cote solace

by powershadow90

read after u read test myself

Classroom of the Elite: Alter - Solace
Izaya Hasegawa

Published: 2023
Source: https/

Special Chapter: Characters

Class A

Class Representative:
- Horikita, Suzune

Female:
- Azuma, Sana
- Ishikura, Kayoko
- Ichihashi, Ruri
- Inogashira, Kokoro
- Onodera, Kayano
- Karuizawa, Kei
- Kushida, Kikyou
- Sakura, Airi
- Satou, Maya
- Shinohara, Satsuki
- Sonoda, Chiyo
- Nishimura, Ryuuko
- Hasebe, Haruka
- Horikita, Suzune
- Maezono, Masami
- Matsushita, Chiaki
- Mori, Nene
- Yokoyama, Misaki
- Rino, Akari
- Wang, Mei-yu

Notes:
- "Yokoyama Misaki" is the temporary name that I've assigned for the last unnamed female student in Kiyotaka's class.
- Maezono and Rino's first names; "Masami" and "Akari", respectively, are also temporary names that I've assigned because they don't have one in the canon just yet.

Male:
- Ayanokouji, Kiyotaka
- Ike, Kanji
- Ijuuin, Wataru
- Okitani, Kyousuke
- Onizuka, Kiyoshi
- Ueno, Itsuki
- Kikuchi, Kyou
- Kouenji, Rokusuke
- Sugawara, Kazuto
- Sudou, Ken
- Sotomura, Hideo
- Hirata, Yousuke
-Hondou, Ryoutaro
-Makida, Susumu
-Minami, Setsuya
-Minami, Hakuo
-Miyake, Akito
-Miyamoto, Soshi
-Yamauchi, Haruki
-Yukimura, Teruhiko

Notes:
- "Ueno Itsuki" and "Sugawara Kazuto" arethe temporary names that I've assigned for the two unnamed male students in Kiyotaka's class.
- Onizuka and Kikuchi's first names; "Kiyoshi" and "Kyou", respectively, are also temporary names that I've assigned because they don't have one in the canon just yet.
- Kikuchi's first name; "Kyou", is often read as "Akatsuki", so his friends call him that most of the time.

Notes:
- I've assigned temporary names to all the unnamed first-year students.
- I've marked their names with a "Temp." so you guys can know.
- Alphabetical order is observed in conjunction with the Zodiac Test.

Class B

Class Representative:
- Sakayanagi, Arisu

Female:
-Kamuro, Masumi
-Kokubo, Saki (Temp.)
-Sakayanagi, Arisu
-Serizawa, Karen (Temp.)
-Tanihara, Mao
-Tamiya, Emi
-Tsukaji, Shihori
-Todoroki, Fumiko (Temp.)
-Nakajima, Riko
-Nishi, Haruka
-Nishikawa, Ryouko
-Fukuyama, Shinobu
-Busujima, Rin (Temp.)
-Motodoi, Chikako
-Morita, Chinatsu (Temp.)
-Murase, Ayaka (Temp.)
-Yano, Koharu
-Yamamura, Miki
-Rokkaku, Momoe
-Wakabayashi, Youko (Temp.)

Male:
-Ishida, Yuusuke
-Inoue, Jun
-Kitou, Hayato
-Katsuragi, Kouhei
-Satonaka, Satoru
-Sawada, Yasumi
-Shimazaki, Ikkei
-Shimizu, Naoki
-Shiroki, Tsukasa
-Sugio, Hiroshi
- Takemoto, Shigeru
- Tsukasaki, Taiga
- Totsuka, Yahiko
- Toba, Shigeru
- Hashimoto, Masayoshi
- Machida, Kouji
- Matoba, Shinji
- Morishige, Takurou
- Moriyama, Takashi
- Yoshida, Kenta

Class C

Class Representative:
- Ichinose, Honami

Female:
-Asako, Hotaru
-Amikura, Mako
-Andou, Sayo
-Ichinose, Honami
-Kageyama, Misaki (Temp.)
-Kobashi, Yume
-Shiranami, Chihiro
-Takahashi, Kanata (Temp.)
-Tsube, Hitomi
-Ninomiya, Yui
-Niwa, Chiasa (Temp.)
-Himeno, Yuki
-Horie, Keiko (Temp.)
-Futaba, Subaru (Temp.)
-Minamikata, Kozue
-Miyajima, Reiko (Temp.)
-Miwa, Himeko (Temp.)
-Mukai, Nao (Temp.)
- Yaegashi, Hina (Temp.)
- Rokuda, Shuu (Temp.)

Male:
-Abe, Shinichiro (Temp.)
-Uchida, Yuuto (Temp.)
-Kanzaki, Ryuuji
-Shibata, Sou
-Sumida, Makoto
-Tanaka, Haruhito (Temp.)
-Tokashiki, Kazuma (Temp.)
-Tokitou, Katsumi
-Nakanishi, Kaito
-Nakamura, Touma (Temp.)
-Hamaguchi, Tetsuya
-Bandou, Mikado (Temp.)
-Beppu, Ryouta
-Maeda, Ren (Temp.)
-Moriyasu, Asahi (Temp.)
-Moriyama, Hiroshi
- Yonezu, Haruto
- Renbutsu, Kouta (Temp.)
-Watanabe, Norihito
-Watari, Shun (Temp.)

Class D

Class Representative:
- Ryuuen, Kakeru

Female:
-Aizawa, Natsuki (Temp.)
-Isoyama, Nagisa
-Ibuki, Mio
-Ebisu, Shouko (Temp.)
-Kinoshita, Minori
-Shiina, Hiyori
-Zayasu, Hanabi (Temp.)
-Nishino, Takeko
-Hanagaki, Midori (Temp.)
-Bachira, Momo (Temp.)
-Manabe, Shiho
-Mineshima, Eru (Temp.)
-Morofuji, Rika
- Yamashita, Saki
- Yajima, Mariko
- Yabu, Nanami
- Rinzaki, Michiko (Temp.)
-Waseda, Yuki (Temp.)
-Watase, Megumi (Temp.)
-Wada, Kanako (Temp.)

Male:
- Aragaki, Ryou (Temp.)
-Ishizaki, Daichi
-Oda, Takumi
-Kaneda, Satoru
- Kajino , Masato
-Komiya, Kyougo
- Kondou, Reo
-Suzuki, Hidetoshi
-Sonoda, Masashi
-Tokitou, Hiroya
-Demura, Atsushi (Temp.)
-Nakaizumi, Izumi
-Nagaoka, Ichiro (Temp.)
-Nomura, Yuuji
-Miyabe, Kenjiro (Temp.)
-Yamada, Albert
-Yamawaki, Souta
-Yoshimoto, Kousetsu
-Rakuyama, Jin (Temp.)
-Ryuuen, Kakeru

Others:

Class A Adviser:
- Chabashira, Sae

Class B Adviser:
- Mashima, Tomonari

Class C Adviser:
- Hoshinomiya, Chie

Class D Adviser:
- Sakagami, Kazuma

Author's Notes:

I assigned temporary names for the rest of the students for convenience's sake.

Some new characters will also be introduced.

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 1.1 - Summer is About to Begin

Summer... This should be the part where I reminisce some of my childhood summer memories, but unfortunately, I don't have anything like that.

It's now the 15th of August and all of the freshmen students just got back from their luxurious two-week cruise ship vacation. Of course, everyone knows how that went for us...

I was currently relaxing on my bed inside Room 401 of the 1st-year dormitory building. We disembarked very early in the morning so most students, including me, wanted to tidy up and rest up.

"Once again, I'm free..." I muttered.

I, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, value freedom more than anything. I want nothing more than to have a normal life in this school. Exceptional students wouldn't usually have that luxury given the class competitions and their responsibilities to lead their classmates. However, I'm also aware that I'm the strange one.

Katsuragi is the leader of Class A, but he chose to be in that position because he's been the type of guy to lead since he was younger. Ichinose is the leader of Class C because she wants to do her best for her friends and her dreams. Ryuuen is the leader of Class D because he wanted to have fun beating the other leaders in the class competitions. And lastly, Horikita accepted my suggestion of her leading the class because she wanted to prove something. She wanted the recognition of her amazing brother.

Each one of them wouldn't have any doubts about being the leader of their own respective classes. Unfortunately, I'm not the same. The only reason why I led the class for the first four months was my desire to test myself. Now that we're in Class A, I have no more reason to participate in the upcoming battles. I just want to live as a regular student who isn't bothered by the pressures and expectations of performing exceptionally.

"What are you guys up to when we get back?" As we lined up to exit the ship, Ike asked the boys about their plans.

"Sleep," said Ueno.

Most of them mirrored his answer, which was understandable given everything that we just went through.

"Are you doing the same, Kiyotaka-kun?" The girl beside me asked with a smile.

"Probably," I shrugged. "How about you, Ryuuko? Do you have any plans?"

"I wanna rest too, of course... But I might go out in the afternoon."

I didn't really ask my friends about their plans for the day and neither did they-- mainly because almost all of us were just thinking about resting.

I grabbed my phone and turned off all notifications. For now, I would like to have some peace of mind. Once September comes, we'll be labeled as the top class in our year. We'll also be rewarded with a large number of private points from our monthly allowance and previous special exam.

"Class A, huh...?"

Before putting my phone away, I noticed that I received some texts from some of my classmates. Based on the few words that I could read from the lock screen preview, they must've been asking about my decision to retire as the class's leader. I already asked Hirata and Kikyou to take care of the explanations. I'm sure it'll be fine.

From this day forth, I'm just Ayanokouji Kiyotaka-- a regular member of Class 1-A. Some amount of spotlight still shone on me given my academic performances, but I'll slowly tone everything down with time.

For now... I just want to sleep the day away. That's probably how I would want to start my very first summer in school.

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 2.1 - A Normal Day Out

"It's getting pretty hot..."

Summer comes with the blazing heat of the sun. I can't really say much. That's just how it is during this season. I opted to go out in casual clothes, but apart from exposing more of my skin to the sun, nothing too drastic has changed.

"Let's eat here!"

"Okay, let's go!"

"I love this place!"

A group of senior girls happily passed by me as they went inside a restaurant in Keyaki Mall. They were all wearing summer clothes. People flooded the entire place mainly because we're in the heat of vacation, no pun intended. Students donning their casual wear could be seen anywhere I look. I could only stand aside and observe them for now.

"Ah, you're here~!"

"Ohh, are those new clothes?"

Two girls called out as they approached me. They were classmates and close friends of mine-- Azuma Sana and Ichihashi Ruri.

"You can tell if it's new?"

"Girls have that ability. Didn't you know?" Ichihashi smirked in response.

I shook my head helplessly.

"You look good on it, though."

"Both of you look great, too," I returned the compliment.

I don't really have a great sense of fashion, and I didn't have time to buy my own clothes yesterday. That said, my savior, Hirata-sama, offered to buy me a set since he went out shopping with some friends in the afternoon. It's a good thing that the two of us have a similar build and I'm glad I let him do my bidding for this one.

"So you're the first one that arrived, huh? I'm sure they'll be here soon, though." Azuma looked around with a hum. "Ah-! Speak of the devil, there they are!"

It didn't take long before three more people came along. They were two guys and a girl-- Kikuchi Kyou, Sugarawa Kazuto, and Nishimura Ryuuko.

(Head to the A/N section for Sugawara and Kikuchi's tentative illustrations.)

"Yo," waved Sugawara.

"I thought you'd still be asleep today, Ayanokouji." Kikuchi slightly nudged my side.

"I considered that idea."

"Of course, you did."

I was actually invited to hang out with them last night, and I wouldn't really decline any invitations without a proper reason.

Our plans for today? Karaoke.

I managed to dodge this bullet on far too many occasions. It's finally time for me to pay my dues...

Inside the air-conditioned room, Azuma and Ichihashi started things off with a duet. Well, the song wasn't really supposed to be sung by two people, but they said it's their perk for singing first. Kikuchi got everyone's requests and ordered the food, while Ryuuko, Sugawara, and I cheered and chatted.

" Sora wo oshi agete
Te wo nobasu kimi go-gatsu no koto
Douka kite hoshii "

"I'm surprised you accepted their invitation," said Ryuuko.

Even if I was never explicit about it, I'm sure everyone felt that I didn't like karaoke, so her comment was reasonable.

"Yeah," followed Sugawara. "Kikuchi and I didn't really have our hopes up when we invited you, but hey, what a pleasant surprise."

"Well, I ought to try it out at least once," I responded with a shrug.

Kikuchi approached us with a smile. I'm sure he understood what we just talked about even though he was ordering the food-- along with the fact that Ichihashi and Azuma were singing passionately.

"We vowed to never blabber about you saying yes," he said.

"Huh? Why?"

"Isn't it obvious? If the girls in our class find out that you finally accepted an invitation for karaoke, they'd probably cancel their plans just to join us." Sugawara answered my question with an exhausted look.

"Oh..."

I'm sure that's an exaggeration but...

" Kimi to suki na hito ga
Hyakunen tsuduki masu you ni. "

"Woohoo, way to go, Ichihashi, Azuma!" cheered Sugawara.

"The two of you sang very well." Ryuuko complimented their singing with a smile.

"Ahaha, oh you~..." Azuma jokingly received her praise while blushing.

"Your turn, Ryuuko." Ichihashi passed the mic to her.

"E-Ehh... Well, I guess I can go next."

"Ohh, do you best, Nishimura-san," cheered Kikuchi.

Sugawara and I mirror his cheer while clapping.

" I love you
Ima dake wa kanashii uta kikitakunai yo "

"After her will be your turn, Ayanokouji," said Sugawara.

"That's fine. It's better to finish my suffering early."

"Ohh, how brave." Kikuchi leaned back with a smirk.

Azuma, who was cheering for Ryuuko suddenly looked at him to ask a question.

"We were all surprised that Ayanokouji-kun came with us today, but that also goes for you, Kikucchin."

"Oh, right. Don't you have any plans with Nene?" asked Ichihashi.

"Hmm, I think she's going out with Karuizawa-san and the others today. I'm not too sure, though."

"You're surprisingly laid back." Azuma tried to tease him. "You never know... She might actually be hanging out with other boys."

"Why wouldn't I be laid back? It's not like she's my girlfriend or anything. If she's hanging out with other guys, I'm not in any place to throw a tantrum. Worrying about it now would just spoil my day, so I'd rather get jealous on my own once I get back." Kikuchi smilingly shrugged her words off.

The maturity in his words never fails to mesmerize me. This was why Kikuchi was admired by the guys.

"You're awfully secure... What an eyesore..." joked Azuma.

"Aren't you the same, Sana-chan?" asked Ichihashi. "If we're talking about being laid back, you and Chiaki-chan would probably fit the bill the most."

"We're talking about romance here..." Azuma replied with a sigh.

"You know the worst part about that, Ichihashi? Both of them are academic achievers. It pisses me off," followed Sugawara.

"Now that I think about it, your grades are pretty excellent," I said.

"Haha, a laid-back star student applies to you too, Ayanokouji. A very enviable position." The relaxed Kikuchi retorted.

"Aren't you just discriminating against me at this point? It's just the vibe that I give. I led the class for four months, you know? I'm anything but laid back."

"Oho? But since you're stepping down as our class's leader, will you finally adopt the laid-back lifestyle?" asked Azuma.

"Yes," I nodded with a thumbs up.

" Kanashii uta ni
Ai ga shirakete
Shimawanu you ni "

"That was some great singing, Ryuuko!"

"Way to go, Nishimura-san!"

Ryuuko bashfully sat back.

"Great job out there," I said.

She turned to me with her usual smile.

"I heard you're next."

I just stood up and sighed in response. Alright, there's no going back now.

I chose a popular song that got even more popular due to an anime. I guess I'll be fine with singing that one.

The music started and I began reciting the lyrics in accordance with the tune.

" Hiroi uchuu no kazu aru hitotsu
Aoi Chikyuu no hiroi sekai de "

I drowned my own voice with the music as my friends cheered for me.

I started giving it some focus and felt time pass by.

"Ahh, I'm full! I regret eating some snacks before going out," said Azuma.

It was almost time for us to leave. My friends sang a lot while I only sang three songs.

"You don't look full, Sana."

"Oh, don't flatter her, Ryuuko. She'd get annoyingly haughty if you compliment her figure," said Ichihashi.

"She does have a nice figure, though."

"Ehehe, thanks, Ryuuko~." Azuma scratched her cheek while chuckling like an old man. "I don't have big boobs, though."

"No one asked, Sana-chan." Ichihashi rolled her eyes.

"Shut it, Ruri. Just because your boobs are big doesn't mean I can't-"

"They're not! And stop talking about such an embarrassing topic."

Ryuuko just giggled while listening to their banter.

"Hmm~? Is it because some guys are around? Don't worry, they like overhearing these kinds of topics." Azuma turned to us with a teasing smile. "Am I right boys? Or is this too stimulating for you?"

"W-W-What-? N-No way!" Sugawara stammered whilst trying to deny her words.

"Dude..."

Kikuchi and I looked at him with saddened expressions.

"What?! Am I the weird one now? Aren't the two of you just acting abnormally calm?"

"Huh? Well, I'm probably just used to hearing these things. I was close friends with a lot of girls back in junior high." Kikuchi seriously answered his question while munching on some fries.

"I guess I can say that I'm a bit similar."

It's only now that I'm in high school, though.

"Man... Curse you and your valuable experiences on the battlefield."

"It's fine, Sugawara-kun. Their reactions are boring, unlike yours. You get plus points for being amusing," smirked Azuma.

"Plus points because I'm easy to make fun of, huh? How depressing..."

My condolences, Sugawara.

"Ah, speaking of which, what's Kikyou-chan up to?" Ichihashi looked at me and Ryuuko.

At that moment, Kikuchi and Sugawara started chatting about a different topic.

"I actually have no idea," I replied, shaking my head.

"If I remember correctly, I think she's hanging out with Kokoro-chan and Mii-chan. I don't know where, though," answered Ryuuko.

"I see... I wonder if it's not a bother to call her later. I wanted to talk to her about something."

"It's Kikyou. I'm sure it'll be fine." Ryuuko dismissed her worries with a smile.

"Oh, right, Ayanokouji-kun. How's Sakura-chan doing with her photo contest?"

"I'm sure she made some progress. She even asked some advice from other people."

"Ehh, that's nice. I'm glad she's starting to crawl out of her shy shell."

"Photo contest?" Ryuuko tilted her head curiously.

Since Azuma and I were talking, Ichihashi answered the question for her.

"If I remember correctly, Sakura-chan entered a photo contest held by the Photography Club and the Student Council. She asked Sana-chan to be her subject with the theme being 'Summer'."

"Ohh, that's pretty nice. I'd love to see her entry."

"I'm sure the winner's entry will be put on display. If Sakura-chan wins, we'll see Sana-chan's picture on the main bulletin board at school."

"I hope she wins!"

"Yeah."

"She'd have more chances of winning if she asked Kushida-chan to be her subject instead of me, though..." Azuma chimed in on their conversation, dramatically putting on a sad face.

"You're just making advanced excuses once Sakura-chan loses because of you." Ichihashi teased her with a nudge.

"Agh-! How harsh."

"Airi told me that she just really likes your smile." There's also her goal of making a connection between Haruka and Ichihashi, but they didn't need to know that.

"Aww, that's so sweet of her~."

At that moment, Azuma's phone vibrated from her pocket.

"Ah, what a coincidence! Sakura-chan told me that her entry is almost finished. She asked if I could come to her room tomorrow and take a look."

I read up on the rules for the contest. A large portion of the points was equally distributed for both the actual technique and photo manipulation. I don't know how experienced Airi was with photo editing, but with Professor's help, I'm sure she can pull through.

"I'm really excited. You should go with me, Ruri."

"Sure, if Sakura-chan is okay with it."

