COTE: Popularity System Chapter 59 59: You Are The Challengers

Ichinose Honami was conversing with Katsuragi Kōhei.

Katsuragi Kōhei bowed slightly, giving off a steady and composed impression. "Sorry, my classmates caused you trouble."

"Ahaha, Totsuka-san and Morishige-san got a bit excited seeing the gap between our two classes shrink, so I can understand that."

"It's good that you understand."

Ichinose Honami's tone shifted, and she looked over with a smile. "I can understand it, but Totsuka-san and Morishige-san's actions were undoubtedly wrong. To prevent the relationship between our two classes from becoming too tense, I hope Totsuka-san and Morishige-san can apologize."

"I understand." Katsuragi Kōhei nodded slightly, then looked at the green-haired boy beside him.

"I understand, Katsuragi." Totsuka Yahiko bowed and admitted his mistake.

"Morishige, it's your turn." Katsuragi Kōhei looked at the other boy.

"Katsuragi, I'm part of Sakayanagi's faction, don't think you can order around." Morishige Takurō glared fiercely at him, then walked towards Class 1-B.

Seeing this, Katsuragi Kōhei sighed slightly.

"Please excuse that."

He bowed slightly again. "On behalf of Morishige, I apologize to everyone in Class A."

After witnessing the scene just now, Ichinose Honami felt embarrassed for Katsuragi Kōhei.

As a class leader, having class discord erupt in front of outsiders...

This must be quite a loss of face for Katsuragi.

"Thank you for your concern. However..."

Katsuragi Kōhei's gaze sharpened. "In this school, we are indeed rivals, being from different classes."

"My attitude is the sa as the current Class B students. I believe we can return to Class A's position and beco the ultimate victors."

Ichinose Honami put her hands on her hips, revealing a confident smile. "Regarding that, we feel the sa way."

She had great confidence in her classmates, believing they were in no way inferior to other classes. As long as everyone united, they wouldn't be afraid to compete with other classes.

"Then we'll be heading back."

Katsuragi Kōhei turned around, about to return to his class, when he heard a girl's surprised voice from behind him.

"Takada-san, is sothing wrong?" Ichinose Honami asked, sowhat puzzled, upon seeing Takada Hikaru walk out.

"I heard a lot of noise just now, so I ca to see if there was anything I could help with." Takada Hikaru said gently.

"The matter has been resolved, thank you for coming to help, Takada-san." Ichinose Honami smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.

He proactively stepped forward to diate when he saw classmates arguing. Takada-san is truly a kind person.

"You are Takada-san?"

Hearing Ichinose Honami's words, Katsuragi Kōhei stopped and looked over with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Contrary to what the rumors suggest, you don't seem to be the type to act on your own."

Katsuragi Kōhei turned around and walked up to Takada Hikaru. "I am Katsuragi Kōhei, currently a student in Class 1-B. It's a pleasure to et you."

Takada Hikaru smiled slightly. "It's a pleasure to et you too, Kōhei-san. From what you said, my reputation in Class B doesn't seem to be very good."

Katsuragi Kōhei's voice was low and steady. "Rather than just Class B, I'd say your na is known throughout the entire year."

On the second day of school, he learned about the school's hidden rules, then declared he would pursue a personal class promotion route, and subsequently used 20 million private points to help a Class 3-C student rise to Class A.

More recently, he openly opposed Ichinose Honami's opinion in an internal Class A vote, refusing to use class funds to help Class D.

"This might sound harsh, but in many people's eyes, you are an anomaly in Class A." Katsuragi Kōhei said.

"That's not true."

Ichinose Honami's gentle voice rang out. "Takada-san was helping everyone analyze the problem from the class's perspective at that ti, he's not an anomaly."

Seeing her speak up for him, Katsuragi Kōhei dropped the topic. "That wasn't my personal opinion, and if I offended you, I apologize."

"It's fine, I don't mind." Takada Hikaru smiled indifferently, then took out his terminal. "Can I exchange contact information with Kōhei-san? I think we might have a lot to talk about."

"No problem." Katsuragi Kōhei saw nothing wrong with it, so he took out his terminal as well.

As they exchanged contact information, Takada Hikaru spoke up, "Actually, I overheard your conversation with Honami just now. Is Class B trying to challenge our position?"

Hearing this, Katsuragi Kōhei paused, then said with a serious expression, "That's right."

There was no point in saying more now. Just stating his stance was enough.

"Heh, I look forward to your challenge."

Takada Hikaru put away his terminal, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

The mont his words fell, the comnts on the screen beca lively.

[You Class B are the challengers!]

[Class B people are too miserable, Class A's leader is a gentle pink-haired girl, Class D's leaders are Hirata and Kushida, and theirs is a bald guy.]

[By the way... is Katsuragi really a student? I feel like he could be the disciplinary dean.]

[Listening to a Class B student just now, it seems Class B also has a leader nad Sakayanagi, who sounds like a girl.]

[To be able to contend with Katsuragi, Sakayanagi must be an onee-san type, right?]

In fact, when Totsuka Yahiko and Morishige Takurō from Class B ca to provoke them, the cara had already cut away.

Perhaps considering that the class competition was about to officially begin, the ani started foreshadowing all the first-year classes before the special exam started.

The original content should have been Ichinose Honami, as Class A's leader, demonstrating her strong yet gentle control, resolving the conflict between the two classes. Then Katsuragi Kōhei would make an appearance, and that part of the plot would end.

However, Takada Hikaru's last-minute intervention caused the plot to continue.

As for his true purpose... it was actually just to get Katsuragi Kōhei's contact information.

—

Noon.

Takada Hikaru arrived at the cafeteria. Ever since he confronted Ichinose Honami during the class vote, he had actively maintained distance from his classmates. For the past few days, he had been eating alone in the cafeteria.

Of course, he wouldn't lose the friends he had made over such minor matters. On the contrary, he was doing this precisely to deepen his relationships with his classmates.

Arriving at the free food counter, he quickly found Andō Sayo and others waiting in line.

"Sayo-chan, why are you all here?" Takada Hikaru approached the group.

"Uh..."

Asked this, Andō Sayo and the others felt a little awkward, their smiles becoming sowhat forced.

After a mont of hesitation, they quietly explained the reason.

"We lent our living expenses to Class D, and then the school didn't transfer the points this month. We've run out of points."