Rewards

The office door closed behind Chabashira Sae, and the sound of her high heels gradually faded.

Kiyona looked at the empty doorway, her face expressionless and her voice cool.

"Ridiculous."

She turned toward the window. "We waited all that time just to hear her say a few pointless things?"

Hoshino Kanade glanced at her and noticed a faint emotion at the corner of her slightly pursed lips. "It really was a waste of time,"

He picked up where she left off. "Still, it wasn't a complete waste." His words carried a hint of meaning.

Kiyona's lashes fluttered, and her fingers curled silently. A faint red flush swept across the tips of her ears and disappeared.

Hoshino Kanade knew all too well how arrogant Chabashira could be, and he didn't mind the slight.

But the drawn-out lecture had unexpectedly given them time alone, seemingly hastening the thawing of the barrier between them.

When they'd walked together in the past, Kiyona had always kept her distance. The briefest brush of their fingertips had been the limit.

Now, not far from the office, the Corridor Light stretched their shadows along the quiet hallway of the Teaching Building.

Without warning, Kiyona reached out and naturally linked her arm with Hoshino Kanade's.

Her fingertips brushed his sleeve. Her ears warmed slightly, but she suppressed it at once and moved even closer.

She turned her face slightly, focusing on the intertwined shadows on the floor.

The instant she linked arms with him, Hoshino Kanade instinctively relaxed his arm, making it more comfortable for her.

He could clearly feel the cool, soft weight resting in the crook of his arm.

Her movement carried a hint of forced composure, but her averted gaze betrayed a trace of shyness.

Neither of them spoke. In tacit agreement, they kept this new closeness as they walked along Cherry Blossom Path.

Kiyona struggled to maintain her cool expression, trying to drive from her mind the memorable kiss in the tea room.

Feeling her leaning against his arm, Hoshino Kanade felt the evening sun on his shoulder and the breeze, scented with fresh grass, brush past. His ears grew warm.

Just then—

"Wait." A cool voice rang out suddenly.

Horikita Suzune stood straight at the corridor's corner, her sharp gaze fixed on them. It lingered for a moment, especially on their linked arms.

Hoshino Kanade looked at her in surprise. "Why are you still here?"

Horikita Suzune's thoughts were interrupted by his question.

She immediately recalled the implications in Chabashira Sae's words.

Or perhaps they should be called outright statements: both of them were capable people who had chosen to hide their abilities.

If she wanted to rise to Class A, having the two of them help would undoubtedly make things easier.

Although she'd had a slight disagreement with them at the start of the school year, that was irrelevant when it came to Class A.

She pressed her lips together, her gaze stubborn. Even if she'd been assigned to Class D, she would rely on her own abilities to lead it to Class A.

She reassessed Hoshino Kanade—and Ayanokoji Kina beside him. Chabashira's words confirmed that they were exceptional.

If her goal was Class A, they would undoubtedly be key allies.

After a brief silence, Horikita Suzune's gaze focused again, sharp as she looked at Hoshino Kanade.

"I need to talk to you two." Horikita Suzune's voice was clear and cold.

"You should understand what Chabashira-sensei meant." She stepped forward.

"Rising to Class A is our only goal. You shouldn't waste your talents on looking out only for yourselves."

The air briefly grew still.

Her gaze was sharp and resolute.

Hoshino Kanade felt Kiyona's arm tighten slightly around his.

He turned to look at her. Her expression was calm, but a trace of impatience flickered in her eyes.

Hoshino Kanade turned back, his warmth giving way to nothing but polite distance.

"You want to use our abilities?" His tone was even. "Horikita, you've misunderstood." He looked her in the eye.

"Rising to Class A is your goal. That's fine. But it means nothing to us."

Horikita Suzune furrowed her brow.

At that moment, Kiyona moved.

She didn't let go of his arm. Instead, she pressed even closer to Hoshino Kanade.

For the first time, she looked directly at Horikita.

"Not interested." Her voice was cool and crisp.

Feeling the pressure of her arm against his, Hoshino Kanade gave a slight nod. "Chabashira-sensei's intentions and your determination have nothing to do with us."

He glanced at Horikita. "We have our own path to follow." With that, he gave her no chance to speak again.

Standing close together, they turned in unspoken agreement and left along Cherry Blossom Path.

Horikita Suzune remained where she was, standing straight.

She watched the two figures walking away without looking back, shutting everyone else out. For the first time, a complex scrutiny surfaced in her sharp eyes.

Horikita Suzune wasn't discouraged by their rejection.

She sat alone by the classroom window, her fingers tracing the notebook filled with plans for the class.

Raising Class D to Class A is my responsibility alone, she thought.

Chabashira's hint only strengthened her belief in the value of independence.

Relying on others would only cause trouble.