After lunch with Kushida, she excused herself, saying she had matters to attend to. Honami also had things to do, so the trio parted ways. Hashima returned to his dorm.
The meeting with Kushida had been fruitful. They learned that Hirata was Class D's leader and gained insight into her situation—such as her having a boyfriend and her influence within the class.
This meant that when they went to sell the rulers, convincing Hirata and Kushida—both influential figures—would help them collect points more efficiently. Time was of the essence.
If they waited too long, Class D students, who spent recklessly, might run out of funds. Hashima aimed for at least a million points. Though yesterday's class meeting hadn't been encouraging, with the help of Class D's leaders, it should still be possible.
"The most important thing right now is the stock situation—that's the priority."
Hashima sat at his desk and wrote two names in his notebook:
**Horikita Suzune, Kushida Kikyō.**
Both had stocks in the system. Horikita Suzune's stock had an initial price of 100 points with 3,000 shares, while Kushida Kikyō's was priced at 10 points with 5,000 shares, similar to Horikita's.
The **Stock Analyzer** indicated two ways to increase Kushida's stock value: help her hide her past and get Horikita Suzune expelled.
"That doesn't sound easy."
Hashima shook his head, deep in thought.
He recalled his meeting with Kushida—her sharp observational skills, her ability to quickly connect with others. These qualities proved she was an exceptional person.
Yet, she was in Class D, meaning the school knew about her past and had placed her there despite her abilities.
"Her past must be complicated for the school to make such a decision."
Hashima sighed. He had assumed the new stock would be straightforward, like Horikita's, but after meeting Kushida, he found himself facing a tangled situation.
Why hide her true self? Why expel a classmate? They were all just teenagers—why carry such a heavy burden?
"Well, I'll take it step by step. I'll know more when I visit Class D."
Hashima checked Kushida's stock on the system screen. With an initial price of 10 points, even a small increase would yield significant returns. If he discovered she was too complicated, he could always sell and walk away.
Then, another idea struck him.
With Honami, he didn't want to lower her stock value since they were partners. But with Kushida, he could experiment.
**Kushida Kikyō's Stock**
**Tips to increase value:** Build trust, help her hide her past, expel Horikita Suzune.
**Risks of value dropping:** Frequent contact with Horikita Suzune, becoming her friend or ally.
"If I raise the stock value, then suddenly get close to Horikita in front of Kushida, will the price drop?"
Hashima rubbed his chin, intrigued by the possibility. If this worked, Kushida could become a gold mine for the system, generating massive returns.
"Don't disappoint me, Kushida. See you Monday."
A faint smile crossed Hashima's face as he looked forward to their next meeting.