When Kushida finished speaking, Hikaru immediately followed up without any hesitation.
"It's simple. Sometimes, when I try to handle certain class issues, I feel like I don't always get the balance right," Hikaru said, feigning a troubled expression. "Even though my intentions are to help everyone, it sometimes ends up backfiring."
"If that's the case, then there's no need to worry," Kushida said, her brows slightly furrowing as she adopted a more thoughtful expression. "As long as you're genuinely trying to help the class, that's already a good thing. But… it's important to pay attention to how you approach it so that you don't inadvertently pressure anyone."
"Exactly," Hikaru nodded in agreement. "That's what I'm concerned about—doing more harm than good. Sometimes, I hesitate to get involved because of that."
Kushida smiled kindly. "In that case, before taking action, it might help to have a good chat with your classmates and truly understand their thoughts. That way, you won't risk overstepping, and they'll appreciate your efforts."
After a pause, she added, "No wonder everyone says that Class B is so united. It turns out that you and Honami-chan are constantly working hard behind the scenes, even when it stresses you out. You're both doing an amazing job!"
"N-Not at all…"
Ichinose's face turned slightly pink at the compliment. She glanced at Hikaru and then redirected the conversation back to Kushida. "Actually, I've been wondering… How does Hirata-kun usually manage things in Class D? Is he also a gentle, dependable type like you?"
"Of course. Hirata-kun is incredibly reliable, and everyone—both boys and girls—trusts him a lot," Kushida replied with a nod. Then, she lowered her voice slightly, adding mischievously, "In fact, because he's so dependable, quite a few girls in our class have a crush on him."
"Actually… he's already dating Karuizawa-san."
"Wait—what?!"
Ichinose's eyes widened in shock. "They're already dating? That was fast!"
"Ehehe, just don't tell anyone I said that, okay? It's not exactly a secret, though," Kushida said with a shy smile. "Karuizawa-san even walks around the school holding hands with Hirata-kun. They're not trying to hide it at all."
"I see," Hikaru remarked thoughtfully before asking, "So, Hirata must hold a lot of influence in Class D, right? Even dating someone doesn't seem to affect how much the girls trust him."
"That's right! After all, Hirata-kun is really handsome," Kushida replied, her expression playful. Then, as if something occurred to her, she glanced at Hikaru. "Speaking of which… You're pretty handsome too, Hikaru-kun. Haven't any girls in Class B confessed to you yet?"
That unexpected question immediately changed the atmosphere.
Hikaru blinked, surprised that Kushida would ask something so direct, while Ichinose's expression subtly darkened, the smile on her face freezing.
"Uh… I haven't received any confessions so far," Hikaru said with a chuckle, casting a cautious glance at Ichinose's noticeably tense demeanor. "Besides, I think it's more important to focus on our studies right now. I don't have any plans to date at the moment."
"Right! Kushida-san, don't ask stuff like that," Ichinose quickly chimed in, her tone slightly strained. "Hikaru-kun is always busy thinking about how to help the class. He probably hasn't even had time to think about romance!"
"Oops, my bad, my bad! That was a careless question," Kushida apologized with a sweet smile. But her sharp eyes had already picked up on the subtle change in Ichinose's mood.
Interesting… Looks like Honami-chan cares about Hikaru-kun a lot more than she lets on.
"It's fine; it's really not a big deal," Hikaru said easily. "Actually, we should be thanking you instead. You've been incredibly helpful by answering our questions."
He smiled politely. "Let me treat you to lunch as a token of our appreciation."
"Eh? That's not necessary!" Kushida exclaimed, waving her hands modestly. "I didn't do anything special—I just told you a few stories about our class!"
"Oh, come on, Kushida-san. You agreed to meet us early on a weekend, and we feel a bit bad about that," Ichinose added, flashing a quick glance at Hikaru. She could tell he wanted more time to gather intel, so she played along. "Unless you have other plans today…?"
"Well… I don't have anything urgent…"
After hesitating briefly, Kushida finally nodded.
"Great! Do you have any favorite foods, Kushida-san? Feel free to pick whatever you like—I'm buying," Hikaru said with a grin, glad for the opportunity to spend more time with her.
"Hmm… I don't have any strong preferences. You can choose!" Kushida replied cheerfully.
"Alright. How about we go to that popular family restaurant nearby? I've been there before, and the food is pretty good," Hikaru suggested, recalling the spot where they had their first strategy meeting.
"That sounds perfect!"
With that settled, Ichinose gestured for Hikaru to stand up, preparing to head out with Kushida. Since the main goal of the day was to gather more intel on Class D, they planned to chat as they wandered around Keyaki Mall before lunch.
As the trio strolled through the mall, Hikaru discreetly accessed his system and purchased a Stock Analyzer to check Kushida Kikyo's stock details.
[Stock Analyzer Activated.]
Stock: Kushida Kikyo
Profile: A charming and sociable girl known for brightening the classroom atmosphere. Skilled at forming connections, she quickly becomes friendly with new acquaintances. However, she possesses a hidden, aggressive side and harbors a secret past.
Stock Price Increase Stratey:
Build trust with Kushida.
Help her keep her past hidden.
Ensure Horikita Suzune drops out of school.
Stock Price Decrease Risks:
Develop a friendship or alliance with Horikita Suzune.
Support Horikita Suzune in any way.
---
"…Huh?"
Hikaru stared at the screen, utterly baffled.
Why was Suzune the key to both increasing and decreasing Kushida's stock value?
Was this girl secretly Suzune's biggest hater?
And wait a minute… wasn't Suzune a stock that had already appeared in his system before? Did that mean she was also from Class 1-D?
This was turning out to be some pretty explosive intel.
~~~
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