"You all must be w… why did they leave this school?"
As Hikaru's words settled over the group, a heavy sileook hold.
The Css 1-B students exged uneasy gnces.
None of them had expected that, in just a single year, four students from Css 2-B had vanished.
That alone was enough to reveal just how brutal this school truly was.
A sudden ge in atmosphere surfaced.
"H-How could this happen…? Why?"
Iose was the most visibly shaken.
Her usually warm, gentle blue eyes trembled with unease, emotions of fear, resistance, and disbelief iwining.
The revetion had clearly struck a deep chord within her.
Sensing her distress, Hikaru pced a firm yet gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Don't panic, Iose," he said in a calm, reassuring tone.
"It's only the first day of school. We still have plenty of time to prepare."
"Oh… that's right… it's only the first day…"
Iose slowly lifted her head, her gaze meeting Hikaru's up close.
His hand was warm, steadying her in a moment of vulnerability.
She hesitated for a sed before asking softly,
"Hikaru… do you already have a pn?"
"Of course not. What do you think I am, some kind of god?"
Hikaru smirked and lightly tapped her forehead, breaking the tension.
Once Iained her posure, he turoward the others.
"This is why I suggested we accumute 20 million Private Points."
"If we ever face a situation where someone in our css is at risk of expulsion—"
"This will be our trump card to save them."
The room fell silent once more.
This time, however, the atmosphere had shifted.
No longer just shocked—now, the group was growiermined.
"We were pced together in Css 1-B. I want all of us to graduate together. No os left behind!"
"So, I hope you'll listen to my pn—the real reason I came here tonight."
"Just tell us, Hikaru. We'll support you however we !"
Shibata spoke with genuine vi.
The others nodded in agreement.
"Alright, let's start with what we know," Hikaru began.
"Acc to Hoshinomiya-sehe school hosts various types of Special Exams."
"These exams are the most intense forms of petitioween csses."
"Winning increases Css Points."
"Losis in Css Points beied."
"If we rely solely on the monthly Private Points distribution—"
"It won't be nearly enough."
"However, given how Special Exams use Css Points as rewards, there's a high ce Private Points will be used as rewards as well."
"So you're saying… we earn Private Points through Special Exams?"
Shibata furrowed his brow.
"But we don't even know the rules yet. How we prepare in advance?"
"We may not know the exaat, but we make an educated guess."
Hikaru tapped the table lightly.
"Remember—this is still a school."
"And no matter how extreme its rules may be, there are two types of exams that schools will always have."
"Academic tests and physical petitions."
"If it's a written exam, then we already have an advantage."
"And that's because Iose ranked first irance exam."
"Wait… what?"
Iose was caught off guard as the focus suddenly shifted to her.
She had been listening ily to Hikaru's strategy—so much so that when her name was mentioned, it took her by surprise.
As Hikaru turo her, she suddenly recalled the moment he had tapped her forehead.
Her face immediately flushed, and her heartbeat quied.
Everyone's eyes were on her now.
Seeing no way out, she nodded shyly.
"Y-Yes… that's what the interview paold me."
"I was the highest-sg student in the writterance exam."
"That's great! If we ever hold a study group, Iose help tutor us!"
Andō cpped her hands together excitedly.
Meanwhile, Hikaru's gaze shifted to Shibata.
"If we're talking physical petitions…"
"Shibata, I imagine you'd have a lot to tribute?"
Shibata grinned fidently.
"I art of the trad field team in middle school."
"If it's a race, I won't lose to anyone."
"My physical abilities are pretty det too."
Kanzaki added, adjusting his gsses.
"At the very least, I won't drag the css down."
"What about the girls?"
Kanzaki looked to the female students.
"I'm alright—I won't fail at least."
"I'm fident in volleyball, but nothing else."
"I… struggle with sports… In middle school, I mostly just handed out water during our sports festivals."
The st oo speak was Shiranami, a petite girl with light brown short hair.
A small flower-shaped hairpin decorated her bangs, giving her a delicate and cute appearance.
"That's okay, Shiranami!"
Iose quickly forted her, lightly patting her hand.
"If it es to that, we'll help you train!"
"Thank you, Iose-san… I'll do my best!"
Shiranami's eyes shoh admiration as she looked at Iose
F the Strategy Group
"Alright, so we have two key areas to prepare for: Academid Athletics."
"Regardless of the Special Exam format, we should be able to leverage these strengths."
"As for the 20-million point pn—"
Hikaru paused, sing the group.
"This is just an idea. I 't guarantee success."
"So I won't foryoo participate."
He pulled out his phone, revealing a new group chat.
"I created a private group chat."
"This is only for those who want to be involved in this pn."
"oal is simple—to protey cssmates at risk of expulsion."
"If you're willing to join, I'll send you an invite."
"I'll join!"
Iose spoke without hesitation.
Her gaze was firm as she stared at Hikaru.
She hadn't expected him to be so thh, sidering everything so carefully.
At that moment—
A powerful emotion welled up in her chest.
"I want to join this pn, Hikaru."
"Because this is what I've wao do all along."
Without warning, Iose pressed herself against Hikaru's shoulder.
Her vivid blue eyes locked onto his, filled with deep siy.
"Alright. Wele to the pn, Iose."
Just then, Hikaru's system interface fshed.
[Iose Honami aowledges your warning about the expulsion crisis.]
Her trust in you has increased.
Iose Honami's stock value: +10 (Current: 80)
[Iose Honami is deeply moved by your 20-million point pn.]
She has developed airely new level of emotion towards you.
Iose Honami's stock value: +30 (Current: 110)
"…?"
"Did I just hit my goal already?"
"That was… fast."
