Cote : I Just Want to Grant Your Wish!

Chapter 699 - 699: The Plan Fails.

Although much earlier than planned, Horikita Suzune still arrived at the karaoke bar.She chose this place because the private rooms offered privacy.

Conversations here wouldn't be seen by outsiders, making it a much better option than a café.

As before, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Sudo Ken had followed her for some reason, claiming they wanted to back her up, afraid she might be at a disadvantage facing Hosen Kazuo alone.

Horikita had no reason to refuse, especially since Sudo had finally told her about the previous incident.

Ryuen Kakeru and Nagumo Miyabi had targeted him, seemingly planning to use him for something.

Yamauchi Haruki was essentially a pawn, and his fate had made Sudo distrustful of both Ryuen and Nagumo, leading him to confess to Horikita.

Horikita felt a pang of fear. She genuinely admired Sudo's athletic abilities.

If he had defected to another class, it would have been a significant blow to Class 2-C.

But back to the matter at hand.

Right now, Horikita was more concerned about Hosen Kazuo than Ryuen.

With Yagami Takuya's expulsion, the connection she had established with Class 1-B was severed.

Amasawa Ichika was also an elusive character, leaving Horikita with fewer and fewer options.

However, their class had Kushida Kikyo and Hirata Yosuke, two popular Extroverts who had helped many form teams these past few days, giving Horikita some relief.

Before long, Hosen Kazuo and Tsubasa Nanase finally appeared in the karaoke room.

"Sorry for keeping you seniors waiting," Tsubasa Nanase apologized

Horikita Suzune pondered for a moment before speaking.

"It's fine. We just arrived earlier."

"Heh, so polite. Had I known, I would've let you wait a bit longer."

Hosen Kazuo sprawled casually opposite Horikita Suzune, stretching his arms and sinking deeply into the soft sofa.

He carelessly propped his feet on the table. "From what Nanase said, how exactly do you plan to beg me?"

This wasn't their first meeting, so Horikita Suzune remained unfazed by his behavior.

Only Sudo Ken beside her showed clear displeasure.

"My intention is to establish an equal cooperative relationship between us. Learning to cooperate is a crucial lesson in this school. If you understood what we second-years have experienced so far, I believe you'd grasp my meaning."

Hosen Kazuo acted as if he'd heard something utterly uninteresting, even picking at his ear.

The gesture made Horikita Suzune frown slightly before Hosen spoke again.

"Cut the nonsense. What you want is for us to provide people to help your failing students."

"We would likewise assist your failing students," Horikita Suzune replied coolly. "Even if you can currently suppress your entire class and completely neglect your classmates, it will likely cause trouble for you eventually."

Hosen Kazuo sneered, "I don't need you to tell me that! I'll deal with anyone who disobeys me!"

As he spoke, his gaze swept over Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Sudo Ken.

"These two are the deadweights in your class, right? Give me 1 million Personal Points, and I'll help you solve your problem with them."

The moment the words left his mouth, Sudo Ken's temper flared.

This guy was way too arrogant!

"Hey, watch your mouth!"

Hosen Kazuo glanced contemptuously at Sudo and grinned. "I'm talking to Horikita right now. Who gave you the right to interrupt?"

"What did you say...?"

Sudo grew even angrier. Just as he was about to make a move, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka beside him stopped him.

"Hosen-kun, I hope you can show some respect for others," Horikita Suzune's voice turned colder, clearly containing suppressed anger toward Hosen.

"Did I say anything wrong?" Hosen actually laughed. "You brought these guys along precisely because you want to solve their problems, don't you?"

Horikita Suzune took a deep breath. "I'd like to know if Hosen-kun is the leader of Class D, first year?"

"Who else would it be?" Hosen snorted coldly.

Horikita continued, "Do you possess the capability to bear responsibility and risks for your classmates?"

"What do you mean by that?" Hosen's expression darkened immediately.

"A leader, regardless of the methods used to unite everyone—even if it's violence—can be acceptable as long as they represent the interests of the majority." Horikita ignored his expression.

"Since Hosen-kun is the leader of Class D, first year, many must have placed their hopes in you. However, I don't see the aura of a true leader in you. You're merely treating the class as your plaything, nothing more."

BANG!

With a loud noise, Hosen Kazuo stood before Horikita Suzune like an enraged lion.

Beside them, Sudo Ken rose to his feet, equally unwilling to back down.

Horikita Suzune met Hosen Kazuo's gaze without a trace of panic.

"As far as I know, about half the students have successfully formed teams by today, yet two-thirds of Class D first-years still lack partners—most of whom are low-scoring students."

"Your initial refusal to let classmates attend Ichinose's exchange event directly cost you access to Class B second-year connections. Class A second-years have no interest in low-scoring students either. Your only remaining options are us or Class D second-years."

"Even if you fail this exam, the punishment may be light. But what about next time? How will these students who lost their Personal points view their leader—one who only leads them to failure?"

