Kushida's Affection / My Acting Is Above Yours

"..."

The smile on the short-haired girl's face froze. She had assumed that Hashiba Hikaru and Ichinose Honami were both harmless, easygoing types, but now it sounded like that was completely wrong.

Kushida, who had a wide social circle, thought for a moment. She remembered that Shibata Sou was also a student in Class B, so why would Hashiba Hikaru say something like that?

Did he have some kind of conflict with him?

The short-haired girl fell into thought. Different ideas began to swirl in her mind, making it hard for her to figure out what kind of person he was.

After several seconds, Kushida finally patted her cheeks and called out to Hashiba Hikaru from behind.

"Classmate Hashiba, I'm here."

"Hm?"

After seeing his upperclassman off, Hashiba Hikaru turned around and immediately spotted Kushida Kikyo in her casual clothes. She seemed to have put on makeup, and she looked very cute.

"Good afternoon, Classmate Kushida. That outfit really suits you."

"Thank you for the compliment, Classmate Hashiba. You look very handsome today, too."

Kushida openly complimented the boy across from her, but she kept thinking about what Hashiba Hikaru had just said. She felt she needed to reassess him completely.

"Where did you make the reservation, Classmate Kushida?"

"Come with me, Classmate Hashiba. I picked a really nice spot."

Kushida invited him inside. She was already very familiar with this family restaurant, so she knew which seats were the most popular.

"I'll leave it to you. I'm here to freeload off your meal, after all."

"Hehehe, I've been looking forward to this for a long time."

Hashiba Hikaru couldn't help glancing at the street outside. The café was on the other side of the building, and for some reason he felt inexplicably uneasy. He wondered what Ichinose Honami and Sakayanagi were talking about.

At that moment, in the café on the neighboring street, Ichinose Honami and Sakayanagi Arisu had taken their seats across from each other. A tall girl with purple hair stood beside Sakayanagi, behind her like an attendant.

"Good afternoon, Classmate Ichinose. What did you want to talk to me about today?" Sakayanagi greeted her politely, her posture elegant.

"Classmate Sakayanagi, you really get straight to the point. I thought we'd exchange a few pleasantries first."

Ichinose Honami smiled faintly. She was no stranger to socializing. She had stayed quiet during the point-collection plan earlier because Hashiba Hikaru was there, and she didn't want to interrupt the boy's train of thought.

"I have a general idea of what you want to discuss, Classmate Ichinose. Please, just say it. Let me see whether my guess is right."

"Classmate Sakayanagi really is impressive. No wonder Hashiba..."

Ichinose Honami realized she had started to mention the boy's name without thinking, so she paused and quickly rephrased. "I actually have a question I wanted to ask you, Classmate Sakayanagi."

"What is it?"

"What do you think about forming an alliance? For example, our two classes could join forces and earn more Class Evaluation Points."

"Heh. I only ever have one answer to that question."

A captivating smile appeared on Sakayanagi's doll-like face. Her tone was calm, but her words were domineering.

"I don't need allies. You either become my subordinate or my enemy. There's no third option."

"...Is that so?"

Ichinose Honami's heart lurched, but she pressed on. "But I heard that Classmate Katsuragi is currently looking for allies. Haven't the two of you reached an agreement?"

"That's nothing more than children playing house. It's typical of Classmate Katsuragi. He always wants to form a team before taking action."

Sakayanagi didn't care that she was speaking to a student from another class. She made no effort to hide her opinion of her classmate.

"You don't need to hide anything from me, Classmate Ichinose. I know Classmate Katsuragi approached your Class B with a request to form an alliance."

"..."

"If you wanted to find out my stance, I've already answered that."

Sakayanagi looked at the pink-haired girl who had fallen silent, then curled the corner of her mouth and changed the subject. "There's something I'd like to ask you, too, Classmate Ichinose. Would you answer me?"

"What is it?"

"Does Classmate Hashiba know you invited me to meet with you?"

Chapter 60: Kushida's Affection

"Does Classmate Hashiba know you invited me to meet with you?"

