Archaeology Volume

Inside the Palette Cafe, warm yellow light spilled over the wooden tabletop as Uesugi Hara looked at Kushida Kikyo across from him: "You said Ayanokoji took you to find upperclassmen and bought previous years' exam papers?"

"Is there a problem?" Kushida Kikyo tapped her lips with her fingertip, her eyes filled with a touch of innocent confusion.

After the incident last time, Kushida Kikyo had initially been quite fearful and anxious, but after some time passed and she saw that neither Ayanokoji nor Uesugi Hara were making things difficult for her, the stone in her heart finally settled.

Although there was still resentment in her heart—after all, she knew of three people in the school who were aware of her secret, like a ticking time bomb with no timer, ready to explode at any moment.

But she knew she currently lacked the ability to get those three expelled; she was well aware of that much.

Since Uesugi Hara wanted information on Ayanokoji, she would give it to him.

"No." Uesugi Hara tapped his fingers on the table, and after a moment of thought, he said, "In other words, it's possible that this year's exam will be the same as one from a previous year?"

"Why would that be?" Kushida Kikyo frowned, not understanding why both Ayanokoji and Uesugi Hara were so certain.

"Probably because your Class D is about to run out of points." Uesugi Hara explained patiently, "The school wouldn't let you stay in a state of having zero points forever; that doesn't align with its goals."

"Goals? What goals could the school have?"

"Your homeroom teacher should have mentioned at the start of the month that the four classes are in competition. If you still have no points next month, will the people in your class still be willing to work hard? You know the situation in your class better than I do."

Kushida Kikyo thought of the motley crew in Class D and immediately felt a headache—how did she end up in such a class? If only she could go to Class B. She nodded: "That is true... but can those exam papers really be used?"

"Yes."

"Eh~ then do you need the exam papers? I can give them to you~" Kushida Kikyo's eyes lit up, and she changed the subject.

"Knowing the test questions is an advantage for your class; why would you tell other classes?" Uesugi Hara didn't take the bait, instead asking a question in return.

"How should I put it... Horikita Suzune wants to move up a class, and I don't want her to get her wish." Kushida Kikyo's tone deepened, and a flash of displeasure crossed her eyes.

"Did she provoke you?" Uesugi Hara recalled the previous incident and asked out of curiosity.

"That's right!" Kushida Kikyo's voice rose slightly, "I was so humble, trying to be friends with her, but she rejected me heartlessly every time and even slapped me in the face in front of so many people! Of course I won't let her have an easy time!"

"Cough, there are people here, keep it down." Uesugi Hara noticed she was about to lose it and quickly reminded her, picking up the orange juice on the table to take a sip.

"Is that all?"

"Of course not!" Kushida Kikyo lowered her voice, "She is also from our middle school, which means she also knows about my past—it's impossible for her and me to coexist."

Horikita Suzune is also from our middle school? What a coincidence. Uesugi Hara raised an eyebrow, leaving his thought unfinished, only waiting for her to continue: "So, you intend to..."

"I intend to get her expelled!" Kushida Kikyo's tone was firm.

"...Then Ayanokoji and I also know about your past; are you going to get us both expelled too?" Uesugi Hara looked at her with a half-smile.

"Hehe, that's impossible right now, I don't have that ability." Kushida Kikyo laughed with a hint of cunning.

Uesugi Hara's mouth twitched; this woman was a bit too honest for her own good.

"Aren't you going to give me a reaction?" Kushida Kikyo glared at him, dissatisfied.

"What kind of reaction?" Uesugi Hara looked confused.

"Like getting angry, or being disdainful, or mocking me, or something!"

"Is it necessary? Let's talk about it once you actually have the ability."

"Damn it, you're just looking down on me!"

"I'm not."

"You are!"

"I'm not..."

After the two traded a few barbs, Kushida Kikyo brought the topic back: "So, do you want the exam papers?"

"Send me a copy later." Free things were always worth taking.

"Fine. Then how many points do you intend to give me?"

"Wasn't it supposed to be free?" Uesugi Hara raised an eyebrow.

"Free? I can barely afford to eat, and you want it for free? You're dreaming!" Kushida Kikyo rolled her eyes.

"What, so it's not free after all. How much do you want?" Uesugi Hara calculated in his mind—it should be fine to get reimbursed by Sakayanagi later, right?

"Given our relationship, you decide. Just give me thirty or fifty thousand points, it's not expensive."

"...Twenty thousand points." Uesugi Hara tested the waters by lowballing.

"Deal." Kushida Kikyo agreed instantly.

Uesugi Hara: ...Tsk, I quoted too high again.

If you like this book, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.