Kiyomizu was completely unaware of the dark thoughts swirling in the girl's mind behind him. In his view, Kushida's reaction was perfectly normal. Smart people always hated uncertainty, just like a chess player hated an opponent who didn't play by the book. People like her always wanted to hold the reins firmly, even designing collaborations as one-sided exploitation.
(But there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.)
Kiyomizu played with his phone, his calm gaze fixed on the campus goddess before him.
(She's a flawless beauty...)
(...but surprisingly black-bellied.)
(Looks like Ayanokoji was right. Her real target was me.)
Compared to a vague date, 80,000 personal points were clearly more substantial.
"Kushida-san," Kiyomizu thought for a moment and said slowly, "are you worried that I'll go back on my word and leak your plan?" Before she could reply, he continued on his own, "But have you considered—with your popularity in the class, even if I did say something, who would believe me?"
"...Kiyomizu-kun, you really, really won't tell anyone the truth? Can you turn around and look me in the eye and say it again?" the girl's slightly timid voice came from behind him, her tone filled with unease.
"Alright," Kiyomizu sighed in resignation, thinking that this girl was far too insecure.
The moment he turned around, Kushida suddenly reached out and grabbed his left hand, then unhesitatingly pressed it against her own chest.
"Huh? What are you...?" Kiyomizu froze for a moment. The soft sensation against his palm instantly made him understand her intention. What was she doing? Giving him a freebie on purpose?
"As expected of you, Kiyomizu-kun!" a naive smile appeared on Kushida's face. "The force was just right. This shouldn't leave any fingerprints, right?"
"Can you close your fingers and squeeze a little, three or four times?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Please feel free, Kiyomizu-kun."
"...Alright, since you put it that way."
Kiyomizu did as he was told.
"Hmph..." The tips of Kushida's ears instantly turned crimson, but she forced a smile. "Kiyomizu-kun... you really don't hold back, do you? But you're obedient. I don't dislike that about you." She suddenly leaned in close, her citrus-scented hair brushing against his cheek. "Now, I have a handle on you too, Kiyomizu-kun I'll preserve this shirt with plastic wrap. If you don't want to have a chat with the police, you'd better keep our little secret conversation in the cafe today... a secret."
Kiyomizu stood rooted to the spot, watching her retreating back, only coming to his senses a moment later. "What kind of threat is that..." He pulled out his phone, which had been recording the entire time, from his pocket. The screen's glow illuminated his twitching lips. "With the entire conversation recorded... you basically just gave me a freebie, didn't you?"
That's right, he had recorded it. After all, Ayanokoji had specifically warned him, and he had been wary of her from the start. So, the recording had been running since their private conversation began.
(Who has a handle on whom?)
...
Kushida quickly transferred the 80,000 points. Kiyomizu stared at the transaction notification on his phone and raised an eyebrow.
(Where did she get this money from? Did she borrow it from other students?)
But since the points were in his account, he couldn't be bothered to dig deeper. As for the so-called "handle" she had on him, the recording was enough to prove that she had initiated everything, and it had nothing to do with him. By the way, could a fingerprint on clothing really be used as evidence?
Late at night, Kiyomizu lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
(Wait a minute...)
He suddenly frowned, a strange sense of déjà vu washing over him.
(This transaction model... hasn't it been happening a bit too often lately?)
Memories flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern—Kei Karuizawa's awkwardness as she transferred points with a blush, Suzune Horikita's sharp gaze as she paid with a cold face, Arisu Sakayanagi's elegant demeanor as she swiped the payment with a playful smile... and now, today's Kushida.
(That's the fourth one...)
Kiyomizu sat up with a kip-up, and suddenly laughed out loud in the darkness. "Don't tell me... I'm surprisingly talented at business? Is it time for the fifth customer soon?"
All sleepiness was gone. He rolled over and grabbed his phone from the bedside table, skillfully switching to his rarely used alternate account. The glaring "Read" status on the screen showed that there was still no reply from Ryuen, not even a punctuation mark. And Ichinose's side was even more straightforward; the chat history ended with a polite but firm refusal.
"Ugh..." he couldn't help but rub the screen with his thumb, a self-deprecating smile on his face. So the idea of "all deals with beautiful girls are successful" was just his own wishful thinking.
...
In Ichinose's room on the upper floor of the dormitory, she held her phone, her fingertip gently rubbing the screen. After much hesitation, she finally sent a message to her class group chat.
Honami Ichinose: Everyone, let's be especially careful to follow the school's daily code of conduct from now on! (.o?-)?
Satoru Shibata: Roger! Don't worry, class rep, I've already reminded everyone! ?
Ryuji Kanzaki: Understood. We will also be careful not to reveal any information to other classes.
Chihiro Shiranami: We'll definitely follow what you say, Ichinose-san! (?o?o)??
Satoru Shibata: By the way, how did you find out about this inside information, class rep? You suddenly called a meeting during lunch break today and scared everyone in Class B! (⊙⊙)
Honami Ichinose: Ahaha... actually, a senior from Second-Year Class D came to me for a transaction~ But it's not convenient to say who it was (^^;)
Ryuji Kanzaki: Understood. It does involve privacy. Ichinose-san, although we each paid 10,000 points this time, please thank that senior on our behalf.
Honami Ichinose: Yup, yup, I'll contact her right away! (?o?o?)?
Ichinose let out a soft sigh of relief. Fortunately, she had added her contact information when they met at noon. She opened her phone's contact list, found the contact saved as "Yamamura-senpai," and after a moment's hesitation, sent a message.
Honami Ichinose: Yamamura-senpai, thank you so much for this! If it weren't for your reminder, our Class B might have been at a disadvantage in the first month of school... （＞人＜;）
Yamamura-senpai: Don't thank me, I was just asked by someone else. In fact, thanks to you, I also earned a nice sum of points.
Honami Ichinose: Eh? Asked by someone else...? May I ask who asked you?
Yamamura-senpai: Sorry, I can't say. The other person doesn't want me to tell you either. And... it's better if we don't contact each other again. I don't want to get on the vice president's bad side.
Honami Ichinose: Eh?! The vice pres—
Yamamura-senpai: Anyway, let's just block each other! If we see each other again, just pretend you don't know me!
The moment the message was sent, her profile picture quickly turned gray. Ichinose stared at the screen in a daze, her fingertip hovering over the keyboard, unable to react for a moment.
—Asked by someone else?
In other words, the person who really warned Class B... was someone else?
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