When Sakayanagi Arisu's message arrived, she was actually already standing at the door of Shikime Natsu's dormitory.
Shikime Natsu stood up and opened the door, only to see a beautiful silver-haired girl holding a cane and wearing a beret standing there with a smile.
Through the crack in the door, her sharp purple eyes instantly captured Ichinose Honami, who was standing up somewhat awkwardly inside the room.
"My, my, it seems Shikime-san is busy."
Sakayanagi Arisu tapped the ground lightly with her cane, the corners of her mouth curling into a playful arc.
"By interrupting suddenly at this time, am I perhaps lacking in romantic sensibility?"
Ichinose Honami looked at the girl at the door with some surprise. She recognized this person; it was Sakayanagi Arisu from Class 1-A.
Although the two didn't have much interaction, Ichinose Honami still had a certain understanding of this slightly domineering beautiful girl. It seemed she was very familiar with Shikime Natsu, not only knowing his room number but even actively coming to visit.
Moreover... according to Ichinose Honami's keen observation, Sakayanagi Arisu was obviously not here for the first time. Because there wasn't the slightest nervousness or sense of unfamiliarity on her face.
In contrast, when she herself stepped in here for the first time just now, she was very nervous, not even knowing where to put her hands.
Before Shikime Natsu could respond, this smug brat walked in on her own accord.
"Good evening, Ichinose-san."
She greeted Ichinose Honami with a smile, politeness carrying a trace of imperceptible scrutiny.
"Ah... G-Good evening, Sakayanagi-san," Ichinose Honami responded somewhat flusteredly.
Facing this girl with such a strong aura, she actually felt an invisible pressure. Mn, the main reason was still that she was seen in Shikime Natsu's room, which made the girl quite nervous.
Shikime Natsu shook his head helplessly and casually closed the door.
"Statement in advance: dinner is already finished, there's no share for you."
"Hehe, Shikime-san is truly heartless."
Sakayanagi Arisu chuckled lightly, walking to a chair and sitting down without a care.
"But rest assured, I have already eaten dinner, so I won't trouble Shikime-san to labor for me."
After saying this, her gaze turned once again to the somewhat awkward Ichinose Honami at the side.
"Shikime-san, is this Ichinose-san..."
She narrowed her eyes slightly, her tone becoming somewhat meaningful.
"...a person who can be trusted?"
"?"
Ichinose Honami froze instantly. Asking this kind of question right in front of her, the person involved? Isn't this too direct?
"Um..."
She looked at Shikime Natsu somewhat at a loss, then looked at Sakayanagi Arisu, and finally could only say awkwardly:
"If you need to discuss something important... perhaps it would be better if I avoided it?"
Saying that, she prepared to turn and leave.
"No need."
Shikime Natsu, however, reached out and stopped her. He looked at Sakayanagi Arisu, his tone calm.
"Ichinose-san is a trustworthy person; there is no need to avoid this."
Hearing these words, Ichinose Honami's heart trembled fiercely. She looked at Shikime Natsu with some disbelief. He... trusted her this much?
Clearly, they had only just met not long ago, and clearly, she was the leader of a rival class... This trust caused an indescribable emotion to surge in her heart.
But thinking about it carefully, it was precisely because of her trust in Shikime Natsu that she had mustered the courage to confide those secrets buried deep in her heart to him.
"Is that so?"
Sakayanagi Arisu swept a glance over Ichinose Honami with those purple eyes, and a trace of inexplicable sourness couldn't help but rise in her heart.
Clearly, there were times when this fellow Shikime Natsu would make her leave when discussing matters. Yet facing other girls, girls from other classes, Shikime Natsu chose to trust them. What kind of business was this?
This overly obvious differential treatment made the always proud Miss Sakayanagi feel somewhat displeased in her heart. However, she was Sakayanagi Arisu after all.
In just an instant, she perfectly controlled her emotions, her face still wearing that signature elegant smile.
"Since Shikime-san says so, then I will speak frankly right here."
She folded her hands on her cane, leaning her body slightly forward as she looked at Shikime Natsu.
"Shikime-san, you established a betting contract with Vice President Nagumo, correct?"
Shikime Natsu's lips curled up slightly. He didn't expect this smug brat's intelligence network to be so well-informed. One had to know that his duel agreement with Nagumo Miyabi was only a matter of last night, and there were no other people around at the time.
Even Asahina Nazuna only knew because he had actively revealed it. Aside from that, there shouldn't be a fourth person who knew about this matter. But today, Sakayanagi Arisu had come directly to his door and pointed it out in one sentence.