"Oh, could you ask her if it's alright for me to come along? I want to see her work as well."

"Of course. If it's not a bother to her, then we can all go together."

At that moment, the two guys called for me.

"Hey, Ayanokouji, are you free tomorrow?" asked Sugawara.

"I think so. Why?"

"Ike and Miyamoto asked if we wanted to hang out. They probably want to play some multiplayer game again."

"I'm fine with going. How about you, Kikuchi?"

"I'll pass. I've got some work to do with Setsuya and Kiyoshi tomorrow."

Minami and Onizuka?

"If I remember correctly, you're all in the same tutor group with Yukimura. Are you planning to do your summer homework tomorrow?"

"Yeah," he shrugged. "It's a pain, but it'll be better for us in the long run. Our boss is really strict with his policies, too."

"That's Yukimura for you," chuckled Sugawara.

"How about you, Sugawara-kun? Our tutor might not have planned anything, but you can't delay your homework for too long, you know?"

Nishimura addressed him with a concerned look. They were in the same group, after all.

"I-I know... I don't want to trouble Mii-chan, as well. It's just that, uhh, yeah, I'm just not in the mood yet. Ahaha..."

You don't sound convincing at all, dude.

" Sigh... Well, it's not like I can really say anything right now. I don't think any of us are in the mood to do school stuff anyway... Not after all of that."

Of course, all of us knew that she was talking about the special exams.

The six of us finally decided to separate. The three girls planned to go to Keyaki Mall while the other two had some business in the commercial district. I'm the only one who chose to call it a day.

"See you next time, Ayanokouji-kun! You were great at singing!" said Azuma, sarcastically.

"Shut up."

"It's wasn't that bad for your first time, though."

"Thanks."

"I get told off but Ryuuko gets a thank you?! Aren't you being too cold on me, Ayanokouji-kun?!"

"Now, now. I'm glad I could hang out with you guys today. I really had fun," said Ichihashi.

"Yeah, me too. We certainly formed some sort of ragtag group, but I had a great time, regardless." Kikuchi followed with a smile.

"Of course, the same goes for me," added Sugawara.

After heading back, I decided to finish all of my summer homework. That way, I can do more stuff without worrying about anything. I've gone out with my friends a lot during the weekends, but this one felt different due to my current position in the class. And to be honest, I don't dislike it at all.

Author's Notes:

Here are references for Sugawara and Kikuchi's looks.

- Sugawara Kazuto tentative illust. (can't trace it to the original artist).

- Kikuchi Kyoutentative illust. by shokikita(on Twitter).

- His looks belong to Nagisa Kaworu from Evangelion.

Ruri and Sana sang Hanamizuki by Hitoto Yo. Ryuuko sang I Love You by Ozaki Yutaka. Kiyotaka sang Chiisana Koi no Uta by Mongol800 (though it got more popular due to the song being an ED for the Karakai Jouzo no Takagi-san anime, sang by Takahashi Rie).

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 3.1 - A Warning

Because I went to the karaoke yesterday, I figured that I'd spend this day resting inside my room. Well, at least that's what I initially planned to do. I was wrong.

"Why did he even call for me...?"

"To be honest, I have no idea."

Horikita and I wore our uniforms as we walked on school grounds. The sleeves of my blazer made my arms sweat beads. It felt extremely uncomfortable.

That said, Horikita led me towards a room for a certain club. From what I've heard, it seems like the Student Council Office was currently under renovation, so moving to a temporary location would make a lot of sense.

"Tea Ceremony Club, huh?" I commented.

"I heard they were stationed in the Floral Arrangement Club until yesterday," added Horikita.

*Knock*

"Come in."

I opened the door for us after hearing confirmation from the guy himself. He sat on a chair behind a school desk. It felt kinda weird given how I usually saw him seated behind an office desk.

"Tachibana, go brew some tea for them."

"Yes, President."

Secretary Tachibana got to work as she went behind a small curtain separating the room in half.

"Have a seat, you two."

"You're being strangely hospitable. What are you up to this time?"

*Clutter*

After uttering those rude words, I could immediately hear some mess behind the curtain.

"Tachibana, is everything alright?"

"Y-Yes, President! I apologize for my carelessness!"

"Be mindful. The members of the Tea Ceremony Club were kind enough to let us borrow their room. It would be shameful if we cause any amount of damage to their equipment."

"Yes, I'm very sorry!"

Horikita Manabu fixed his glasses before turning back to us.

"To answer your question, I'm not necessarily planning anything. I called you here with regards to your recent achievement as the freshmen year's new Class A." He then looked towards Horikita. "Congratulations. As the Student Council President of this school, I've acknowledged your efforts."

"Nii-san..."

"I can't deny that results are results. What your class has achieved is nothing short of a miracle." He narrowed his eyes before continuing. "However, I hope none of this gets to your head."

"That much is obvious, Nii-san... We will not get conceited."

"Hmph. "We", huh? Suzune, how confident are you that you represent your classmates?"

"That's..."

He instantly dismantled Horikita's composure. Horikita Manabu knew his sister more than anyone else. He knew that this was nothing but a temporary feat.

"I don't think underestimating us is a good congratulatory speech, you know?" I chimed in.

"Don't get me wrong. I'm not underestimating your class's "potential". But everything else is still subpar compared to what is required from a stable Class A. You're the first-ever Class D that rose to Class A-- in one semester, no less. Questions are bound to rise."

His evaluation was on point. As a fellow freshman, I sincerely think that the likes of Katsuragi or Ichinose's classes are still leaps and bounds better in terms of overall merit.

"What types of questions?"

"There are lots of different questions that could be asked, but given your current progress and achievements, there's one question that stands out." He gave me an extremely sharp look. " Who was responsible for this?"

Horikita looked at me with a slightly anxious expression.

"I may have had a hand in the Island Exam, but Horikita was the MVP during the Zodiac Exam. The credit can't be all mine."

"Is that really the case, though? Let me ask you, Suzune."

"I..."

Of course, she won't agree with me. I made Horikita realize how inferior she was compared to the other leaders. Given how sharp she is, she must've felt that I did something in the background during the Zodiac Exam, too. She may have been the MVP on the surface, but her intuition is telling her that I might've used her as a pawn once again.

"Putting the special exams aside, the main feat that solidified your position could be traced back to the very first day of school."

"You're talking about me buying the explanation for the S-System, right?"

"Naturally. You see, the school's unique system didn't have its own culture back then. Even after revealing it, competitions remained tight. However, because of the obvious stigma and prejudice brought on by the class hierarchy, none of the lower classes managed to win in the end. Some Class Cs made it to Class B, but not a single Class D managed to overtake any higher class," he explained. "This gave birth to the current discriminatory culture that's been around for a decade or so. I'm sure you've heard of the term 'defects' thrown around here and there. As time passed by, the defeat of the lower classes had become more set in stone. Because of the class hierarchy, the difference in morale between the lower classes and upper classes had always been day and night. That's especially hard to fix when most students hailing in Class D are flawed, immature children who can't think past their own foolish desires."

The elder Horikita stopped talking to took a sip of his tea. He must've felt that the situation on the other side of the curtain has been settled.

"The tea is ready. Please, have some."

As expected, Secretary Tachibana came back to serve us some tea.

"Thank you," said Horikita.

"Don't mind it," she replied with a smile.

"Thank you."

"You're very welcome." Her smile turned into a frown before looking away.

The difference in treatment here is quite evident.

"Nii-san... May I ask why you're telling us all of this?"

"I'm just opening your eyes to the truth. 290 points, 260 points, 180 points, 110 points, and so on-- those are some examples of the amount of class points that past Class Ds initially had. They were the ones who went through the process normally-- the ones who stayed ignorant to the truth until the 1st of May," he said. "Meanwhile, your class started with a good 720 class points boosting you all the way to Class B after the first month. This shook the school, and your adviser was even investigated for foul play. It's only natural that the one responsible for this abnormal situation... is an abnormal person himself. Do you get what I'm saying, Suzune?"

"If Ayanokouji-kun didn't make Chabashira-sensei explain the S-System to our class, the likelihood of us still being Class D even after the Zodiac Exam would be very high. That's what you're trying to say, right, Nii-san?"

(Note: Suzune is using very formal language in all her lines with Manabu.)

Matsushita, Horikita, Kikyou, and even Hirata have consulted this theory with each other, including me. Our educated guess told us that there's a good chance for our initial class points to drop all the way down to zero if it weren't for that purchased explanation. With that in mind, the amount of class points that we have would only amount to 492 even after winning both the Deserted Island Exam and the Zodiac Exam. Being almost 200 points behind Ryuuen's 690, we would still end up as Class D after the first semester.

"Well, figuring out that buying intangible things with points isn't something that a normal person would think about right after coming to this school. From the marketing to how the school presents itself, every student would've been successfully manipulated into having materialistic thoughts. I'm not just crediting Ayanokouji for overcoming the school's very first test. This also goes for both Katsuragi Kouhei and Sakayanagi Arisu."

"940 points... Was there any other Class A in the past who had the same or more amount of class points as them after April?" asked Horikita.

"No. This year's Class 1-A set a record."

Horikita had a subtly graver look.

"Nii-san... How did your class do back then?"

"You're curious about that? How unnecessary."The elder Horikita fixed his glasses as he answered. "When we were freshmen, our Class 1-A managed to hold on to 920 class points."

Meanwhile, Secretary Tachibana nodded with a bright smile on her face.

"So you figured out the System, too, huh?" I commented.

"More or less. Fortunately, I didn't have to sacrifice any of our points to convince the class. As you've seen from the past rankings, the previous Class A was the same. It clearly showcases the difference in fundamental maturity between classes." Horikita Manabu ended with a sigh. "Do you get what I'm trying to say?"

"Yes..."

The elder Horikita turned to me once again before changing the topic.

"After checking the files of your first special exams, a development has got me intrigued. The sudden turn of events led me to suspect that you're planning to step down, Ayanokouji."

"So you figured even that out, huh...? Well, it's not like I was hiding it. You're right that I'm no longer the leader of Class B... or rather, Class A. Everything is now in Horikita's hands, along with Hirata and the others."

"I see. You're not the first person I've associated with that just wants to live a normal high school life in this school. I suppose I can understand where you're coming from."

Secretary Tachibana smiled bitterly after hearing those words.

"Students from your class?"

"Yes. They don't care too much about the class competitions, but they're competent enough to not be a burden. I hope you're planning to do the same. It would be shameful if you were reduced into being dead weight."

"I don't plan to become a freeloader. If everyone in the class hates me for it, then I'd be getting the opposite of a peaceful life."

"A peaceful life, huh? I suppose that's true," he smirked meaningfully. "That's all I wanted to say for now as the Student Council President and a fellow representative of Class A. You're dismissed. Tachibana, kindly escort them out."

"I understand."

While Horikita and I were walking through the hallways on our way to the teachers' faculty, her phone suddenly made a sound.

"It's a message from Hirata-kun. He's with Kushida-san and they want to talk to me about something. Apparently, it's urgent."

"Ohh... That means you have to go now, right?"

"Here, Ayanokouji-kun. Please send these additional reports to Chabashira-sensei in my place." She handed her folder to me with an apologetic expression. "Well then."

And just like that, Horikita was gone. I headed towards the faculty room all by myself.

As I turned towards the last corner, I accidentally bumped into another student.

"Oh, sorry."

"Ah, no. It was me who was careless--" Both of us instinctively apologized before recognizing each other's faces and voices. "Eh, Ayanokouji-kun?"

"Ichinose?"

"Hey! Do you have some business with your adviser?"

"Yeah, how about you?"

"Oh, Hoshinomiya-sensei called for me, but she told me that I'll hear the specifics from the student council."

Apparently, the reason why she had to visit the teachers' faculty was so Hoshinomiya-sensei can inform her about their new temporary office.

"Alright, I'll go now. Let's hang out sometime during summer, okay?"

"Sure."

And with that, I gave my report to Chabashira-sensei.

I was curious as to what Ichinose's business was. Horikita Manabu once said that he didn't find any of the first-years to be particularly impressive, so calling for Ichinose now would be a bit strange.

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 4.1 - Shopping Date

(20:14) [Next Tuesday?]

(20:16) [Yes.]
(20:16) [Kokoro-chan's birthday is on the 24th, so I want to buy a gift as soon as now.]

(20:24) [Alright.]
(20:24) [I can come with you.]
(20:24) [It'd be nice to get some ideas since I also plan to buy her a gift.]

(20:25) [Okay!]
(20:25) [Let's go tomorrow.]

And after that, we agreed to meet up somewhere in Keyaki Mall. I waited for her arrival before noon because we also planned to eat lunch outside.

"Kiyotaka-kun~!"

The cheery Kikyou finally appeared. She wore a shawl-like pastel orange open blouse on top of a light lemon yellow one-piece dress with pink ends. It was a casual outfit that was perfect for shopping in the summer.

In a similar vein, I also wore casual clothes. It was different from what I wore the other day, but it'll do for today's trip to the mall.

"Hey."

With my horrendous attempt at making a cool reply, Kikyou and I finally met up to look for a birthday gift.

We were inside a shop that was clearly targeted towards the female demographic and lovey-dovey couples. Its pink interior emphasized this effect after seeing all the available products. From stuffed animals to keychains and cosmetics, this shop was the perfect place to buy gifts for a high school girl.

"Well, I'll be in your care."

"Leave it to me! I'm sure she'll like the present we'll choose for her."

A guy and a girl going out on a normal summer day. In other words, a date. Yeah, this probably counts as a date. Of course, this wasn't the first time I've gone out with Kikyou, so I should probably get used to it now.

All of the rewards from the special exams were scheduled to be distributed on the 1st of September, so it's good that we still had a lot of leftover private points to spend. Well, that's quite an understatement. The monthly allowance received by our class was already more than enough for any student.

"Hmm, I wonder what I should buy her~?"

"Does Inogashira like accessories, by any chance?"

"Well, she doesn't 'like' them per se, but if you decide to give her one, I'm sure she'd still appreciate it."

"I see... But I still think it would be better to give her something practical."

"Ah~! That's the route you're going for? Hmm... Then I recommend giving her this~!"

Kikyou reached out for a small item that was coincidentally on the aisle that we were checking out.

"What's that?" I asked.

"Oh, you don't know? This is called a lip balm. They protect your lips by preventing water loss."

I took the item and scrutinized the visible interior.

"So it contains some sort of moisturizing ingredient?"

"Yes! Like petroleum jelly or lanolin, for example."

I see. Girls really are particular with these things, huh? Though I guess men could also use it.

"Alright, I'll buy this. Thanks, Kikyou."

"You're welcome~."

Our shopping was pretty much uninterrupted because we didn't bump into anyone that we knew. The other customers at that time were all seniors. Well, that's what we initially believed before meeting a familiar face at the exit.

"Hm? Ayanokouji and Kushida?"

"Katsuragi-kun?"

Class A's Katsuragi Kouhei, donning a school uniform in this heat, arrived at the shop.

"Hey, Katsuragi-kun~! What are you doing here? Are you shopping for something, like a present for someone?"

Him being here can't really mean too many things. I pretty much had the same thought as Kikyou.

"Yes, something like that," he nodded before eyeing the two of us. "Are you two on a date, perhaps? Ah, forgive me if I'm jumping to conclusions."

Kikyou looked at me with a smirk, refusing to answer.

"Well, we were doing some birthday gift-shopping for a friend, but since we plan to eat and maybe hang out after, then I guess you could call it a date." I shrugged before returning the question to him. "How about you? Who are you buying a present for?"

"Hmm..." Katsuragi might not have expected me to answer properly, so he was doubtful about returning the favor.

"Is the question too personal? If so, then forget I asked."

He's always been a vigilant individual. I could understand why he'd refuse to answer my question.

"No, it's fine. You were kind enough to respond to my question, so it'd be rude if I don't respond to yours," he sighed. "You see, I'm buying a birthday gift for my twin sister."

"Ohh, I didn't know you had a twin sister, Katsuragi-kun. Your birthday's on the 29th, right? Are you planning to celebrate it with any of your friends?" Kikyou asked enthusiastically.

"I don't really plan on celebrating my birthday." Katsuragi's facial expression turned grim as he continued. "That said, how did you even know that my birthday is on the 29th?"

"Ah, I asked for everyone's contact info back at the ship, right? You can see your birthdate on there." Kikyou swiftly grabbed her phone and showed him the screen after a couple of taps. "See?"

Kikyou openly displayed her own contact information to Katsuragi without any regard for caution.

"I suppose that makes sense." Seeing Kikyou's reckless actions made Katsuragi drop his guard a bit. "Well then, I wouldn't want to get in your way. You too, Ayanokouji."

"Yeah, good luck with finding your sister a gift."

"Bye-bye, Katsuragi-kun!"

Kikyou and I walked out of the shop without much issue.

"See? I told you that we'd have no trouble shopping. It's better to get ourselves as hungry as possible before eating lunch!"

"Isn't that a dangerous mindset...?"

"I'm kidding, of course~!"

After having lunch, Kikyou and I went to go see a movie. This time, however, we've decided to go for an anime movie.

"Hm? Wasn't this movie in cinemas last year?" mused Kikyou.

"Yeah. If I remember correctly, it was around Christmas."

I remember Professor mentioning that detail when he was looking through the reviews from overseas. Apparently, the movie aired in cinemas sometime in July in other countries.

"Well, I guess they're just trying to fill in the slots. I haven't watched this movie yet, so I guess we can go see it if you haven't as well," she said.

"Alright, let's go."

August 18th, 3:34 PM

"Ahh~! That was so good! Did you like the movie, Kiyotaka-kun?"

"Yeah, I did."

I genuinely did. Seeing the main female character strive and be able to explore the outside world despite being bound by her disability made me feel a sense of camaraderie.

"Ah-! Kikyou-chan's on a date~!"

Before we could have a deeper conversation about the said movie, two unfamiliar female students suddenly called out to us.

"Iida-senpai and Konishi-senpai...?"

"Hehe, were you caught off-guard? We could see you two being all lovey-dovey from the top seats, you know?"

"I see~. So this is Kikyou-chan's boyfriend, huh? Nice to meet you, I'm Konishi Yua, from Class 3-A."

"I'm Iida Aoi, from Class 3-A, as well. You're Ayanokouji Kiyotaka-kun, right?"

"Yes, uh... Nice to meet you...?"

How did they...?

"You know who Kiyotaka-kun is, Senpai?"

"Yep! I think Horikita-kun mentioned his name one time. That guy never talks about the first-year students, so if he says even one name, I'd probably remember it," replied Iida-senpai.

Her citrine eyes immediately made her stand out along with the pale blue gradient at the end of her shoulder-length black hair. She immediately exuded the energy of a strong-headed and energetic person.

"That's probably just you, Aoi... I just remembered his name after you mentioned it," followed Konishi-senpai.

On the other hand, Konishi-senpai's blond hair and aquamarine eyes caught my eye. Her prim and proper style of fashion probably mirrored her jolly yet gentle nature.

"So the two of you watched the movie, too?"

"Well, yeah. I've watched the movie before, but Yua said she hasn't seen it yet, so we decided to give it a go. We didn't expect to spot you on a date with your boyfriend, though."

"Uh, Senpai, I think there's a misunderstanding here. Kikyou and I aren't in that kind of relationship."

My words instantly caught their attention.

"Ara, is that so? I wouldn't have followed up on Yua's assumption, but neither of you denied it immediately, so..."

"Weren't you the first one who assumed their relationship earlier? You were so confident that I just believed you..." Konishi-senpai smiled bitterly, side-eyeing her.

"Now, now. If I also happened to see a boy and girl going out to see a romantic movie, I'd probably be in the same mindset as you, Senpai. I don't think it's a big deal," said Kikyou.

"So you're on a date but you're not dating each other, huh? I see, I see," Iida-senpai nodded repeatedly.

