Volume 1 done? Next Volume 2?' Ayanokoji thought. Why does his memories are classified this way.
"Don't you think the way the projector suddenly let the words out are creepy?" Komiya whispered to his friends.
Ishizaki shook his head. "No use thinking about it now. Ryuuen-san will get mad at us if we're too noisy."
It was hot and humid after class. I made my way over the special building, where the incident had taken place. It wasn't like a murder case where the area needed to be taped off to prevent people from contaminating the crime scene. It didn't really look any different than usual. I didn't see any indication that this building's facilities were used frequently, like the special classrooms, the home economics room, the AV room, etc. This would have been an ideal place to call Sudou out.
"It's so hot…"
This heat was abnormal. This was probably how summer at school should feel, but I had at least imagined that inside the building would be somewhat comfortable, the cool air balancing out the heat. I guess I'd gotten too used to air-conditioned buildings. I felt even hotter because of that gap in expectation. The air conditioning was probably on during class time in the special building, but it certainly wasn't right now.
"You're not accustomed to the heat, Ayanokoji-kun?" Ichinose asked him.
Ayanokoji inclined his head, "No. I'm used to the air-conditioned buildings." 'Or should I say, rooms?'
"I think anyone would be hot especially at that heat." Shinohara chuckled.
"Just thinking about it makes me sweat." Karuizawa complained.
"Sorry for bringing you here."
Horikita, who was standing next to me, simply looked around the hallway. She didn't appear to be sweating at all.
"Horikita-san?"
"She's helping Sudo-kun's case?" Hasabe asked in no one particular.
"She went to the first and second trial, remember? Sudo-kun told the class." Miyake told her. He was thankfully, not being a punching bag.
"Oh, yeah! I forgot."
"I never doubted you for a second."
"You've really changed, haven't you? It's odd that you stuck your neck out in this case. The witness has already been found, and we've confirmed that there's nothing left to be done. What are you even trying to do?" she asked.
"Sudou was the first friend that I made here. I want to help him."
"Oh my, how sweet of you, Ayanokoji-kun. Helping your friend and all. I hope I can find a friend like you." Sakayanagi smiled at him. Eyes gleaming, knowing his true nature.
"It's only to helped a friend in need, is it not? I wanted to help clear Sudo's name, that's all." Ayanokoji didn't respond to the other under lying meaning of her comment.
Class B and Ichinose smiled at Ayanokoji's thoughtfulness of helping his friend.
"Do you think that there's a way to prove his innocence?"
"I'm not so sure. I can't really say yet. I decided to take some initiative by myself, since I'm not very good at interacting with Hirata, Kushida, or large groups of people. Being social's definitely not my forte. I thought everyone would make me run around the school or the classroom today, so I
decided to bolt instead. I like to avoid trouble, remember?"
"But isn't sticking your neck in that kind of situation will only attract more attention?" Rika murmured.
"Don't sweat the details, Rika." Manabe whispered back. She glanced over to Ayanokoji's direction for a moment before averting her eyes.
"That's certainly true. But then, you're as contradictory as ever, since you're helping out a friend."
"A help is still a help. Thank you, Ayanokoji." Sudo thanked him gratefully.
'How many times do you plan on thanking me every time I do something?'
"Well, human beings are, for better or worse, creatures of convenience."
I'd touched on this subject before with Horikita, but she did seem relatively open to my ideas. She usually acted alone, so as long as something didn't harm her, she tended not to mind. She wasn't the type to empathize with someone else's pain, though.
"Everyone's like that deep down." Ibuki remarked. "And don't add me to your friendship bullshit, Ichinose. It's honestly repulsive." She cut off Ichinose who was about to argue back with her class motto.
"Well, your way of thinking isn't relevant to me, Ayanokouji-kun, so you're free to think whatever you like. Also, I appreciate that you say those two are hard to deal with."
"Well, that's just because you hate them, isn't it?"
Sudo eyed Horikita sadly. His crush just admitted that she hates him.
Well, to how he acted to her in the beginning, it will most likely explained that hatred.
"Don't get the wrong Idea. I neither hate nor like you." Horikita blankly answered some of the class questions.
'Ouch.'
"Having a common enemy tends to lead to cooperation."
"No. Just because I'm bad at dealing with them doesn't mean I hate them. Please don't think I'm like you."
"Eh, Ayanokoji-kun hates us?!" Sato asked in disbelief.
"No, I don't know how Horikita got that idea but I don't hate you. Any of you." Ayanokoji reassured.
"You seemed to be the type." Horikita stiffly position herself better on her chair.
"What? You based that on the fact that you thought I seemed to be the type?"
I really did want to get closer to Kushida and Hirata. But Horikita's interpretation of my stance was rather broad, and she seemed to think that we had similar thoughts on the matter. Muttering, I walked to the end of the hallway and scanned the corners, making sure not to miss any nooks or crannies. Horikita seemed to notice something, and began looking around. She started to ponder.
"Looks like there aren't any here. Too bad."
"Any what?" Yume asked.
"Security cameras." Ichinose answered. Seeing as she helped us in this case, Yume believed her. But who said she doesn't trust Ichinose in the first place?
"Huh? What?" I asked.
"Cameras, like the ones in the classrooms. If there were cameras here, we'd have solid evidence. I can't find any."
"There's one in our classroom?" Yamauchi stared dumbfounded.
"Yeah, didn't Chabashira-sensei implied it? They monitored our movement in the classroom. That's why they were able to deduct points whenever someone misbehaves." Hirata gently explained.
"Oh, I didn't knew that. I thought they just came up with the numbers based on our classes." Yamauchi dumbly smile.
"That's unfair and unorganized, Yamauchi-kun." Ichinose step in.
"Not to mention, they're ruining our future by randomly counting or deducting class points." Matsushita added.
'Since when was she one of the smart ones?' Everyone thought.
"Ah, yes. The security cameras. You're certainly right about it. If they were here, this matter would be settled."
There were electrical outlets by the ceiling, but no signs they were being used. There was nothing in the hallway to obstruct a camera's view, so if one were installed the whole incident would have been recorded from start to finish.
"Of course I checked if there was security cameras before executing my plan." Ryuuen smirked lazily. Ishizaki and the gang nodded proudly.
Horikita stared at him in disbelief, "Aren't you worried of being punish? The council members and teachers heard that." She pointed to the mentioned people.
Mashima-sensei sighed, "Unfortunately, this already happened. We can't reopen the case and present this as a fact, nor us as the witnesses."
Ryuuen smiled at Horikita that means, 'See? No problem.'
"Well, did the school have hallway cameras in the first place?"
It probably wasn't just the special building. The hallways in the main school buildings probably didn't have cameras, either.
"If I had to think of places where they wouldn't be installed, I'd probably say the bathrooms and the locker rooms. Right?"
"Yeah. Most likely."
