Ichinose: Then I'll Have to Declare You Mine / The Ripple Effect After Going Public

"That's right."

Hashiba Hikaru replied casually, "The school's selection of those VIP is certainly not random; otherwise, wouldn't 'Thinking,' as the exam's theme, lose its meaning?"

"When did Classmate Hashiba figure out the pattern?"

"I can't tell you that, since it's a closely guarded secret within the class. I can only briefly explain how we won."

The boy shrugged and said casually to Hirata, "Anyway, you guys have gained quite a few Private Points, so you should be pretty satisfied, right?"

"... Indeed, it's all thanks to the solution proposed by Classmate Hashiba in the Dragon Group," Kushida Kikyo said softly, seeing the boy's unwillingness to divulge any information. "Otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to obtain so many Private Points."

"It's good that you know; it's a win-win situation, and no one loses out."

Hashiba Hikaru glanced at her watch, then asked, "Do you have any other questions?"

"That's all, thank you for your explanation Classmate Hashiba."

Hirata Yosuke knew that several of his classmates were not satisfied with the answer, but after all, it was their freedom to say or not, and they had no right to demand an answer from them.

"Then I'll be going now."

Hashiba Hikaru stood up, greeted the others, and then turned and left decisively.

After he disappeared from sight, Horikita Suzune, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up, "I think Classmate Hashiba must have guessed the pattern on the first day of the exam."

"And this timeframe is roughly between the end of the first discussion and the beginning of the second discussion."

"Could you share your deduction?" Hirata, looking at the black-haired girl who always maintained a cold demeanor in class.

"The message from the VIP arrived at 8:00 AM on the first day, while the first discussion was at 1:00 PM," Horikita Suzune analyzed seriously. "If Classmate Hashiba had already grasped the pattern before 1:00 PM, he wouldn't have waited until the evening to reply, since the messages we received were all received in the evening after the second discussion."

"Furthermore, Koenji answered the question within that period, so it's very likely that this incident triggered their sense of crisis."

The person who spoke next was Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who said calmly, "So they must have grasped the pattern before the second discussion, but in the end they still waited for a while."

"It's probably just to be on the safe side; after all, the consequences could be very serious if something goes wrong."

Kushida Kikyo knew Hashiba Hikaru quite well. She recalled their collaboration and, based on this analysis, it was probably after she revealed her identity to him that he immediately figured out the school's selection criteria for VIP.

"Sigh, this is the gap between us and them."

Hirata sighed, because Class C hadn't announced the identities of the VIP. Even though the exams were over, he only knew that the Dragon Group's VIP was Kushida Kikyo.

"Judging from the atmosphere in Class A, it's likely that as soon as the VIP text message was sent out at 8 o'clock, Classmate Hashiba immediately knew their class's VIP status."

Horikita Suzune thought of Hashiba Hikaru's prestige within the class and realized that it would be very easy for him to do such a thing.

After reviewing the situation in their minds, the group realized the gap between their class and Class A. Even after a semester together, Hirata still couldn't grasp the overall picture of the class.

This is the core reason why they cannot gain the upper hand: when conflicts of interest arise, the lack of trust among classmates becomes the biggest obstacle, preventing them from achieving victory.

"But at least we weren't last, so it's not a bad result," Hirata Yosuke comforted everyone. "After all, we lost fewer points than the other two classes."

"Indeed, everyone needs to work even harder to unite as classmates next semester!"

Kushida Kikyo made a cheering gesture, and a smile bloomed on her small face.

Let's cheer each other on!

Horikita Suzune looked at everyone, but her thoughts inexplicably drifted away.

[Can I really beat Classmate Hashiba? If I do, my brother will probably look at me in a new light.]

After parting ways with the rest of Class C, Hashiba Hikaru received a text message from Ichinose Honami a few steps later, asking her to meet him in a secluded spot on the second floor.

Upon arriving at the destination, feeling the midnight sea breeze, the boy saw a figure bathed in moonlight.

