After Hasebe Haruka's interruption, the original topic seemed difficult to continue, and Kushida showed no intention of circling back.
The café buzzed with noise as students from various classes laughed and chatted freely.
Kaoru even spotted students from Class A and Class D together, occasionally discussing practice sessions.
Perhaps the shared training had fostered friendships, allowing some students to become friends.
Still, the occasional stares directed at him and Kushida felt uncomfortably piercing.
Fortunately, Kushida quickly grew tired of the coffee, and the two left the café.
As Kaoru glanced toward the dormitory stairs and was about to speak, Kushida suddenly said.
"Sorry, but can I borrow your phone?"
Kaoru handed it over.
"What do you need it for?"
"Hasebe reminded me earlier—you're Class A's big spender now, so you should've been the one paying." As she operated his phone, she realized it had no passcode, easily accessing the apps inside.
"One, two, three… W-Wait, am I seeing this right? Why do you have millions of points?!"
The number on the screen left Kushida completely stunned.
She had assumed Kaoru might have three or four hundred thousand at most—but this was ten times that!
'What was going on? Where did he even get this much Personal Points?'
"If you want, I can transfer half to you." Kaoru didn't mind.
After all, Morishita Ai's account balance was even more terrifying than his.
"W-Why would you give it to me?!" Kushida glared at him sharply, clutching the phone protectively as if guarding against a thief.
"Give me half today, then another girl tomorrow, is that it?"
"You're the only one I've told about this." Kaoru felt unfairly accused.
Hearing him say that, Kushida Kikyo felt much better, though she couldn't help lecturing him.
"I don't know how you got all these Personal Points, but it's best not to tell others. It's too eye-catching—what if someone asks to borrow money from you?"
Kaoru Mitoma almost told her that Class A currently had no shortage of funds, but then it occurred to him that Kushida Kikyo was still a Class D student, surrounded by penniless classmates.
No wonder she was worried about people borrowing money.
"Since you have so many points, I might as well buy everything I want. No need to save for you." Kushida Kikyo muttered while deftly clicking through the webpage.
"Speaking of which, this school is so strange. They forbid us from contacting the outside world but allow us to use the internet and shop online."
Kaoru leaned in to see what she was doing and was met with an indecent webpage, watching as she expertly added items to the cart.
"Am I seeing this right?"
"We can use these on Horikita later. By the way, do you think cat ears are cute?"
"The more you act like this, the more I want to use them on you."
"Pervert."
"Kikyo, do you really have the right to say that to me now?"
"It's not like I'm the only one playing."
"..."
After finishing her selections, Kushida Kikyo handed the phone back to Kaoru and instructed.
"If you think it's not enough, you can add more. Everything will be delivered to your dorm."
Kaoru checked the total price—it was definitely beyond what she could afford.
"How many points do you have left?"
"Why are you suddenly asking that?" Kushida Kikyo frowned.
"I may envy your points, but I don't want to beg some from you."
Even though their relationship was strange now, Kushida didn't feel she had any right to dictate how he spent his money.
Besides, asking him for money made her feel inferior.
Having Kaoru pay was just part of their game.
At most, she could give him something in return.
"I know what you mean. Honestly, I don't care much about these points. If you don't take them, I'll just give them to someone else eventually."
"Hahaha, so you're planning to keep other women too, huh?"
"Please, Kikyo-sama give me a chance to let my points be part of your life."
Kushida Kikyo was momentarily speechless.
How could he say something like that with a straight face?
A moment later, when Kaoru transferred 200,000 Personal Points to her.
"Idiot."
Kaoru didn't explain anything.
He knew Class D's living conditions would revert to how they were at the start of the term next month.
He couldn't just stand by and watch Kushida go hungry.
Come to think of it, he'd also have to find a way to support Karuizawa Kei, Airi Sakura, and Haruka Hasebe—otherwise, they'd all be stuck eating Vegetable Set Meals for a month.
"Oh, I almost forgot—where's my reward?" Kaoru belatedly remembered.
He recalled Kushida Kikyo promising him a reward earlier, and he'd been looking forward to it for a few minutes today.
"You really are a pervert." Kushida Kikyo scoffed.
"Don't get your hopes up too much about the reward. The final say is mine."
"At least give me a hint?" Kaoru looked at her pleadingly.
Kushida Kikyo rolled her eyes and said mercilessly, "Go back and wait for my message. I'll let you know when it's time."
This was simply too agonizing, especially after seeing what he had just ordered.
Kaoru Mitoma could already feel himself getting restless—this girl was far too alluring.
However, since Kushida Kikyo didn't want to talk about it, Kaoru had no intention of forcing her here.
There was plenty of time ahead; no need to rush.
With that thought, Kaoru bid her a quick "see you later" and turned to head up the stairs.
"Kaoru."
Her voice suddenly chased after him.
Reflexively turning around, Kaoru felt something soft press lightly against his cheek—a fleeting, warm touch.
By the time he regained his senses, Kushida stood with her hands behind her back, a faint blush on her pretty face, yet wearing a sly smile.
"That's your reward. I keep my promises."
Not giving him a chance to respond, she spun on her heel, her steps light as a deer's, and disappeared into the crowd near the elevator.
Kaoru touched his cheek.
Had anyone seen that?
He wasn't quite sure.
*****
As the sports festival drew closer, many classes had already submitted their participation forms to the school.
Naturally, this included Class A and Class D of the first-year students.
Because of this, Nagumo Miyabi soon received a copy of the participation forms—not the originals, but a perfect replica recreated from someone's memory.
After a quick glance, he immediately summoned a pawn he had kept in reserve for the entire semester.
Thus, in the student council office, a familiar scene unfolded before Nagumo once more.
Standing in his line of sight was a lovely girl, just like before.
The only difference was that now, both of them were fully aware of what the other was thinking.
"No need to be nervous. Horikita-senpai is out on business and won't be back for a while. I thought we could take this time to have a little chat."
With that, Nagumo flashed a refined, gentlemanly smile.
"Does the vice president need something from me?" Ichinose Honami, however, skipped the pleasantries and cut straight to the point.
"If it's nothing urgent, I should get back to practice with everyone else."
Nagumo raised an eyebrow.
She seemed a bit sharp with him today?
-----------------------------
Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator