After stepping out of the private room at the yakiniku restaurant, Hikaru gnced around the surroundings before leading Iose to a bench across from the restaurant, where they sat down.

  "Iose, I called you out here because I wao talk about everything that's happened over the past few days."

  He got straight to the point, his tole as he looked at the girl sitting beside him. "A lot has happened retly. I'm sure you have a lot on your mind tht?"

  "Yeah… Hikaru-kun has been stantly ing up with strategies to help Css B gain the upper hand," Iose said with a self-depreg smile. "pared to you, I feel like I've failed as a css representative."

  "…Is that what you think?"

  Hikaru's expression grew plicated. He hadn't expected Iose's struggles to be rooted in this.

  "You really don't o pare yourself to me. No matter what I do, my goal is the same as yours—to make Css B stronger."

  "You're important to Css B. The fact that everyone chose you as our representative means they believe in your abilities."

  Now that he uood the source of her s, Hikaru was surprised, but his mind was already w to find the best way to reassure her.

  "The ret pns may have been rushed, but they were all respoo ued situations, just patchwork solutions to keep things on track."

  "I don't want you to overthink things, let aloart doubting yourself," he said, gazing directly into Iose's eyes. "So, how about we make a promise? Ohat will help us trust each other even more."

  Iose blinked in surprise and quickly asked, "What kind of promise?"

  For the past few days, she had beeioning her own role as css representative, and the answer she had e to deeply uled her.

  Sihe first day of school, she had been relying on Hikaru. Not only had she followed all his pns without hesitation, but she had also stopped thinking critically about them—just assuming that whatever he decided would work.

  At first, she hadn't found anything wrong with that. After all, Hikaru was her closest ally in Css B. Trusting him didn't seem like an issue.

  But after her versation with Ibuki the day before, something ged.

  A terrifying possibility had taken root in her mind.

  What if one day Hikaru wasn't by her side?

  What if he decided to leave Css B and join another css?

  Would she be able to lead the css on her own?

  Could she still graduate as a member of Css A?

  These questions pressed down on her like an insurmountable weight, crushing her spirit.

  Yes, Hikaru was incredibly talented. But did she really know him?

  From their first meeting, she had seen hoable he was. He had figured out how to collect Css Points and Private Points from the start, then formuted strategy after strategy. He had done everything alone.

  And if one day he decided that Css B wasn't good enough—if he thought it would be easier to achieve his goals in Css A—what would stop him from leaving?

  After all, two million points weren't impossible for him to gather.

  He had discovered the school's hidden rules on the very first day. There was no doubt he would tio shine in future exams.

  The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. Her fidence wavered, and she even began doubting herself.

  But when Hikaru mentioned making a promise, her heart skipped a beat.

  Like a toy with fresh batteries, a surge of energy filled her.

  "Heh, it's actually pretty simple. It won't take long to expin," Hikaru said with a light chuckle. Now that he uood her s, he had already devised a way to resolve them.

  He hated unnecessary trouble. If something could be addressed directly, he preferred to settle it on the spot before misuandings piled up.

  "To put your mind at ease, I have two ditions."

  "First, in future css petitions, we'll brainstorm ideas together. Whenever a situation arises, we'll discuss it as a group and e up with a strategy that everyone agrees on."

  "Sed, after we plete this month's point colle pn…" Hikaru met Iose's blue eyes, his voice warm as he proposed, "I'll let you take full trol of month's operations."

  "You'll be the one making all the decisions for Css B. Until you ask for my help, I won't interfere."

  His dark eyes glowed with determination as he tinued, "Since you're worried that you aren't as capable as me, the's test that theory. Wheage is entirely yours, I'm sure you'll do just as well—if not better. That way, all your doubts will disappear."

  "So, do you accept this promise?"

  Iose's heart ched at his words. The emotions she had been suppressing surged to the surface.

  Before she realized it, warm tears streamed down her cheeks, and her shoulders trembled with soft sobs.

  She had been holding in so much. The moment she found an outlet, her emotions broke free.

  "Eh?"

  Hikaru stiffened in panic.

  He had inteo resolve her worries through reason, making her more fident in leading Css B.

  But now she was g.

  He must have gooo far. Had he put too much pressure on her?

  "A-Ah, I'm sorry, Iose! That wasn't what I meant…!"

  "Fet what I said, okay? Just—just don't cry!"

  Iose saw the rare moment of pani his fad suddenly burst into ughter through her tears.

  She wiped her face with the back of her hand and reassured him, "I'm fine. Something just got in my eye, that's all. Don't worry about it, Hikaru-kun."

  "…Really?"

  "Really," she smiled, her tears finally drying. "I accept your promise, and I won't let Css B down. Please watch over me, Hikaru-kun."

  "Alright. But just so you know, I'll be strict. Mistakes is not an option."

  The two of them exteheir pinkies and hooked them together. Their gazes met as they spoke in unison.

  "A promise is a promise. Let's see it through until the end."

  "Phew, now that we've talked everything out, let's go bad eat some yakiniku," Iose said, her expression finally bright and carefree again.

  As she stood up and beed him baside, Hikaru could see that the gloom that had lingered in her expression was gone.

  She was back to being the warm and radiant leader of Css B.

  "Looks like she's alright now."

  Hikaru stroked his , satisfied with the oute of their versation.

  Just then, a notification from the system appeared.

  [Your promise has helped Iose Honami regain her fidence. She has decided not to rely on you anymore, but in doing so, her emotions have silently transformed into an intense possessiveowards you.

  [Iose Honami Stock pricreased by 30 points.]

  [Current Stock Price: 150.]

  "…"

  ~~~~~~

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