?: *sighs* I think I am too early, he is not yet even here. *checks phone* Yep, I am right. I guess I will just be waiting inside the cafe.
? is waiting in the nearby cafe. While waiting, she fiddled with her hair, and checked her phone multiple times, receiving messages from her friends.
?: Where is he? I thought this is the time we agreed to meet in the cafe. *sighs* I might as well order something while I wait.
? called the waiter and ordered a cup of coffee. While drinking her hot coffee, she checked her phone once more and got a notification concerning about "Class D"
Tanaguchi: Hey Niko-chan!
Niko: Oh, Hiroshi-kun! Over here *waving him to the table*
Tanaguchi: Sorry for being late. I was really sleepy. I have to help a classmate of mine in understanding our math lesson and it took us near midnight *yawns* Did you wait long?
Niko: *waves her hand in denial* Oh no, I didn't! I was actually enjoying the coffee. It has been stressful in our school so having some time to relax is nice.
Tanaguchi: If you say so… Anyways we should better get going. I am sure those three are waiting for us. *stands up and grab his bag* Let's go!
Niko: *stood up and grabbed her bag* Yep, let's go!
The two went outside and proceeded on their journey to the Anime World.
"Man is not what he thinks he is, he is what he hides."
André Malraux
Ayanokoji is seen locking his dorm room and walking toward the elevator. He lets out a small yawn as he only has some hours of sleep. It is very early in the morning and he has to go to the cafe to talk with Tanaguchi, Horikita and Kushida.
Ayanokoji: *inside the elevator* I wonder what he will be talking about with us. He did say he wants to "clear" up some things. This is getting worrisome, especially I know the fact he knows a lot about me.
Ayanokoji noticed the elevator stopped and it was not the bottom floor. The doors opened and he saw Kushida, who was also surprised to see Ayanokoji. She is holding a paper bag.
Kushida: Oh, Ayanokoji-kun, good morning!
Ayanokoji: Good morning, Kushida. *reaches out his hand* Do you need help with that bag?
Kushida: *goes inside the elevator* Oh, no need! This is just some clothes.
The elevator door closes and the elevator starts going downwards. A moment of silence went between the two. This stopped when Kushida started talking.
Kushida: Hey, Ayanokoji-kun, do you know what Tanaguchi is talking about later?
Ayanokoji: I have no clue.
Kushida: Well, I do have an idea of what he meant. I am sure you know what I am talking about.
The air surrounding suddenly feels heavy as Kushida looks at Ayanokoji with her unfriendly eyes.
Ayanokoji: Oh, so you think of your secret? I guess that may be a possibility.
Kushida: Yes, Ayanokoji-kun and I am willing for you to keep quiet about it just in case that isn't the case.
Ayanokoji: *looks at the bag* And what if I tell them about it?
Kushida: *giggles evilly* See this paper bag? Here is the same coat I wore when you first discovered my secret. It still has your fingerprints. It's been in my closet for… security reasons. Now do you understand?
Ayanokoji: *sighs* I understand. I don't even plan to do anything anyways. I just want this screening to just be finished.
Kushida: Oh. I guess we have no problem then.
The elevator then stopped and the doors opened, Kushida went outside, all happy again, like trying to forget what just happened earlier.
Kushida: Ayanokoji-kun, we have to hurry! *grabs his arm* He might be waiting for us right now!'
Ayanokoji, not being able to say a single word, just followed Kushida as she grabbed his arm and went to the cafe. When they arrived at the cafe, they saw Horikita sitting alone at a table for 4.
Kushida: Oh! Horikita-san! Good Morning!
Horikita: Kushida-san, good morning to you as well. Also to you, Ayanokoji-kun.
Ayanokoji: Is Tanaguchi already here, Horikita?
Horikita: Not yet, it is not yet even 5:00 AM. It is still 4:50.
Kushida: We might as well order first something while we wait. What do you guys want?
Horikita: I will just take a normal cup of black coffee
Ayanokoji: I will just take water.
Kushida: You know you guys could have ordered something more…
Kushida went on to order and returned to the tables with their desired drinks. While waiting and drinking, they saw the cafe slowly filling up with people as time passed by.
Tanaguchi: Hey, it's them! *goes toward the table* Hi guys! Sorry for keeping you guys waiting.
Kushida: Oh, no need to apologize, you are the one after who invited us.
Tanaguchi: Okay then. Oh! I brought the other transfer student with me today. Niko-chan, could you introduce yourself.
Niko: Hello everyone. My name is Niko Ishida. Nice to meet you.
