In Classroom of the Elite, My Love Stock Market Only Wants Full Positions

It really was a case of someone offering a pillow just as I was getting sleepy; this was an excellent opportunity. He planned to first gauge the attitude of Kushida Kikyo, and if he could successfully dispel the wariness in her heart, that would be even better.

Chapter 66: The Love Brain Battle Between a Lying Man and Woman

After walking out of the dormitory in his school uniform, Hashiba Hikaru headed toward the agreed-upon location. Having spent some time exploring the school previously, he was now basically familiar with all the various landmarks on campus.

"So, is this really the way to go?"

Walking along the path, the boy conducted a final deliberation in his heart. The method he had come up with was actually quite simple: express his affection to Kushida Kikyo. It didn't necessarily have to be a formal confession; he just needed to make her feel his interest in her.

Everyone here was a teenager in high school, right at the age when romantic feelings begin to sprout. Furthermore, Kushida Kikyo herself was an incredibly beautiful girl with a fantastic figure; her plump and proud physique drew quite a lot of attention whenever she walked down the street.

Therefore, this line of reasoning made sense, but Hashiba Hikaru also recalled the information presented by the [Stock Analyzer]. This charming and pretty girl possessed an unknown side that no one else knew about.

What exactly that side was, he didn't know yet. Without establishing a sufficient level of trust, he figured he would have no chance of catching a glimpse of it.

Her attitude, and how she typically treated those who expressed their admiration for her, were all unknowns to the boy, so everything would depend on his improvisation.

Although it was troublesome, Hashiba Hikaru couldn't afford not to do it. After all, he had already bought the stock, and with the initial share price being so low, it would be a real shame to let it go.

"Whatever, let's just give it a try."

The boy cheered himself on in his heart. He reached up to press against his facial muscles, then wore a gentle smile as he walked toward his destination.

Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School was located on a very large Artificial Island, so the outermost school area was surrounded by a circle of iron fencing. This was both to ensure the campus remained fully enclosed and to prevent students from falling into the water.

Upon reaching the edge of the Artificial Island, Hashiba Hikaru immediately spotted the short-haired girl standing in front of the fence, letting the wind blow through her hair. She was gazing at the sea under the night sky, her expression quite serene.

"Kushida-san, you're really fast. I came running over without stopping the moment I got your message."

Hashiba Hikaru spoke up to greet her, taking the opportunity to express how much he valued this meeting.

"Hashiba-kun, good evening."

The short-haired girl scrutinized the boy who had appeared before her. Under the glow of the streetlights, there was indeed a thin layer of sweat on Hashiba Hikaru's handsome face, as if he had truly rushed over in a hurry.

"I'm so sorry for calling you out so late. Actually, it would have been fine if you had taken your time; I was being a bit selfish."

"Not at all," Hashiba Hikaru said with a smile, shaking his head and saying softly, "Actually, if you had anything to say, Kushida-san, you could have just said it over the phone. I would have seen it."

"If it's something very important, of course it's better to say it in person, otherwise wouldn't it be very rude?"

A look of earnestness appeared on Kushida Kikyo's pretty little face. She was thinking rapidly in her mind about how to test this guy's true intentions; she needed to weigh her words carefully.

"Hmm, that is true. Kushida-san is really quite earnest."

Hashiba Hikaru nodded, his gaze locked directly onto the girl. His brain also began to overclock, waiting for Kushida to make her move.

"Um... actually, the reason I called you out, Hashiba-kun, is that I have a question to ask you." Kushida took the initiative.

"What question?"

"It's just... does Hashiba-kun... have someone you like right now?" A flush of shyness appeared on the girl's face, and she seemed unable to look Hashiba Hikaru in the eyes. If this were anyone else, they would have probably started letting their imagination run wild by now.

Seeing her demeanor, Hashiba Hikaru's heart gave a sudden jolt, and he reacted instantly.

This girl actually thought of the same thing as me. Is she testing me?

To show such an expression while still being wary of me—what an incredible woman.

But if that's the case, this will be easy to handle. Since you've already set the trap, I'll just walk right into it for you to see.

With his thoughts racing, Hashiba Hikaru decided on his response.

He immediately said to the girl: "Is there a reason for you to ask that, Kushida-san?"

"Just consider it satisfying my curiosity, okay?" The short-haired girl blinked her beautiful large eyes, gazing intently at the boy's expression, trying to see his true attitude.

"Of course."

Hashiba Hikaru nodded to give a positive reply, then he stopped looking at Kushida and turned to cast his gaze toward the distant horizon of the sea.

