Cote : I Just Want to Grant Your Wish!

Chapter 682 - 682: Have you found a partner yet?

"Ta-da! I've brought Nanase-san with me!"The next day at the cafe, Amasawa Ichika sat with Tsubasa Nanase across from Horikita Suzune.

Looking at Amasawa's cheerful smile and then at Nanase's quiet demeanor, Horikita Suzune felt somewhat surprised.

She hadn't expected the other to actually succeed in bringing Nanase along.

From this perspective, their relationship seemed to exceed expectations - a Class A student actually becoming friends with a Class D student so quickly.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, senpai."

Nanase politely apologized.

"It's fine, we just arrived ourselves."

Horikita Suzune began the introductions, "Although we've met briefly before, we haven't been formally introduced. I'm Horikita Suzune, and this is Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. Thank you for agreeing to meet with us."

Today, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was still following her, though Sudo Ken couldn't come along as he had club activities.

Horikita Suzune didn't mind much - Sudo was just someone who needed help, while Ayanokoji gave her the impression of being someone skilled at controlling scores while appearing reserved.

Nanase glanced at Ayanokoji before returning her gaze, saying softly, "I'm Tsubasa Nanase from Class 1-D. There's no need to be so formal, Horikita-senpai. Amasawa-san has already told me about your situation."

With this, today's meeting probably wouldn't go too badly, Horikita Suzune thought with some confidence.

"In that case, I'll get straight to the point. From what I understand, no one in your Class 1-D has formed any teams yet. Are you planning to sell your academic abilities to the second years?"

The team formation status could be seen on OAA. Nanase didn't seem particularly surprised by Horikita's question.

"Many in our class are following Hosen-san's instructions. The academic ability trading was his proposal."

Nanase said, "As Hojou-kun mentioned before, as long as sufficient Personal points are provided, we wouldn't hesitate to team up with you."

The Hojou-kun she referred to was the Class 1-D student Horikita had met previously, from whom she had learned about Class 1-D's price gouging.

"500,000 Personal points per person - how many people do you think can afford that price, Nanase-san?"

Horikita Suzune said calmly, "Even if someone is willing to trade with you, how many people could they actually buy?"

Nanase narrowed her eyes, "Is Horikita-senpai planning to bargain with me?"

"How much can you actually bargain down?"

"If the transaction itself is unreasonable, even if you demanded 100,000 personal points, I wouldn't agree to trade," Horikita Suzune retorted.

Rather than appearing offended, Tsubasa Nanase responded curiously, "If Horikita-senpai doesn't want to trade with us, why did you have Amasawa-san arrange this meeting?"

Amasawa Ichika, who had been looking at the menu, suddenly lifted her pretty face.

She glanced between the two, blinking her eyes.

"Beyond just a transaction, I believe we have potential for cooperation," Horikita Suzune stated.

"While personal points are certainly attractive, top students are ultimately few in number. Don't the students in your class need assistance too?"

Tsubasa Nanase understood her meaning and said softly, "You're right, our class does have quite a few students with poor academic abilities."

"Setting aside whether they can even find partners, if they perform poorly on exams, these students face the same risks - no personal points for three whole months. They'd have to rely entirely on the school's free provisions for survival."

Though Horikita Suzune's tone was blunt, from the other party's perspective, this was an undeniable truth.

"Only a minority can earn personal points. What about everyone else? Students with terrible grades probably can't even find reliable partners. If they have to watch their classmates enjoy lavish meals while they're stuck with free vegetable sets, even I would find that pitiful."

Hearing this, Tsubasa Nanase sighed. "Yes, actually, more than personal points, I'm more concerned about whether this might create rifts between classmates."

Then Tsubasa Nanase looked at Horikita Suzune. "I suppose Horikita-senpai's proposal is for our classes to cooperate?"

"Only through this method can both our classes potentially achieve mutual benefit," Horikita Suzune affirmed without hesitation. "As long as you agree to this arrangement, we can accept students regardless of their academic level."

Tsubasa Nanase remained silent for a moment. "I'm sorry, though I'd like to agree, Hosen-kun might not consent."

Horikita Suzune frowned and looked across at Amasawa Ichika.

"Oh my, this has nothing to do with me," Amasawa Ichika said without any embarrassment. "From what I know, in Class D, only Nanase-san can really restrain Hosen-kun right now."

This girl is completely unreliable, Horikita Suzune thought with exasperation.

"Amasawa-san might be misunderstanding - I don't have any confidence in persuading Hosen-kun," Tsubasa Nanase explained.

"It's just that I don't agree with Hosen-kun's approach."

"You mean the rules he established?" Horikita Suzune asked.

Tsubasa Nanase shook her head with a smile. "Hosen-kun has done certain things to manage the class. While I don't agree with his methods, I can't disclose them to Horikita-senpai - that would be betraying my class."

With this response, Horikita Suzune couldn't press further, though she contemplated what she knew about Hosen Kazuo.

Judging by the other's description, he might be similar to someone like Ryuen Kakeru.

Amasawa Ichika watched them both, seemingly finding the conversation boring, then turned her gaze toward Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and smiled.

"Hey hey hey, you're Ayanokoji-senpai, right?"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who had been acting as a mere observer, turned to look at this underclassman, uncertain what she wanted.

"Have you found a partner yet?" Amasawa Ichika asked with a playful grin.

"Not yet," Ayanokoji Kiyotaka replied.

Amasawa Ichika's eyes sparkled as she whispered. "In that case, why don't the two of us give it a try?"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka asked curiously, "Didn't you say someone already reserved you before?"

"Argh, just thinking about that makes me angry!"

Amasawa Ichika gritted her teeth, "He stood me up! How shameless!"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said expressionlessly, "Oh, so I'm your backup option."

"No, no, not at all! Someone as handsome as you—I feel like I'm getting a good deal."

Amasawa Ichika grinned playfully. "Want to team up with me?"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka shook his head. "Your academic ability is too high. You should team up with Sudo-kun."

"Oh? So you care about your friends that much."

Amasawa Ichika chuckled. "If he gets expelled, would you be sad?"

Ayanokoji seemed caught off guard by her question, freezing in place.

"Pfft—I can't tell at all. I thought Ayanokoji-senpai would be more aloof."

Ayanokoji didn't know how to respond to her.

This underclassman was a little too forward.

Just then, Horikita Suzune's voice came from nearby.

"If possible, I'd like you to help me connect with Hosen-kun."

Tsubasa Nanase looked surprised but then nodded gently.

"Sure, I can call him right now."

As Nanase took out her phone, Ayanokoji glanced at Amasawa and noticed she was still staring at him.

Horikita Suzune, unaware of their exchange, was busy thinking about how to persuade Hosen Kazuo.

However, his attitude was unexpectedly hostile.

"Someone from Class 2-C? Hah, no need to meet. If she doesn't have enough Personal points, tell her to get lost!"

Horikita frowned.

This Hosen Kazuo was even more troublesome than she had imagined.