"If there were security cameras here, the school would have checked them first and we wouldn't have any problems with this case."
Horikita narrowed her eyes. 'Wait...'
"If only that was easy." Hashimoto rubbed his chin.
Ichinose, Kanzaki, Sakayanagi and Ryuuen smiled.
'That's where they got the idea? And it seems he was the one who brought it up.' Ryuuen watched the screen with interest.
I shook my head, embarrassed to have gotten my hopes up for even a moment. For a short while, we loitered around, wasting time and not really achieving anything.
"So, have you come up with a plan to save Sudou-kun?" Horikita asked.
"Of course I haven't. It's your job to come up with plans, Horikita. I won't ask you to save Sudou, but it'd be nice for you to point Class D in the right direction."
'For you to sit back and relax?' Sakayanagi looked over at her childhood friend. 'Yet, why do I have a feeling that you'll only be involve more in the future?'
Horikita shrugged in exasperation. She was probably thinking up a response. However, she was the one who'd found Sakura, so it wasn't like she didn't want to help at all.
"You're asking for my help? To use me? Me? Here and now?"
"Having Sakura as our witness hurts us more than it helps. I think it'd be better if we looked for something else."
"Why?" Asked Nene.
"Because she's from Class D, isn't it?" Shibata thought out loud.
"is that supposed to be a bad thing?" Sato looked confused.
Hirata gently explained to them, "They might think that we're forcing her to speak up for Sudo-kun's and our sake."
"Oh." Both girls looked enlightened. Airi flinched back, and cowered on her chair when multiple eyes found hers.
Horikita likely understood. However, she was acting aloof, cut off from the world, like she was too cool to care about anything.
"Ara, it seems you like to make fun of her in your mind, Ayanokoji-kun." Hoshinomiya-sensei teased him.
Ayanokoji felt Horikita's harsh glare on his face, "Whatever do you mean, sensei? I'm only speaking the truth."
Multiple students snickered after hearing him. It only served to fuel Horikita's glare on him.
"Sudou has many qualities I can't stomach. However, I want to lessen the blame they're placing upon him. The best possible outcome is we'll still have some points, even if Class D's image worsens."
She sounded honest. Normally, she wasn't quite so candid. That wasn't an especially bad thing. However, most people aren't suited for loneliness.
Therefore, they sometimes behave hypocritically, like saving someone out of feigned altruism in order to make other people adore them. That didn't seem to be Horikita's style, though. Also, unlike Kushida and the others, she'd
completely given up on proving Sudou's innocence.
"Like I said, unless a perfect witness appears, proving Sudou-kun's innocence will be impossible. If those Class C students admitted that they lied, I suppose things might turn out fine. Do you think that's likely?"
"No way. They would never admit it."
"Yet, you managed to get them to back away." Katsuragi commented. He glanced at Class C and D before resuming watching.
Horikita removed her glare from me before replying. "I'll do anything necessary to defend my class and elevate them to Class A. Won't you do the same, Katsuragi-san?"
"I supoose. But still inside the rules and regulation, of course. Do not think of me as a type of person who play sneakily and dirty." Katsuragi eyed Ryuuen and Sakayanagi when he said this. The former only glared at hi while the latter smile.
"I hope you're not talking about me Katsuragi-kun."
The lie would stand, especially because the other class also lacked any evidence. That was what I thought, anyway. Our only proof was Sudou's word. We were completely in the dark.
"There's no one here after class."
"Well, that's obvious. They only use the special building for club activities."
One party, either Sudou or the Class C students, had summoned the other to the special building. After that, as if by destiny, the two enemies started brawling. In the end, Sudou had injured the others, and they'd complained about it. That was the whole case.
I definitely wouldn't come to a hot place like this unless someone had brought me. The humidity was suffocating. I felt like if I stayed even a few more minutes, my head would to explode.
"You really can't stand the heat huh, Ayanokoji-kun?" Ichinose pitied him.
"You look like you're about to die." Ike blurted out.
Ayanokoji sighed, "Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment...?"
"Aren't you hot, Horikita?"
While the severe heat destroyed me, Horikita looked around with a cool expression.
"I'm fairly resilient when it comes to temperature. Ayanokouji-kun, you…don't seem okay."
The heat was making me dizzy. I moved towards the window, hoping for some cool air. I opened the window…and then immediately slammed it shut.
"That was dangerous."
"Watching you makes me sweat." Ibuki murmured. She fan herself using her hands.
Ishizaki looked at her like she's crazy. "What are you doing, Ibuki? The room is air-conditioned." Unlike Ibuki, Ishizaki seemed to be a little cold. He rubbed his forearms.
Opening the window had only let more hot air into the room. Leaving it ajar would've resulted in tragedy, I was sure of it. When I thought about how it would keep getting hotter all the way through August, I became depressed. However, coming here today had given us results. Things weren't impossible…
"What are you thinking about right now?" Horikita asked.
"Oh, nothing really. Just that it's hot. I've reached my limit."
It looked as though we'd done all we could, so we started back.
"Ah."
"Oops!"
Turning the hallway corner, I bumped into another student.
"Sorry, are you okay?" I asked.
The impact of our collision wasn't very hard. At the very least, neither of us fell over.
"Yeah. I'm sorry. I was careless," she said.
"Oh no, I'm sorry. Wait…Sakura?"
Mid apology, I realized just whom I'd run into.
"Ah, um?"
Judging from her troubled response, she didn't know who I was. After staring for a moment, she seemed to recognize me as one of her classmates.
It's kind of pointless if you can only recognize somebody after about of intense staring, though.
"I feel kind of sad for him," A Class A student whispered to his friend.
"I know right?"
"I'm sorry for not recognizing you, Ayanokoji-kun!" Airi whispered yelled. Luckily, Ayanokoji heard her.
He nodded his head, "It's fine, Sakura."
"Ah, oh. Well, you see… My hobby is taking pictures, so…"
She showed me her phone's screen. I hadn't really planned on asking for details. Besides, it wasn't particularly unnatural to use your phone. Sakura had probably thought we were returning to the dorms, and now she was undoubtedly wondering why we were here.
"You said it's your hobby? What kind of pictures?" I asked.
"Things like the hallway…and the view outside the window. Stuff like that, I guess."
Just as Sakura finished her brief explanation, she noticed Horikita and lowered her gaze.
"Ah, um…"
"I have something I'd like to ask you, Sakura-san," Horikita said.
Sakura appeared uncomfortable, but Horikita, never one to pass up on opportunity, stepped closer to her. Sakura backed away, seemingly frightened. I tried to gently restrain Horikita, gesturing for her for stop chasing Sakura.
"G-goodbye."
"Sakura." I called as she tried to hasten away. "You don't have to force yourself."
"Huh? Didn't they need a witness?" Shimizu asked.