It seemed this daughter of the Chairman was not as simple as imagined; at least in the area of intelligence gathering, she indeed possessed unique advantages.
"That's right."
Shikime Natsu nodded, admitting it generously. He didn't ask Sakayanagi Arisu how she knew. Because once he asked, this smug brat would definitely take the opportunity to show off. He didn't want to let her be that smug.
Seeing Shikime Natsu so calm, Sakayanagi Arisu raised her eyebrows slightly.
"Does Shikime-san not want to know how I obtained this news?"
"No."
Shikime Natsu shrugged, looking indifferent.
"To me, no matter how you knew, it won't change the matter itself, nor does it have any impact."
Sakayanagi Arisu puffed her cheeks somewhat unhappily. She had originally wanted to see this guy's shocked or curious expression, but this reaction, plain as water, really gave her no sense of achievement at all.
But it didn't matter. The real bombshell was still to come.
"Betting contract?"
Ichinose Honami, on the side, was completely confused, not knowing what these two were talking about at all. Shikime Natsu and Student Council Vice President Nagumo Miyabi... had a bet? Why? Could it be because of her?
"Then, Shikime-san. Are you confident in defeating that Vice President Nagumo?"
"Of course."
Shikime Natsu answered without hesitation, full of confidence.
"Hehe, it seems Shikime-san is as confident as ever."
Sakayanagi Arisu chuckled softly, her tone carrying a hint of warning.
"But according to my intelligence, that Vice President Nagumo had already finished previewing the entire curriculum of the third year of high school a long time ago. And you, Shikime-san, haven't even looked at the second-year textbooks yet, right?"
"To want to start preparing from scratch within just two weeks and defeat Vice President Nagumo, who has long been prepared and even knows the scope of the exam questions like the back of his hand... the difficulty involved isn't low~"
Shikime Natsu looked at her, his face showing no particularly special expression.
"So, you ran over here specifically just to tell me these words?"
"Of course not."
Sakayanagi Arisu shook her head.
"I just wanted to ask Shikime-san... do you want to obtain victory in this duel?"
Although she didn't know exactly what the stakes of their bet were, based on her understanding of Shikime Natsu, this proud man would definitely not allow himself to lose any competition.
"It is very difficult to defeat Vice President Nagumo through normal revision methods. Moreover, if you intend to buy the so-called past exam questions from the third years like you did for the first-year exams, then I advise you to give up early."
"Because the exam questions for the third years and the second years this time are completely different."
As the Chairman's daughter, a so-called "insider," the information Sakayanagi Arisu possessed was obviously much more than that of ordinary students.
"Past exam questions?!"
Hearing this keyword, Ichinose Honami suddenly raised her head, a trace of surprise flashing in her eyes. She wasn't an idiot; on the contrary, she was very smart.
From these few words, she instantly associated many things. Since the midterm exam was mentioned, and past exam questions were mentioned, that meant... Shikime Natsu and the others had already obtained the past exam questions for the first year!
And judging from Sakayanagi Arisu's words, there was a high probability that these past questions could be used directly in this midterm exam!
"Even without past exam questions, I can still defeat Nagumo Miyabi."
Shikime Natsu's tone revealed a sense of confidence.
"I naturally believe in Shikime-san's ability, it's just... there is a much easier way to win. I wonder if Shikime-san wants it?"
Sakayanagi Arisu stared fixedly at Shikime Natsu with her purple eyes, the corners of her mouth curling up.
In Sakayanagi Arisu's view, Shikime Natsu would definitely be inclined to use simple methods to win.
An easier method? Shikime Natsu couldn't help but chuckle. What method is simpler than using cheats?
One had to know, Shikime Natsu hadn't even planned to actively acquire the past exam questions for this midterm exam.
"I have the exam questions and answers for the second year here. As long as Shikime-san memorizes them, you can easily obtain victory."
Mm, she said exam questions and answers, not past exam questions. As expected of the Chairman's daughter, her influence reaches the heavens.
"Of course, this comes with a price. 100,000 points. How about it, want to buy? I think... the stakes of the bet between you and Vice President Nagumo should be worth far more than 100,000 Private Points, right?"
Without waiting for Shikime Natsu to speak, Sakayanagi Arisu continued on her own.
"No need~" Shikime Natsu replied with a smile.
"Is Shikime-san being too confident? Are you really sure you can defeat Vice President Nagumo in two weeks' time?"
Sakayanagi Arisu continued to speak. Although it was the second-year midterm exam, the material applied wasn't just the second-year textbooks, but also the content learned in the second and third semesters of the first year. The volume could be said to be immense.
