A 500,000 Betrothal Gift for the Black-Hearted Mother-in-Law Ryuen

"Yo, I didn't expect to see those rotten eyes of yours twice in one day."

"How unfortunate, it's already Monday now, so that doesn't count as twice in one day."

"Don't play word games with me. Fine, let's correct it: I didn't expect to see those rotten eyes of yours twice within twenty-four hours."

It was past one in the morning, and Ryuen and I were facing off in front of a vending machine near the dorms.

Ryuen stared at me with his trademark sinister grin.

"So? I can roughly guess what you're going to say, so hurry up. And don't go calling me out in the middle of the night like this."

"It couldn't be helped. I was with Shiina until almost midnight."

That girl Shiina insisted on staying in my room until the very last moment before the date changed—23:59.

When we parted, her eyes were brimming with fragile tears, but I would never let her show that expression again.

"You're quite popular... So? You're here to talk about Hiyori, right? Like I said before, stop getting involved with her."

Ryuen spoke as if it were a matter of course, but I had no intention of backing down.

"Let me confirm this again: are you saying that unless I act as a spy, I have no right to interact with Shiina?"

"That's right."

Although Ryuen nodded, I had no desire to be a spy.

I wanted no part of a life spent looking over my shoulder in fear of being discovered.

So...

"Question: is there any other way to obtain that right besides being a spy?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

Under Ryuen's puzzled gaze, I pulled out my student ID card and said:

"Can the right for me to interact with Shiina, Sakanayanagi, and others be purchased with private points?"

Upon hearing this, Ryuen was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter: "I see! Hahaha! Interesting! I thought you might try to be a spy, but I never expected you to pull this!"

Ryuen clutched his stomach, his sinister grin twisting with amusement.

I took a deep breath and spoke again: "I recall the school rules stating that everything can be traded with points. As a student, I am purchasing the right to interact with the student Shiina from you, another student. Theoretically, there shouldn't be a problem, right?"

The only question was whether Ryuen was willing to sell.

If he said he wouldn't sell, then there was nothing I could do.

In the slightly tense atmosphere, Ryuen eyed me with a sadistic glint: "Interesting. It holds up in theory. But can a Class D student like you afford it?"

"That depends on the price. So? If you're selling, how much?"

"How about this... if you pay five hundred thousand points within a week, it's a deal. Once paid in full, I guarantee I won't interfere with Hiyori's social life anymore."

Ryuen smirked, likely assuming I couldn't afford such a sum.

But he was too naive.

"Are you sure? Just by paying five hundred thousand, I can interact with Shiina?"

Hearing my question, Ryuen looked suspicious: "You're quite confident. I don't mind taking five hundred thousand, but can you actually come up with it?"

"Of course."

I operated my student ID to display my account balance—a figure exceeding eight hundred thousand.

Ryuen's eyes widened instantly.

"Truly surprising... to be able to earn this much at this stage."

"There are countless ways to make money. So? If I pay you five hundred thousand, you won't interfere with Shiina?"

"Yeah, no problem. Tell me your account number and transfer it now, and the deal is done."

"No, we'll do it in the teachers' office tomorrow in front of a teacher. Since it involves a large transfer, I don't accept verbal agreements; I want a contract. And don't even think about scamming me or using violence; the school said on the first day that they have 'zero tolerance' for such things."

Faced with my demand, Ryuen nodded without getting angry: "That's to be expected from your position. Fine, then I'll see you at the teachers' office at 7:30 tomorrow morning."

It seemed he had no objections to my proposal.

That was a relief.

"I'm counting on you."

"Don't mention it. But paying without hesitation—you must be quite infatuated with Hiyori."

"...Not at all. We're done talking, I'm leaving."

After saying that, I turned and walked toward the dorms.

I didn't have those kinds of feelings for Shiina.

I just wanted to eliminate the reason for her tears, nothing more.

The next day...

"Excuse me."

"Come on in."

At 7:30 in the morning, Ryuen Kakeru and I walked into the teachers' office.

Although Ryuen Kakeru's attitude was hardly that of a student, I didn't pay it much mind.

"Oh my~ What a rare combination, Hikigaya Hachiman and Ryuen Kakeru~ Is there something you need?"

We were greeted by Hoshinomiya, but she was the right person to ask.

After all, she was the homeroom teacher for Class B, and her position was relatively neutral.

"Hoshinomiya-sensei, actually, Ryuen Kakeru and I would like to sign a contract involving points. Could you act as a witness for us?"

"Hmm~ Sure~ Is the contract already written up?"

"Of course, it is."

Ryuen Kakeru said as he handed a sheet of paper to Hoshinomiya.

Contract

Hikigaya Hachiman (hereinafter referred to as "Party A") and Ryuen Kakeru (hereinafter referred to as "Party B") hereby enter into the following agreement:

1. Party A shall gift 500,000 private points to Party B.

2. Upon fulfillment of the condition in Article 1, Party B and all students of Class C, excluding Shiina Hiyori (hereinafter referred to as "Party C"), are prohibited from interfering with the interpersonal relationships of Party C.

