Back in the A3 Seminar Room of the library, the atmosphere remained focused.
Kobashi Honami was helping Satou with word dictation, while Shibata chewed on the end of his pen as he racked his brains over a math problem.
Kanzaki's seat was empty. He was clearly still outside contacting Ichinose.
Toudou Shizuka suppressed the turmoil in his heart and walked over to Shibata and Satou as if nothing had happened. "Having trouble with a problem? Let's take a look together."
On the surface, he patiently explained the questions. His [Rational Analysis B-rank] and [Information Synthesis B-rank] operated efficiently, his ideas clear and fluid.
Yet half his mind remained suspended, waiting for Kanzaki and Ichinose's final decision.
300,000 Private Points... That would nearly consume more than half of the class's reserve funds! (After all, they had only recently started school and received their points, so it would still be a massive drain on the class.)
It was a heavy gamble, placed on Miyazaki Miyabi's vague claim that the "direction was correct."
Would they win? What if...
Time passed second by second. When the seminar room door was gently pushed open and Kanzaki Ryuji entered, Toudou Shizuka immediately looked up.
Kanzaki's expression was still grave, but there was now a resolute determination deep in his eyes.
Without looking at anyone else, he walked straight to Toudou Shizuka's side. His voice was extremely low, but every word was clear:
"We've decided. Buy it."
"Ichinose and I both think it's worth the gamble.
"The class's Private Points... I'll coordinate them. We'll pool the amount proportionally from the reserve funds and the Private Points of several Core Members. It won't affect the other classmates' normal lives."
Kanzaki's voice carried an unquestionable firmness. "Toudou, you'll handle the transaction.
"Make sure we get the materials, and that