However, Shikime Natsu was someone who used cheats. If he lost even while using cheats, would there be any justice left?
With photographic memory, reading through it once was basically OK. Plus, with the abilities acquired from Horikita Suzune and Ichinose Honami, studying was a breeze.
"Two weeks is enough. And... Sakayanagi, you should prepare properly yourself, to avoid losing too uglily."
Shikime Natsu chuckled lightly.
"Heh."
Hearing this, Sakayanagi Arisu also hmphed lightly with eyes full of confidence.
"I will not lose."
Wait until Shikime Natsu loses to her because he trusted Kamuro Masumi too much and becomes her manservant; then he'll know he was wrong. This guy, he really was arrogant to the point of being irritating, but also... fascinating.
As expected of the man she had her eyes on. Since he was this confident, there was no need for her to say anything more.
"Alright."
Sakayanagi Arisu stood up and adjusted her skirt.
"Since Shikime-san has such backbone, then I will wait and see. I hope you'll still be able to smile when the time comes."
After speaking, she seemed to remember something again. Her gaze swept around the room and finally settled on the empty living room.
"By the way, has Kamuro-san's tutoring session ended for today?"
Ichinose Honami froze again. Besides Sakayanagi Arisu, even Kamuro Masumi had been to this room? And listening to this tone, it seemed she came often?
Just how many girls had visited Shikime Natsu's room? But... this was also normal. Because Shikime Natsu was a gentle boy, gentle to everyone. She was merely one of the recipients of Shikime Natsu's gentleness.
"What, trying to fish for intelligence?" Shikime Natsu chuckled.
"I don't need to fish for intelligence on a loser yet."
Sakayanagi Arisu hmphed lightly and turned to walk towards the door.
"Well then, I won't disturb the two of you in your own little world."
As the door closed, the room returned to calm once again.
"Um... Shikime-san."
Ichinose Honami looked at Shikime Natsu with some worry.
"That betting contract between you and Vice President Nagumo... is it because of me?"
Although Shikime Natsu didn't say it explicitly, connecting it to what happened in the Student Council earlier... at that time, Shikime Natsu and Nagumo Miyabi had a conflict.
"You're overthinking it."
Shikime Natsu interrupted her wild thoughts.
"It has nothing to do with you. It's just that I've always wanted to find an opportunity to spar with Vice President Nagumo."
Of course, if one insisted on saying the duel with Nagumo Miyabi was because of a certain girl, it was because of Asahina Nazuna.
Ichinose Honami looked at Shikime Natsu's expression, which didn't seem like he was lying, and breathed a sigh of relief. Otherwise, if Shikime Natsu got into trouble because of her, she would truly feel guilty for the rest of her life. Shikime Natsu was clearly such a good person, yet she kept causing trouble for him.
"By the way, Shikime-san."
Ichinose Honami suddenly remembered the important information she had just heard.
"Regarding those exam questions... can I purchase them from you?"
Because this midterm exam concerned one hundred Class Points. Although most people in the class could pass, but... if it was to secure those one hundred Class Points, they definitely needed higher scores.
"Of course you can."
Shikime Natsu agreed readily. He took out his phone and directly sent the organized file of past exam questions to Ichinose Honami.
"As for the price... just give whatever you see fit."
If he didn't charge money, given Ichinose Honami's personality, she definitely wouldn't accept it.
"Thank you!" Ichinose Honami said gratefully.
A few seconds later, Shikime Natsu's phone received a transfer notification.
[Received: 20,000 Private Points]
Ryuuen Kakeru: "Was I the only one who spent over three hundred thousand for this?"
"If Shikime-san needs second-year revision materials, I can also help ask around..."
Ichinose Honami wanted to repay Shikime Natsu. Relying on her connections in the second year, getting revision materials was completely possible.
"No need."
Shikime Natsu shook his head.
"I've already found someone willing to lend me the materials, and I'm actually preparing to go find her right now."
"Is that so..."
Ichinose Honami nodded, a trace of disappointment flashing in her eyes. She had wanted to help a little, but ended up not helping again.
"Alright, I'm getting ready to go out too."
Shikime Natsu glanced at the time and stood up.
"Do you still want to stay here?"
"No, ...I'll go back first too."
Since the host was leaving, what reason did a guest like her have to linger here? What did she plan to do by staying? Was she acting like a wife waiting for her husband to return?
____
New Story: Junji Ito: I Shall Smash Hellstar Remina
✅ Unlock a 40-chapter backlog for ALL my series.
✅ Receive exclusive content and regular updates!
Help us reach these goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 universal bonus chapter
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters for ALL STORIES!
👻 P - Walnutchan