Horikita: Nice to meet you as well. I am-
Niko: You don't have to introduce yourselves. Besides, I know who you guys are already.
Ayanokoji: So this is the other person. I have to assume that she has the same "abilities" as Tanaguchi.
Niko: There are only 4 chairs here though.
Tanaguchi: It's okay, I will just stand up, I don't mind.
Niko sat down besides Kushida while Tanaguchi remained standing.
Tanaguchi: Thank you guys for waking up so early for this meeting. First of all, I know you guys have been asking in your minds so yes, we do know all of your secrets and hidden motives. No just you guys but also the others as well in the school.
Horikita: I have already confirmed that theory a long time ago. After all you did said that you knew everything about us.
Tanaguchi: Well yeah, but I just want to confirm it. Second of all, as you might probably guess, I am here to talk about those secrets, most especially to you three. Essentially you three are mainly focused throughout the story.
Kushida: Oh, so that's why you only invited me, Horikita-san and Ayanokoji-kun for this.
Niko: But also you three after all have the most things to hide out of all the characters. Although there are other people in Class D who have the worst secrets.
Ayanokoji: Let me guess, could it be Hirata and Karuizawa?
Tanaguchi: Correct. Wow, you are really smart, aren't you, Ayanokoji-kun? Afterall, the White Room did teach you guys a lot of things, not just in academics.
Ayanokoji: As expected, you know that as well.
Tanaguchi: Why, of course! Everybody who watched the anime will know about that, even the people who are reading this fanfic. Hi readers!
Horikita: White Room? What is that?
Niko: To simply describe it, it is a place where Ayanokoji studied before he came to this school, also the main reason why he is very smart and very athletic, but for now, let us not focus on that.
Kushida: Okay, let us better not talk about it for now. What about Horikita?
Niko: About her? Hm... The only thing I know about her is that she has this sort of brother-complex in her.
Kushida: Brother complex?
Niko: Yup! If I remembered correctly, she wanted to follow her brother's footsteps, so she decided to attend this school as well and also rise up to Class A. As you know, to catch her brother, am I right, Horikita-san?
Horikita: ….
Tanaguchi: Um, Niko-chan, let us not take that far, we are supposed to just prove to them we do know their secrets.
Niko: Ah! Sorry, Hiroshi-kun, I didn't think I took it that far.
Kushida: Hiroshi?
Tanaguchi: That is my real name. Tanaguchi Hiroshi. Hiroshi is my real first name, LJ is just a nickname of mine given by my friends in the real world.
Kushida: Is that so… Anyway, Niko-chan, what is your favorite dri-
Niko: Wait a minute! I forgot something outside! I better get it!
Niko stood up, grabbed her bag, and took a paper bag and went outside of the cafe. Kushida was confused on what just happened when she realized something.
Kushida: Um, everyone, I have something… um… outside as well… wait a minute!
Kushida frantically stood up and ran outside of the cafe as well, leaving the three confused. Tanaguchi, knowing the plan, stood up and looked at the two remains.
Tanaguchi: I think it is time to reveal Kushida's secret as well, right Ayanokoji?
Ayanokoji: What do you mean? *realized right away* The paper bag.
Tanaguchi: Ding, ding, ding! Correct! Come on!
Horikita: Where are we going?!
Tanaguchi: To that same place where we first got introduced to Kushida's secret.
Kushida kept on running outside, looking for Niko who stole a paper bag from her. It took her a long time until she arrived at a very familiar place. There she found Niko, on her phone, waiting for somebody. When she was about to hide,
Niko: Kushida-san! In here!
Kushida: *reveals herself to her* Oh, there you are! I am looking for you, you accidentally took something from me.
Niko: Oh! You mean this paper bag? Sorry! Here you go! *gave the paper bag*
Kushida took the paper bag and it seemed to be empty, to which infuriated her but she still stayed calm.
Kushida: Niko-chan, where is the coat in here?
Niko: You mean the coat that still has Ayanokoji's fingerprints in it?
Kushida: You know?!
Niko: How many times do we have to say it, Kushida-san? You still didn't believe us. I know you are smart but that was so dumb.
Kushida: *snapped* So what are you going to do now?! Now that you proved that to me! What!
Niko: *shrugged* Nothing really, I mean what we are just trying to say in this meeting is that what you know is what is truly ture, right Horikita?
Kushida: Horikita-san, wait! *looks around*
Kushida saw Tanaguchi, Horikita, and Ayanokoji at the back of her. Tanaguchi waved to say hello, Ayanokoji's face was still expressionless and Horikita who was surprised to see Kushida.
