"I just felt sorry for Horikita Suzune, so I lent her a helping hand." Watanabe suddenly chuckled, his voice rising carelessly at the end. "Not everyone has a private agenda. There are still good people in this world who expect nothing in return, aren't there, President Horikita?" As he spoke, his lashes lowered, hiding the dark glint in his eyes. The silver watch on his wrist appeared and disappeared in the shadows.
Horikita Manabu looked up, the light glinting coldly off his glasses. "People like that do exist, but they're few and far between." He rose slowly, his black leather shoes striking the floor with measured steps. "Finding even one among ten thousand is remarkable. But you, Watanabe Hayabara, are definitely not one of them." Before he had finished speaking, a flock of white doves swept past the window. The flapping of their wings shattered the stillness.
"Bingo!" Watanabe snapped his fingers with theatrical flair and took a few steps forward, keeping a precisely measured social distance from Horikita Manabu. As he lowered his head, his fringe obscured half his face. "I'm not a good person, that's true. But it's not just that I think Horikita Suzune has potential." He drew out the last word, a sly curve tugging at his lips. "You could say I intend to help her. But what I really want..." He suddenly braced a hand against the edge of the desk and leaned forward. "I haven't figured that out yet. The process is the most interesting part, isn't it? What's the point of a game if you don't enjoy playing it, President?"
Horikita Manabu didn't move, though his Adam's apple bobbed slightly. "I hope you understand that Suzune isn't a bargaining chip in your game." As the words fell, clouds outside happened to cover the sun, plunging the office into brief darkness. Only the two men's breathing, rising and falling in the silence, could be heard.
"The president really does care for his little sister!" Watanabe Hayabara's lips curled in amusement. "But don't get the wrong idea. I've never seen her as a bargaining chip. She's a player too, with her own choices and her own path to follow."
He paused, then continued. "Compared to the game you designed, where she can only keep chasing after you, she'll face more challenges and opportunities in a real game, and grow in a more well-rounded way. Isn't that a better choice?"
Horikita Manabu didn't immediately respond to Watanabe Hayabara's taunt. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke. "I'll be keeping an eye on you, Watanabe Hayabara."
"You never saw her as your equal to begin with, President. So your so-called concern was meaningless from the start. But from now on, I'll take good care of Suzune." Watanabe Hayabara finished speaking without paying any attention to Horikita Manabu's reaction.
"Oh, right. I'll have Classmate Sakayanagi discuss the details with you. That's outside the scope of my services." Watanabe Hayabara had already stepped halfway out of the office when he suddenly stopped. Then he left.
Watching Watanabe Hayabara go, Horikita Manabu's expression darkened. "Suzune, how much will he change you?"
"Sakayanagi, the deal's done. You can discuss the details with Horikita Manabu. After all, Classmate Sakayanagi has goals of her own that I don't know about."
Elsewhere, Sakayanagi Arisu received the message and smiled slyly. "Once I defeat that artificially created genius, you'll be my next target, Watanabe Hayabara."
Kamuro Masumi took it all in. After all, she was Sakayanagi's "personal bodyguard" now.
"Thank you, Watanabe." Sakayanagi Arisu replied to the message at once.
A little while later, Watanabe Hayabara received another transfer from Sakayanagi: 200,000 points.
Looking at his 4.94 million points, Watanabe Hayabara sent Horikita Suzune the extra 40,000 or so and added a message: "Consider these 40,000 points a loan."
There was no need to explain too much to Horikita Suzune. She could still tell the difference and understand what he meant. Watanabe Hayabara looked at his neat, even 4.9 million points and felt much better.
Horikita Suzune was taken aback when she saw the more than 40,000 points that had appeared out of nowhere and read Watanabe Hayabara's message. Then she gave a faint smile. "I'll pay you back as soon as I can." Horikita Suzune had received her first investment. Points could certainly accomplish a lot at this school; it all depended on how well she used them.
Watanabe Hayabara only glanced casually at Horikita's reply, then turned toward the school building to head back to class. After all, he had gone to see Horikita Manabu during lunch, and lunch break was already over. He had to get back to class for the afternoon lessons.
Time flew by, and the afternoon classes ended before he knew it. It was Thursday, and the midterm exams were the next day. After homeroom, Chabashira Sae gathered her materials and hurried out of the classroom as soon as the dismissal bell rang.
Just then, Kushida Kikyo hurried to the podium in the blink of an eye and gently set down a thick stack of papers. Smiling, she spoke to the class in a warm but firm voice. "Everyone, I'm sorry to hold you up. Before you leave, could I have a few minutes to say something?"
The classroom had been noisy, but it gradually quieted. Everyone turned to look at Kushida Kikyo. She continued, "I'm sure you've all been doing a lot of reading to prepare for tomorrow's midterm exams. I might be able to help you out a little with that." As she spoke, she picked up the stack of papers and prepared to hand them out.
So eager to help, Little Kikyo.
Kushida Kikyo handed the questions and answers to the students in the front row, who passed them back through the class.
"Exam... questions? Did Classmate Kushida make these?" Watanabe Hayabara heard Horikita Suzune whisper behind him, sounding a little shocked.
Other students in the class had similar questions, and Kushida Kikyo patiently explained, "These are actually past exam questions. I got them from an upperclassman."
"Past exam questions? Huh? So these are really useful?" someone in class asked, confused.
"Yeah. I also heard that the midterm exam from the year before last was almost identical to these questions. So I think studying them will definitely help with tomorrow's exam."
"Whoa! Seriously? Thanks, Little Kikyo!" Kanji Ike hugged the test papers, overcome with emotion. The other students also seemed unable to contain their excitement at this unexpected stroke of luck.
"What? If I'd known we had these, I wouldn't have worked so hard studying." Haruki Yamauchi complained with a silly grin.
You wouldn't have needed to study anyway.
Before you continue