As the dismissal bell rang, Hikaru and Iose exged a brief gnce before stepping out of the together.

  During the break earlier, they had already gone over the details of their pn.

  If they wao buy past exam papers from uppercssmen, their best bet was tet someone in desperate need of Private Points. Only by finding such a person could they ensure a swift transa.

  To prevent unnecessary bargaining, they also had to set a firm iatie. Giving too much leeway could result in wasting more Private Points than necessary.

  With these factors in mind, both Hikaru and Iose reached the same clusion: the best didates were uppercssmen from Css C or Css D. With May nearing its end, these lower-ranked csses were more likely tle financially.

  Ohey left the school building, their first stop was the cafeteria, a strategic location for their search.

  The key? The se that provided free vegetable set meals.

  "How about it, Iose? See anyone lining up at that ter?"

  Hikaru asked while heading to buy two drinks, leaving Iose to observe the area.

  "There are a few, but none from the upper grades. Since school just ended, let's wait a little longer."

  She took the peach-fvored soda he handed her with a natural ease. Ever since she noticed Hikaru's preference for this drink, she had started buying it herself and gradually developed a taste for it.

  "Got it."

  Hikaru sipped his chilled drink as he stood beside her in the er of the cafeteria, sing the passing crowd.

  They weren't pnning to eat here. Before leaving the , Iose had already made pns to cook di Hikaru's dorm. She even had the menu figured out.

  "He's here."

  About five or six mier, Hikaru's eyes lit up as he spotted an uppercssman stepping up to the vegetable set meal ter.

  After receiving his tray, the student walked toward the seating area.

  "Let's go, Iose."

  "Mm."

  With a serious expression, Iose quickly followed Hikaru toward the target.

  "Excuse me, senpai, you must be an uppercssman, right? I'm Iose Honami from Css 1-A, and this is my cssmate, Hashima Hikaru."

  Iose introduced herself with her usual bright and approachable demeanor. "We'd like to talk to you for a moment. Would you mind sparing us a few minutes?"

  The older student g the two of them, slightly puzzled.

  "What do you need from me?"

  "Actually, we're here to help you," Iose said with a friendly smile as she took the seat across from him. "Are you ied in earning some Private Points?"

  "Private Points?"

  At those words, the uppercssman's fiensed slightly around his spoon.

  His gaze shifted betweewo of them before he cautiously asked, "What exactly are you suggesting?"

  "It's quite simple. We'd like to purchase a copy of the midterm exam you took during your first year. We're willing to pay in Private Points."

  "..."

  "How much are you ?"

  Uanding their i, the older student's expression remained ral, but he quickly cut to the chase.

  "If the price is too low, I'm not ied."

  Standing beside them, Hikaru silently observed the exge.

  The ck of surprise in the uppercssman's rea firmed something—this wasn't an unusual request.

  If exam papers had been traded before, then the school likely turned a blio it.

  "I offer 10,000 Private Points."

  Iose, a natural at managing finances, was also skilled at bargaining. She had demonstrated this skill before—when shopping froceries with Hikaru, she had expertly iated for the best prices.

  Hikaru admired this quality in her. He even jokingly remarked ohat she would make an excellent homemaker iure.

  "No way, 10,000 is too low." The uppercssman immediately shook his head and held up three fingers. "At least 30,000."

  "That's too expensive. We 't afford that."

  Iose's expression hardened slightly. "The end of the month is approag, and I don't have many points left. If you insist on that price, we'll have to find someone else to trade with."

  "..."

  The uppercssman's eyes flickered with hesitation. He gred at the bable meal on his tray. If he weren't so low on points, he wouldn't have beeing this in the first pce.

  "…How about 25,000? That's my lowest offer."

  "No, the highest we go is 10,000." Iose shook her head again, firm iance.

  "You—"

  The uppercssmaated. Sihey had approached him, he wao push for a higher price. But before he could tinue bargaining, the quiet cssmate beside Iose suddenly moved closer and took a seat o him.

  "Iose-san, that's no way to talk to a senpai! Apologize properly!"

  Catg Hikaru's subtle signal, Iose immediately switched gears, fshing a warm smile.

  "My apologies, senpai. I was a bit impatient earlier—please don't take it the wrong way."

  After pyfully "scolding" Iose, Hikaru turned back to the uppercssman with a cheerful grin.

  "How about this? Let's meet in the middle. We'll pay 15,000 Private Points, and in addition to the midterm exam and answers, you'll also include a copy of the monthly quiz. How does that sound?"

  "This way, it's a win-win for everyone," Hikaru added with an unmistakable hint of persuasion. "Iose and I are careful with our spending, which is why we still have points left he end of the month."

  "If you reject this offer, you might struggle to find another buyer in time."

  "..."

  The uppercssman's gaze shifted betweewo of them before he finally nodded.

  "A wise choice. Let's finalize the deal."

  Seeing him relent, Hikaru smiled.

  "We'll wait here while you finish your meal. Then we go retrieve the papers."

  "We'll trahe points as soon as we firm the tents. Sound good?"

  "Fine. I'll be back soon."

  Setting down his spoon, the uppercssman stood up a in a hurry. Before leaving, he turned bad warned, "Don't go ba your word."

  "Rex, senpai. This deal bes both of us—we're not going anywhere."

  As the uppercssman disappeared from sight, Hikaru and Iose exged a gnd then broke into ughter.

  This was a strategy Hikaru had thought up during lunch.

  When it came taining, the key was managing the other party's expectations.

  Their ideal price range was below 20,000. To avoid wasting time haggling, they employed a "good cop, bad cop" routine. First, Iade a lowball offer to frustrate their target. Then, at the right moment, Hikaru presented a reasonable promise.

  In the end, no one wao turn down easy money.

  15,000 was a fair amount, and the test papers were worthless to the uppercssman anyway. Unless he found another buyer—and fast—his ce of earning anything was slim.

  "Let's wait here, then."

  Hikaru cracked open his soda and leaned back, looking toward the cafeteria entrah a rexed expression.

  Everything had gone smoothly—no ued plications.

  That made things easier.

  "Mm-hmm."

  ~~~

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