Methods of Exchange for Flawed Goods

Chapter: Ayanokoji's Judgment

Lunch break at Sakurajima High School usually lasts only an hour. After eating lunch, Matsushita Chiaki and the others planned to head to the school's sports field to play, but Yuyuki excused himself, citing the need for a nap.

The girls seemed to be gradually splitting into three groups. The empress faction led by Karuizawa and Matsushita. The group more concerned about Kushida, consisting of Wang Meiyu and Inokashira Kokoro, which would likely continue to revolve around Kushida going forward. And the girls' group led by Shinohara, which resembled the Foolish Trio among the boys—a clique of girls who weren't interested in studying and tended to be arrogant.

Once labeled as part of a group, it became difficult to truly integrate into another. Unless, like Hirata, one was willing to sacrifice their own interests to maintain class stability, or like Kushida, spent a massive amount of time on socializing. People had limited energy, and Yuyuki didn't have that much time either. The best scenario was to be acknowledged by all groups while remaining detached from all of them. That way, he'd have more time for his own affairs.

The moment he stepped into the classroom, Yuyuki noticed Ayanokoji and Horikita already sitting in their seats. The two lone wolves had simple lunches laid out on their desks—more accurately, sandwiches and bread bought from the store.

"Suzune, you could afford to eat a bit more extravagantly."

"Wasting Private Points recklessly will only land you in a bind, Tenyo. If it were you, you should understand that, right?" Horikita Suzune turned her head to glance at Yuyuki, a hint of confusion in her tone. She was also puzzled—since Yuyuki had managed to dig up information about the school, he naturally ought to know the importance of Private Points. Yet, it seemed Tenyo Yuyuki's spending habits were no different from the other D Class students, even worse than Yamauchi Haruki and the like.

Tenyo Yuyuki returned to his seat and spread his hands. "Unfortunately, I'm a pure hedonist."

"I see. Then if you run into trouble, you'd better not come to me to borrow money." Horikita Suzune's reply was somewhat cold. She couldn't agree with Tenyo Yuyuki's view on money, but she had no intention of disciplining him either. She was just giving him a heads-up in advance.

Just then, Ayanokoji interjected into their conversation, asking Horikita, "Ten thousand points per month should be plenty, right? Just how high is Tenyo's spending?"

Horikita Suzune paused, her small hand holding the sandwich freezing mid-motion. Her voice was cool. "This isn't a matter of high or low spending." She paused briefly, then let out a soft sigh. "Since you're an advocate of the Avoidance Principle, just mind your own business."

"That's a bit harsh, Horikita. Saying that only makes me more uneasy."

"Forget it." Horikita Suzune turned her head to glance at Ayanokoji's expressionless face, speaking seriously. "In any case, I advise you to use your Private Points sparingly. Understand?"

"Uh, what does that mean?"

"Ayanokoji, it seems your brain really isn't up to par. You'll know the specific reason soon enough. If you don't want to end up with a miserable school life, you'd better listen to me." Leaving that remark behind, Horikita opened her small mouth and began enjoying her lunch.

Having gotten an answer he could accept, Ayanokoji didn't press further. Instead, he turned his gaze to Tenyo Yuyuki. "Speaking of which, Tenyo, did you hear the announcement just now?"

"Yeah, the one about clubs, right? It was playing in the cafeteria too." Tenyo Yuyuki nodded with a smile, then added half-jokingly, "Checking if a classmate missed the news? Thanks, Ayanokoji. I never would've guessed you were such a warm-hearted person!"

Hearing his words, Horikita stopped eating and furrowed her delicate brows, feeling a strange sensation inside. But when she heard Ayanokoji's next line, that feeling vanished instantly. Ayanokoji, as if oblivious to Horikita's gaze, kept his usual dazed expression. "Hm... well... sort of. I was wondering if Tenyo had any plans to join a club?"

"No, I don't. Why do you ask?"

"Tenyo's pretty good at photography, right? I thought you might join the Photography Club. Plus, I was hoping to find someone to go to the gymnasium with me. Going alone makes me a bit uneasy."

"I see. Sure, let's go together after school. I was actually thinking of getting to know some of the upperclassmen." Tenyo Yuyuki smiled and accepted Ayanokoji's invitation, then turned his gaze to Horikita.