Horikita: Kushida-san… So it is you, the one I heard of when I was in middle school.
Kushida: Yes I am that person- wait, what are you talking about, shouldn't you know?
Ayanokoji: What are they talking about, Tanaguchi?
Tanaguchi: *sighs* This is the problem we have with Kushida here. Apparently Kushida back in middle school is in the center of a massive incident. Long story short, it was pretty horrible for her class.
Kushida: Of course, you would know that as well. But what I don't get is that Horikita-san doesn't know that I was the one who is in the center of it. Aren't we supposed to be in the same school before?
Niko: That is correct! But you don't understand that she doesn't really care about what happened. You saw her attitude throughout the time you are here, that should have given a clue about it.
Horikita: She is correct, I don't have any friends back then and all I heard was rumors. What is the relation of all of this to what is happening right now.
Tanaguchi: Like I said, I wish to clear any misunderstanding between the characters. And one of them is actually Kushida. Kushida thought that since you know everything about her past, it is a threat for her in her new school life. She fears that you will tell everyone about it and she plans to expel you even if it meant sacrificing her class for it.
Kushida: Ehehehehehe... You got me, I guess. So what are you going to do now, Tanaguchi-kun? Tell everyone? Ruin my image?
Tanaguchi: Actually I am doing nothing, the anime will do that. You know, we will be watching Episode 3 today right?
Niko: Oh yeah, that is the episode where Kushida's secret will be revealed.
Kushida: What did you say?! *runs toward to Niko where it seem she punch her but she was stopped by Tanaguchi*
Tanaguchi: Kushida, no matter what will happen, it is inevitable. Now that you know this, there is no choicebut to accept it.
Kushida: What do you mean it is inevitable?
Tanaguchi: Everybody's secret will be revealed sooner or later, trust me. After all, a person's real self is what he or she hides. And those that he or she hides will be revealed.
Ayanokoji: Kushida-san, I think it is best for us to just settle this matter for now. This sort of thing is out of topic for all of us. Expelling anyone this time will not do any good, especially now we know that Horikita is a main character.
Niko: He is right, Kushida-san. We did our best to find a time in this world where we will not be able to disturb the timeline that much so ruining more of that is going to make it worse. Wait, aren't we already breaking the timeline?
Tanaguchi: The point of this meeting is to address this problem so Kushida-san, could you please not do anything that will not benefit the class for now?
Kushida: Okay then, let me ask you a question. What will happen if everyone starts to hate me when they know the real me?
Niko: Oh yeah, Hiroshi-kun, what would we do if everyone started hating everyone because of knowing each other's secret? Isn't this going to end like Kushida's last class?
Tanaguchi: What I need to do then is to make everyone understand. Remember, Class D is supposed to be the most defective one of the classes so wouldn't that mean everyone have a problem of their own? So my answer is simple: say to them that this is the reason why you are in Class D and that they should accept it anyway.
Niko: He is right. In our world, many people hate you because well you know. But at the same time, it is kind of understandable why you are like that since you are in Class D. To be honest, I don't really hate you.
Kushida: *looked surprised* Niko-chan…
Tanaguchi: Anyways, Ayanokoji, your secret for now is safe for the five of us until the time it will be revealed has come. I have to warn you that there are other people that know that you are from White Room so keep that in mind.
Ayanokoji: *looking surprised* If you say so, I will keep that in mind.
Tanaguchi: Great, anyway, Horikita, is there something you want to say to Kushida?
Horikita: Yes. I still never truly apologize for my behavior back when you tried to ask me to be your friend so I am sorry. I hope that we could start fresh.
Kushida: Thank you for the offer. I guess we can for now.
Horikita and Kushida shook hands. After that, Kushida seems to turn back to her "normal" self., ever so energetic and kind.
Kushida: Well that is over, I am trusting you Tanaguchi-kun. You don't like to know what will happen if you ruin my trust in you.
Niko: Don't worry, Kushida-san, he is not that type of person to crumble people's trust.
Tanaguchi: I guess that is all that we need to address this meeting. In the future we will have more of these meetings, maybe with more people to address more issues. For now, I think it is time to go to the classroom.
Everyone agreed, they all started walking. Ayanokoji was about to start walking when Tanaguchi stopped him.
Tanaguchi: Ayanokoji, could we talk for a little while while we walk?
Ayanokoji: Okay, what is it?
Tanaguchi: Well, how to say this… it is about...