The Bet with Sakayanagi

"If my considerations could be interpreted by you as a signal of 'showing goodwill toward the Katsuragi Faction,' then why would I do something that might cause misunderstandings?"

Kazehara Tetsu's gaze slid across her delicate face. "After all, I wouldn't want to displease my 'investor.'"

"Oh? So you're saying you rejected him for my sake?"

This conclusion seemed to please her considerably.

Kazehara Tetsu watched her expression and suddenly laughed.

"Of course. Actually, I prefer your body more."

In response to Kazehara Tetsu's frivolous remark, Sakayanagi Arisu's reaction was remarkably calm.

"Hehe... Classmate Kazehara, do you enjoy using words to mask your true thoughts that much?"

Her voice was steady. "Using such blunt, even vulgar desires as a smokescreen is indeed an effective diversion. It allows most people to focus on your frivolous surface, thereby overlooking your true intentions hidden beneath the water's surface. However, for me, this is meaningless."

She dissected his true heart precisely and mercilessly as a clever strategy.

Kazehara Tetsu slowly straightened up, leaning back against the bookshelf behind him, and let out a sigh.

"Sometimes, telling the truth is harder to believe than lying. That's quite an interesting paradox."

A hint of helplessness crept into his tone. "Classmate Sakayanagi, in your eyes, can't I just be a shallow man simply coveting your beauty?"

"A shallow man wouldn't go around calling himself shallow. What I care about is your academic ability..."

Sakayanagi Arisu instantly pulled the conversation back to her true area of interest. "When only a handful of people could solve even one or two bonus questions, you solved them all and completed them in an extremely short time. Kazehara Tetsu, you've hidden your strength in the ability of 'academic ability.' No... perhaps it's more than just 'academic ability' you've hidden."

"Chess tests logic, calculation, and psychology. Exams test the accumulation and application of knowledge. You beat me on the chessboard—I admit I lost. Now, I'm curious: in academics, who comes out on top?"

In her eyes burned a flame called "competitiveness."

Ever since Kazehara Tetsu appeared, she had for the first time developed the awareness of a "rival."

What she craved was absolute victory in a showdown with Kazehara Tetsu.

"So? Classmate Sakayanagi wants to compare scores with me in the midterm exam? But just comparing scores would be far too boring. There has to be some stakes to get people motivated, isn't that right?"

Kazehara Tetsu tossed the question back to her.

"Stakes?"

The corner of Sakayanagi Arisu's mouth lifted slightly, as if she had expected him to say that. "Of course. Since it's a duel, the wager can't be light."

Her expression turned serious.

"Let's base it on the total score of all subjects in this midterm exam. If my total is higher, Classmate Kazehara, you will become my possession. Whether it's against Katsuragi or other classes, you will act to achieve my goals."

She proposed an extremely harsh condition.

This was her true aim. She wanted to turn this uncontrollable variable into her own chess piece.

The smile on Kazehara Tetsu's face didn't fade; instead, it grew even brighter.

"Truly... a tempting proposal."

"Becoming Her Highness the Princess's exclusive knight? That doesn't sound so bad."

He stepped forward, leaning down until his line of sight was level with Sakayanagi Arisu's. The distance between them shortened once more.

"I accept your wager."

"But, Sakayanagi, a bet is a two-way street. Since there's a penalty for me losing, there should naturally be a price for you losing too, right?"

Sakayanagi Arisu met his gaze without flinching. "Naturally. If you win, I can pay you all the personal points I can control, or fulfill any request within my ability."

She offered extremely generous material and power-based compensation.

However, Kazehara Tetsu slowly shook his head.

"Points? I can earn those myself. A request? Too vague—I don't like it."

He stared at Sakayanagi Arisu's flawless face and stated his own wager.

"If my total score is higher than yours, even by just one point, then from that day on, you, Sakayanagi Arisu..."

The corner of his mouth curled into an extremely wicked smile.

"...will be my girlfriend."

No circumlocution, no probing—only the most direct declaration.

If Sakayo's wager was about controlling his "ability," then his wager was about possessing her "person."

The smile on Sakayanagi Arisu's face vanished for an instant.

She had imagined Kazehara Tetsu might propose all kinds of conditions—making her his ally, demanding a promise, or even something more outrageous.

But she never expected the word "girlfriend."

This term felt utterly out of place with the conversation they had been having.

Kazehara Tetsu had turned this duel into a man's conquest war against a woman.

The reading area fell so silent that a pin drop could be heard.

Sakayanagi Arisu did not answer immediately.

Her mind was racing, evaluating everything behind this wager.

Accept, or refuse?

From a rational standpoint, this was an extremely high-risk bet.

If she lost, what she would forfeit was her personal independence and autonomy.

On the other hand, the very fact that Kazehara Tetsu had proposed this condition exposed his "desire."

What he wanted was her, as a person.

This feeling of being coveted by a member of the opposite sex whom she acknowledged stirred an unprecedented, thrilling excitement within her.

More importantly... would she lose?

In the realm of "Academic Ability," a domain where she was supremely confident, how could she possibly lose to anyone?

This gamble, for her, was an opportunity.

Not only could she completely subdue Kazehara Tetsu, but she could also trample his arrogant, personal desire for her underfoot, making him understand who the true master was.

The Winner takes all.

She would win.

After a long pause, just as Kazehara Tetsu thought she would refuse, Sakayanagi Arisu's face bloomed with a smile once more.

That smile was more beautiful than ever before, and also more dangerous than ever before.

"A very interesting wager, Kagihara."

Her voice had regained its usual composure.

"Since you hold such strong 'expectations' for me, it would be far too unromantic of me to refuse."

She lifted her eyes, and the violet irises shimmered with light.

"Very well."

"I accept this gamble."

[Ding]

[Task: Defeat Sakayanagi Arisu in the Midterm Exam]

[Reward: 300 Points]