"A witness in their class is useless, remember?" Matoba replied.
Meanwhile...
"Ne, ne. Doesn't he seemed to be a gentleman?" Ando giggled.
Amikura agree, "Yeah. Not forcing the girl to speak up."
Other girls spoken up about their thoughts about the boy.
'They do know that I can hear them, right?' Ayanokoji averted his eyes after contacting with the boys who glared at him jealous.
I'd spoken up without thinking. Sakura stopped, but didn't turn around.
"You shouldn't feel obligated to appear as the witness, Sakura. It'd be pointless to force you to testify. But if someone scary is trying to intimidate you or something, please talk to us. I have no idea how much I can help, but I'll try."
"See, see?!"
"Oh my. What a man you have in your class, Sae-chan." Hoshinomiya-sensei giggled seductively.
"Act your age." Chabashira rolled her eyes at her friend's antics.
Airi blushed.
"Are you talking about me?" Horikita muttered.
"Pft." Ike tried to hold back his laugh but failed miserably.
Yamauchi didn't bother to hide. He laughed outright. "Scary person."
Sudo grabbed the two's ears in attempt to shut them up.
Horikita merely glared at Ayanokoji who didn't dare meet her eyes.
Ignoring the existence of such a scary monster, I decided to let Sakura go.
"I didn't see anything. You've got the wrong person…"
She kept insisting she wasn't the witness. So far, we'd been operating based purely on Horikita's dogmatism and prejudices. It was quite possible
that Sakura wasn't the witness, like she said.
"Then that's fine. However, if someone else tries to hound you about it, please tell me."
Sakura went meekly down the stairs.
"That was probably our one big shot, you know? She probably came here because she was still thinking about the incident."
"Since she's denied it, we can't force her to do anything. Besides, you do understand, Horikita? A Class D witness wouldn't help our case much."
"Yeah, I suppose."
She would act according to her logic. However, I didn't know what in the world she was thinking. That was why our investigation was at a standstill.
"Hey, you two. What are you doing?"
We turned in response to the unexpected voice. A beautiful girl with strawberry-blonde hair stood behind us. I recognized her, though I hadn't ever spoken to her before. She was a student from Class B, Ichinose. Rumor had it she was a superb student.
"Sorry to interrupt you like that. Do you have a moment? Oh, if you happen to be in the middle of a so-so date, though, I'd like you to break it up right away."
"Everyone seems to think that the both of you are dating, huh?" Nagumo commented.
"I can't even fathom how people arrive at that conclusion." Horikita disagreed.
"Neither can I" Ayanokoji mumbled.
"Oh right. You helped their class with this class, Honami-chan." Chihiro tilted her head in thought.
"It's nothing like that."
Horikita denied it immediately. She was only quick to respond to suggestions like that.
"Ha ha, I see. This place is a little too hot to be a date spot."
I had no connection with Ichinose. I couldn't be sure, but she probably didn't even know my name. I was only one of many students to her. Perhaps she was an acquaintance of Horikita's? Or a friend? No. There was no way. If they suddenly said something like, "Oh wow, it's been too long! How are you?" and "I'm good, I'm good!" and embraced each other, I'd probably start foaming at the mouth and then faint.
Everyone laughed.
Horikita flushed red in embarrassment. "You really have a death wish, don't you?" She angrily stood up on her seat but was pushed down by Karuizawa and Matsushita.
"Calm down, Horikita-san." Hirata stood between the two.
"Eh..?" Ichinose awkwardly scratched her cheek.
"You have a great sense of humor, man!" Ike laughed loudly, clutching his stomach.
Sudo, who have a crush on Horikita tried to hold in his laugh for her sake.
"Do you have some business with us?" Horikita asked.
Horikita was on guard after Ichinose's sudden appearance. She probably didn't think that it was a coincidence Ichinose was trying to talk to us.
"Business, huh? Well, it's more like 'What are you doing here?'"
"Nothing. We're wandering around for no reason."
I would've liked to answer honestly, but the pressure of Horikita's gaze made me fib.
"For no reason, huh? You're from Class D, aren't you?"
"Do you know us?"
"I've met you twice before. We didn't talk directly, though. I remember seeing you in the library once, too."
It seemed that she somehow remembered me. Perhaps I was kind of cool.
"I have a very good memory, you know."
Did she mean that if her memory weren't good, I wouldn't have much an impression? I'd been a little happy, but my levity died at the backhanded
comment.
"That wasn't what I meant, Ayanokoji-kun!" Ichinose hastily corrected his thoughts.
Ayanokoji looked at her, "Please, don't mind me. I have a habit of degrading and depressing myself, you see." He gestured to himself.
'Uhm... How is that supposed to help?'
"I thought that surely there'd be something here related to the brawl. I wasn't here yesterday when Class B heard about the witness. Later, I heard that Class D was looking for evidence of Sudou's innocence."
"If we did happen to be here because of an investigation, what's your connection?"
"Hmm, a connection? Well, I'm not connected. When I heard about what happened, I had some doubts. So I thought I'd come here myself to take a look. Would you mind filling me in?"
"Looking at their perspectve, I did seemed to be sketchy." Ichinose giggled nervously. "I apologize for that, Horikita-san, Ayanokoji-kun."
Ayanokoji shrugged his shouders. Saying that it wasn't a big deal. While Horikita accepted the apology.
Was she really just simply interested?
After a brief period of silence, Ichinose sheepishly spoke.
"Guess not, huh? Well, if the other classes were interested…"
"No, we're not saying no, but…"
"I can't help but think there's an ulterior motive," Horikita snapped.
"It's only natural to think that way." Sakayanagi agreed with Horikita.
"Aren't it only natural for people to help someone in need?" Yume argued.
"Dumb and naive people, perhaps." Sakayanagi didn't bother to looked at her directions. "People only act based on their motive and interest. Are you telling me that you didn't asked them for a cooperative relationship back then?"
Ichinose stopped her from answering back. They did proposed that plan. But it was from their good will, and no evil ulterior motive.
I'd tried to handle this situation peacefully, but Horikita had promptly obliterated that plan. Ichinose, clearly sensing the hostility behind Horikita's
words, tilted her neck and smiled.
"Ulterior motive? You think we're working in the shadows to undermine both C and Class D?"
Ichinose wore a baffled expression. "Do you need to be that on guard? I'm really just curious, that's all."
"Seeing as this affects their class and class points, that was wrong for us to say." Kanzaki whispered to Ichinose who nodded. Perhaps saying that they are merely curious to the case was wrong. It brought more suspicious than it needs to.
"I don't want to talk with someone who is 'just curious.' Do what you want."
Horikita tried to put some distance between them. She peered out the window.
"Please tell me something. All my teacher and friends say is that there was some kind of fight."
