Under the bright lights of the cafeteria, Yun Lan lowered his eyes to the stainless steel reflecting along the edge of his tray, then looked up at Honami Ichinose, who was smiling brightly across from him.
How could he not see it?
From the moment she pressed her index finger to her lower lip and pretended to think; from the fleeting, far too deliberate hint of direction in her eyes as they drifted toward the group of girls; even from the fact that she had chosen to sit in this spot today, with its wide view and easy visibility—every detail unfolded clearly in his mind, as if in slow motion. The chance encounter seemed so natural that it only exposed the carefully arranged seams.
He could even picture her setting the scene: she had probably winked at her friends beforehand and said, "Please?" She would have calculated when he'd show up in the cafeteria and picked an angle where people could see them without making it look too deliberate. Honami Ichinose had never been scheming, so this little "ploy" of hers came across as clumsy and... adorable.
Yes, adorable. Yun Lan himself was taken aback when the thought surfaced. Then came a feeling of indulgence, almost helpless in its tenderness, like warm water flowing through his chest.
And then? he asked himself.
The answer came so clearly that he didn't need to think. She was his girl. What else could he do but spoil her?
Honami Ichinose was the sort of person who lived in the very heart of the sunshine. Her kindness and enthusiasm were genuine; her world was bright and open. So when she occasionally wanted to use a little harmless "trick" to clumsily stake out a small territory, like an animal curling its tail around something it liked, what choice did he have but to play along?
He could even read the unspoken message behind her little "scheme": Look, this person is very important to me. Look, we're close enough to talk alone. Look, I know you're curious, but this is my choice.
So, he might as well let her make her declaration. Yun Lan could only wear an expression that was both helpless and indulgent.
Honami had seen it all. The straw she was stirring in her drink slowed, and the sly glint in her eyes gradually melted into something softer and brighter. She understood—he had seen through her, accepted it, and was responding to her childish "claim of ownership" in a quiet, steady way.
"But," Yun Lan said suddenly, his voice calm, "next time, you can just ask me to go shopping with you."
Honami blinked.
"You don't have to arrange a 'chance encounter' in the cafeteria," he added. There was no reproach in his tone, only a gentle warmth that almost spilled over. "Just say, 'Big Brother Yun Lan, come with me this afternoon,' and I'll say yes."
The air fell silent for a moment.
Then Honami Ichinose laughed. This time, it wasn't that bright, performative smile. Her laughter welled up from her eyes, a little bashful but all the more genuine, and the faintest blush even rose to her cheeks.
"You caught me," she said softly, twirling a strand of pink hair around her finger.
"Mm," Yun Lan replied with a smile of his own. It was faint, but it finally eased the tension from his shoulders.
In the distance, the girls who had been watching seemed to sense the change in the mood. Their whispering paused, then gave way to a softer, more teasing laughter. Their gazes held a little more understanding and goodwill.
Sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows, casting bright patches across the table. Yun Lan continued eating while Honami took small sips of her drink. The invisible gazes in the air no longer felt like pressure; instead, they became a warm sort of background noise.
He knew that from today on, some things would be different. And his only thought was—
That was nice.
He'd just keep spoiling her. If this was how she wanted to show that she cared.
"Since we've finished eating, let's go back to the dorm and rest for a while!"
Honami Ichinose suggested.
"Honami, go rest in my dorm for a while. I'm guessing you won't be going back to your own dorm, right? I have a few things to take care of, so I'll head out first. Wait for me, little Honami."
Yun Lan explained leisurely.
Yun Lan did have something to take care of: earning points by challenging the clubs.
He had challenged them right after the opening ceremony. He was sure no one else at the school had moved faster. By betting against second- and third-year students, he could take their personal points and make life a little easier for himself and Honami.
"Is this the Chess Club?"
"Yes. May I ask who you are? If you're a new student hoping to join, please come back tomorrow. Tomorrow is when new students can apply to join clubs."
"No, I came here to exchange some thoughts on chess with the upperclassmen."
Beside a chessboard in the corner, a second-year boy who had been studying an endgame looked up and raised an eyebrow. That was an interesting choice of words. Not "ask for guidance," not "observe," but "exchange thoughts"—a phrase that suggested equality, even a hint of a challenge.
"Of course, there should be something at stake. How about a hundred thousand points?"
Yun Lan looked at the upperclassmen in the Chess Club.
"A hundred thousand points? Don't you need them to live, junior?"
"Sure, the school provides free daily necessities and vegetable meal sets, but that really isn't enough for most people to get by on." The upperclassmen kept trying to dissuade Yun Lan from wagering so much, out of genuine concern.
"It's fine. If I lose, I'll accept that I'm not as good as you. Besides, I have a friend who can help me handle things."
An hour later, Yun Lan left the Chess Club with 1.5 million personal points and a contract. He had paid the club 100,000 points to sign it.
The contract stated that the club members weren't allowed to spread word of what had happened there today. They had to keep it secret.
After all, Yun Lan still planned to milk the clubs for points. He couldn't let the other clubs catch on so quickly.
Chinese Chess Club.
"Upperclassmen, I'm sorry for picking on people younger than me, but I'm still grateful for your sponsorship."
Yun Lan left the Chinese Chess Club with a grin. He had been there for only half an hour. After all, he was Chinese and knew the game well.
Yun Lan's personal points had reached three million.
Next, Yun Lan went to challenge the Go Club and the Kyudo Club.
All he could say was that the upperclassmen were going to have a rough month.
Yun Lan's personal points had reached eight million.
Yun Lan checked the time. "It's getting late. I should head back. With the contracts, I don't have to worry about them telling anyone. Though I don't think they'd say anything anyway. It'd be pretty embarrassing."
Before you continue