The moment Kushida asked to exge taformation with Hikaru, he immediately sensed a shift in Iose's aura beside him. Her expression subtly darkened.

  Without hesitation, Hikaru swiftly delivered a diplomatic response.

  "Of course, that's fine. But I've beey busy tely—how about we wait for a better time? Once I have some free time, we grab a meal together."

  "Mm-hmm! I'm free anytime!"

  Hearing Hikaru's agreement, Kushida's face lit up with excitement. Through today's rule transa, she had fully realized that this boy was someone incredibly capable. If she could establish a good retionship with him, it might prove useful iure—so naturally, she wao build rapport as soon as possible.

  "I'd like to exge taformation with Hikaru-kun as well. Would that be alright?"

  Just as Hikaru and Kushida were about to exge phone numbers, Hirata suddenly stepped in, expressing his desire to do the same.

  Hirata had found today's revetions eye-opening. Now that he uood the school's system, he was certain that this B-Css student was aiming for Css A. Keeping in touch with him might be Css D in the long run.

  "No problem at all. Sih Hirata-kun and Kushida-saing in your css's best i, we're teically on the same path."

  Hikaru generously agreed to exge numbers with Hirata as well.

  At the same time, he subtly g Iose, who had been visibly displeased just moments ago.

  Upon seeing that Hirata had also joined in, Iose's gloomy expression finally eased slightly.

  Kushida's previous remark had iirred something withihough she herself wasn't sure why.

  After exging tacts, Hikaru no longer saw a reason to stay.

  At this point, the only Css D student he was truly ied in was Kushida Kikyo.

  After all, he had just ied 50,000 system funds into her stocks—he o make a return on that iment.

  "Well then, we'll be heading out."

  With a bright smile, Hikaru bid them farewell, thehe without aation, walking alongside Iose.

  ---

  Once Hikaru and Iose left, Hirata turned back to address the remaining Css D students.

  Having just learned about the school's hidden rules, their expressions were a mix of fusion and unease.

  "Everyone, please listen to me."

  Hirata took a deep breath before tinuing.

  "I know that the current situation seems unfavorable to Css D. But now that we uand the rules, that meaill have a ce to catch up."

  He wao rally the css—to uhem toward a on goal.

  However, his encing words were met with lukewarm reas.

  Css D's students were lost—uain about what the future held.

  Most of them had poor academic performao begin with.

  Now, with the immense pressure of css petition looming ahead, could they even pass regur exams, let alone survive the Special Exams?

  To graduate successfully, they o defeat three other csses—an overwhelmingly difficult challenge.

  "e on, everyone! Now that we know the rules, we have a real oving up!"

  Kushida's face showed urgency as she spoke up.

  She reized that this was the perfect opportunity to solidify her influehin Css D.

  "If we work together, we move up! Don't fet, css rankings are based on Css Points, which are tied directly to our Private Points. We 't afford to give up!"

  "Kushida-san is right! We shouldn't give up!"

  The one who chimed i was Yamauchi—who had been one of the most uncooperative students earlier.

  He was clearly trying to act like a leader—but unfortunately, no oook him seriously.

  The rest of the css simply ignored him.

  "Hirata, if you have a pn, just tell us. We're waiting on you."

  Audent suggested this, and it quickly gained support from others.

  This was, in a way, the true nature of Css D.

  If someone was willing to step up and take responsibility, they'd simply leave everything to them.

  If it worked out, great—if not, they wouldn't take the bme.

  "Uh… I don't have a specifi just yet. you all give me some time to think?"

  "In that case, let's call it a day."

  "Yeah, Hirata, let's just stop here for now."

  Seeing that Hirata didn't have an immediate solution, and given that school was already over, the Css D students quickly dispersed.

  Watg them leave so casually, Hirata could only force a bitter smile.

  Deep down, he uood Css D's reality.

  And hearing Hikaru's blunt assessment that Css D was seen as the worst css, Hirata couldn't deny the truth of it.

  "Hirata-kun, don't worry. I believe in your abilities."

  Kushida approached to offer words of fort, though internally, her mind was already spinning with schemes.

  Hikaru had just revealed that with 20,000,000 Private Points, a student could freely switch csses.

  That meant that as long as she collected enough points, she could ensure her graduation from Css A.

  But gathering that many points would be a long and difficult process—she needed a solid pn.

  Frankly, Kushida didn't believe Css D had any real ce of reag Css A.

  Rather than wasting time, she would start pnning her escape route.

  ---

  Meanwhile, Horikita Suzune—who had been silently —packed up her things ahe without hesitation.

  She was still angry about being pced in Css D, but at this point, there was no use dwelling on it.

  What mattered now was how she would hahe uping Special Exams—that was where she o focus.

  Her desk neighbor, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, also finished pag up.

  His expression remained calm as ever.

  Even after just paying a rge sum of Private Points, he didn't seem to care at all.

  "Hashima Hikaru… quite the fshy guy."

  "That kind of thing… is really not for me."

  Still, now that he had learhe school's deeper rules, things would be much easier for him.

  Slowly, he walked out of the .

  His reasons for ing to this school were many.

  One was to pursue personal freedom.

  Another was to explore the true meaning of equality and strength.

  And stly—to gain firsthand experience of the outside world.

  After all, in that pce, he had never been allowed to experie for himself.

  This school was the perfect opportunity.

  ---

  Ihe Student cil room, located on the fourth floor of the school building, Horikita Manabu sat in silence, carefully analyzing the information before him.

  Across from him, Tachibana Akached expetly.

  For the past few days, she had been gathering intel—specifically, information on one first-year student: Hashima Hikaru.

  This was a direct order from Manabu himself.

  "So, he's accumuting Private Points through tract-based transas?"

  Manabu adjusted his gsses, his tone carrying a hint of admiration.

  "The idea of using tracts to restrict other csses' as… an impressive strategy."

  "Yes. It seems Hikaru-kun is aiming to collect 3,000,000 Private Points—and he's already secured deals with two csses."

  "Whies?"

  "First-Year Css A and Css D."

  "…Css D?"

  At that moment, Manabu's eyes sharpened.

  The instant, he rose from his seat.

  He had someone he o see—immediately.

  "President, is there something urgent? Would you like me to apany you?"

  "No his is a personal matter."

  He refused Tachibana's offer.

  After all, the task ahead was troublesome—but he had no choice.

  ~~~

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