"However, the situation is a bit complicated. If I were to express my feelings to her, I imagine it would cause a lot of trouble." The boy's tone carried a hint of melancholy.

"Why? If you like her, why not just say it clearly?"

Kushida hurriedly pressed him. She stared at Hashiba Hikaru's profile, as if she had sensed something, her tone becoming a bit urgent.

"Because this is no ordinary school," Hashiba Hikaru placed his hands on the railing, his tone slow. "If this were a normal high school, I would have confessed to her long ago. I might even have been able to experience what it's like to have a girlfriend."

"But it's not possible here. I already told you about the hidden rules of this school last time, Kushida-san. Don't you understand what that means?"

"Could it be that Hashiba-kun likes a student from another class?"

Kushida observed the expression on the boy's face. She believed him a little, but she didn't dare to be one hundred percent sure.

"That's right. I like a girl from another class, but in this school, her class is destined to be an opponent to my Class B," Hashiba Hikaru suddenly turned around and looked straight at Kushida Kikyo, his black eyes flashing with an incredibly earnest look.

"If we were really together, and she asked me about class strategies or important intelligence, what should I do?"

"This..."

Kushida Kikyo was momentarily at a loss for words. Of course, she understood the trouble involved in such things, which was why she didn't want to fall in love. Instead, she cultivated the image of a little angel who could maintain good relationships with everyone, which allowed her to collect class intelligence and listen in on all sorts of secrets.

"But it doesn't matter. Even if I can't be with her, just being able to stay in touch with her is enough."

Hashiba Hikaru looked at Kushida Kikyo before him with gentleness, beginning to perform his "deep affection."

"But in that case, wouldn't it be very painful for you, Hashiba-kun?" Kushida Kikyo asked, showing a look of concern as she gazed at the boy's face. "To like someone but not be able to say it out loud—why would it be like this?"

"Hahaha, that's where you're mistaken, Kushida-san."

Hashiba Hikaru watched the girl's expression, unsure if she believed his nonsense, but he continued anyway.

"Liking someone doesn't necessarily mean I have to possess them. As long as I can maintain a friendly relationship with her and earn her trust, I can support her from the shadows. That's enough for me."

"Perhaps one day, I'll change my mind and express my feelings to her boldly," the boy said with a grin, "or perhaps I'll never tell her at all!"

"Hmm... I think I understand now. You really are a gentle person, Hashiba-kun."

Kushida Kikyo nodded. As a popular girl who had been confessed to by many, she had seen this look in Hashiba Hikaru's eyes before.

But unlike those boys who stared at her with burning intensity—their eyes filled with the desire to possess her—this guy seemed different.

Kushida saw something else in his eyes.

Gentleness? A longing to stand by her side? Or perhaps a desire for long-term companionship?

Does this guy really...?

This was the last time Kushida Kikyo asked herself that in her heart, and then she asked Hashiba Hikaru one final question.

"If one day that person were to express her feelings to you, would you accept?"

"Of course."

Although he put on a look of deep affection, Hashiba Hikaru was actually very nervous inside. After all, he had never done something like this before. But the moment he thought about how this Kushida-san was a treasure stock from which he could mine a massive amount of system funds, his resolve instantly hardened.

The look of adoration he had been acting out gradually transformed into a more genuine longing during this process, though it looked no different to the observer.

"If she were truly able to like me, I would agree," the boy stared into Kushida Kikyo's eyes and said softly, "Is this what you wanted to ask me, Kushida-san?"

"Yes. The reason I asked you this, Hashiba-kun, is because a girl in our class came to me."

After confirming what she wanted to know, the weight on Kushida's heart lifted, and the smile on her lips became much more cheerful.

"Came to you? Is something the matter?"

"She seems to like you, Hashiba-kun, but she's too shy to ask you herself, so she asked me to find out if you have a girl you like."

This was, of course, a lie, but Kushida said it as if it were the truth.

"Eh? Is that so?" Hashiba Hikaru immediately put on a look of shock and said anxiously, "Then please tell her quickly—tell her that I already have someone I like."

"Mm-hmm, I will. Sorry to trouble you today, Hashiba-kun, for indulging my little whim." A truly captivating smile bloomed on the girl's face.

"It's no trouble. If you have any questions in the future, Kushida-san, feel free to ask me anytime. I'll always be here."

"Mm-hmm, then see you later, Hashiba-kun. I'm heading back now."

"Good night."

Once the slender figure of the short-haired girl had completely disappeared, Hashiba Hikaru looked at the system notification that popped up, and a satisfied smile finally appeared on his face.