I hesitated briefly, but since there wasn't much information to be gained anyway, it may not have been worth keeping quiet. So I explained the situation. I told her that three people from Class C had called Sudou over, and there was a fistfight. However, Sudou turned the tables on his would-be attackers, and beat them up. I also told her that after the fight, the Class C kids filed a false report with the school. Ichinose listened to the story intently.
"One of your experiments, Ryuuen-kun?" Sakayanagi asked, no, more like said a fact.
Ryuuen merely smiled, "Kukuku, I want to know the punishment when someone is suspended or expelled."
Sudo glared at him, fist clenched tightly in anger.
"So that's what happened. This story hasn't made its way to Class B yet. Hey, isn't this a pretty big problem, though? It doesn't really matter who lied since it's an issue about violence, right? Shouldn't you be hurrying to uncover the truth?"
"What do you think they're doing then? Hanging out?" Ibuki sarcastically said.
Ichinose didn't replied back. That was a dumb question on her part.
But Class B didn't let the matter slide.
"No need for you to be rude." Shibata snapped back.
"Rude? "I'm only telling the truth. Not my fault you fairy tale class can't accept it."
"Huh? Why you-" Watanabe was cut off when Kanzaki stopped them.
"That's why we came here to look. But we haven't really found much."
This wasn't anything like a murder case, so I'd doubted there'd be many clear hints left for us to find. However, contrary to our expectations, we did get some results.
"So you believe Sudou-kun because he's your classmate. And your friend, of course, that much is obvious. So Class D is in an uproar because Sudou is being falsely charged, right?"
It'd be difficult to convince a third party like Ichinose that we weren't doing this out of friendship or class loyalty. I wasn't going to try explaining it.
"Of course, fairy tale class acts like everything is about friendship." Ryuuen faked gagged.
Sakayanagi agreed, "It's disgusting."
Class B did nothing but glare at the two.
"What would you do if Sudou-kun was the liar? Suppose evidence came out that proved his guilt. What then?"
"I'd report on it honestly. After all, covering for a lie would only come back to haunt us later."
"Yeah, okay. I think so, too."
Even so, it wasn't like our struggles were really going to have any impact on Ichinose.
"Are you finished? You heard what you wanted." Horikita spoke sharply and with a sigh, trying to drive Ichinose away.
"Hmm. Yeah, how about I help you out? To look for the witness, or whatever. You're bound to get further with more people, right?"
Obviously more people would have been better. That was true. However, it wasn't as though we'd gone up and said to her, "Please help us, we're in trouble!"
"Why would a student from Class B offer to help?"
"Are Classes D and B completely unrelated to each other? We don't know when these cases will spring up, or whom they'll involve. Since the classes are in constant competition, there's always the chance that this will happen. This was the merely the first case. If the party that lied wins, that'd set a bad precedent. Also, I personally can't turn away now that I know what happened."
"And that's why others classes don't take yours seriously." Sakayanagi jabbed at them again. Seriously, how long does she planned to anger them?
"I'm only trying to create a fair place and great model for everyone." Ichinose fought back.
"What? Are you planning to stick your neck in every lying happening around the school? Lying is a part of human nature. It can't be stopped by mere justice." Sakayanagi viciously tored into Ichinose principles.
I couldn't tell whether Ichinose was being serious or joking.
"Even Ayanokoji-kun can't take you seriously." Sakayanagi laughed at her.
'Please don't drag me in.' Ayanokoji sighed, "Don't take that in a wrong way, Ichinose. I did not mean any harm."
"It's fine, Ayanokoji-kun. I take no offense." Ichinose smiled at him.
"If Class B works with you, wouldn't that dramatically improve your credibility? Though I suppose the opposite could be true, too. Class D may suffer greater consequences if the truth's uncovered…"
In other words, if Sudou lied, then that'd prove Class C's assertion. In that case, Sudou would unquestionably be suspended, and Class D might suffer fatal damages.
"What do you think? I don't believe it's a bad suggestion."
I glanced over to see what Horikita thought. However, she still had her back to me. She was still looking out the window, unmoving. I wondered what she thought about Ichinose's offer. Of course, we were worried about what effect this would have. If Class D tried to prove Sudou's innocence by themselves, our credibility would be low unless we managed to find evidence that absolutely, 100 percent confirmed Sudou's innocence.
If a student from Class B got involved, there might be tremendous implications.
I decided to weigh the offer's positives and negatives, even though it was rude. Obviously, I couldn't trust Ichinose yet. She was a student from Class B, and she gained nothing by involving herself. If helping others out of sheer goodwill was reflected in class or private points, then I could understand her motivation. It wouldn't be easy to ask, but she might have important information. The only way to be certain was to ask.
'He's also wary of me then, huh?' Ichinose pathetically chuckled. 'But then again, who would immediately lower their guard at everyone offering them help?'
"Let's accept her help, Ayanokouji-kun."
Horikita had made a decision, probably determining that the benefits outweighed the risks. I was grateful that she'd reached a decision so quickly.
I didn't really have the power to decide in the first place; that was Horikita's
job. Ichinose smiled, showing off her white teeth.
"Then it's decided! Umm…"
"Horikita."
Horikita gave her name candidly, as if doing so approved our cooperative relationship.
"It's nice to meet you, Horikita-san. And you too, Ayanokouji-kun."
We had unexpectedly made Ichinose of Class B's acquaintance and accepted her as an ally. There was still the risk that this could lead to bad things. No matter what, things were going to change.
"We already found a witness. Unfortunately, it's a student from Class D."
Ichinose let out an exasperated sigh.
"Well, that means there isn't another witness. I mean, I guess someone from another class might have witnessed it, but it isn't likely."
Chances were certainly slim. But there was still a chance.
"Anyway, about your friend. He's a first year, but he might become a regular on the basketball team, right? That's amazing. Even if he's holding you guys back right now, he might become a great asset later. I mean, the school evaluates club and philanthropic activities, right? So if he enters a tournament and does well, Sudou-kun could earn points. Those'll be tied to your class points, too. Wait… Did you guys not know that? Did your teacher not tell you?"
"Huh? Your teacher didn't informed you about it?" Ibuki puzzled face was mirrored by everyone except Class D who was used to their teachers uncaring attitude.
"No. We only heard it much later." Shinohara answered.
Mashima-sensei sighed for the million times that day. 'I swear, Chabashira. Don't tell me Hoshinomiya is also being a pain?'
"Your teacher is weird." Hashimoto glanced at Class D's teacher.
We'd only heard that it would influence our private points.
"This is the first I'm hearing about it affecting our class points. I'll have to complain to Chabashira-sensei later," mumbled Horikita, a little disgruntled.
This was yet another oversight, another instance where Chabashira-sensei had failed to disclose something important. I wondered if Class B had heard about this from their teacher…
A usual, our teacher didn't even pretend to give us equal treatment. I felt discriminated against.
"Your homeroom teacher is kind of weird," said Ichinose.