"Did you go out shopping?" asked Konishi-senpai, seeing the bag that I was holding on to.

"Yes-- for a birthday gift, to be exact. I wanted to buy one at an early date while Kiyotaka-kun needed help with choosing. That's why we decided to go out today, just the two of us." Kikyou answered her question with solid support.

"In other words, your interests aligned. How efficient, as expected of Kikyou-chan."

"Ahh! Are you perhaps the 'best friend' that the guys are talking about?!" exclaimed Iida-senpai.

"Aoi, you're getting too riled up now." Konishi-senpai held her shoulders with a bitter laugh.

"A-Ah... My bad..."

Taking the conversation to a more appropriate place, the four of us decided to hang out at the food court.

"I'm really sorry if we're being a couple of nosy tagalongs to your date." Iida-senpai apologized while sipping on her milk tea.

"It's fine, Iida-senpai. Kiyotaka-kun and I were supposed to go home after watching the movie, anyway."

"Is that true, Ayanokouji-kun? Or is Kikyou-chan just trying to be nice to Aoi again?" Meanwhile, Konishi-senpai asked me in a suspecting tone.

"It's true. Apart from shopping and grabbing lunch together, we didn't really plan to do anything else. Watching a movie was an impromptu idea after we noticed that we finished everything too quickly. It's not like the two of us had any other plans, anyway."

"I see~."

"On that note, Senpai, what were you talking about earlier?" asked Kikyou.

"About the best friends thingy?"

"Mn," she nodded. "You see, most of the students in our year recognize Kiyotaka-kun as my best friend. I don't know much about the upper levels, though."

"You might not know about this, Kikyou-chan, but you're also quite the hot topic for the 3rd-year guys. Well, that's always been the case for every cute girl that enrolls here, but a number of boys from our year still have their eyes on you," explained Konishi-senpai.

"Ehh... Is that the case?"

"Yep~! And of course, since we don't really have a lot of time left to get to know our kouhais, there's no way for them to know about your circle of friends in detail," she explained. "Ah, but it would make sense that you're around your other handsome classmate-- uh--"

"Hirata-kun?"

"Yeah, yeah, Hirata-kun from the Soccer Club-- He's also been a topic for some senior girls... apart from that other boy called Kouenji, of course. That guy had been playing around with the girls from other classes." Iida-senpai rolled her eyes in boredom. "Anyway, no one in our year knows about Ayanokouji-kun, so it came off as a surprise whenever you two are seen together. As time went on, the boys just labeled him as the 'best friend' who's super close to you."

I don't know if the fact that they didn't even bother learning my name was something that I should be sad about or be thankful for.

"Hmm... I guess that makes sense. Ayanokouji-kun is very popular in our year, but I don't think anyone in the senior classes would know about him." Kikyou looked at me for support.

"Maybe...? I'm not sure if I'm properly following this topic, but if you're curious about my connections with the seniors, I practically have none. Unlike Hirata or the other popular guys, I'm not in any clubs. And I'm not outgoing like Kikyou or Ichinose, for example. I only really hang out with my classmates."

"I see~. That makes a lot of sense," smiled Konishi-senpai. "Thanks for entertaining our gossip chitchat, and sorry for Aoi being nosy."

"Eh-?! I'm the only one?!"

Kikyou chuckled before turning to me.

"They're good senpais. They're the ones who looked after me during my early days here in school."

"Ahh, I think you've mentioned them before. Were they the ones who invited you to their club?" I also remember Kikyou's side-comment about one senpai being annoyingly persistent. She must've been talking about Iida-senpai. "If I remember correctly, one was the Volleyball Club while the other was the Tea Ceremony Club."

"I'm from the Volleyball Club! I'm taking care of Nene-chan," replied Iida-senpai.

Mori was a member of the volleyball club, so it makes sense for them to know each other.

"I'm the president of the Tea Ceremony Club," followed Konishi-senpai.

If I remember correctly, the student council president temporarily stayed in the Tea Ceremony Club's room.

"I'm surprised you remember, Kiyotaka-kun. It's not like they were the only clubs that I talked about."

"Well, those two were the only clubs that you talked about in tandem."

"Hm?" Iida-senpai grabbed her phone after feeling a vibration in her pocket. "Ahh... Speak of the devil, Maika-chan and the others are calling for me. They want to have an emergency meeting for the club."

"Is everything alright, Iida-senpai?" Kikyou asked with a concerned look.

"It'll be fine. The tournament is coming up, so I'm sure they're just a bit nervous." Iida-senpai got up and bid her farewell. "I'll be going on ahead. Don't bother them too much, okay, Yua?"

"I'm not like you, Aoi. We'll be fine over here," she waved with a gentle smile. "Tell everyone I said hi."

And there she goes.

"She might act like that, but Aoi's a lot more mature than she lets on."

"Her teammates seem to rely on her," commented Kikyou.

"They do. In sports clubs, class divisions don't matter. You're all allies in one team. It's different from the hostile atmosphere of special exams. I'm sure you can understand what I'm saying by now."

"Yes, we do..." Kikyou nodded melancholically. "Did your class have it hard?"

"Oh, our class? If I'm being honest, I think we have it a lot easier compared to the other Class As in the past. Horikita-kun is just too amazing. For flow riders like me and Aoi, all we had to do was not hold the class back," Konishi-senpai answered with a smile. "Through his efforts, we were able to have a pretty great high school experience. Our class will be forever thankful because of that."

"I see. That's really nice, isn't it, Senpai?"

"Fufun~, but it's not over yet, Kikyou-chan. Class B could still overtake us, so we can't just laze around. That goes for you guys, too, who just became the newest Class A for your year."

"Y-Yes! We'll do our best!"

"That's right. Let's do our best as fellow Class A students, okay?"

August 18th, 5:02 PM.

"Our dorm is this way, so we'll have to say goodbye now."

In the end, we hung out with Konishi-senpai until it was finally time to head back.

"Let's hang out again some time, Kikyou-chan. And it was nice meeting you too, Ayanokouji-kun."

"I would love to hang out with you again, Senpai," replied Kikyou.

Meanwhile, I just responded with a nod.

Kikyou and I walked towards the first-year dorm's lobby after separating with Konishi-senpai. After a silent trip inside the elevator, I parted ways with Kikyou while heading off on the 4th floor.

"Thanks a lot for today, Kikyou."

"Don't mention it, Kiyotaka-kun. I'm the one who asked for your company, anyway."

I got inside my room after Kikyou and I exchanged our goodbyes.

After doing my daily routine of checking messages, I finally collapsed onto my bed.

"A great high school experience, huh...? I wonder if I could have that at all?"

Author's Notes:

The shop is canon.

Kokoro's birthday was mentioned to be on a Wednesday. Given Kinu-sensei's never-consistent date management, that didn't match up with the LN's explicitly mentioned school year, which was 2015. August 24th being on a Wednesday applies to both the year 2016 and 2017, though. This makes sense given how Kinu-sensei is known to slap his dates using the year that of a volume's release date (Volume 1 was released in 2015 while Volume 4.5 was released in 2016).

That said, while the Alter timeline isn't specific with its year, I'm still using the 2021 calendar for Year 1. This moved the 24th of August to a Tuesday instead, as mentioned at the start.

"Naruhodo ne~." -Konishi Yua

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 5.1 - In Good Hands

August 22nd, 11:30 AM.

I was currently walking out of the dorm building while writing out a very long message. After pressing the send button,the voice of a female classmate called out to me.

"Hey, Kiyotaka-kun!"

"Ryuuko?" I turned around and saw her wearing our school uniform like me.

"Are you on your way to school now? It's still pretty early, you know?"

"Yeah, I didn't have anything better to do inside my room, anyway," I replied. "How about you?"

"I'm heading there now, as well."

Eh? But why did you sound surprised about my decision if you're doing the same thing...?

"Then let's just go together."

"Mn," she nodded.

Students who had business inside the school building were required to wear their uniforms. That said, there are times when fashionistas like Karuizawa or Satou refuse to wear their blazers even during normal school days. Fortunately, it wasn't strictly against the rules, however.

"It's rare for you to not wear your blazer. But given this heat, I guess it would make sense."

Seeing her get-up made me remove my blazer, too. I folded it properly as we walked and put it inside my bag. I also rolled my sleeves up so my forearm doesn't get too sweaty.

"Some girls might want to endure, but I don't sweat easily, so I'll be fine."

"Endure? I thought you'd be enduring more if you wear it."

Ryuuko smiled bitterly like she was looking at an innocent child. At that moment, I knew I missed something.

"Summer in Japan will indiscriminately make us sweat no matter what we wear. As a girl, do you think it's better to sweat while covered by a dark-colored blazer, or a thin, white blouse?"

Airi was worried about the same thing when Haruka convinced her to swim in the river. She said that it's embarrassing because the clothing will become transparent, showing her undergarments.

"I see... I get it now."

"Yep."

Before I could shift my gaze forward, Ryuuko drew closer and softly called out to me. She lightly grabbed my right sleeve, looking at me with her violet eyes.

"I'm an exception, see? Despite the heat, I won't start sweating unless the surrounding becomes humid. This breeze certainly helps a lot."

The summer breeze surely helped keep our sweat glands in control for now. But once the day reaches its peak, I'm sure even Ryuuko wouldn't be able to resist the heat. It's probably the reason why she opted to head there early.

"Good for you, I guess. I don't have that power."

"Fufun~. It's quite amazing, isn't it?" Ryuuko's smile turned stiff. "But the cold is a different thing, though... It's my weakness. I even tend to get sick whenever the season shifts."

"So your power comes with a weakness, huh? I personally don't have a problem with the cold. It's the perk of being in the neutral zone."

The two of us talked like usual as we walked in the main school building's direction.

Now, why would we go to school at this time? Wasn't it summer vacation? I wasn't a member of any club and neither was Ryuuko. Chabashira-sensei didn't call for us, either.

Well, you see, it all happened two days ago when the class finally started talking about dividing the rewards.

(20:25) [I understand.]
(20:25) [We'll have the meeting the day after tomorrow, on the 22nd.]
(20:25) [Is that alright with everyone?] (Hirata)

(20:25) [I'm with Hirata-kun.] (Kushida)

(20:26) [Let's do it!] (Karuizawa)

The class voiced their agreement right after.

(20:33)[Everyone just needs to come.]
(20:34)[We've already taken care of the required formalities.]
(20:34)[Just please be sure to wear your uniforms.] (Horikita)

(20:34) [Horikita-san will be overseeing the meeting with me.]
(20:34) [We've already gotten permission from Chabashira-sensei to use the classroom.] (Hirata)

(20:34) [Of course.]
(20:34) [We'll talk about everything in detail by that time.] (Horikita)

The class group chat was awfully convenient. All hail technology.

Before I could close my phone, I suddenly received a message from Horikita.

(20:34) [Are you coming?]

(20:34) [Probably.]

(20:34) [I understand.]

(20:34) [Way to go, leader.]

After staring at my phone for a solid minute, I've concluded that Horikita will not be replying anymore. I'll never forget the trauma of getting completely ghosted after sending a light-hearted message.

"Ah, Kiyotaka-kun, Ryuuko-chan, you came!" yelled Kikyou.

When Ryuuko and I got to the classroom, there were already a bunch of people inside. It wasn't even the usual early birds that we saw. Ike, Yamauchi, Hondou, and Miyamoto, members of the "barely-made-it-in-time" group, were already inside the room.

Kikyou ran up to me with a bitter smile. Her facial expression told me that she was running away.

"Oh, Ayanokouji! Hey there! Nishimura, too!" waved Ike.

The other three followed suit. After responding to them, I turned my attention towards Kikyou. I suddenly grabbed her shoulders and drew my face close.

"Eh...? Kiyotaka-kun?" Kikyou called bashfully.

Even Ryuuko was shocked by my actions. However, I needed to do this if I wanted an accurate evaluation.

"Don't mind it. I'm just trying to find something out from their reactions," I whispered.

"I-Is that so...?" Kikyou responded in the same volume.

"Hey, what are you guys whispering about over there?!" Ike asked loudly.

"Engaging in PDA as soon as you get here... Have you no shame?!" followed Yamauchi.

"You're not even dating! Or wait... Are you?" Miyamoto, who wanted to add something, unintentionally confused himself.

I see...

I let go of Kikyou and turned away.

"I'll be talking to Hirata and Horikita. There's still a bit of time before everyone gets here, anyway."

"O-Okay..." Kikyou chuckled awkwardly before looking at Ryuuko. "Why don't we go ahead to wait for Mii-chan and the others?"

"Yeah..." Ryuuko responded with question marks still visible on top of her head.

I approached Horikita who was already looking at me. Her narrowed eyes judged my very presence.

"So you came, after all."

"Did you not want me to?"

"No, why would you think that?"

I actually didn't. I'm already used to her distant and cold tone.

"I'm kidding," I replied, shaking my head.

Hirata stood up from his seat after putting away some documents and greeted me.

"Ayanokouji-kun, I'm glad you came."

"You guys called for the whole class, after all."

"Ahaha, I don't think Kouenji-kun would stop by, though."

"His attendance matter not. He'll probably get the reward money on his own," said Horikita.

Time passed by and the classroom finally started getting packed with the students of Class A. All 39 of us (Kouenji excluded) settled down using our seating arrangement for the first semester. This will probably be the last time that I'd be seated beside Horikita... or not. Her seat was currently empty. She and Hirata were in front of the classroom where all of our attention was directed.

"Good afternoon, everyone. First of all, thank you for taking your time to attend this meeting despite being on vacation." Hirata started off strong with his speech. "Horikita-san and I have called you here to discuss the rewards from the Zodiac Exam."

He ended his turn after glancing at Horikita.

"I've done the math for the division of rewards. If you look at our class group chat, I sent an image containing the amount of private points that each student will be getting," she said.

"Ohh..." Our classmates started observing the simple table that Horikita sent.

"As you can see, the division will inevitably be unequal, but that's just the reality of things given the nature of how the groups were formed." Horikita grabbed a piece of chalk and started writing stuff on the blackboard. "For example, Onodera-san, Wang-san, Miyake-kun, and Yamauchi-kun were all part of the Rooster Group. The reward money; 500,000 private points, will be distributed to four people, yielding them 125,000 private points each. On the other hand, Satou-san, Hondou-kun, and Miyamoto-kun were all part of the Rat Group. Dividing the reward money by three would yield them at least 166,666 private points each."

"W-Wait... This is unfair! I didn't get anything-!" cried Ike.

Before Horikita or Hirata could respond to him, Karuizawa immediately interrupted him.

"Don't even start spouting your bullcrap, Ike-kun," she said.

"Shut up, Karuizawa. You're just opening your mouth because you got some money. That goes for everyone who isn't talking right now, just going with the flow. If most of the class didn't get any money, I'm sure they'd be rallying behind me."

Ike glanced at the silent Yamauchi, Hondou, and Miyamoto, giving them a disgusted and disappointed look.

"And look at how the Rabbit Group's rewards are divided. That shit ain't equal at all! Why are you getting 200,000 private points while Professor and Yukimura are getting 150,000?!" Ike instantly countered her with a logical argument.

The class started murmuring amongst each other. Surely, it was strange that Karuizawa was getting 50,000 more private points compared to her groupmates.

"Huh? The equal distribution of the points was done by default. No one said that it would be the ironclad rule. And besides, why would you even care about the matters within our group? Horikita-san wouldn't even put this detail in if Yukimura-kun and Sotomura-kun didn't agree with it." Karuizawa shook her head in dismay and muttered softly. "Is this guy an idiot?"

"Seriously? Yukimura, Professor, are you guys seriously letting her have the bigger slice of the pie?" He turned to them in disbelief.

"As much as I dislike Karuizawa's attitude, I didn't really have a problem with it. It's not like I'm running low on points," replied Yukimura.

"Of course, I will not reject the notion of getting more private points, but Karuizawa-dono was the VIP of our group, anyway..." followed Professor.

"The Rabbit Group achieving Outcome #3 was part of Horikita's plan with Class C. In exchange for giving up our VIP's name, Class C would hand over the private point rewards back to us. Technically, Karuizawa didn't even have the responsibility to share her points with us, unlike the other groups where Horikita was the one who figured out the VIPs from an enemy class," explained Yukimura. "Objectively speaking, Karuizawa was already being extremely generous to let us even have as much as 150,000 private points when she could've kept them all to herself."

The vibe of the murmurs started shifting against Ike instead. Due to his unawareness of what actually happened behind the scenes, he made a hasty judgment and accused Karuizawa's character.

"Hmph..." Luckily, she didn't even need to defend herself.

"Well, Karuizawa probably ain't the right person to shut you up since she's getting some money. Take it from someone who won't get anything instead. We're from the same group, after all." Ken chimed in to reprimand Ike. "If I'm being honest here, Horikita could just take all the private points and no one would even have the right to complain."

"Sudou's right. She was the one who figured out the pattern, after all. The fact that she and Hirata even bothered arranging this meeting to let everyone know about how they did things was already enough to make me satisfied even though I wouldn't receive any private points by the end of it." Kikuchi joined him seamlessly.

"Listen here, all of ya. 'Part from Horikita, Hirata, Kushida, Kiyotaka, and some other involved people who worked behind the scenes, none of us did shit. So all of you should just listen to them with your mouths shut. Be thankful if you're lucky enough to get some points." Ken finished giving his piece with a huff.

The contempt seen in the eyes of our classmates doused Ike's petty rage. He sat back down with an apologetic yet understandably bitter expression.

"Kanji-kun, please calm down." Kikyou pleaded with a concerned look.

"Kikyou-chan is right, Kanji. We can even share some of our points with you," said Hondou.

His friends followed suit in trying to defuse the situation.

"Sorry..." he muttered. "Damn it, man. I looked like an idiot again."

To be honest, I couldn't even blame Ike's sole loss on this one. If the likes of Yamauchi, Hondou, or Miyamoto didn't get any points, I'm sure they'd complain just as much as Ike, if not louder. As I've discussed with some people before, the main flaws of most students assigned in Class D were their shortsightedness and immaturity. These four along with some other students in our class still have these flaws in particular-- a stark contrast to what could be observed from Ichinose's monolithic class or Katsuragi's orderly class. These unwanted qualities wouldn't just disappear because we're now in Class A.

Horikita, who silently let everything play out, finally spoke.

"Are you done?" Everyone stopped making noises after hearing her cold tone. "Good, allow me to explain further then. There's actually a way to make everyone receive points. The rewards have a grand total of 7,000,000 private points, excluding Kouenji-kun's share, of course. If we divide that by 39, then everyone will receive points."

That's certainly a valid idea. I'm sure some of our classmates have thought of it already.

"Why didn't you do it, then?" Yamauchi asked right after putting his phone away. "That would make everyone happy, right? I think it's a good idea."

A quick calculation would yield around 179,487 points. Yamauchi probably used his phone calculator to know this, and since he'd gain 54,486 more points from what he'd initially have, he went behind the idea, pitching it with boldness.

"Why? Let me ask you this then, Yamauchi-kun. Do you think you deserve it?" Horikita asked coldly.

"That's... Well..."

"Look at Matsushita-san, for example. She played a big role in the initial and final parts of the exam. But because she's a member of the Cow Group, she wouldn't even gain a single private point. If anyone should complain about not getting anything, it should be her."

Everyone looked at Matsushita, making her blush.

"I-I'm alright, really. I'm not running low on points, anyway," she said.

"If anyone of you has a problem with how we decided to distribute the points, feel free to speak. We're all here to debate anything. If presented with a valid argument, Hirata-kun and I are willing to comply." Horikita glanced towards Ike and Yamauchi before facing everyone in silence.

"I don't think anyone would be willing to run their mouths now. They'd just look pathetic like Ike and Yamauchi." Karuizawa scoffed with a smirk.

