Mixed Doubles

"The difference between us is that back then, all you could do was protest against the school, and your past fighting even worsened Liang's public image."

"And Liang's lawyer, including the negotiations with the victim's family and the aftercare for Karuizawa Kei, were all things I asked my father to do."

"Tsk."

Ryuen Kakeru was somewhat speechless. He sullenly downed the coffee in front of him, savoring the bitterness on his lips and teeth.

"You didn't come to see me today to talk about things we already know, did you?"

Sakayanagi Arisu stared at Ryuen Kakeru's face and asked.

If it weren't for Ryuen Kakeru and Kitagawa Ryo's relationship, she would never have made time to meet with them.

"What if Karuizawa Kei transfers to Class C?"

Without beating around the bush, Ryuen Kakeru stated his purpose directly, staring at Sakayanagi Arisu's face as he spoke, paying attention to the other's emotional changes.

"Do you want to see this situation?"

"Um?"

Sakayanagi Arisu's eyes and brows were full of smiles, but she wore an expression of incomprehension:

"Paying points to transfer classes is a student's right. If Karuizawa Kei really chooses to do so, can we stop her?"

There are two options.

Although he most likely knew the other party was just teasing him, because it concerned Kitagawa Ryo, Ryuen Kakeru suppressed the anger welling up in his chest, his eyes narrowing like a cold, venomous snake.

"First, Sakayanagi, you yourself should use the points you have to get Karuizawa Kei to spin them back."

"The school only stipulates that Twenty Million Personal Points are required to transfer classes, but there is no rule against forcing others to transfer classes."

"This should be a loophole that can be exploited."

Sakayanagi Arisu listened with a smile to Ryuen Kakeru's advice:

"But doing this comes at too high a price and brings no benefit."

She suddenly clapped her hands and laughed, as if she had just thought of something:

"How about I transfer my points to your class too?"

"... Do you think I'd believe that?"

"You never know."

Ryuen Kakeru took a deep breath, shook his head, and said:

"I know that the first plan is unrealistic, because if you really want to stop Karuizawa Kei from transferring classes, you just need to shoot her during the Werewolf game that day."

"So there's a second option."

"Your Class A will provide assistance if necessary."

The venomous snake flicked its tongue:

"Make Karuizawa Kei drop out of school."

"It seems you really harbor a lot of hostility towards her."

Sakayanagi Arisu tapped the table in thought. Unlike Ryuen Kakeru, although she cared a lot about Karuizawa Kei, she also felt that the other party had considerable value to be used.

She is the key to unlocking Kitagawa Ryo's heart.

However, for now, Sakayanagi Arisu can temporarily agree to Ryuen Kakeru's request. If Karuizawa Kei really transfers to Class C, and Sakayanagi Arisu wants to get her to drop out of school, then she will inevitably have to confront Kitagawa Ryo.

This is what she's been waiting for.

I thought we could warm up beforehand with the Werewolf, but the two of them were put on the same team, which made Sakayanagi Arisu a little bored.

"I agree."

Sakayanagi Arisu, and as Ryuen Kakeru was about to get up and leave, she asked with considerable interest:

"I heard that Karuizawa Kei and Ryo are dating now?"

Ryuen Kakeru sneered, turned and left the coffee shop, leaving behind a string of sarcastic remarks:

Are you dating?

"They are indeed dating, but it's not Karuizawa Kei."

After answering the question about naming their child "Hotaru," Kitagawa Ryo and Karuizawa Kei fell silent again.

Kiryuin Fuka, unaware of the relationship between the two, naturally didn't bother to speak, focusing instead on the dessert in front of her.

"I heard a very accurate fortune teller recently came to our school, and a lot of people are talking about it."

Karuizawa Kei suddenly brought up the topic; she seemed quite interested in divination.

Of course, it's also possible that it's simply because the school doesn't have any recreational facilities.

Although the infrastructure is relatively complete, there are no amusement parks, zoos, concerts, or similar venues. At first, everyone found the closed-off management system quite novel, but after a semester, they basically figured out the layout of the school and had visited all the places they wanted to go. So it's normal for them to be enthusiastic about these new entertainment activities.

"Fortune telling?"

Matoba of a witch in black robes chanting to a crystal ball flashed through his mind, and Kitagawa Ryo nodded.

"That sounds interesting."

However, it's highly likely that they're just using some psychological techniques to say vague things to fool high school students.

Girls are supposedly more enthusiastic about this kind of thing than boys, and I've even heard of girls who insist on choosing a partner based on the relationships between zodiac signs.

