Inside the family restaurant, the students of Class 1-B couldn't help but feel increasingly impressed as they watched Hikaru pull out his phone.
For someone to have formulated so many ideas and plans on the very first day of school—
There was no doubt about it.
This guy was a doer.
Someone who, in the coming years, would undoubtedly leave a mark on this school.
---
The moment Ichinose announced she would be the first to join Hikaru's 20-million-point plan, the others quickly followed suit.
"Count us in too, Hikaru!"
Seated across the table, Shibata and Kanzaki immediately declared their support.
They had already acknowledged Hikaru's abilities—so how could they possibly turn down an offer to work with him?
"Thanks for your support."
Hikaru's sharp yet gentle features softened with a smile.
With Ichinose's stock price now at 110, his mood couldn't have been any better.
Out of habit, he glanced sideways—
Right at the pink-haired girl beside him.
Ichinose had just joined the group chat, but it seemed she had just now realized how bold her previous action had been.
Her delicate face was still flushed red, betraying her inner turmoil.
She pretended to casually sip her drink, but her eyes kept drifting toward Hikaru.
Then, as soon as their gazes met—
She snapped her head away and hurriedly struck up a conversation with the girls beside her.
Even though her ears were practically glowing, she still tried to play it cool.
Hikaru's Verdict?
Adorable.
Suppressing a chuckle, he shifted his focus to the three girls sitting across from him.
"And you all? Any thoughts?"
They barely hesitated before agreeing to join the plan.
Now, inside Hikaru's newly created strategy group—
There were a total of seven members:
Himself
Ichinose Honami
Shibata Sō
Kanzaki Ryūji
Andō Sayo
Shiranami Chihiro
Himeno Yuki
---
"Thank you all for believing in me."
"Let's raise our glasses—for Class 1-B!"
Hikaru lifted his orange juice, brimming with determination.
"Cheers!!!"
"Cheers!!!"
Everyone was infected by his passionate energy, standing together in unison.
Many challenges lies in the path ahead. Gathering allies in this adversity shouldn't hurt right?
The sound of clinking glasses echoed through the room.
Ichinose watched the boy at the center of it all.
Despite having just met today, she felt an inexplicable trust in him.
He shared her ideals—
He had the same determination to help others.
And most importantly—
He was intelligent. He was steadfast.
If Hikaru was by her side for the next three years…
Maybe she would never feel lonely again.
A soft, barely noticeable smile touched her lips.
And with that, she fully immersed herself in the night's celebrations.
After the successful meet-up, the seven students continued to linger at Keyaki Mall for quite some time.
By the time they finally called it a night, the sky had turned dark.
---
By the time Hikaru returned to his dorm, it was already 9:30 PM.
Closing the door behind him, he immediately opened his system interface.
---
Stock Market Interface
[Ichinose Honami Stock]
Current Value: 110
Held Shares: ???
---
"110, huh?"
"I'll stick to the original plan—sell 2,000 shares."
Hikaru began calculating his first-ever stock sale.
By the end of the day, he had confirmed two major discoveries:
1. Helping Class 1-B was the best way to increase Ichinose's stock price.
Whether it was planning strategies or executing them, her stock would rise accordingly.
The bigger the impact, the greater the increase.
2. The system's stock lineup was completely random.
It wasn't just female classmates—even female teachers could become stocks.
Stock values varied wildly.
Ichinose's starting price was only 10—practically a beginner's benefit.
Perfect for maxing out investments.
But then there were others—
Chabashira Sae: 50
Horikita Suzune: 100
The prices only got steeper from there.
Hikaru had no intention of touching them yet.
Another issue—
New stocks could appear at any time.
Given his plan to sell rules to the other classes, he would inevitably meet more students.
And if he found another "golden stock"—
One with low initial cost and high potential—
That was where he'd make his next big move.
"For now, let's cash in a portion."
"Physical training is my top priority."
He confirmed the sale.
[Ichinose Honami Stock Sold!]
Funds Received: ???
First Purchase: Athletic Booster
[Athletic Booster (30 Days)]
Effect: Improves stamina through consistent physical activity.
First-time use increases stamina by 1 point.
Requires running for one hour daily for 30 days.
A bottle of liquid suddenly appeared in his hand.
It looked like a standard sports drink.
"Guess I just drink it?"
He shrugged.
No hesitation.
He downed the entire bottle in one go.
[System Update]
[Athletic Booster Activated]
[Stamina Training: 0/30 Days Completed]
"Alright."
Checking the school's schedule, he confirmed—
First class started at 8:30 AM.
That meant he had plenty of time for morning runs.
"Time to get started."
Objective:
Phase 1 of Physical Training—
Morning Runs.