"She doesn't seem motivated to tell us anything. She's completely apathetic. Some teachers are like that."
I didn't think that it was particularly concerning, but Ichinose recoiled.
"Did you know that the school evaluates homeroom teachers when their class graduates?"
"This is the first I've heard of it. Are you sure?"
I wasn't interested so much as I had no choice but to be interested. That was a crucial distinction.
"Our homeroom teacher, Hoshinomiya-sensei, says it like it's her motto. She says she wants to do her best because the homeroom teacher for Class A gets a special bonus. Looks like it's pretty different for you guys."
"I'm envious of your relationship with your homeroom teacher. And your class environment."
'Taking back that last one.' Horikita thought. She's up to class cooperation and trust and all. But not to that lovey dovey state.
Our teacher appeared to lack ambition, or even an interest in money. It felt like even if we collapsed into failure, she'd just say it was great.
'I take that back. She surpassed everyone's ambition and desire to graduate from Class A.' Ayanokoji lamented on the extra work he have to do now thanks to that teacher.
"I think it would probably be good for us to meet up and discuss things."
"I never thought I'd receive aid from the enemy."
"This seems like a problem we need to address before we can fight. We're not really on equal footing, are we?"
Other classes pitied us. If anything, this showed how little interest Chabashira-sensei felt for her own students.
"I want to switch homeroom teachers with Class B."
"Well, I think that'd be difficult to manage."
I thought back to my first meeting with Hoshinomiya-sensei. She seemed to come with her own inherent difficulties as a teacher.
"What do you mean by that, Ayanokoji-kun?!" Hoshinomiya-sensei wailed.
"I mean exactly what I said." Ayanokoji boldly said.
Ichinose and Class B agreed. "He's right, sensei. appearing and teaching drunk or with a hungover is not an admirable trait of a teacher."
"Ah, it's so hot in here!" Ichinose took out a cute handkerchief covered in panda illustrations, and used it to gently wipe sweat from her forehead. Our thick uniforms really trapped the heat.
"A school that constantly runs air conditioning in empty buildings and is unkind to the environment is the worst," Horikita said.
"Ha ha ha, that's probably true. You're pretty interesting." Ichinose laughed, even though that wasn't really a joke.
"I don't think there was anything funny in what I just said…"
"How about we exchange contact information, so things can progress
smoothly?"
Horikita shot me a look that seemed to say, I don't want to do it. Give her yours.
"If you're okay with having my info, here you go," I said.
"Sure, got it."
After we'd exchanged information, I suddenly realized I had an unexpected number of girls' contacts. Though it was only the beginning of July, I already had seven names and phone numbers in my address book, three of them girls. Perhaps…I had plunged deeply into the joys of youth without even realizing it. Also, I learned that Ichinose's first name was Honami—an unnecessary bit of information.
"You lucky boy." Ike glared at him in jealousy.
"Why?! Why did you betray me, Kami-sama?!" Yamauchi cried, hands in the air. Honestly, he looked crazy and stupid.
Sudo only scowled at him for having Horikita's contact information.
Ichinose appeared serious about coming up with strategies and being a trusted ally. Every time she wanted permission to try something she'd contact us, even though she'd already said to leave things to her. I didn't think she needed to limit herself so severely. Upon returning to the dorms, I'd thought that we'd go our separate ways, but Horikita followed me all the way to my room. She seemed to still want to talk.
"Sorry for the intrusion," said Horikita as she entered the room, even though no one else was there.
I wondered why I felt a little nervous being alone with Horikita behind closed doors.
"Oh, just to check, do you have one too? A spare key?" I asked.
"For your room? Ike-kun asked earlier if I wanted one. I refused."
"Isn't that an invasion of privacy?" Miyake asked.
"Ayanokoji-kun can report you to the school, you know." Yukimura fixed his glasses.
Ike panicked, "I'll give mine back later, dude! Please, don't report me!" He bowed deeply.
"It's okay. No need to bow." Ayanokoji dismissed him.
Just as I'd expect from her. It seemed she was the only one with any common sense.
"Huh?" Sudo let out a noise.
"Rude!" Yamauchi pointed at the screen in anger.
"What do you mean by that, Ayanokoji-kun?" Kushida spoke up, she glared at me.
"Exactly what It means."
"After all, it's rare for me to visit your room, Ayanokouji-kun. Besides, coming here is a shameful act in itself. A disgrace. Understand?"
I'd assumed she'd respond like that. I wasn't hurt at all. I definitely wasn't thinking anything like, Wow, that was unexpectedly harsh.
"Why are you tracing letters on the wall with your finger?"
"To hide my pounding heart. Or something." The scariest part was that she didn't really have any bad intentions. I'm sure that if asked, she'd probably say something like, "But I only spoke the truth."
"Did you expect me to lie?" Horikita asked him exasperated.
He pause and thought for a second, "No, no I didn't." He shakes his head.
"Ayanokouji-kun, I want to hear your thoughts on Sudou-kun's case once again. Also, I find Kushida-san's actions a bit concerning."
"If you're concerned now, wouldn't it have been better to participate earlier in the process?"
"Impossible. The very person in question didn't recognize what was happening. I'm only now reluctantly offering to help for the sake of our class. Frankly, I still think it would have been better to abandon him."
Sudo looked down sadly.
"I take that back. You will be a great asset in the future Sudo-kun. I'm sure of it." Horikita took her previous statement back.
Sudo smiled happily.
"Simp." Ike whispered.
"He looks like a dog." Yamauchi blurted out.
"What did you say, bastard?!"
Oops- Sudo heard him.
"Even though you pitched in to help Sudou during the midterm?"
"That was different. Even if we managed to miraculously prove his innocence, do you think he'll mature? Saving him might have the opposite effect."
Her defiant glare seemed to say, Do you understand my point?
"So you're giving up on proving Sudou's innocence and letting him face punishment for his own sake?"
Horikita wore a slightly disgruntled expression, but then it looked like realization struck.
"Knowing Sudou's flawed personality, you realized from the very beginning how difficult it would be to prove his innocence, didn't you? That way, it's easier to think he'd be better off accepting his punishment. Especially better for those who hate him."
Horikita seemed to want to add, "You thought the same thing, right?"
I felt like I'd been backed against a wall, unable to run. If I tried to forcefully deny, she would just dig deeper.
"Well, wouldn't it be clear to anyone who took just a moment to think?"
"Probably. Kushida-san and Ike-kun and the others haven't noticed at all, it seems. They simply believe in Sudou-kun, and want to save him from
the lie for his sake and our class's sake. They don't understand the urgency of the situation."
"Most dumb people." Sakayanagi strikes again.
Kushida glared at her. "What did you call me?"
"Dumb, girly. Are you deaf?" Sakayanagi riled her up more.
"Hey!" Ike and the others protest.
