The next day after school, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, Suzune Horikita, and Ken Sudou found themselves wandering around the Keyaki Mall. Their mission was clear but challenging: they needed to find a first-year student with high academic ability to partner with Sudou for the upcoming special exam. However, this task was proving to be far more difficult than they had anticipated.
Sudou clenched his fists in frustration as they left yet another failed negotiation with a highly-ranked first-year.
"Man, this sucks!" he grumbled. "All these smart kids want a ton of private points to even consider partnering with me. And even if I pay, there's no guarantee they'll follow through."
Horikita had an expression that was cold and calculating as usual. "They're exploiting the fact that they have nothing to lose in this exam. If you fail, you get expelled, but they just lose private points for three months. It's not worth the risk for most of them."
Ayanokoji, walking a step behind the pair, observed the situation with his usual detached demeanor. He wasn't surprised that the first years were being cautious.
They had no incentive to help Sudou, and risking a partnership with someone with low academic ability wasn't appealing.
The three of them had been roaming around the mall for hours, but every conversation ended the same way—with an unreasonable demand for private points or outright refusal.
Sudou huffed in frustration. "This is hopeless. There's no way I can pass this exam without help, and I sure as hell don't have the points to bribe anyone."
As they reached the central atrium of the mall, Horikita stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing as she spotted a girl leaning against the railing on the first floor, watching them intently.
"Who's that?" Horikita muttered under her breath.
The girl in question was hard to miss. She had striking magenta hair tied into twin tails with red ribbons and dark, almost void-like red eyes. Her school uniform was worn with a casual disregard for formality—an unbuttoned crimson blazer over an orange blouse, paired with a short white pleated skirt and black thigh-highs. She exuded confidence and seductiveness with every subtle movement.
The girl seemed to notice them looking at her, and without hesitation, she descended the stairs, approaching the trio with a slow, deliberate stride. When she was close enough, she spoke up.
"Looks like you're having some trouble," she said, her voice playful, yet with an edge. "Looking for a partner for the special exam, right?"
Horikita's eyes widened slightly, and Sudou immediately stiffened. The girl's presence was unsettling, and there was something about her that put them all on guard.
"Who are you?" Horikita asked, her tone sharp.
The girl smiled and tucked a strand of magenta hair behind her ear. "Amasawa Ichika, first-year, Class A." She glanced at Sudou, and her gaze lingered on him, almost appraisingly. "I overheard your conversation from upstairs. You're looking for someone to partner with him, right?"
Horikita narrowed her eyes. "You were eavesdropping?"
Ichika waved her hand dismissively. "Not eavesdropping. Just… listening. And I thought I'd offer my services."
Horikita was immediately skeptical. "Why would someone from Class A be interested in partnering with someone from Class C, especially someone with low academic ability?"
Ichika shrugged, her eyes glittering with amusement. "Why not? Maybe I like a challenge."
Sudou, who had been quietly watching the exchange, finally spoke up. "Wait, you're saying you'd actually partner with me?"
Ichika smiled, and for a brief moment, her hand reached out, tracing a single finger down Sudou's arm. He flinched but didn't pull away, clearly mesmerized by her unexpected touch. "Maybe. But before I decide, I want to know… just how strong are you?"
Sudou blinked, confused. "Uh, strong? You mean like physically?"
"Exactly," Ichika said, her voice taking on a sultry tone. "I'm not really interested in brains. I prefer… strength." She leaned in slightly, her eyes never leaving Sudou's. "I want a partner who can protect me. Someone who's strong enough to handle anything."
Horikita frowned, immediately sensing danger. "This exam isn't about strength. It's about academic ability."
Ichika straightened up and shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe. But I still like strong guys." She turned her attention back to Sudou. "What do you say? Think you're strong enough to impress me?"
Sudou's chest puffed up with pride. "Hell yeah! I'm one of the best athletes in our grade. No one can beat me in a fight or on the court."
Ichika's lips curved into a mischievous smile. "That's what I like to hear." She glanced at Horikita. "But I'm not just going to take your word for it. I want to see it for myself."
Horikita, clearly exasperated, crossed her arms. "This isn't the time for games. We don't have time to indulge in your whims."
Ichika tilted her head, her playful expression never faltering. "Oh, but isn't this important? After all, if I'm going to risk partnering with someone like him, I need to know he's worth it."
Sudou looked between the two girls, his frustration mounting. "I'm not sure what you want from me, but if it's a fight, I'll do it. Whatever it takes to pass this exam."
Ichika's eyes sparkled with excitement. "That's the spirit. But how about something else? Let's say… you make me a deal. If you can cook me a meal that impresses me, I'll partner with you for the exam."
Horikita blinked in surprise. "Cook you a meal?"
Ichika nodded. "That's right. I want to see if you can handle a real challenge. Cooking takes skill, strength, and creativity. If you can impress me with that, I'll partner with you."
Sudou looked dumbfounded. "Cook? I've never cooked anything in my life!"
Ichika smirked. "Then you'd better learn fast."
Horikita shook her head, clearly frustrated. "This is ridiculous. We don't have time for this."
But Ichika wasn't finished. "Of course, if he can't cook, maybe someone else can do it in his place." Her eyes slid over to Ayanokoji, and for the first time, she addressed him directly. "How about you? Think you can cook something good enough to win me over?"
Ayanokoji met her gaze calmly, already understanding her game. She was testing them, playing with them to see how far they would go. "I can cook," he said simply.
Ichika clapped her hands together, her grin widening. "Great! Then it's settled. I'll give you one day. Cook me a meal that blows my mind, and I'll partner with Sudou. If you can't… well, I'll just have to find someone else."
She gave them a playful wink and turned to leave, her twin tails bouncing with each step. "I'll see you tomorrow after school at 4:30 in front of the mall. Don't disappoint me, boys."
As she walked away, Sudou let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "Man… what just happened?"
Horikita sighed in exasperation. "She's toying with us. This is a waste of time."
Ayanokoji, however, remained thoughtful. "Maybe. But it's also an opportunity."
Horikita turned to him, clearly irritated. "You're not seriously thinking of going along with this?"
Ayanokoji shrugged. "We need a partner for Sudou, and she's willing. We don't have many other options. Besides, cooking a meal is a lot easier than negotiating with someone who wants an outrageous number of private points."
Horikita frowned, but she knew he was right. "Fine. But we'll need to be prepared. I'll help Sudou with his studies, and you…"
"I'll handle the cooking," Ayanokoji finished for her.
Sudou looked between them, still processing what had just happened. "Wait… you're really gonna cook for her?"
Ayanokoji nodded. "Hmm. It won't be much trouble I think."
And he also thinks to himself, 'I will need to talk to Ichinose tonight and see if she knows anything about Ichika Amasawa. We need all the information we can get.'
As the trio left the mall, Ayanokoji's mind was already working through the possibilities. Ichika was a wildcard, and there was no telling what her true intentions were. But for now, they had a plan. And in this school, having a plan was half the battle.
~~
A/N: Check out my new original novel Harem Master: Seduction System. If you like harem stories with a Harem God System, you will love it. Check it out.