"Hey, why was I included?" Yamauchi protested.

"Hah?!" The fed-up Karuizawa turned to Horikita. "Say, Horikita-san. How much would each of us get if you divide the 7,000,000 private points by 39?"

"179,487," she replied.

"See? You just opened your mouth to help suggest that idea because you'd gain a lot more than your supposed 125,000. Try being more subtle next time before hiding your ulterior motives. Frankly speaking, if anyone deserves to gain 0 points in this class, it should be you."

Karuizawa's tongue was the sharpest when she wanted it to be. She basically murdered Yamauchi in front of the class.

"W-What the hell?! Who are you to even say that?! Stop talking out of spite before singling me out!"

Of course, Yamauchi chose to dig himself a deeper grave.

"Out of spite, huh? You're the number one pervert in the class alongside Ike-kun. You're always dragging down the class average for every written exam. Sure, Sudou-kun or Sakura-san might score even lower than you guys, but that won't last long given their attitude towards studying unlike you. You and Ike-kun even got yourself in trouble back in July."

"It was that bastard Ryuuen's-"

"It was your fault, no matter how you look at it. You were idiots who easily believed liars, that's why he targeted you in the first place. If it weren't for Horikita-san and Ayanokouji-kun's help, the two of you might've been suspended for who knows how long."

Ike gasped alongside Yamauchi after hearing their past mistakes recited to the whole class.

"Back at the island, you wouldn't even move unless you were told to. Ike-kun managed to help the class largely, but what about you? Oh, I remember. You were busy harassing the likes of Hasebe-san and Sakura-san with your perverted stares."

"Wha-?!"

"You think I wouldn't notice? Tch, you're really disgusting."

The other students, especially the girls, started looking at Yamauchi with the same revolted eyes. Haruka and Airi also felt extremely uncomfortable after the issue came to light.

"Sorry for mentioning your names, but this guy would probably insist that I'm saying things out of spite again if I didn't." Karuizawa apologized to Haruka and Airi as she justified her words.

"This bastard..." Ken grumbled while glaring at Yamauchi.

Yamauchi grew restless after becoming the center of such negative attention.

"That's not true! I'm not-" His words were cut short after seeing that no one would probably believe him. Despair could be seen in Yamauchi's eyes.

"If I was lying, Hasebe-san or Sakura-san would've defended you already." Karuizawa sighed, reaching thedenouement of her long piece. "All of that and you still had the gall to demand more rewards for doing absolutely nothing in the Zodiac Exam...?"

Karuizawa looked at Horikita.

"Hey, Horikita-san. Sorry for taking so much of our time here, but I need to say one last thing." She apologized before continuing. "We're already Class A. I'm not saying that I'm a model student or anything like that. I suck at academics and I'm not exceptionally athletic. I'm sure that goes for a bunch of us in here... But at least, I'm not some excess baggage that enjoys being carried up by others. All three classes will start coming after us soon. Perverts and lazy freeloaders don't have a place in this class, let alone this school. Sorry for being harsh Yamauchi-kun, but I'm sure the majority of us share the same sentiment. I won't call out any more names, but for the students who're as incompetent and immature as you, please get a grip."

Ending in such a manner, Karuizawa seamlessly solidified her position as one of the leaders while shoving Yamauchi's reputation down to the very bottom of the social hierarchy. He couldn't do anything but look down while grinding his teeth, with tears forming around his eyes. Ike equally had it bad considering his initial outburst of having zero profit. Meanwhile, the likes of Hondou, Miyamoto, and Onizuka wore nervous expressions.

"Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Karuizawa-san. As the current representative of the class, I would like to agree with your disposition." Horikita nodded prior to addressing the class. "With all that's said and done, I hope you could keep Karuizawa-san's words into mind. This school is all about merits. Please remember that we haven't proven ourselves worthy of Class A just yet."

The heaviness in the atmosphere slowly started to dissipate, but Horikita's initial momentum didn't fade. She proceeded with the specifics of our initial objective.

"Now then, if you can remember during our briefing before the Zodiac Exam, the recipients from each group were allowed to procure a temporary ID. I've already talked to our class's recipients and have gotten their signatures."

Horikita sent another image to our class group chat. A formal letter requesting the use of one temporary ID to store 5,500,000 private points could be read. Below that was the signature of every student who was supposed to receive a reward.

Their printed names could also be seen behind their handwritten signatures and reward value.

- Kushida, Kikyou - 1,000,000 pr
-Satou, Maya - 500,000 pr
-Horikita, Suzune - 500,000 pr
- Yokoyama, Misaki - 500,000 pr
-Rino, Akari - 500,000 pr
- Wang, Mei-yu - 500,000 pr
-Ayanokouji, Kiyotaka - 500,000 pr
-Ijuuin, Wataru - 500,000 pr
-Hirata, Yousuke - 500,000 pr
-Makida, Susumu - 500,000 pr

These were the members of the Dragon and Dog Groups, alongside the representatives that Horikita chose for triggering Outcome #3 in the Rat, Rooster, and Pig Groups.

"Hirata-kun and I will be overseeing all the transactions to ensure that everyone receives their points rightfully. If anyone of you is against this method, please feel free to raise your hand and present a better alternative." Horikita scanned the class seeing no signs of response. "If no one disagrees, then it's settled. Thank you for coming all the way here to discuss this with us. You may all go now."

The sound of chairs could immediately be heard as soon as Horikita finished her words. Some of the girls approached her with enthusiastic smiles. The class instantly got divided into cliques and groups before heading out of the classroom.

"Kiyopon, wanna hang out with us?"

Of course, I was also a member of one group.

I approached the four of them with my usual expression, but I was probably smiling in my mind. I don't know what the future would entail, but it seems like the class is in good hands right now.

Author's Notes:

- Nishimura Ryuuko tentative illust. by 8103x (on Twitter).

- Class B (now A) received 6,000,000 private points by the end of the Zodiac Exam. Kouenji will get his 500,000 independently leaving 5,500,000 for the class. An additional 1,500,000 private points will be received from their deal with Ichinose's class. The grand total will be 7,500,000 private points.

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 6.1 - The Value of Things

I stared at my phone and saw "298,139 pr" displayed on the screen. I'm not that much of a spender, but I don't really try to save my private points unless I have a clear purpose for doing so. I started to wonder how the others were doing with their financial situation.

I exited the application and looked through my contacts. I called for someone who more or less knows everything about it. He instantly picked up the moment it rang.

"Hello, Ayanokouji-kun?"

"Hey, how's that going?"

"Ahh, did you call to ask about the current state of our financial affairs?"

"Yep, I'm curious about your progress."

"Well, don't worry. Professor and I have been religiously keeping track of everything. We've even calculated the theoretical value for the month of September. Of course, we've included the rewards for the Zodiac Exam."

"As expected of you. So, how much do we have in store?"

"2,600,000 private points."

"No one skipped out on their monthly quotas then."

"Yes, and after the meeting yesterday, I decided to consult every single one of our 'investors' about their supposed contributions. They've all agreed upon a certain consensus."

"How much would we have after including the rewards?"

"4,220,000 private points. Because of our increase in class points, I've also suggested raising the monthly investment by 10,000."

"Did they all agree?"

"Fortunately, yes."

"Then, in September..."

"4,870,000 private points, at best." I could hear him snort proudly. "That said, Ayanokouji-kun... Wouldn't you consider asking at least some of the girls to keep their money with us, too?"

"Not now. The fewer people who know, the more useful this will become in the future."

"I understand."

"Do any of the guys know that this was my idea?"

"Of course not. I'll be taking that detail to the grave, so you don't have to worry."

"I see. That's all I needed to know for now."

"Is that so? Do come by whenever we hold some game sessions. I also have a few new light novel recommendations for you."

"Really? That would be great. I'll be there whenever. Thanks."

"It's no problem."

And that's where we ended the call. Because of our connection as friends, there was no need for covert ideas like deleting our call histories or anything. Any of our calls could just be dismissed as friendly talks about manga or light novels. And of course, a low-key person like him would hardly raise suspicion from anyone inside or outside the class. That's precisely why I chose him for this role.

Now, I just have to think about how I could get him and Horikita to cooperate with each other.

In conjunction with that topic, I decided to read all the remaining volumes that I haven't finished from a couple of series that he and Professor had recommended. I spent the entire day hauled up inside my room.

During the next day, I arrived before Inogashira's door in the morning, around 9 AM. Knowing her, it's safe to say that she's already awake around this time.

Luckily, there were no girls in the hallways of the 12th floor, but before I could ring Inogashira's room doorbell, another boy could be seen approaching in my direction.

"Ah, Ayanokouji?"

"Renbutsu?" It was Renbutsu Kouta, a boy from Ichinose's Class C. "Ahh... You're both from the sewing club, so I guess the two of you would be good friends."

"Yeah, we were in the same group during the Zodiac Exam as well," he replied with a smile. "I didn't know you were close with Kokoro-chan."

They're on a first-name basis, huh? It's surprising based on Inogashira's nature, but Renbutsu is a really friendly guy, so closing the distance with her wouldn't be too hard for him.

"She's one of Kikyou's best friends, so I guess it was natural for us to be good on terms, as well."

At that moment, Renbutsu and I were finally shoulder-to-shoulder in front of her door.

"The two of us had the same idea then. I can't possibly attend her little get-together with the girls, so I came by to give my gift in the morning," he said.

"Yeah, I don't think I have the guts to do that."

*Ding Dong*

The door opened only a few seconds after I rang the bell.

"Ayanokouji-kun... and Kouta-kun...?" Inogashira opened up for us and immediately blushed in embarrassment and surprise.

She wore a white summer parka paired with a gray t-shirt tucked into her oxford blue knee-length skirt. It was a very refreshing look to her usual clothing style.

"Yo~," waved Renbutsu. "Happy birthday, Kokoro-chan. We're here to give you gifts."

"Happy birthday. Sorry for barging in so early."

"A-Ah, no, no! Please, come in." Inogashira suddenly came to her senses and frantically gave us some reception.

Renbutsu and I sat on the carpeted floor with the comfort of some cushions.

"You could've given me a call, you know? I was really surprised after seeing the two of you outside my door." Inogashira gently served each of us a cup of tea.

I didn't really intend to look around like a little kid in an amusement park, but I was really amazed by Inogashira's room. Her simple yet feminine decorating style was quite comforting. It's quite similar to Airi's room in that regard.

"It wouldn't be a surprise if that was the case, right, Ayanokouji?" Renbutsu nudged me with a grin.

"Yeah." I grabbed the cute paper bag containing my gift. "Here you go, Inogashira. I hope you like it."

"Can I open it?" she asked right after receiving the said gift.

"Sure."

"Oh! A lip balm! Thank you very much for this, Ayanokouji-kun!" Her smile felt warm and genuine, making me think about how glad I am for buying her a gift.

"Ah, here's mine. It's the sewing kit that you've been talking about." Renbutsu gave his own gift with a grin.

"Eh?! Did you seriously get that?!" Inogashira quickly opened Renbutsu's gift-wrapped present and received an elaborately designed sewing toolkit. "I-It really is the real thing... K-K-Kouta-kun... Isn't this super expensive...?"

"I'm not really a spender so I have lots of points to spare..." Renbutsu scratched his head with a bitter smile. "And admittedly... I didn't know what else to get."

After hearing about Renbutsu's reason for buying such an extravagant gift, I thanked Kikyou in my mind. Her help was really invaluable in choosing a great yet humbly-priced gift.

"Are you sure about giving me something like this...? You can use it for yourself too, you know?"

"It's fine, really! Unless of course, if you're not happy with it."

"No, no! I'm really, really happy and grateful for this, Kouta-kun... Thank you..." Inogashira gazed at the gift with a warmer yet gentler smile.

Now, this is quite an atmosphere. It seems like they're really good friends.

"Thanks for the tea, Kokoro-chan. We'll be going ahead now. Enjoy your party later!"

"I'm not having a party, okay? We're just going to hang out."

I don't really know enough about the technicalities between hangouts and parties to be able to distinguish them, so I refrained from commenting.

"Have fun," I said, simply.

"Thank you very much, you two... This really means a lot to me."

Inogashira was a precious girl. She didn't have any other sides to her, unlike Kikyou. That's probably why she can never bring herself to say anything bad about her. Seeing Inogashira's grateful smile made my chest feel warm. It's probably what Kikyou and others feel whenever they're with her.

"It's no problem~!We're friends, after all." Renbutsu gave her a thumbs-up.

I nodded, following his thoughts.

When Renbutsu and I left the girls' area, the two of us had some casual talk. I haven't really hung out with anyone from Class C, so it's great to catch up with what they've been up to.

"Kushida-san hung out with Yaegashi and the others a few days ago. I'm sure some of the guys from our class wanna hang out with you, too."

"I see... I still lack the confidence to invite anyone, but I'll be on the lookout for any calls from them." I took this chance to confirm something. "Speaking of which, I noticed that Class C had become friendlier with the students from other classes. I saw Maeda and Abe hanging out with Demura and Rakuyama the other day. Were they always close with each other?"

Maeda and Abe were guys from Ichinose's class. They were usually wary of Ryuuen's class given what happened earlier this year, but the fact that they're on friendly terms with Demura and Rakuyama from Class D says something.

"Ahh, them. Well, I think they only became buddies after the Zodiac Exam. That seems to be the case with most people in our class. I also got closer with some guys from Class A-- or rather, Class B."

Of course, I already knew that those guys were involved with each other because of the Zodiac Exam, but I wasn't sure whether they were already friends before that. After validating my hypothesis, it's safe to conclude that Ichinose's plan succeeded, albeit partially.

After returning to my room, I contacted Horikita with regard to the transactions.

"Hello, Ayanokouji-kun?"

"Horikita, is it alright if I help with distributing the points to the class?"

"That's sudden. Why did you decide to tell me now?"

"I was actually talking to some of the guys about their money. That's when I got curious about each of our classmate's private point count."

"In other words, a whim?"

"Hmm... Well, yeah, basically." This might inconvenience her or Hirata, so I should at least offer some benefits. "But don't worry. I'll try to give some advice if there's a need for it."

It was a little bit arrogant and self-important, but Horikita should know what I was trying to say.

"Okay, but, how exactly would you like to help?"

"Anything will do, but if the role of the person transferring the money is available, then I'd take that position. That way, I could clearly see how many points each of them has."

"Alright, that's not really a problem. I've been with you enough to know that you probably won't do anything dodgy."

"Thanks for the trust. But keep backup personnel for that position. I might get lazy and decide not to do it."

"Goodness. I don't know what's more impressive-- your curiosity or your laziness? But fine, as long as your whims aren't a detriment," she sighed. "May I ask why you got curious about everyone's financial situation?"

"The class meeting got pretty wild last time, remember?"

"All thanks to Karuizawa-san, I guess."

"Well, that got me thinking. We have more than enough monthly allowance to live comfortably, but some are still unsatisfied with what they have. It's not like they still have a need to save up 20 million private points to change classes since we're already Class A."

Of course, we're not guaranteed to keep this position permanently, so they might be thinking about that.

"I see. You wanted to keep an eye on anyone's who's running low on points?"

"Yep, but I have other motives. For example, Ike and his friends are spenders, so seeing them with only over a hundred thousand points would make sense. It's the same with Professor, who spends a lot of money to upgrade his devices, or Karuizawa's group, who likes to buy things related to fashion," I explained. "But what if it's someone like Kikuchi or Nishimura?"

"Well, they are known to be level-headed individuals with a lot of self-control. If they're running low on points, then their spendings might raise some suspicions."

"Exactly."

Horikita sighed once again.

"You say that you're done helping the class, but if your whims would allow us to investigate things like these, then I'd have no reason to decline."

"Thanks again."

"You're welcome."

Presented with a genuine reason to help, Horikita would obviously comply. And with that, I've successfully managed to set up a bridge of cooperation between him and Horikita. Well, that and one other thing.

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 7.1 - Mysterious Trouble

It was 6:00 PM on the 26th of August. My phone silently vibrated with strength. This kind of vibration could only be triggered by the school, much like the loud ringtone that they used for extremely important instructions.

I tapped the notification and read the message.

[Due to an emergency repair work, the Water Department will be temporarily disabling all water systems in the school dormitories.

Because of this, the school will be providing enough water supply for the students, giving out 2-5 liters of drinking water in the cafeteria. Please be warned that the cafeteria will be extremely crowded because of this. The convenience stores are also temporarily unavailable due to overlapping maintenance work, but Keyaki Mall would provide free drinking water. However, bottling the water and taking it back to the dormitories is prohibited.

Regarding sanitation, please be reminded that the current water supply inside the water tank would only allow for a single flush in each room.

We sincerely apologize to our dear students for this untimely inconvenience .]

It sounds like the repair work wouldn't finish until early morning. I turned the faucet to confirm said message, and as expected, nothing came out.

Personally, I won't have much trouble with this sudden development. The remaining tea in my fridge should be enough for a single cup. If I save it for dinner, one cup could get me through the day. Speaking of dinner, I just have to make something that doesn't require any water. My only real problem would be the toilet since we can only flush once.

"Alright, let's go with fried rice," I thought.

While I was prepping everything, my phone suddenly rang. This time, it was a call from someone. I washed my hands to answer the call, but the ringing already stopped before I had the chance to do it.

"Horikita?" I reflexively read the name of the caller.

If it was anything important, then it would be rude if I didn't call back. Contrary to my expectations, however, she didn't answer at all. After calling a bunch of times, I decided to give up. It was weird that she didn't answer back given that she was the one who called first.

I simply went back to making my dinner. The rice was all ready and finally added the egg. After that was settled, all I needed to do was put on some finishing touches to it.

*Ring*

And that's when my phone rang again. I turned off the burner to answer the call, but the ringing already stopped by the time I managed to grab my phone.

As expected, it was Horikita who called me again. This was starting to become a questionable situation. Did she start getting busy right after trying to make a call? Is that why she didn't answer my return calls? That shouldn't be the case given her personality. Horikita was the type of person who calls when she's calm. Even if something happened, ending the call twice in a row and not picking up afterward was strange, to say the least.

"Yeah, right..." I muttered.

I internally scoffed at myself for thinking too deeply into Horikita's calls. Before finishing up my cooking, I decided to send her a message instead.

(18:37) [Hey, looks like you tried calling me twice.]
(18:37) [Did something happen?]

I can see that the message was instantly received, and then it was labeled as read right after. However, after waiting for a bit, it didn't seem like Horikita was planning to give me a reply.

(18:38) [I'm cooking right now, so I might not respond right away.]
(18:38) [Just text me, and I'll get back to you.]

The same thing happened-- Horikita did receive and read the message, but she didn't reply. Seeing this, I decided to go back to making my dinner.

"Hmm..."

I've already finished eating, but I still haven't heard from Horikita. After gulping the last of my barley tea, ominous feelings started welling up inside my chest.

"She couldn't be... She's not really in danger, is she?"

(19:04) [Are you okay?]

I tried to send in another text, but she didn't even receive it this time.

Did she collapse somewhere? That would be really strange-- it's Horikita we're talking about here. Did she turn her phone off? Did her battery run out?

What other possibilities existed, though? Why did she call me in the first place? That's what I'm quite concerned about. And the fact that she hadn't said anything was also very strange. What's going on?

Let's think about this logically. Horikita might've had some business with me, but was interrupted by something else. Someone-- a teacher or a classmate might've called for her. The teacher theory was quite weak because even if Horikita was the class representative of Class A, we were still on summer vacation. They wouldn't really have to call her, especially around this time. She did have the contact of most of our classmates, so getting interrupted by any of them would make much more sense...

But the point still stands. It's fine if she didn't respond to my calls, but not saying anything even in messages was bizarre. Did she fall asleep and forget to call me back?

"I wouldn't be talking about Horikita if that was the case."

