COTE: Popularity System

After eating, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and the others followed Ike Kanji to the agreed location, where they saw Kushida Kikyo with a lovely smile on her face.

"K-Kushida-san, you're already here..." Ike Kanji was quite surprised, his speech nervous and stuttering.

He had originally planned to arrive twenty minutes early to adjust his mindset and organize his words. He hadn't expected her to arrive so early.

"Mhm. Considering that Ike-kun was eating just now, contacting you by phone might disturb you, so I came to the agreed location first." Kushida Kikyo flashed a bright smile.

"I-I see... Huh?" Ike Kanji reacted.

Kushida wanted to contact me. Could it be that she also...

Before he could finish fantasizing about that beautiful future, Kushida Kikyo's words shattered his sweet dream.

"Hikaru-kun from Class A and I already have plans, so I don't have time to accompany Ike-kun."

Kushida Kikyo clasped her hands together and made an apologetic gesture. "Can we plan for next time?"

"Y-Yes, you can..."

Facing her request, Ike Kanji subconsciously agreed, but his head felt like it was being violently hammered, intensely throbbing.

Hikaru?

Takada Hikaru from Class A?!

Ike Kanji was startled by what he heard.

How could Kushida call Takada by his name so casually? Could it be that they are...

"Ah, Hikaru-kun is already here."

Noticing Takada Hikaru slowly walking over in the distance, Kushida Kikyo waved her hand toward the stunned Ike Kanji.

"Ike-kun, please excuse me. Let's arrange it again later."

"Okay..."

No!!!

Watching the girl he liked jog toward a man from another class, Ike Kanji felt a chill in his heart. Although it was summer, it felt as if snowflakes were falling on him.

— — —

After leaving Ike Kanji and the others, Kushida Kikyo followed behind Takada Hikaru.

Noticing that there was no one else around, a cold smile appeared on her face.

What she had just said was nothing but a lie. She had only actively messaged Takada Hikaru after receiving Ike Kanji's invitation, rather than having an appointment with him beforehand.

She knew without even thinking that the reason Ike Kanji invited her to meet alone was definitely to confess his feelings. Being confessed to by a boy meant that her likable side was affirmed. But she didn't care about Ike's confession, she would definitely refuse it in the end anyway.

However, if this matter were known by others, it would definitely develop as follows.

"Oh dear, Kushida-san was actually confessed to by Ike-kun. How pitiful."

"Kushida-san, what exactly was it like being confessed to by Ike? Can you tell us?"

Things like that.

For a long time afterward, her name would frequently be associated with Ike Kanji. She didn't want to have too much contact with this disgusting man.

Furthermore, the most important thing was that some people, upon seeing Ike Kanji confess, would likely follow suit and confess to her as well.

"If even a guy like Ike can confess, why can't I?"

"Kushida-san is so gentle. Even if she doesn't agree to date us, she won't hurt us with sharp words, so confessing is fine, right?"

At that point, Kushida Kikyo would probably be busy dealing with confessions from ugly men every day.

Absolutely disgusting!

"Speaking of which..."

Takada Hikaru stopped and turned around. "Kikyo, is there something you needed me for?"

Kushida Kikyo immediately changed her expression. She showed a shy look, her fingertips touched each other, and she said softly, "Actually... I wanted to cook something for Hikaru-kun."

"Cooking?" Takada Hikaru was slightly surprised.

"Yes, that's right." Kushida Kikyo nodded, her eyes looking over with anticipation. "To thank Hikaru-kun for lending me points last semester, I prepared to specially make something delicious for you."

"I checked with the restaurant staff, and they are willing to let me use the kitchen when it's free, and I can even use the ingredients for free."

Takada Hikaru chuckled and said, "I believe I already told you back then that you didn't need to pay it back."

The matter Kushida Kikyo was referring to was the conflict between Sudō and the Class C students.

In order for Horikita Suzune to induce the Class C students to reveal the facts of their crime, she needed to purchase surveillance cameras and voice recorders as tools. But at the time, Class D was dirt poor, so they had no choice but to ask Kushida Kikyo to borrow money from Takada Hikaru.

Considering that Class D's class points were 0, and Kushida Kikyo had already used all her points to help her classmates, Takada Hikaru told her she didn't have to repay him.

"Even if I don't need to return the points, I still want to express my thanks to you." Kushida Kikyo lowered her head, her lips lightly pursed. "At that time, only Hikaru-kun was able to help me."

These words were very ambiguous. Kushida Kikyo also deliberately spoke shyly.

Not to mention ordinary high school boys, even the viewers watching the animation got excited.

[Holy crap, is Little Angel going to pair up with Money-Giving Guy?]

[One Money-Giving Guy, one Borrowing Sister, quite a match.]

[Ike Kanji: I object to this marriage!]

Watching the audience's comments, Takada Hikaru pondered for a moment before saying, "Then I look forward to Kikyo's cooking."

This sentence meant that he agreed.

Hearing this, Kushida Kikyo's eyes lit up, and she asked in a surprised and excited tone, "Hikaru-kun, what kind of food do you like? I'll work hard to make it."

Takada Hikaru thought for a moment, realized he didn't have any particular favorite food, and replied, "I hope to eat Kikyo's specialty dish."

Kushida Kikyo's eyes widened slightly. "Is that okay?"

Takada Hikaru said with a chuckle, "Yes. If the food I like is something Kikyo isn't good at making, it would be too much trouble for you. So I hope to eat Kikyo's best dish."

"Okay." Kushida Kikyo clapped her hands lightly, feeling secretly delighted inside.

See? Now this is what you call a good man.

Unlike guys like Ike and Yamauchi, who only think of themselves, Hikaru never once lacked consideration for others.

If they were the ones making the request, they definitely wouldn't care what she was good at, they would immediately ask for the food they wanted most.

"Then, Hikaru-kun, how about we set the time for tonight?" Kushida Kikyo asked.

Since she was making her specialty dish, she wouldn't need practice. She could just make it directly, and it would be ready quickly.

But before Takada Hikaru could answer, the broadcast on the luxury cruise ship rang out.

[Attention Students!]

[We are about to reach our destination. Please return to your rooms immediately to pack your luggage, change into your athletic wear, and assemble on the deck within half an hour.]

[All personal belongings except for cell phones and changes of clothes should be left in the dorms. Students who are already prepared may enjoy the island scenery from the deck.]

"It seems... the Special Exam is about to begin." Takada Hikaru did not answer Kikyo's question but instead stated his thoughts after hearing the broadcast.

"Special Exam?" Kushida Kikyo blinked, her face showing surprise. "Did the school arrange for us to come on this luxury cruise ship not just to have fun?"

"From the looks of it, probably not." Takada Hikaru smiled as he looked at her. "Kikyo, it seems the time to taste your cooking will have to be slightly postponed."

Kushida Kikyo nodded understandingly. "It can't be helped, since it's the school's arrangement."