Money for Money

"Are you... the girl I met in the hallway the other day?!" Haruka Hasebe quickly searched her memory before speaking up.

"What does she want with Kato Satsu? Is it the same goal as that girl from Class B?" (Haruka Hasebe)

"If it were truly the same goal as Asako, I'd wake up laughing in my sleep. She's here to see me about something much more important." (Kato Satsu)

Ichinose Honami glanced at Haruka Hasebe, gave a polite nod, and said, "It's me! I'm Ichinose, Ichinose Honami."

Clearly, Ichinose was only responding to Haruka Hasebe out of courtesy and had no intention of making small talk. After introducing herself, she immediately turned to Kato Satsu.

"Kato, I'd like to speak with you alone." Her expression was grave, her tone carrying a hint of desperate resolve.

Kato Satsu looked back at Haruka Hasebe and said, "Sorry, I might need to step away for a moment."

The latter, sensing the gravity of the situation from Ichinose's expression, nodded slightly. "It's fine, business comes first."

Seeing that Kato Satsu had agreed, Ichinose didn't say a word, nor did she wait for him to walk alongside her. She turned quickly and began leading the way.

Is she afraid?

Kato Satsu noticed Ichinose's emotional state; she was walking very fast, seemingly trying to maintain a safe distance from him.

Seeing this reaction, Kato Satsu instinctively linked it to what he had witnessed last time.

It was clear Ichinose was terrified. Knowing the reason, Kato Satsu didn't force himself to catch up, as doing so would undoubtedly agitate her already frayed nerves. He simply followed silently behind her.

Wait, what is she gripping inside her pocket?!

Noticing Ichinose's movement, Kato Satsu focused his attention on reading her inner thoughts, and it didn't take long for him to receive a chilling answer.

A knife!

Inside Ichinose's pocket was a folding fruit knife. Though it was only a small blade, it was more than enough to serve as a weapon.

No way!

Kato Satsu found it nine-tenths impossible to believe Ichinose could do such a thing. This was a girl who would feel so guilty about stealing a small item that she would shut herself off from the world—could she really commit an act of violence?

Besides, the motive wasn't strong enough!

Even if it were to protect a classmate, there was no need to go this far. Could someone really be that kind?

Maybe so!

Kato Satsu felt a shiver run down his spine. After all, she acted like the world was ending just because she stole a hair clip.

Although that was due to the spread of rumors, for a middle schooler, that kind of pressure is indeed beyond one's capacity to bear.

Despite his internal skepticism, Kato Satsu's actions were honest; he secretly slowed his pace, widening the distance between himself and Ichinose.

Please, watch over me! God! Don't let him pounce! (Ichinose Honami)

As she prayed, the hand Ichinose kept in her pocket tightened its grip on the knife.

It's self-defense!

Hearing Ichinose's inner thoughts, Kato Satsu let out a long sigh of relief.

If it's self-defense, just go back to your room! You scared the hell out of me!

The two turned a corner, and a conspicuous security camera suddenly appeared above them.

Ichinose turned around and said, "Let's talk here. Don't come any closer."

Kato Satsu glanced at the camera and, as requested, kept a distance of nearly five meters. "How did this turn into me seeking you out? Should I start?"

"What is your goal with Asako!" Ichinose spoke first, cutting straight to the point.

"No goal. I'm just making a friend."

"Making a friend? No one would want to be friends with a lunatic like you. Who knows if you'll snap one day and lash out at Asako!"

"Are you discriminating against people with mental health issues?"

Kato Satsu didn't deny his mental instability; instead, he asked a leading question, attempting to extinguish Ichinose's fire by labeling her.

He continued, "You know that this school sorts students into classes based on their level. Perhaps it's because of this mental condition that I was placed in Class D."

"But the school admitted me, and that is a fact. In other words, the school has determined that I am capable of living a normal life, which means I can make friends just like any normal person."

"The school's judgment is clearly wrong!" Ichinose said firmly.

"For a bomb like you, you should be expelled and get proper treatment!"

"Those with serious mental illnesses should be isolated for treatment; otherwise, what are mental hospitals for? You are clearly better suited for a place like that."

Seeing that Ichinose was completely unaffected by his words, Kato Satsu gave up on the idea of manipulation and chose to use a stronger tactic.

"Whether I am expelled is not for you to decide, and my business with Asako is not for you to decide either."

"What do you plan to do? Tell Asako about that incident? Will anyone believe you? So far, I've been acting like a perfectly normal person."

"The video you recorded that could serve as evidence has long been confiscated by the school, otherwise you wouldn't be here wasting your breath on me."

Knowing that Kato Satsu spoke the truth, Ichinose was momentarily speechless. Her tone softened significantly. "Then let's make a deal!"

"What will it take for you to leave Asako alone and never associate with students from Class B again?"

Hearing this, Kato Satsu was pleasantly surprised. He had originally intended to lead the negotiation into a stalemate before proactively using this as a condition to strike a deal with Ichinose.

"One million points!"

Satsu spoke immediately, and seeing the expression on Ichinose Honami's face, he added, "In this school, points can buy anything."

"I know you can afford it, acting as the bank for Class B."

How does he know that!

Ignoring her confusion and shock, Satsu continued, "At the start of the school year, the school issued one hundred thousand points to every student, totaling four million for a single class."

"As Class B, you shouldn't be as reckless with your spending as Class D, and since your class points weren't fully deducted last month, you received an influx of personal points."

"In other words, you have at least two million points on hand right now. Me taking one million isn't asking for much."

"Impossible!"

Ichinose Honami refused decisively, saying, "If I give you one million, how am I supposed to answer to my classmates! Everyone entrusted their points to me because they trust me!"

Satsu was not surprised by her response and spoke slowly, "That is why I have already thought of a solution for you."

"I will exchange real money with you, and it will be a very large sum. You can choose to drop out, leave your classmates behind, and use this money to give your family a better life."

"Your family's finances are quite tight, aren't they? Your mother's health is already poor, yet she still has to work multiple jobs to support you and your sister."

Ichinose Honami's pupils constricted: "What!"

"Isn't the reason you came to this school because it guarantees a 100% advancement and employment rate? I am offering you that path right now."

"Of course, if you don't want to drop out, that's fine too. I will return the one million points to you in a month."

"I am not taking all of your points; you will have no trouble getting by for a month with what remains."

Having said that, Satsu slowly extended his left index finger and said:

"I offer one hundred million yen!"