On Saturday, Hikaru, Iose, and Kushida spent a pleasant m together at Keyaki Mall. All three of them were sociable, so there was never an awkward silence.

  Hikaru actively tributed to the versation, seamlessly filling in gaps and keeping the discussion flowing. Even though Iose and Kushida had only retly met, they got along as if they had been friends for a long time.

  Iose's wide range of is allowed her to engage effortlessly in various topics, and since Kushida had willingly agreed to meet early in the m, it was clear that she was also eager to expand her circle of friends.

  With su atmosphere, their time together remained lively and enjoyable.

  By noon, the three arrived at the reserved family restaurant for lunch. As usual, Hikaru followed his standard practice—dies first when .

  Ohe waiter left with their orders, they resumed chatting.

  "Has anything iing happened in Css D tely?" Hikaru asked, pig up a gss and preparing to pour himself some tea. "Anything you share with us?"

  "Something iing?" Kushida tapped her thoughtfully before fshing a troubled smile. "Hmm… not really. Everyone's been busy with their own things, so nothing particurly hy has happened."

  "Really?"

  Iose's bright eyes blinked with curiosity. "Actually, I'm really curious about what you mentioned earlier—about Hirata-kun. Since he has a girlfriend now, does he ever act affeate toward Karuizawa-san in the ?"

  "Not at all," Kushida replied with a smile. "Even though they're dating, they only really spend time together after school. In css, they don't show anything."

  "But Hirata-kun is so naturally kind that, even though he has a girlfriend, he still treats irls with the same gentle demeanor. I heard that makes Karuizawa-san a little jealous."

  "I see."

  Iose's expression carried a trace of surprise. Of course, she wasn't particurly ied in some stranger's love life—this was all just a way to gather more information about Css D's so-called representative, Hirata Yosuke.

  "Honami-, if you were dating someone, would you be okay with your boyfriend treating irls kindly too?"

  Kushida's eyes gleamed mischievously as she threw out the question, clearly trying to probe for reas.

  "Huh? Me?"

  Iose instinctively turoward Hikaru, as if seeking his opinion, but the boy simply maintained a calm aral expression, not showing any particur rea.

  Seeing that he didn't seem to care at all, a faint sense of disappoi welled up in Iose's heart. However, she quickly suppressed it and responded with her usual gentle smile.

  "If that happened… I think I'd probably get upset."

  "Right? I feel the same way."

  Kushida nodded enthusiastically, fully agreeing.

  Despite receiving multiple fessions sihe start of the school year, she wasn't ied in dating. Being in a retionship could affect the image she had worked so hard to build. She preferred being the friendly, approachable cssmate whom everyone could fide in—someone who could learn all the secrets of those around her.

  Just thinking about it brought a sense of satisfa.

  With an indignant pout, she added, "If I were dating someone and he dared to get close to irls, I'd be absolutely furious! I would never five him!"

  "Haha, I'm sure you're very popur, Kushida-san," Iose chuckled. "If you do end up choosing a boyfriend, make sure you pick wisely."

  Still ging to the topic, Iose smiled and observed Kushida carefully. "If you ever find someone you like, I'll be cheering you on."

  "Thanks, Honami-! But I haven't met anyone like that yet. Right now, I still prefer spending time with cute girls."

  Kushida ughed, though her mind reoccupied with something else.

  Throughout their time together, she had been closely Iose and Hikaru.

  She wasn't just ied in Css B's leadership dynamics—she also wao figure out what kind of retionship these two had.

  From what she had gathered, they weren't dati, but Iose clearly had feelings for Hikaru.

  As for Hikaru… he was difficult to read.

  On the surface, he was warm and approachable, seamlessly engaging in versation, but Kushida could tell that he wasn't revealing his true self.

  This wasn't just casual socializing—he definitely had an agenda today.

  However, Kushida hadn't figured out exactly what that agenda was yet.

  She had subtly tried to stir reas out of both of them, especially by steering the versation toward romance. Most people, regardless of gender, had some level of i iopic.

  Yet, even as they discussed retionships, Hikaru remaiirely ued.

  It was as if he ying along while keeping his true iions hidden.

  A strange one, indeed.

  Before she could probe further, their food arrived, and she temporarily set aside her thoughts to enjoy the meal.

  Even as they ate, Kushida tinued subtly testing Hikaru, trying to get a sense of his stan various topics.

  But time and time again, she came up empty.

  Meanwhile, Hikaru remained as cooperative as ever, engaging in casual versation while silently analyzing his own thoughts.

  Right now, his biggest was figuring out the e between Kushida and Suzune.

  Why did both Kushida's stock value increase and decrease depending on Suzune?

  And speaking of Suzune, Hikaru recalled seei the supermarket—a cold and distant girl with strikiures. She had left a strong impression on him.

  If she was really part of Css D, then that meant he would likely meet her when he went there on Monday to iate the sale of rules.

  Before iing in Kushida's stock, he o gather more information.

  After all, the Stoalyzer had made it very clear:

  This seemingly angelic girl had a hidden side—ohat was "highly aggressive."

  The exaature of that hidden side was still a mystery, but Hikaru o know whether it would interfere with his future pns.

  "Building trust with her should be easy enough," Hikaru mused inwardly, his fingers absentmindedly tapping against his . "The real challenge is uanding her hidden side… and her desire to see Horikita Suzune expelled."

  Were those two things ected?

  For now, he would wait until Monday's meeting with Css D before making any major decisions.

  A casual lunch between three cssmates—yet each of them harbored their own unspoken thoughts.

  On the surface, the atmosphere was warm and friendly, but beh it all, they were pying a game of deception and observation.

  Perhaps, in the end, life was just a grand performane where only the best actors thrived.

  ~~~

  Read 30 Chapters Ahead!

  > patreon./HudaLin