Group Decision

The next morning.

Class D classroom.

Hirata Yosuke projected the contract onto the blackboard and began explaining the situation.

"That's roughly how it stands."

"Kitagawa Kai and Ichinose Honami from Class B offered us some information, claiming it relates to the individual points distributed by the school next month. Their price is 500,000 personal points, and they require us to sign this confidentiality contract."

The Class D students stared at the contract, their expressions varied.

"500,000?!"

"You've got to be kidding!"

"Relates to next month's points? What does that mean?"

"No way, absolutely no way!!!"

"Quiet down, everyone, please let me finish first." Hirata raised his voice slightly, pressing his hands downward in a calming gesture, struggling to maintain order.

"Kushida and I have done a preliminary check—Class B does seem to have some intel. Ryuen Kakeru from Class C went there yesterday too, and from what I observed, he's likely already struck a deal with Class B."

"Hirata, are you saying we have to fork over 500,000 for some info we don't even know?" Sudo Ken, tall and hot-tempered, blurted out. "We don't have that many points! And why should we trust Class B?"

"Yeah, yeah." The echo came from Yamauchi Haruki in the back row.

Ike Kanji chimed in from the side, his voice even louder: "Exactly! And why should we buy just because Class C did? That Ryuen guy's shady—maybe he's in cahoots with Class B, putting on a show to bait us!"

"Ike, don't be so alarming..." Kushida Kikyo interjected at just the right moment, her tone gentle.

"Kikyo-chan, you're too trusting!" Yamauchi Haruki, seeing Kushida speak, immediately switched to a "let me protect you" tone, trying to draw more attention.

"Class B seems friendly enough, but Ichinose and that Kitagawa aren't stupid—500,000 points! Who knows what they're really after? Maybe they see Class D as the easiest mark since we've got the fewest points!"

Kushida Kikyo's sweet smile didn't waver, but a flicker of disgust flashed in her eyes.

Disgusting!

Disgusting!

How dare he call me by my first name!

Can this trash just die already?

Guess I'll need to find time for the rooftop.

Kushida let a hint of a misunderstood expression show on her face. "Yamauchi-kun, I trust Hirata-kun's judgment, and I believe the Class B students wouldn't trick us with something so obvious... Besides, this is for everyone's sake..."

"Well, I don't have any points anyway. I'm just waiting for next month's distribution." Karuizawa Kei cut Kushida off impatiently.

Her clique immediately echoed her, claiming they'd all spent their points.

Habit is a terrifying thing, especially for those who spend freely.

In Advanced Nurturing, with no real constraints, Class D students had fallen faster than anyone.

"Alright, everyone. Kushida and I were the ones who approached this matter. We're just reporting the facts to you all. Whether to make the deal or not—the decision is yours."

Hirata Yosuke's voice carried a hint of exhaustion, but he still tried to keep it gentle.

"Heh."

Just then, Horikita Suzune, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, suddenly stood up, a short, derisive laugh escaping her throat.

"A bunch of fools. Chasing immediate gains while ignoring future points."

Her words lashed across many faces like a whip, their expressions souring instantly.

"Hey! Horikita! Who are you calling fools?!" Sudo Ken slammed his desk and stood up first, fists clenched.

"Leaving the decision to this lot—what could they possibly accomplish?" Horikita Suzune's next words aimed her barb at Hirata Yosuke, dismissing the entire class's decision-making ability.

Hirata Yosuke's face drained of its last trace of color, his lips pressed white. "Horikita, I'm not shirking responsibility. I just hoped..."

"Hoped what? That these people who blow through 100,000 points in a month, or these shortsighted ones, might suddenly become wise?" Horikita cut him off without mercy.

"You...!" Hirata Yosuke was left speechless.

"Horikita, please don't talk to Hirata-kun like that. He's only trying to do what's best for the class and respect everyone's opinions. This is all my and Hirata-kun's fault—we didn't handle it well, and now everyone's troubled and arguing..."

Kushida Kikyo lowered her head slightly, putting on a fragile act of taking the blame onto herself.

That goody-two-shoes Hirata—can't decide anything after all.

That arrogant Horikita sees it clearly, but no one will listen to her.

Kushida's self-blame instantly stirred a protective instinct in some.

"Kikyo-chan, it's not your fault!" Yamauchi Haruki was the first to jump in.

"Yeah, Kushida, you and Hirata meant well." A few boys chimed in.

"Horikita Suzune! Don't go too far!" Karuizawa Kei stood up too, her voice dripping with undisguised hostility.

"What have you ever done for this class, and you're still here badmouthing Hirata-kun?"

The atmosphere in the classroom tightened abruptly.

Many people, including those dissatisfied with Hirata's hesitation, instinctively turned their gaze toward Horikita at that moment.

Yes, this always solitary, sharp-tongued Horikita—what had she ever contributed to Class D?

"Enough! Everyone stop arguing!" Hirata Yosuke finally let out a low roar, his face twisting with fury as he gasped for breath.

His gaze swept across the entire class.

Horikita, sneering coldly.

Sudo, looking defiant.

Ike Kanji and Yamauchi, secretly smug.

Yukimura Teruhiko, anxious and worried.

And more faces—some dazed, some numb—before finally settling on the cold edge of the podium.

"This matter ends here. Class D will not participate in this transaction."

"If any student believes this information is crucial, they may contact Class B privately on their own."

After school.

"Ayanokoji, what do you think?"

Horikita Suzune sat in her seat, asking her deskmate in a frigid tone.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was slowly packing his textbooks into his bag. At her words, he paused mid-motion, looked up, and pointed at himself.

"Horikita-san, you're asking me? I don't know."

"Right," Horikita Suzune murmured, "asking you would get me nowhere."

"Well then, I'll be going now, Horikita-san." Ayanokoji said his farewell in his usual tone, slung his bag over his shoulder, and walked out of the classroom as if completing the most ordinary of daily routines.

Only Horikita Suzune remained in the classroom, quietly lost in thought.

Class D had given up the chance to obtain special information, but that didn't mean she, Horikita Suzune, had to turn a blind eye to it as well.

The collective's incompetence should not be a reason for an individual to stagnate.

It seemed she would have to contact Kitagawa Kai.

She took a deep breath, pulled out her phone from her pocket, and composed a text message.

I'm Horikita Suzune. I'm interested in the special information your class proposed.

Sent.

A brief wait. The phone vibrated.

The screen lit up, and a new message notification popped up.

Sender: Kitagawa Kai.

The content was only a single line of text, yet it made Horikita Suzune's gaze freeze instantly, her fingertips tightening slightly.

Kitagawa Kai: Suzune-chan, if you want to know all the information, come to my dorm tonight. I've left everything there.