Profligate Young Master

Hoshino turned his head to see Ayanokoji.

"Has anyone ever told you that you walk without making a sound? You scared the life out of me, popping up like that."

"My apologies. I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's fine. I was only startled because I felt a bit guilty."

"Is that because you've gathered five girls in your room for a date?"

"It's not a date, but a study session held to improve our grades."

"I see."

"It is my good fortune that Ayanokoji-kun is so understanding."

"At a point less than two months into the school year, Hoshino-kun is already dating five girls from the class simultaneously—or so my subconscious is trying to avoid believing."

"Ahaha, that is a very Ayanokoji-kun style of speaking."

"Hoshino-kun, if I may, there is something I'm not sure whether I should ask."

"Please, go ahead."

"Are you holding this study session because of Class D?"

"No."

The answer came in a split second, without the slightest hesitation. Hoshino narrowed his eyes, staring at Ayanokoji's expressionless face.

"I agreed simply because beautiful girls asked me to. I suppose this is what they mean by being ruled by one's lower half."

"Beautiful girls, and five of them at once. I'm quite envious."

"Don't you often spend time with Horikita-san, Ayanokoji-kun? Are you two dating?"

"Spare me. Horikita and I are just seatmates; I wouldn't even call us friends, let alone a couple."

"That means I'm free to pursue Horikita-san, then."

"Be my guest. That is your freedom."

"Will you support me as a friend, Ayanokoji-kun?"

"I'm afraid I wouldn't be of much help. Besides, you don't really need anyone's help in that department, do you?"

From beginning to end, Ayanokoji's expression remained unmoved. Hoshino chuckled softly and shifted his gaze away from him.

"Ayanokoji-kun, I've been looking for a chance to have a proper talk with you for a while now. Since today is convenient, could we step aside to speak?"

After waiting two seconds, Ayanokoji nodded. The two walked side by side in tacit agreement, arriving at the lounge area near the elevators, and sat down on a sofa.

At this hour, there was almost no one in the hallway, and even if someone were to pass by, they would be easily spotted. It was a good place for a private conversation.

After sitting down and waiting for a moment, Hoshino opened the topic.

"Ayanokoji-kun, you asked me earlier if this was about Class D or something similar. What about you? How do you view Class D?"

"Nothing in particular. All I want is to spend my high school life normally. That is enough for me."

"Normally, huh..."

Sometimes, the more extraordinary a person is, the more they yearn for such a life.

"Ayanokoji-kun, I have known since I was a child that I am not an ordinary person."

"That is a rare thing to say."

"It might sound strange, but I am merely stating a fact."

Perhaps because Hoshino's tone was completely different from his usual self, Ayanokoji cast a fleeting glance at him.

"I come from the most prominent family in the country. Given the current environment in Sakura Country, I could say that I have stood at the pinnacle of the nation since birth. I have a lifetime of wealth waiting for me to inherit without having to lift a finger."

Ayanokoji let out an "Oh." Only he could give such a flat response upon hearing a classmate say something like that.

"Hoshino Conglomerate. So you are the young master of the Hoshino Conglomerate."

In the world of capital, wealth inevitably concentrates in the hands of a very few. In Sakura Country, a handful of major conglomerates control vast amounts of wealth, holding the nation's economic lifeline and permeating every corner of society. Among them, the most powerful is the Hoshino Conglomerate.

"I didn't expect you to have heard of me."

"If one follows the news in that sector, it would be impossible not to know you."

The current head of the Hoshino Conglomerate has two sons and two daughters. Originally, only the eldest son, Hoshino Zhi, appeared in public as the heir. However, a few years ago, a piece of news suddenly circulated online: the ten-year-old young master of the Hoshino Conglomerate had participated in the conglomerate's decision-making for the first time, proposing over a dozen strategies that were all adopted, and these plans brought the conglomerate immense profit...

Not long after, the news suddenly vanished, clearly suppressed by someone. But the parts that remained in people's memories could not be erased.

"Ayanokoji-kun, I consider myself a genius. Since I was a child, whether in academics or martial arts, I have learned everything quickly. By the age of ten, I had already self-studied the entire university curriculum. At that time, my father proposed that I participate in the family business; he wanted me to be an assistant to my older brother and eventually take over the group. To be honest, I wasn't interested in any of that. In the end, we decided that he would give me 10 billion yen in capital, and if I could achieve a tenfold return within two years, he would allow me to stop worrying about the conglomerate's affairs."

"Usually, it should be the other way around—if you failed to meet the conditions, it would mean you lacked the talent and therefore couldn't participate in management... or something like that."

