After their classes had ended, Hirata stood in front and prepared the blackboard for a big discussion regarding their class. Because of his powerful charisma, almost everyone in the class had shown, with the exception of Koenji and Horikita. Koenji didn't really care about the whole issue, while Horikita left early because she had something important to attend to, according to her at least.
If Kiyotaka had to take a guess, she was most likely on her way to the teacher's office for a talk with Chabashira-sensei. He could still remember her shocked look upon finding out that the different classes also indicated an hierarchy of sorts and knowing that girl's personality, she wasn't pleased about being placed in a class of failures. Unlike Yukimura though, she was calm and composed about it instead of throwing a tantrum in the classroom, but now she was likely going to get answers from Chabashira-sensei herself.
"Ayanokouji!"
Kiyotaka's attention was drawn to Yamauchi, who suddenly appeared in front of his desk with a look of despair on his face.
"What's wrong?" he asked, tilting his head slightly in confusion.
"Hey, can you buy this from me for 20,000 points? I need more points!" he cried, holding up a handheld gaming console that he apparently bought immediately after receiving his 100,000 points on the first day of school. Now that Chabashira-sensei dropped a massive bomb on them about their points, Yamauchi found himself in desperate need of more.
Kiyotaka gave him a blank stare. "If I buy it, then who am I supposed to play with?"
"How the hell should I know? Come on, it's a good console! It's a limited-edition one, so it's a good deal."
"Not my problem," Kiyotaka said flatly. He didn't even want the thing. Also, why was Yamauchi turning to him for help in the first place? They weren't even friends, as far as he was concerned...
"Come on, Ayanokouji! You're my only hope!" Yamauchi continued to wail.
Kiyotaka continued to stare at him with an impassive look, despite the teary-eyed look on his classmate's face. Fortunately, he quickly realized that Kiyotaka wasn't convinced one bit, so Yamauchi immediately switched to another target.
"Professor! Your buddy needs a favor from you! Buy this game system for 22,000 points!"
"So, not only did he switch his attention to Sotomura, but he also increased the price," the young man thought to himself, unsure if he should feel disappointed or annoyed.
"Things are really tough for our classmates who used up their points..." Kikyo spoke as she approached Kiyotaka's desk.
"Like what Chabashira-sensei said, it's not like we didn't receive anything this month. They'll just have to live with 9,700 points and what's left of their initial money," he sighed.
The girl nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that's true. Still, I wish I could help them."
He had no idea if she was faking or being genuine with that statement. Like everyone else, Kushida was shocked upon finding out that there's more to the points that they receive than meets the eye. "But what about you? Do you have enough points? Girls need a lot of things to live with, if I'm not mistaken."
"I'm okay. For now, anyway. I think I've used up half of my points. I kinda lost control this past month and overspent a bit, hehe..." she confessed while twiddling her fingers in embarrassment. "But it's nothing to worry about! I'll hold myself back this time. What about you, Ayanokouji-kun?"
He shrugged. Money wasn't a problem for him. He was more concerned with finding out how their points could be increased so countermeasures can be prepared ahead of time. "I'll be fine. I didn't even spend a lot of points, since I didn't need to buy anything. In fact, I'm more worried about you. It's got to be hard not to spend money when you're so popular."
"Hehe... I guess..."
"Hey, uh, Ayanokouji? Do you have a minute?"
Both of them turned their heads to see Kei walking up to Kiyotaka's desk, looking strangely nervous from the way she was rubbing her arm and her gaze directed elsewhere.
"Do you need something, Karuizawa?" asked Kiyotaka.
"Uh, I... kinda spent a lot of points this past month... I think I only have 20,000 left, actually. If you don't mind, uh... can I have some points from you? Just 2,000 points would be enough!" she asked, feeling both embarrassed and nervous that she was asking him to lend her some points.
This surprised the young man. This was the first time they've talked in a long while and while the system wasn't saying anything about a heroine losing interest in him or outright hating him, it was still surprising to see Karuizawa approaching him for a reason like this. "Why me? Why not your friends?" he asked curiously.
"I already asked them and they lent me some... but I don't think it's enough yet, and... I kinda overheard what you and Kushida-san were talking about just now so I know that you still have a lot... n-not that I was listening on purpose, obviously!" she explained. "And, well... you're the only guy I talk to around here..."
That was an exaggeration. The last time they talked was during the little trip that Kushida organized a week ago. That mattered little to her, though. When they were alone together that time, Kiyotaka wasn't really bad company and he never once acted like a desperate pervert who's out to get her.
As far as she was concerned, she could approach him without fear. That and there was no way in hell she would talk to another boy around here for points... maybe except for Yosuke. Actually, she could also approach him later on and ask for some points too.
"Uhm... if you need points, Karuizawa-san, then I'd be happy to—"
"No, no, I can't borrow some from you. I know you already spent a lot, Kushida-san. I'm asking Ayanokouji," she said, cutting off Kikyo before she could finish her sentence. "So? Is it fine with you? If you don't want to, it's fine."
Kei felt a little nervous about his answer since she knew that they weren't even friends or even close for her to ask him for some points, but little did she know that the decision was already made.
"Sure, why not? Only 2,000 right?" Kiyotaka asked. He didn't have a shortage of points, so why wouldn't he help her out? Plus, even if he didn't want to, it's not like he could say no and make her sad, which was a huge red flag in his book.
Kei stared at him in shock for a few moments, showing that she really wasn't expecting him to give her points just because she asked. Besides, he didn't owe her anything. However, her doubts were proven wrong and right away, a big smile took over her features.
"Thank you! Really, thanks for this, Ayanokouji-kun!" she flashed him a genuine smile, before pulling out a little piece of paper that had a cell phone number written on it. "Here's my number, by the way. You can send the points to me later. Thanks again!"
She left the sheet of paper on his desk before walking away, in pursuit of a new person whom she can ask for points. However, she was clearly in a much better mood than before, all traces of nervousness gone in her features.
[You have gained 10 Affection Points with Karuizawa Kei!]
"Karuizawa looked kind of cute when she smiled like that..." Kiyotaka thought as he stared at the blonde girl for a bit, before pocketing the sheet of paper that she left for him. He'll send her the points she needed later on, maybe when he gets back to his dorm. "I guess this means I'm good in her eyes?"
"That was amazing, Ayanokouji-kun! I honestly thought you were going to ignore Karuizawa-san because it's not your problem. It's what you did for Yamauchi-kun earlier," Kikyo cheered on while clapping her hands in applause.
"You have a point. It's probably her fault that she spent almost all of her points as well. But unlike Yamauchi, she wasn't persuading me to give her points. She would have understood if I turned her down. I think that's enough reason for me to help her," he told her. There was also another reason that involved keeping her happy since she's one of his heroines, but there's no need for Kushida to know about that.
"Wow, Ayanokouji-kun... I never knew you could be so kind!" she smiled brightly.
"Are you saying I'm not kind?"
"That's not what I'm saying!" Kushida shook her head, looking appalled at that accusation. "It's just... I don't think you're close with Karuizawa-san or even proper friends with her since you don't really talk to each other... but you still helped her."
ραпdα nᴏνa| сom "Because she would have been sad if I didn't," he thought to himself.
The loudspeaker from outside the room then came alive, and the voice that spoke issued an announcement that could be heard from inside.
"Ayanokouji Kiyotaka from first year, Class D. Please come see Chabashira-sensei in the faculty office."
Kikyo turned to him in surprise. "Looks like Chabashira-sensei wants to see you."
"It appears so," the young man said, maintaining his usual expression for everyone to see even though deep down, he felt confused. "I'll see you later then."
