Seeing the bald-headed figure suddenly appear before them, along with his ever-present follower, both Hikaru and Iose were somewhat surprised.

  The events of the first day, when they had attempted to sell the hidden school rules to Css A, remained fresh in Hikaru's memory. The students of Css A had demonstrated exceptional analytical skills and keen judgment, while their two fa leaders, Katsuragi Kōhei and Sakayanagi Arisu, were both formidable oppos that Css B would iably have to surpass.

  So now, what exactly was Katsuragi here for?

  Hikaru's expression grew more serious as he addressed the older student. "Katsuragi, what business do you have with us? Could you crify before we go anywhere?"

  "Let's move to a different location. This isn't the best pce to talk," Katsuragi replied, shaking his head, clearly i on leading them elsewhere.

  Hikaru g their surroundings. They were currently in the walkway extending from the school building to the dorms—a pce where many students were still walking about. Indeed, it wasn't the most suitable spot for a fidential discussion.

  "Fine, where to?"

  Hikaru turo Iose, who, while curious, uood that sisuragi was one of the tral figures in Css A's power struggle, this versation was likely to be about css petition.

  "The café should do," Katsuragi suggested, nodding slightly. "It's on me, of course, since I'm the one inviting you."

  "Sounds good to me," Hikaru said, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "You're n to buy us off, are you? If that's the case, I should warn you—I don't e cheap."

  "Rest assured, Hikaru, I don't uimate your capabilities. If I truly inteo 'buy you off,' I doubt we'd be able to afford the price."

  Katsuragi's solemn response caused Hikaru to momentarily freeze. The pyful remark he had prepared got stu his throat.

  Wait... this guy is this serious?

  Iose, witnessing the rare sight of Hikaru being caught off guard, couldn't help but burst into ughter.

  "Haha, this is the first time I've seen you make that face, Hikaru!"

  "..."

  "Alright, I'll just shut up then."

  With his usual carefree demeanor momentarily shaken, Hikaru let out a sigh and followed Katsuragi, along with Iose, into the school's café—a pce frequently visited by students.

  The café's atmosphere leasant, and the spag between tables provided enough privaportant discussions.

  After , the seating arra was simple: Katsuragi and his ever-present follower, Totsuka Yahiko, sat side by side, while Hikaru and Iose sat opposite them.

  "I'll get straight to the point," Katsuragi said firmly. "I'm here to discuss a possible alliaween Css A and Css B."

  "An alliance?"

  Hikaru raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised. He turo Iose. "What do you think?"

  "Hmm... I think we should hear Katsuragi-kun out first."

  Iose's expression turned serious. An alliance wasn't a decision that could be made lightly—it had far-reag implications, and she o uand what Css A truly wanted.

  "This is reted to Css A's current situation," Katsuragi began, his toeady.

  "After you sold us the school's hidden rules, the flict between Sakayanagi and myself still wasn't fully resolved, so we came up with a promise."

  "We decided to take turns leading Css A, rotating leadership based on the results of each Special Exam."

  Katsuragi's voice remained calm and posed as he expihe arra.

  "You're openly telling us this?" Hikaru asked, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Isn't this cssified internal information for your css?"

  "If we are to form an alliahen siy is necessary. Otherwise, there's no point in proceeding."

  Katsuragi met Hikaru's skepticism head-on before tinuing.

  "Currently, Css A and Css B are the twest csses in rade. Unlike Csses d D, we possess strengths they ck—this is our advantage."

  Hikaru gently traced the rim of his coffee cup, listening ily.

  "But aren't we still petitors in the end?" he tered. "After all, there only be one css that graduates as Css A."

  "That's true," Katsuragi admitted, "but we have three years. That's a long time, and it gives us the ake strategic decisions."

  "If we ally ourselves now, we domihe Special Exams together, leaving Css d Css D pletely uo threaten our positions. Ohey are permaly out of tention, then we settle things between our two csses at the end."

  Katsuragi's words were spoken with vi, but Hikaru was unimpressed.

  So now you're trying to sell me on a dream?

  Hikaru found it amusing. Usually, he was the one painting grand visions for others, yet now he was on the receiving end of it.

  It was true that Css A had a strong foundation, and teaming up with them would make it easier to leave the lower csses behind. But at the same time, Katsuragi didn't have full trol over Css A. Hikaru had no reason to trust him blindly.

  This was a school where even students from the same css had reasons to betray one arusting someone from a rival css was airely different level of risk.

  Not to mention, an alliance like this was restrictive. The Special Exam system was still rgely unknown, and tying Css B's fate to another css prematurely could be dangerous.

  More importantly, Hikaru had access to intelligenetworks, and strategic advahat other csses cked. Uhere was a truly pressing need, he saw no reason to bind himself to another css.

  So, instead of rejeg the offer ht, Hikaru decided to test Katsuragi's words.

  "Before I give you an answer," he said casually, "has Sakayanagi agreed to this alliance proposal?"

  Katsuragi hesitated, just for a moment—an instant that Hikaru didn't miss.

  "She has been informed and has not raised objes," Katsuragi eventually replied.

  "Hah."

  Hikaru let out a small chuckle.

  So that's how it is. You're trying to pull a fast one on me.

  He knew better than to take that at face value. If Sakayanagi had truly been in favor of the alliance, she would've been here instead.

  "I see. I uand now," Hikaru said, pretending not to notice the obvious evasion.

  Then, turning to Iose, he asked, "As Css B's representative, what do you think of Katsuragi's offer?"

  "Me?"

  Iose had been silently analyzing the pros and s of the alliance. She uood that during their earlier point-colle pn, Css A had been the easiest to iate with. Unlike Csses d D, where they had entered resistance, Css A had accepted the offer without trouble.

  If they truly could form an allia would be beneficial.

  However, when Iet Hikaru's gaze, she instantly uood what he was implying.

  She quickly turned back to Katsuragi.

  "The idea is iing," she said, "but I 't decide this alone. I o sult with my cssmates first. This is a major decision, after all."

  "That's fine," Katsuragi agreed before pulling out his phone.

  "Let's exge taformation, Hikaru."

  "...Alright."

  Hikaru nodded. Lately, he'd been colleg quite a few phone numbers, and none of them beloo easy people.

  After exging taformation, Katsuragi and Totsuka sooed.

  "Hikaru, what's your real take on all this?" Iose asked ohey were gone.

  By now, she was starting to pick up on Hikaru's unspoken thoughts through his subtle expressions.

  "Katsuragi's proposal isn't as simple as it sounds," Hikaru said, rubbing his temple. "The fact that Css A is using a rotating leadership system means they haven't resolved their internal flict. It'll only get worse as time goes on."

  "As soon as one leader makes a mistake, the other fa will exploit it—and things will spiral from there."

  Hikaru took a sip of his still-warm coffee, deep in thought.

  "And I get the feeling that's exactly why Katsuragi came to us."

  ~~~

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