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Unlike Shiina Hiyori, who had a regular spawn point in the library, there was no fixed time or place where Ichinose Honami could be found, apart from her dorm and classroom.

When she went out, she usually went with her classmates.

The best way to avoid drawing attention was to ask her out to meet. That way, the time and place could be chosen freely, and the chances of being discovered were low.

There were only two people in Hoshino Kanade's contacts: Kiyona and, naturally, Class D's popular girl, Kushida.

"Kushida, do you have Class B's Ichinose Honami's contact information?" (Read)

As expected of the popular girl. She read the message in seconds. She probably kept an eye on her messages twenty-four hours a day. Was that the price of being popular?

"I do. Why does Hoshino want Ichinose's contact information?"

"Ichinose helped me at the library a couple of days ago, and I'd like to thank her."

Of course, he was making up an excuse. Given Kushida's persona, she wouldn't pry into the details.

"Got it. Don't tell anyone I gave it to you, okay? Ichinose's contact info: ..."

"That's a huge help. Thanks."

In the end, Kushida handed over Ichinose's contact information without hesitation.

Kushida wasn't really a little angel, but it was enough that she was one to him.

He added Ichinose's contact information, and she accepted his request soon afterward.

The things popular people had in common were probably that they devoted most of their time to socializing, had high emotional intelligence, kept an eye on their friends' messages, and were good-looking.

"Hello, I'm Hoshino Kanade from Class 1-D. There's something important I'd like to discuss with you privately. Would that be okay?" (Read)

This sounded a little robotic, but he'd explained things clearly. It was a good message.

"Sure."

From Hoshino Kanade's message, Ichinose could tell she wouldn't get any answers online, so she didn't ask anything.

She'd also sensed that there was something off about this school. Perhaps Hoshino Kanade could give her some answers.

Ichinose's angelic nature made her believe that no one at school would harm her. Still, she wouldn't agree to meet without taking any precautions.

"Tomorrow at 8 p.m., KTV room 206."

There was no other choice. If he suggested meeting after school tomorrow, Kiyona might cling to him, and then he'd be done for. He'd only have time to himself after dinner, once they parted ways at the elevator.

Before then, Hoshino Kanade still needed to prepare the contract.

The contract's effectiveness depended on whether both parties could maintain a balance of their own accord, so a teacher didn't necessarily need to witness it.

But if it involved transferring points, having a teacher witness it would be safer. If Ichinose wanted one, they could discuss the terms first and then ask Hoshinomiya to witness it.

Hoshinomiya had a grudge against Chabashira Sae. The odds of her exposing him were practically zero. With someone like him, who always went against his own class, how could Class D not come in last?

It was the fourth day since school started, and Class D was still letting loose.

They really wouldn't be unjustified in getting zero points next month. Hoshino Kanade felt that he and Kiyona had already cost the class a ton of points by skipping the opening ceremony on the first day.

Since they were getting zero points anyway, they might as well squander them and get more value out of that zero. He'd never felt so rich before.

The day passed uneventfully.

"See ya~"

As usual, he said goodbye to Kiyona by the elevator on the fourth floor.

Now it was time to get moving.

He returned to his room, picked up the book with the contract tucked inside, and took the elevator downstairs. Since he'd already booked a KTV room, all he had to do was wait outside while pretending to be there for another reason.

At 7:40, Ichinose arrived at the KTV alone, twenty minutes before their agreed time.

After watching the area for a few minutes to make sure no one was following her, Hoshino Kanade entered room 206.

As expected, the room's setup differed slightly from what Hoshino Kanade remembered. Ichinose had probably checked it out.

After making sure the door was shut, Hoshino Kanade turned around to face the great angel.

Her smooth, honey-gold hair fell naturally over her shoulders, its strands gleaming with a warm sheen that complemented her fair, luminous skin.

Her clear eyes shifted from gold to purple, and their outer corners drooped slightly. Though she looked somewhat wary now, she still radiated an infectious warmth.

As expected of a great angel. She really was great. Of course, the little angel wasn't small either.

"Let me introduce myself properly. I'm Hoshino Kanade from Class 1-D."

"I'm Ichinose Honami from Class 1-B. Just call me Ichinose."

It looked like he really did have something important to discuss. Ichinose let out a sigh of relief.

"I've heard people in my class mention you."

Hoshino Kanade already knew what she was going to say.

"The fastest legend among the new students: you won over a beautiful girl in your class in less than two days, then flaunted your relationship everywhere."

With a faint smile, Ichinose Honami softly recounted the school's latest legend.

"You're impressive, Hoshino."

Judging by Ichinose's genuine expression, she really did think Hoshino Kanade was impressive.

Hoshino Kanade wanted to know who'd spread such an outrageous rumor. His relationship with Kiyona was just that of ordinary friends... at most, a little more than friends.

"I'm not sure what's so impressive about that, but let's get down to business."

Ichinose sat up straight.

"Sign this first. Then we can continue."

Hoshino Kanade took out a contract.

"...Party B must keep Party A's identity document information strictly confidential... Any violation will require Party B to pay Party A ten million points."

Ichinose took the contract. At first, she only skimmed it, but in the end, she couldn't help frowning as she read it aloud.

The contract only imposed restrictions on Party B—in other words, Ichinose.

"Of course, if you're afraid I'll use it to extort you, you can record our conversation. Just make sure you keep the recording safe and don't let anyone find it."

If Ichinose signed the contract and Hoshino Kanade then went straight to the school with it to accuse her of exposing his identity, the school probably wouldn't recognize the contract as valid.

The number of points at stake was too high. There was no way a false accusation would succeed.

But if she recorded him and the leak later became common knowledge in the class, the recording might serve as evidence and could actually help make the contract valid.

In the end, the contract's validity depended entirely on whether the school recognized it. On top of that, its terms were vague, making it even harder to enforce.

Ichinose hesitated. She could clearly see all this, but she didn't know whether Hoshino Kanade had any valuable information, or whether the contract concealed a trap she hadn't spotted.

For Hoshino Kanade, the contract's main value was that it tested whether she was willing to cooperate. He'd already carefully vetted his prospective partners, so the risk of his identity being exposed was manageable.

It seemed it was time to turn up the heat.

"Only Class A gets all the benefits the school offers at graduation, such as recommendations to top universities at home or abroad, or to the company of your dreams."

The first half of his statement had already stunned Ichinose. She couldn't verify whether Hoshino Kanade was telling the truth, but she already believed him.

The conditions at this school were too good to be true. There was no way a pie that big would just fall from the sky.

It felt as unreal as when, back in middle school, Ichinose had thought she could give her little sister the hair clip she wanted for her birthday.

But the price had been getting caught stealing. Even after she begged on her knees in the most abject way and was forgiven, she still hadn't been able to give her sister the hair clip.

So what would it cost to fulfill a wish worth countless times more than that one?

"I understand."

Ichinose decisively signed her name.