As soon as Sakayanagi asked, Ichinose's expression changed. She immediately remembered Hashiba Hikaru's earlier warning and replied, "I don't think that has anything to do with our meeting today, does it?"

"True."

Sakayanagi nodded slightly, then continued, "You're quite crafty, Classmate Ichinose. I just answered your question, but you don't want to tell me anything. Isn't that a little unfair?"

"I..."

Ichinose Honami found herself at a loss for words. As she wrestled with whether to answer, Sakayanagi spoke again.

"It's fine. I'm only a little curious. If you don't want to tell me, then don't."

Sakayanagi picked up the coffee in front of her and took a small sip. Her voice softened. "Since you find some questions difficult to answer, let's talk about something light instead. Nothing to do with the competition between our classes. We can just have a little girls' tea party and get to know each other better."

"After all, I'm very interested in you, Classmate Ichinose. We're both leaders of our respective classes, so I'm sure we can find plenty in common."

"Sure. I don't know what you like, Classmate Sakayanagi."

Hearing her say that, Ichinose Honami perked up. She wanted to regain the initiative. The silver-haired girl had been leading the conversation the whole time, and it had left her feeling uncomfortable.

Behind Sakayanagi, Kamuro Masumi heard her say she wanted to chat with Ichinose like girls at a tea party and gave a quiet scoff.

If the little princess were really that kind of person, why would Kamuro have become her lackey?

Honestly.

Kamuro looked at Ichinose Honami. The girl had a gentle, comforting presence and seemed like an angel adored by everyone. Unfortunately, in front of Sakayanagi, someone like her was as guileless as a child and easy to manipulate.

"I like all kinds of coffee, actually. Is there a drink you like, Classmate Ichinose?"

Sakayanagi Arisu seemed to have genuinely settled into their tea party. She reached out and held the rim of her cup, her snow-white skin seeming to blend into the white porcelain until it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began.

"A drink? I like oolong tea. There's something comforting about its flavor."

Once Sakayanagi's imposing aura faded, Ichinose's tense expression relaxed as well, and she began chatting with her.

"Oolong tea? I don't think I've ever tried it."

Sakayanagi glanced at Kamuro Masumi and asked softly, "Have you ever had it, Classmate Kamuro?"

"I have. I thought it was a little bitter."

"Really?" Sakayanagi put on a slightly disappointed expression and spoke slowly. "What a shame. I'm not fond of bitter things."

"Ha ha, Classmate Hashiba doesn't like them either. I offered him some last time, but he turned me down."

Ichinose said it almost without thinking. She felt that bringing up the boy's preferences had nothing to do with the competition between their classes.

"It's just a little quirk of mine. You don't have to think anything of it, Classmate Sakayanagi."

"Is that so?"

Sakayanagi nodded slightly, a knowing gleam flashing in her violet eyes.

Of course, Sakayanagi hadn't agreed to meet Ichinose Honami today to make a friend. She wanted information about Hashiba Hikaru.

Aside from their meeting at the start of the school year, when he'd sold the rules, Sakayanagi Arisu had also heard his name from her father. She had been curious about what kind of person he was ever since.

Class B was currently the class closest to Class A. Sakayanagi knew the pink-haired girl in front of her was its leader, but although Hashiba Hikaru wasn't the class leader, he wielded enormous influence.

The previous meeting had been a good example. He had been able to represent Class B almost entirely on his own, while Ichinose had merely assisted him.

Hashiba Hikaru was clearly so capable, yet he was content to let Ichinose lead the class. Sakayanagi hadn't understood why, but after this meeting she had begun to see things more clearly.

First, Hashiba Hikaru and Classmate Ichinose were very close. She could tell from Ichinose's tone that they had a good relationship.

Second, Ichinose Honami was easy to deal with—or, in certain respects, surprisingly guileless. That was what allowed her to unite her classmates, but it was also her most fatal flaw.

Listening to the two girls talk, Kamuro Masumi began to understand. Sakayanagi had called it a friendly tea party, but she kept finding subtle ways to pry information out of Ichinose about Classmate Hashiba.