At this point, Hosen Kazuo reached to grab Horikita Suzune's collar, but Sudo Ken immediately stepped between them.

"You bastard!"

"Let go! Since when does trash like you get to act tough?"

"Attacking a woman? What kind of man does that?!"

"Heh, I'd even beat you up. How about we fight? If you've got the guts to take me down, we'll cooperate directly!"

Hosen Kazuo's superior strength momentarily overpowered Sudo, whose face flushed red with strain, yet he stubbornly held his ground.

The tension between them escalated dangerously, nearing the brink of an actual fight.

Just then, Tsubasa Nanase restrained Hosen Kazuo while Ayanokoji Kiyotaka simultaneously pulled Sudo back.

"Hosen-kun, calm down!"

"Stop this, Sudo. Don't start a fight here."

Not only Nanase, but Horikita Suzune also coolly called for Sudo to stand down.

Sudo reluctantly released his grip, earning a cold sneer from Hosen Kazuo.

"Horikita-senpai, please refrain from using such provocation next time."

Nanase turned to Horikita Suzune, "But you're right—we can't casually abandon our classmates."

She felt surprised that Horikita understood their class situation so well, though upon reflection, the school's Overall Ability Assessment likely provided the data.

"Hah! Nanase, don't be naive. What would we gain by meekly accepting their terms?" Hosen Kazuo said coldly.

"They call it equal cooperation, but the truth is they need our help. And what they offer in return? Heh."

Though Horikita spoke eloquently about helping classmates, everyone knew Class C second-years needed Class D first-years more desperately.

While Classes A and D second-years were willing to spend heavily on top students, Hosen Kazuo firmly controlled Class D's high-achievers—the only ones remaining available in the first-year cohort.

Class C second-years, unwilling to pay premium prices, had no choice but to consider Hosen.

Exceptional students like Amasawa Ichika and Yagami Takuya volunteering themselves were rare exceptions.

Horikita understood this perfectly, yet remained unshaken—Hosen's outburst only strengthened her position.

"What if we offer a commitment?" Horikita proposed. "There will surely be more joint exams like this. Having additional allies would change your situation. You're Class D, we're Class C—we share a common goal."

Hosen Kazuo sneered coldly: "You make it sound so nice, but the actual benefits are still vague. If I ask you to do something, will you really help me?"

"As long as it doesn't cross our bottom line."

Horikita Suzune believed she had already made significant concessions.

Hosen Kazuo merely snorted coldly without speaking.

"I'd like to ask, how many people is Horikita-senpai planning to have cooperate with us?"

Tsubasa Nanase occasionally glanced at Sudo Ken and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, clearly considering them as candidates who needed assistance.

"About half, but don't worry, we've reserved several top students."

Horikita Suzune mentioned several names and asked Tsubasa Nanase to check their OAA.

Although Class 2-C's performance was poor, they indeed had several excellent students - Koenji Rokusuke, Hirata Yosuke, Yukimura Teruhiko, Wang Meiyu, Horikita Suzune herself, and others including students with academic evaluations around B level, probably close to ten in total.

This was also why Horikita Suzune had previously been confident enough to challenge Ryuen Kakeru to an academic competition.

Tsubasa Nanase had some understanding of Class 2-C's situation, and checking the OAA was initially just for show.

However, her pupils suddenly contracted.

Horikita Suzune didn't notice this reaction and continued, "When we first met, you actively came to the second-year classroom. I think you're also students hoping to change your current situation. We could have guaranteed just some Personal points, but that kind of relationship is too fragile. I hope our relationship can be deeper and more solid."

Horikita Suzune had considered this thoroughly.

Thinking about Kaoru's approach with upperclassmen, she inevitably wanted to emulate him and seek partners outside her own grade.

If there were another joint exam, she could cooperate across grades to deal with her opponents.

Well, she was already in Class C, and her next opponent would be Ichinose Honami.

She needed to be stronger than Ichinose Honami.

"Oh? So I can order you around as I please?"

Hosen Kazuo seemed somewhat interested. "If you obey me in the next exam, I might consider this cooperation."

Horikita Suzune frowned: "Our relationship should be mutually equal, not a superior-subordinate one."

"If you can't even meet my demands, how can I trust you, Horikita?"

Hosen Kazuo scoffed contemptuously.

As Horikita Suzune was about to rephrase her position, she suddenly heard Tsubasa Nanase ask.

"Have Ayanokoji-senpai and Sudo-senpai found partners yet?"

Caught off guard by this sudden question, Horikita Suzune was momentarily stunned.

Tsubasa Nanase seemed to realize something and showed some apology: "Sorry, I thought Horikita-senpai was planning to find partners for Sudo-senpai and the others..."

Without thinking too much, Horikita Suzune replied: "Someone agreed to partner with them a few days ago, so it's settled."

Despite saying this, Horikita Suzune subtly straightened her posture, wanting to convey to Tsubasa Nanase and Hosen Kazuo that Class 2-C didn't necessarily need to cooperate with Class 1-D.