"Natsuki..."
"Are you interested in the matter of my transaction with Class A's Honami Ichinose?"
Suzune Horikita thought for a moment and decided to try inviting Subaru.
If she could get Subaru to accompany her to the negotiation with Honami Ichinose, Horikita felt that things would likely go much more smoothly. This was because Subaru basically never concealed his thoughts. As long as she asked, Subaru would essentially provide a certain degree of answers.
Moreover, Subaru had experience trading with Honami Ichinose and her group, so having him participate would make talking easier.
"Not interested."
Subaru did not respond to any of Horikita's expectations, refusing decisively and directly.
Furthermore, before Horikita even opened her mouth, Subaru already knew what she wanted to say next. He smiled and said directly, "Even if you bring Kikyo-san along, I won't be interested."
"Horikita-san, you should focus your efforts on thinking about how to negotiate with Ichinose-san next."
Ever since Horikita discovered a little hobby of Subaru's, she would always use herself or Kikyo Kushida to guide him from time to time, attempting to get Subaru involved in certain matters.
In response to this, Subaru could only say it was a bit too superficial.
The prerequisite for Subaru to do something on his own initiative was that the matter had to be interesting enough to him.
As long as it was interesting, it didn't matter whether Horikita or Kikyo Kushida were there or not. In this world, there were originally very few things that Subaru found amusing.
Conversely, if a matter was truly boring, let alone Horikita and Kikyo Kushida, Subaru wouldn't even want to pay much attention to Hiyori Shiina.
It didn't even need to be Hiyori Shiina. During the time when Emilia still possessed her own color—that period when she was imprisoned by him—Emilia had requested, and even begged him, more than once.
Emilia had requested very sincerely, begging him not to go on like this. Subaru had heard words similar to that countless times within the endless loops.
Subaru had paid them no heed.
So... let alone these fellows without color.
"Focus efforts on thinking about the negotiation with Ichinose?"
"Natsuki, do you think the negotiation with Ichinose this time won't go smoothly?"
Horikita did not mind Subaru's refusal. Having been rejected by Subaru so many times, to tell the truth, Horikita was already used to it. Now, it was just a daily routine to say a few words whether there was business or not; perhaps there would be an unexpected harvest.
For instance, right now, Horikita had discovered a key point. Subaru thought she needed to think carefully about how to negotiate with Class A's Honami Ichinose next. Didn't this clearly reveal that Subaru did not have a favorable view of her negotiation this time?
After all, if it were easy to negotiate, there would be no need to think too much about it.
"It likely won't be smooth."
Subaru smiled and nodded.
Leaving aside the fact that Class C had already taken action, even if Class C hadn't acted, Horikita didn't have a high probability of extorting one million personal points from Honami Ichinose. Now, with the more aggressive Class C involved, the possibility of Class D obtaining personal points from Honami Ichinose had become even lower. After all...
Even if Class D stopped its operations, it didn't mean Class C would stop theirs.
The instant Class C made their move, the extortion plan Horikita had previously envisioned basically went down the drain.
That Honami Ichinose still wanted to negotiate with Horikita now meant there was a high probability she wanted to unite or cooperate with Class D to do something.
At the same time, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, who was sitting directly in front of Subaru, nodded deeply in his heart.
'Horikita, you haven't realized yet that the situation has undergone a fundamental reversal.'
'Class A's Honami Ichinose contacting you on her own initiative is not to request something. On the contrary, she has likely seen through Class D's current predicament. The one truly driven to a desperate dead end is Class D.'
In Ayanokoji's view, before Class C took action, Class D indeed possessed the possibility of blackmailing and extorting other classes.
There was also a high probability of extorting a generous amount of personal points, and solving their urgent needs would absolutely be no problem. However, any plan fears the emergence of an accident, and Class C was that accident.
Class C was more ruthless and aggressive than Class D, so why should protection money be paid to Class D?