She was a student of intellect and focus. Forgetting something as easy as replying to a message doesn't really fit her image.

"I'm starting to get kind of worried..."

I can't really do much right now, but I was too bothered to just let things be. For the time being, I tried calling Horikita again. I dialed her number repeatedly, and on the fourth try, I finally managed to get an answer.

"Hello?" Horikita didn't seem surprised. If anything, she actually sounded tired.

"Hey, sorry for calling a bunch of times. I was worried since you tried calling me. We're you sleeping?" I asked.

"No, I wasn't. I'm sorry for not replying."

There were no hints of panic in her voice. It didn't seem like any sort of accident happened.

"I'm kind of in the middle of something right now," she continued.

I guess she was just busy, after all. I felt relieved... and then curious-- because that's when I heard a metallic thunk over the phone.

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Nothing to worry about. Goodbye."

She abruptly ended the call. Well, at least I managed to get in touch with her. If she says that everything was fine, then all I could do was believe her and move on with my life. I decided to forget about this for the time being, even though my main question remained unanswered.

Why did Horikita call me?

*Bzzt*

It was around 9:00 PM. I was lying on my bed, watching TV when my phone lit up after receiving a new message.

(21:02) [Are you awake?]

(21:02) [I'm awake.]

(21:02) [I'd like to talk to you.]
(21:02) [Do you have time?]

It's been roughly two hours since we'd last talked.

(21:02) [I'll call you.]

Horikita immediately picked up on the first ring.

"So, what's up?" I started.

"There's something I wanted to ask you." Horikita still sounded tired, and she made a quick pause before speaking again. "Let's say there was turtle..."

"Huh?"

My expectations of what she was going to say were completely blown out of the water.

"It's an extremely smart and talented turtle. If I accidentally hit it and flipped it onto its back, that would be terrible, wouldn't you agree? It couldn't right itself under its own steam."

"I suppose... Though in most cases, turtles can extend their necks and use their legs to flip themselves right back. Giant tortoises and sea turtles are the only ones that are unable to do this," I explained.

"..." Horikita fell silent at my unnecessary explanation. "This would've been easier if you'd just assumed that turtles can't get up on their own and listened to me."

Yeah, that made sense.

"Alright, my bad. They can't get up on their own. What's wrong?"

"In that situation, what would you do?"

"I'd probably flip the turtle over. It's not that much trouble. I'd help an ordinary turtle, so I'd probably be more inclined to help an extremely smart and talented turtle."

While I didn't have any reason to save the turtle, I didn't have any reason to abandon it either. I thought I might as well extend a helping hand. That's probably what most people would do.

That said, what was Horikita getting at? Is the turtle a metaphor for herself? Was she in any sort of trouble, like the turtle who couldn't get up on its own? Judging from Horikita's tone alone, she didn't seem to be in a panicked state. Her usual calm demeanor probably meant that whatever issue she had wasn't too pressing or troublesome.

"So, what's wrong?"

"There's nothing wrong."

"Well, it sure sounds like that's where this is headed."

"I was just talking about a turtle on its back. It has nothing to do with me."

"Okay, then why are we talking about a turtle? Is that your reason for calling me earlier?"

"Yes..."she insisted. "I just... wanted to talk to you about a turtle that flipped over."

Alright, this is getting weird.

"This isn't like you-- is what I wanted to say, but asking for help isn't like you either. I'm sure you called earlier because I'm the only one you could talk to at this point. If that's the case, then don't hesitate to tell me what's wrong. I'm willing to help."

Horikita paused for a moment.

"I'm just having a little trouble."

Finally, we're getting somewhere.

"Where are you right now?"

"I'm in my room."

"Okay. You're friends with Mori and Satou, right? Is it something that they can't help you with?"

"No, absolutely not."

So girls won't be able to help, huh...? Ah-!

"Are there bugs in your room? Like a cockroach? What about Hirata then?"

I heard that's she become acquaintances with Okitani and Makida, too. If that was the issue, then I guess I can understand why Horikita didn't want to talk about it. While the dormitories were generally kept clean, a bug infiltrating one's room shouldn't be an impossibility.

"I don't trust him."

What? Why can't you trust Hirata about this? You seriously don't think that he's too kind to kill a cockroach, right?

"Huh...?"

"Don't misunderstand. There are no bugs in my room. That isn't the problem here. I could deal with them myself, anyway."

So that's not it? If bugs weren't the issue, then what is?

"What's the deal then?"

"It's..." I can feel the reluctance in her tone from the other end of the line. "No, it's fine, after all. I'll take care of it myself."

"You say that but it's been three hours since you first called. The fact that we're having this conversation means you haven't done anything about it until now. Am I wrong?" I need to shoot down any of her attempts to pull back. She's been struggling for some time, so I assume that she's tired of dealing with it now.

"Well, I guess... It's true that I'm just about at my physical limit," she sighed. "Alright, I'll tell you everything."

Thank god.

I peeled my ears and got ready to listen. But instead of getting my most awaited explanation, Horikita suddenly made a request.

"Could you come to my room?" Horikita sounded embarrassed and uncomfortable.

"Now? It's already past nine," I protested.

"I know that, but... to deal with this, you need to be here." She spoke with the most frustrated tone ever.

"I might get in trouble for going to the girls' floor at this time of the night, you know?"

"Even I can understand that, but we can't do anything if you're not here yourself." Horikita tersely ended the call.

"This is kinda scary, but backing off after convincing her to take my help wouldn't be any better," I muttered.

I grabbed my phone and key card before scampering out of the room. I should hurry as to not keep Horikita waiting.

Author's Notes:

Even in the canon, yes, Kiyotaka really did exude that boyfriend vibe.

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 7.2 - Dangers Lurk in Everyday Life

Sneaking around was pathetic, so the choice of just fearlessly walking in like it's nobody's business posed itself as a great option.

No, that's too much, even for me. If only I were as cool as Hirata or Kikuchi, then it wouldn't be too much of a problem.

I waited until I could use the elevator alone, all the way to the 13th floor. After successfully making my way to Horikita's door, I immediately rang the bell. In this situation, Horikita should've been waiting by her door to receive me, but no one answered.

I slowly started to open the door myself, only to find it unlocked.

"Horikita...?"

I've been in her room once, and since Horikita wasn't in the kitchen nor hallway, it meant that she was behind this door-- the door to her bedroom. Looking around, it didn't seem like the place was decorated any more than last time, just like my own room.

"You're alone, right?" As expected, I heard her voice inside the bedroom area.

"You're being way too loud," I said.

"It's okay. Even if someone came in right now, I'd bonk them with my right hand," she replied.

What in the world does that even mean? I cautiously entered Horikita's bedroom for the first time, and my heart raced unnecessarily. She had her back to me, so I couldn't really see her face. At first glance, nothing seemed particularly strange.

"Okay, I'm here. What's the problem?" I asked while staring at her get-up.

Horikita wore a pastel pink, sleeved semi-wrap dress with white hems and mini-ribbons. If I were to give any comments, she looked very cute in that outfit.

"Once you see, you'll understand."

Horikita slowly turned around to face me. Two different emotions instantly took over my body-- confusion and second-hand embarrassment.

"I see. So that's it, huh?"

"That's it, yes."

I stared at her right hand, which was completely stuck inside a water bottle. It was unbecoming of Class A's dignified leader.

"Hmm... How do I put this? This isn't like you. Were you playing around?"

"Don't be dumb," she glared.

"This is like when you stick your head between something but can't take it out as a result." Coupled with my silly miming, Horikita's eyebrows furrowed as she swung her arm at me.

"H-Hey, I'm kidding."

"Well, it wasn't funny."

"That's because you're the one getting teased."

"Are you going to help me, or not?" Horikita pulled her arm back, ready to launch a strike against me.

"Okay, okay, chill." I want to etch this adorable image of Horikita in my mind. "How did this happen, anyway?"

"I was trying to wash my hand."

"You could've transferred the water in a bowl and washed your hand there. That's what I did with the last of my water supply, at least."

"I've obviously thought of that, but my sink was already clean and I didn't want to wait until tomorrow to wash the bowl itself. I never thought this would happen as result." Horikita sighed in frustration. "This night is quite filled with misfortune."

Based on the plastic waste that I noticed inside her kitchen trash can, she probably had some take-out for dinner. That way, she wouldn't have to use any kitchenware. It certainly fits her personality to get bothered by unwashed dishes. And I guess sticking her hands inside the bottle itself would be the absolute best way to wash without wasting water.

Meanwhile, the mess in my sink was already set in stone the moment I decided to cook some fried rice. An extra bowl to wash wouldn't really matter. That's how I unknowingly avoided this disaster.

"I see. That doesn't look too comfortable." I grabbed Horikita's right hand-- well, not her right hand, but the water bottle. "Alright, let's get this over with."

Seeing me act, Horikita pulled in the opposite direction. However, she'd been struggling with this for hours. Due to her exhaustion, her entire framework was dragged towards me instead.

*Thud*

I reflexively held Horikita's body as her face got buried in my chest.

"You should put a little more strength into it. You're going to stay stuck, you know?" I said.

"I know that. I'm just a little bit tired." Horikita slowly pulled herself away from my embrace. "I'll pull harder and stay firm."

After I nodded, the two of us tried the same thing once more. Horikita pulled her hand as I tried to take the bottle away. She endured the pain which showed in her face, but in the end, she remained stuck.

"Doing it like this doesn't seem to be working. You're just getting hurt."

"I suppose..." Horikita appeared to have resigned herself to being trapped.

"There's no other option. We have to use soap and water to get your hand out of there."

"I have soap, but the last of my water ran out a while ago."

That's right. According to the additional details from the announcement, the outage will end around 12:00 AM at best. And even then, that's still almost three hours from now. With the both of us running out of water, the only option left was the supply from the toilet, but Horikita probably wouldn't like that.

"I'll head to the cafeteria, alright?"

Hearing my gentle tone, Horikita nodded her head in embarrassment. Her facial expression looked apologetic.

"Mn... Sorry about this," she said.

Horikita would definitely have a lot of suitors if her cuteness was always showcased like this. I sneakily went out of her room with that thought in mind. We might've been low on options, but some supply of water was all we needed.

"I'm very sorry. So many students came earlier and now we're all out," said the cafeteria lady.

With dinner time being the critical moment for all of us, the supply of water ran out like a trendy accessory. However, I couldn't give up just yet. I didn't really need a lot. About two drinking glasses' worth would be enough to free someone's hand from a bottle.

"Ahh, Ayanokouji-dono."

"Good evening, Ayanokouji-kun."

I met two familiar faces as I made my way there. It was Professor and Ijuuin.

"Hey, you two. 'Also ran out of water?"

"That is the case, unfortunately," sighed Professor.

"And it doesn't seem like our misfortune ends there," Ijuuin spoke as he looked at the vending machine.

All the water, tea, and juice were sold out. Not a single product was left for us to get.

"I've never seen a completely sold-out vending machine before," I muttered.

"Indeed. It's something you'd see from myths and legends." Instead of having an exasperated expression, Professor nodded in amusement. "Well then, we'll be on our way to Keyaki Mall. We wouldn't want to borrow water from the likes of Kanji-dono or Haruki-dono."

Despite being who he is, Professor still had some hygienic standards. Even if I wasn't close with those two, I could still notice their lack of care for leaving uncovered water or tea.

Ijuuin just nodded at me with a smile. I wonder if he shared the same sentiment?

"Hey Professor," I called. "Speaking of Ike..."

Of course, he instantly knew what I meant.

"Ahh, you're talking about Project Delta, right? Well, thanks to that whole fiasco during the class meeting, he ceased any form of contact with me about that plan. I'd already finished my part, but he has yet to take the blueprint and the device," he answered.

"I see... That's a relief."

"Yes, indeed. Thinking about it in hindsight, I would probably still get apprehended because of my involvement. I don't really trust Kanji-dono or any of his potential accomplices in terms of keeping their mouths shut. If they get captured by the authorities, there's a high chance of them ratting me out as the technician."

"That's true. It's better to call that plan off for your own safety."

"I mean, after Karuizawa-san burned those two alive, especially Haruki-kun, I doubt any of them would still have the guts to go through with that plan," commented Ijuuin. "However, I don't think their current behavior is set in stone. Even after getting targeted by Ryuuen-kun, didn't they regress back to their original selves after a while? Who's to say that it won't happen again?"

"And unfortunately, those two, along with Soshi-dono and Ryoutarou-dono, had practically become a circle-jerk. Objectively looking at it from my all-seeing eye, they've been influencing each other for the worse," added Professor.

"I thought those two acted as Ike and Yamauchi's voices of reason?" I asked.

"Well, that's how it was before, but wretched fate made the opposite happen. Kanji-dono and Haruki-dono became their voices of chaos instead." Professor's anime-like delivery didn't make that terrible news any better.

But of course, it's not like I haven't noticed it already. It was really unfortunate given how cooperative Hondou and Miyamoto were back when we tried to save Ike and Yamauchi from trouble. I guess high school boys will be high school boys.

"I'm glad you two aren't following their footsteps," I said.

"That would be quite an insult, Ayanokouji-dono. They're too obsessed with 3D girls that they probably wouldn't even have the chance to get close with. It's better to accept reality and love 2D girls, instead. Isn't that right, Wataru-dono?"

"Mn, I agree. It's less troublesome and less hurtful. Even if you're the embodiment of male popularity in our class, I'm sure you can still relate in some way, Ayanokouji-kun. You've been heavily learning our culture since the start of school, after all."

With the amount of otaku media that I've consumed in the past five months, Ijuuin's words were more than correct. I've delved into anime, manga, games, and even visual novels, but the most I've consumed would be light novels. It probably stemmed from my nature as a bookworm back then-- if I could even be considered one.

"You're probably right," I shrugged. "Well then, I'll be going on ahead. I've finished all of your recommendations, so I'll be dropping by to borrow some more next time."

"Why of course. With the amount of knowledge you hold, you're finally ready to play my most treasured masterpiece."

It's probably another ero-visual novel, but given Professor's evaluation, the other aspects should be top-tier.

"See you, Ayanokouji-kun. I'll give you some manga recommendations next time," waved Ijuuin.

I was really thankful for having those two as my friends. It was often depicted in works of fiction that popular males were loathed by otaku like them, but that couldn't be further from the truth. They would become bitter from time to time, but it never reached the scale of envy and hate that guys like Yamauchi or Ike would feel for someone like me or Hirata.

In fact, it was actually the opposite. Consuming a lot of those narrative media made Professor and Ijuuin open-minded individuals. It would be wonderful if they could influence Ike and the rest. However, after hearing about their current states, it should be nothing but a pipe dream at this point.

"It seems like you're empty-handed."

Horikita, the bottle-armed woman, stared at me.

"And it seems like your hands are still full," I joked.

Horikita instantly swung her blunt weapon at me.

"H-Hey, it's a joke!"

"It's was also extremely unnecessary, uncalled for, and of course, unfunny." Horikita sighed before speaking in a renounced and self-deprecating tone. "So, what are we going to do now?"

"We don't have any choice. We could only ask for someone else's water. We could head to Keyaki Mall, but that should be our last resort. It's the most troublesome solution, especially for you."

"I'll never get out of my room in this state... Well, unless there's no other choice." Horikita averted her gaze to the side. "Really, this night is filled with misfortune."

"I could agree with you on that..." I sighed. "But we have the entire class to contact, you know? I'm sure they'd be glad to help."

"No," Horikita's tone immediately turned deep. "I refuse to let them know about my situation."

"Alright, I understand. I'll just lie and say it's for me."

If push comes to shove, we might even need to contact emergency services.

"For now, let's try getting in touch with Hirata. He's the most reliable person we could ask at this point."

"If you tell him that you're the one who needs it for appearance's sake, then that's fine. I dislike the idea of owing him a debt." Horikita averted her eyes with a conflicted look.

That's fair. As a fellow leader, she's treating Hirata like a business partner. It's a common mindset to want to stay on equal ground at all times. But no matter how dissatisfied she was, we can't really do anything else at this point, unless she was willing to take the risk of going out.

I tried calling Hirata, but no matter how many times the phone rang, no one answered. Even when I tried sending him a message, it still went unread.

"He's not responding at all. Maybe he's asleep."

"I'll take that as both good news and bad news," she replied.

"Should I ask Kikyou then?"

"You're joking, right?"

"She'll gladly help you out, though. Or are you still on bad terms with each other?"

"We're not on bad terms, but there's no reason for us to get along either. Could you please ask another person?"

"I guess that's fine, too. I'll try asking my friends for now."

"Thanks," she sighed, seemingly fed up with the state of her right hand.

Well, I want to hurry up and return to my room, too. I checked in on the Ayanokouji Group's group chat but it didn't seem active at the moment. I hope at least one of them can give us some.

(21:26) [Hey, do any of you have some extra water? I need some right now, but I ran out a while ago. The cafeteria's all out, as well.]

Not even 20 seconds passed before a reply came in.

(21:26) [I have some!]

(21:26) [Haruka has some.]

Haruka and Akito sent their replies at the exact same time.

(21:26) [Ohh, can I have some?]
(21:26) [Around half a liter will do.]

(21:26) [Of course! You can come to my room and get it.]
(21:26) [Bring your container, okay~!]

(21:27) [Thanks a lot.]

(21:27) [No problem!]
(21:27) [I'll be waiting.]

"Sweet. Haruka's willing to give me some. I'll be right back, okay?"

"Alright, please be careful."

I got out of the room and walked my way towards the elevator. Thankfully, I made it to my room without any issues and I managed to get my own water bottle.

"Kiyotaka-kun?"

As I got to the tenth floor, a familiar girl entered the elevator.

"Kikyou?"

"Hey, what are you doing here around this time?" she asked innocently.

It didn't really seem like she was trying to tease me given that we're the only ones in here. So, I decided to answer her question honestly.

"I'm on my way to Haruka's room. I'm trying to get some drinking water since the cafeteria ran out," I replied, showing her the empty bottle in my hand.

Well, it was a half-truth given that it's not really for me, and it won't be used for drinking either.

"Oh, I thought so! You see, I'm on my way to Maezono-san's room to bring her some water," she smiled. "Really, what a pain in the ass."

Her angelic expression didn't match her last sentence, but I guess that's just Kikyou being herself. Maezono wasn't really part of her main group, so it makes sense that she harbors some unpleasant feelings underneath her kind actions.

The two of us got off on the 13th floor, but given our destinations, that's also where we decided to separate.

"I'll be going on ahead now. Good night~!"

"Yeah, good night."

I watched her walk away before briefly turning around. When I arrived in front of Haruka's room, the door opened even before I could ring the bell.

"Ah, Kiyopon, you're here~!" she greeted.

She wore a beige-colored cardigan paired with a light-yellow t-shirt peeking from her chest area. She was also wearing black stockings underneath her silky-white pleated skirt. I felt her AC on full blast so this get-up was quite reasonable.

"Hey," I raised my free hand to say hi.

"I was about to go take a peek outside since I thought you got lost. I'm glad that it wasn't the case." Well, I guess I did take some time getting here-- a little bit more than one would initially expect.

"My bad if I kept you waiting."

"Pfft, what are you saying? It's all good." Haruka merrily walked back inside. "C'mon in."

Her room wasn't as decorated as Kikyou's room, but not as simple as Horikita's room either. It's the kind of self-serving room that rarely receives any visitors, but can be considered presentable even if a group of guests came in. Of course, being on the same floor as Horikita's room meant that they had the same general layout.

"Alright, give me your bottle. I'll fill it up for you." Coincidentally, the bottle I had could hold around 500 milliliters worth of drinking water. "Here ya go~."

"Thanks a lot. You really saved me."

"Don't worry about it. Miyacchi got some from me, too. And I wouldn't be surprised if even Kencchin comes running here, as well."

"Alright, I'll be going ahead. I owe you one."

