COTE: Starting With Love Stock Market System

After successfully easing Kushida's suspicions, Hikaru had one of the best nights of sleep he'd had in a while. Since she was a long-term investment, he was confident that he would be able to extract a substantial amount of funds from her stock in the future.

When morning arrived, he felt completely refreshed and ready to take on the day. Today, he would be participating in Class B's study group. Ichinose had been enthusiastically organizing the event since yesterday, making her the ideal person to handle such matters.

After his usual morning workout and a quick shower, Hikaru stepped into Class B's classroom.

"Hikaru-kun, good morning! We're in the same group."

The first to greet him was Shibata So, a highly active student in class.

"Oh? Ichinose-san already assigned the groups?" Hikaru was aware that Ichinose's grouping strategy involved pairing students based on their academic strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to help each other cover their weak points.

"Yeah, as soon as Ichinose-san suggested it, everyone in class was on board. We've split into eight groups, each consisting of five members," Shibata explained. "You'll recognize all of the people in our group."

"?"

"Other than you and me, we've got Ichinose-san, Shiranami Chihiro, and Himeno Yuki."

"..."

Isn't this a little too convenient?

Hikaru glanced toward Ichinose, who was seated at her desk. As if sensing his gaze, she immediately flashed him a radiant, adorable smile.

"...Well, whatever. It's just a study session, so it doesn't make much of a difference."

Shrugging, he patted Shibata on the shoulder and made his way to his own seat.

"Hikaru-kun, we've officially finalized the study group arrangements. This will also be a long-term initiative," Ichinose clasped her hands together, visibly satisfied with the way things had turned out. "Everyone will be working closely with their group members to improve their grades."

"Sounds good. But does Ichinose-san have any particular weak subjects?" Hikaru asked out of curiosity.

"Hmm… I tend to mix up historical dates a lot, and Japanese literature can be tricky sometimes. Other than that, I'm confident in everything else."

"I see. Well, let's work hard together, then."

He nodded as he spoke, then casually brought up another point.

"I assume the school has plenty of available study rooms, right? It should be easy for us to find a place to use."

"Yep, some people even suggested hosting study sessions in the dorms, which I thought was a great idea. That's why we decided on five-person groups. Studying in dorm rooms makes it easier to focus, and we won't be disturbed."

"Makes sense. The dorm rooms are well-insulated too, so we won't have to worry about noise distractions."

As part of Advanced Nurturing High School's high-end design, the dormitories had excellent soundproofing. Since the start of the semester, Hikaru had never once been disturbed by noise from neighboring rooms.

That alone was one of the school's biggest perks, ensuring that students could get proper rest. A good night's sleep was essential for academic performance, as well as for navigating the intense class competition.

"Um…"

After wrapping up the discussion about study groups, Ichinose finally steered the conversation toward her real objective.

"For our first study session, can we do it in your dorm room, Hikaru-kun?"

"?"

Hikaru blinked in confusion, momentarily caught off guard. He turned to look at Ichinose, raising an eyebrow.

"Why? Wouldn't a study room be fine?"

"This was actually Shibata-kun's idea. He said he wanted to strengthen his friendship with you, and after he convinced the others, Shiranami-san and Himeno-san agreed as well."

Despite smoothly giving this explanation, Ichinose was outright lying. But she kept her expression calm and composed, feigning innocence.

"So, of course, I didn't object! I thought it was a great idea."

"..."

Hikaru fell silent.

She's really pushing for this, huh?

"If it's too much trouble, I can tell them we'll pick another location. I don't want to pressure you, Hikaru-kun."

Even though she said that, her eyes betrayed a quiet anticipation.

Faced with Ichinose's expectant gaze, Hikaru found it difficult to say no.

"Tch… fine. Just make sure they bring their textbooks." He sighed in resignation. "I don't have any snacks or drinks at my place, though, so don't expect much hospitality."

"That's fine! We'll buy some beforehand and bring them along."

Ichinose waved off his concern, beaming with enthusiasm.

"...Alright, then."

After finalizing the plan, Ichinose looked noticeably cheerful. She started swaying slightly, murmuring to herself about what snacks to buy.

Honestly…

Hikaru quietly shook his head, pulling out his textbooks to get ready for class.

—

Once the school day ended, Ichinose notified their study group about the plan. Everyone was delighted, as no one in Class B would pass up a chance to bond with Hikaru.

The group decided to go shopping first, planning to meet at Hikaru's dorm afterward. That left Hikaru walking home alone.

"Well, if we're going to have a study group session, we might as well make the most of it."

Since it was for Class B's unity, he didn't mind too much.

After arriving at his dorm, about ten minutes later, he heard a knock on the door.

Opening it, he was met with Ichinose's bright, cheerful smile.

"Hikaru-kun! Good afternoon! Sorry for intruding~"

The pink-haired girl entered first, carrying a transparent plastic bag filled with snacks and drinks.

Behind her, the rest of the group followed suit—Shibata, Shiranami, and Himeno.

"Sorry for the intrusion."

One by one, they greeted him as they stepped inside.

Hikaru's dorm room was relatively simple—he hadn't made any significant changes to its layout since moving in.

"Whoa, Hikaru, your place is way too plain! There's nothing here."

Shibata, who had rushed in ahead of the others, glanced around with an exaggerated expression of disappointment.

"What's wrong with that? I prefer minimalism."

Hikaru responded calmly, then turned to see the three girls gathering around his study table, taking out their textbooks.

Meanwhile, Ichinose was still standing by the refrigerator, carefully organizing the drinks and snacks she had brought.

She's… organizing my fridge?

Watching her meticulously rearrange everything, Hikaru couldn't help but stare.

What exactly is she trying to accomplish here?

~~~

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