Karuizawa Kei's gaze shimmered with moisture, as if her sapphire eyes were soaked by rain. Perhaps this was the second time she'd revealed her true thoughts to Ryo. The first had been when she asked him to call her by name.
"There's no rush to transfer. It's only been a little over a month since school started. Over the next three years, there will be plenty of chances to earn personal points."
"But Chabashira-sensei said the most anyone has saved before is 12 million, through cheating and trickery."
Kei seemed to take a different meaning from Ryo's words. One hand still rested on his chest, while the other pressed against her own. Her pale nails were long, glazed in translucent polish, shimmering under the warm yellow light like tiny blades, ready to split herself open and bare everything within.
"I'm not like them."
Ryo turned his eyes away and shook his head.
"Before me, no freshman has ever managed to extract a total of 1.2 million points monthly from both D and B Class within two months of enrollment."
"Mm, I believe in you, Ryo."
Technically, the 800,000 points from B Class were to be deposited in Kei's account. But when Ryo claimed that income as his own, Kei didn't object at all—she simply nodded like it was natural.
For the first time, Ryo felt a dangerous kind of devotion from her. But he just smirked. This simulation's goal was to ensure Kei could survive independently in Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School. If using himself as a catalyst for her growth was required, so be it.
In fact, that was his current role—the bait leading Kei toward transformation:
"If you become your class's leader, there'll be more chances to control large amounts of points."
[If she becomes a leader, she won't be bullied so easily anymore. She won't need to fawn over anyone.]
"I look forward to the day you save up 20 million points on your own and openly transfer to my class."
[If she can earn that much, it means she's become one of the top students in the school—a girl who can survive on her own.]
"When that day comes, you won't have to sneak around to see me anymore, right?"
[And when that day comes... it'll be time for me to leave.]
Looking at Kei, Ryo saw a chick still forming within its shell. She was growing talons, a beak, preparing to break free.
"If that's what you want me to do, Ryo."
Karuizawa Kei was the most complicated girl Ryo had ever met. She always pretended to be simple, like the easiest girl in the world to please, yet she craved genuine emotion more than anyone. Wrapped in fairy tale dreams and brutal ambition, she reminded Ryo of what she'd said in the last simulation: "Don't hurt me."
Ryo leaned down, whispering into her ear:
"Yes, that's what I want."
-------------------------------------
"We meet again, Honami."
Kitagawa Ryo greeted Ichinose Honami across the table with a friendly smile, as if the recent brawl between Classes B and C that had stirred up the entire school had never happened. Honami responded just as warmly, showing no trace of anger or coldness.
"Kitagawa-kun, you look energetic today. And your new outfit looks great on you."
Even though tomorrow was the final argument regarding the incident, Kanzaki Ryuji glared at Ryuuen Kakeru, who stood quietly behind Kitagawa. Seeing Ryuuen's battered and bruised appearance, Kanzaki couldn't help but click his tongue in disbelief. No wonder the school leaned slightly toward Class C—to claim those injuries were self-inflicted was hard to believe for most.
"Oh, this? Hiyori helped me pick it out the other day."
Kitagawa touched the jacket he was wearing. He had used Shiina Hiyori to lure Horikita Suzune a few days ago and paid for it by spending an entire rest day shopping with her. Hiyori, once a reserved bookworm, now seemed to be picking up other interests—perhaps his influence.
"It seems Kitagawa-kun gets along very well with everyone in Class C," Honami said openly. "Then, about Shibata-kun's incident... would Class C consider withdrawing the accusation to the student council and the school?"
Kanzaki Ryuji twitched his lips in frustration. Though he understood his class leader's style, after paying 800,000 private points monthly, this was supposed to be the perfect moment for a counterattack. But Honami seemed intent on resolving things peacefully.
"Looks like Class B came well-prepared. Did you find conclusive evidence?" Kitagawa leaned back, calmly assessing Honami before casually asking, "By the way, Honami, did you join the student council?"
"Ah... yes, I did."
Though unsure why Kitagawa asked, she answered honestly, then sheepishly scratched her cheek.
"Actually, I think if Kitagawa-kun applied, you'd get in too. Vice President Nagumo and President Horikita seem to remember you."
Kitagawa's eyes flickered with interest. He had contacted Nagumo Miyabi early on and used a few second-years when setting up Sudou at the start of the school year. Nagumo, leader of Class 2-A, had been involved in the background even back then.
