COTE: Horikita Is My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter 166: The shame of being treated as a fool

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[Host, I know how Koenji plans to obtain personal points, but you can't learn his method, and you won't want to either,] the narrator explained.

Rin raised an eyebrow, his expression full of surprise. "I can't learn it? I won't want to learn it? So, what is Koenji's method?"

[It's the ability of money,] the narrator replied succinctly.

"Huh?" Rin muttered, confused.

[Koenji knows someone in their third year of high school. He plans to approach this person and trade money to buy their personal points,] the narrator elaborated.

Rin sighed. "I really can't learn that, and I don't even want to. That's a method I can't copy."

Koenji, as the only son of a wealthy chaebol family, had plenty of resources to draw from. On the other hand, Rin's greatest lack was money.

It was clear that Rin couldn't replicate Koenji's money-based method of acquiring personal points. Moreover, Rin had no intention of spending real money to buy personal points from other students.

"I didn't expect Koenji's method of earning personal points to rely on money—a strategy the school doesn't officially recognize," Rin commented with a wry smile.

While the school prohibited contact with the outside world and the person trading with Koenji wouldn't receive money immediately, it wasn't much of a concern.

Koenji would either make a verbal promise or write an IOU. After the other person graduated, they could present the IOU to someone designated by Koenji and exchange it for cash.

For high school students, trading their school-issued virtual personal points for real money was an enticing offer.

After all, once students graduated, their personal points couldn't be converted into cash and would simply be forfeited to the school.

By making a deal with Koenji, they had a guaranteed way to turn their points into actual money.

This arrangement was a win-win: students could cash out their personal points, and Koenji gained access to more resources within the school.

Furthermore, since Koenji was the sole heir of a chaebol family, no one doubted his ability to honor his debts.

As Rin returned to the indoor swimming pool, his attention was drawn to Karuizawa, who was splashing water and laughing with Matsushita and the others.

Karuizawa's honey-colored hair glistened with water, and her bright, cheerful smile brought a knowing smile to Rin's face.

Not wanting to interrupt her fun, Rin shifted his gaze and noticed Horikita.

Horikita was sitting alone by the poolside, her snow-white, slender feet submerged in the clear water. Her long legs stirred the water gently, creating soft ripples that were oddly mesmerizing.

Compared to the lively groups of students laughing and playing together, Horikita seemed lonely as she sat quietly by herself.

But Rin, familiar with Horikita's personality, knew better. She wasn't lonely—she simply preferred solitude. She enjoyed the peace of being left alone without anyone bothering her.

As Horikita sat by the pool, she seemed to sense something. Raising her head, her fox-like eyes met Rin's gaze directly.

Rin couldn't help but smile at her.

Horikita noticed his smile and pursed her thin lips, turning her head slightly to the left. Rin immediately understood her silent gesture and began walking in that direction.

As he approached, Horikita slowly lifted her white, delicate feet from the pool. Clear water slid down her smooth, firm legs, dripping back into the pool and creating ripples on the surface.

Rin and Horikita met on the left side of the pool, where Horikita brought up a topic that had been on her mind for a while.

"Matsuoka, the swimming teacher has emphasized swimming several times before. I think swimming might be related to class points. Maybe students can earn class points through swimming?"

"Well, that's possible. If students can really earn class points by swimming, then I'll step up. Horikita, you should work hard too," Rin said with a smile.

"Me? What are you planning to do?"

"Well, I think the school might hold a swimming competition in the future, with class points awarded to the winner. I can only represent the boys, not the girls, so I'll leave the girls' side to you."

After understanding his point, Horikita shook her head. "Don't pin your hopes on me. Onodera-san is a much better swimmer than I am."

"That's true, but we don't know if the school's swimming competition will be a single-person race or a multi-person relay. If it's a relay, Horikita, you'll end up representing the girls."

"That's true," Horikita said after some thought. "Alright, I'll do my best."

Her fox-like eyes wandered to Rin's near-perfect, toned abdominal muscles. She coughed lightly, a hint of shyness in her expression.

"Hey, Matsuoka, how did you train your body like that?"

"Work to earn a living," Rin replied casually.

Horikita frowned, feeling as though Rin was treating her like a fool. Glaring at him with her charming fox-like eyes, she said, "Who are you kidding? No one gets a body like that from part-time jobs."

"Me," Rin replied with a straight face. "Anyway, I just worked part-time, and I built up this muscular body while working!"

"Snort."

"Hehe."

"…"

Without another word, Horikita gave Rin a light punch to his stomach.

The punch, however, was so gentle it felt more like a tickle. It didn't hurt but left a slight itch.

After punching Rin, Horikita turned and walked away. For some reason, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks as she left.

Meanwhile, Karuizawa, who was playing in the pool with Matsushita and the others, noticed Rin and waved her arms excitedly. "Rin, you're back! Come down quickly and teach me how to swim!"

"Coming," Rin replied.

[Host, Karuizawa can swim. She's deceiving you,] the narrator chimed in.

"I know," Rin replied internally.

[You know?]

"Of course. People who can't swim are at least a little uneasy or hesitant when entering the pool. But Kei jumped in directly, showing no hesitation at all."

This observation made it clear to Rin that kei wasn't afraid of the water and could already swim.

[Since the host knows Karuizawa can swim, why agree to teach her? Isn't it a waste of time?]

Tsk tsk tsk, narrator, you're not a boy my age, so naturally, you wouldn't understand.

Rin's response left the narration system momentarily speechless.

Seeing through situations without speaking up is a sign of high emotional intelligence.

Karuizawa pretended she couldn't swim to get Rin to teach her. Rin, pretending not to know that Karuizawa could swim, accepted her request.

This, too, was a sign of high emotional intelligence.

Karuizawa watched Rin walk toward her, a mischievous smile forming on her lips. She splashed a handful of water at Shinohara and said, "Go, go, go. All of you leave. Let me have some alone time with Rin."