Kushida gritted her teeth in anger.
"Stop antagonizing my classmates, Sakayanagi-san." Hirata the peacemaker step in before the fight escalated.
"But I only spoke that truth." Sakayanagi didn't back down.
Her remarks towards her classmates, those who'd already shared joy and sorrow together, seemed completely merciless.
"Kushida seems to understand at least a little bit, and despite that is working to save Sudou," I said.
"A little bit? So she realized it by herself, then?"
"Huh? Well, no, it…"
"You told her, didn't you?"
She cornered me with her words. It was like being interrogated. A little scary.
"You came up with the idea of getting the old test questions, and purchasing exam points. I can't say I'm surprised. You do seem quite cunning at times, but…I'm dissatisfied."
Those who want to someday live honestly, must sometimes be cunning,
too.
"Don't keep overestimating me," I replied.
Although it wasn't my intent, Horikita laughed. However, her smile immediately faded.
"Honestly, there's so much about you that I don't understand. You're a mystery. You're the most difficult person to predict in our class. You're
versatile, yet you often idle your time away. You never seem to stay still. It's as though you cannot be categorized."
"All of those are really questionable ways to describe someone. They aren't the sorts of things you'd say as praise…"
There were nicer ways to phrase all of that. Horikita stared at me with suspicion.
"I guess what I should say is that you're just blending in and hiding your true talents. You're hiding in plain sight. You disgust me more than anyone else."
Class D who already have an idea was still surprised. To have that great talents and not use them perplexed them.
Matsushita who already deduced thought, 'It takes a lot of talent to hides ones talent. What a monster.' She looked at Ayanokoji poker face. He seemed to be dead set on living his high school life peacefully and quietly. 'Yet, why stick your neck in this type of situations? You're so confusing.'
I see. I wondered if being called out like that was normal. It seemed I'd taken the bait and gotten caught in Horikita's trap. A small failure on my part.
"Come on, saying that I disgust you more than anyone else is going too far. Kouenji has his fair share of mysteries, too."
That was undoubtedly my trump card. If I disgusted Horikita more than he did, that would really hurt.
'As if you have that kind of emotion.' Sakayanagi scoffed. What a walking contradictory.
"He's surprisingly easy to understand. He studies well, is athletic, and gets excellent grades. His personality is the problem. In the end, I can easily
categorize and summarize his behavioral problems in only a few words: he's self-centered."
Honestly, that explanation was easy to understand. Kouenji was simple, after all.
"You'd probably make a good teacher," I said.
"You got to fix the attitude first though." Katsuragi pointed out.
Horikita sighed, "I don't have any plans to become one in the first place."
At this rate, when she reached adulthood, she'd probably become a teacher like Chabashira-sensei. There were four dorm buildings on campus. Three were for students, who stayed in the various dorms to which they were assigned from first through third year. In other words, our dorm building this year was the same one where last year's third-year students had lived. The fourth building housed the instructors and school employees.
What I'm saying is that since all of the first year students lived in the same building, inevitably we would meet students from the other classes.
Someone entered my field of vision. Our eyes naturally met.
"Thank you very much. It's been a pleasure." The girl spoke these grateful words to the dormitory manager, then called out to me.
"Hey, Ayanokouji-kun! Good morning. You're early."
She had beautiful long, wavy hair and big eyes. The second button of her blazer strained over her large chest. Her upright posture matched her dignified personality. I found myself more attracted to her cool temperament than how cute she was. Ichinose Honami, that first-year Class B student, had found me again.
"I woke up a little earlier today. What were you talking about with the manager?" I asked.
"Some people from my class wanted to make requests about their dorms. I gathered everyone's thoughts on the matter and told the dorm manager. Stuff like water usage, noise, and so on."
"But why gathered your class complaints?"
"Eh? It was usually complained by individuals, right?"
"Is that a class leader's job too?"
"How tiring."
"Even measly problems?"
"I just want to help my class with the best of my abilities that's all. It will also helped the dorm manager more easily." Ichinose answered them with a smile.
"You did all that, Ichinose?"
Usually, individuals handled their own room issues. I wondered why Ichinose had gone to the trouble of gathering everyone's complaints.
"Good morning, Class Rep Ichinose!"
Two girls who were getting off the elevator called out to Ichinose. She said hello back.
"Class Rep? Why Class Rep?" I asked.
I hadn't heard of any "class rep" position before. Perhaps they called her that because she seemed to study too much.
"I'm my class's representative. It seems like that, anyway."
"Your class's representative? Do all classes except for D have someone
like that, too?"
That was the first I'd heard about this. Normally I would've been surprised, but considering who our homeroom teacher was, she'd probably decided to leave that part out.
"That part is up to the class itself." Manabu said. It can varied from class representative, a group of co-leaders, a leader and council members, or focused on the class central figures.
"No, that's just something Class B set up on its own. I think it's good to have some assigned roles, right?"
I understood her point, but we certainly weren't going to assign our own class representative.
"Are there other positions besides class representative?"
"Yeah. Whether or not they serve a function is a different question, but we do have other roles for formality's sake. Stuff like vice class representative, and secretary. They could be more useful when we have a cultural fair, or sports festival, or something. We could try deciding things on the spot, but that might lead to trouble."
Katsuragi nodded. "It's more safe to assign someone in advance to avoid chaos and confusion within the class."
I recalled seeing Ichinose in the library before, studying with a small group of boys and girls. Even back then, she'd probably already been fulfilling her class representative duties. Most people wouldn't want to be class representative. They'd be forced to do annoying stuff, and it'd be necessary to participate in face-to-face discussions about school matters. However, with Ichinose taking the initiative for Class B, she probably didn't foist things on others. I'd bet she handled her duties smoothly.
"Seems like you've taken the lead. Of Class B, I mean."
Without meaning to, it appeared I'd expressed my honest feelings.
'Is your thought and feelings before not honest?' Ryuuen wondered. This bou seriously is such a mystery. He can't understand him at all.
"Do you think it's weird? It's all purely informal. Besides, there are quite a few troublemakers. We have to deal with a lot of stuff."
As she said, "We have to deal with a lot of stuff," Ichinose laughed.
The two of us began walking to school together.
"Aren't you usually a little late? This reminds me that I've never seen you around this time."
Ichinose's question sounded harmless, as if she were following some kind of template. After hearing those words, I felt a little relieved and accomplished. It seemed I could have normal, relationship-building conversations after all.
"Could?" Ibuki asked
"You're weird, Ayanokoji-kun. You're implying that you thought you can't have a normal conversation." Hiyori exclaimed. "You don't seemed to be having trouble conversing when it needs to be."
"But he's still socially awkward." Sato defended him.
Matsushita twirled her hair, "Yeah, he still needs improvement." She agreed.
"I don't have to leave so early. I usually hang around my room for about 20 minutes."
