After Hikaru led Suzu of Css C's , their destination was a restaurant he had carefully selected in adva was a retively quiet pce, ideal for discussing matters away fr ears.

  Having just successfully driven down Kushida's stock price, Hikaru was in high spirits. He fshed a bright smile at the girl beside him. "Since I'm the oreating you, Horikita-san, don't hold back. Feel free to order anything, even the expensive dishes."

  Although he'd spent signifit amounts of private points on several occasions since school started, Hikaru wasn't someone who splurged without reason. Most of his expenses went troceries and cooking. Besides, the promotion to Css A had brought with it a reward of 51,000 private points—even after giving half to Iose as agreed.

  Gng at the bance dispyed on his student ID, Hikaru felt fident about his casual offer.

  [Student ID]

  Name: Hashima Hikaru

  Student Number: S01T

  Gender: Male

  Private Points: [Redacted]

  As he smiled across the table, Suzune showed little visible rea. She held the menu in silence for a few moments before settling on a standard set meal. She then hahe menu back to Hikaru without a word.

  "Seriously, you could've picked something nicer." Hikaru sighed and chose the same set meal before passing the menu to the server. His tone was lighthearted, but his disappoi was only half-feigned. "Guess you still don't really trust me, huh?"

  Suzune's crimson eyes remained cool and guarded. "Even if you've made that agreement with my brother to help me, we're still from different csses. We're petitors. Why should I trust you?"

  "Even though my css helped yours during the student cil hearing?" Hikaru let out a low sigh, adopting an aggrieved expression. "Iose and I went out of our way to help gather eyewitness information. Isn't that worth some goodwill?"

  "..."

  "Not to mention that I helped you develop yument strategy for the hearing," Hikaru added, holding up two fingers. "That's twiow. Doesn't that ear least a little trust?"

  Suzune's brows knitted slightly, and she fell silent for a moment before fixing her sharp gaze on him. "What do you want iurn?"

  Hikaru's mouth twitched at the bluntness of her response. Wow. No wonder people find her so hard to approach.

  Shaking his head, he replied, "What I wanted, I've already gotten. I'm not looking for repayment. Well… maybe just for you to be a bit friendlier."

  In truth, Hikaru's primary objective had been to undermine Ryuen's influehin Css D. With Ryuen's subordinates, Ishizaki and Komiya, suspended for a month, Ryuen's trol had signifitly weakened. His standing within the css was crumblily as Hikaru had hoped.

  "So, about that friendliness…" Hikaru arched a brow. "Think you could try?"

  "My personality isn't something that ges on demand," Suzune replied ftly. "I don't expect it to improve anytime soon."

  Hikaru chuckled and shook his head. "Yeah, that make sense."

  Her rigid demeanor was expected. Getting a ugh out of Suzune was about as easy as squeezing water from a stone. "Anyway, back to why I invited you here today."

  "Right. Let's get to the point." Suzune leaned forward slightly. "You're not the kind of person to treat someoo lunch without an agenda."

  "You make me sound so calg." Hikaru smiled ily, then shifted the versation toward a subject he suspected might intrigue her. "Tell me… have you ever sidered joining the student cil?"

  Suzune blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "The student cil?"

  "Yeah." Hikaru set his gss down and steepled his fingers oable. "Since you want to prove yourself to your brother, wouldn't joining the student cil be a step in the right dire?"

  "...I hadn't given it much thought." Suzuated, unsure whether Hikaru was trying to manipute her. "Why are ying this up now?"

  "No particur reason," Hikaru lied effortlessly. "I just figured someone like you, who takes things seriously, might actually enjoy the challenge."

  Suzune's gaze lingered on him as she sidered his words. Hikaru was well aware of her strained retionship with her brother, Horikita Manabu, the current student cil president. If she joined, she'd iably withe brewing flict between Manabu and Nagumo.

  Would she intervene wheime came? Or would she tio walk her own solitary path?

  Hikaru leaned ba his chair, already anticipating the eaihis development might bring. And how will Manabu react if his estranged sister tries to follow in his footsteps?

  The intrigue alone made pnting the seed worthwhile.

  "I'll think about it," Suzuually said, breaking the silence.

  "That's all I ask." Hikaru raised his gss in a small toast. "If you decide to apply, I'm sure the student cil would wele you."

  Or, at the very least, it'd stir up the waters.

  The meal cluded without further surprises. After settling the bill and parting ways with Suzune, Hikaru made his way back to the dorm.

  ---

  As Hikaru stepped into the third-floor hallway of the dormitory, he immediately noticed a familiar figure standing by his door.

  Short hair. Slim build. Arms crossed. The tension in the air alpable.

  Oh, great. This 't be good.

  Quiing his pace, Hikaru approached.

  "Kushida-san? Are you… waiting for me?"

  Kushida turoward him, her expression devoid of its usual cheerful mask. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, and her eyes were filled with cold fury.

  "Open the door," she said, her voice low and strained. "Now."

  Hikaru raised his eyebrows. She wasn't even trying to hide her anger.

  "...Alright," he said softly, slipping his key into the lock.

  The door clicked open.

  Kushida stepped ihout waiting for an invitation.

  Hikaru followed and shut the door behind them.

  ~~~

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