"Light, I'm here."

Ichinose Honami's expression was exceptionally gentle as she watched Hashiba Hikaru approach step by step, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Yes, I'm here."

Hashiba Hikaru and Ichinose Honami stood face to face, both knowing full well that there was only one thing to be resolved at this meeting: to implement the plan he had previously proposed.

Perhaps after tonight, everything will be different.

He watched Ichinose Honami's expression. He could see a lot of emotions on the girl's face, including anticipation and a hint of nervousness, but her eyes shone with an extremely serious light, as if she had made up her mind.

"So, what answer did Honami arrive at after these two days of thought?"

Hashiba Hikaru took the initiative to speak, since what the other party was about to say was very important, and he needed to be the one to initiate the conversation.

"Call..."

Ichinose Honami took a deep breath, patted her chest, and met the boy's gaze again.

"Then I'll say it."

"Um."

"Although I expressed some of my thoughts that day, whether good or bad, I didn't really take them to heart," the pink-haired girl began to recount her emotional journey, "Because when you've made up your mind about someone, all those things become irrelevant."

"Sometimes I wonder, why can't I take another step closer to the light?"

"Everyone in the first grade is talking about a rumor that Hikaru and I are dating. I really hope the rumor is true, but Hikaru's attitude is always so unpredictable."

"..."

Hashiba Hikaru didn't speak; she simply listened quietly to the other person's voice.

"So after that day I thought about it carefully. Although I didn't understand what Guang was worried about, I once read a sentence in a book."

Only by accepting each other's shortcomings can we move towards a happier future.

Ichinose Honami gazed into the boy's eyes and said in an unwavering tone, "Whatever Hikari is worried about or afraid of, I can accept it and am willing to share it with him."

"That's my answer."

Chapter 209 Ichinose: Then I'll assert my sovereignty!

In a quiet corner of the cabin, after hearing the girl's reply, Hashiba Hikaru felt her sincere and passionate emotions—genuine love without a trace of falsehood.

"What is the answer from light?"

After Ichinose Honami finished speaking, feeling her heart pounding, her face flushed slightly. After all, today was the final push, and she had to get an answer.

"My answer..."

Hashiba Hikaru gazed at the pink-haired girl standing before her, she couldn't help but recall the time when they first met.

At that time, the system had just arrived, and he was still immersed in the idea of using the system to manipulate stock prices to earn money and improve his weak physical strength. He never imagined that after a semester, he would have such a deep entanglement with Ichinose.

She is naturally a very good person. She is a gentle and considerate class leader who is generous and open-minded. She listens to everyone's opinions and takes the initiative to offer suggestions and help everyone solve their problems.

As for himself, the girl showed a unique favoritism, starting with taking the initiative to cook for him in the dormitory. It seemed that her presence had long been etched into his life and had never faded.

The young man was already familiar with the other's presence; their intimate contact and every warm embrace were undeniable expressions of affection.

Is this love?

Hashiba Hikaru mentally confirmed this one last time.

After deciding to listen to his heart, about ten seconds later, a gentle smile appeared on his lips.

"Honami, do you remember what I said before?"

Seeing the gentle expression on the boy's face, Ichinose Honami felt a surge of warmth coursing through her body, and her heart immediately began to pound wildly.

Her intuition told her so.

Victory may be just around the corner.

"Of course I remember. Hikari said that after I gave my answer, you would tell me your true thoughts." The pink-haired girl suppressed her excitement and stared intently at Hashiba Hikaru's face.

"That's right."

Seeing Ichinose Honami's slightly trembling body, the boy knew that the answer he was about to give might be the one she had been longing for.

[Let's be straightforward then. No need to hesitate; my heart already knows the answer.]

Hashiba Hikaru took a few steps forward and, without the slightest hesitation, pulled the girl into his arms. He stroked her soft back and said with a soft laugh, "The answer is... I like Honami."

"!"

