming from them.

"The person who invested in building this library is Minakami-san. So, dear Hoshino-san, who's number one in her class, are you planning to use your grades to defeat her wealth? Or are you planning to invest like her and renovate those old first-year classrooms?"

Upon hearing this, Kaoru immediately understood and was speechless.

How awful! Absolutely awful!

These rich people! They can manipulate other people's fates so easily!

After a while, Mizukami came out and looked at Kaoru, who was covering her ears and looking unconvinced. A beautiful smile appeared on her lips.

"Hoshino-kun, the fairness you're pursuing simply doesn't exist. Creating so-called 'fairness' is itself a form of unfairness. You should understand the principle of the survival of the fittest."

"Damn it, even so, bullying an ordinary high school student like me is going too far!"

"This isn't bullying. I'm teaching Hoshino a valuable lesson: with wealth and power, you can get everything and trample on the so-called rules. That's reality."

As the water glided past Kaoru, the scent of citrus wafted into his mind. The young lady stopped and turned around, looking at him with admiration.

"If you become my servant, I will give you wealth and power. How about it? Tempted?"

"If I were your servant, what would you do to me?"

Kaoru took a step back, sensing a dangerous aura emanating from her.

"First," the young lady pointed her slender index finger at his mouth, "I'll seal this mouth that I hate with tape, then I'll make you abandon your so-called dignity, and you'll have to ask me for permission to do anything. I'll also make you call me 'Master' until you lose your autonomy and become a puppet that only I can manipulate."

"Is that so? But you've misunderstood something, Mizukami-kun."

Xun brushed aside the index finger that was pointing at her and placed her right hand on the shoulder that the other woman could easily cover.

"I don't have that kind of strange fetish. Besides, it doesn't matter if you don't like me. I will conquer you with my charm and confidence sooner or later. When you are willing to admit me, I will return this humiliation to you in its entirety."

"Then let's give it a try."

He slapped away his right hand, which was resting on his shoulder, from the water.

That cold face, devoid of any emotion, now looked back at Kaoru with the air of a 'superior'.

"If Hoshino-san can do that."