I'm Really Afraid of Being Poor!

Shiomiya operated it again, turning the volume all the way up so everyone present could hear it.

Horikita Manabu had yet to react, but Horikita Suzune became flustered first.

"Shiomiya Yo, you... how could you do this?"

Shiomiya was completely thrown off.

No, sis. What happened to your cold, aloof persona?

"Horikita, has anyone ever told you that when you question someone, it sounds like you're... acting cute?"

Horikita Manabu's expression instantly turned cold.

Shiomiya noticed.

What's this supposed to mean?

I may insult my little sister and hit my little sister, but I love her?

You're a real legend too. You deserve a spot on my list—'I'm Great at Hitting and Loving My Sister.'

Besides his observation journal, where he recorded events in detail, Shiomiya also had a list of remarkable people.

It was called—the God-Sealing List.

"Congratulations. Both you and your sister made the list!"

Ignoring Shiomiya's nonsense, Horikita Manabu sprinted forward and kicked at Shiomiya's phone. The strike was incredibly fierce, carving an arc through the air.

Naturally, Shiomiya was not about to let him succeed. He sidestepped out of the way.

He was not Ayanokoji. He would not merely defend without attacking.

You like using high kicks?

Fine, then!

Shiomiya closed in on Horikita Manabu, disrupting his balance before grabbing him and throwing him to the ground.

Thud!

With a dull crash, Horikita Manabu landed heavily on his back.

"Ugh..."

Pain shot through Horikita Manabu, leaving him unable to speak for a moment.

Shiomiya got to his feet and looked down at the fallen Horikita Manabu, unable to stop himself from sighing.

You got the same treatment as Spider-Man.

Horikita Suzune hurriedly helped her brother up and asked worriedly, "Brother, are you all right?"

The moment she had helped Horikita Manabu up, she shot Shiomiya a vicious glare. "What exactly are you trying to do?"

Shiomiya shrugged and smiled. "Isn't it obvious? I'm blackmailing your brother.

What? Has fate corrupted you too? Is your brain not working straight?"

That NPC, Ayanokoji, had been watching from the side the whole time without saying a word.

Having recovered, Horikita Manabu knew he had lost.

"How many points do you want?"

"Straightforward! Not much—just 500,000 points!"

Horikita Suzune immediately objected.

"Why don't you just rob him?"

Shiomiya felt that whenever Horikita Suzune was in front of her brother, it was as though she had misplaced her brain.

"Isn't that exactly what I'm doing?"

Shiomiya tilted his head at her.

"Fine. I agree."

Horikita Manabu took out his phone and prepared to make the transfer.

"Brother..."

Horikita Suzune still wanted to stop him, but Horikita Manabu cut her off.

Once Shiomiya saw the points arrive, he deleted the video right in front of Horikita Manabu.

Horikita Manabu turned and left.

"Suzune, you still have much to learn.

If you want to advance your class, then work yourself to the bone."

Watching Horikita Manabu's departing back, Shiomiya could only think that he was putting on such an act.

As if he had not been the one thrown to the ground just now.

In high spirits after his windfall, Shiomiya brought the other two over to the vending machines.

"What do you want to drink? My treat."

"Coffee," Ayanokoji said.

"You took so much from my brother, and you're only treating me to this?" Horikita Suzune looked at Shiomiya in dissatisfaction.

She was still angry about what Shiomiya had done earlier.

"Horikita, don't just look at how much I make. I spend a lot too!

You save where you should save and spend where you should spend."

Shiomiya still had enough patience to explain things to the little sister of his benefactor.

"Then do you want juice?"

Horikita Suzune still turned away unhappily. Since she had not refused, Shiomiya bought two bottles, one for her and one for himself.

The three of them drank beside the vending machines.

"Shiomiya, are you really that short on money?"

Ayanokoji suddenly asked, while Horikita Suzune silently pricked up her ears.

Shiomiya nodded. "The points the school gives us are nowhere near enough for me."

Horikita Suzune joined the conversation as well.

"You started earning points in your first month. Isn't 100,000 points a month enough?"

Shiomiya nodded firmly.

"Not enough! I need at least around 350,000 points a month now."

"What!? That much?" Horikita Suzune cried out.

Ayanokoji glanced at Shiomiya as if he had figured something out.

"Shiomiya, are you from the Shinomiya Family of the Shinomiya Group?"

Shiomiya nodded in acknowledgment.

"I see. Then it's not strange." Horikita Suzune came to a realization. "But 350,000 a month is still far too much."

"What a decadent attitude toward spending," Horikita Suzune remarked.

Shiomiya looked at Horikita Suzune, his eyes widening slightly.

She adjusted her state that quickly?

She's back to being cold and sharp-tongued again.

"It can't be helped. I'm afraid of being poor now!

When I'm outside, it's standard for me to carry a card with ten million on it.

I only have three million on my phone right now. I've never been this poor before," Shiomiya lamented helplessly.

"So, Horikita, don't blame me. I really am poor!

I still have three years to get through!"

The corner of Horikita Suzune's mouth twitched. She had not expected Shiomiya to be this good at showing off.

Although she still felt upset, her disgust toward Shiomiya lessened somewhat.

Ayanokoji offered no comment, and no one knew what he was thinking.

After finishing their drinks, the three returned to the dormitory.

Shiomiya's floor was lower, so he got out of the elevator first.

Horikita Suzune asked Ayanokoji, "Do you think what Shiomiya said was true?"

"It should be true, but Shiomiya's spending at school should be no more than 200,000 a month."

"How do you know that?" Horikita Suzune asked doubtfully.

That NPC, Ayanokoji, continued explaining.

"Calculating the school's necessary expenses at the highest standard, and adding services like fitness at the highest standard as well, one person would spend no more than 150,000 a month."

"Then what about the other 50,000?"

"That would be miscellaneous expenses, like buying a plush toy or something. Shiomiya usually doesn't seem to have any unnecessary belongings, so we can roughly estimate that part at 50,000."

"That bastard really was lying to me!" Horikita Suzune gritted her teeth.

"No, Shiomiya was telling the truth."

Ayanokoji's ability to detect lies through microexpressions had become instinctive. He would not let Shiomiya notice anything unusual.

"Then where did the other 150,000 go?"

"Perhaps Shiomiya is covering more than just his own expenses." Ayanokoji voiced his speculation.

Ding!

The elevator arrived, and Ayanokoji walked out.

"Horikita, see you tomorrow. Let's talk again next time." Ayanokoji decisively ended the conversation and left.

Horikita Suzune was somewhat annoyed. She hated Ayanokoji's attitude.

Her hand unconsciously reached into her shoulder bag and tightened around her compass.

Whose expenses is Shiomiya covering?

Horikita remembered that Shiomiya brought Kushida food every day, and there were also rumors in class that Shiomiya was pursuing Kushida.

There was also the time Shiomiya had brought Kushida to see her.

Horikita felt that she had found the answer.

But merely thinking of Kushida gave Horikita a headache.

For some reason, that girl always wanted to get close to her.

No matter how Horikita rejected her, Kushida would still come over.

The prideful Horikita would never accept friends.

She would become an outstanding person, just like her brother.

She would prove to her brother that she would definitely rise to Class A!