Paying Class D would likely not have much effect. Therefore, Ayanokoji felt that this invitation from Honami Ichinose was likely more about cooperation. Perhaps through cooperation, they could obtain a portion of personal points.
As for anything else, there was no need to think too much about it.
"Is that so?"
"However, that is also within my expectations."
Horikita had no other expression on her face.
Although she opened with one million personal points, Horikita actually hadn't really prepared to get that many personal points from Honami Ichinose. Even Horikita felt that was a bit unrealistic.
Horikita felt that one million personal points was indeed somewhat difficult, but six or seven hundred thousand personal points shouldn't be a problem. In half a month, Class D had caused Ichinose's class to lose over one hundred class points.
Converted into personal points, that was a loss of over ten thousand personal points per person, totaling over four hundred thousand for the whole class.
She was only asking for six or seven hundred thousand personal points. If Honami Ichinose was smart, she would definitely agree to her request. Otherwise, Class D could completely continue to make Ichinose's class lose over one hundred class points in the remaining time.
Horikita was not prepared to voice this hypothesis of hers.
After all, Subaru had already said he wasn't interested in this matter, so there was no need to say it.
The topic ended just like that.
Seeing that Horikita had no interest in continuing the chat, Subaru refocused his gaze out the window, letting his thoughts drift aimlessly.
Overall, Class C's action merely provided Class D with a few more topics for discussion. No other obvious situations had arisen yet. Most people even felt that Class C must have lost their minds to commit such an irrational act.
Compared to Class C's insignificant action, more people cared about how the negotiation between Horikita and Honami Ichinose was going, and when they could receive the personal points sponsored by Class A.
Because of this matter, Class D hadn't really targeted Class A since yesterday.
After the morning classes ended, Sae Chabashira had just left when Horikita was surrounded by a group of people... Horikita appeared quite confident, reassuring them.
Looking at it this way... this matter didn't seem as boring as imagined.
Before leaving the classroom, Subaru looked at Horikita, whose face revealed a look of confidence, and a smile emerged on his face.
As long as he didn't hold high expectations for Horikita, and just treated her as a seasoning for daily life... sometimes watching a confident Horikita eat humble pie seemed not bad either.
Subaru had already piqued a little bit of curiosity.
He was somewhat curious about what kind of expression Horikita would have if the negotiation with Honami Ichinose at noon wasn't as smooth as imagined, and how she would face the current Class D students.
The only slight regret was that there were no classes this afternoon; it was time for club activities.
If Subaru wanted to see Horikita's expression, he could only see it during class tomorrow morning... However, sometimes Subaru had to lament that accidents came faster than anything.
The Cafeteria.
Not long after Subaru got his lunch, before he even sat down, Kikyo Kushida sent a message that interested Subaru very much.
Kikyo Kushida: [Subaru-kun, are you eating lunch in the cafeteria right now?]
Looking at the message notification on his student terminal, Subaru was slightly surprised.
Compared to Horikita, who lacked self-awareness, Kikyo Kushida was quite tactful here. After knowing roughly what kind of personality Subaru had, Kikyo Kushida wouldn't contact him without reason.
Every time Kikyo Kushida sought out Subaru, something Subaru found interested would happen.
Even if occasionally there were things of little interest, it wouldn't be as boring as Horikita.
Therefore, the patience value Subaru retained for Kikyo Kushida was still relatively high and hadn't been consumed too much.
Subaru: [That's right. Kikyo-san, sending me a message suddenly at this time, is something up?]
Kikyo Kushida: [Does Subaru-kun have time in a while?]
Kikyo Kushida: [Horikita-san was attacked by Shiho Manabe and her group from Class C!]
It had to be said, Kikyo Kushida's tier was truly much higher than Horikita's.
Kikyo Kushida directly stated the news that was truly sufficient to catch Subaru's attention right at the start.
Subaru was just looking forward to what expression Horikita would have if the negotiation with Honami Ichinose didn't go well, and now an even more explosive event had occurred.