"Then Liang, let's go take a look together."

Seeing that Kitagawa Ryo did not show any negative emotions towards divination, Karuizawa Kei took the initiative to invite him.

"When?"

"Hmm... The fortune-telling shop opens at 10:00 AM every morning, but because it's so popular, there's a long queue if you go at 10:00. So how about we go a little earlier?"

"9:30?"

Does this fortune-telling shop offer one-on-one consultations?

Kitagawa Ryo suddenly asked this rather strange question.

Kiryuin Fuka finally finished her shaved ice. She had been watching the conversation between the two with great interest, and at this moment she suddenly interrupted:

I went there this morning.

"It seems like it's only allowed in pairs, so there were tons of couples."

"Yeah?"

Kitagawa Ryo nodded thoughtfully, then turned around under Karuizawa Kei's gaze.

His face was undoubtedly flawless; even though the list of the most handsome guys in the grade had changed three times in one semester, he had always remained at the top.

"That doesn't seem like a good idea, sorry."

"If it's a divination, I probably won't be able to go with Hui."

"Hmm... If Ryo is busy or something comes up, it's okay if you don't have to go."

Karuizawa Kei quickly waved her hand to indicate that it didn't matter, as if being even a little slow would reveal her scheming.

"It just so happens that Kushida also invited me to karaoke tomorrow."

"Since I got over 20 million points, I have to treat my classmates to some games."

"Ha ha."

"Today I'm planning to buy two new dresses and a new swimsuit for Matsushita and Sakura. The school pool is open to students these days."

Karuizawa Kei launched into a long speech, as if trying to make her life seem even more fulfilling.

"Let's go together when we have time. Just invite me, I'm free this summer."

Karuizawa Kei said, "I didn't notice the inconsistency in the logic at all."

"I don't think I can go with Hui for this kind of one-on-two divination."

Independence means living alone without relying on others.

This means economic independence, lifestyle independence, and intellectual independence.

Karuizawa Kei has perfectly accomplished the first two points; now only the final step remains.

A few days ago, when I was talking to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, he raised an interesting point of view:

People with inner shadows are drawn to each other, then the stronger one surrounds the other, eventually becoming interdependent and achieving Symbiosis.

However, this was not the outcome Kitagawa Ryo sought.

He would much rather Karuizawa Kei step out of his shadow.

Kitagawa Ryo responded with perfect naturalness, as if introducing something completely ordinary:

"Your girlfriend will be unhappy."

"I forgot to tell you, but it really hasn't been made public yet."

"I am dating Shiina Hiyori."

Unlimited Bounty

As the title suggests, I'm offering an unlimited bounty to motivate authors who don't have to go to driving school these next couple of days.

The bounty period runs from now until the 31st, and payouts will begin in August.

The reward criteria are the same as last time; each update here is 4000 words, one chapter equals two!

4,000 recommendation votes = one update

300 monthly tickets = one update

One thousand cat cookies as a reward = one chapter

One hundred razor blades = one watch

The treasure chests are calculated according to the reward standards, meaning the silver treasure chests are owed five chapters and the gold treasure chests are owed sixteen chapters.

Chapter 56: Couples' Doubles

"... That's really not suitable."

Karuizawa Kei's voice dropped a few octaves at first, but she quickly regained her normal tone:

"But I heard that fortune teller is very accurate when it comes to matters of love. If Ryo has time, could you go see him with Hiyori?"

"Um."

Kitagawa Ryo nodded in agreement and turned back around.

Perhaps at this moment, both of them were somewhat glad that they were sitting side by side in the same row. As long as they sat upright and looked straight ahead, they would not see each other's shadows, like two parallel lines that never intersect.

"Huh? So Kitagawa, you actually have a girlfriend?"

Kiryuin Fuka broke the somewhat awkward silence, holding a cup in one hand and resting the other on the sofa, raising an eyebrow as she asked:

"In the same class?"

"Yes."

"Would you like me to teach you some dating tips?"

Kitagawa Ryo was somewhat surprised by the sudden appearance of the older female student from the Kiryuin, and he asked in surprise:

"Does that mean you have a lot of experience in this area, senior?"

"Of course not. After all, I've never been in a relationship before."

Speaking the most nonsensical words in the most confident tone, Kiryuin Fuka didn't care at all and laughed heartily.

"If the senior student had a slightly more endearing personality, she wouldn't be so short-lived as to not have a boyfriend."