COTE: Starting With Love Stock Market System

Inside the quiet dorm room, after Ichinose lifted her head from Hikaru's embrace and spoke those heartfelt words, she stared directly at him, waiting for his response.

Her heartbeat was accelerating, but she couldn't quite distinguish whether it was because she was pressed against his chest, feeling shy, or because she was anxiously anticipating his answer.

Unfortunately, after several seconds passed, Hikaru remained silent.

The smile on Ichinose's face gradually faded, her legs trembling slightly, as if all the strength had been drained from her body.

"Hikaru-kun… what's your answer?"

Forcing down the sour feeling rising in her chest, Ichinose asked in a trembling voice.

"Actually…"

Hikaru sighed inwardly. He hadn't expected his continued efforts to help Class A would lead to Ichinose confessing to him. This must have been one of the unintended consequences of raising her stock price—something like a butterfly effect.

People weren't just system data; they had their own emotions and thoughts. After growing closer, it was only natural that they might act beyond his expectations.

Did he dislike Ichinose? Of course not.

Did he like her? Yes, but not to the extent of feeling she was the only one for him.

Right now, he had too many stocks to invest in, too many relationships to manage. If he accepted her confession or outright rejected it, it could throw off the balance he had carefully maintained.

"I…"

He had barely begun his reply when he met Ichinose's gaze—clear and filled with anticipation. Seeing her like that, Hikaru fell silent again.

"…Maybe I got ahead of myself," Ichinose said with a forced smile, trying to retract her confession. "If this made you uncomfortable, then I apologize—"

Before she could finish, Hikaru spoke.

"No, it's not that."

His voice was soft. He wasn't entirely sure how to handle this, but rejecting her outright wasn't an option. Accepting it blindly wasn't either. The best course of action was to delay and manage the situation carefully.

"Then… what do you think, Hikaru-kun?"

Ichinose gazed at him, her blue eyes reflecting both hope and uncertainty.

"Well… my answer is a bit complicated," Hikaru admitted. "It might be hard to understand. Would you be willing to hear me out?"

"I'm listening." Ichinose nodded gently. Now that she had calmed down, she was willing to hear whatever he had to say.

"Alright then," Hikaru said, carefully choosing his words.

"First, I want you to know that I truly appreciate your feelings. You're an amazing person, and I enjoy spending time with you. That's something real—I'm not making it up."

"But… I've never been in a relationship before, so I don't know how to respond properly," Hikaru admitted with a wry smile. "I do have feelings for you, but I'm not sure if they're the kind that define love. And I don't want to give you a response unless I can be completely certain."

"I didn't respond immediately because I don't want to say something impulsive that might end up hurting you later. It wouldn't be fair to you."

"So… when I truly understand my own feelings, I'll be the one to tell you. I'll give you a proper answer."

Hikaru's voice was calm but firm. He made sure to speak slowly and clearly, wanting Ichinose to grasp the full meaning of his words.

Ichinose fell silent.

When she had decided to confess to Hikaru, she had imagined two possible outcomes.

One, he would accept, and they would naturally become a couple.

Two, he would reject her, and although it would hurt, things could still go back to normal, and they could continue leading the class together.

But Hikaru's answer was neither. It wasn't an outright rejection, but it wasn't an acceptance either. This response was something Ichinose hadn't anticipated.

"…So what happens now?" she asked, her voice soft but steady.

"That, I don't know," Hikaru admitted. "But the most important answer has already been given."

He smiled at her. "Even if I can't confirm my feelings yet, I want to stay by your side. We're not just seatmates—we're partners leading Class A together."

"And after what happened today, hasn't the distance between us grown even closer?"

"…But…"

Ichinose wanted to say something more but found herself unable to.

She had expected a clear-cut answer, but what she got instead was an acknowledgment of their bond—something neither rejection nor acceptance could provide.

And, if she were honest, it was enough for now.

At least Hikaru had confirmed that he had feelings for her. He wasn't rejecting her outright.

Most importantly, she had learned something new—he had never been in a relationship before.

That realization made her a little happy.

Because it meant that, if things went well, all of Hikaru's firsts could belong to her.

"…Alright," Ichinose finally said with a small smile. "If that's what you're saying, then I'll accept your answer for now."

She let go of Hikaru's waist and took a step back, but her warm smile remained.

"That's good. Once I truly understand my feelings, I'll be the one to confess next," Hikaru promised.

"Hehe… then I'll be looking forward to it," Ichinose giggled, her expression softening. "I guess this means we're… more than friends, but not quite lovers?"

"Hmm… I suppose so," Hikaru chuckled. "Anyway, I'm glad you understand. I promise I'll keep my word."

Ichinose nodded firmly.

Even though the outcome wasn't exactly what she had wished for, it wasn't a loss either. She had successfully taken a step forward.

And as long as she kept trying, she believed she would win his heart completely.

She had that confidence.

After clearing the air, the rest of their time together felt lighter. Hikaru spent the entire afternoon with Ichinose, helping her prepare the application documents for the student council.

The next day after school, he would accompany her and Ando Sayo to submit the forms.

That was the current priority. If they successfully entered the student council, they would serve as A-Class's eyes and ears within the school's administration.

And on the other hand, Hikaru still needed to focus on raising stock values.

For now, the most effective target was undoubtedly Kushida.

Not only could boosting her stock price bring in a profit, but she was also the perfect source of information on Class C.

By tomorrow, it would be time to resume his interactions with her.

At the end of the school day, both Ichinose and Ando had their application forms in hand, ready to submit.

"Alright, let's head out," Hikaru said, grabbing his bag and turning to the two girls.

"I'm a little nervous, but I'll do my best!" Ando declared, patting her chest for reassurance.

Ichinose, on the other hand, stood close to Hikaru and whispered, "I'm all set, too. I'll be relying on you, Hikaru-kun."

"Good, then let's go."

Leading the way, Hikaru guided the two toward the student council office.

This time, he knew exactly where to go.

He had already messaged Manabu, so by the time they arrived, Tachibana was already standing at the door, waiting for them.

"Good afternoon, Tachibana-senpai," Hikaru greeted her with a polite nod. Then, he gestured to the two girls beside him.

"This is Ichinose Honami and Ando Sayo. They're here to submit their applications."

"Good afternoon, Tachibana-senpai."

"G-Good afternoon, Tachibana-senpai."

Both girls greeted her, trying to suppress their nerves.

Tachibana glanced at Hikaru with a subtle, knowing look before nodding.

"Follow me. The president is expecting you. He said he wants to personally review the candidates Hikaru recommended."

Hearing this, Ichinose and Ando straightened up in surprise.

"Hikaru recommended…?"

"So we're already acknowledged?"

Hikaru simply smiled.

"Let's head inside. If all goes well, this won't take long."

With that, he led the two girls through the doors of the Student Council Office.

~~~

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