"Sure! And you seem to be in a rush. Don't get in an accident and drop all that water, okay?"

"Don't jinx it. I'm getting nervous now."

Fortunately, Haruka's joke became my way out to avoid her initial comment. She giggled as I exited her room.

After confirming that the hallway was empty, I hastily entered Horikita's room. I opened the door to her bedroom only to see her half-asleep. She immediately tried to sit straight as soon as I got in.

"You're back."

"Yeah, and you didn't even notice me. You must be really tired."

Horikita looked as sharp as ever now that I'm here, but she looked a bit wobbly earlier.

"I guess so," she replied.

"What if someone got in and saw you in this state?" I teased.

"Stop thinking about worthless things. Now that you've got some water, let's just get this over with."

I know that more than anyone, but I can't help but want to tease her more.

"Well, since you'd probably take extra steps in order to not get stuck like this anymore, why don't we take a commemorative photo-?"

Horikita's glared at me and raised her hand. She seems fixated on bonking me because of that joke. However, she's the type of person who'd never do feints, so I easily caught her strike. I suddenly pulled hard, and the combination of Horikita's surprise and exhaustion resulted in her getting helplessly dragged close to me.

*Click*

"How dare you..."

"You look really exasperated here. It's not my place to tell you this, but you should smile more." I showed her the photo with a smug expression.

Of course, I deleted the photo right in front of Horikita's eyes. Her anger noticeably faded into a pout.

"At least you're aware of it. I don't want to hear that from you, of all people." She shook her head, looking completely done with this entire situation.

Horikita took the water and entered her restroom. After a few minutes, she came out with both water bottles in hand. This time, her right hand was holding on to her water bottle instead of getting held by it.

"There's still some water left." Horikita returned my bottle back without an issue.

"Oh, thanks."

She looked at me with firm eyes before speaking.

"Thank you very much, Ayanokouji-kun. You really saved me this time."

The fact that I didn't have to urge her to say thank you emphasized her growth. I was a little bit surprised-- and happy.

"It's no problem."

We could've dealt with the issue way earlier if she weren't so uptight about telling me. I'm sure Horikita was aware of that, as well. But at the same time, I also get it. It's not like her to show weakness to anyone, and that's probably the reason why she came to me for help.

Horikita didn't like the idea of asking for help in general. Luckily, I passed through that barrier and became an exception. Horikita doesn't see me as someone she needs to lead, so the idea of making me see her vulnerable side wasn't as revolting. And it's not like this was the first time I've seen her vulnerable. Things probably started changing between us after I got involved in her sibling squabble.

Before I could enter my room, I suddenly noticed how light my pockets were...

"I forgot my phone..."

I scampered back to the elevator with an annoyed groan. My ride briefly came to a halt when the gate opened after reaching the 5th floor.

Of all the people I could ride this small elevator with...

Kouenji Rokusuke, a fellow classmate, waltzed inside without a care in the world.

"Elevator boy, top floor."

Are you for real? Well, he doesn't even seem to recognize me given how focused he is on his mirror. I quietly pressed the button and my journey back to Horikita's room finally continued.

"This night really was filled with misfortune..." I thought.

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 8.1 - Are They Temporary?

I just spent the whole time gaming and reading with my friends yesterday. Ijuuin's room was a sacred haven of consumable content. Of course, Professor also had a hand in funding their entertainment. The books, CDs, and games were bought by Ijuuin while the consoles and devices were bought by Professor. As for me, I'm proud to say that I receive special treatment from the two of them. "How?" you ask?

Well you see, private points don't grow from trees. Despite the surplus in our allowance, they vowed to never go broke. That's where their "business" comes in. Manga, light novels, game consoles, etc-- everything was bought by the two of them. So, they gave everyone who was willing to pay the option to "borrow" their merchandise for a considerably lower price. The customers were also forced to handle everything with care. One small scratch equals buying the whole thing. If the damage was internal, Professor would confirm as to who was at fault. Of course, every purchase was backed by a solid contract with detailed conditions, so no one would argue with them for the sake of cheating the business.

You might've guessed where this is going by now. Being an exception, I was allowed to borrow everything for free. We liked hanging out with each other, and since I never really took advantage of their kindness, I maintained a very friendly relationship with them. Of course, only the three of us knew about this. On the surface, Ike and Yamauchi were probably closer friends with them, but even they had to pay. If the truth comes out, it would cause some headaches.

*Bzzt*

While reminiscing about the fun I had yesterday, a notification suddenly came in.

"How timely... Well, my arrival was pretty timely." I muttered, taking my drenched shirt off.

After my daily jog, I entered my room at exactly 6:00 AM. That's when I received a message from my friend and classmate, Horikita Suzune.

The content of her message? Well, she didn't even say anything. It's just a phone number. That's it. She's telling me to contact whoever this person is, I assume.

"Oh, finally, some context," I muttered after seeing another text come in.

(6:01) [ASAP.]

She sent four capital letters from the English Alphabet telling me to hurry up.

Uh, okay...? I think that's enough context...? Well, for now, I guess I'll give this person a call.

"Woah-!" I reflexively muttered as soon as the other end picked up. My call was answered very fast which would make sense if the receiver was waiting for it.

"Is this Ayanokouji Kiyotaka?"

I frowned after easily recognizing his voice. It was none other than Horikita Manabu-- Horikita Suzune's older brother, my senior, and the Student Council President.

"Oh... It's you..."

"I didn't expect you to call me this early."

"You didn't expect my call, but you picked up instantly?"

"I'm always on standby for any calls, even on summer vacation," he replied.

"Okay...? By the way, did you need something from me?"

"Yes, that is indeed that case. I didn't want to cause any unnecessary disturbances so I asked Suzune to give you my number. That way, you can just call me whenever you're available. Of course, I would've needed you to contact me sometime today," he elaborated. "No matter. I'm just repeating myself at this point. I already explained everything to Suzune when I gave her my instructions. I wonder if she was able to relay everything to you?"

"Oh yeah, she did an amazing job with relaying everything. It's the reason why I'm calling you right now, no?" My tone was supposed to be sarcastic, but I don't think this guy picked up on it.

That said, Horikita honestly did a phenomenal job. If she gave me the entirety of her brother's instructions, I might've been too lazy to even entertain the idea of contacting him.

"I see. Then I would need you to come to the student council tomorrow. Today is the last day of the renovation, so the place will be functional by that time. I'll work my schedule around your arrival so we can have a lengthy discussion."

"Can't you just tell me everything on the phone? I'd want to avoid a lengthy discussion more than anything."

"I'm afraid that's not possible. The matters that I would like to discuss with you shouldn't be taken lightly." The tone of his voice got heavier.

"What is it, anyway?"

"Let's just say that it involves your desire to have a peaceful high school life. Depending on how things develop, your solace might not last."

At that moment, I finally decided to stop fooling around with my words.

"I see... Alright, you got me. I'll go... Is this afternoon fine? I don't really care about the location."

"Unfortunately, my schedule is packed for today. The school is busy preparing for the interschool sports tournament at the end of the month. Let's continue this conversation tomorrow."

"I understand. I'll be there in the morning."

After hanging up, I immediately showered, changed clothes, and had breakfast. Horikita Manabu's enigmatic words rang inside my head.

"Your solace might not last."

"I know that more than anyone. Thinking about it now, living a peaceful life, in general, was supposed to be nothing but a pipe dream for someone like me..."

But that won't stop me from trying to obtain it, no matter how improbable.

It just barely passed 7 o'clock when I decided to contact Horikita.

"Hello?"

"What was that about?"

"Did you call him?" she asked.

"Yeah," I replied. "He said he wanted to talk to me in person. Do you have any idea about what he wants?"

"No. Nii-san gave me some instructions to have you contact him, but he didn't really give me any details about what he wanted from you, exactly."

"I see... That's too bad. He said I had to wait until tomorrow if I wanted to know," I sighed.

"Hmm... You're usually so dismissive when it comes to him, but you sound awfully fervent about this." Horikita's tone was laced with curiosity.

"I guess so. He said some interesting things that caught my attention."

"What interesting things?"

It's about getting my peaceful life disrupted or something. I could easily tell her the truth, but I didn't. Horikita didn't need to know about any of these given her current position. I'm fairly certain that this would be a personal problem that I should deal with alone.

"Well, maybe I can tell you about it when I'm done talking with your brother."

"I see. So, is that all?"

"Yeah, thanks."

I stayed in bed after ending the call. I also decided to stay inside my room for today. It's not like I made any plans. I'd probably just end up watching anime or reading manga. That said, I'm too lazy to do anything right now.

At that moment, a smirk might've appeared on my face.

"The fact that I could actually afford to get lazy-- what a luxury."

I felt free, I felt alive. And now that Horikita and Hirata hold the positions of class leaders, I was also at peace.

Were these things temporary? In the grand scheme of things, that may be the case. But I can't be wrong in wanting to prolong them as much as I can.

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 9.1 - Future Entanglements

August 29th, 9:00 AM.

I lazily knocked on the Student Council Office's door.

"Welcome," Secretary Tachibana greeted me with a stern expression.

The student council room looked a bit different from last time, but the changes didn't feel like an idea that someone like Horikita Manabu would come up with.

"Have a seat." His words interrupted my train of thought.

Well, whatever. It's about time I get to know what he was talking about.

"What did you want to tell me?"

"I wouldn't want to waste your time for coming here, so I'll get straight to the point. Simply put, you should expect that the school would be changing soon, or at least, some of the systems around how things work inside it."

"Soon, huh? The second semester will be starting soon, and around that time will be the election for the new student council president."

"I'm glad we're on the same page," he nodded, fixing glasses.

"Well, your words are making things obvious for me."

"You wanted to avoid a lengthy discussion, so I'm willing to fulfill that request. I just wanted to warn you about the future student council and the changes that they will exact towards the school and its students," he said.

"So you won't give me any more details?"

"Do you want me to?"

Secretary Tachibana silently served us some tea.

"I've got a lot of time to spare. Some information shouldn't hurt," I shrugged.

"Then I should tell you about the student council first," he replied. "As you know, I am the current president with Tachibana Akane as my secretary. While the other members aren't around right now, you can take a look at this list."

President:
1. Horikita Manabu (Class 3-A)

Vice President:
1. Nagumo Miyabi ( Class 2-A )
2. ???

Secretary:
1. Tachibana Akane ( Class 3-A )

Assistant Secretary:
2. Kiriyama Ikuto (Class 2-B) 3. Mizowaki Tooru ( Class 2-B)

Treasurer:
1. Ayase Shun (Class 3-A)

General Affairs Manager:
1. Ichinose Honami (Class 1-C)

He gave me a text-only list of the student council members. This is certainly some useful information, but practically unusable if I can't match these names to the right faces.

"If you want to see them or meet them in person, you'll certainly get that chance if you join the student council," he continued.

What a stingy bastard.

"No thanks. I'll try to do something on my own."

"Alright. For now, I'll explain some things about the student council as an organization. Of course, these are all information that any student could acquire. Though unfortunately, only a few are interested in knowing them."

Well, the student council is generally just a group of students that have more work than others. They are still part of the educational system, much like any other after-school club. Unlike what's seen in anime or manga, they don't really hold that much power in real life as an independent organization. They're really not revered as these super students who could do everything. They just need to be competent and diligent kids who are at least decent in academics. However, it doesn't seem to be the case in this school.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School isn't the type of school that would waste such a label to ordinary students. It was evident with how admired Horikita Manabu was in his class. They wouldn't have been able to stay in Class A for three straight years if it weren't for his leadership, and he did so while being the Student Council President.

That said, I'm sure that position held its advantages considering that this school's student council is a lot more powerful than your average ones.

"You've invited me to become a Vice President before, right? The position still seems to be vacant."

"Oh, are you interested?"

"No, I'm not." I dismissed him instantly before making another comment. "So Ichinose became a member of the student council, huh?"

"The final decision wasn't mine. I initially rejected her applications," he replied.

"Then whose decision was it?" I asked.

"Nagumo Miyabi, the Vice President."

"How does that work?"

"I could've vetoed his decision with my own judgment, but I chose to let Nagumo's injunction be," sighed Horikita.

Ichinose seemed like a worthy member of the student council, though. But that's just my personal opinion.

"Is there anything else that I should know?" After memorizing the names on the list, I gently returned the paper back to his table.

"What do you want to know?"

"Their faces, their personalities, their affiliations, their abilities-- all that stuff. Who should I look out for? Why would this be detrimental to my high school life? Those kinds of questions, as well. I'm sure you know that already, but I don't think you'll give such information out for free."

"How sharp. You are right on the mark. But even if you refrain from pushing your inquisitiveness, I'm sure you have your own methods to get them."

What a pain, but it's expected for Kikyou to be on his radar, as well.

"If you can't give me anything else, then at least answer my main question. Why would the new student council disrupt my peace?" I slowly stood up and prepared to leave.

"Things will change in the future. Those who don't have the abilities will fall, and those with talent will be forced to play." Horikita Manabu answered me with an enigmatic tone.

"So that's the case... I guess I can understand why you're trying to warn me."

Are you worried about your sister? I wanted to ask that question, but I didn't need to implore his feelings about her right now.

"Are you going?"

"Yeah. I'll make sure to return the favor."

"I see. Then for now, why don't you give an item back to its owner?" He looked at Secretary Tachibana with a nod.

"Yes," she replied before approaching me with something in hand. "This belongs to Iida Aoi-san of Class 3-A. Please return it to her as you go."

I received a shark-designed keychain. It had golden-colored chains and the shark had... arms? I thought it was pretty cute. Its design certainly fits her personality.

"Iida-senpai? Did she drop it here or something?" I asked.

"So you know her? Well, no matter. To answer your question-- Since the captain of the volleyball team fell ill, Iida had been the one tending to their matters. She did indeed drop that keychain on our previous temporary office yesterday, but Tachibana and I were too busy to return it," he explained.

"We've already contacted her about this. Since Iida-san has some matters to go through with the faculty, I believe she's already inside the school building." Secretary Tachibana's words were interrupted by the buzzing of her phone. "I just received her reply. She's currently on standby inside Class 3-A's classroom with Konishi-san."

"Alright, I'll go give this back to her."

"Thank you," she nodded.

I gave Horikita Manabu a quick glance and saw him looking through some papers without a care in the world. And with that, I exited the Student Council Office.

It wasn't long before I reached the room labeled "3-A". I grabbed the door's latch and slid it open.

"Ah, it's Ayanokouji-kun~!" Iida-senpai noticed me and raised her voice.

"Good morning to you~." Konishi-senpai followed with a greeting.

I grabbed the keychain from my pocket and tossed it to Iida-senpai as soon as I got near.

"The student council asked me to return this back to you," I said.

"Oh-! Nice throw~!" Iida-senpai swiftly attached the keychain back to her bag. "I knew they sent a first-year student, but I didn't expect it to be you, of all people."

"What a nice coincidence!" commented Konishi-senpai.

If I remember correctly, it's been around ten days since I've last seen them. Iida-senpai's short and dark hair which complemented her sporty and energetic personality was still evident. The same goes for Konishi-senpai's beautiful blond hair along with her gentle yet jolly personality.

This time, however, they were wearing their school uniforms.

"Did you have any business with the student council, Ayanokouji-kun?" Iida-senpai asked.

"Well, the president talked to me about some stuff."

"Did Horikita-kun invite you to become a member of the student council?" This time, Konishi-senpai was the one who asked me a question.

"Huh? No, well, he did but, how could you tell?"

"Just a hunch. You're an honor student like Kikyou-chan, right? It wouldn't be weird for Horikita-kun to want exceptional freshmen on his side."

"I guess so..." I replied, putting my hands inside my pockets. "What about you then, Senpai? I already know that Iida-senpai had some matters regarding the volleyball club."

"Oh, I was already in the building since way earlier. A number of things still needed to be moved from the Tea Ceremony Clubroom to the Student Council Office, and as the president, I was there to overlook the process in some way," Konishi-senpai answered with a smile.

"So that's the case. Well then, I've done what's been asked of me, so it's about time I go now." I turned around and started walking away.

"Bye-bye, Ayanokouji-kun! Thanks for this!"

"See you next time!"

I could only respond with a nod. These two were really carefree. They seem to be enjoying their high school lives to the fullest. At that moment, I remembered Horikita Manabu's words.

"You're not the first person I've associated with that just wants to live a normal high school life in this school. I suppose I can understand where you're coming from."

I wonder if he was talking about them?

Author's Notes:

If the canon releases official information about the structure of the Student Council, the information in CotE: Alter will be adjusted accordingly.

The surnames "Mizowaki" and "Tonokawa" are both canon. Both of them became the Secretaries of President Nagumo.

- Iida Aoi and Konishi Yua tentative illust. by ChoBE_2(on Twitter).

- ChoBE_2-sensei or Osabe Tom-sensei is the illustrator for the light novel series: "Kurasu de 2-banme ni Kawaii Onnanoko to Tomodachi ni natta" and I will use the Main Heroines, Asanagi Umi and Amami Yuu's appearances as a stand-in for Iida Aoi and Konishi Yua 's tentative appearances, respectively.

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 9.2 - Katsuragi Kouhei is Surprisingly Troubled

"Oiii! Ayanokouji-kun!"

Iida-senpai came running after me as soon as I turned towards the first corner.

"Just because there are no other students doesn't mean you could run and yell in the hallways, you know?"

"Ehehe~. It's fine, isn't it? We're on vacation, anyway." She slapped my shoulder while giggling.

"So, why'd you leave Konishi-senpai alone in that classroom?"

"Oho~? Are you worried about her or something? You can go back and accompany her, you know?"

"That's it. I'm not talking anymore." I faced forward, ignoring her.

"I'm just teasing you!" Iida-senpai laughed heartily. "Yua's going to be fine. She'll meet up with a fellow club member in a bit. Meanwhile, I'm off to handle some matters for the team."

"I heard the team captain was sick."

"Yeah... But she's fine now. I insisted on shouldering her responsibilities until she's back to tip-top shape."

"Well, the tournament will be in two days. It's better to make sure of everything."

I got the information from Ken. He's really excited about it, too.

"Yep! We've also been practicing seriously. Given our team's strength, it's possible to place higher than where we did in the past! Heck, we might even win!" Iida-senpai clenched her fist with a grin.

She's really passionate about her sport, huh? Like Onodera when it comes to swimming or Ken with basketball.

"What's with that stare? You falling for me~? I'm sorry but I don't date younger boys."

Her mischievous smile was really cute so it made me feel nervous. But thanks to my unmoving facial expression, Senpai would never find out.

"No, not really..." Ending my response there meant that I was basically asking to get teased, so I started running my mouth without thinking. "And besides, I think Senpai is the type of person who'd rather date someone that could keep up with her energy."

"Eh...? Ehh?"

She looked really surprised by my words. It wasn't even an exaggeration to say that she was shocked.

"What's with that reaction? I may have said something unnecessary, but it's nothing bad or offensive, right?"

"A-Ah, no, no! It's not that. I just didn't expect you to say something like that all of a sudden. It's the same advice that I got from my friend back in my second year..."

"I don't think it's that hard to figure out. Someone of that type would fit your personality well, right?"

Iida-senpai looked at me like some sort of weird alien.

"Are you actually a playboy, Ayanokouji-kun?"

"What? No... I've never even had a girlfriend before."

What kind of question was that...?

"Ehhh-?!"

"As I said, don't shout in the hallways. Your voice might've reached the teachers' faculty, you know?"

"Wait, wait, wait. Let's break this down for a second." Iida-senpai heavily sighed as if to compose herself. "Firstly, you didn't get affected by my teasing."

That's thanks to my default poker face. Any normal guy would probably get shaken given how cute Iida-senpai was.

"Secondly, you actually gave some practical advice and insights." Her expression finally turned to that of confusion. "And lastly... Contrary to those two previous points, you've actually never been in a relationship before?"

