The school cafeteria.
"Adding my contact through the class group chat… what a presumptuous guy."
At this hour, Horikita Suzune was dressed not in her usual uniform, but in a white shirt layered with a pink camisole.
Without her school uniform's formal edge, her icy "queen of isolation" aura had softened — replaced by the kind of gentle familiarity you'd expect from the girl next door.
"I didn't expect you to accept my friend request that fast," Hikigaya said, waving her over to sit.
Suzune raised an eyebrow, ignoring his remark.
"So? Calling me out at this hour — what's your real reason?"
"It's dinner time. So, dinner," he replied, matter-of-factly.
"Sorry, I didn't know what you liked, so I just ordered a bit of everything."
Hikigaya set a tray down from the elite Café No.1 counter.
Beef, shrimp, grilled fish, broccoli, and even a delicate dessert — easily a luxury meal by school standards.
"What's this supposed to mean?"
Suzune couldn't help swallowing hard at the sight — and smell — of it all.
Normally, she lived quite frugally.
And ever since her personal points had dropped to zero this month, she'd become even stricter.
Tonight's "dinner" had been the infamous free-for-all mountain vegetable set, which she'd planned to reheat back in her dorm just to make it edible.
"I'm treating you," Hikigaya said simply.
"Why?"
"Eat first. I'll explain later."
"No. You tell me your intention first."
Suzune's resolve was ironclad — not something that could be shaken by mere food.
"The beef and shrimp are best while they're hot," he added patiently.
"If you wait too long, the taste gets ruined."
"I don't accept charity," she said firmly.
"And this meal can't have been cheap. You really think it's smart to waste points like this?"
Suzune frowned slightly.
Their personal points had to last till the end of the month — and nobody knew how many points Class D would get next month.
Anyone with common sense would be conserving their balance right now.
"Don't worry. These points came from Horikita-senpai."
Hikigaya pulled out his phone, showing her the screen: 138,500 points —
(100,000 from himself, 20,000 from Kamuro, and 100,000 transferred by Horikita Manabu, minus monthly expenses).
He didn't mention the 4.5 million points hidden in his anonymous account.
"Tch."
Suzune's lips tightened. She shot him a sharp glare — then snatched the tray and began eating in earnest, with zero hesitation.
(It's from my brother, so technically, this isn't charity…)
Watching her quickly polish off everything, Hikigaya couldn't help but sigh.
She's really been struggling lately, huh…
"Horikita, there's something I'd like you to help me with," he began.
Suzune, halfway through chewing, froze.
"I'm not—"
She almost refused on instinct. But glancing down at the now-empty tray, the words caught in her throat.
Right. "Don't bite the hand that feeds you." That sort of thing.
"Relax. It's a bit of a hassle, but nothing that'll make you uncomfortable," Hikigaya assured her, before briefly explaining his request.
"Wait. You're asking me to tutor you in math?"
"One-on-one?"
Suzune's eyes widened. Of all the requests she'd expected, that was not one of them.
"Yeah. My math is terrible. I went to the study session today, but honestly, I couldn't keep up."
He admitted it plainly — no excuses, no pride.
"And why, exactly, should I help you?"
Arms folded, Suzune's tone cooled again. She wasn't the kind of person to go out of her way for others.
"Suzune, don't confuse being aloof with being alone."
Hikigaya pushed up imaginary glasses, mimicking her brother's lecturing tone to perfection.
"You—!"
Her composure cracked for a moment.
"Don't imitate my brother like that!"
(Wait, that's what she took issue with?)
He thought she'd object to him calling her by her first name, but apparently not.
Truthfully, Hikigaya had another motive beyond his math grades — her brother.
(Sus wording 😏)
After all, he'd accepted 1.5 million points from Horikita Manabu.
The older Horikita hadn't made any demands yet, but as an older brother himself, Hikigaya could easily guess what Manabu was really after.
"Horikita, please," he said seriously.
"I'm begging you. This is a once-in-a-lifetime request."
He took a deep breath, ready to deliver an entire speech full of strategic flattery and persuasive nonsense—
"Fine. I'll do it."
Suzune sighed softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"…Huh?"
Wait, that's it?
Just like that?
Hikigaya blinked in disbelief.
He'd prepared so many arguments, even budgeted some personal points as bribes.
He hadn't even started the boss fight — and the boss just… dropped dead from one basic attack.
Instant loot drop. No challenge whatsoever.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
She glared slightly, cheeks faintly red.
"Don't misunderstand!"
"I'm only doing this because my brother told me to!"
"He said I should learn how to interact with others better…"
"It's not like this is my idea!"
Ah, that made sense.
Still—
Suzune, if you agree to things this easily… someday, some shady guy's gonna scam you out of your savings.
"I don't intend to freeload, either," Hikigaya said at last.
"Since it's private tutoring, I'll pay you — 100,000 points."
He tapped his phone, sending the transfer.
Suzune blinked in surprise, staring at him with a strange, unreadable expression.
"What? Is 100,000 too low?"
Figures… greedy, huh? he thought.
Still, considering how bad his math was, maybe paying a bit more was fair.
He sent another 20,000.
"Idiot! That's not what I meant!"
Suzune let out a small sigh of exasperation.
Then say that earlier!
Mystery woman…
Of course, now that he'd already sent the points, he couldn't exactly ask for them back.
"Well… think of the extra as… meal expenses?"
He said it casually — knowing full well how outrageous it sounded.