Night Talk

Shortly after Ryuen Kakeru left.

Hirata Yosuke from Class D walked in, a spring-like smile on his face, and gave a polite nod to everyone in the booth.

"Sorry, did I keep you all waiting?"

Following close behind was Kushida Kikyo, a girl with short, light brown hair, her face beaming with a sweet, highly approachable smile, her hands clasped demurely in front of her.

"Not at all, Hirata-kun, Kushida-san, please have a seat." Ichinose was the first to stand, returning their smiles with equally sincere warmth, gesturing for them to sit.

The same process played out again.

Hirata Yosuke gently raised his question.

"Kitagawa-kun, this cooperation you mentioned... it can't be that simple, can it? Since it involves special information, you might as well be upfront."

He pulled out the same contract.

After a moment, Hirata Yosuke set the contract down.

"Kitagawa-kun, I understand the contents of this contract... However," he paused, his gaze meeting Kitagawa Kai's frankly, then sweeping over to Ichinose, who sat quietly nearby, "I'm sorry, but 500,000 personal points... given Class D's current situation, I'm afraid it would be difficult for us to bear."

"It's fine. You can go back and discuss it with your classmates."

"I understand," Hirata's voice carried a note of seriousness.

"We'll give it serious thought. However, Kitagawa-kun, before we bring this information back to the class, could you perhaps... give us a small hint about the... nature of this information?"

It was a reasonable request. After all, no one would buy a completely unknown product based on a contract alone.

Kushida Kikyo nodded vigorously beside him, pressing her hands together in a cute, slightly pleading gesture:

"Yeah, yeah, Kitagawa-kun! Just a tiny hint! Otherwise, we wouldn't even know how to bring it up when we get back."

Kitagawa Kai answered readily. "Fine. This information concerns the points the school will distribute next month."

"...I see." Hirata slowly let out a breath. "Thank you very much for the hint, Kitagawa-kun. I think I understand its importance now."

The weight of this information was laid bare on the table.

Just then, Kushida Kikyo flashed her signature smile. "Um... Kitagawa-kun, Ichinose-san, I know we still need to go back and discuss the points, but to make it easier to contact each other later, why don't we exchange contact info first? Is that okay?"

The request was perfectly in character for Kushida Kikyo. She didn't care about Class D at all; she only wanted to be the most popular person in the entire school.

Everyone exchanged contact information in a relaxed atmosphere.

"Well then, we won't take up any more of your time. We'll contact you as soon as we have news." With that, Hirata and Kushida left the booth, one after the other.

The door clicked softly shut, leaving only the four members of Class B inside the booth.

"Haah--! Kitagawa, we're way ahead of the other classes now, right?" Shibata Sō's tone was light, carrying the pride of a job well done. "Fifty thousand points in the bag, and Class D looks like they're on the hook too. That info was a great sell!"

Kanzaki Ryūji's steady voice cooled Shibata's enthusiasm. "Shibata, don't jump to conclusions. Class D doesn't have a clear leader; they probably can't scrape together many points anyway."

Kitagawa Kai sank deeper into the sofa, his lazy voice drifting out. "Well, we've definitely pissed off Class C now. Though, they are our direct rival anyway."

"We've accomplished something big. How about we throw a small party tonight to celebrate..." Ichinose Honami said, a bright smile on her face.

Everyone's gaze eventually landed on Kitagawa Kai, who hadn't said a word.

Kitagawa Kai: "..."

Don't @ me.

The night had grown deep, on a path by the campus.

The party had happened, and it was over now.

Kitagawa Kai and Ichinose Honami walked side-by-side on the road back to the dormitory area.

The clamor of the day had completely faded, leaving only the rustle of wind through leaves and their own light, unsynchronized footsteps.

"Kitagawa-kun," Ichinose's voice was exceptionally clear and soft in the quiet night. "You worked hard today."

Kitagawa Kai glanced sideways at her.

The girl's pink hair shimmered with a soft luster under the streetlights, her face still carrying a faint blush from the party that hadn't quite faded, but her eyes were clear.

"It's fine. This is just routine."

"Kitagawa-kun's 'routine' is really..." Ichinose said with a hint of helplessness, "...quite substantial."

"But still, being able to work together with everyone like this to make Class B better, I think that's wonderful."

"Ichinose, don't you think our class's party frequency is a little too high?"

"Does it bother you, Kitagawa-kun?"

"I'm fine." Kitagawa Kai's voice was steady, mingling with the passing night breeze.

"Class B's cohesion is indeed strong, which is good. But even in one class, there are students like Himeno Yuki who aren't so good at handling these kinds of occasions."

Ichinose Honami's steps unconsciously slowed.

She lowered her head slightly, her gaze falling on the shadow stretched out before her by the streetlight, falling into a brief silence.

"...Yeah, I know." After a moment, she spoke softly. "Himeno-san, at the shop today, even though she was in the middle of everyone, I could feel that she seemed a little out of place."

She lifted her head, looking at Kitagawa Kai, confusion in her eyes.

"I always thought that if I gathered everyone together, making things lively and bustling, we'd naturally grow closer."

"When I see someone quietly staying in a corner, I can't help but wonder if I did something wrong, if I failed to make them feel happy too."

"Ichinose, you've already done more than enough."

Kitagawa Kai explained calmly, "The atmosphere of a class can't be sustained by one person's enthusiasm alone, nor can it make everyone march in lockstep."

"Some people like the sunlight, and naturally, others need the shade. You've created a bright daytime, and the quiet of the night is also part of that day."

Ichinose Honami took two steps forward, then turned back, her eyes curving into crescents.

"Mm, you're right. I was a bit too impatient, always trying to gather everyone together, wanting them all to become friends instantly. Sometimes I forget that distance and space are necessary too."

"You've worked hard." This time, it was Kitagawa who spoke.

"Not at all." Ichinose shook her head, her tone lightening, "And with a reliable companion like Kitagawa-kun around, I feel much more at ease. Please continue to look out for me from now on."

[Ding!]

[Ichinose Honami Affection Level +2, Current Affection Level 57 (Friend)]

"Likewise."

They walked side by side into the dormitory building, the only sound the soft scuff of their shoes against the polished floor.

The elevator arrival chime rang out crisply.

The two stepped into the elevator, and Ichinose suddenly spoke.

"Actually... being able to talk like this with Kitagawa-kun, it's really wonderful. Some things, when you think about them alone, you easily end up in a dead end."

"I'm glad I could help."

The elevator let out a soft ding as it slowly stopped on the third floor.

"Well then, good night, Ichinose."

"Mm, good night, Kitagawa-kun." Ichinose stood inside the car, smiling as she waved at him.