After pleting his first round of practice, Hikaru brushed off the water droplets on his body aally reviewed his swimming teique. While he had mao replicate some of Kiryuin's movements, he was still far from perfeg them.
"How was it, Kiryuin-senpai?"
Swimming back to the edge of the pool, he looked up at the white-haired senior standing at the poolside.
"Not bad. Your ability to grasp cepts is eveer than I expected."
Kiryuin nodded slightly before tinuing, "Hikaru, what time do you usually leave the gym?"
"Hmm… usually around 9:30."
"If you want to improve your swimming skills, sistent practice is essential," Kiryuin said, gng at the clo the wall. After a brief pause, she added, "Since you’ve already memorized a good portion of the teique, spend the rest of today’s session tinuing your practice."
"I’ll check your progress tomorrow and correy mistakes in your form."
"Uood."
Hikaru studied her expression. Ever since she had agreed to coach him, she had maintained a serious and focused demeanor. This gave him a clearer sense of what kind of person Kiryuin was.
"Alright, let’s begin. I’m going to tinue my training as well."
Despite finding Hikaru somewhat iing, Kiryuin didn’t see the o actively engage further. There would be more ces to i iure.
Before diving bato the water, she cast a brief g the boy swimming diligently, a subtle sense of anticipation surfag in her heart.
She had been bored for far too long.
Let's see what kind of waves you make in this school.
---
After aen or so mihe clock’s hand passed the 9:30 mark. Hikaru climbed out of the pool.
He had to admit, Kiryuin's swimming teique was something special. pared to his previous, more ventional strokes, mimig her movements had given him a pletely new perspective.
"Damn… if I had met her earlier, my swimming might have improved even more by now."
Grabbing a dry towel from the bench, he began wiping his hair as he walked toward Kiryuin, who was still ier.
"Kiryuin-senpai, my time is up for today."
"Alright, you head back. I’m not do."
Kiryuin wiped the water from her face, her violet-red eyes calmly meeting his gaze. "Same time tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
"Then see you tomorrow."
With that, she submerged her head bato the water, her white figure slig through the pool at impressive speed.
"Tomorrow… see you…"
Watg her swim off into the distance, Hikaru murmured the st part of the farewell before shaking his head and heading to the men's locker room.
He o leave before 10 PM—breaking the rules wasn’t an option.
---
Ba his dorm, Hikaru opened his system panel.
A ock had appeared today, and not just any—one belonging to a senior student.
[Kiryuin Fuka Stock]
Current Stock Price: 20
Avaible Shares: ???
"A full iment would require 80,000 points…"
Sitting in his chair, Hikaru fell into deep thought.
"But since she’s an uppercssman, aside from these swimming lessons, I probably won’t have many ces to i with her."
Moreover, he wasn’t sure what role Kiryuin pyed within Css 2-B. If she wasn’t iial, she might not be a worthwhile iment.
Hikaru rubbed his , his thoughts drifting to the blond vice president of the student agumo Miyabi.
He and Kiryuin were in the same grade. From what he had learned from Horikita Manabu, Nagumo had a firm grip oire sed-year css and would eventually bee a major obstacle.
Letting out a sigh, Hashima decided to hold off on iing in Kiryuin’s stock for now.
He didn’t know what kind of retionship she had with Nagumo, but after seeing her exceptional physical abilities, he was certain she wasn’t just an ordinary student.
She probably had some level of influen the sed-year hierarchy.
"Fet it. For now, I’ll just treat her as a swimming coach."
Setting those s aside, he turned his attention to the critical piece of information he had obtained from Kushida.
The fact that test questions were reused.
Now that he knew, he had to firm it. If this information was accurate, ign it would be a waste.
Pulling out his phone, he checked the A-Css group chat.
Sihey had moved up from Css B, the chat’s name had been ged from “B-Css Family” to “Children of Hoshinomiya.”
Iose had been the oo finalize the er much discussion. This way, they wouldn’t have to keep renaming it wheheir css ranking ged.
[Group Chat: Children of Hoshinomiya]
Iose Honami: How’s everyone’s study going?
Shibata Sō: Rep in, Iose! My studying is going smoothly. I’ve already finished reviewing Japanese and Chemistry. up is English.
Andō Sayo: I’ve memorized a lot of English vocabury retly. I eve over several example essays.
Kanzaki Ryūji: Making steady progress.
Since Iose had been anizing study groups, she would che on everyone’s progress every night leading up to the midterms.
Seeing the enthusiastic exges, Hikaru decided not to interrupt.
He’d tell Iose tomorrow—she should get some rest for now.
---
The m, being Friday, Hikaru po put his test paper strategy into a that afternoon.
After finishing his m workout, he ehe , holding a carton of milk in one hand.
Iose was already there, greeting him with a bright smile. "Good m, Hikaru-kun!"
"M, Iose-san."
Pg his bag down, he casually opened his milk carton and turo her. "Iose-san, I came across some crucial information. I need your help with a pn."
"Huh?"
Caught off guard by his sudden invitation, Iose blinked in surprise. However, upon hearing the words "pn" and "information," her expression quickly turned serious.
"This is reted to the uping midterms, so it’s important for our css."
Hikaru took a sip of milk before looking her in the eyes. "Do you have any pns this afternoon, Iose-san?"
"Nope. Even if I did, I’d cel them. Css-reted strategies take top priority."
Iose shook her head, smiling softly. "Is it just the two of us for this?"
"Yeah. We don’t oo many people. If everything goes well, we’ll be done quickly."
Hikaru watched her eyes light up with excitement.
"Ohis part is dohe real challenge begins."
Though he had fiden his cssmates, knowing the test questions in advance would provide ara yer of security.
Since he wasn’t sure whether midterm results would directly impact Css Points, ensuring everyone scored well was in their best i.
"I uand." Iose heated before asking, "So… where did you get this information, Hikaru-kun?"
"?"
Hikaru’s mind briefly stalled.
Gng at the pink-haired girl watg him closely, he forced a chuckle. "Well, you know… from various sources."
"I told you before—I won’t keep anything from you anymore. You’re the one leading our css forward."
Hikaru smoothly redirected the versation. "So when we iate with the uppercssmen, you’ll take the lead."
"Alright, I get it."
Although his response was evasive, Iose only stared at his smiling face for a moment before dropping the issue.
That night, wheold her feelings to Shiranami, her resolve had strengthened.
She wasn’t going to give up—not until she got what she wanted.
~~~
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