Hunter and Prey

"Did you know, Honami, that you can transfer classes for 20 million private points?"

"...I had no idea such a thing was even possible."

Ichinose Honami wore a look of astonishment.

She furrowed her delicate brows, "Then, does that mean the so-called 100% advancement and employment rate only applies to graduates of Class A?"

"That's right."

Miyano Makoto nodded, "All the other classes are just there to keep pace with Class A."

He wasn't surprised that Ichinose Honami could see through this; otherwise, the value of spending 20 million private points to transfer would be non-existent.

"Then why was Makoto assigned to Class B?"

Ichinose Honami felt troubled by this.

"Perhaps because there's a flaw in my social skills. All this time, you're the only one who has been willing to keep me company, Honami."

"So you do realize that, Makoto."

Ichinose Honami rolled her eyes.

Even when rolling her eyes, a beautiful girl still looks good!

Miyano Makoto affirmed this to himself.

"Let's not talk about that. I believe you can definitely become the leader of the class, and I will support you from behind the scenes!"

"In that case, Makoto, you should hurry up and transfer to Class A."

"There's still a gap of nearly 15 million private points."

Miyano Makoto spread his hands, his expression one of helplessness.

"Of course I'll help you too. I'm going to be the woman who leads Class A!"

Ichinose Honami spoke with confidence.

"Does that mean, Honami, that I'll be the one going to Class A to be the leader?"

"Hmm, if that's what you want, Makoto..."

"I think I'd rather just live off your success from behind the scenes."

Ichinose Honami poked Miyano Makoto's cheek, "Is that really what you think, Makoto?"

"Why work hard if I can just lie flat?"

Miyano Makoto asked back, sounding genuinely puzzled.

"...You win."

Ichinose Honami stuck out her tongue playfully, then changed the subject, "Then why did you start collecting private points even before school started, Makoto?"

"Because I'm a money-first kind of person. I don't feel secure without money."

"And then you transferred 1 million private points to me?"

"Because it's you, Honami, so it doesn't matter."

"Hmm... I suppose you're right. I forgive you."

"Did I do something that required your forgiveness, Honami?"

"Because you didn't tell me the truth, Makoto."

"..."

"Let's just eat for now."

Miyano Makoto ended the conversation.

Ichinose Honami, what a terrifying intuition!

"It would be great if you could be a bit more lenient, Honami."

At the dining table, Miyano Makoto expressed his true feelings.

"Which aspect are you referring to, Makoto?"

Ichinose Honami swallowed a generous amount of food at a leisurely pace; surely, only this kind of intake could cultivate such a voluptuous figure!

"In every aspect. I just feel like the pressure is so high."

Miyano Makoto frowned, though his mouth kept diligently consuming a large portion of rice.

"So, even you feel pressure, Makoto?"

"That goes without saying; I am a normal adolescent male, after all."

"Could it be the pressure I'm putting on you?"

Ichinose Honami asked, her face's perfectly balanced softness making her look exceptionally cute.

Miyano Makoto nodded.

"That's troublesome then. I don't even know where I'm putting pressure on Makoto."

Ichinose Honami furrowed her beautiful, delicate brows; she had no idea where the problem lay.

"Anyway, let's leave it at that for now. Next time I feel pressured, I'll be sure to tell Honami."

"You must tell me, okay!"

Ichinose Honami emphasized, not wanting to drift apart from him; if that were to happen, she would surely go insane.

"If Honami can truly change because of this, I will definitely fall for you for real."

"So Makoto hasn't liked me this whole time? How heartbreaking."

Learning this unexpected fact, Ichinose Honami put on a sorrowful expression, and the sight of the beautiful girl with teary eyes successfully stirred Miyano Makoto's protective instincts.

"That's not what I meant!"

Miyano Makoto explained, truly not meaning it that way.

"How could I not like Honami? I was talking about the degree of affection, just the degree!"

"Is that so?"

Ichinose Honami's tears had already welled up and spilled over; even she hadn't expected her own tolerance to be so low.

Miyano Makoto pulled out a few tissues to wipe the tears from around her eyes.

To make a beautiful girl cry—he really was a man burdened with heavy sins.

"If there were a favorability rating, have I already reached the limit with Honami?"

"Yes, so please cherish me well, Makoto."

"Yeah."

Of course he would cherish her; she was a treasure he deserved.

After dinner, Miyano Makoto strolled through the school at night, Ichinose Honami's figure nowhere to be seen by his side.

This was because he had said these words to her:

"The behavior of wanting to be with me every single moment makes me feel a lot of pressure."

Ichinose Honami had backed off.

She decided to give Makoto enough personal space, so she stopped clinging to him, and she also had her own relationships with other girls to manage.

Just like that, Miyano Makoto gained his freedom.

"Clang~!"

A faint, strange sound drifted from the school building.

"..."

No way, no way. Could it be what he was imagining?

It was only the second day of school!

Miyano Makoto walked into the school building.

He didn't hide his footsteps, so the sound of his shoes hitting the floor was exceptionally clear in the silent building.

Miyano Makoto ran into that person on the third-floor staircase.

"It's already so late; may I ask what this student is doing here?"

Kushida Kikyo, the legendary, top-tier two-faced girl.

"It's nothing, nothing at all. But why is a senior here?"

Kushida Kikyo tried to steer the conversation in another direction, but Miyano Makoto naturally wouldn't let her have her way.

"Because I heard strange sounds coming from upstairs while I was nearby, so I came to check it out."

"Also, I am a first-year student, so I shouldn't be your senior."

Miyano Makoto revealed his true grade to the girl.

"Oh, so you're a first-year student. Can I be friends with you?"

Kushida Kikyo stood on the path Miyano Makoto had to take to go upstairs, not mentioning the strange sound at all, and instead said this.

"I suppose that's fine. I'm Miyano Makoto, a student in Class B of the first year. And you?"

"Kushida Kikyo, I belong to Class D of the first year. I look forward to working with you in the future."

The two exchanged contact information.

"Speaking of which, did you hear a strange noise just now, Kushida-san?"

"I didn't, you know. Could it be that you misheard, Miyano-kun?"

Kushida Kikyo tried to play it off with a cute act, tilting her head and wearing a thoughtful expression, as if she truly hadn't caught the sound Miyano Makoto mentioned.

"I'm quite confident in my hearing and memory, so I definitely didn't mishear."

Miyano Makoto emphasized his own ability, "Besides, you've been standing in front of me the whole time, Kushida-san. Could it be that there's something unspeakable upstairs?"

"You really know how to joke, Miyano-kun. I just happened to be standing here..."