"But still, Honami is the only first-year to join the student council. That's an impressive feat."
He brushed past the topic and moved on.
"As for canceling the accusation... we've considered it. Ryuuen has a kind heart—even after being hit, he only wanted Shibata to be slightly punished. No one in Class D wants to see someone expelled."
"If that's the case, then Kitagawa-kun..."
"I'm not done."
Kitagawa pulled a printed contract from his bag.
"I'm willing to cancel the accusation, but Class B must unconditionally cooperate with me in one future action."
"Kitagawa-kun?"
Honami tilted her head in confusion. Why would Kitagawa propose such an outrageous contract when it was clear Class B held the upper hand? Even two days ago, this would have been unacceptable.
Kanzaki Ryuji frowned. Unconditional cooperation could mean total destruction for a class if used cleverly. If Class B signed, they might end up like Class D—completely under Class C's thumb.
"Class D found an eyewitness and even has photographic evidence of the incident," Kanzaki said firmly. "We should be the ones negotiating terms now."
"Is that so?"
Kitagawa smiled, unfazed. Kanzaki reviewed the event in his head. If the entire setup had been C Class's design, one point still didn't add up: Why did Shibata Sou go to the special building?
Neither the homeroom teacher nor Kanzaki could get a straight answer. Shibata just vaguely said, "It doesn't matter."
Class C had been provoking them since the start of the month. Honami had been keeping B Class disciplined. Shibata wasn't dumb like Sudou. If someone from Class C invited him, he wouldn't have gone.
Then why did he go?
Honami figured it out first: it must have been someone he trusted—a fellow Class B student. And that's why he refused to explain.
"Who was it?"
She faced Kitagawa squarely. She realized now the real aim wasn't just framing Class B. It was to destroy their unity through suspicion and division. Once trust was broken, no amount of points could rebuild a class.
"Who knows?"
Kitagawa traced invisible circles on the table, his simple gesture exuding pressure.
She wasn't worried about Kitagawa revealing the traitor. She believed it could be resolved if the truth came out. But if their identity remained hidden, B Class would never recover.
"Sign the contract, and I'll tell you."
Kitagawa knew he had them by the throat.
"We can't accept."
Honami drew a deep breath. She could find the traitor herself. Signing would mean total submission.
"No need to rush. I can add conditions," Kitagawa said, pointing to the clause:
"One: the contract expires at the end of first year. Two: the operation won't affect class points. Three: no B Class student will be expelled.
If any are violated, B Class is exempt. How's that?"
With those conditions, the deal sounded less threatening. Kanzaki hesitated, but Honami had already decided.
"We accept."
"Ichinose?"
"Kanzaki-kun, haven't you realized? We're in no position to bargain. We've been played from the start. If we can resolve this without losing points or members, that's already a win."
Kanzaki bit back the mention of their payment to Class D.
"It's okay. As long as we still have all forty members, B Class has another chance."
Honami patted his shoulder, then bowed to Kitagawa.
"This time, we lost. But next time, we'll win."
"If Ryuuen hadn't messed up, you wouldn't even have an eyewitness. You would've lost worse."
Kitagawa waved them off. After they left with the contract, he called his homeroom teacher, Sakagami Kazuma, to withdraw the accusation.
Ryuuen plopped onto the seat opposite him.
"So all these bruises were for nothing?"
"Of course not."
Kitagawa grinned. Ryuuen knew that look: the plan wasn't over.
"What now?"
"We wait."
"Breaking a class comes from inside or outside. We tried both."
"So I was your 'hidden threat' from the start, huh?"
Ryuuen laughed, then winced in pain.
"The rumor's working. Many now believe there's a secret midterm reward for high performers."
"That should give Suzune a headache."
"Class A is our true goal."
"Why the contract? No points lost, no expulsions... just personal points?"
"Maybe there's an exam that lets us harvest tons of private points. If I use two classes well, I can fleece the school."
"You want that many points for transfer?"
"Not just that. Remember? Twenty million can cancel one expulsion."
Kitagawa stretched.
"Let's go. Midterms are coming. Everyone in class should be fine."
"Yeah, studying's been serious lately. Plus, we have the answers."
Kitagawa thought of a certain girl who snuck into his room for fake answers and the secret pact he made with a student council president.
Things were going well, yet he still felt burdened.
[Maybe I owed you in a past life.]
He sighed and raised his left hand in the sunlight.
His ring finger was empty.
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