Not bad.
This might be the first time Yukinoshita Haruno has ever been evaluated like this.
It's not that she was ever considered foolish. On the contrary, as the eldest daughter of the prestigious Yukinoshita family—one with deep political ties in Chiba—Haruno had been showered with praise from an early age.
At school, she was the model student every teacher admired. Academically, athletically, even morally—she excelled in all areas.
No matter the subject, she always ranked first. Even during cultural festivals or student-organized events, Haruno could effortlessly rally students, ensuring seamless execution and glowing reviews.
But school, despite its occasional dark side of bullying and cliques, was still a sheltered world.
Compared to the harsh realities of society, it was nothing more than an innocent ivory tower.
For the average person, such achievements would be a lifetime source of pride. But for Haruno, perfection was merely the baseline. Anything less was failure.
If she couldn't master something as simple as a school environment, how could she ever hope to inherit the Yukinoshita legacy and navigate the murky waters of politics?
Even with her family's influence, an unprepared successor would be crushed in no time.
In many ways, the Yukinoshita family's philosophy mirrored that of the Gattuso family from a certain novel—both were blue-blooded aristocrats who valued innate excellence over acquired effort.
Hard work might create success, but in their eyes, true greatness was something one was born with.
Thus, no matter how grueling the effort behind closed doors, they maintained an air of effortless grace before outsiders. Haruno was no exception.
Growing up in such an environment, she was exposed to the political world's ugliness from an early age.
Though she vowed to support her family, she was still a girl fresh out of junior high. Reality was far more daunting than mere determination.
That was why she made a gamble with her mother—choosing to enroll in this institution, a school that claimed to shape Japan's future leaders.
The curriculum was unconventional, and class rivalries were ruthless, filled with manipulation and deception. To win, one had to secure alliances and crush competitors—a perfect microcosm of the political battlefield.
Since the start of the semester, Haruno had poured everything into her class.
From managing relationships to raising academic performance, she had worked tirelessly. Reaching this point had been no easy feat.
Yet, had it not been for Kure Ragna's interference—the Sudou fight incident—and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's actions during the uninhabited island exam, her chosen difficulty level wouldn't just be hard. It would be hell.
Now, seated across from Ayanokoji, she made her move.
"Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, I sincerely hope we can form an alliance—"
Before she could finish, he cut her off.
"Cooperation? Why? What's the benefit? What's the point?"
The rapid-fire questions caught Haruno off guard—not because they were difficult, but because they were so simple.
Ayanokoji, however, continued as if answering himself.
"I don't know your exact purpose for enrolling here, but it's clear you have ambition. Tell me, have you seen Jujutsu Kaisen?"
"…I've seen a bit."
She wasn't sure where this was going, but she answered truthfully.
"It doesn't really matter if you have or haven't." Ayanokoji shrugged.
"There's a particular line I like—do you know which one?"
"No."
"Well, I don't remember the exact wording either." He paused, then spoke slowly, as if reciting a mantra.
"No matter how powerful a sorcerer is, they die alone."
Haruno narrowed her eyes slightly.
"It's a simple truth," Ayanokoji continued.
"Life is unpredictable. In a world full of betrayals, allies and partners are the least reliable things you can have."
He leaned back slightly, his voice calm but resolute.
"If someone truly wants to destroy you, they don't have to face you directly. All they need to do is exploit a weakness in those around you. People aren't unbreakable shields. They have vulnerabilities, gaps in their defenses. Even a winter coat gets taken off in summer. All it takes is one opening, and everything crumbles."
"There are no invincible fortresses. No untouchable vaults. Even the most powerful warlord can be assassinated."
He tapped his temple lightly.
"When the time comes, the only person you can truly rely on is yourself."
He stood up, finishing the last sip of Ovaltine in his cup.
"That being said, allies can be useful. But I have no interest in forming one with you."
Ayanokoji turned away.
'Since I knew from the start that I couldn't trust anyone, I decided not to rely on anyone at all.'
He cast a final glance at her.
"Besides, I hear your family's involved in politics. If you can't even handle something as basic as this, maybe you should reconsider your ambitions. Politics is a game played by those who can outmaneuver their opponents. If you can't, you'll just be another pawn."
With that, he walked away, leaving Haruno in thoughtful silence.
The bar door swung open, then shut. Chabashira Sae, who had been observing the exchange, finally spoke.
"Looks like negotiations fell through."
Haruno let out a quiet sigh before smoothing her expression into her usual flawless smile.
"Yes…"
She stood up, regaining her composure.
"Thank you for your time, sensei. I'll be leaving now."
Chabashira simply nodded.
As Haruno exited, the teacher swirled her whiskey, watching the amber liquid shift before pulling out her phone and making a call.
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