[Kushida Kikyo has confirmed her suspicions. Having determined your true intentions, her doubts have dissipated. At the same time, she is now more determined to use you. Kushida Kikyo Stock price increased by 10 points. Current price: 30.]

"It worked!"

Seeing this system notification, Hashiba Hikaru felt that today's efforts were well worth it. Acting out adoration was actually quite difficult, and this girl was sharp as a tack; if he had confessed directly, it might not have dispelled her suspicions.

A mix of roundabout tactics and pure nonsense had done the trick, though it was a hassle.

"I can smoothly build a relationship with her from here on out, though it's still better to start from Horikita's side."

Having figured out the strategy for dealing with these two, Hashiba Hikaru stepped toward the dormitory. With this major headache resolved, things should be easier moving forward.

I really am something else.

Plus, I got a workout in for my acting skills, which will definitely come in handy later. Two birds with one stone.

Chapter 67: The Proactive Ichinose

Having neutralized the wariness in Kushida Kikyo's heart, Hashiba Hikaru slept exceptionally well that night. After all, she was a long-term investment, and he would surely be able to mine plenty of funds from her in the future.

When dawn broke the next day, the boy sat up in bed, full of energy. Today, he had to attend the study session organized by Class B. Ichinose had been enthusiastically organizing it in class since yesterday; leaving it to her was the perfect choice.

After finishing his daily exercise routine and taking a shower, Hashiba Hikaru walked into the Class B classroom.

"Hashiba-kun, good morning! We're in the same group."

Someone greeted him immediately—it was the athletic boy, Shibata Sou.

"Oh, has Ichinose-san finished the groupings?" Hashiba Hikaru knew that Ichinose Honami's strategy for grouping was to pair students based on their respective strengths and weaknesses to help each other fill in the gaps.

"Yes. After Ichinose-san announced the study session, everyone in our class was on board. There are eight groups in total, with five people in each," Shibata, who was well-informed about the groupings, explained to him, "You're familiar with everyone in our group, Hashiba-kun."

"?"

"Besides you and me, there's Ichinose-san, Shiranami-san, and Himeno-san."

"..."

Are you sure there wasn't some internal rigging going on?

Hashiba Hikaru couldn't help but be speechless. He turned his head to look at the pink-haired girl sitting at her desk. She seemed to notice his gaze and immediately looked over with an incredibly cute smile.

"...Fine, let's just go with it. We're all here to study anyway, so it doesn't make a difference."

The boy patted Shibata on the shoulder and returned to his own seat.

"Hashiba-kun, the study groups for our class have been decided, and this is a long-term goal," Ichinose said, pressing her palms together. It was clear she was very satisfied with this initiative. "Everyone needs to get along well with their group members from now on and study together to improve our grades."

"That sounds great, but are there any subjects you're weak in, Ichinose-san?" Hashiba Hikaru asked, feeling a bit curious.

"Hmm... I feel like I tend to mix up facts in history, and maybe Japanese as well. I'm quite confident in the others, though."

"I see. Let's work hard together from now on," the boy nodded, then added, "The school seems to have several study rooms, so everyone should be able to make use of them."

"Mhm, some students even suggested holding study sessions in the dorms. I thought that was a great idea, so I adopted it and set the group size to five people. It would be quite nice in the dorms, too."

"That works, too. After all, it would be quieter in the dorms, and we wouldn't be disturbed by others."

As student apartments built with a massive investment by the Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, the soundproofing was naturally excellent. From the start of the term until now, Hashiba Hikaru had been able to maintain a good night's sleep every single day.

Beyond the exhaustion from the day, the most important factor was that not a single sound from the neighboring rooms could penetrate the walls.

This should count as one of the most important benefits for the students; after all, getting a good night's sleep is the only way to be fully prepared for the next day's study tasks and class competition.

"Um..."

After Ichinose finished that supplementary remark, she immediately revealed her true objective.

"Could our group's first study session today be held in Hashiba-kun's room?"

"?"

Hashiba Hikaru was stunned. He hadn't expected the conversation to suddenly shift in this direction, so he quickly looked at the girl beside him and asked, "Why? Wouldn't it be better to go to a study room?"

"This was proposed by Shibata-kun. Because he has always wanted to get on good terms with you, he brought up this idea. The other two girls agreed after he persuaded them."

Ichinose knew she was lying, but she forced herself to remain calm as she explained, "Of course, I wouldn't object, so I approved the plan."

"..."

"If you feel uncomfortable, Hashiba-kun, I can tell them. I don't want to put you in a difficult position."