As the moonlight spilled across the dormitory baly, Horikita Suzu at her desk, diligently solving practice problems. Whether exams were approag or not, she maintained her unwavering self-discipline when it came to studying.

  Just after she pleted a particurly plex math problem, her phone suddenly buzzed.

  "?"

  It was nearly 10 p.m. Who would be messagi this hour? She had no close friends in css, nor did she need any.

  That said, there was one person she could exge messages with.

  Suzu her pen down, took a deep breath, and picked up her phone.

  Hashima Hikaru: Good evening, Horikita-san. Do you have a moment?

  Of course it's him.

  That guy had a habit of messagie at night. And thanks to that agreement with her brother, he stantly pushed her into doing things she didn't like.

  Horikita Suzune: Is there something you need, Hikaru-kun?

  Hashima Hikaru: I was thinking of inviting you to lunorrow.

  "..."

  Suzune bli the message. Even now, she didn't sider herself friends with Hikaru, so her immediate instinct was to dee.

  But then—

  Hashima Hikaru: There's also something I want to tell you about Horikita-senpai.

  "..."

  Her small, delicate face froze. That familiar sense of being led by the urned. Despite her irritation, she couldn't resist typing back.

  Horikita Suzune: What is it?

  Hashima Hikaru: I'll expin over lunorrow. It's hard to vey properly in a text message.

  Meanwhile, sitting fortably in his dorm room, Hikaru smirked with satisfa.

  Using Horikita Manabu as bait never fails.

  His real motive had nothing to do with lunch. His target was Kushida Kikyo.

  Since droppiock price to 60 points, Hikaru hadn't had mutera with the dual-faced, short-haired girl. But if he wanted more system funds, he o keep pushing. Ideally, he'd get her stock price down to 10 points, the baseline value, making it the perfect opportunity to buy in again.

  The key to redug Kushida's stock price? Horikita Suzune.

  Past experiments had proven that Kushida reacted strongly to iioween him and Suzune. Exploiting that dynamic was the perfect multi-yered strategy.

  Kushida Kikyo → Horikita Suzune → Horikita Manabu.

  A straightforward rea.

  He g Suzune's reply again. He knew she'd never ignore a ce to hear about her brother.

  Horikita Suzune: What time tomorrow?

  Hashima Hikaru: After school. I'll e to Css C to get you, and we head to the restaurant together.

  "..."

  e to Css C?

  Suzune found that odd. Usually, you just set a meeting point and arrive separately.

  Still, she didn't care about appearances. As long as she achieved her goal, that was enough.

  Horikita Suzune: Fine.

  Hashima Hikaru: See you tomorrow, then.

  After setting her phone aside, Suzuuro her study materials. Meanwhile, Hikaru reed in his chair, strategizing the day's moves.

  If Kushida saw him ing to Css C just to find Suzune, she'd definitely react. But he o get the timing and iions just right.

  The more Kushida believes I have a closer retionship with Suzuhe more her stock price will drop.

  His funds were running low; he hat stock to plummet.

  Hikaru opehe Stoterfa his system.

  He currently held shares in three stocks with varying prices and quantities.

  [Iose Honami Stock] (No data dispyed.)

  [Sakura Airi Stock] (No data dispyed.)

  [Shiina Hiyori Stock] (Current Price: 40; Shares Owned: 3,000)

  "Iose's stock hasn't moved much, but Sakura and Shiina's prices should rise steadily if I maintain proximity and iion," Hikaru muttered, tapping his fingers on the desk. "o plicate things further."

  "But Kushida's 5,000 shares are too tempting to ignore. If I get her price down to 10 points and go all-in, there's no way I'll lose."

  His mind fshed back to the night he'd made Kushida leave her fingerprint as firmation of their "agreement." He remembered the cold, aggressive expression she'd worn—a mask sharpened by her fear of being exposed.

  So much darkness in her past… isn't she afraid someone might use it against her?

  Hikaru rubbed his thoughtfully.

  I could try to dig deeper through Suzuhen again, it might be better to leave that stourned for now. If I push too hard and trigger a stocrease, it'll be troublesome.

  Focus on the immediate goal. First, drop her price to ro.

  Having finalized his pn, Hikaru set down his phone and headed for the shower.

  Tomorrow should be iing.

  ---

  The day, as pnned, Hikaru skipped his usual study group ahe immediately after school. After casually greeting Iose and Shibata, he slung his bag over his shoulder and made his way toward Css C.

  Despite ret css rank shifts, locations hadn't ged, so he only o pass one room to reach Css C.

  The hallway was still bustling with students when Hikaru arrived. There was always a ce he'd enter familiar faces—like Hirata Yosuke.

  The handsome, affable Css C leader happeo exit his just as Hikaru approached.

  "Hikaru-kun?" Hirata blinked in surprise. "Didn't expect to see you here."

  "Good afternoon, Hirata-kun," Hikaru greeted him with a pleasant smile. He'd gotten a det read on Hirata's personality during past iions. A well-meaning, people-pleasing "nice guy" who wahe best for his css but cked the assertiveo lead effectively.

  Exactly the kind of person who be maniputed.

  "Are you heading downstairs?" Hirata asked, tilting his head curiously.

  "No. I'm here to find someone. If you have a moment, could you call her for me?"

  "Find someone?" Hirata's i piqued. "Who are you looking for?"

  "Horikita Suzune."

  "…Horikita?"

  Hirata's expression shifted to fusion.

  He'd shared a css with Suzune for over a month but could t their versations on one hand. The girl kept everyo arm's length. She was cold, distant, and notoriously ued in socializing.

  Yet here was Hikaru—a promi figure from Css A—ing to find her in person?

  The students nearby immediately noticed.

  "Wait… did he just say Horikita?"

  "Horikita Suzuhat Horikita?"

  "Why would someone from Css A e here just to find her?"

  The buzzed with whispers.

  From his position, Hirata spotted Suzuanding by her desk. She'd already noticed Hikaru and was now watg the se unfold with her usual detached expression.

  "Horikita-san! Someone's here to see you!" Hirata called out.

  The murmurs intensified.

  Suzune nodded slightly, grabbed her bag, and headed toward the door.

  "Who's that at the back door?"

  "Wait... is that...?"

  When Hikaru stepped into the room, the whispering turned into ht otion.

  "That's Hashima Hikaru!"

  "Why is he here?"

  "Wait... does that mean he and Horikita are…?"

  The female students, in particur, reacted with wide eyes aed specution.

  One was a rising star in Css A; the other, the infamous ice queen of Css d both were undeniably good-looking. Seeing them together was enough to ignite a flurry of gossip.

  But amid the excited chatter stood a short-haired girl, encircled by cssmates.

  Kushida Kikyo.

  Her eyes fixed on Hikaru's figure as he approached Suzune and casually greeted her. Together, the two of them walked out of the , side by side.

  "..."

  Kushida's fingers dug into the strap of her bag, her expression darkening as unfamiliar emotions surged within her.

  At that moment, Hikaru's system delivered a notification.

  [Kushida Kikyo witnessed you visiting Css eet Horikita Suzune. Her suspis regarding your retionship have grown. Kushida Kikyo's stock price has dropped by 20 points. Current Price: 40.]

  Seeing the update, Hikaru's lips curved into a satisfied grin.

  She took the bait. Hook, line, and sinker.

  Admit it, Kushida. You're hopelessly fixated on Suzune.

  ~~~

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