3. In the event that Article 2 is violated:

- The first violation shall require the violator to pay 50,000 private points to Party A;

- For the second violation, Party B and the violator shall each pay 100,000 private points to Party A;

- Any violation from the third instance onward shall result in expulsion.

Class D: Hikigaya Hachiman

Class C: Ryuen Kakeru

The contract was already prepared; as long as Ryuen Kakeru and I stamped it and Hoshinomiya accepted it as a witness, it would take effect.

"Mhm... Alright, the contract format is fine. It will be valid once you both stamp it. Do you two want to double-check the contents?"

We followed her instructions and re-examined the contract—

"No problem."

"No objections."

Although 500,000 points was expensive, I had no reason to refuse the payment.

"Good~ Then please go ahead and stamp it, you two."

We each pressed our seals onto the contract.

With this, as long as I transferred the points to Ryuen Kakeru, Shiina Hiyori would be able to continue living a peaceful life.

"All done! Now, Hikigaya Hachiman, go ahead and transfer the points to Ryuen Kakeru."

"Done... It's been transferred. Ryuen Kakeru, did you receive it?"

"Yeah, no problem. As agreed, Class C will no longer interfere with Hiyori's social life."

Ryuen Kakeru showed his phone screen, where the account balance clearly showed over 600,000 points, and the transfer record was clearly visible.

"The contract is officially complete~ Here are the copies, please keep them safe."

Hoshinomiya photocopied the contract and handed us the duplicates.

"Here you go~ Ryuen Kakeru, remember to keep your class in check and don't let them act out."

"I don't need you to tell me that."

Ryuen Kakeru tossed that remark over his shoulder and left the office.

His arrogant attitude was quite fitting for the style of Class C.

"I'll be taking my leave as well. Thank you for witnessing this."

"You're welcome~ It's quite common for students to ask teachers to notarize large point transactions, but... to think you'd spend so many points for Shiina Hiyori. Could it be that she's the main wife, and Sakanayanagi and Ichinose are just mistresses?"

"There is no main wife, nor are there any mistresses."

I brushed off the comment and left the office.

I didn't do this to curry favor with Shiina Hiyori, nor was it because I liked her.

It was simply because I couldn't stand the situation.

I should head back to the classroom early...

Sighing, I walked straight toward my own class.

"Class is over. Now, please focus on your studies."

Watching Class C homeroom teacher Sakagami Kazuma walk out of the classroom, Hiyori let out a soft sigh.

Although she held a book in her hands, she hadn't taken in a single word. What kept surfacing in her mind were the little moments she had shared with Hachiman and Arisu.

Watching Arisu tease Hachiman was more amusing than anything else, the sundae the three of them shared was sweeter than anything else, and the time they spent together was happier than anything else.

However, starting today, those moments for the three of them would no longer exist.

As this realization hit her, a sharp pain in her chest caused the girl to curl up in her seat.

(Haa... even though I cried so much when I parted ways with Hikigaya-kun yesterday... it seems I still can't let go.)

Just as Hiyori was about to lower her eyes after what felt like her hundredth sigh, she suddenly caught sight of the class "tyrant," Ryuen, standing at the podium.

"I'm making a sudden announcement. First, it's about Hiyori."

"...Yes."

Hiyori looked toward Ryuen with eyes red from crying, and the latter spoke with an expressionless face:

"The previous order forbidding you from interacting with Hikigaya and the others is now void. Do as you please if you want to see them."

"Eh...?"

This sentence left Hiyori completely stunned.

The other students were also plunged into collective confusion.

"Wait! Ryuen-san! Is this really okay?!"

The confidant known as Ryuen's errand boy, Ishizaki Daichi, was the first to shout out, and the rest of the class erupted into a commotion.

After all, it was common knowledge that Ryuen was dissatisfied with Hiyori's social circle, and this sudden reversal in attitude filled the classroom with shocked gasps.

"I reached a decent deal with Hikigaya. Pass the contract around and look at it carefully—especially you lot who are involved."

Ryuen tossed the document to Ishizaki.

The latter glanced at it and his eyes immediately widened:

"Five hundred thousand?! How did that guy from Class D scrape that together at a time like this?!"

"Who knows. In short, he spent five hundred thousand to buy the right to interact with Hiyori. It's as simple as that."

"!"

These words exploded in Hiyori's heart like a thunderclap.

In that moment, she instantly understood the meaning behind this transaction.

(Private points can buy anything in this school, so Hikigaya-kun did this for me...!)

Thinking this, the girl stood up abruptly and rushed out of the classroom with all her might.

Watching her sprinting figure, which they had never seen before, the students were dumbfounded.

Only Ryuen wore an amused smile:

"Heh... Hiyori's level of infatuation exceeds my expectations. But that's perfect; I'll take this opportunity to bring Hikigaya into the fold as well."