Ichinose Honami's body trembled violently. Almost instinctively, she tightened her grip on the boy's waist, and clear tears slid down her cheeks. For a moment, the girl's mind was completely blank.

"That's my answer. Now it's Honami's turn to answer me."

Hashiba Hikaru gently wiped away the tears from the pink-haired girl's eyes and said with a smile, "I've already confessed, and I'm now nervously waiting for Honami's reply."

"If you refuse, I can..."

He didn't finish his sentence because his mouth was gagged.

A moist, warm touch came from where they were tightly connected. Hashiba Hikaru even tasted a hint of the saltiness of tears, but he didn't refuse. Instead, he hugged the girl's waist tighter and cooperated with her movements.

Ichinose Honami stood on tiptoe, hugging the boy tightly while her little head kept craning forward. Although she was a bit awkward, she felt incredibly happy.

It was a kiss that neither of them had any experience with, and it lasted for several minutes before it stopped.

"Call..."

When they stopped, Ichinose Honami, her face flushed, leaned against Hashiba Hikaru's chest. She felt completely exhausted; despite it not being a particularly intense activity, sweat was beading on her back.

Touching his mouth, Hashiba Hikaru smiled. Although neither he nor his partner had much experience, it didn't matter; there was plenty of time.

"Now... do you understand my answer?"

After taking several deep breaths, the pink-haired girl raised her head again, gazed into Hashiba Hikaru's eyes, and said in an incredibly sweet tone, "I like you too."

"Um."

Hashiba Hikaru looked down at Ichinose Honami's expression. The girl's originally delicate and beautiful face was now adorned with extremely vibrant colors. Her eyebrows were like crescent moons, her eyes were bright, and her cherry lips were still glistening with moisture, full and alluring.

He has already tasted it and knows what it tastes like.

"From today onwards, Hikaru and I are a couple!"

Ichinose Honami pressed her head against Hashiba Hikaru's chest again and hugged him even tighter. "You can tell me if anything happens in the future. I'll share everything with Hikaru."

"Certainly."

Holding the girl's incredibly soft body in his arms, Hashiba Hikaru saw a message pop up on his System Bar. Now that he had made his decision, he figured the price of Ichinose Honami Stock would probably skyrocket.

[You and Ichinose Honami have become a couple. The girl's heart is filled with unprecedented love. Ichinose Honami Stock Price has risen 60 points, currently at 260.]

But just then, Ichinose Honami, who was nestled in the boy's arms, looked up and said, "Um... now that Hikaru and I are a couple, shouldn't we do some things that couples do?"

"... So eager?" The boy gave a mischievous smile.

"That's not what I meant..." Ichinose Honami gently punched his chest with her small hand, blushing as she said, "I meant kissing. I'm Hikaru's girlfriend now, so of course I have to assert my ownership."

"Sure."

"Then... this time, let Guang kiss me." The girl closed her eyes again and stood on tiptoe.

"Um."

Hashiba Hikaru leaned down, getting closer to Ichinose's pretty face once more, their shadows overlapping closely in the moonlight.

However, what they didn't know was that a person was standing in the shadows not far away at the corner of the stairwell.

A small round dot was flashing on the other person's phone screen. This was a feature that allowed users to see the other person's location information after adding them as a friend. Hashiba Hikaru had never paid attention to this feature before, so when a timid and shy girl thought of giving him a surprise today, she witnessed this scene instead.

"..."

Sakura Airi leaned against the wall, clutching her phone tightly, her pretty face expressionless.

Although she said she was willing to be second in front of Hashiba Hikaru, who really doesn't care if the person they like is intimately entangled with someone else?

A few minutes later, the red-haired girl quietly turned and left.

"No matter what, I will not give up."

"The light... will definitely be mine..."

Chapter 210 The Butterfly Effect After the Official Announcement

After her relationship with Ichinose Honami changed, Hashiba Hikaru stayed with her on the deck for a long time. By the time she finally took the reluctant girl back to her room, it was almost 1 a. m.