Ayanokoji retorted mercilessly. Hoshino smiled upon hearing this.

"That is because my talent is the real deal."

"...Why are you telling me all this?"

"Because we are the same kind of people..."

Ayanokoji was silent for a moment: "You investigated me as well."

"Not exactly. It was someone else who told me about you and the White Room."

"Hah. I see. At your level, it's only natural to be aware of the White Room's existence."

"In fact, the Hoshino Conglomerate is one of the investors in the White Room. That was my father's doing, though; even my older brother was kept in the dark. If I had known a few years earlier, I would have at least put up two billion in additional funding."

"You would choose to invest in the White Room... Do you see it as having a bright future?"

Ayanokoji let out a breath that sounded almost like a sigh.

"Who knows about something like that?"

Upon hearing Hoshino's reply, Ayanokoji shifted his gaze toward him for the first time.

"You aren't sure?"

"I originally thought a project that sounded so ridiculous could never succeed. But later, my perspective changed a little."

Hoshino smiled and pointed a finger at Ayanokoji.

"Me?"

"Yes. I used my authority as an investor from the Hoshino Conglomerate to review the White Room's operational records, and that's when I discovered you—the so-called 'Masterpiece'."

Hoshino spoke in a low voice, his eyes shimmering with excitement.

"I was truly happy when I saw your data. I knew someone like you existed. Even though we had never met, I had already come to regard you as my best friend and rival."

"That's giving me too much credit."

"Are you still going to say things like that at this point?"

Hoshino chuckled softly.

"I commissioned my older brother to meet with your father, Ayanokoji Atsuomi, and obtained all the educational curricula from him. In the year before coming to this Advanced Nurturing High School, I completed the same courses you underwent. To be honest, the curriculum was indeed brutal, and thinking that you went through and passed it at such a young age, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe."

"...You're quite impressive yourself."

Ayanokoji's expression changed for the first time. Hoshino knew that he had truly begun to look at him squarely, acknowledging him as an equal.

"But I still don't understand what your purpose is in telling me all this."

"Ayanokoji-kun, you are the most talented person I have ever met, but I don't believe you have reached your limit yet. That curriculum was the highest standard Atsuomi-san could provide, but it wasn't the absolute limit. With the financial and human resources of the Hoshino Conglomerate, I can tailor a curriculum for you with even higher standards. Don't you want to know what heights you could reach if your potential were fully excavated?"

Ayanokoji was silent for a while. Then, just as Hoshino was about to speak again, he cut him off: "I don't know about the things you're talking about."

Hoshino sighed helplessly.

"Even at a time like this, you unconsciously disrupt the rhythm of a conversation. Being raised with that kind of education really has turned you into an annoying machine."

Ayanokoji nodded earnestly in agreement: "I truly lack the talent to be likable."

"You're not bad-looking, you know. If you could just be a bit more cheerful, I'm sure you'd be very popular with the girls," Hoshino said with a grin, then added, "Also, it doesn't matter if you can't reach a conclusion now. You have three years to think it over and give me an answer. I will be waiting for your response."

"Three years..." Ayanokoji repeated under his breath, "Do I have three years?"

"I say you do, so you do."

Hoshino said with finality. Ayanokoji nodded silently. "Let me ask a question as well. What is your goal right now?"

"I can't find a goal. This school, which prides itself on meritocracy, is quite boring to me. If I had to say, observing people like you and watching your actions is at least somewhat interesting."

Hoshino answered without hesitation, as if he had expected the question.

"Hearing that directly as the person involved, it feels pretty malicious."

"Besides that, some people call me a playboy, so I intend to do things that befit a wealthy young heir in the eyes of ordinary people."

"Oh?"

"I'm going to spend a bittersweet life with beautiful girls."

"Oh... so, what is commonly known as a scumbag, then."

"Ugh, that sounds terrible when you put it that way."

Regardless, Ayanokoji had received Hoshino's answer, and he unilaterally decided to end the conversation, standing up to press the elevator button for the lobby.

"It's so late, where are you going?"

"I suddenly felt like having cup noodles."

"How extravagant."

"You're a wealthy young master from a top-tier family, yet you call cup noodles extravagant..."

"I won't hide it from you—I've been eating the free mountain vegetable set meal for a week now."

"...Is this some kind of alternative ascetic practice?"

Ayanokoji was speechless.

At that moment, the elevator arrived, and Ayanokoji stepped inside.

He turned to face Hoshino. The two stared at each other from a distance of three or four steps.

"Good night."

Ayanokoji's words vanished as the elevator doors closed.