"So I guess you make it just in the nick of time, then."
As Ichinose and I got closer to the school, the number of students around us multiplied. Strangely enough, some of the girls turned one after the other and looked at us with envy. Was this the so-called popularity phase I was told would occur three times in my life? I hadn't experienced it yet; it was about time that I entered my first phase.
"Good morning, Ichinose!"
"Good morning, Ichinose-san!"
Ichinose, who was walking next to me, monopolized all of the girls' attention.
"You sure are popular," I said.
"I just stand out because I'm the class rep. That's all."
"Huh? Are you trying to be humble and all?" Ibuki hissed.
"Maybe oblivious to her popularity?" Kondo suggested.
Ishizaki looked surprised. "Where did you get that word?"
"No more importantly, how did you know that word?" Komiya asked instead.
"Huh?! From myself, idiots!" Kondo snaps.
The two looked shock.
It didn't seem like she was trying to act modest. Apparently that's what she truly thought. She had this charismatic force about her that pulled everyone's focus.
"Ah, that reminds me. Did you hear about summer break, Ayanokouji-kun?"
"Summer break? No. I mean, isn't it just summer break?"
"Yeaah. summer vacation." Yamauchi grumbled.
"It was sooo fuun. I can't wait to go on another one." Ike sarcastically said.
"I've heard rumors that we might be taking a vacation to a tropical island."
That sparked a memory. I'd forgotten about it, but Chabashira-sensei had mentioned a vacation.
"I can't believe it, though. Could we really go on a vacation?"
It probably wasn't a normal school field trip. I mean, just look around. It was no exaggeration to say that this school was fancy. Going to a tropical island in the summer and visiting a hot spring in the winter… was all incredibly suspicious. I really didn't think our school was going to be so good to be true. They had to be keeping something from us. I wondered what Ichinose thought. But I saw from her bitter smile that she also had doubts.
"My body still aches."
"Tell me about it."
"I thought I was gonns die there."
"And after that, a surprise special exam was conducted again."
Many students complained.
The teachers and studet council stayed silent.
"It's suspicious, after all. I think it's going to be a turning point."
"In other words, you think our class points could fluctuate wildly over summer break?"
"Yeah, yeah. I think there might be a hidden task, one that has a bigger impact on us than the midterms or final exams. Otherwise, the difference
between Class A and us wouldn't close much. We could diminish the gap little by little."
That was certainly true. A big, earthshaking event might very well
occur soon…
"What's the difference between you and A?" I asked.
"We have about 600 points, so our classes are around 350 points apart."
It was only natural that their points would drop since the start of the year, but it was amazing how many points they'd retained.
"So far, the midterm is all that's given us a chance to raise our class points, so losing at least a few points was unavoidable for us. I mean, even Class A has lost points."
"Yeah, I mean, no ones perfect." Hashimoto said. Arms behind his head.
"Everyone bounds to lose some points." Kaneda agreed.
'I beg to differ, Hashimoto-kun. A perfect human is seating within us.' Sakayanagi smiled at Ayanokoji's direction who was a little creep out by the girl.
However, as a result of the midterm, we'd managed to gain back points.
"You don't seem to be panicking."
"I'm concerned, but I think that there's a chance for us to make a comeback. I intend to focus all of my emotional energy on making those preparations."
I thought the first part of what she'd said was definitely correct. However, their cohesion as a class made such things possible. Class D had only managed to get 87 points this month. We weren't anywhere close to being able to compete with the others.
"I wonder how much this event will change things?"
It would probably be worth more than 10 or 20 points. However, it was difficult to imagine that it would change things by 500 or even 1,000 points.
"We're in a tight spot ourselves. If the gap widens any further, we won't be able to catch up."
"I guess we both have to do our best, then."
Actually, the ones who had to work especially hard were Horikita, Hirata, and Kushida.
"If only someone would help." Horikita's eyes found his
"I helped, didn't I? More so than anyone else in the class." Ayanokoji held up my hand.
It was true. By manipulating her to thinking og installing fake cameras, buying the old midterm paper, and most importantly, winning the first special exam and the rabbit group.
Horikita grumbled. Accepting and acknowledging Ayanokoji's accomplishments reluctantly.
"At any rate, it doesn't seem like this will get worse."
I didn't want to complain, but I felt that something annoying was on the horizon.
"But if we actually did vacation on a tropical island, that would be awesome!"
"I wonder about that…" I said.
"Huh? That idea doesn't make you happy?"
Only people who have meaningful friendships can enjoy a vacation to its fullest. There's nothing quite as uncomfortable as traveling without close friends, especially when you're traveling with a group. Just imagining it made me feel like throwing up.
"Eh?"
"Do you perhaps, hate traveling, Ayanokoji-kun?" Sato asked.
Ayanokoji shook his head, "Just an unpleasant memories."
"Do you hate traveling?" Ichinose asked.
"I don't hate it. I don't think I do, anyway…"
While we chatted, I tried to imagine what it would be like. I'd never traveled with a friend before. I had gone to New York with my parents a long, long time ago. Not a single millisecond of it had been fun. Just remembering that bitter time wore me out.
"Oh."
"Was he alone, maybe?"
"He said with his parents, dimwit."
"I mean, during their stay. It might have been a business trip or what."
"Then say it clearly, idiot!"
"Huh?! What did you say-"
"What's the matter?"
"Just recalled something a little bit traumatic."
My dry laugher echoed through the hot hallway. No, this wasn't good. If I let my negative aura spread, Ichinose would grow troubled. However, it seemed like my anxieties were unfounded. Ichinose continued talking, seemingly untroubled by my words.
"Hey, I still have some things on my mind. May I ask you some questions?"
Ichinose had a radiant presence, though it was different from Kushida's. I could say that she acted without an ulterior motive. Even when talking with a person like me, she put her best foot forward.
"We've been separated into four classes from the start, right? Do you really think they separated us by ability?"
"I understand that it wasn't entirely tied to our exam results. There are people in our class that, based on grades, should have gotten into the top ranks."
Horikita, Kouenji, and Yukimura were undoubtedly three people who deserved to be at the top based on their academics alone.
Yukimura was surprised. To be elevated that high by Ayanokoji, a person with great abilities. "Thank you for the compliment, Ayanokoji-kun."
"Hmp. It's only natural for a perfect existence like myself to be group with the superior class." Koenji bragged.
"Say that when you're up to Class B or A." Ike said.
"And yet, you're placed in Class D." Miyamoto said.
"They merely didn't know the extent of my abilities. A perfection such as I clearly belong to a superior class."
"So, do you think it's something like overall ability?"
I gave a noncommittal answer. I'd thought about it many times, but couldn't find a thorough explanation.
"I've been thinking about it since we started here. Someone might be good at studying, but bad at physical activity. Another might be good at physical activities, but bad at studying. But if students are ranked by overall ability, doesn't that mean that the lower classes are at an overwhelming disadvantage?"
