The moment he saw her, Kaoru immediately recalled her performance during the sports festival—many girls couldn't keep up with her pace and her clear, cheerful laughter often echoed across the field.
Her exuberance had surprised her classmates, who initially thought Kiryuin Fuka might finally be turning over a new leaf.
However, Kiryuin remained as unapologetically herself as ever.
After the competition ended, she walked off the track as casually as if she'd just finished a workout.
Now, she stood before them holding shopping bags emblazoned with luxury brand logos, clearly having just returned from Keyaki Mall.
"What are you doing here?" Kiriyama Ikuyo frowned at her sudden appearance.
Had it not been for her decent performance during the sports festival, his tone might have been even more impatient.
"That's my line. Were you lying in wait here to ambush a beautiful girl?" Kiryuin chuckled, then added upon seeing Kiriyama's dark expression.
"Come on, Kiriyama, don't make that face. I am a beauty, aren't I?"
"Dealing with you is a waste of time," Kiriyama Ikuyo retorted bluntly. "If you have something to say, spit it out. If not, hurry up and leave."
This was the main path students took back to the dorms, which was why Kiriyama had chosen to wait for Kaoru here.
Their encounter wasn't entirely unexpected.
"Kiryuin-senpai, would you like me to walk you back?" Kaoru glanced at her shopping bags—no doubt filled with items purchased using the Personal Points he'd given her.
"Heh, men really are more considerate when they're younger," Kiryuin replied with an amused smile.
"To be honest, thanks to your points this month, I've been able to indulge myself a little."
'No kidding,' Kaoru thought.
200,000 points in "friendship fees" plus another 500,000 in rewards—if this were the outside world, you could've gotten a sugar daddy to spoil you rotten several times over.
"Honestly, I'm more surprised you accepted them, senpai. I thought you might refuse."
"Oh? Regretting it now?"
"If I ever run out of money, would you drop me without a second thought?"
"Is that what you're really worried about?"
Kiryuin acted as though she didn't notice Kiriyama's stormy expression, plopping herself down on the bench between them with deliberate casualness.
"Whatever. I'm leaving." Kiriyama stood up. "Mitoma-kun, let's talk later. I'll fill you in on the details."
"Can't you tell me too?" Kiryuin called after him, clearly intrigued.
"Since when do you care about class matters?" Kiriyama shot back icily.
"Oh, just because I wasn't interested before doesn't mean I'm not now. Besides, the fact that you're asking a junior for help is interesting enough on its own.Kiryūin Fūka
"If it weren't for people like you in Class B, I wouldn't have needed to seek help from others," Kiriyama Ikuyo forced out through clenched teeth.
"So I'm the one obstructing Kiriyama?" Kiryūin seemed completely oblivious to his expression.
"Since the start of the term, you've contributed nothing to the class—either acting alone or arbitrarily criticizing class decisions. I hope you have some self-awareness." Kiriyama Ikuyo sounded particularly caustic, his irritation barely contained.
"Kiriyama, no need to praise me in front of juniors like this. Even I might get embarrassed."
Seeing Kiryūin shameless grin, Kiriyama Ikuyo felt his blood pressure spike dangerously.
Fortunately, he retained enough rationality to suppress his anger.
Though he thoroughly disliked Kiryuin Fuka, Kaoru seemed interested in her, forcing him to hold back his emotions.
"Mitoma-kun, as you can see, this woman has a terrible personality. I hope you'll be careful."
With that, Kiriyama Ikuyo turned and left without hesitation.
"This is the first time I've seen Kiriyama-senpai angry," Kaoru remarked.
"Don't mind him. He's always like this—complaining about himself, the class, Nagumo, the school..." Kiryuin shrugged, utterly indifferent.
She never cared about others' opinions or feelings.
Nothing mattered more than her own amusement.
"Aren't you afraid of expulsion, senpai?" Kaoru Mitoma asked. "If you're judged as a hindrance to the class, you might get pushed out."
"Let them try," Kiryuin laughed dismissively. "Even if they expelled me, I wouldn't complain. Life here is fun, and I'm confident I'd thrive anywhere with my abilities."
Kaoru glanced at the shopping bags beside her.
While he understood splurging after sudden windfalls, her demeanor suggested this was routine—like casually picking up a few clothes.
Given Class 2-B's circumstances, it was unlikely to sustain such habits.
Had she once been an heiress?
"Mitoma, how many Personal Points do you have left?" Kiryuin abruptly asked.
"Running low, senpai?" Kaoru blinked, as if ready to hand over every last Point at her command.
"Even seniors rarely spare 200,000 Points monthly, let alone gift them to others," she replied flatly.
"I know you squeezed plenty from Nagumo. Even if you spent them all on me, I wouldn't be moved."
To her, this was just Kaoru's pursuit tactic—a playbook she'd seen from countless whales.
The only reason she humored him was amusement.
This school's unique system barred wealthy heirs; Points had to be earned.
Yet Kaoru had gifted her 700,000 Points—then deadpanned asking if she'd step on him with her feet.
Now that was entertaining.
Therefore, Kiryuin Fuka agreed to Kaoru Mitoma's request without hesitation.
"You don't need to send me anything next month."
At the time, she had indeed found it amusing, but she wasn't the type to take advantage of small favors—especially not from someone who might be pursuing her.
However, Kiryuin didn't expect Kaoru to actually get upset.
"Are you doubting my sincerity, senpai?"
"I've had my fill. Any more would just be bullying my underclassman."
"Actually, I'd prefer it if you bullied me a little more."
"?"
Kiryuin Fuka felt a question mark pop up above her head.
Despite being exceptionally skilled at reading people, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of confusion.
Kaoru noticed her reaction and frowned.
"Did you think I was joking?"
"Are you mentally ill?" Kiryuin gaze sharpened.
"No matter how much money you spend on me, I won't say yes."
"Senpai, did you think I was trying to pursue you?" Kaoru asked.
Kiryuin nodded. "I know I'm cute, but you're probably not my type."
Kaoru didn't rush to respond.
Instead, his gaze drifted downward, settling on the girl's legs, which looked especially smooth and alluring encased in black tights.
"Senpai, I believe my request back then was about something else."