Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, shopping district.
"Hello, I'm here to meet someone. Room 199."
Amasawa Reigetsu had the KTV receptionist show him the way.
It was only after taking care of things yesterday that he'd remembered in the middle of the night the time and place he'd arranged to meet Ichinose. To show his sincerity, he'd let Class B choose both.
"We're going to sing at the KTV in the shopping district tomorrow night. Why don't you come too, Amasawa-kun?"
That was what Ichinose Honami had said, and now Amasawa Reigetsu had arrived at Room 199.
"Sorry to intrude. I'm Amasawa Reigetsu from Class 1-A."
"You're here, Amasawa-kun! Come on in, have a seat!"
"Amasawa-kun, let me introduce you."
Ichinose's voice was warm and inviting.
"This is Kanzaki Ryuji, the young master of the Kanzaki Conglomerate."
The boy seated in the middle of the sofa gave a slight nod. His expression was calm and reserved as he replied politely,
"Nice to meet you, Amasawa-kun."
Then Ichinose looked at the girl sitting beside her. She nervously pinched the hem of her clothes, her cheeks faintly red.
"H-hello, Amasawa-kun... I'm Shiranami Chihiro. It's nice to meet you."
When Shiranami's gaze fell on Ichinose, a faint, unmistakable tenderness and affection flickered in her eyes.
The yuri vibes were strong.
Several other students from Class B greeted Amasawa too. Everyone was friendly; there was no sign of them leaving an outsider out.
Ichinose really was a frighteningly capable leader.
After the pleasantries, the mood in the room gradually shifted from casual socializing to subtle probing. Ichinose poured Amasawa a cup of black tea herself and held it out to him with both hands, her clear eyes meeting his.
"So, Amasawa-kun, you accepted our invitation and even let us choose the location. I doubt you came just to listen to us sing, right?"
"Then I'll skip the small talk. I'll explain the terms of our deal in the most direct, blunt, and straightforward way I can."
Amasawa stood up and abruptly said something that stunned everyone from Class B.
"Class B will become Class C next month."
"How is that possible? No, do you mean the classes are ranked... Wait, are we having a ranking test this month?"
Kanzaki was quick on the uptake. It was impressive that he'd gleaned so much from Amasawa's words in an instant.
"Amasawa-kun... So what are the terms of the deal? We did consider that possibility before, but we didn't take it too seriously."
Ichinose Honami was just as surprised, and her voice came out a little uncertain.
"The rules for this Special Exam, one million points, and a chance to make a friend."
"..."
Silence.
Murmured discussion.
At first, Class B's core group had been taken aback by the one million points. But after talking it over, they realized the price was impeccable.
They couldn't help taking another look at the person in front of them—and reconsidering their opinion of Class A, and even the school itself.
"Please give us a day to think it over."
Ichinose's gaze darted away. Although everyone present was part of Class B's core group, they didn't dare make a decision without a democratic vote from the rest of Class B.
"Since I've already given you important information, this offer won't wait. How about we make the deadline the end of our KTV booking?"
"Deal."
In the end, Ichinose Honami and Kanzaki Ryuji made the decision almost through gritted teeth.
"Looking forward to working together."
Class B had really gotten a bargain. One million points could solve a major problem for the whole class.
After wrapping up his deal with Class B, Amasawa decided to stop by the convenience store on his way back to the dorm and reward himself with a Chocoball ice cream.
But when he reached the store, he spotted some familiar faces.
Sakayanagi Arisu—and the person beside her... Kamuro Masumi?
Amasawa ate his ice cream and decided to stick around and watch.
"My, my. Stealing is a bad habit, you know."
Kamuro's back stiffened abruptly. She looked a little like a startled kitten; it was kind of amusing.
The next moment, Sakayanagi Arisu's pale, slender hand gently caught her sleeve. She didn't use much force, but Kamuro Masumi certainly wasn't getting away.
Sakayanagi stood beside her, half a step away, leaning on her cane. Her pale hair fell over her shoulders, and a gentle smile played on her lips.
Amasawa knew that look all too well. It was as if she'd just found an interesting toy.
"You've got some nerve, stealing in your first week at school."
Sakayanagi tilted her head slightly, her gaze settling on the bulge in Kamuro's jacket.
"And you're very good at it, too. If I hadn't happened to walk by, no one would have noticed. What an... interesting skill."
Kamuro Masumi finally turned around and stared expressionlessly at the petite girl before her. She knew who the other girl was: one of the leaders in her class. Getting caught red-handed by someone like her could have disastrous consequences.
"I don't intend to report you. It would be a shame to throw away such a useful pawn."
Sakayanagi reached out and trailed her hand from Kamuro Masumi's cheek, down her jaw and collarbone, and along her shoulder. She continued down until she pulled a can of beer from Kamuro's jacket, twirled it lightly between her fingers, then slipped it back into Kamuro's hand.
"From today on, you belong to me. Do a few little things for me, and I'll pretend none of this happened. What do you say?"
Sakayanagi spoke as casually as if she were commenting on the weather. This was a side of her Amasawa had never seen when she was with him: the unmistakable bearing of someone in a position of power.
As expected of the princess~ shrugs
Kamuro stared into Sakayanagi's eyes, trying to find even the slightest hint of hesitation or a flaw in her composure, but there was nothing. Those eyes seemed to say that everything was already under her control.
Silence stretched for several seconds.
Kamuro lowered her head and put the beer back inside her jacket. When she raised it again, her expression was calm once more.
She didn't say "okay" or even nod. She simply turned and walked out of the convenience store.
Sakayanagi Arisu stayed where she was, watching Kamuro's back disappear through the door. Her smile deepened slightly before she turned to look in Amasawa Reigetsu's direction.
"Rei-kun, it seems you care about me quite a lot~"
"As expected of Class A's princess, Alice."
Amasawa walked over and, ignoring Sakayanagi's protests, rubbed her head through her hat.
Sakayanagi puffed out her cheeks like a hamster. Her commanding air from a moment ago vanished completely as she raised both hands to fend him off.
"Then why are you patting my head...? Stop it! You're messing up my hair..."
"Want to walk back together?"
"Mmm..."
An offer she couldn't refuse.