And Ichinose had given it to her willingly. The whole process of gathering information had been surprisingly easy.

As she listened, Kamuro Masumi couldn't help remembering the scene at the start of the school year, when they had sold the rules.

What kind of person was Classmate Hashiba, to have caught Sakayanagi's attention and even prompted her to seek out information about him?

"What do you like to eat, Classmate Hashiba? Feel free to order anything." The short-haired girl handed the menu to Hashiba Hikaru, who sat across from her, her manner eager.

"Anything's fine. I'm not picky about food."

After taking the menu, Hashiba Hikaru ran his finger down the page and quickly chose what he wanted.

"Then I'll have these two."

Hashiba Hikaru picked two fairly ordinary dishes so the meal wouldn't cost too much.

"Is that enough? I heard boys have big appetites. Should we order some more?"

"No, no. I can't take too much advantage of you, Classmate Kushida. You spent fifty thousand Private Points to buy the rules last time, didn't you?" The boy smiled and asked, "How are things in your Class D? Has the class been keeping order any better?"

"Oh, that's such a headache."

After handing the menu to the server, Kushida's face showed a hint of helplessness.

"Even though everyone knows the school's Deep Rules now, some people still don't pay attention in class. They fidget or can't help falling asleep, even though Classmate Hirata keeps reminding them."

"You've been trying to keep everyone in line, haven't you? You're always thinking of others."

"It's nothing. I'll do anything to help the class." Kushida Kikyo smiled gently. With her concern for the class, she looked every bit like an angel anyone would admire.

Unfortunately, now that the boy knew she had a hidden side, that act didn't work on him. He kept thinking about how he could get closer to her.

As a social butterfly famous throughout the entire year, Kushida's name sometimes came up in Class B. If he simply tried to please her or go along with everything she said, he might end up as nothing more than a tool.

A simp, in other words.

To get closer to Kushida, he needed to focus on what she cared about. Hashiba Hikaru thought of the information from the Stock Analyzer and decided to test the waters.

"Has that Classmate Horikita I met before done anything?" The boy deliberately brought up Horikita Suzune's name, his tone tinged with curiosity. "Since she was willing to pay so many Private Points, I thought she'd be someone who worked hard for the class, just like you."

At that, Hashiba Hikaru saw Kushida's expression turn slightly awkward, though she kept smiling as she replied.

"She's all right... Classmate Horikita usually prefers to keep to herself, so she hasn't done that much."

"Really? I thought she was pretty proactive."

"I'd actually really like to be friends with Classmate Horikita, but I haven't found a good opportunity yet." Kushida clasped her hands together, looking dejected. "If she were willing to work hard for the class, she could make a much greater contribution."

Be friends with Horikita?

Hashiba Hikaru froze. Wasn't she trying to get Horikita expelled? What did she mean by wanting to be friends?

The boy couldn't make sense of her motives. But since she'd brought it up, he would start there.

"Making friends is a good thing. You're classmates, after all, and if you became friends, you could help Class D together." Hashiba Hikaru smiled and gently reassured her. "If you haven't found the right opportunity, why not create one?"

"Create an opportunity?" Kushida seemed curious, her gaze settling on Hashiba Hikaru's face.

"Exactly. Since Classmate Kushida treated me to a meal today, I feel like I should do something for you. Since you brought it up, I'll help you become friends with Classmate Horikita."

"Eh? Are you close with Classmate Horikita, Classmate Hashiba?" A smile still danced in the short-haired girl's eyes, but it seemed to hold no warmth.

Hashiba Hikaru shook his head. "Of course not. I've only met Classmate Horikita once. How could I be close to her? But I did think of a good idea."

"What idea?"

"A study group." Hashiba Hikaru said each word clearly. "It's a great way to help you and Classmate Horikita get closer."

Chapter 61: My Acting Is Above Yours

"A study group?"

Kushida Kikyo murmured the words, as if she were thinking about how to make it work.