The library.
For the future of Class C, Kakeru Ryuen once again invited Honami Ichinose for a discussion. Whether she had learned her lesson or simply didn't want to be separated from Ren Katsuragi, Ichinose brought Ren directly along this time.
"Ren-kun Keep me company"
Feeling the softness against his arm and hearing the coquettish breathing by his ear, Ren did not refuse.
Ichinose set the meeting place at the library, and Ryuen, who was the one asking for a favor, did not object.
"Shiina, have you considered transferring to Class A?" Ren asked the silver-haired girl beside him while lightly scratching Mochi's chin.
Mochi lay on Ren's lap, narrowing her eyes and shaking her head in sheer comfort.
Ren felt that the student allocation in this school was truly problematic. Class B—formerly Class A—had someone like Yahiko Totsuka who belonged in Class D, while Hiyori Shiina, who had no issues whatsoever, was assigned to Class C, the class that represented the underdog.
Class D was even more of a mixed bag. A genius like Rokusuke Koenji was stuffed in there, along with Haruka Hasebe, whom Ren hadn't seen any major problems with yet.
Ren paid extra attention to Hasebe because she was Airi Sakura's good friend.
Ren couldn't understand this method of class division, insisting on stuffing anomalies into a group of defective or excellent products.
The "finished products" required by the conglomerates were talents. Talent should stand out among talent, not be thrown into the mud with the expectation that they save themselves.
The environment changes a person; this was no joke.
Sakura's transformation was the best example of this point. Because of this, Ren didn't want Hiyori Shiina, a girl he was quite fond of, to stay in a class filled with a delinquent atmosphere forever.
"Katsuragi-kun, did you figure out that I'm the one holding the class role for Class C in this special exam?"
Without answering Ren's question directly, Hiyori put down the book in her hand, tilted her head, and blinked cutely at Ren.
Ryuen had already decided to negotiate with Class A and sell off Class C's special role. Hiyori didn't need to continue hiding, so she simply said it openly.
Ren nodded.
Ryuen's move was indeed clever. It looked like he was using Hiyori to pull a honey trap on Ren to observe who the special role holder in Class A was.
In reality, he was playing the "darkness under the lamp" strategy—hiding in plain sight by leaving Hiyori, who held the special role, right by Ren's side.
The most dangerous place is the safest place. Who would have thought Class C's hidden player would be hiding right next to the mastermind of Class A in broad daylight?
"Hiyori, you're really bad at deceiving people. Or perhaps, you didn't want to deceive me."
"The interaction these past few days hasn't been like before. There was always a membrane between you and me, a barrier named 'approaching me with an ulterior motive'."
"Now, that barrier is gone."
Interaction between friends should be smooth, casual, and fluid.
Over the last few days, Hiyori's interactions with Ren lacked that previous smoothness.
"I really lost to you, Katsuragi-kun."
"So, now that you've pointed out my identity, are you going to tell Honami-san? Do you intend to use this to drive down the price?"
"Or are you saying you want to transfer me, the student with the special role, to Class A so that Ryuen loses his bargaining chip directly?"
Hearing Ren's explanation, the heavy stone in Hiyori's heart finally fell. She scooted her stool a few inches closer to Ren.
In Hiyori's heart, Ren was her good friend. And what she had been doing recently was using her good friend.
This made Hiyori somewhat afraid—afraid that her good friend would cut ties with her because of this.
Now that Ren had cleared everything up, Hiyori felt completely relieved.
It was just like when you did something bad as a child; before you were discovered, you would be constantly anxious, but once discovered, you weren't as scared anymore.
"It has nothing to do with this special exam, and I won't tell Honami. The transfer to Class A that I mentioned to you, Hiyori, is solely my personal wish."
"Hiyori, you shouldn't stay in Class C."
"This is help from a good friend, without any mixed interests."
Ren looked seriously at Hiyori, whose eyes had curved into crescents from smiling.
"Katsuragi-kun, may I address you... like this?"
Hiyori was truly happy. She was happy that Ren cared about her so much.
Even if...
It was just concern from a good friend.
"Hiyori, you can call me by my given name directly."
"Then regarding my class transfer... I'll leave it to you."
"Ren."
Hiyori chose to accept the goodwill from her good friend.
If Ren had tried to bargain using her special role after exposing her, Hiyori likely wouldn't have agreed to his proposal for the sake of Class C's interests.
As long as Hiyori was in Class C, she would be responsible for her classmates.
Knowing that this gift came purely from Ren, Hiyori had no reason to refuse anymore.
It was funny to say, but the only person Hiyori could truly call a friend in Class C was Mio Ibuki, whereas in Class A, there were many. All of this was brought to her by Ren.
Ren, if only you had been in Class C from the start.
Watching Ren quietly petting the cat, Hiyori sighed inwardly.
On the other side, the meeting between Ichinose and Ryuen was coming to an end.
"Ren-kun, it's settled. Let's go home."
Having successfully concluded this special exam, Ichinose ran over with a sweet smile on her face and took Ren's arm.
On this exam paper, Ichinose had scored full marks.
"Tsk, the sour stench of love."
"Ichinose, don't think you've really won. The student with the special role in your Class A is Yuki Himeno, right?"
Ryuen walked over with his hands in his pockets.
Through some snooping, Ryuen had positively identified Yuki Himeno as the student holding the "Hunter" role. However, time had outpaced his plans; hunting Himeno now would have too low a cost-performance ratio.
"Ryuen-kun, why don't you guess?"
Exchanging a glance with Ren, Ichinose playfully told Ryuen to guess for himself.
Ren-kun is really amazing.
Ryuen guessed wrong. The student in Class A who truly held the special role was...
Airi Sakura.
After receiving the special role, Sakura's first reaction was to ask Ren what to do. Then, following Ren's instructions, Sakura handed her phone to her deskmate, Yuki Himeno.
Himeno, receiving the phone, instantly understood Ren's meaning. She directly confessed that she had obtained the special role, and with Kanzaki assisting her, ultimately only a few students checked the phone that belonged to Sakura.
The moment she saw Himeno take out the phone and reveal the information, Ichinose realized it was Sakura's phone. The girl didn't make a sound and played along with Himeno.
And so, Sakura, the true holder of the special role, was hidden away.
Hiyori Shiina was playing "darkness under the lamp," and so was Airi Sakura.
The special exam ended, and winter break arrived...
Ren did not leave in a hurry. He used the winter break to spend quality time playing with the girls.
He took many photos with Sakura, turning the blog that originally belonged to a popular idol into a loving photo album of the two of them.
He played chess and went shopping with Honami, enjoying dates that belonged just to the two of them.
Boxing training didn't stop. Whenever she had time, Kikyou would drag Ren to box, and after boxing, they would start fighting.
Chie had more ways to have fun; she still enjoyed the thrill of a secret rendezvous...
Ren carefully extricated himself from the center of the large bed, stepping onto the rug without making a sound.
Gently closing the bedroom door, Ren stumbled as he went down the stairs, barely holding onto the wall to keep from falling.
The sensible Koharu, as if sensing something, carried the sleeping Mochi in her mouth and followed Ren.
Touching Koharu's large head, Ren spoke softly.
"Good girl, it's time for us to leave."