Players in the Game (III)

"She was punished."

Karuizawa Kei sat down happily.

The other girl was already in trouble herself. The idea that she could still cause trouble for her was nothing short of wishful thinking.

"No wonder."

Oreki nodded.

That was good, too.

He'd been wondering how to wrap things up quickly so he could deal with Kiyoko.

And now, look at that.

She'd taken care of herself.

It seemed the truth had come out.

Doing that sort of thing in the bathroom... She really was something else.

"How did the task go?"

"Very smoothly."

"That's good."

"She didn't even ask me why. She just agreed to join the Tennis Club."

Karuizawa Kei was a little confused.

But judging by how Kiyoko had acted, she didn't seem like the type to be afraid of her.

If that was the case...

Why had she agreed so readily?

It was a question.

But...

"Since everything's settled, let's eat first."

With that, Karuizawa Kei picked up her knife and fork and began enjoying dinner.

Truffle risotto, pasta...

Good grief.

This meal must have cost several thousand points, at least.

You'd need a decent nest egg to keep up with her appetite.

"Ahem!"

Oreki gave a quiet reminder.

He tapped the table.

"There's something I forgot to tell you."

"What?"

"Uh... Actually—"

Oreki leaned close to Karuizawa Kei's ear and told her the truth about the one hundred thousand points.

She froze when she heard it.

The knife and fork slipped from Karuizawa Kei's hands and landed on her plate.

She looked at Oreki pitifully.

"You're kidding... Th-then all this..."

Looking at the dishes she'd ordered, Karuizawa Kei felt a little regretful.

If she'd known, she wouldn't have come to such an expensive place.

"Oh, well. I'll treat you this time."

Oreki generously took out his terminal.

A few thousand points was nothing.

Tomorrow, he'd be a millionaire.

In yen, at least.

"Thank you!"

Karuizawa Kei breathed a sigh of relief.

Then she started to worry.

"But... Oreki, you..."

"It's fine. Think of it as payment for completing the task."

"Hmm..."

"Next time you complete a task successfully, tell me what you want."

"Anything?"

"I'll do my best."

"Okay!"

After they finished dinner.

"I'll walk you back."

Oreki stood up to pay.

The total came to just over ten thousand.

If the other students saw that, their jaws would probably hit the floor.

He'd spent ten thousand points on a meal on his very first day.

That was about five hundred yuan.

They left the restaurant and walked one behind the other.

The dorm wasn't far from here.

They could count it as a little exercise after dinner.

Oreki took the opportunity to think about Kiyoko's intentions.

It wasn't surprising that she'd readily agreed to join the Tennis Club.

It would have been strange if she hadn't.

Oreki had a vague feeling...

Kiyoko and Sakayanagi were the same sort of person.

They both liked finding interesting people to compete against.

But Sakayanagi was more proactive.

Kiyoko was more passive.

She deliberately drew attention, then waited for others to challenge her.

The entrance exam was a good example.

If he really didn't want to draw attention, why hadn't he just filled it out any way he liked and handed it in?

Instead, he'd chosen to control his scores.

He'd gotten exactly half marks in every subject.

Wasn't that obviously meant to attract attention?

"This is far enough. Thank you..."

Karuizawa Kei waved goodbye to Oreki.

Before leaving, she glanced back at him several times, reluctant to go.

Of course.

Oreki himself didn't notice.

Tomorrow probably won't be easy...

He sighed inwardly.

Then Oreki turned and headed back to his room.

It was time to sleep.