Kiyomizu narrowed his eyes, his fingertips tapping on the desk. "I see... you want to buy information from me?"
Suzune Horikita's expression froze for a moment before returning to her signature cold demeanor. "...Yes."
She had indeed been thinking a lot these past two days. The dense notes in her notebook were proof of that. Asking the upperclassmen was undoubtedly the most direct way, but for the anti-social Suzune Horikita, it was an impossible task.
(Rather than that...)
Her gaze refocused on Kiyomizu.
(...a direct transaction is much cleaner. At least he's a deskmate I know.)
...
Standing at the order counter, Kiyomizu scanned the menu. "One hamburger steak curry rice," he ordered without hesitation. Since she was paying, he saw no reason to be polite.
The tray was handed over quickly. Golden curry sauce coated the rice, topped with a thick hamburger patty, the fat glistening and emitting an enticing aroma. Kiyomizu picked up his tray. As he turned, he caught a glimpse of Horikita's actions. After paying for him, she had quietly sat down at a corner table, pulled a tuna onigiri from her uniform pocket, and began eating with slow, restrained movements. The rice ball looked dry and was clearly not a gourmet meal, but she ate it with a normal expression, as if she were used to it.
He raised an eyebrow, ordered two bowls of miso soup, and walked over to her table. Kiyomizu pushed a steaming bowl of miso soup in front of her, the bowl making a soft clinking sound against the table. "For you," he said flatly.
Horikita's gaze lingered on the soup for a moment before she shook her head. "This is my treat."
"100 points. Just transfer it," Kiyomizu stated the price.
"Kiyomizu-kun... do you really want to add me as a friend?" Horikita suddenly looked up.
The corner of Kiyomizu's mouth twitched. He took out his phone, and the moment the screen lit up, his contact list was in full view. "You're overthinking it. I just think you should have something hot for dinner." His finger swiped across the screen, and the long list of contacts scrolled by rapidly. Almost every student in their class was on it, even Arisu Sakayanagi and Masumi Kamuro from Class A, and Honami Ichinose from Class B. "See? Do I look like I'm short one friend?"
Horikita's eyes scanned the names, her lips tightening almost imperceptibly.
Kiyomizu ignored her reaction and picked up his spoon. He skillfully opened a packet of ketchup and squeezed a bright spiral onto the hamburger patty. The deep red sauce slowly slid down the curve of the meat, seeping into the cracks of the curry. He forked a piece of meat coated in sauce and put it in his mouth. The sweet and sour taste of tomato exploded on his tongue, perfectly balancing the richness of the meat. He then scooped up a spoonful of rice soaked in curry. The rich, spicy flavor mixed with the sweet stickiness of the rice, filling his mouth with warmth.
(Not only delicious but also perfectly nutritious.)
The food on his tray was disappearing at a visible rate, while Horikita, sitting across from him, was still taking small bites of her dry rice ball.
"Be careful, or you won't even be able to get in the ring next month."
"The amateur boxing club doesn't have weight classes."
"Speaking of which, have you joined any clubs, Horikita-san?"
"Not interested."
"Didn't apply for the student council either?"
"..." This time, she didn't answer.
"..." Kiyomizu chose not to press further.
He finished the last bite of his curry rice and drank the miso soup in one go. When he looked up, he saw that Horikita had already finished her sad sandwich and was quietly crumpling the wrapper in her hand—a habit quite different from the elegant genius from Class A. His gaze fell on the untouched bowl of miso soup.
"Finish your soup," he said, tapping the rim of the bowl with his spoon, making a crisp sound. "Then we can talk business." He then glanced pointedly at the "Waste is Shameful" sign on the wall.
After a moment's hesitation, Horikita finally reached for the bowl and began to sip the soup. When she put it down, a drop of light brown broth lingered on the corner of her mouth. She subconsciously licked her lips, her eyes discreetly scanning the table for a napkin. A hand with well-defined knuckles suddenly entered her field of vision. Kiyomizu had pulled out a napkin at some point and was casually holding it out to her. "Wipe your mouth." His fingertips remained steady in mid-air, waiting for her to take it.
The words of refusal were already on the tip of her tongue—"I don't want to rely on anyone," her usual line.
(But the deal...)
(I already owe him...)
After half a second of hesitation, she finally raised her hand and took the napkin, pretending to be unfazed.
"Don't feel like you owe me or feel bad. Tonight's dinner has settled that. For me, this is also a great opportunity to earn points. It's purely a fair transaction." Kiyomizu saw through her concerns and said lightly. "Tell me. What information are you planning to buy from me? Do you just want to know the truth about the class assignments?"
"..." Horikita's gaze sharpened. "From the way you put it, it seems you have other information as well?"
"Yes, you could say that," Kiyomizu's lips curved into a slight smile.
After a brief silence, Horikita lifted her chin. "...Tell me the truth about the class assignments first."
"It's actually simple," Kiyomizu leaned back in his chair. "The school divides classes based on students' excellence. During the entrance exams, each interviewer gives us a score based on our performance. Based on these evaluations and certain special criteria, everyone is assigned to one of four classes: A, B, C, or D. Class A is the best, and Class D is the worst." He looked directly at Horikita, his tone calm but firm. "In other words—the elite go to Class A and B, while the mediocre can only stay in Class C and D."
"...That's impossible! Are you sure this is true?"
"I tested Teacher Chabashira on the first day of school. And a second-year senior personally confirmed it."
"But..."
"Still have doubts?" Kiyomizu interrupted gently. "Then let me ask you, Horikita-san, which class is your outstanding brother—the student council president—in?"
"Third-year... Class A."
The words hit her like a hammer. Horikita's body swayed violently. "I was assigned to Class D... so in the school's judgment... I don't even meet the passing standard?"
-------
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