"Kiyomizu-kun..."
Suzune Horikita suddenly extended a slender hand, which trembled slightly as it hung in mid-air. Kiyomizu looked at the suddenly offered hand, taking a moment to realize what was happening. Was this a handshake?
(Is she doing this... to apologize for last night?)
Since the girl had taken the initiative to extend her hand, he had no reason to refuse. As he gently took it, he noticed that her fingertips were cold, and her hand was a full size smaller than his. His palm easily enveloped her four fingers. "You don't have to do this, Horikita-san. I've already forgotten about what happened last night," Kiyomizu said, gently shaking her small hand.
"...Who's apologizing to you!" Horikita snatched her hand back, glaring at him with her ears turning red. "I'm just inviting you to be my sole collaborator! The handshake is our contract. Do you agree or not?"
She hadn't expected Kiyomizu to take her hand so readily. Normally, a boy would at least hesitate when faced with such sudden physical contact.
(He really is a teenage boy... won't miss any chance to get close to a girl.)
The thought annoyed her for some reason. What bothered her more was, why did this guy mistake her for apologizing?
"...Collaborate on what?" Kiyomizu slowly withdrew his hand. He vaguely sensed trouble, hoping his premonition was wrong.
"With me," Horikita looked directly into his eyes and said, word for word, "to bring Class D to the position of Class A."
Since her brother had Akane by his side, there was no reason for her to continue fighting alone. Looking around the entire classroom, the only person who met her standards in both ability and character was Kiyomizu. Besides, her brother had personally told her to learn from him how to handle social situations. So this invitation was more than appropriate.
"I refuse."
Kiyomizu cut her off bluntly, not even letting her finish. Seeing her face instantly darken, he sighed and explained, "I've told you many times, I have no interest in doing such a thankless job. Class A holds no appeal for me."
His goal was clear: as long as he could graduate from this school smoothly, that was enough. Which class he graduated from was irrelevant.
(As long as I have enough points...)
He just wanted to enjoy these three years of school life peacefully. Why bother with the empty glory of the class for no reason?
"...Such a realistic way of thinking," Horikita couldn't help but say.
Kiyomizu gave her a meaningful look. "You're no different from me. Don't tell me you genuinely want to benefit the entire class by aiming for Class A, and not just to prove something to your brother?"
Once again, Horikita was speechless. She had always prided herself on her sharp tongue, but in front of this person, she felt like a novice soldier on her first battlefield, utterly naive. His every word was like a precise scalpel, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.
"But well—" Kiyomizu suddenly changed the subject, a smile on his lips, "it's the same as before. For any future transactions from you, Horikita-san... I can make an exception and give you a 20% discount."
He did admire Suzune Horikita—both her stubborn personality and her delicate features. But admiration was one thing... business was business. Every point had to be collected, at most he'd give a discount for old times' sake. This was Kiyomizu's consistent way of doing things.
"...You're full of nothing but transactions!" Horikita's fingertips trembled with anger, and she instinctively clenched her fists. She had even shaken his hand, but he had refused so bluntly. But when her peripheral vision caught the solid lines of his arm, she forced down the urge to strike him.
(I can't beat him. Fighting will only bring me trouble...)
In the end, she could only turn her head away with a cold face, letting out a huff from between her teeth. She couldn't win with reason, and she couldn't win with force. Facing this version of Kiyomizu, she once again felt a sense of helpless frustration.
(Transactions? What do I have to trade with him?)
Horikita bit her lip. She had less than 30,000 points left in her account, which were about to be handed over as class fees—and would ultimately end up in Kiyomizu's pocket! Although she had never thought of evading the payment. After all, 25,000 points per person for such important information was already a very good deal.
"...Friday at 5:30," she said coldly, "if you're late, the tutoring is off!"
"Understood, I'll be on time," Kiyomizu nodded in agreement. He was worried about his Japanese grade. Since someone had offered to help, he had no reason to refuse.
...
"Sigh..."
Just then, a barely audible sigh came from beside him. Kiyomizu glanced over and saw Airi Sakura hugging a notebook, her eyes flickering as she stole a glance at him before quickly looking down again. "What's wrong, Sakura-san?" he asked casually.
"N-nothing!" Sakura shook her head frantically, her chin almost touching her chest, her ears turning red at a visible rate.
(She's looking at me again...)
Kiyomizu discreetly looked away. He wasn't a narcissist, but his deskmate's frequent stolen glances had become too obvious. That cautious gaze, like a startled animal, wanted to get closer but was ready to flee at any moment. Especially since she would sneak a glance at him once or twice every class, it was hard not to notice.
Kiyomizu's gaze fell on the notebook Sakura was clutching. With his keen observation, he had already guessed what it was. "Don't tell me... you want me to see the notebook in your hands?" he asked tentatively.
"Y-yes!" Sakura flinched as if her secret had been exposed, then nodded vigorously and handed him the notebook.
Flipping open the first page, Kiyomizu raised an eyebrow. All the key points from the first Japanese lesson were neatly listed. The notes were detailed, but it felt like she had just copied what was on the blackboard.
(Don't tell me she's not good at studying... This content isn't really suitable for me either.)
He needed targeted tutoring like what Horikita could provide, more than these kinds of notes. But he wasn't so tactless as to point that out. "This is a great help. I'll refer to it," he said, closing the notebook and nodding politely. By accepting her kind gesture, the favor he had done for her last time could also be considered settled.
Sure enough, after seeing Kiyomizu accept the notebook, her expression visibly relaxed.
-------
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