"Yeah...?"

"I got it! You read lots of romance manga, don't you?!" Iida-senpai pointed at me like she just caught a culprit. "Well, either that or you've had lots of friends who've been in relationships before."

Ahh... So that's what this is about.

"You're mostly right on that first part, but while I do read a lot of manga, light novels became my go-to recently."

"Ohh, I thought so! I'm sorry if this sounds rude, but I always thought Ayanokouji-kun was the type of person who didn't have many friends. You've got this gloomy vibe around you," she explained with an apologetic smile.

"It's fine, Senpai. You were right on the money, anyway. While I do have a lot of friends now, that wasn't the case at all before high school."

"I see... So that's why... That doesn't explain why you didn't get nervous when I teased you, though. You must be really used to being around girls~." She stared at me with an audacious grin.

"No, I'm not. I hate to admit it, but I was nervous. It's all thanks to my face that I didn't embarrass myself by showing any sort of creepy reaction."

Senpai found out in the end...

"Ahaha! That makes a lot of sense!" The corner of her lips perked up once again as she faced me. "But you know, you're really fun to talk to. Even after just a few exchanges, I can already tell that you're super smart, even beyond academics. Your middle school classmates missed out on a good friend."

"I was fine with being alone back then. And I don't know about super smart, but when it comes to the stuff I know, I'd have to thank books for that. They're basically the lifeblood of my being."

"Ehehe, even your words are almost identical. My friend said the same thing before. He said that people should read more books because it helped him escape narrow-mindedness."

I personally agree with him. If you read lots of books, you'll be able to see through different types of lenses. Books help shape your worldview without getting it distorted and biased. Unlike real-life experiences where you'd suffer the consequences for being wrong, books are completely safe practice dummies for training your understanding and thinking. It's fine if you make some judgmental errors as long as you recognize your mistake by the time you finish reading. In my case, knowledge and wisdom were probably the reason why I came off as mature even when I wasn't consciously trying to. I'm sure it's the same for most.

That said, things may have changed a lot in modern times. Light literature and the like are much more common nowadays, and consumption of content was easier than ever. Even if a person reads tons of books, properly absorbing what's inside said books is a completely different achievement. For example, someone like Horikita, who reads her books from start to finish with a serious attitude would be better off than someone like Yamauchi, who consumes harem-ecchi manga for horny purposes-- even going so far as to skipping plot-related content at times.

"He must be a really nice person for Iida-senpai to talk about him this highly."

"That's right! He's even cooler than Horikita-kun!" Iida-senpai puffed her healthy chest proudly. "Ah, this is where we part. Thanks for walking with me, Ayanokouji-kun!"

"Senpai," I called out to her before she could run off.

"Hm?"

"That friend of yours... What's his name?"

"Oh... His name is Igarashi Daiki. He was our classmate."

"Igarashi Daiki... 'Was'...?" I knew what her words implied but still tried to act confused.

"Ahaha, I don't know you've seen the current third-year roster, so I might as well tell you now." Iida-senpai chuckled bitterly before continuing. "As unfortunate as it sounds..."

"He was expelled."

Her melancholic smile was etched into my mind.

"I see... I'm sorry for asking."

"It's fine, it's fine~! It's not something that you should apologize about, really. I'm sure you just got curious. I'll be going then. Bye-bye~!" She waved her hand before scuttling off in another direction.

Given Iida-senpai's evaluation of him, Igarashi Daiki must've been an excellent student... This also meant that his expulsion didn't happen through ordinary means.

Was it a special exam... or something else?

I noticed that it was almost lunchtime. Given my outfit and this scorching heat, it'd be too troublesome to go out somewhere. I could just go home and cook something for lunch, but my supply of ingredients just ran out. I would still need to shop for them which takes away the point of staying out of the blazing sun.

My conclusion? The cafeteria.

"I'm full..."

After enjoying a nice serving of Salisbury steak, I sat there and observed the near-empty school cafeteria.

There's were a few students who also ate lunch at around the same time, but they were probably seniors given how I didn't recognize their faces. If I remember correctly, I think Ken was currently practicing in the second gymnasium with his team. I wonder if he brought his own lunch?

"Other people aside, what do I do now...?"

I could just call it a day and go home, but it was still too hot outside. For now, I just got up and cleaned my table as I went. I relaxingly walked around the main building while the food was being digested inside my stomach. To my surprise, it didn't take long until I finally came across someone from the same grade.

"Katsuragi?" I called out to the tall student who was probably on his way to the library.

"Hm?" He turned around and gave me a curious look. "Ayanokouji? What are you doing here?"

"Walking around...?"

For someone like him, that was probably the most suspicious answer I could give. I can't help it though... It's the truth.

"I see..."

"I had some business with the student council this morning. Since it was still too hot outside, I decided to stay in the school building for a while. How about you?"

"Well, I won't tell you that loitering around is bad since even I can feel the intensity of this heat," he replied. "That said, the fact that you managed to make an appointment with the student council is enviable. I have some concerns to relay to them, but I met Ayase-senpai on the way and was told to wait until 2 o'clock. The president is still attending to some other matter, apparently."

Ayase... Shun? The Student Council Treasurer?

"Were you planning to wait around in the library?"

"Ahh, well, not really. I was actually about to head back to the dorms for a bit, but I guess waiting in the library is a better plan."

"I feel like going to the library now that I got the idea. I think I can spend some of my time there and borrow some books." It's nicely air-conditioned, too.

There were only a couple of senior students inside the library, so it was extremely quiet.

"Then, I'll be around here. I'm going to look for some reference books," said Katsuragi.

"Alright, see ya," I replied.

He really was a serious student. I hope some of his diligence was found in my classmates.

Time passed by and it was almost 2 o'clock in the afternoon. I saw Katsuragi stand up after fixing his things. Meanwhile, I finished a few chapters of the book I borrowed.

I thought he'd rush out and head to the student council as soon as he can, but I was approached instead.

"Ayanokouji, you're well-acquainted with the president, are you not?" he asked.

"I wouldn't say well-acquainted..."

"Well, I guess that makes sense. Horikita is the president's little sister, right? It wouldn't be strange for you to be involved with her older brother, especially since both of you are the leaders of Class A."

"It's just her now... and I guess Hirata." I shrugged with a lazy tone.

"So the rumors are true then-- that you're stepping down," Katsuragi commented with a grave tone before facing me once more. "Well, none of those things matter right now. I actually wanted to ask if you could accompany me to the student council. Of course, you can decline if I'm being a bother."

I didn't really have any plans after this. I suppose I can stop by for a bit before going back to the dorms.

"Alright, that's fine. I'm just about finished reading anyway."

The two of us headed to the Student Council Office with Katsuragi taking the lead.

"Pardon the intrusion," he said in a loud, clear voice as he knocked on the door.

"We seem to have visitors. Come in," replied the elder Horikita.

I also bowed slightly to greet them, though Secretary Tachibana looked disgusted.

"I came here today with a request. I heard that student requests go through the student council," began Katsuragi.

"Apparently, you stopped by yesterday and the day before. We were absent because the room was being renovated, and the Tea Ceremony Club's clubroom was being cleaned up. I apologize," explained the elder Horikita.

"Oh no, it's quite alright. It's summer vacation. The fault is mine. However, I'm glad I could meet you today. I was afraid I'd have to go directly to your dormitory to find you," Katsuragi continued.

"The school forbids students to establish contact with anyone on the outside while we're enrolled here. I've come to inquire further into that."

"It sounds as though you've looked through the school regulations. Alright, let's get to your point. Firstly, I would like to clarify that outside contact is not allowed unless there is a compelling reason such as severe illness or injury."

"Right. However, I'd like to send a package and message to my family off-campus. Of course, I don't expect a reply," he said.

A one-sided communication, huh?

"Even if communication is one-sided, it's still not permitted," Horikita Manabu replied in a very professional manner.

That's said, Katsuragi wasn't discouraged after a single rejection.

"I heard that the rules about cutting off contact don't apply to packages. Surely, if what is sent doesn't include any text, information, or communication, that wouldn't break the rules, would it?"

"The rule still prohibits it. These restrictions exist for a reason. When the school was founded, the rules weren't quite as strict as they are now," replied the elder Horikita.

Secretary Tachibana continued to elaborate on the reason why.

"It's just as the president says. Originally, shipping a package would've been permitted. However, several students broke their promises. They hid letters in their packages without seeking permission first. Hence, the complete ban of the practice now," she said.

"And there you have it." The president's closing remark sealed the deal for Katsuragi's request.

However, someone like him wouldn't give up so easily. It didn't seem like he was planning to back down at all.

"I must ask you once again. Please allow me to request direct shipping at the store itself. I will pay for the package to be sent to an address of my choosing, and nothing else. I won't even touch the item. Under those restrictions, there's no way for me to commit fraud."

"But that still violates the rules--"

Katsuragi interrupted Secretary Tachibana with the final part of his argument.

"This school is all about fostering its students' abilities, is it not? I've heard that with enough points, you can do anything. You can buy test scores, or even trade with other students-- those among many other uses. Am I wrong?" he asked.

I haven't confirmed these things with Chabashira-sensei just yet, but if Katsuragi was telling the truth, then saving someone from a failing exam grade was a viable option... as long we could afford to buy test scores.

That's a great piece of news given the dangers that have been lurking around our classmates' recent academic performance. The likes of Ike and Yamauchi, for example, barely passed the final exam back in July. If it weren't for our study sessions, they would've been in great danger.

"That makes things slightly different then." The older Horikita's refusive attitude changed after hearing Katsuragi's trump card. "Before we discuss the expenditure of points, can you tell me whom you'd like to send this to?"

Kikyou and I accidentally bumped into Katsuragi when we were shopping for gifts. It was easy to guess his objective. It was obvious given today's date.

"My twin sister. Since we're orphans, I'm the only one who celebrates her birthday," he replied.

"Then I must make one correction to your theory. The point system is not all-powerful. It's certainly possible to use points to buy test scores or barter with other students, but those things are never explicitly mentioned in the rules. However, the things that are explicitly prohibited can't be easily altered even with the help of points. Without the school's permission, it's just impossible," the older Horikita explained.

"How odd. You're basically saying that the rules are filled with loopholes."

"There's nothing odd about what I just said. The school purposefully made rules that allow for loopholes. Didn't you say it yourself? This school is all about fostering its students' abilities. Taking advantage of those loopholes can be considered a skill, but unfortunately, things that were explicitly prohibited aren't part of them."

Katsuragi could only respond with silence. Even for a quick-witted man like him, the experience, knowledge, and resourcefulness of Horikita Manabu were just too much.

"So there's nothing I can do?"

"Correct. If the school rules forbid something, you cannot circumvent them, even with points."

Katsuragi was probably prepared to spend a large sum of points but this looks like the end of the line.

"If you're finished, please leave."

"I understand. Well then, please excuse me."

Katsuragi glanced at me, but I gestured at him, stating that I planned to stay behind. He understood what I tried to express and quietly left the room.

"Do you have some business with us, Ayanokouji?" asked the older Horikita.

"Earlier, you were talking about what happens when a rule violation is exposed, right?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you remember an incident that occurred a while ago? Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki from our class were accused of sexually assaulting two Class D girls."

He nodded. Well, he wouldn't necessarily forget that incident with how big of a deal it was and with him being the overseer for the hearing.

"Back then, the case almost went to a trial precisely because the Class D students appealed to the school. Katsuragi, on the other hand, hasn't done anything wrong. He only wanted to ask about something that could potentially break the rules. Only you, Secretary Tachibana, Katsuragi, and I are aware of this. Shouldn't you be able to overlook this particular instance?"

Even if I was trying to choose my words carefully, I'm sure he'd understand what I was getting at. Say you committed a traffic violation; you'd be questioned by a police officer, but you could bribe them to overlook the issue as long their superiors don't know about it.

"Shipping a package would normally be difficult, but it's probably a simple matter for you."

"I see. You want to resolve everything without involving the school," he replied.

Someone as upstanding and righteous as Katsuragi probably never thought of this loophole.

"That's violating the rules! What a terrible delinquent!" Secretary Tachibana cried in horror, but I did my best to ignore her.

"How did you arrive at this conclusion?" asked the older Horikita.

"Don't you remember the first time we met? I wouldn't forget how merciless you were. That alone proved that you can get away with anything... as long as the school doesn't find out," I answered.

It almost became a full-blown fistfight. President or not, he can't raise a hand against other students.

"You're right on all fronts, but Katsuragi Kouhei missed his chance. I'm sure you don't expect me to say that I'll help him now, though. After all, you didn't bother telling him about this before he left. And even if you did, I will not violate the rules for his sake."

How strict. And dealing with someone as clever as him was a pain. He understood why I didn't warn Katsuragi. In other words, he completely saw through me.

"I understand. I'll be going then."

"Are you sure you don't want to stay for some tea?"

"I'm fine with the tea you gave me in the morning, but I don't feel safe not knowing what you might put in it this time."

"W-What a rude first-year!" Secretary Tachibana stammered, but given her stature, it looked pretty adorable.

Horikita Manabu stood up and accompanied me to the door.

"Officially, I didn't meet with Katsuragi today. Even if you act behind the scenes, I won't investigate. Do what you will," he said.

"I don't really feel like doing anything, though."

"I'm simply telling you that I won't get involved."

"Alright, but please make it so that Ayase-senpai is aware of this alibi."

"Ayase?"

"Apparently, he was the one that informed Katsuragi about your meeting earlier this afternoon."

"I see. So that's why your timing was convenient. Alright, I'll take care of his involvement," he nodded before giving me a serious warning. "I believe you wouldn't come up with anything too troublesome but whatever you do, do not involve Iida."

"I wouldn't do something like that..."

I got the go-ahead to deceive the school as best that I could. But, Horikita Manabu's gaze cut right through my unbothered facade. He even knew everything that I planned to do. What a shrewd guy.

I finally managed to return to the dorm lobby and saw Katsuragi sitting there, looking depressed. He noticed my arrival and stood up to face me.

"I'm sorry for involving you in such a strange errand," he said.

"Ah, don't worry. I insisted on tagging along..."

Katsuragi seemed to have given up. He wanted to give his sister a birthday gift, but the school's rules deterred him.

"Here, eat this with your friends. I don't really care about sweets," he said, handing his present over to me.

"Are you sure? Have you given up on the possibility that there might be another way?"

"Is there? The president didn't consent to my suggestions. I think it's hopeless."

"That's because you don't want to break the rules." Katsuragi narrowed his eyes, giving me a suspicious look.

"I won't do anything too risky, especially if my enrolment is at stake."

"I do think you should consider hearing me out. We can head to my room and talk about it in length. We'll also need the help of another person," I explained.

Katsuragi was skeptical, but he had no other options. In the end, I managed to explain everything. Katsuragi was convinced and consented to my plan. Of course, the main player of this little scheme was our other accomplice, Sudou Ken.

Author's Notes:

-Iida Aoi tentative illust. fromthe light novel series: "Kurasu de 2-banme ni Kawaii Onnanoko to Tomodachi ni natta".

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 9.3 - For Someone's Sake

"So... What am I doin' here, Kiyotaka?"

I sent Ken a text to meet up with me and now he's here. From the looks of his get-up, it seems like he just finished his club activities. Ken gave Katsuragi a dubious stare as soon he entered my room. Of course, the other party was the same.

On another note, asking Ken to come here wasn't the only content of my message.

I explained the whole situation to him before finally letting them hear about my plan.

"So obviously, the plan is to use Ken's tournament as an opportunity to mail this." I handed him the invoice I got from the post office. "Katsuragi, I want you to fill this up with your information. You should also change your ordering preferences and choose the delivery option. It should be fine as long as you're willing to pay the fee."

"That's fine, but wouldn't the school find out about the transaction? Everything will be recorded under my name. We'll both be in trouble."

"Well, not really. That's because you'll only set the delivery on stand-by. As long you don't ask them to deliver the product inside the campus, the school wouldn't know about it."

"How can you be sure?" he asked.

"The school provided us with our own smartphones and SIM cards. Because of that, the communication lines and internet access that are done through them can be tracked down. However, that wouldn't be the case if don't use any of the WiFi connections inside the campus or use mobile data with the provided SIM cards."

"Why wouldn't the school know about your plan, then? Can you explain how their detection process works?"

"The detection only goes one way-- from the student's device to the school's system. For example, if you request that the store deliver it now, they will always ask for your confirmation via email. Since the destination of the delivery will be outside, the school will be alerted but only by your confirmation."

"So you're saying that if Sudou confirms the delivery by either using a foreign WiFi connection or a new SIM card, the school will not be alerted?"

Of course, Ken wouldn't be doing it on-site. That's the purpose of the invoice.

"Yeah. The devices of the store employees inside the campus weren't provided by the school, which means they're using their own computers, phones, and SIM cards. And from what I know, they wouldn't detect anything from the store personnel's devices even if they use the school's WiFi connection."

"But Kiyotaka... wouldn't the store just snitch?" asked Ken.

"You don't have to worry about that. When Kikyou and I shopped for some gifts, the store gave us an option to ship things outside, and that meant two things. They left the option open because they weren't informed about the school rules, or they know about the rules, but the school allowed them to leave that option available to catch any rule-breakers. Of course, the store wouldn't have to snitch on any of them since the school can detect the transaction process from the guilty student's device."

"If it's the latter, then the school is a piece of shit," grumbled Ken.

"Well, it is pretty despicable, but I don't think that tops their scheme of keeping the S-System a secret for the first month," I commented.

"That's true..."

"I can more or less understand everything now, but I would like to ask a question about this matter." Katsuragi narrowed his eyes and stared at me. "I doubt Sudou would have the opportunity to buy a new SIM card, so he'd probably use the free WiFi connection from the venue. But even if that was the case, what would you do if the school finds out about it by tracking his device's IP address?"

"That won't be a problem. Even if the school can remotely access our devices via IP address, they wouldn't bother checking anything unless that particular student was already suspicious or being investigated," I explained. "If they tamper with our devices without a proper reason, then they'd be the ones breaking the law."

Silence conquered the room as the three of us digested everything.

"I see... Ayanokouji, I'm sorry for doubting you when you're the one helping me but... How do you know about all of this?" Katsuragi appeared calm, but there was some slight tension in his tone.

"Don't worry, I wouldn't say anything baseless or untrue. I inquired about these exact matters a while back-- for a few personal reasons that I won't talk about. I also cannot mention any of my sources. However, I can guarantee you that everything should work as long as the plan is executed perfectly." I shrugged to make it seem like it wasn't a big deal. "If things go wrong, then you can just snitch on me as the guy who came up with everything."

Ken put his hand on my shoulder and faced Katsuragi.

"I ain't doubtin' Kiyotaka at all. Since you're doin' this for your sickly sister, then I don't mind helpin'. I know you're prepared to negotiate with us, so let's move on to that. What can ya give us in return?"

"Of course. I've prepared a substantial amount of points to go through with this. Does 100,000 private points sound good to you?"

It was a very high amount. Ken held his chin in contemplation. If I remember correctly, he only has about 90,000 points in his account. After all, he'd "stored"a total of 200,000 points in the care of our class's secret banker. I wonder if Ken will also invest the money he'll receive from Katsuragi? And even if he doesn't, it wouldn't hurt to get some extra pocket money.

"Is that your minimum offer?

"The maximum amount that I can give you is 120,000. Is that okay?" Katsuragi didn't bat an eye as he offered his money. It shows how much he values the success of this plan.

"That ain't too bad. Fine, I'll take it." Ken gladly accepted his terms. If he adds everything up, he'd have around 410,000 private points. There was no reason for him to keep raising the price.

Fortunately, this was Ken's second time playing outside for a tournament as he was able to explain how their schedule goes or how the school investigates their stuff. And although phones were to be confiscated after they enter the bus, it didn't really matter since Katsuragi's phone will be used in the operation.

