Horikita Suzune lay silently on her bed, refreshing her point balance for what felt like the hundredth time.
"9,900 points..."
She stared at the number, repeating it under her breath, her brow furrowing slightly.
The 25,000-point deadline loomed like a boulder over her—due by tomorrow's dismissal.
With her current funds, she was nowhere close.
Even if she scraped it together, she'd need to reserve some for daily expenses.
Despite her wealthy upbringing, Horikita had cultivated frugal habits since childhood.
Since enrollment, she'd avoided splurging, always opting for cost-effective alternatives.
No brand-name stationery in her locker.
Her uniform remained immaculate, no extra casual clothes.
Even cafeteria meals were calculated to the point.
Yet the deficit still gnawed at her.
"Where did all my points go?"
She bit her lip lightly, scrolling through her transaction history.
Every expenditure was logged meticulously. She'd audit it thoroughly.
Day 1:
With minimal luggage, she'd bought essentials—shampoo, detergent, a basin, toothpaste... plus three meals.
Total: 3,000 points.
Balance: 97,000.
Day 2:
A water bottle, three plain hair clips, and meals.
Spent: 1,500.
Balance: 95,500.
The next two days, she'd kept spending under 1,000 daily.
Then—
Day 5's records made her finger freeze.
Transfer to Shimizu Akira: 80,000 points.
Luxury meal: 1,000 points.
Transfer to Shimizu Akira: 100 points.
These three entries slashed her balance to 13,000.
She stared, silent for a long moment.
Her fingertip hovered over the luxury meal—her treat to Shimizu. The 100-point miso soup was just to settle debts.
"So... Shimizu took most of my points?" Her murmur held more self-mockery than anger.
In hindsight, the trade felt unbalanced.
One piece of intel she'd paid 80,000 for had been casually revealed by Kushida today.
In other words, she'd overpaid for basic info.
Strangely, she couldn't muster resentment toward Shimizu.
Her first thought was: "Was I too reckless?"
After all—
She'd approached him.
She'd willingly transferred the points.
The irony? She'd never anticipated this class-fee predicament days later.
The idea of demanding a refund never crossed her mind.
She knew: without Chabashira's interference, Shimizu would've never shared that intel freely.
It had been a clean transaction—clear terms, no deception.
But what truly unsettled her was pride.
"I can't let him look down on me..."
The thought conjured Shimizu's mildly surprised gaze, making her skin prickle.
Just imagining his pity tightened her chest.
Losing points was one thing; losing face before him was unbearable.
"This 25,000... is essentially tribute to Shimizu."
Though Chabashira fronted the 1 million, the funds would ultimately flow to him.
A ridiculous realization struck—every point she'd earned had ended up in his hands.
"80,000 for intel... 25,000 for class fees..." Her fingers flew across the screen, pausing at another entry. *"Ah, the 5,000-point swim class bonus..."*
The math crystallized: 105,000 points earned, 105,000 points taken.
Not a single point left.
The precision was uncanny—too perfect to be coincidence.
Instead of rage, a more complex emotion took root.
Her fingertip pressed against her lip, Shimizu's always-composed face flashing in her mind.
This feeling of being utterly read was frighteningly familiar.
—Like a chess match where your opponent has mapped every move.
It could be chance, yet it felt orchestrated.
That terrifying control reminded her instantly of one person.
"Just like... my brother."
Horikita Manabu—the brother she'd chased here, whose standards for her were merciless.
Her fingers twisted a lock of hair unconsciously.
These raven strands were a silent vow.
At the pool, Shimizu had been absolutely right.
She just... hadn't wanted to admit it to someone who saw through her so easily.
That day, when Kushida badmouthed Shimizu, she'd spoken up.
Because she knew—how hard that "ordinary guy" worked.
On the second morning, at 6:30 AM, when she'd opened her curtains, he was already running.
The track was 1 km per lap—Shimizu ran 10 daily, without fail, from Day 2 to now.
Her thoughts circled back to her brother, eyes drifting to her phone.
At the top of her contacts, beneath "Horikita Manabu", lay her after-school message:
[Horikita Suzune]:Brother, now that I'm here too, I'll prove it! I'm not the same as before—I'll show you my resolve!