An Appointment

Late April.

For Kitagawa Kai, the most anticipated part of each day was teasing Kamuro, reading with Hiyori, and receiving Honami's offerings.

Nearly every morning, that girl with a smile brighter than sunlight would appear before him with something in hand.

She always found reasons he couldn't refuse.

She never let him feel burdened.

"This cafeteria item today is super good, Kitagawa-kun, you have to try it!"

"A new prototype—could you help me evaluate it?"

"You look a little low on energy, so here's some sugar!"

Her kindness was a straight pitch, no detours.

Taking it, thanking her, then eating or drinking under her expectant gaze—it had become a morning ritual.

Was this really what an Affection Level of 55 looked like?

If 55 was already like this...

A more absurd thought slipped in uncontrollably.

What if the Affection Level hit 80, 90... what would that be like?

It should... be fine.

Kitagawa Kai casually accepted the cookie Ichinose handed him, letting his imagination wander for a moment.

"Thanks, Ichinose."

He could now say her surname naturally, dropping the honorific "san"—close enough to feel intimate, not so close as to be awkward.

"How is it?" Ichinose Honami rested her chin on one hand, tilting her head to look at him.

"Spot on!"

Kitagawa Kai chewed slowly, pulling out one hand to give the girl a thumbs-up, his voice sincere through the mouthful.

The pink-haired girl's face lit up with an even more energetic smile. "Kitagawa-kun, I heard you joined the Student Council and became secretary."

News traveled fast.

Kitagawa Kai nodded, swallowing the last of the cookie. "Yeah, it was finalized not long ago."

"That's amazing!" Ichinose clapped her hands lightly, her voice crisp. "But doesn't the Student Council usually recruit new members in mid-May? How did you join early?"

"I beat up that guy Horikita Manabu, and he gave me the secretary position."

Ichinose let out a "pfft" of laughter, her eyes curving into crescents. "Kitagawa-kun always says something ridiculous when he doesn't want to answer a tough question."

In this island nation, where hierarchy and seniority mattered, juniors were generally expected to show deference to their seniors—especially a third-year Student Council president.

"But," Ichinose Honami looked at him with clear eyes, her voice carrying frank admiration, "becoming secretary at this point in time—Kitagawa-kun really is impressive. I look forward to working with you in the Student Council."

"Yeah." Kitagawa Kai replied, then paused before adding, "Once you join the Student Council, I'll look out for you."

Ichinose clearly hadn't expected him to follow up with that. She blinked in surprise.

"Kitagawa-kun says it so confidently... like I'm definitely getting in."

"Of course. You're good enough."

Ichinose's lashes fluttered slightly, her smile deepening.

Kitagawa Kai smoothly changed the subject. "Free this afternoon? Like I mentioned before, it's time to negotiate the rules with Class C and Class D."

"Yeah, I'm free." She nodded, her reply light, then looked up at him as if to confirm something. "Just the two of us?"

"Uh, plus Kanzaki and Shibata. That Ryuen guy from Class C is a bit volatile."

Ichinose nodded, a look of understanding crossing her face. Class C's Ryuen Kakeru was someone who revered violence—having more people was indeed safer.

"Let's schedule two separate meetings with Class C and Class D this afternoon and get it all done at once."

"I don't really know anyone in those two classes. I'll leave the contacting to you, Ichinose."

"I'll do my best."

Ichinose replied with a gentle firmness.

Afternoon.

Palette.

In the end, they settled on meeting here—it had more style, and they weren't exactly short on points.

Kitagawa Kai's group (himself, Kanzaki, Shibata, and Ichinose) walked into the café chatting and laughing, choosing a private booth inside.

Kitagawa Kai sat first in the seat closest to the wall, and Ichinose naturally took the spot beside him, while Kanzaki and Shibata sat across.

"Let's order drinks first," Kitagawa Kai said, sliding the menu toward the opposite side as he leaned back into the sofa. "I'll have a latte."

Ichinose leaned in slightly to look at the menu. "I'll have the same, then."

Kanzaki calmly adjusted his glasses, and Shibata grinned, each ordering their drinks.

Not long after the drinks were served, the light at the entrance of the booth dimmed.

The door to the private room slid open.

The first to step in was Ryuen Kakeru from Class C.

He had long red hair, a towering build, his school jacket hanging loosely open, an arrogant expression on his face. His gaze first landed on Ichinose Honami, then swept over everyone else with equal weight.

Behind him followed Ishizaki Daichi and Yamada Albert.

Kitagawa Kai set down his cup, tapped a finger on the seat, and spoke with a smile: "I'm Kitagawa Kai from Class B. Please, have a seat."

But Ryuen Kakeru didn't move.

His crimson eyes locked onto Kitagawa Kai, his lips curling into a nearly savage grin, his voice dripping with undisguised mockery and impatience:

"What's your deal? Ichinose asked us here—" He deliberately dragged out his tone, his gaze scraping across Ichinose's face before fixing back on Kitagawa Kai. "Who gave you the right to speak?"

The air in the booth suddenly grew heavy.

Ichinose Honami lifted her head, her gentle smile unchanged, her lips parting as if she was about to speak.

But Kitagawa Kai spoke first.

"I was the one who had her invite you. So the words naturally come from me."

"Our class has uncovered some special information about the school. I invited Ryuen and Hirata here today to discuss the possibility of cooperation."

"Hmph." Ryuen let out a snort from his nose, throwing himself back heavily into the sofa, his eyes flashing with undisguised suspicion.

"Special information? Sounds nice. Since when did Class B get so generous? Well, Ichinose might be possible, I guess."

The barbed words dropped the temperature in the booth another notch.

Kitagawa Kai's expression didn't change, as if he hadn't heard Ryuen's taunt. Unhurriedly, he pulled out a pre-prepared Contract and slid it gently across the table to Ryuen.

"Whether it's generosity or worth hearing," he raised his eyes, meeting Ryuen's provocative stare with calm composure, "Ryuen, why don't you take a look at this first, and then make your judgment."

Ryuen sneered, grabbing the few pages carelessly. When his eyes landed on a certain line of numbers, he slapped the Contract back onto the table with a crack.

"You kidding me?! What kind of special information costs 500,000 personal points? Kitagawa, do you take us Class C for fools?"

"If Class A heard that, they'd be laughing their heads off."

"Ryuen, you're no idiot. You should've guessed by now that the monthly point distribution isn't 100,000."

Kitagawa Kai said no more, tossing the pressure of choice back to Ryuen.

Ryuen Kakeru's fingers tapped against his knee, the rhythm slowing until it stopped entirely. He stared at Kitagawa Kai, then glanced at the Contract on the table, his mind racing wildly.

Finally, he let out a grunt from his nose, breaking the silence, his tone still harsh:

"Your information had better be worth it."

Ryuen Kakeru walked out of the café with a dark expression.

The evening wind carried a chill that hit him head-on, but it couldn't dispel the brooding malice knotted between his brows.

Ishizaki Daichi and Yamada Albert followed silently half a step behind, keenly sensing the oppressive low pressure radiating from ahead.

It was almost May.

He had paid a full 500,000 personal points for special information that was only valuable for a little over a week.

Once May arrived, the value of this information would plummet sharply, possibly even become common knowledge.

He'd been played.

Looked like he'd have to go back and squeeze his classmates.