Chapter 22: Nightfall—Deceiving the Cold-Hearted Girl

After hearing Hikaru's explanation, the members of Class B immediately grasped the essence of the plan.

If they could create a rift between Ryuen and the rest of Class C, those who had not been subdued by him would inevitably unite. They would no longer tolerate him using violence at will.

Not only was violence dangerous, but it also led to class point deductions. Unless Class C's students were complete fools, they would have to rein in Ryuen's actions.

"I see now." Ichinose's striking blue eyes gleamed. "As long as we can persuade Ibuki-san to cooperate with us, the plan will work."

"It doesn't matter whether she acts out of a sense of justice or simply because she despises Ryuen," Hikaru mused, rubbing his chin. "We need to make contact with Ibuki-san as soon as possible."

The group nodded in agreement. The plan was not only feasible but also highly effective.

Seeing their approval, Hikaru turned to Ichinose. "Alright, Ichinose-san, I'll leave the summary of this discussion to you."

He deliberately handed the task over to her—after all, Ichinose was the official leader of Class B.

"Eh… alright."

She hesitated for a moment, but when she saw the encouraging look in Hikaru's eyes, she cleared her throat and began summarizing the discussion.

"First, we're postponing the plan to sell the hidden rules to Class C. The exact timing will depend on the success of Hikaru-kun's new plan."

"As for contacting Ibuki-san, I'll handle it myself." Ichinose took on the responsibility. "Once I've made contact, I'll update everyone on the details of our negotiation."

"No objections here."

Everyone exchanged glances and returned to their seats. With class about to start, they couldn't linger any longer.

After the others left, Ichinose leaned in close and whispered near Hikaru's ear. "Thanks for letting me handle the meeting summary, Hikaru-kun."

"It's nothing. You're the representative of Class B—I'm just your assistant."

"But I still want to thank you, so just accept it, okay? Hehe."

After spending the past few days together, Ichinose had grown much closer to Hikaru. Though they had only just met, her tone was already filled with warmth, even carrying a slight teasing edge at times.

"Alright, no need to thank me."

Hikaru, however, remained oblivious to the subtle change in her attitude. His mind was fully occupied with the class competition, leaving little room for anything else.

The school day passed quickly. Most of Class B's students were studious, so before they knew it, it was already afternoon and time for dismissal.

After their homeroom teacher packed up and left, the students quickly dispersed, ready to carry out their assigned tasks. Since Ichinose had volunteered to handle contacting Ibuki, the others left it to her.

Hikaru, on the other hand, decided to continue exploring the school grounds. The artificial island was vast, and there were still many places he hadn't visited.

At around 7:30 PM, just as Hikaru finished showering and was reading in his dorm room, he received a text from Ichinose.

Ichinose Honami: Hikaru-kun, I've contacted Ibuki-san. We're waiting for you at the café in Keyaki Mall.

She also sent him a detailed location pin.

Hashima Hikaru: That fast?

Ichinose Honami: Ibuki-san seems impatient. She said she'll only give us one chance, so get over here quickly.

Hashima Hikaru: …

Glancing at the time, he noted that the café would close in an hour. Without hesitation, he grabbed his phone and hurried out the door.

By the time he arrived, slightly out of breath, his eyes immediately locked onto Ichinose, who was seated in the corner. Across from her sat a short-haired girl with a cold, indifferent expression—Ibuki Mio from Class C.

"You sure know how to put me on the spot. I just got out of the shower, you know?"

Wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead, Hikaru plopped down beside Ichinose.

Seeing him arrive in just a thin short-sleeved shirt, Ichinose quickly pressed her hands together in apology. "Sorry, sorry! I'll treat you to a drink next time, okay?"

"Forget it. You always just buy oolong tea."

"You don't like it? I think oolong tea is pretty good."

"It's awful."

"I SAID—"

The short-haired girl across from them, who had been watching their conversation with growing irritation, suddenly slammed her hands on the table. "Did you call me here just to flirt in front of me?!"

"We're not flirting!" Ichinose's face immediately turned a faint shade of pink as she waved her hands frantically in denial.

Noticing the clear frustration on Ibuki's face, Hikaru swiftly shifted gears. Since he needed her cooperation, it wouldn't do to start off on the wrong foot.

"Nice to meet you, Ibuki-san. Sorry about that. I'm Hashima Hikaru from Class B."

As he spoke, he took the opportunity to examine the girl sitting across from him.

Ibuki had sharp, well-defined features and fair skin. Her short blue hair gave her a tomboyish air, and her round eyes—currently filled with annoyance—held an unmistakable fierceness.

"Ichinose-san should have told you why we wanted to meet, right?"

"I didn't tell her anything." Ichinose raised her hands as if declaring her innocence. "I just invited her out as a friend."

"…Fine, I'll get straight to the point then."

Hikaru adjusted his posture, making his tone more serious. "I heard that you fought with Ryuen."

"So what if I did?"

Ibuki folded her arms across her chest, a scowl forming on her face. "That bastard tried to force me into voting for him as our class representative. He even had the audacity to say, 'Don't think I won't hit a girl.'"

"Hah. Who the hell does he think he is? I knocked him on his ass before he could even react."

"I see. You've got some martial arts training, then?"

"What's it to you?" She shot back, clearly impatient. "Why did you drag me here? Just say it already."

"I have a plan—but it requires your help."

Hikaru remained unfazed by her brash attitude. In fact, her blunt personality made her an even better candidate for what he had in mind.

"I know that Ryuen is using violence to seize control of Class C. I also know that only a few students, including yourself, have resisted him."

"And?"

"Are you really okay with a guy like him leading your class?" Hikaru's tone grew heavier, his words carrying a deeper implication. "Class representatives hold a lot of power, you know."

"Power? What kind of power?"

Ibuki frowned, clearly not fully understanding what Hikaru was getting at. However, her instincts told her that something was off. She narrowed her eyes and studied his expression.

"For example, control over Private Points," Hikaru said without hesitation, his voice steady as he spun his lie. "Class representatives have the authority to collect Private Points from their classmates."

Without missing a beat, he gestured for Ichinose to take out her phone.

Having seen Hikaru's ability to manipulate people firsthand, Ichinose hesitated for a moment. But ultimately, she followed along, pulling out her phone and displaying her balance.

"You see? Our class representative is Ichinose-san. Take a look at her Private Points."

Initially skeptical, Ibuki's expression changed the moment she saw the screen.

Over one million Private Points.

"If Ryuen becomes Class C's leader, what do you think will happen? With his authority, he could force everyone to hand over their points. You might all end up living off the free meal plan while he enjoys luxury meals every day. Do you really think he wouldn't do it?"

"…"

Ibuki remained silent for a long time. Then, she slowly lifted her head, locking eyes with Hikaru.

"So, what exactly do you want me to do?"