Ryuen Kakeru's gaze followed Hoshida No and the others until they disappeared around the corner of the school building. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the edge of his phone.
He didn't act immediately. Instead, he turned his head and tossed an unquestionable order to Ishizaki Daichi beside him. "Look around and see if there are any more rats hiding nearby."
Ishizaki left at once.
Ryuen leaned against the cold wall and unlocked his phone. A text message with information from Hoshida appeared on the screen.
He tugged one corner of his mouth up dismissively.
That 1.2 million points was, at the end of the day, mainly hush money. As for the information, it was probably just an excuse the other guy had come up with on the side.
At first, he only skimmed it casually. But the farther he read, the higher his brows rose, and a faint shock flickered in his eyes.
The information concerned next month's changes to Personal Points, neatly filling in a missing piece of his plan.
His brief surprise quickly gave way to an amused smile.
Ryuen chuckled and rapped his knuckles against the screen. His voice brimmed with the smugness of a man in control. "Hmph. Hoshida isn't completely useless after all."
He looked up and glanced at the boy still cowering in the corner, a trace of impatience flashing in his eyes. "Looks like I'll have to treat them a little better for a while."
Hoshida and his companion returned to the classroom just as the bell rang.
They happened to see Kushida standing at the back of the room, speaking softly to the cool-faced girl. Then came a clear reply: "I refuse."
Kushida looked hurt as she turned and went back to her seat.
Hoshida said nothing and walked straight to his own seat.
As he sat down, his gaze swept over Horikita Suzune. She was still turning the pages of her textbook with an expressionless face, as if the commotion around her had nothing to do with her.
Since yesterday, Kushida had been showing up here frequently, asking Horikita for her contact information and trying to befriend her.
Hoshida didn't really understand this kind of persistence: one person was determined to be friends with the whole class, even the whole school.
The other stubbornly refused to socialize, radiating an air that warned everyone to stay away.
When the bell rang, Hoshida left the classroom and went to the door of Class A.
He didn't go inside. He simply held his phone and observed the room through the hallway glass, seemingly without drawing attention.
There was none of the commotion of Class D. No one talked or laughed loudly, and no one wandered around at random.
For two consecutive breaks, that was the atmosphere he saw in the class.
In the crowd, a bald boy named Ge Ping caught his attention.
There were always several people gathered around him. It didn't look like they were simply asking him for advice; it seemed more like they were spreading some kind of consensus.
During club activities, the hallway was bathed in the evening sun, forming a pale golden passageway.
Hoshida leaned against the wall, waiting around the corner.
Sakayanagi Arisu approached at an unhurried pace, her uniform skirt swaying gently with each step.
She wore that elegant smile, as if she had expected this meeting.
"I've been waiting for you." Hoshida got straight to the point. His voice rang clearly through the quiet hallway. "Classmate Sakayanagi."
Sakayanagi stopped two steps away. Amusement rose in her violet eyes.
She raised a hand to smooth the loose hair beside her ear, her fingers slender. "Oh? Did you need something, Hoshida? Don't tell me you've changed your mind and want to be my follower?"
Her tone was casual, but probing. "If you agree now, the 500,000 points offer still stands."
Hoshida shook his head slightly. "I have no intention of doing that."
He paused briefly. "I have information about point deductions at this school. Would you like to buy it?"
The smile on Sakayanagi's face faded a little. The amusement in her eyes gave way to surprise, then settled into deeper scrutiny.
She didn't answer at once. Instead, she walked slowly to a pillar and brushed her fingers over the wall, warmed by the evening sun.
"Information?" She turned around, her gaze settling on Hoshida's face. "That's an unexpected offer. Information certainly has value at this school, but only if it's worth something."
There was a tangible edge of pressure in her voice. "What do you think your information can offer me?"
Hoshida remained leaning against the wall, his posture unchanged and his eyes calm. "There's a student named Ge Ping in your class, right?"
At the sound of that name, Sakayanagi's fingers abruptly stopped against the wall. The amusement vanished from her eyes, and her gaze sharpened.
She turned to face Hoshida directly, all trace of lightness gone from her voice. "You've been watching Class A quite closely."
"I just noticed a few details," Hoshida replied evenly. "For two consecutive breaks, people have been gathering around him. It doesn't look like they're asking him questions. It looks more like they're trying to reach a consensus. Could he be the center of the class?"
Sakayanagi was silent for a moment, then slowly walked over to Hoshida. They stood very close. She could smell the clean, soapy scent on him, and he could see the subtle ripples in her eyes.
"So?" she asked softly.
Hoshida met her gaze without flinching. "In my judgment, you're not the type to take second place to anyone. This information is enough to help you secure your position in Class A during the first month."
Sakayanagi's lips curved into a faint smile. "That's true. Like you, I never work for others. But what makes you think I need your information?"
That was her usual confidence.
Hoshida straightened up and glanced around. Only after making sure no one was nearby did he speak. "I remember the Chairman's last name is Sakayanagi. Yours is Sakayanagi too, and ever since the school year began, you've seemed unusually familiar with this school. Could it be that..."
"No need to say more." Sakayanagi cut him off. Her voice was soft, but the boundary was clear. "He's my father. But he won't interfere in the school's affairs. Even I can't get any special privileges from him."
She stared at Hoshida, emotions shifting in her violet eyes. "I agree to the deal. How much do you want?"
Hoshida had thought he would need to bargain further. He hadn't expected her to agree so readily.
"1.2 million Personal Points, plus a piece of information about another class."
"1 million." Sakayanagi immediately countered, her gaze firm. "I'm not interested in information about another class. That can just be thrown in as a bonus."
"Deal." Hoshida nodded. "Once the points come through, I'll send you the point deduction rules and the bonus."
As Sakayanagi was leaving, she gave him a long look and added, "If you put on a different expression every time we make a deal, I'd be happy to do business with you." Then she turned and headed for the stairs.
Hoshida leaned back against the wall again and watched her disappear around the corner before slowly taking out his phone.
The screen's glow lit his lowered eyes, calm and unreadable.
He knew that the deal had gone through not because of the information itself, but because of Sakayanagi Arisu's father, the Chairman.
You want me to change my expression? I don't know how to show one.
Besides, what you want to prove to others, Sakayanagi, has nothing to do with me.