The next morning.
Class D's classroom.
Hirata Yosuke projected the contract onto the blackboard and began explaining what had happened.
"That's the general situation."
"Kitagawa Kai and Ichinose Honami from Class B provided us with some information, claiming it concerned the Personal Points the school will issue next month. They asked for 500,000 Personal Points and required us to sign this confidentiality contract."
The students in Class D looked at the contract, their expressions varied.
"500,000?!"
"Are you kidding me?!"
"Information about next month's points? What does that mean?"
"No way. Absolutely no way!!!"
"Please quiet down and let me finish." Hirata raised his voice slightly and pressed both hands down in an effort to keep order.
"Kushida and I have made some initial checks, and Class B does indeed have some information. Ryuen Kakeru from Class C also went there yesterday, and from what I observed, he has probably already made a deal with Class B."
"Hirata, are you saying we should spend 500,000 on some information when we don't even know what it is?" Ken Sudō, tall and hot-tempered, blurted out. "We don't have that many points! And why should we trust Class B?"
"Exactly, exactly." Yamauchi Haruki's voice of agreement came from the back row.
Kanji Ike joined in, his voice even louder. "That's right! And just because Class C bought it, why do we have to buy it too? That Ryuen guy is shady. Maybe he and Class B are in cahoots, putting on a show to lure us into a trap!"
"Come on, Ike, don't make it sound so scary..." Kushida Kikyo interjected at just the right moment, her tone gentle.
"Kikyo-chan, you're just too quick to trust people!" Seeing Kushida speak, Yamauchi Haruki immediately adopted a tone of "let me protect you," trying to draw more attention.
"Class B's people seem pretty friendly, but Ichinose and that Kitagawa guy aren't idiots. That's 500,000 points! Who knows what they're up to? Maybe they just think Class D has the fewest points right now, so we're the easiest to fool!"
Kushida Kikyo's sweet smile didn't waver in the slightest, but a startling flash of disgust passed through her eyes.
Disgusting!
Disgusting!
Why does he call me by my first name?!
Can't this piece of trash just die?!
Looks like I'll have to find some time to go up to the rooftop.
Kushida let a hint of hurt at being misunderstood show on her face at just the right moment. "Yamauchi-kun, I trust Hirata-kun's judgment, and I believe our classmates in Class B wouldn't lie about something so obvious... Besides, this is for everyone's sake..."
"Anyway, I don't have any points. I was waiting for next month's points." Karuizawa Kei impatiently cut Kushida off.
The group centered around her immediately echoed her, one after another saying they had spent all their points.
Habit was a terrifying thing, especially for students who spent money recklessly.
At Advanced Nurturing High School, where there were no restrictions, Class D's students had fallen into ruin faster than anyone else.
"All right, everyone. Kushida and I were the ones who handled this matter. We're just telling you the situation as it is. Whether to make the deal is up to all of you."
Hirata Yosuke's voice carried a trace of exhaustion, but he still tried to keep it gentle.
"Heh."
Just then, Horikita Suzune, who had been watching coldly, suddenly stood up and let out a short scoff.
"A bunch of ignorant fools. You care only about the benefits right in front of you and disregard the points you'll have in the future."
Her words lashed across many faces like a whip, and their expressions immediately darkened.
"Hey! Horikita! Who are you calling ignorant?!" Ken Sudō was the first to slam his hand on the desk and rise to his feet, his fists clenched.
"What can you accomplish by leaving the decision to this bunch?" Horikita Suzune's next words pointed the finger at Hirata Yosuke and questioned the decision-making ability of the entire class.
The last trace of color drained from Hirata Yosuke's face, and his lips pressed into a pale line. "Horikita, I'm not trying to shirk responsibility. I just hope..."
"Hope what? That people who spend 100,000 points in a single month, or people who can't see beyond their noses, will suddenly become wise?" Horikita interrupted him without holding back.
"You...!" Hirata Yosuke was at a loss for words.
"Horikita, please don't talk about Hirata-kun like that. He was doing what he thought was best for the class and wanted to respect everyone's opinions. This is all my fault and Hirata-kun's. We didn't handle things properly and ended up making everyone uncomfortable and causing an argument..."
Kushida Kikyo lowered her head slightly, looking fragile as if she were taking all the blame upon herself.
That goody-goody Hirata really couldn't make a decision about anything.
That self-important woman Horikita could see things clearly, but unfortunately, no one would listen to her.
Kushida's self-reproach instantly stirred some people's protective instincts.
"Kikyo-chan, this isn't your fault!" Yamauchi Haruki was the first to jump in.
"Yeah, Kushida, you and Hirata were just trying to help." Several boys echoed him.
"Horikita Suzune! Don't take it too far!" Karuizawa Kei stood up too, her voice openly hostile.
"What have you ever done for the class, standing here talking about Hirata-kun?"
The atmosphere in the classroom suddenly tightened.
Many people, including those who had been unhappy with Hirata's hesitation, now found themselves looking at Horikita.
That was right. What had Horikita, who was always alone and sharp-tongued, ever done for Class D?
"Enough! Stop arguing!" Hirata Yosuke finally let out a low growl, his face contorted as he panted.
His gaze swept over the class.
Horikita, sneering.
Sudō, looking unconvinced.
Yamauchi and Ike, secretly pleased with themselves.
Yukimura Teruhiko, worried.
And the many more faces, either confused or numb, before finally settling on the cold edge of the podium.
"This matter ends here. Class D will not take part in this deal."
"Any student who believes this information is crucial can contact Class B privately."
After school.
"Ayanokoji, what do you think?"
Horikita Suzune sat at her desk and asked her deskmate coldly.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was slowly putting his textbooks into his bag. At her words, he paused, looked up, and pointed at himself.
"Horikita, you're asking me? I don't know."
"Right," Horikita Suzune said quietly. "What could I possibly get out of asking you?"
"Then I'll be going, Horikita." Ayanokoji said goodbye in his usual tone, slung his bag over his shoulder, and walked out of the classroom, as if he had just finished an utterly ordinary daily task.
Horikita Suzune was the only one left in the classroom. She thought quietly.
Class D had given up the chance to obtain special information, but that didn't mean she, Horikita Suzune, had to ignore it too.
The incompetence of the group shouldn't be a reason for an individual to stand still.
Looks like I'll have to contact Kitagawa Kai.
She took a deep breath, pulled her phone out of her pocket, and typed a text message.
This is Horikita Suzune. I'm very interested in the special information your class offered.
Send.
After a brief wait, her phone vibrated.
The screen lit up, and a new-message notification appeared.
Sender: Kitagawa Kai.
The message was only a short line, but Horikita's gaze suddenly froze, and her fingers tightened slightly.
Kitagawa Kai: Suzune-chan, want to know everything? Come to my dorm room tonight. I've put it all there.