Subaru decided to drink a mouthful of beverage to steady his nerves.
Subaru: [Attacked?]
Subaru: [Kikyo-san, is it that kind of attack in the literal sense?]
After sending the message, a look of contemplation appeared on Subaru's face.
According to Subaru's understanding of Kikyo Kushida, she shouldn't deceive him. Moreover, the truth of such a matter could be known immediately. Lying to him now would have absolutely no meaning other than lowering his weighting ratio for her.
Then, the matter of Class C attacking Horikita should be true.
It was just that it shouldn't be a direct attack. A direct attack would leave almost no room for maneuvering and would lead to immediate expulsion.
Even if twenty million personal points could still be used to avoid punishment, Class C simply couldn't afford to pay it.
Excluding the factor of Subaru... currently, even if the personal points of all four first-year classes were added together, there wouldn't necessarily be twenty million, let alone just Class C. Class C's economy was only slightly better than Class D's.
If not for Kakeru Ryuen showing absolute dominance from the start, the personal points Class C could mobilize wouldn't be many either.
Kikyo Kushida: [It's not that literal... it's just that Shiho Manabe and her group took advantage of Horikita-san going to the restroom alone and splashed water directly into Horikita-san's stall. It was really too excessive.]
Subaru: [I see.]
Subaru: [What is Horikita-san doing now?]
From Kikyo Kushida's text, Subaru could feel that happy emotion with incomparable clarity.
However, this was also a very normal thing.
Kikyo Kushida's dissatisfaction with Horikita wasn't a matter of just a day or two.
The reason she cooperated so much with Horikita to stir up trouble this time was just to make Horikita become a thorn in everyone's side and a target of public criticism, wasn't it?
Now, seeing a scene of Horikita's misfortune, she naturally had to enjoy a good moment of happiness.
Kikyo Kushida: [Horikita-san's face was extremely ugly just now. She has already gone back to the dormitory to change clothes.]
Kikyo Kushida: [Originally, she prepared to negotiate with Class A's Ichinose-san now. Now it can only be delayed a little bit... In other words, is Subaru-kun preparing to get involved?]
Subaru: [I'm just somewhat curious about Horikita-san's expression and want to come over and take a look.]
Subaru: [Of course, if you are going to negotiate, and don't mind me listening in, I can also listen.]
Kikyo Kushida: [Subaru-kun talking like this feels a bit mean, you know~]
Kikyo Kushida: [You can't talk like this in front of Horikita-san in a while; Horikita-san will get angry.]
Kikyo Kushida: [Since Subaru-kun is coming over in a while, then come directly to the Class A classroom~ Originally we prepared to learn from Subaru-kun and negotiate on the second floor of the cafeteria~~~]
Kikyo Kushida: [Ichinose-san is very generous; she even prepared to treat us to a meal on the second floor of the cafeteria.]
Kikyo Kushida's words were very dense, allowing Subaru to once again feel Kikyo Kushida's happy emotions.
'Not only will Horikita-san's expression be interesting, but Kikyo-san also makes me look forward to it somewhat.'
Looking at the chat history with Kikyo Kushida on the student terminal, Subaru smiled faintly, and then opened the contact named Hiyori Shiina.
Since such an interesting thing happened, he would go to the library to read with Hiyori Shiina a little later today.
Subaru: [Hiyori, something very interesting happened. As for the library, I might come a little later.]
Hiyori Shiina: [Could it be related to our class's actions these past two days?]
Hiyori Shiina's intuition was as accurate as ever.
Looking at Hiyori Shiina's reply, Subaru smiled.
Subaru: [A little bit.]
Subaru: [Even if I don't say it, I think it will soon reach your ears.]
Horikita was, after all, the person in charge leading this Class D self-destruction plan.
Nowadays in this academy, she still had a bit of fame more or less. Now that she had been directly attacked by Class C, the news would soon spread everywhere.
Everyone would be watching the spectacle regarding Horikita.
____
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