The order of this chapter and the next one got mixed up. Sorry, guys.
After the applause died down, Ichinose asked, "Kanzaki said you had something you wanted to discuss with me, Kitahara?"
"Yeah, there's something I need you there for," Kitahara replied.
"I want to join Class B."
As soon as Kitahara said that, all three of them looked surprised.
Kanzaki's eyes widened in disbelief, as if he couldn't believe what he'd just heard.
Ichinose's mouth fell slightly open, her face full of astonishment.
But Kamuro had the strongest reaction. She sprang to her feet and said, "You really are transferring classes, just like Yanagihara said."
Seeing their over-the-top reactions, Kitahara said helplessly, "Even if I am transferring, you don't have to make such a big deal out of it."
"That's different. You're one of the most talked-about students in the first year," Kamuro replied.
"Yeah. Besides, Kitahara, even if you transfer, shouldn't you be going to Class A?" Kanzaki said.
"Kanzaki's right. With your ability, Kitahara, you could easily be in Class A!" Ichinose agreed.
Kitahara waved a hand and calmly explained, "Class A may be the strongest overall, but I still think Class B is the best fit for me."
"..."
Seeing everyone fall silent, Kitahara asked, "Does that mean you don't want me in Class B, Ichinose?"
"Ah, n-no..."
Seeing how serious Kitahara looked, Ichinose realized he meant it. "If you really do come to Class B, Kitahara, we'll all be happy to welcome you."
"Is that so? Then I look forward to working with you."
When Ichinose agreed, Kanzaki understood that Kitahara's joining would make Class B even stronger, so he didn't object. He only asked, "So, have you managed to gather the 20 million points yet, Kitahara?"
Ichinose and Kamuro looked at Kitahara as well. After all, everything they'd discussed hinged on him having 20 million points.
Under their gaze, Kitahara said confidently, "Not yet."
"Then why are you going on about all this?"
"Ahem. Kamuro, don't get impatient. I don't have 20 million points yet, but I'm not far off. Besides, the school never said one person had to pay the whole transfer fee."
"Then who else is paying?" Kamuro asked, looking confused.
"Uh... You believe now that Class A isn't as strong as you thought, right?" Kitahara said, looking at Ichinose and the others.
"Damn you, Kitahara! What's that supposed to mean?" Kamuro glared at him, feeling insulted.
"Wait, Kamuro. Kitahara's just saying that. He doesn't mean anything by it," Ichinose said, trying to calm her down as Kamuro prepared to go after Kitahara.
"Hmph..." When she saw Ichinose step in, Kamuro stopped.
She hadn't really intended to hit him anyway, and now she had the perfect excuse to back down.
"Ahem. What Kitahara means is that Class B and he would pay the 20 million points together. We'd cover whatever he's short," Kanzaki clarified.
"Oh, so that's what he meant," Kamuro said, finally understanding.
"But how many points are you short, Kitahara?" Kanzaki asked, getting to the crucial question.
"Not that many. I'm short this much..." Kitahara slowly held up four fingers.
"400,000 points? We can manage that." After seeing Kitahara hold up four fingers, Ichinose breathed a sigh of relief and answered.
"Yeah, that's not much," Kanzaki said easily.
"I can't believe it, Kitahara. You're only 400,000 points short of 20 million. Sakayanagi only has..." Kamuro began, looking at Kitahara in amazement, but immediately clammed up when she mentioned Sakayanagi.
If Sakayanagi found out Kamuro had casually shared her information with someone else, she'd make her pay for it.
"Uh... I think you've misunderstood. I'm not short 400,000. I'm short 4 million," Kitahara hastily corrected them when he saw how relaxed they looked.
"..."
"What did you say?! 4 million points?" Kamuro's easygoing expression vanished, and she asked in disbelief.
After Kitahara nodded, Kamuro said, "And you call that being just a little short of 20 million?"
"Well, I suppose I am just a tiny bit short," Kitahara said sheepishly.
"Actually, to be precise, it's not 4 million. It's 3.22 million," Kitahara corrected himself again.
"What the hell is the difference? Are you sure Class B can come up with that many points?" Kamuro asked, looking at the silent Ichinose and the others.
Hearing Kamuro's doubts, Kitahara didn't say much. Thanks to his interference, Class B had earned far more Class Points over the past three months than they had in the original story.
And according to his estimates, they should have nearly 5 million points on hand.
After all, he knew Ichinose had probably still collected half their points to help deal with the dangers the class would face in the future.
But Kitahara wasn't sure whether Ichinose would actually be willing to use those points. She was Ichinose, after all.
At that moment, Ichinose and Kanzaki were also conflicted.
If it had been the 400,000 points they'd thought it was, the two of them could have paid without touching the class's shared points. But now they were talking about nearly 4 million.
They couldn't make that decision on behalf of everyone in Class B.
After exchanging a look, Ichinose and Kanzaki turned to Kitahara and said, "We'll have to discuss this with the class before we can decide."
Kitahara wasn't surprised by their answer. He'd expected it, so he simply nodded.
Kamuro, standing to the side, stared at Ichinose and the others in amazement. "You really have that many points? I thought only Class A could..."
"Why are you so surprised?" Kitahara asked Kamuro.
"None of your business. You should worry about whether you can get into Class B," Kamuro replied.
"Heh..."
Kitahara knew why Kamuro was so surprised. She hadn't expected Class B to have that many points after only three short months.
Class A could also afford that much, but unlike Class B, its members weren't nearly as united.
Class A was still embroiled in internal conflict, and Kamuro was starting to feel a sense of urgency.
"Okay, that takes care of the first matter. Let's get started on our club activities."
"Ah..."
"Why are you saying 'ah' again, Kamuro? Shouldn't we be starting?"
"It's nothing. I just forgot for a moment that we were still in the clubroom," Kamuro replied awkwardly.
"..." Everyone was at a loss for words at Kamuro's incredibly slow reaction.
"Okay, stop staring at her, everyone. Let's get down to business," Kitahara said, easing the tension.
"Then I'll head back first. I hope your activities go well... Have fun," Ichinose said goodbye.
Watching Ichinose leave, Kitahara's mouth twitched. He turned to Kanzaki and the others and asked, "Does she still think the Esports Club is just about playing games?"
When they noticed Kitahara looking at them, Kanzaki and the others didn't know how to answer. They thought the same thing too.