The Maiden's Choice

8:00 PM.

Room 308.

The air carried a faint, clean scent, mingled with an indescribable tension.

Kitagawa Kai sat on the chair by the desk, looking at the wary girl before him. "Suzune-chan, is it really that serious? It's not like I'm going to eat you."

Late at night, a lone man and a lone woman, sharing a room.

Any girl would be nervous, right?

The girl couldn't be bothered to correct his address and cut straight to the chase.

"Let's be direct. What are your conditions?"

"Conditions?" Kitagawa Kai repeated, leaning forward slightly.

"Suzune-chan, isn't it clearly stated in that contract? 500,000 points, flat rate."

"You're as mercenary as ever."

In her eyes, this guy would do anything for points.

"Don't say that," Kitagawa Kai drawled, his tone even carrying a hint of grievance. "I'm actually... not interested in points."

As he spoke, he swiped his finger across his terminal screen a few times, then turned the display toward Horikita Suzune.

Just one glance.

But that one glance was enough to make Horikita Suzune's icy blue eyes, always maintaining a cold composure, widen in shock!

On the screen, in the personal points balance column, the number was clearly displayed:

3,368,000

A full three million three hundred sixty thousand points.

Over 3.3 million.

This was beyond the realm of being wealthy.

This number even nearly surpassed the total points of an entire class.

A deathly silence fell over the room.

Only the faint glow of the terminal screen illuminated two faces.

One wore a slight smile, the other, shock.

Kitagawa Kai savored the vivid shift in her expression as he slowly withdrew the terminal.

"So, Suzune-chan, what were you trying to say?"

"I still stand by my judgment."

Horikita Suzune forced herself to stay calm. "I've already figured out part of the core, so your information isn't worth 500,000 to me anymore."

"It seems Suzune has been observing this school carefully too. But this information is worth exactly that price. It's the same for every class; I can't lower it just for you."

"Setting the price aside for now, how many points can you offer right now?"

"76,300 points."

"That's everything I have."

Not 70,000, not 80,000, but a precise quote down to the single digit.

Since enrolling, Horikita Suzune hadn't treated her 100,000 points like pocket money to squander like most of her classmates.

She hadn't joined any pointless group dinners or entertainment expenses, and rarely even visited the cafeteria. Instead, she went to the supermarket daily for the limited free ingredients and quietly prepared her own three meals in the dorm.

"76,300 points..." Kitagawa Kai mused.

"What an interesting number. Looks like Suzune-chan lives quite frugally."

"It's just the necessary self-discipline of a normal person."

"But, considering our special relationship," Kitagawa Kai stared at Horikita's forced calm face and smiled leisurely, a smile that seemed to hold some deeper meaning, "I can offer you two slightly... more flexible options."

Horikita Suzune forced herself to ignore that flicker of irritation and waited for him to continue.

"Option one, the price stays the same: 500,000 points. If you can't pay now, no problem. You can owe it and pay me back slowly later."

"However, the prerequisite is that you sign a strictly binding private repayment contract with me. And you need to prove to me that you have the ability to repay."

Owe it?

Private contract?

Prove repayment ability and value?

Horikita Suzune's heart sank slightly. This sounded like bait.

"Then, what about option two?"

"Option two, I don't want any of your points. They hold no appeal to me."

The girl's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly. Free things are often the most expensive. Horikita Suzune understood that principle better than anyone.

"Keep your little savings for yourself."

"I heard you're pretty good at making bento? That domestic skill of yours is a bit unexpected."

The sudden shift in topic made Horikita Suzune pause, her wariness only growing instead of fading.

"So? That has nothing to do with the deal."

"It does." Kitagawa Kai cut her off, a different meaning creeping into his smile. "Option two is—you make me bento for a month."

"...What?" Horikita Suzune almost thought she'd misheard.

Bento?

A month?

Using such a simple request to exchange for key information worth five hundred thousand points?

"It's simple for you," Kitagawa Kai said, as if seeing through her confusion.

"But I only like eating, not thinking about what to eat every day."

"One portion a day, nothing too fancy. Just about the same level as what you'd make for yourself. Of course, I'll cover the ingredient costs—won't touch your precious points. As for timing... lunch is convenient."

"Any other conditions?" Horikita Suzune asked bluntly, not believing things could be this simple.

"Other than that, you cannot share this information with anyone. Of course, a formal confidentiality contract will still be signed—that's the bottom line."

"So, lost little girl, which option do you choose?"

Horikita Suzune's mind raced.

Option one—mortgage her own future to gamble on information of unknown value?

Option two—just a simple month of bento, but unable to tell anyone?

She had full confidence in her execution and willpower. As long as she grasped the key information, she could think independently.

"I choose option two."

Horikita Suzune's voice was filled with resolve.

Kitagawa Kai seemed to have expected this answer. As her words fell, he pulled a standard contract from his drawer.

The contract was signed.

The deal was struck.

"Now," Horikita Suzune said, left only with the calm of executing the agreement, "the information."

Kitagawa Kai then dictated all the information he knew.

Horikita Suzune stood motionless, her fingertips digging deep into her palms.

She understood. She understood everything.

Why this information was worth five hundred thousand points. Why Class B wanted to sell it. Why Class C wanted to buy it.

But then, a surge of anger erupted from the bottom of her heart, instantly shattering the calm facade she had forcibly maintained.

"You tricked me, Kitagawa Kai."

"What use is it... for me alone to know?"

"With those insects in the class, what can I change by myself?"

"Is this what you call value? Information that lets me know in advance that Class D will be crushed?"

Horikita Suzune stared at Kitagawa Kai, who sat there unperturbed, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"And then I have to make you bento for a month for this? Kitagawa Kai, you've really got it all figured out!"

Kitagawa Kai showed no sign of being moved by her agitation. He even let out a light laugh.

"Suzune-chan, even if you told every word of this to your Class D classmates tomorrow—"

He deliberately paused, letting her fully imagine the scene.

"Do you think they'd believe you?"

He tilted his head slightly, as if looking at a child who didn't understand.

"Child, time has run out. Your class has already lost too many points."

"What you need to do now isn't to save those lunatics in your class. Isn't focusing on improving yourself better?"

"And maybe make some friends along the way—like me."

"This is also your brother's request."

Horikita Suzune bit her lower lip hard. She neither nodded nor shook her head, only said numbly:

"I'll fulfill the contract. I'll deliver the bento. As for the rest..."

She took a deep breath, a faint but unyielding spark of defiance rekindling in her eyes.

"I'll decide for myself."