After finishing lunch with Kushida, she excused herself, saying she had other matters to attend to. Iose also had pns for the afternoon, so the group dispersed, and Hikaru returo his dorm.
Meeting with Kushida alongside Iose had proven to be fruitful. Aside from firming Hirata Yosuke as Css D's representative, Hikaru had also gained insight into his general standing—his role in the css, his popurity, and the fact that he had a girlfriend.
This was valuable information for Hikaru's uping rule-selliiation. If he could vince Hirata—as well as Kushida, idely trusted in Css D—the process of gathering Private Points would be much smoother.
After all, time was not on their side. The more he deyed, the less likely Css D students would have any points left to collect. His lowest target was one million points, and although the situation from yesterday's css meeting seemed less than optimistic, as long as he could successfully push Css D's representative to coordihe css, there was still hope.
However, this wasn't the only matter on his mind.
"The real priority is the stock market."
Sitting at his desk, Hikaru opened his notebook and wrote down two names:
[Horikita Suzune]
[Kushida Kikyo]
These two had something in on—they both had stocks listed in the system.
Suzune's stock had a starting price of 100 points.
Kushida's stock had a starting price of 10 points, the same as Iose's initial stock value.
The difference y in how their values could be increased or decreased.
After using the Stoalyzer on Kushida, Hikaru had learhat her stock price would increase uhe following ditions:
1. Building a trustiionship with her.
2. Helping her hide her past.
3. F Horikita Suzuo drop out.
Oher hand, her stock price would decrease if he:
1. Ied frequently with Horikita.
2. Became Horikita's ally or friend.
"This doesn't sound easy at all."
Hikaru sighed, deep in thought.
Recalling his iions with Kushida, he hat she possessed excellent social skills, keen observational abilities, and the ability to quickly form bonds with strangers. Given her interpersonal talents, she was undoubtedly ae-level talent.
A, despite all of that, she had been pced in Css D.
This could only meahing—the school already knew about her past.
Despite her high social aptitude, her past was severe enough to warrant her pt in the lowest-ranked css.
"That must mean her past isn't just some minor issue. It must have been signifit enough for the school to make this decision."
Hikaru clicked his tongue in annoyance. He had expected this ock to be as easy to farm as Iose's, but it turned out to be far more plicated.
A hidden side?
A desire to expel audent?
Why was someohis young carrying so much baggage?
"Well, whatever. I'll figure it out when I meet Css D."
Gng at Kushida's stock page, Hikaru khat even a small increase in value would yield signifit profit. If, during his tinued iions, he fouoo troublesome, he could simply sell off his shares and cut ties.
As he pondered his steps, a new idea struck him.
Up until now, Hikaru had been careful with stovestments. He had avoided damaging Iose's stock value because they were allies and because he genuinely respected her.
However, Kushida was different.
She was someone he could afford to experiment on.
If her stock pricreased when he built trust with her, but decreased whe close to Suzune…
"What if I pump up her stock value first, then i with Suzune just to tank it again?"
Leaning ba his chair, Hikaru rubbed his , a mischievous glint in his eyes.
If his theory was correct, Kushida could effectively fun as an unlimited source of funds—a stock market loophole waiting to be exploited.
"I really hope you don't disappoint me, Kushida. See you on Monday."
Grinning to himself, Hikaru finalized his pn.
---
Monday: The Sed Week Begins
The weekend passed in a leisurely haze. Hikaru spent most of his time inside his dorm, only using his phoo chat with cssmates or che relevant school affairs. He rarely went out, preferring to serve his energy for the uping week.
After his m workout, he arrived in Css B, immediately spotting Iose.
As usual, she greeted him with aic smile—one sht that it could improve anyone's mood.
"Good m, Hikaru-kun!"
"M, Iose."
Sliding into his seat, Hikaru turo her.
"Let's stop by Hoshinomiya-sensei's office ter to print out the tracts. Then, before the end of the day, we'll visit Css D to sell the rules."
"Got it! I've already rewrittehing for this sale!"
Iose proudly retrieved a brown notebook from her bag—her handwritten version of the new rule agreement.
Since Hikaru had drafted the first version for Css A, she had insisted on writing this one herself.
"Before we visit Css D, should we text Kushida-san first?" Iose asked, holding up her phone. "We should let her know to keep her cssmates in the after school. That way, we won't waste time gathering everyone."
"You tacted her yesterday too?"
"Yeah! I want to build a good retionship with Kushida-san."
Iose's voice carried a hint of fidence, her tone casual yet filled with a sense of purpose.
"After all, she's Hirata-kun's assistant. If we want Css D to cooperate, getting her on our side is essential."
Hikaru smiled.
It was gratifying to see how much Iose had grown.
She had even started making moves indepely, without sulting him first.
He felt an odd sense of pride at how proactive she had bee.
"Oh? And did you learn anything iing from Kushida yesterday?"
"Of course! I got some extra intel." Iose's eyes twinkled with excitement.
"We talked about academics, and Kushida-saioned something really surprising."
Hikaru raised an eyebrow.
"Apparently, there's someone in Css D who's really, really smart."
"What do you mean? Are they ranked high in total scores?"
"Not just that." Iose leaned in. "Whehe teacher asks difficult questions, this person ahem almost instantly. Kushida-san was super impressed."
"Who?"
A knowing smirk crept onto Hikaru's lips.
"Kushida-san said her name is Horikita Suzune. She's a really beautiful girl."
"..."
As expected.
Pressing his fingers against his temple, Hikaru let out a small sigh.
Now he was even more intrigued.
If Kushida wanted Suzune gone, why was she casually praising her intelligeo other people?
Did she hate Suzune?
Or was she secretly impressed by her?
Whie was it?
"Hikaru-kun, do you know Horikita-san?"
Iose eyed him curiously, notig his oddly satisfied rea.
"Nope, never met her."
Hikaru quickly de, though it wasn't a lie.
He had only seen her ohey had never spoken.
"I see… I thought you might be hiding something from me."
"Haha… of course not."
Hikaru ughed awkwardly, but deep down, his excitement only grew.
Today, everything was finally ing together.
~~~
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