After hearing Hikaru's expnation, the members of Css B immediately grasped the essence of the pn.

  If they could create a rift between Ryuen and the rest of Css C, those who had not been subdued by him would iably uhey would no loolerate him using viole will.

  Not only was violence dangerous, but it also led to css poiions. Unless Css C's students were plete fools, they would have to rein in Ryuen's as.

  "I see now." Iose's striking blue eyes gleamed. "As long as ersuade Ibuki-san to cooperate with us, the pn will work."

  "It doesn't matter whether she acts out of a sense of justice or simply because she despises Ryuen," Hikaru mused, rubbing his . "We o make tact with Ibuki-san as soon as possible."

  The group nodded in agreement. The pn was not only feasible but also highly effective.

  Seeing their approval, Hikaru turo Iose. "Alright, Iose-san, I'll leave the summary of this discussion to you."

  He deliberately hahe task over to her—after all, Iose was the official leader of Css B.

  "Eh… alright."

  She hesitated for a moment, but when she saw the encing look in Hikaru's eyes, she cleared her throat and began summarizing the discussion.

  "First, we're postponing the pn to sell the hidden rules to Css C. The exact timing will depend on the success of Hikaru-kun's new pn."

  "As for tag Ibuki-san, I'll ha myself." Iose took on the responsibility. "Once I've made tact, I'll update everyone oails of otiation."

  "No objes here."

  Everyone exged gnces auro their seats. With css about to start, they couldn't linger any longer.

  After the others left, Iose leaned in close and whispered near Hikaru's ear. "Thanks for letting me hahe meeting summary, Hikaru-kun."

  "It's nothing. You're the representative of Css B—I'm just your assistant."

  "But I still want to thank you, so just accept it, okay? Hehe."

  After spending the past few days together, Iose had grown much closer to Hikaru. Though they had only just met, her tone was already filled with warmth, even carrying a slight teasing edge at times.

  "Alright, o thank me."

  Hikaru, however, remained oblivious to the subtle ge ititude. His mind was fully occupied with the css petition, leaving little room for anything else.

  The school day passed quickly. Most of Css B's students were studious, so before they k, it was already afternoon and time for dismissal.

  After their homeroom teacher packed up a, the students quickly dispersed, ready to carry out their assigasks. Since Iose had volunteered to handle tag Ibuki, the others left it to her.

  Hikaru, oher hand, decided to tinue expl the school grounds. The artificial isnd was vast, and there were still many pces he hadn't visited.

  At around 7:30 PM, just as Hikaru finished sh and was reading in his dorm room, he received a text from Iose.

  Iose Honami: Hikaru-kun, I've tacted Ibuki-san. We're waiting for you at the café in Keyaki Mall.

  She also sent him a detailed location pin.

  Hashima Hikaru: That fast?

  Iose Honami: Ibuki-san seems impatient. She said she'll only give us one ce, so get over here quickly.

  Hashima Hikaru: …

  Gng at the time, he hat the café would close in an hour. Without hesitation, he grabbed his phone and hurried out the door.

  By the time he arrived, slightly out of breath, his eyes immediately locked onto Iose, who was seated in the er. Across from her sat a short-haired girl with a cold, indifferent expression—Ibuki Mio from Css C.

  "You sure know how to put me on the spot. I just got out of the shower, you know?"

  Wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead, Hikaru plopped down beside Iose.

  Seeing him arrive in just a thin short-sleeved shirt, Iose quickly pressed her hands together in apology. "Sorry, sorry! I'll treat you to a driime, okay?"

  "Fet it. You always just buy oolong tea."

  "You don't like it? I think oolong tea is pretty good."

  "It's awful."

  "I SAID—"

  The short-haired girl across from them, who had been watg their versation with growing irritation, suddenly smmed her hands oable. "Did you call me here just to flirt in front of me?!"

  "We're not flirting!" Iose's face immediately turned a faint shade of pink as she waved her hands frantically in denial.

  Notig the clear frustration on Ibuki's face, Hikaru swiftly shifted gears. Since he needed her cooperation, it wouldn't do to start off on the wrong foot.

  "o meet you, Ibuki-san. Sorry about that. I'm Hashima Hikaru from Css B."

  As he spoke, he took the opportunity to examihe girl sitting across from him.

  Ibuki had sharp, well-defined features and fair skin. Her short blue hair gave her a tomboyish air, and her round eyes—currently filled with annoyance—held an unmistakable fieress.

  "Iose-san should have told you ao meet, right?"

  "I didn't tell her anything." Iose raised her hands as if deg her innoce. "I just invited her out as a friend."

  "…Fine, I'll get straight to the point then."

  Hikaru adjusted his posture, making his tone more serious. "I heard that you fought with Ryuen."

  "So what if I did?"

  Ibuki folded her arms across her chest, a scowl f on her face. "That bastard tried to force me into voting for him as our css representative. He even had the audacity to say, 'Don't think I won't hit a girl.'"

  "Hah. Who the hell does he think he is? I knocked him on his ass before he could eve."

  "I see. You've got some martial arts training, then?"

  "What's it to you?" She shot back, clearly impatient. "Why did y me here? Just say it already."

  "I have a pn—but it requires your help."

  Hikaru remained unfazed by her brash attitude. In fact, her blunt personality made her an eveer didate for what he had in mind.

  "I know that Ryuen is using violeo seize trol of Css C. I also know that only a few students, including yourself, have resisted him."

  "And?"

  "Are you really okay with a guy like him leading your css?" Hikaru's tone grew heavier, his words carrying a deeper implication. "Css representatives hold a lot of power, you know."

  "Power? What kind of power?"

  Ibuki frowned, clearly not fully uanding what Hikaru was getting at. However, her instincts told her that something was off. She narrowed her eyes and studied his expression.

  "For example, trol over Private Points," Hikaru said without hesitation, his voice steady as he spun his lie. "Css representatives have the authority to collect Private Points from their cssmates."

  Without missing a beat, he gestured for Iose to take out her phone.

  Having seen Hikaru's ability to manipute people firsthand, Iose hesitated for a moment. But ultimately, she followed along, pulling out her phone and dispying her bance.

  "You see? Our css representative is Iose-san. Take a look at her Private Points."

  Initially skeptical, Ibuki's expression ged the moment she saw the s.

  Over one million Private Points.

  "If Ryuen bees Css C's leader, what do you think will happen? With his authority, he could force everyoo hand over their points. You might all end up living off the free meal pn while he enjoys luxury meals every day. Do you really think he wouldn't do it?"

  "…"

  Ibuki remained silent for a long time. Then, she slowly lifted her head, log eyes with Hikaru.

  "So, what exactly do you wao do?"