Transaction

Early April.

The season of grass growing and orioles singing.

"Yesterday's movie was so touching."

"Right, right."

"Look at my new limited-edition game console—cost me a whole eighty thousand points!"

Carefree young people were always so easily satisfied.

This was Suzuki Tsubame's second day at Advanced Nurturing. Sure enough, this whole transmigration thing still felt unreal no matter how he looked at it, Suzuki Tsubame thought to himself.

Beside him, Horikita sat upright, her whole demeanor radiating a "don't talk to me" aura, sneering at everything happening in the class.

Seeing her like this put Suzuki Tsubame at ease. If she actually went and spread the news, he'd have a headache to deal with.

Before long, the bell for class rang.

The restless students quieted down for a moment.

But... when they realized the teacher on the podium was just lecturing to himself...

Before long... notes were being passed, novels read, game consoles played.

You could practically describe it as "heroes of the realm, as numerous as carp crossing the river."

Finally, the morning classes ended.

"Whoa! That was so fun! Ike, let's go get a feast—you're treating."

Yamauchi stretched his back, which had been hunched over for nearly the whole class.

"Huh? Why do I have to treat?"

"Well, I went over my points this month, so I'll treat you next month. It's not like we don't get a hundred thousand every month—don't be so stingy."

"Fine, fine, but remember to treat me next month."

As the number of students dwindled, Suzuki Tsubame decided to make his move.

Just as he stood up, a gentle male voice called him back.

"Suzuki-kun, please wait a moment."

The newcomer was a sunny, handsome type—approachable and refined. The complete opposite of Suzuki Tsubame.

"Ah, it's Hirata-kun. What's up?"

Seeing Hirata, he wasn't surprised. He didn't dislike this mother-hen type of character.

"Oh, Suzuki-kun knows me?" Hirata Yosuke was a bit surprised. He'd thought Suzuki Tsubame would be hard to get along with, but he seemed quite mild.

"Yeah, my stomach was a bit off yesterday, so I went to the bathroom. By the time I got back, you'd all already disbanded. But I asked Horikita-san, so I have a rough idea about everyone."

Making things up on the spot was second nature to Suzuki Tsubame. After all, living in this world was all about acting.

Horikita, who was still packing her things, quickened her pace.

"Then you're alright now, right? Take good care of yourself," Hirata said with concern.

"Well, nothing serious—I just forgot to eat the day before yesterday." He waved his hand casually.

Seeing Horikita about to leave, Suzuki Tsubame immediately followed.

"Hirata-kun, I'm off now. Kano~"

Horikita's pace slowed once she left the classroom.

"Suzune-chan, were you waiting for me? I'm so touched." He walked alongside Horikita Suzune.

"If you want to live, behave yourself," Horikita warned, a compass already materializing in her hand.

"Hey! Horikita-san, are you heading to the cafeteria for lunch?"

"No. I'm going to buy ingredients and eat back in the dormitory."

In Horikita Suzune's view, the cafeteria food wasn't necessarily better than what she could make herself, and the value for money wasn't great. She might as well cook.

"Great! Then I get to enjoy Suzune's cooking again!"

"I refuse. I have no obligation to make your portion."

He knew she'd say that.

"How about this: from now on, when you cook, make a portion for me too. I'll cover all the points for the ingredients. Deal?"

Horikita Suzune thought it over carefully...

She cooked every day anyway—it was just a matter of making a little extra. To her, it was a trivial effort, and making one more serving would save points.

Plus, she could pry information out of him. One move, multiple gains. She nodded in agreement.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Suzune. I've got something to do—pack it up and bring it to the classroom to eat together later. Kano~"

With that, Suzuki Tsubame turned and left.

Leaving Horikita Suzune standing there, stunned. It seemed she'd agreed too soon...

Suzuki Tsubame left Horikita and headed to Class 1-A.

Class A was somewhat desolate at the moment, with only a silver-haired little girl sitting in the very center of the room.

"Oh my~ A distinguished guest has arrived," Sakayanagi Arisu, seated at the center of the classroom, spoke first before Suzuki Tsubame could even open his mouth.

