Horikita Suzune wavered.
Amane's words were not without reason.
Indeed, the remaining members were already enough to ensure the normal functioning of the class. Saving them or not saving them wouldn't have a significant impact on the entire class.
If they couldn't advance to Class A because someone dropped out, then they've already been eliminated, so there's no need to even consider the question of saving or not saving them.
Ichihashi-san's relationship with Horikita isn't as good as with Amane.
Why must she save her? Can Ichihashi really bring the class 50,000 points worth of profit? Just thinking about it feels unrealistic… Looking at Horikita, who was visibly conflicted.
Amane felt genuine joy. Suzune was starting to judge the value of her classmates. As long as she turned them from 'classmates' into 'pawns' with a clear price tag, Suzune would decide whether to keep or discard them herself.
Since Suzune wants to play the 'advance to Class A' game, it seems okay to play along with her until she has accumulated enough points.
However, it won't do if Suzune spends all day busy saving this person and that person, striving every day to help her so-called classmates become better, because Amane would get jealous.
So, no.
Perhaps it's better to discard useless people sooner rather than later?
As for missing out on gold… that's an amusing joke.
"No! Amane, you're equivocating!"
Horikita suddenly looked up and met Amane's gaze.
Amane's smile gradually faded, finally disappearing completely from her beautiful face.
"What are you talking about, Suzune? How could I mislead you? What I said is a fact, isn't it? Since you think I'm wrong, then Suzune, can you tell me what you plan to use to persuade me to spend these points?"
Amane's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, making even Suzune instinctively avoid her eyes, feeling an urge to lower her head.
But… to lose to Amane just like this, she felt a bit unwilling.
A girl's competitive spirit is sometimes just that strange.
Horikita Suzune bit her lip hard, suppressing the fear in her heart, then slowly raised her head to meet Amane's gaze again.
Amane's expression showed a slight surprise, as if she hadn't expected Suzune to be able to withstand the pressure she exerted.
"Ha, hahahaha Amane, you… hahahaha…"
Contrary to Amane's serious expression, Horikita Suzune started laughing. She had never laughed so happily before.
Horikita Suzune, holding her stomach and laughing heartily, her behavior could even be called rude, but… let alone Amane, even Horikita Manabu, or perhaps even Horikita Suzune's parents, had probably never seen her laugh so happily.
It must be said, Horikita Suzune still looked very beautiful when she laughed.
Indeed, for a beautiful person, whatever expression they make is always a pleasing sight.
"What are you laughing at, Suzune?"
Amane first checked her outfit, then took out her phone to check her makeup.
There were no problems.
So what was Horikita Suzune laughing at? Amane couldn't find the answer she wanted based on her existing experience, and she couldn't help but feel a little annoyed.
The unknown made her uneasy.
"Indeed, only now do you give off a clear feeling, Amane. That cute demeanor, though charming, must be tiring, right?"
Facing Horikita's question, Amane shook her head.
"It's more tiring now, but in this state, I can think with 'absolute rationality.' In this state, I won't be interfered with by external factors…"
Mwah.
Softly.
Horikita Suzune smiled a little shyly, lightly covering her lips.
She was kissed. What was Suzune's objective? To gain the upper hand in the upcoming conversation? No, perhaps… maybe she just liked her and kissed her, right?
How could anything happen?
"I like Miyako Amane."
"Is that a confession?"
"Hmm, I don't know either."
Horikita Suzune looked up at the ceiling.
"I'll take you seriously, you know."
"It's fine even if you take me seriously."
…But, but… "Damn it!!! How am I supposed to bully you like this?!"
Amane crossed her arms, pouting her cheeks in annoyance.
"Why do you want to bully me, Amane?"
Horikita Suzune looked at Amane, a little puzzled.
It seemed Amane was always very insistent on bullying her.
Does bullying her bring Amane some kind of joy?
If so, Amane's preferences are a bit too strange… "Beautiful flowers are most beautiful only at the moment before they wither…"
Thump.
"Don't talk like that."
"Ugh, I know, it hurts… quickly, help me look."
Amane said, extending her head where she had just been tapped.
"Does it hurt a lot? I didn't even use much force."
Horikita Suzune quickly parted her long hair, intending to see if the tapped spot was swollen or something.
But the moment she parted Amane's hair, Amane suddenly lifted her head and quickly gave her a quick kiss.
"We're even."
Amane wore a triumphant expression, like a cat that had stolen a dried fish.
"You…"
Horikita Suzune pouted helplessly. Amane's expression earlier was too convincing, so much so that even she thought she had really hurt her.
But she hadn't expected Amane to still be thinking of ambushing her at a time like this.
Really… "I think it would be better if we continued our previous topic. If we keep fooling around like this, no one will be saved."
Amane had a sudden idea, attempting to divert Horikita Suzune's attention.
Horikita Suzune knew Amane was changing the subject, but she was helpless, because compared to fooling around, the more serious issue at hand was still the problem of the dropouts.
Now, the only person who could save Ichihashi and Sakura was undoubtedly Amane, who had plenty of points.
But Amane's attitude leaned towards abandoning the underachievers.
Amane's idea wasn't necessarily wrong, but it wasn't the answer Horikita Suzune wanted.
"Then Amane, how can you help me save one of them?"
Horikita Suzune's phrasing changed to 'help her save one of them.'
This way, Amane couldn't dismiss it with a single sentence of 'it has nothing to do with me.' If she wouldn't even help Suzune, there was no way to justify it.
"Then Suzune, can you first tell me why you absolutely must save another person? 50,000 personal points is enough for one person to live for two months, and 50,000 personal points is equivalent to 500 class points. I don't think Ichihashi-san has value equivalent to 500 class points."
Amane's frank statement indeed made Horikita frown a little.
Because this was an almost unassailable argument. Profit is the most realistic thing; the price paid must yield a certain return. This was Miyako Amane's code of conduct.
"What if I say… it's just because I want to try my best not to let them leave here crying? Would you accept that explanation, Amane?"
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