COTE: Starting With Love Stock Market System

After a lively celebration, Hikaru clutched his uncomfortable stomach as he unlocked the door to his dorm room.

During the banquet, he had been relentlessly targeted by his classmates from Class B. Aside from the usual suspects like Shibata and the others, even students he had barely spoken to before eagerly approached him for conversation.

And, of course, there was the classic drinking game of toasting.

Faced with his overly enthusiastic classmates, Hikaru couldn't exactly refuse them outright. So, he had no choice but to respond to their energy one by one. The result? His stomach suffered immensely.

Even though they were all minors and alcohol wasn't an option, drinking too much soda and juice could be just as painful. Shibata and Kanzaki had apparently foreseen this outcome, and rather than helping him, they kept refilling his glass while egging on the girls to join in the toasts.

If Ichinose hadn't stepped in at the last moment, Hikaru would have probably passed out in that restaurant.

"Those bastards… They must've planned this from the start!"

Grumbling, Hikaru slumped into his chair. His body was still suffering, but the lingering excitement from the night's festivities hadn't yet faded.

It had been a long time since he had let loose like this.

For the past fifteen years of his life, he had dedicated himself to relentless studying to secure a promising future. While he had some acquaintances in his previous schools, they had been few, and those connections were long gone.

But now, living in a completely closed-campus environment, growing closer to his classmates, he couldn't deny that a sense of belonging was quietly forming within him.

Humans really are social creatures, huh?

"Well, whatever. No point in overthinking. Time to focus on more important things."

Hikaru rubbed his stomach and pulled up his system interface.

---

The Next Morning – Class B's Homeroom

Even after last night's celebration, the afterglow of the event still lingered. Though everyone was physically exhausted, the atmosphere in Class B remained cheerful and full of energy.

"Good morning, Hikaru-kun!"

"Morning."

After greeting his classmates, Hikaru returned to his seat, only to notice that Ichinose still hadn't arrived.

Did she stay up too late last night? He wondered.

A few minutes later, just as he was flipping through his book, a familiar fragrance drifted closer.

A soft, gentle voice followed.

"Good morning, Hikaru-kun."

"Morning, Ichinose. You're a bit late today, aren't you?"

"Hehehe~ That's because I already started the mission yesterday!" Ichinose grinned, her tone filled with pride.

"Oh?" Hikaru's brows lifted slightly, intrigued. "Then I'll be all ears. How did your mission go?"

"I reached out to one of Ando's friends from Class A, and from them, I learned that Sakayanagi often moves around with a girl named Kamuro Masumi."

"I got Kamuro's contact and messaged her, asking her to pass on my request for a meeting with Sakayanagi." Ichinose pulled out her phone and proudly showed him the screen. "Sakayanagi didn't refuse! She agreed to meet me in private."

"…Not bad. You had to go through quite a few hoops."

Hikaru skimmed the chat log and then suddenly froze.

A particular detail caught his attention.

The meeting was today?

His expression shifted slightly as he quickly asked, "Ichinose, where exactly are you meeting her?"

"Oh, at the Keyaki Mall café. Sakayanagi picked the location."

"…I see. Got it."

Hikaru exhaled discreetly, relieved.

As long as it wasn't the same place as his upcoming meeting, everything should be fine.

While Ichinose knew about Kushida inviting him to lunch, judging by her reaction that day, if she saw him alone with Kushida, things might get… complicated.

Hikaru valued Ichinose's feelings, so avoiding any unnecessary encounters was definitely for the best.

Oblivious to his inner thoughts, Ichinose continued excitedly, "Oh, and I also got some interesting Class A intel! Their faction split is really severe. Katsuragi's group and Sakayanagi's group don't interact at all—they don't even eat together."

She sounded perplexed, softly murmuring, "They're in the same class… Why act so divided?"

Hikaru chuckled. "That's just how Class A works."

He leaned back, offering his analysis.

"Class A students already had strong individual inclinations before coming here. After learning about the hidden school rules, that division only deepened."

"They all know the school sees them as the most elite students, so naturally, they carry a sense of pride. Katsuragi and Sakayanagi earned the recognition of different groups based on their own merits, forming their respective factions."

"And in a situation like this, switching sides without a clear reason? That would mean admitting they made a mistake in judgment. Nobody wants to devalue their own credibility."

"That's why they're waiting for the right moment to crush the opposition and prove that their choice was the correct one."

"Until an opportunity arises, they'll probably keep things at a cold stalemate."

"…Why can't they just work together?" Ichinose sighed, looking troubled.

"Alright, no need to dwell on that." Hikaru changed the subject. "What time is your meeting with Sakayanagi?"

"4:30 PM, at the Keyaki Mall café." Ichinose read off her phone.

"Got it. Then I'll be counting on you to get us some good intel."

Hikaru smiled. Knowing the time and place was enough.

The café and the family restaurant were on two different streets—there was no way they'd run into each other.

This time, the advantage is mine.

*(TL/N - Tf Bruh Why are you setting up a flag☠️💀)

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