For some reason, seeing Sakayanagi Arisu in this pose made Suzuki Tsubame inexplicably annoyed—she was completely just a brat!!

"Your Highness, please forgive This Humble One's impertinence."

"I have come on behalf of a classmate who wishes to remain anonymous, to propose a transaction!"

Suzuki Tsubame bowed respectfully, putting on a full display of deference.

"Well~ Since you're here for someone else, I'll pardon your offense."

Sakayanagi said with a smile, and Suzuki Tsubame could tell she was genuinely pleased—she seemed to really enjoy being flattered.

"Yes, Your Highness! He said he would like to invite Your Highness, along with your servants, to find a quiet place to talk after school this afternoon."

"Well, I understand. Tell him that since he doesn't dare show his face, he should stay cautious, lest he get caught in the crossfire." Sakayanagi Arisu's words seemed pointed.

"Understood!" After exchanging contact information, Suzuki Tsubame planned to return to his classroom.

Sakayanagi's appearance was like that of a little girl who loved being flattered.

Of course, how much of that was real and how much was fake was anyone's guess.

As he stepped out of Class A's classroom, he saw a purple-haired girl carrying a large pile of packaging boxes.

Her eyes were dark and fierce, making her look quite formidable.

It seemed the master thief had been caught on her first heist—what a shame. No matter how good her technique, it couldn't beat x-ray vision, and besides, Sakayanagi had probably already seen the student files; she was doomed from the start.

Shaking his head, he decided not to get involved in Kamuro Masumi's affairs for now.

After Suzuki Tsubame left.

"Hey, Sakayanagi, who was that just now?" Kamuro Masumi's aggressive demeanor didn't intimidate Sakayanagi at all.

"Oh my~ Could it be that my little puppy has fallen for Suzuki-kun at first sight?" Sakayanagi Arisu asked with a giggle.

"You—get serious!"

"Well then, since you're so interested, your next task is to keep an eye on him. I want to know what he's been doing these past few days and who he's been in contact with."

Sakayanagi was now very curious about the person behind Suzuki Tsubame.

Back in the classroom, it was just like Class A—only one person was there.

Long crimson hair covered her entire figure, and she wore a pair of large red-framed glasses, looking quite dowdy. She was currently munching on a yakisoba bread with great relish.

Sakura Airi.

A moderately famous online print model, but in reality, she was overly afraid of others' gazes.

The root cause was a strength she spent years hunched over to hide, yet could hardly conceal. In terms of ability, few could rival her.

Suzuki Tsubame decided not to approach her for now; Sakura Airi was too timid, and he needed to find the right opportunity.

He opened the system task panel.

Besides the two heroines, several long-term tasks had been added.

[Long-Term Tasks]

[Cowardly Gal: The darkness of the past oppresses the self of today—nowhere is free from bullying! Help Karuizawa Kei]

[Timid Star: Before brilliance comes boundless, terrifying phantoms! Help Sakura Airi]

[Hidden Prodigy: A girl's wisdom lies in self-preservation, unaware that brilliance invites harm! Help Matsushita Chiaki]

[Obsessed Teacher: Obsession clings like bone-gnawing maggots; the more you struggle, the deeper you sink! Help Chabashira Sae]

[Heaven-Jealoused Talent: Admire her mighty mind, pity her frail body! Help Sakayanagi Arisu]

[Imprisoned Thief: Enjoying the tightrope of freedom, loathing the silver chain of imprisonment! Help Kamuro Masumi]

Well then! In a flash, a whole bunch had popped up, and all of them were beautiful girls—this system really knows me, heh heh.

But how was he supposed to do Sakayanagi's task?

Have him research a miracle cure himself? That was beyond him. Look at those other cheaters—one month from zero to a perfect miracle cure, totally a god-tier plot.

Never mind their family backgrounds; domestic and international top-tier hospitals couldn't do it, but you succeed in one month? Ridiculous.

He'd just have to wait until the system dropped a reward someday.