"Did you know, Honami, that you could transfer classes for 20 million private points?"
"...I had no idea something like that was possible."
Ichinose Honami looked astonished.
She furrowed her delicate brows.
"So does that mean the so-called 100 percent college and employment rates only apply to Class A graduates?"
"That's right."
Miyano Makoto nodded.
"Every other class is just there to make Class A look good."
He wasn't surprised that Ichinose Honami had figured that out. Otherwise, there'd be no point in spending 20 million private points to transfer classes.
"So why were you placed in Class B, Makoto?"
Ichinose Honami seemed troubled by the question.
"Maybe it's because my social skills are lacking. You're the only one who's ever been willing to spend time with me."
"So you know that, Makoto."
Ichinose Honami rolled her eyes.
Even when a beautiful girl rolled her eyes, she still looked gorgeous!
Miyano Makoto could attest to that.
"Anyway, I believe you can become our class leader, Honami. I'll support you from behind the scenes!"
"Then hurry up and transfer to Class A, Makoto."
"I'm still nearly 15 million private points short."
Miyano Makoto held out his hands, looking utterly helpless.
"I'll help you, of course. I'm going to be the woman who leads Class A!"
Ichinose Honami spoke with confidence.
"Does that mean you expect me to become the leader of Class A one day, Honami?"
"Well, if you want to..."
"I'd rather stay behind you and live off your success."
Ichinose Honami poked Miyano Makoto's cheek.
"Do you really mean that, Makoto?"
"If I can take it easy, why should I work hard?"
Miyano Makoto asked, puzzled.
"...You win."
Ichinose Honami stuck out her tongue, then changed the subject.
"Then why did you start collecting private points before school even began, Makoto?"
"Because I'm all about money. Without it, I don't feel secure."
"And then you transferred a million private points to me?"
"Because it was you, Honami. I didn't mind."
"Hmm... Fair enough. I forgive you."
"Did I do something that needed forgiving?"
"You didn't tell me the truth, Makoto."
"..."
"Let's eat first."
Miyano Makoto ended the conversation.
Ichinose Honami had terrifying instincts!
"I wish you could be a little more understanding, Honami."
At the dinner table, Miyano Makoto spoke from the heart.
"What do you mean, Makoto?"
Ichinose Honami swallowed down a generous helping of food, unhurriedly. Surely eating like that was how she'd developed such a curvaceous figure!
"I mean in every way. I feel so pressured."
Miyano Makoto furrowed his brow, but kept dutifully shoveling rice into his mouth.
"I didn't know you ever felt pressured, Makoto."
"Of course I do. I'm a perfectly normal teenage boy."
"Am I the one putting pressure on you?"
Ichinose Honami asked, her softly rounded face looking especially cute.
Miyano Makoto nodded.
"That's a problem. I don't know what I'm doing that puts pressure on you."
Ichinose Honami furrowed her lovely brows, unable to figure out what the issue was.
"Let's leave it at that for now. Next time I feel pressured, I'll tell you."
"Promise you'll tell me!"
Ichinose Honami insisted. She didn't want them to grow apart. If they did, she would surely go mad.
"If you really can change after this, I'll truly fall for you."
"So you've never liked me, Makoto? That hurts."
Hearing something she hadn't expected, Ichinose Honami put on a wounded expression. The sight of the beautiful girl with tears in her eyes stirred Miyano Makoto's protective instincts.
"That's not what I meant!"
Miyano Makoto hurried to explain. He really hadn't meant it that way.
"How could I not like you, Honami? I meant how much I like you. The degree, that's all!"
"Is that so?"
Tears spilled from Ichinose Honami's eyes. Even she hadn't realized she was so easily hurt.
Miyano Makoto took a few tissues and wiped the tears from around her eyes.
He'd actually made a beautiful girl cry. What a sinful man he was.
"If affection were measured in points, would I have reached the limit with you, Honami?"
"Yes. Please cherish me, Makoto."
"Mm."
Of course he'd cherish her. She was a treasure he deserved.
After dinner, Miyano Makoto strolled through the school at night, with no sign of Ichinose Honami beside him.
That was because he'd said this to her:
"Your constant need to be with me is putting a lot of pressure on me."
Ichinose Honami had backed off.
She decided to give Makoto enough personal space and stopped clinging to him. Besides, she had relationships with the other girls to take care of, too.
And so Miyano Makoto got his freedom.
"Clang~!"
A strange sound drifted faintly from the school building.
"..."
No way. Surely it wasn't what he thought it was?
It was only the second day of school!
Miyano Makoto entered the school building.
He didn't bother hiding his footsteps, so the sound of his shoes on the floor rang especially clearly through the silent building.
Miyano Makoto ran into someone on the third-floor stairs.
"It's already so late. May I ask what you're doing here?"
Kushida Kikyo, the legendary master of putting on two faces.
"Nothing, nothing. But why are you here, senpai?"
Kushida Kikyo tried to steer the conversation elsewhere, but Miyano Makoto had no intention of letting her.
"I heard a strange noise coming from upstairs while I was nearby, so I came to check it out."
"Also, I'm a first-year student. I don't think I could be your senpai."
Miyano Makoto told the girl what year he was really in.
"Oh, you're a first-year student. Can we be friends?"
Kushida Kikyo stood in the way Miyano Makoto would have to take to go upstairs. She didn't mention the strange noise at all, instead saying this.
"Sure. I'm Miyano Makoto, from Class 1-B. What about you?"
"Kushida Kikyo, from Class 1-D. I look forward to getting along with you."
They exchanged contact information.
"By the way, Kushida, did you hear that strange noise just now?"
"No. Maybe you just imagined it, Miyano."
Kushida Kikyo tried to play innocent. She tilted her head, wearing a thoughtful expression as if she really hadn't heard the sound Miyano Makoto had mentioned.
"I'm pretty confident in my hearing and memory, so I definitely didn't imagine it."
Miyano Makoto emphasized his abilities.
"Besides, you're standing right in my way. Is there something upstairs you don't want anyone to see?"
"You're quite the joker, Miyano. I just happened to be standing here..."
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