After returning to his dorm, Hikaru took a quick shower before standing by his desk in a thin short-sleeved shirt, pig up his phone.

  It was a little past 8 PM—still an appropriate time to message Suzuhout it being sidered a disturbance.

  [Chat Interface]

  Hashima Hikaru: Horikita-san, are you busy right now?

  About three mier, a reply came in.

  Horikita Suzune: Hikaru-kun, is there something you need?

  Hashima Hikaru: I need you to agree to something.

  Horikita Suzune: What is it?

  Hashima Hikaru: Tomorrow, your cssmate Kushida will likely invite you to a study session she's anizing. You should accept.

  In her dorm, Suzune had just finished her shower as well, her long bck hair casg freely down her back. Holding her phone, she frowned slightly, uo uand what this was about.

  Horikita Suzune: Why?

  Hashima Hikaru: It's a bit plicated to expin, but in shoing along with this will definitely be you.

  Horikita Suzune: I refuse? I study just fine on my own. I don't need anyone's help.

  Hmph, that's not up to you. Time to call in Horikita Manabu.

  A soft chuckle escaped Hikaru's lips as he switched to Manabu's tad took a sshot of the typing indicator.

  Hashima Hikaru: [Image sent]

  Seeing the image, Suzune's heart tightened. If she refused, this guy would probably message her brother, telling him that she was going against their agreement.

  She couldn't allow herself to disappoint him.

  "Damn it..."

  Ever sihat night's versation, Suzune had an instinctive feeling—this supposedly mild-mannered Hashima Hikaru was absolutely not a good person.

  While his presence was as anding as her brother's, his methods were pletely different. To openly resort to coer like this... he was terrible.

  Hashima Hikaru: So, have you residered? Have you ged your mind?

  Horikita Suzune: ...

  Horikita Suzune: Fine, I'll agree. Anything else you want to say?

  Hashima Hikaru: No rush. Since I promised Horikita-senpai that I'd help you, I have to follow through. This study group is just a starting point.

  Horikita Suzune: What do you mean?

  Hashima Hikaru: Once you joiudy group, you'll have a ce to i with more of your cssmates and expand your influence.

  Horikita Suzune: I'm not ied. If that's all, I'll go rest now.

  "Tch, I wasn't do."

  Hikaru shook his head. No wonder Manabu emphasized that Suzune couldn't reach Css A on her own. Being a lone wolf in this school would only make things harder.

  Unless you had an overwhelming level of strength that allowed you to crush everyone in your way, walking this path alone was unrealistic. Evewo-million-point strategy would be difficult without allies.

  Private Points were not easy to collect, and even if future Special Exams offered rewards in points, exeg any rge-scale pn without help was nearly impossible.

  "Oh well, at least she agreed."

  o overthink it. She'd e around whe a wall.

  Now, onto the arget.

  Hashima Hikaru: Kushida-san, are you busy?

  This time, the reply came ba less than ten seds. Either she was really free, or she had just been pying on her phone.

  Kikyo Kushida: What's up, Hikaru-kun? I'm free right now!

  At that moment, Kushida was already dressed in her pajamas, lying on her bed, mindlessly scrolling through her phone. Her s was filled with various chat groups—some firls, some for Css D discussions, and others just for fun.

  Hashima Hikaru: Oh, I wao ask if you've thought about how you'll invite Horikita-san to your study group tomorrow?

  Seeing the message, Kushida immediately sat up. His made her wary.

  Kikyo Kushida: I'm actually struggling with that. What if she refuses?

  Hashima Hikaru: o worry. I believe that with your skills, Kushida-san, you'll definitely make it work. After all, this is for the good of the css.

  Hashima Hikaru: Have you decided oher partits?

  Kikyo Kushida: Mm, I've already picked them. They're mostly students who aren't doing too well academically. I also talked with Hirata-kun, and he fully supports the idea.

  Hashima Hikaru: I see.

  Kikyo Kushida: Mm-hm, I'll do my best!

  After seeing her response, Hikaru set his phone down.

  Meanwhile, Kushida stared at her s, puzzled by his silence.

  Why did he suddenly stop messaging?

  If he really had an ulterior motive, wouldn't this be the perfect time t it up? Was he hesitating? Or was there something she wasn't seeing?

  She recalled all of her iions with Hikaru, from their initial meeting to today's meal. Aside from the moment she caught him lying to that uppercssman, he had mostly behaved with siy.

  Was he really just helping her out of goodwill?

  The thought briefly crossed her mind, but she immediately dismissed it.

  She firmly believed ihing—people didn't do things for others without expeg something iurn, especially someone she had only retly met.

  After learning about the school's hidden rules, Kushida became more aware of the importance of css petition. She invited Hikaru to dinner just to see if he could be useful, someone she could extract B-Css intel from.

  Yet by the end of the meal, it felt like she was the one being led around instead.

  Not only that, but his level of involvement in her affairs made her suspicious.

  Was he trying to probe Css D for information?

  That didn't seem right either—his questions had all been about her.

  Lying back down, Kushida held up her phohe s's refle showed her own face—delicate features, charming expressions, and a practiced smile capable of captivating men.

  Could it be...

  She thought back to their versations, analyzing his tone and behavior. If that was the case, then it would expihing.

  After all, plenty of boys had fessed to her since school started. But was it really that simple?

  She wasn't sure, and for now, she couldn't figure it out.

  ---

  The m, a sleep-deprived Kushida sat up from her bed.

  She had spent half the night overanalyzing Hikaru's as, uo reach a clusioually, exhaustion took over, and she fell asleep.

  Following her usual m routine, she washed up and ged into her uniform. Looking at herself in the mirror, she noticed faint dark circles under her eyes.

  "Damn it, all because of him."

  Regardless, today was the day she would invite Suzuo the study session. That was her top priority.

  Arriving in Css D, she was immediately greeted with the usual chorus of friendly voices.

  "Kushida-san, good m!"

  "M, Kushida-san!"

  Fshing her signature bright smile, she respoo everyone before turning her gaze to her true target—the lone figure at the back of the css, Horikita Suzune.

  ation. Just go for it.

  Taking a deep breath, Kushida approached.

  "Horikita-san, good m!"

  Suzune closed her book a her gaze, recalling st night's message from Hikaru. With a ral expression, she nodded in aowledgment.

  "Kushida-san, is something the matter?"

  "I have a request. I'd love for you to join a study group I'm anizing. You're really smart, so I think having you as a tutor would be a huge help for everyone!"

  Kushida's tone was friendly, but internally, she was brag herself for reje.

  But to her surprise, Suzune answered almost immediately.

  "All right. Let me know when and where."

  "...Seriously?"

  Kushida's cheerful expression momentarily faltered before she quickly recovered, smiling brightly.

  "Great! I'll let you know the details soon!"

  Meanwhile, in Css B, Hikaru ulling his textbooks from his desk when his system notification popped up.

  [Horikita Suzune has joined Kushida Kikyo's study session. Kushida remains cautious of you but still seeks to use your abilities. Stock price: +10. Current price: 20.]

  "She's still wary?"

  Hikaru smirked.

  Guess ag too helpful had made her suspicious.

  "Well, whatever. This is just the beginning. If moving toward Suzune is w, I'll keep pushing."

  Now, how to lower Kushida's guard? Time to probe.

  ~~~

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