COTE : Backed By Black Technology System

After taking the camera from Ryuen, Horikita Manabu took one look at it before handing it to Tachibana Akane, who was beside him.

Horikita Manabu then pulled out his phone and displayed his student ID.

"I'm Horikita Manabu, the student council president of this school."

Hearing Horikita's introduction, the security staff in the shopping area checked his ID and immediately turned serious.

"Detain this person immediately and wait for further instructions."

The security staff promptly carried out Horikita Manabu's order.

Yes, it was an order.

At this moment, Kanda Shuichi and Ryuen realized once again just how much authority the student council president held at this school.

To be able to handle something like this so directly—impressive.

"So, who discovered this incident?" 

I'd love to take the credit, but it's probably best not to offend Ryuen—plus, it's a bit unethical.

"Actually..."

"Half and half."

Horikita Manabu raised an eyebrow. "Half and half?"

Seeing Ryuen's response, Kanda Shuichi kept quiet. Since Ryuen was offering to share the credit, he decided to go along with it.

To Ryuen, this was an easy way to benefit, plus he had come to see that Kanda Shuichi was even better at handling things than he'd expected. So it wouldn't hurt to give him a bit of goodwill.

"Alright, let's leave it at that." Horikita Manabu decided to postpone any final judgment until later. Beside him, Tachibana Akane looked unusually serious and a bit puffed up.

"President, this time we definitely shouldn't let that guy off so easily."

Clearly, Tachibana Akane had seen what was on the camera, and she was already nudging Horikita in that direction.

After asking Ryuen for details, Horikita Manabu left the scene with Tachibana Akane. Once they were gone, Kanda Shuichi and Ryuen Kakeru looked at each other.

Then, Ryuen opened his mouth to praise him.

"Not bad at all."

"Not at all. If you hadn't shown up in time, that guy probably would've taken the camera back," Kanda Shuichi replied modestly.

"If something like this comes up again, I'm all for it."

"If there's a chance."

After a brief chat, they each went their separate ways.

When Kanda Shuichi returned to the electronics store from before, someone had already taken over—this time, the clerk was a woman who looked to be in her thirties.

When Kanda Shuichi walked up, she was in the middle of apologizing to Sakura and Kushida.

"We're very sorry for what happened. It was due to our poor oversight."

Faced with an adult's apology, Kushida and Sakura quickly said it was alright.

"As compensation, we won't charge you for this repair. If you'd like a new camera instead, that's completely fine too."

Since the damage was caused by human action, a portion of the repair cost would normally be required even within the warranty period. But because of the incident, the repair fee was waived entirely.

"Wait, so, Kushida, you got 30,000 private points out of me for nothing?"

"No... no need, as long as it can be fixed," Sakura quickly declined the store clerk's offer to replace her camera with a new one.

"Alright, understood. Please leave the camera, and you can pick it up tomorrow," the clerk replied.

But even so, Sakura still showed a hesitant expression.

"Hold on. There are things in my friend's camera that she doesn't want others to see. Could it be fixed on the spot?" Kanda Shuichi stepped in to help.

"Hmm..." The female clerk thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, but it would have to be tomorrow, when the repair technician visits the school."

Hearing this, Sakura sighed in relief and gave Kanda Shuichi a grateful look.

"Could we set a specific time?"

"The technician will be here at ten in the morning and leave at five in the afternoon, so you can come by anytime in between," the clerk answered promptly.

"Alright then, we'll come back tomorrow."

"Take care, and I apologize once again."

...

After dealing with everything, it was noon—time for lunch.

"Is there something on your mind?"

Seeing Kanda Shuichi staring at her, Kushida Kikyo tilted her head in confusion.

What do you mean, "is there something on my mind"? You didn't pay for the repair, so shouldn't you at least treat me to lunch? Of course, he couldn't say this directly—he'd have to let her realize it herself.

"It's nothing. I just thought it was about time. How about grabbing lunch together?"

"Huh? Is Kanda treating us?"

(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

Are you serious? You got 30,000 points out of me, drank my cold drink this morning, and now you want me to treat you to lunch?

Seeing her delighted yet slightly mischievous smile, Kanda Shuichi was both annoyed and impressed. But if she thought this would work on him, she had another thing coming!

"I bought you coffee this morning. I think it's only fair you treat lunch, especially since you didn't pay for the camera repair."

"But my points are running low lately."

Then how were you planning to fix the camera, you idiot!

As the two of them continued their silent standoff, Sakura spoke up quietly, clutching the strap of her bag, "How about I treat? Kanda just helped me out."

"No need. This guy's the one who broke your camera. Letting her off without paying would be too easy."

Checkmate!

"That's true, then I'll cover Sakura's share," Kushida replied.

Damn it, a stalemate, but not a complete defeat!

As the three walked toward the cafeteria, they ran into their classmates Horikita Suzune and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. With them were Ichinose from Class B and another guy they didn't recognize.

The four of them were seated under a sun umbrella outside a restaurant, seemingly in the middle of a conversation.

"Good afternoon, Kanda, Kushida." Ichinose was the first to notice them and stood up to greet them.

Hearing her name, Kanda Shuichi and Kushida Kikyo stopped their bickering and looked over.

"Well, this is an unusual group," Kanda Shuichi said as he took a couple of steps forward and stood beside Ayanokouji, looking around.

"Yours is the unusual group. Since when were you two so close?" Horikita glanced at Kanda Shuichi before taking a sip from the teacup in front of her.

"There are plenty of people I'm on good terms with. Do I have to report all of them to you?" Kanda Shuichi said lazily. "Oh, by the way, I just ran into the student council president and had a little chat with him."

Horikita Suzune almost spilled her coffee, looking at Kanda Shuichi with obvious doubt.

"Yes, Horikita Manabu seemed to be on a date with Tachibana-senpai."

Now Horikita Suzune looked completely unsettled, her face turning sour as she slammed her coffee onto the table.

Seeing Horikita Suzune like this, Kanda Shuichi gave her a disdainful look.

Weakling!

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