"Isn't that how societal competition works, though? I don't think there's anything particularly strange about that," I said.
Ichinose crossed her arms and hummed to herself, as if she weren't convinced.
"If we were competing as individuals, sure. But this is a competition between classes, right? If you simply put all of the superior students into Class A, then doesn't that mean the rest of us have virtually no chance of succeeding?"
"Not exactly..."
"Why are you even discussing that with another class?" Shinohara asked.
"Nothing's wrong with that, right?" Ichinose asked back.
Taken aback by Ichinose's question, Shinohara just stayed silent.
That pretty much explained the current, miserable state of our class points. However, Ichinose seemed to think differently.
"There's definitely a big difference between classes A through D right now. However, I think they're trying to hide something, but going about it in
a weird way. Don't you agree?"
"Okay, I have to ask. What's your reasoning?"
"Ha, no reason, really. It's just something that popped into my head. If it weren't true, then it'd be fair to say the whole situation is cruel. I think that good students and good athletes were placed into Class D for a reason, as a counter measure."
"More like arranged because of their flaws?" Hiyori states.
Wasn't that different from the usual system, though? If the classes were solely divided according to academic ability, there'd be no way to win against the others. In a system like this, it was important to be an expert in many different fields.
"Just like in the outside world..."
Many students realized this.
"Wouldn't it be wiser not to talk to someone from another class about this?" I asked Ichinose, feeling slightly worried.
"Hmm? About what?"
"About what you said just now. Horikita already mentioned this, but you're helping the enemy."
After all, it was possible she could've given me a valuable hint, and I'd do something with it.
"Really? Mr. I hate trouble-kun." Horikita said eyeing Ayanokoji.
"What's up with that nickname?"
"I don't think so. There's a lot to be gained from an exchange of ideas. Also, since we're cooperating now, there shouldn't be any problems."
She wasn't complacent about being in Class B. That was just Ichinose's natural personality. I could understand her disposition and way of thinking. At any rate, she was a good person with no hidden side to her.
'And that will also be her downfall.' Sakayanagi laughed, alerting Hashimoto and Kamuro. "Fufufu, I can't wait to play with you."
Kamuro and Hashimoto shared a looked.
'What is she up to now?'
"I'm not smart enough to engage in an exchange of ideas. All I can say is, 'I'm sorry.'"
"I don't mind if I'm the one who does the talking and thinking. If you think it's helpful information, then it's okay for you to use it."
Ichinose stopped, almost as if she'd just remembered something. I tried reading her face, noting that she wore a serious expression.
"Hey… There's something I want to ask you, Ayanokouji-kun. Is that okay?"
It was like that bright, cheery Ichinose of a moment ago had disappeared. My body stiffened slightly.
"If it's something I can answer, I will."
Besides, what question couldn't I answer with my massively impressive brain, filled with the knowledge of a hundred million books? (A huge lie, of course.)
"Then why think like that if it's a lie?" Inogashira asked.
"You are honestly confusing, Ayanokoji-kun." Hondo said.
"Isn't a hundred million books exaggerated?" Machida stared in disbelief.
"Has a girl ever confessed her feelings to you?"
That…wasn't in the any of the hundred million books I'd read.
"I thought that was a lie...?" Minamikata looked lost.
"Maybe, maybe not." Ayanokoji vaguely asnwered.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Who knows?"
"Really? Do I look like a guy who's ever had a girl confess her feelings to him?"
Was she going to call me disgusting, or a virgin, or a shitty moron? Would I cry? I was still only a first-year high school student, you know? It was way too early for this. Right? Hey. You think so too, right? Besides, I was certain that, proportionally, the number of people who had confessed their feelings was low compared to those who hadn't. It was a baseless theory, though. Who knew the real number of people who had died in solitude, hidden in the shadows of humanity's prosperity?
Ichinose's mouth fell open. "I won't call or think of you like that, Ayanokoji-kun. I was only genuinely asking."
Ayanokoji nodded, "I'm only exaggerating a little, I'm sorry."
"A little...?"
"Oh no, I'm sorry. It's nothing."
It didn't look like it was nothing. However, it did look like she didn't plan to make fun of me. Rather, she was actually worried about something.
Chihiro visibly flinched. If she remembered it cleary.
"Did someone confess to you?" I asked.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Kind of."
It seemed like many students were striving every day to couple up like
Hirata and Karuizawa.
"Well, if you're okay with it, can you spare a little time after class? I have some questions about confessions. I know all too well how busy you are
with the incident right now, but…"
"Questions about confessions?" Karuizawa asked.
"Not suspicious at all." Yamamura whispered.
"Ichinose-san didn't confess to you right, Ayanokoji-kun?!" Ike yelled.
Multiple students heard it and starts to yell too.
"Huh?! ichinose-san has a boyfriend?!"
"She confessed?!"
"Honami-chan?!" Amikura asked her excitedly.
Ichinose can only looked left and right to the students asking her while Ayanokoji only scratched his head.
"We're not dating, guys!"
"Sure, that's okay. I don't really have much to do."
"Don't have much to do?"
"I don't think there's much point in looking for evidence or another witness. Doing that would be a waste of time and a headache."
"But you went to the scene of the crime the other day to investigate, right?"
"That was for something else. Anyway, it's fine."
"Thank you."
I wondered what all this confession stuff had to do with me. Had she made up a lie like "Ayanokouji is my boyfriend" to mislead people? I considered it for a moment, but then thought it'd be smarter for her to use a more reliable, pretty boy.
"Hehe, you found out that early?" Ichinose chuckled to herself.
"Eh? Why didn't she asked for her classmates if that was the case?"
"I dunno."
"Maybe she's shy?"
"Then more so if she asked a boy in another class."
"I'll be waiting at the school entrance after class."
"O-okay. I understand."
Even though I knew absolutely nothing was going to happen, I was pretty excited. That was what being a man was all about.
"It is?" Yamauchi asked.
"Why didn't I know that?" Ike looked at Ayanokoji who shrugged.
"Maybe because you're not a man." Shinohara hissed.
"What did you say!"
-x-
Previous Chapter: The Failures Mobilize Once Again.
Next Chapter: Confession And Creepy Store Clerk.
Word Count: 10557
Hey guys! I seemed to have miscalculated. Volume two will take up to five chapters, including this one, rather than two which I said before. The other chapters are already in my draft and are currently waiting to be filled with reactions. I'll try to finish it as soon as I can so we can move to the most awaited Volume three. That's all.
Thank you for the votes, supports, and comments! I love reading your thoughts regarding my book. I'll also remind you that I will be deleting any hate and negative comments. If you don't like the way I do things with this book, and don't have any thoughts or comments other than positive ones then please closed this and find another book to read.
Asteria_Writer