Karuizawa Kei's Predicament

When Ryuuen woke up the next day, Ishizaki was still asleep, and Albert Yamada was nowhere to be found. He was most likely training on the deck or in the gym. Albert Yamada was even more disciplined than Ryuuen; his muscles weren't entirely a gift of natural genetics.

He picked up his phone, and the screen prominently displayed: "7:52."

There were only eight minutes left until his agreed-upon time with Ichinose Honami.

However, Ryuuen wasn't going to rush. He still dressed and washed up at his usual pace, then even ate some breakfast. During his time on the ship, Ryuuen had become much lazier, and his daily workouts had been scaled back.

He strolled leisurely over to the coffee shop, where Ichinose Honami was already waiting. Ryuuen had noticed the message Ichinose Honami sent him: "Ryuuen-kun, I'm already at the cafe. Did something delay you? Please let me know if it did."

Ryuuen replied: "No."

Ichinose Honami had been waiting at the cafe ever since she saw his message. Of course, Ryuuen hadn't intentionally dragged his feet; he simply arrived at the cafe at his normal pace. It didn't take him much time, only making Ichinose Honami wait twenty-three minutes.

Without complaining about Ryuuen's lateness, Ichinose Honami stood up from her seat when she saw him. "Ryuuen-kun, please have a seat."

"I'll have a Black Forest," Ryuuen ordered without ceremony.

"Ichinose, what did you want to see me about?" Ryuuen sat across from Ichinose Honami. At 8:30 AM, many students were still asleep, especially since it was the last night on the ship, and many wanted to enjoy it a little longer.

"Nothing special, really. I just wanted to thank you, Ryuuen-kun, for helping our class during the Benefactor Exam, and also to ask why you helped us so much," Ichinose Honami said, holding her coffee cup. It was clear she hadn't drunk any; the latte art was still perfectly intact.

"No particular reason," Ryuuen said. Before coming, he had roughly guessed that whatever Ichinose Honami wanted to discuss wasn't important, so his attitude remained rather nonchalant.

A dismissive attitude might annoy some, but Ryuuen didn't need to cater to anyone, least of all Ichinose Honami.

"Your thanks aren't just empty words, are they?" Ryuuen's coffee was served, but his attention wasn't on the coffee. He hadn't expected to gain anything from Ichinose Honami through this meeting, but he could certainly tease her a little.

However, the honest Ichinose Honami interpreted Ryuuen's words as a desire for compensation. Ryuuen's help to Ichinose Honami's class was undoubtedly immense, so after a brief moment of thought, Ichinose Honami took out her phone. "I don't have many Points, but I can transfer 200,000 Points to you as a reward. While I do manage the class's Points, I can't decide on their use without permission, so I can only use my private Points. I hope you'll accept."

With that, Ichinose Honami used her phone to transfer 200,000 Points to Ryuuen.

Of course, Ryuuen didn't accept. If Ichinose Honami had used the class's shared Points, Ryuuen would not only have taken them but would have complained that she gave too little. But since the good-natured girl was using her own private Points, Ryuuen was less inclined to accept.

Judging by Ichinose Honami's personality, the 200,000 Points she offered were likely all of her personal Points. Even if she had some left, it wouldn't be much.

Ryuuen had already gained enough from Ichinose Honami. Furthermore, Ryuuen had seen how Class D scrounged for free meals. Ichinose Honami's family hadn't been well-off previously, so having her live off free meals probably wouldn't bother her. But Ryuuen didn't want her to live such a hard life just because of something he said.

It wasn't that Ryuuen was kind; he just didn't see the need. He didn't lack 200,000 Points, and it would be better to use this to improve Ichinose Honami's impression of him.

"Do you think I'm that shallow?" Ryuuen tasted the Black Forest in his hand. It was hard to tell if he was genuinely angry, but his tone certainly showed he wasn't in a good mood.

"No, no, I just thought Ryuuen-kun preferred Points," Ichinose Honami hastily waved her hands. She genuinely believed Ryuuen liked Points, which was why she tried to please him.

In reality, Ryuuen did like Points. Who doesn't like money? Moreover, Ryuuen never considered himself a student; he saw himself as a businessman.

"That's just what you think. If I said I liked beautiful women, would you have to become my girlfriend?" Ryuuen felt that Ichinose Honami was still too much of a do-gooder and needed a reality check. Such a personality would eventually lead to her being taken advantage of by the teachers.

"No, that's not possible," Ichinose Honami said, blushing slightly and waving her hand in refusal.

Ryuuen's eyelid twitched. She offered 200,000 just like that, and now she refused so decisively. How much did she dislike Ryuuen?

Of course, Ryuuen didn't press the issue with Ichinose Honami. He finished his coffee. "Let's call it a debt. Just keep this favor in mind, and when you've grown enough to stand on your own two feet, then think about repaying me."

Ryuuen left after drinking his coffee, leaving Ichinose Honami to ponder his words. Ichinose Honami felt that as the leader of Class B, she was capable of standing on her own, but in Ryuuen's mind, she hadn't reached that stage yet. Ichinose Honami reflected on whether she relied too much on her classmates, which might have given Ryuuen the impression that she wasn't yet independent.

Of course, Ichinose Honami's goal had been achieved. She merely wanted to thank Ryuuen in person. Since Ryuuen said to repay him when she could stand on her own, Ichinose Honami would wait for that day to repay him.

His conversation with Ichinose Honami wasn't long. Ryuuen had planned to nap during his lunch break but noticed Manabe had sent him a message. It was truly a busy day.

Ayanokoji was also going to act today. The failure of the Benefactor Exam hadn't deterred his intention to bring Karuizawa Kei under his control.

Manabe was currently with Rika and Nanami in the ship's cabin, violently assaulting Karuizawa Kei.

Slapping, hair-pulling, kneeing.

Karuizawa Kei's right cheek was swollen, but she showed no intention or means of resisting, merely enduring and begging for mercy.

Ryuuen was still on his way and hadn't seen these scenes, but Ayanokoji had. Not only did he see them, but he also recorded them on his phone.

After Manabe left, Ayanokoji emerged from the shadows.

"You just stood there and watched me get bullied?" Karuizawa Kei, slumped on the floor, demanded of Ayanokoji.

Ayanokoji punched her in the abdomen.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry π_π"

Karuizawa Kei realized that Ayanokoji wasn't her ally; he was also one of her tormentors.

Ayanokoji showed Karuizawa Kei the video on his phone and threatened, "Spread your legs!"