Horikita Suzune stared intently at the chessboard.
A dazzling black piece sat there all alone.
Outside the board were the white pieces scattered on the table, completely captured by Amane.
To capture fifteen pieces consecutively in one turn...
How could such a thing happen right before her eyes?
This was simply not a level of skill a high school student could possess. Although Horikita Suzune wanted to deny such a result, it was undeniably happening right in front of her.
"I won, Suzune."
Amane gently hugged Horikita from behind, who was still somewhat lost in thought.
Her hands slowly climbed up from her waist.
Horikita seemed completely oblivious.
Until Amane's efforts finally reached the peak.
The burgundy bow tie was casually tossed aside by Amane.
The golden buttons were also undone, revealing the thin white shirt underneath. Just as Amane began to unbutton the shirt, Horikita suddenly pressed down on Amane's hand.
"Now isn't the time for such things..."
"Then when is?"
Amane tasted Horikita without further ado.
She gently laid Horikita Suzune flat on the floor.
Then Amane straddled Horikita.
Just as Amane was about to make her next move, Horikita Suzune forcefully pushed Amane away.
"After this is over... Amane, you can do whatever you want, but not now."
Hearing Horikita Suzune say she could do whatever she wanted, Amane's face showed a hint of a smile.
"Then it's a promise, okay?"
"Mm..."
Horikita Suzune's voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, so close that Amane almost didn't hear it.
Amane stood up and tidied her clothes slightly.
Horikita Suzune also took the opportunity to quickly straighten her clothes, which Amane had disheveled.
But after both of them had tidied up, the entire room fell into silence again. Horikita Suzune was running out of time; she had to find a breakthrough.
Horikita Suzune's gaze returned to the chessboard.
Only by starting from this game of chess and proving the importance of the collective to Amane could she... Although she wasn't sure if she could move Amane, it was up to her to try; if she didn't try, she would never get the result she wanted.
At this moment, Horikita suddenly noticed the black pieces she had captured next to her side of the board. Horikita immediately knew how to refute Amane.
What she didn't know was that every one of her expressions was under Amane's watchful eye. Through their long time together, Amane understood her even better than Horikita understood herself.
"Suzune, are you going to tell me that without those sacrificed black pieces, I wouldn't have been able to hold out until the last black piece became a 'King', right?"
Horikita was somewhat surprised why Amane knew what she was going to say.
"Doesn't this just prove that every piece has its use?"
Horikita looked at Amane expectantly, as if grasping at hope.
"Suzune, are you misunderstanding something? I'm the one holding the pieces. I'm the one who made them sacrifice themselves in the right positions. If it weren't for me, they wouldn't even have had the chance to contribute, would they?"
Amane's words shattered Horikita Suzune's last hope.
She truly couldn't find any other reason to persuade Amane.
"Seeing you so troubled, I actually have an idea."
As Amane spoke, her hand unconsciously moved to Horikita's leg.
Horikita's face was slightly flushed. Normally, Horikita would probably flick Amane's forehead.
But now, Horikita, even though she knew Amane was taking advantage of her, could only remain silent and pretend not to notice.
"Tell me."
"Well, Ayanokoji is willing to offer 50,000 points, which means you're only actually short 50,000 personal points, right? Instead of wasting time on me, why not tell Hirata and let him organize a fundraising event for Class D? Who knows, you might gather 100,000 points?"
Amane said with a smile.
Her fingers pressed slightly.
Clack.
Amane looked at her reddened hand in frustration.
She should have touched it longer.
"Public fundraising... isn't that a bit..."
Horikita's expression was still conflicted, seemingly a bit troubled.
"A bit embarrassing? You're about to be expelled, what's there to worry about being embarrassed? The current situation is, with me refusing to provide 50,000 points for free, if you want to save someone, this is the only way, isn't it?"
50,000 points was not a small sum for Class D at this time.
However, it was not an impossible number to gather.
As long as we squeeze... I mean, collect all the remaining points from everyone except Amane, gathering fifty thousand personal points is not out of the question.
"That's true... Then I'll discuss it with Ayanokoji. But what if we can't gather fifty thousand points in the end...?"
Horikita looked at Amane expectantly.
Amane never disappointed her.
"Then I'll make up the rest."
Amane's words seemed to put Horikita at ease.
"It's a deal then. I'll go find Ayanokoji and Hirata to discuss this right now."
Horikita left the dorm in a hurry after speaking.
Amane, meanwhile, casually opened her point balance.
Let alone fifty thousand points, even one hundred thousand points was not difficult for Amane.
But she just wanted Horikita to clearly see what kind of class D was, and let her judge for herself what price she would have to pay if she wanted to lead such a class to Class A.
When Horikita told Ayanokoji the news, Ayanokoji not only felt no relief but instead sensed a hint of abnormality.
However, seeing Horikita's confident promise that Amane would make up the points even if they couldn't gather enough, Ayanokoji still chose to trust Horikita.
The two of them called out Hirata, who was still suffering alone in his dorm room.
When Hirata learned that there was a way to save one more person, he immediately agreed to Horikita and Ayanokoji's request with excitement.
Four o'clock sharp.
Class D classroom.
The Class D members, who had only recently separated, gathered together again.
Their goal this time was to gather fifty thousand points to save either Sakura Airi or Ichihashi Ruri.
For fairness, Hirata even allowed both of them to be present to fight for their last chance.
Now, only an hour and a half remained until the final deadline.
Everyone in Class D had to discuss two things in such a short time.
The first was to gather fifty thousand personal points.
The second was to decide who to give the points to.
"Hirata-san, is what you said true? Can we really buy a point from the teacher and save another student?"
Kushida's expression, a mix of excitement and joy, infected many.
One by one, they looked expectantly at Hirata Yousuke on the podium.
"Ayanokoji-kun and Horikita-san told me this, and I also consulted Chabashira-sensei, who confirmed it. The problem we face now is—how to gather these fifty thousand personal points."
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