"Suzune, how about we go take a look together after school?"

"Fine."

After a moment of hesitation, Horikita Suzune nodded.

The earlier announcement had already informed students interested in club activities to gather at the gymnasium at five o'clock after school.

Ayanokoji, however, felt a flicker of surprise inside.

Based on his judgment, Horikita Suzune clearly had no interest in clubs, so she shouldn't have agreed to the other's invitation so easily.

Though Horikita's heart leaned toward gentleness, without a valid reason, getting her help was quite difficult.

"I'm a little thirsty."

Yeyue stood up and looked at the two. "Would either of you like something to drink? I can bring it for you!"

"No thanks, I just bought some roasted tea."

"What are you after?"

Both Ayanokoji and Horikita declined, but Horikita was more wary, staring at Yeyue with a serious expression.

"Suzune, that's harsh. If you don't want it, fine."

Leaving those words behind, Yeyue shrugged and casually left the classroom.

After Yeyue left, the two didn't speak, though Ayanokoji's gaze occasionally drifted toward Horikita without any attempt to hide it.

Annoyed, Horikita furrowed her brow.

"Is there something else?"

"No, I just find your relationship strange. One calls the other by her first name, the other by his surname. It's a bit interesting."

"What's interesting about that?"

Horikita turned to Ayanokoji and shot back sharply, "It's just that teaching that guy manners is a very difficult task."

This caught Ayanokoji off guard.

So that meant Tenyo forcefully addressed Horikita by her first name, and their relationship wasn't as close as he'd assumed.

Then, why hadn't Horikita denied their close relationship at the convenience store yesterday?

There must be something else going on between Horikita and Tenyo.

The most likely possibility was some kind of deal between them.

Given their enrollment timing, information was the highest probability.

Then there was no need to care about it.

Ayanokoji didn't mind that either.

Moreover, Horikita slowly abandoning her own principles was a dangerous thing.

"Horikita, are you the type who can endure once you get used to it? That's surprising. What if Tenyo does something excessive to you?"

"Ayanokoji, what do you mean by that? I sense some malice."

Horikita naturally understood Ayanokoji's implication, frowning in displeasure. "Don't treat me like an ordinary girl. When that time comes, I'll use violence to make Tenyo understand the gap in strength."

It was this baseless confidence that was dangerous. What if she wasn't a match for Tenyo?

But Ayanokoji didn't care much about Horikita either, merely joking.

"Then from today on, should I call you Suzune too?"

"Ayanokoji, do you want to die?"

Horikita's gaze turned cold as she instantly pulled out a compass and aimed it at Ayanokoji.

Ayanokoji wisely backed down.

"Sorry, I was joking. Please forgive me."

"If you have nothing to do, don't bother me. Or rather, even if you do have something, you should go find someone else."

"That's exactly why I can't manage it, and end up all alone."

Though his expression didn't change, Ayanokoji's dejection was still palpable.

Horikita had no intention of dealing with him further.

Her tolerance of Yeyue calling her by her first name came not only from helplessness but also from a partial acknowledgment of Yeyue's strength.

As for others, they'd have to test whether her compass was sharp enough first.

Ayanokoji, like any ordinary high school student you'd see anywhere, silently lay face-down on his desk for a midday nap.

From the intelligence he'd gathered from Horikita, Ayanokoji could already make a preliminary judgment: Tenyo Yuyuki was probably a guy with some ability but a bit of a frivolous streak.

However, his frivolity was different from someone like Yamauchi Haruki.

Yuyuki knew how to keep things within bounds and wouldn't make others dislike him—after all, he hadn't been seen using that attitude toward Matsushita Chiaki and the others.

Add in his extremely high looks and his status as a member of the Tenyo Family, and that style of conduct might even become a plus in the eyes of certain girls.

But.

None of that mattered.

Tenyo Yuyuki seemed to have some interest in Horikita Suzune, as if he wanted to make a move on her.

But that had nothing to do with him, Ayanokoji.

If that was the case, then Tenyo Yuyuki was harmless.

Ayanokoji let his guard down slightly—but only slightly.

The shadow spreading rumors about Kushida still lingered in his mind.

Tenyo Yuyuki might be a good person.

But as long as a piece wasn't truly in his own hand, Ayanokoji trusted no one!