That said, the school was really strict. Even their bathrooms are separated so they wouldn't have the opportunity to communicate with students from other schools.

"So here's what I need to do: I'll find an opportunity to be alone. Then, I'll use baldy's phone to email the store. I'll send them an image of the invoice 'n receipt, givin' them the go signal to deliver the package. Then, the store would reply by askin' me to confirm the delivery. And then I'll do just that usin' the venue's WiFi so the school wouldn't detect anythin'," Ken narrated. "All is good after that, right?"

"One last question, Sudou. How do you get access to the venue's WiFi without getting in trouble? Is it not protected by a password?"

"Nope. Anyone's free to connect their phones or whatever."

"Hmm, alright. It sounds like a great plan. Both of us will benefit if you succeed, but the opposite is also true if you fail." Katsuragi looked at me with a curious gaze. "You're the one who concocted this plan, Ayanokouji. What do you want for compensation? I doubt you're in need of private points."

We were both from the Dragon Group in the last special exam. By achieving Outcome #1, we had more than enough money to enjoy ourselves for a while. Katsuragi knew that, so he didn't bother offering me any private points.

"Let's just say that you owe me one. A favor from you could be useful in the future."

"Well, I already expected that kind of payment," he sighed.

"It's not just that, you know?"

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"It's today, right? Happy birthday, Katsuragi. Consider this as my gift."

I reached my hand out and gently tapped Katsuragi's arm. He looked momentarily dumbfounded before his face loosened up into a smile.

"Ahh, I see... Thank you."

Ken and I said our goodbyes to Katsuragi. After he left my room, Ken turned to me as if he was waiting for this opportunity.

"So? Why'd you want me to keep the matter with the password a secret? I even lied to him about it," he asked.

In my initial text message, I actually asked if the WiFi in the venue was password-gated. And if the answer was yes, I wanted him to keep it a secret. Of course, Ken was confused at first since he didn't have any context. However, he understood what I meant after explaining everything.

"I didn't want him to know about this." I opened my drawer and grabbed a tiny plastic bag containing a SIM card. "It's a different one compared to what our phones have."

"What...? SIMs like these aren't available for purchase inside the campus, right? Where'd you get this?"

"From someone. It's not that I don't trust you, but I won't get specific for both the owner's sake and your sake."

"There you go again, tryna do some shit from the shadows..." Ken sighed with a shrug. "Well, I guess that's just you being you."

"Not this time. I wouldn't lend it if I planned on using it."

"I guess that's true..."

This SIM card was my backup plan if my talk with Chairman Sakayanagi didn't go well. But since it did, I wouldn't really have any use for it, at least for now. I don't mind using it for this operation, but I can't let anyone else know about it.

"By the way, Ken."

I called out to him before he was able to leave my room.

"Hm?" Ken turned around while putting his shoes on.

"Good luck on your game."

"Heh, you got it! I'll do my best."

Bonus:

When Katsuragi got back to his floor, two male students were waiting in front of his room.

"Yahiko? Jun? What are you guys doing here?"

It was his classmates, Totsuka Yahiko and Inoue Jun.

"Ahh, Katsuragi-san, welcome back!"

"Happy birthday!"

They greeted him while handing over a box of cake.

"What...?"

"What do you mean by'what', Katsuragi-san? It's your birthday today, so it's natural to celebrate it, right?"

For someone like Katsuragi who never really celebrated his own birthday, it was certainly a weird turn of events.

"No, forgive me. Acting more confused would just be disrespectful." He received the cake and invited them to his room. "For now, I want to thank the two of you. Since I can't really eat all of this alone, why don't you head inside my room and share it with me?"

Of course, his two friends looked delighted with the idea.

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 10.1 - Go Along

Summer really is the time to have fun. For someone like me, though? Fun would be lazing around in my room reading light novels or manga. I may have lots of friends, but that was thanks to my position in the class a while ago. If I chose to hide my abilities and lay low, no one would've been remotely interested in even talking to me. Well, I guess someone like Kikyou or Hirata might, but most of my classmates would probably just see me as that one gloomy guy.

In the end, I'm not a social kind of person. Being with a crowd drains my energy more than any physical work and talking to others isn't my forte. I wouldn't be able to last long unlike someone of Ichinose's caliber. And even then, someone like her would also get extremely drained from time to time.

Now then, what's with the whole spiel about my social ineptitude? You see, I initially planned on spending my entire day consuming narrative content, just like yesterday but...

"Kiyotaka-kun, hey! Sorry, did you wait long?"

"Oh, Ryuuko. It's fine, I just got here."

It's what I initially planned... But for some reason, I'm currently out here, on another shopping session with a friend. Well, it was actually a half-truth. My real plan was to buy something and then spend the rest of my day lazing around.

"What will I buy?" you ask? It's currently the 31st of August and tomorrow is the birthday of my friend, Hirata Yousuke. I consciously chose to not get any gifts in advance because I thought it'd be fine to buy something the day before. This should be the case for most of the guys who intended on buying him a present, so Ryuuko's call surprised me a bit.

She told me that she was too busy to buy anything at an earlier date. Well, I'm glad we could accompany each other.

"You look fresh in that get-up. I like it." Ryuuko grinned as she commented on my clothes. It's nothing special though-- just a decent polo and jeans.

"Your outfit looks really nice, too. It suits you," I replied.

Ryuuko wore a gray trucker jacket with a soda orange peasant blouse underneath. Paired with her top were dark denim jeans. She was already pretty enough as she is, but having a good combination of clothes made her look even more attractive.

"Thanks," she smiled.

I don't how they do it, but my friends always look great when wearing their casual clothing. I wish I had their fashion sense.

I remember Kikuchi telling me that fashion sense can be developed. If that really was the case, then I'll do my best to learn.

"Okay then. Just as we planned last night, we'll both buy men's wear for Hirata-kun. Do you have any idea where you wanna shop?"

"Nope," I answered flatly.

"Fufun~, I thought so. Alright, follow me." Ryuuko took the lead with confidence and walked ahead.

We reached a store full of expensive clothes with the idea of creating a high base standard for our gift.

"There are a lot of nice things here, but let's look deeper. The ones outside are mostly just summer wear," she said.

We looked through different types of clothing that might suit Hirata, but Ryuuko and I just chuckled to ourselves after realizing that almost everything in this store suited someone like him.

"Hmm... So how many points do you have again, Kiyotaka-kun? I have about 290,000 left."

"I've got around 285,000 points or so," I replied.

The students in our class have received a total allowance of 399,200 private points as of August 1st. An average high school student should have an allowance of 8,000 yen a month which is equal to a 40,000-yen allowance for five months. However, this can't really apply to us who came here without bringing anything other than some clothes and personal belongings. Most of us had to buy our own everyday necessities, and a large portion of our initial budget was spent on room decorations and new clothes.

Of course, that large portion didn't apply to me given my bleak wardrobe and untouched room. That's why I won't use myself as an example. From what I know, however, it seems like the amount of money that most students (who don't have hobbies) have spent ranges from around 50,000 to 80,000 private points.

I myself had spent more than 100,000 points ever since coming here-- not on the typical things, though.

"Ohh, we're not that far apart from each other then. I've spent some points on my room and clothing, but not as much as some of the girls in our class. That said, my spending still exceeded a hundred thousand points," narrated Ryuuko. "How about you, Kiyotaka-kun? What did you spend your money on? I never saw you as the spender type, so it's pretty surprising that I have more points than you."

I would normally look for an excuse, but I wouldn't have told her the number of private points that I had if I didn't intend on telling the truth right from the start. I can just answer vaguely, and it's not like any of it matters now.

"Well, I usually get high-end ingredients for my food whenever I decide to cook... Other than that, I needed to buy some things while I was still the leader of the class."

"The cooking part, I can understand. I don't quite get what you mean by 'buying some things', as the class leader though." Ryuuko asked with a curious expression. It looked subtle, but I can tell that she felt excited.

"It's not a big deal," I dismissed. "It's mostly just information. Sometimes from other students, sometimes from teachers. I can't buy anything that offers an instant win, of course. But I think it's necessary if I wanted some edge on the exams."

"Ahh, that's indeed practical. But isn't it really awesome, though? To think that you'd readily spend your points for the sake of the class like a secret agent or something. Does anyone know about this?"

"Technically speaking, no." I may have mentioned the one or two specific times that I've spent private points to get something intangible like information, but talking about it in general-- I don't think so.

"Woah, I feel really special now," she smiled.

"I told you, it's not a big deal."It's not like I had anything to spend my points on, anyway-- all thanks to Professor and Ijuuin.

"Alright, alright~." Ryuuko giggled before turning around. "Now then. We're not really short on money, so it's best to just buy something here and get this over with. I'm sure Hirata-kun will be happy about it."

"I think he might even be reluctant to accept our gifts."

A guy like Hirata would probably feel bad if we got him anything too expensive.

"That's true-! Oh-! Kiyotaka-kun, I just got an idea."

"What is it?"

"Let's just buy one expensive thing and divide the cost in half," Ryuuko suggested.

"Hmm, that may be a good idea... But the item should be reasonable for two people."

"Of course~. I wouldn't have proposed the idea if I didn't have the perfect gift in mind."

Ryuuko lightly patted the hanging item on her side.

"A coat, huh?"

I checked the price tag and saw that it was around 20,000 points worth. Of course, even a beginner like me could easily tell that the material was high quality after just a single touch.

"These are both overcoats made from high-end wool. What color do you like more?" she asked.

The two were basically the same thing, but with different shades of brown. One was tawny and one was caramel.

"I'd say the right one," I replied, choosing the caramel-colored coat.

"Alright, I think this will do as a joint gift, but I think it's better to slip in an undershirt to go with it."

To be honest, I had the same idea.

"What about this pebble gray crew neck t-shirt," I asked, showing off the shirt I took from the rack.

"Ohh, I think a standard white tee would be great, but your choice isn't half bad. Alright, let's go with that."

Ryuuko and I proceeded to pay for everything without an issue.

Our shopping went really well. We managed to buy a good gift for Hirata, and I also learned some new things from her. The overcoat that we bought was really high quality, too. I might consider getting one for myself.

"Hnng~." Ryuuko stretched her arms with a slightly muffled moan. "It's already past 11:30-- almost noon..."

"Let's grab our lunch somewhere before going home, then. I'm getting hungry." Based on what I've learned over the past five months, I shouldn't let the girl invite me out if I could help it. That's why I hastily took the chance to ask her instead.

"Sure. Any place in mind?"

"I don't have any particular favorites. There are some restaurants and cafes that I haven't tried yet, though."

In the end, we decided on a simple family restaurant. It wasn't the most popular chain for many, but there were still a lot of people inside. Most of them were seniors, but I could see some students from Ryuuen's class.

"Alright, I'll order something that I've never ordered before." Ryuuko psyched herself with an adorable smile.

"Ohh... What is it?."

"It's nothing special," she chuckled. "I've never considered ordering it outside even though I've made and eaten it before-- omurice, that is."

It wasn't too surprising. Ryuuko was probably one of the best cooks that I know of. She could effortlessly make a simple yet good-tasting omurice on her own.

"Omurice, huh? I'll get an oyakodon then."

It didn't take long before I finished ordering. I brought our food to the table, and the two of us started eating our respective meals. I took a bite of the food I had before glancing at Ryuuko's omurice. After seeing how nicely the ketchup was dressed on top of her omelet, I suddenly had a thought.

I wonder how it would feel if I went to a maid cafe and witnessed a maid draw a heart on top of my omelet with the ketchup? Apparently, they would also do the infamous "moe-moe kyun ".

"It's not a pleasant experience... The tsundere ones aren't even tsundere's anymore. They're just mean without the dere. Of course, the food is also bad." Ijuuin's words echoed inside my ears.

It might not be the best idea if I wanted to have a good time, but I still got curious.

"Is there a problem, Kiyotaka-kun?" Ryuuko called out to me after noticing my gaze on her food.

"Hm? Oh, no, not really. I was just a bit lost in thought," I replied.

"Do you want to try my omurice? I don't mind giving you a bite."

Ryuuko grabbed a spoonful and tried to feed me. She opened her mouth as if to say "Ahn~".

"If you're teasing me, then you don't have to force yourself."

"Does it look like I'm teasing you? I can stop if you're not comfortable with it, though."

"It's not that I'm bothered, but your blush tells me that you're really embarrassed."

"T-That's a given! Even I'm aware of what I'm doing right now. We could easily be mistaken for a couple, so I'm taking advantage of the fact that none of our classmates or friends are here."

I sighed inwardly and ate what she offered.

Ryuuko's face instantly grew redder as a result.

"I might've said that I wasn't joking... but I didn't think you'd really eat it..." she grumbled.

"It would be rude to keep your arms hanging. If it's bothering you, then I'll ask for a new spoon."

"N-No, it's fine! Worrying about something like an indirect kiss doesn't bother me. I'm not a middle schooler."

"I guess so... But why would you even do something like that in the first place?"

"I just got curious about how it would go and feel. You and Hirata-kun are my only close friends from the guys. The opportunity came up today so I took it, and even if Hirata-kun was the one I'm with, I couldn't really do something like that because he has a girlfriend."

"What's the difference?"

"You're single, and you're open-minded enough to understand that I just got curious. Even if someone happened to see us and misunderstood the situation, no one would get wronged," she explained. "Again, I only got curious. These things happen a lot in manga, right? I just got curious about how it would feel in real life."

"I see... You got curious. That's reasonable."

"Mhm..." She stuffed some food in her mouth with the same spoon and her cheeks were flushed pink.

Ryuuko and I continued eating after creating such a weird atmosphere. Was it her fault? Probably. But if I had Hirata or Kikuchi's social skills, the two of us wouldn't be in this predicament.

The two of us faced each other at the center of Keyaki Mall's ground floor after exiting the family restaurant.

"Did you have any plans after this?" I asked.

"Not really. I think I'm going back. I want to rest." Ryuuko replied with a sigh.

"I'm on the same boat. Let's go together then."

"Mn," she nodded.

I carried the items that we shopped for, but I'll leave them in Ryuuko's care for tomorrow. We walked back to the first-year dorms and got on the elevator. The gate opened after it reached the 4th floor and we finally got to say our goodbyes.

"Then, I'll see you tomorrow." I handed her the bag.

"Yes... Let's hang out again next time, Kiyotaka-kun."

"Of course. I had fun today, Ryuuko."

"Yes, me too. Goodbye." Her sweet smile was the last thing I saw before the elevator went on its way.

It's a bit hard to describe how I felt about this day, exactly. The two of us went out for a really short time, but because some of Ryuuko's actions caught me off-guard, I don't think I'd forget anything that happened today. I managed to go along with it, but I really hope she could stop doing stuff that would make an adolescent high school boy like me nervous.

Author's Notes:

- Nishimura Ryuuko tentative illust. from the light novel series: " Osananajimi kara no Renai Soudan. Aite wa Oreppoi kedo Chigaurashii ".

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 11.1 - Being Popular Has Its Own Downsides

I woke up at around 4 AM to do my daily exercises and got back as soon as an hour and a half passed. I rarely saw anyone else jog out as early as I do, and even if there were, they were mostly seniors whom I don't recognize. Of course, waking up at 4 o'clock in the morning is something that I only do whenever I sleep early. I always try to get 7-8 hours of sleep every night.

So why did I decide to sleep at around 8 or 9 PM last night? Well, to put it simply, I was exhausted. Despite having a good relationship with most of my classmates, along with my status as the class's former leader, I still got tired from interacting with everyone. It was Hirata's birthday yesterday, and lots of people came and went to his room. I was there from noon 'til early evening because I wanted to help him out with the cleaning. And honestly, socializing wore me out more than doing physical work.

Don't get me wrong, though. I'm steadily making progress. Thanks to Hirata and my other friends, I've been adjusting well with everyone for the past five months that I'd been enrolled here. And now that we're in Class A, I can just focus all of my attention on further improving my social skills. Thinking about it now, I can't help but feel blessed.

After cooking some breakfast, I actually planned to take it easy. Of course, nothing goes as planned and I suddenly received a message as soon as the time neared 9 AM.

*Bzzt*

I grabbed my phone, and to my surprise, two messages could be read from my lock screen notifications-- two, not one-- from two separate people.

(8:57) [Kiyopon, wanna go to a fortune-teller? Everyone's yapping about them.] (Haruka)

(8:57) [Kiyotaka-kun, if you're free, do you want to check out one of the fortune-tellers at Keyaki Mall with me?] (Airi)

Airi wouldn't invite me out like this... This is giving me the 'planned' vibe. Given what I heard back at the ship, I guess they're trying to see who I'm going to choose. I was careful enough to not open the app and put their messages on read. I need to think about this first.

I checked the class group chat and saw how hot of a topic these so-called "fortune-tellers" were. The advertisement was apparently put up around the campus three days ago. I remember seeing some posters around Keyaki Mall when I went out with Ryuuko. I guess that's what they were all about.

I started reading through everyone's messages and gathered some details.

"I knew it..." A couples-only theme, huh?

I looked through my contacts, which were filled with more than 50 different numbers, and chose to call another friend.

"Hello, Kiyotaka-kun?"

"Kikyou, are you free today?"

"Ahh... Before I answer that question, can you tell me why you're asking?"

"Apparently, there are these fortune-teller services in Keyaki Mall today. Do you wanna check it out with me?"

"Hmm... I kind of expected you to ask about that, but I thought you'd get invited by others."

As expected of her, I guess. She knows me more than anyone in this school.

"I won't lie. You're absolutely right. Airi and Haruka invited me at the same time, but you can only come with one person, right? I think their timing was planned, so choosing one over the other is a tricky decision."

"Ahh, I see. So that's how it is," she giggled. "I think it's fine to choose between one of them, though."

"Is it?"

"Of course. If it's true that they planned on making you choose, then they're also ready for the results-- that one of them won't get chosen. I don't think the loser will take much offense from it. That said, it is pretty devious of them to do you like this. But it's not like they had any other choice. They know you well enough to understand that you'd choose whoever asked first."

"I guess that makes a lot of sense. That's exactly what I would've done." I can't believe Haruka would rope Airi in her crafty schemes... Or at least, that's what I've assumed.

"Mhm~. So I totally understand that you invited me to get out of this situation."

"Yeah... Sorry about this."

"It's fine, it's fine~! That said..." Kikyou sighed in exhaustion before continuing. "I would love to go, but I can't accept your invitation. I'm in a pretty tough spot myself, you see."

"Do tell."

"Hondou-kun invited me out, as well, but I rejected him saying that I had other plans. When he asked me if I was going to the fortune-tellers with another guy, I told him that I didn't invite anyone and I also don't plan on going regardless of who invited me. If I go with you and other people see us together, then I'd probably be exposed as a total liar."

"It'd be especially bad if you were with me. I think he's serious about you."

I noticed it a while ago and only confirmed it when Horikita called for our class meeting on the 22nd. Unlike Ike, Yamauchi, or Miyamoto's reactions, Hondou started to look gloomy whenever Kikyou and I acted close. He wasn't making it look obvious but he wasn't making it look subtle either.

"Yeah... We got a bit closer after the island exam, so I think he's got the wrong idea that he has a chance. It's a huge pain in the ass, to be honest. I wish he'd just confess so I can reject him already."

"That's fine then. Maybe I'll ask Horikita."

"Ehh... Well, good luck with that. Given Horikita-san's personality, you'd be hard-pressed to make her come with you."

She has a point, but I still had to try. I immediately dialed Horikita's number as soon as I ended my call with Kikyou.

"Hello, Ayanokouji-kun?"

"Ah, Horikita. Sorry for calling you so early."

"No, it's fine. Do you need anything?"

"Are you free today? I thought about checking out a fortune-teller in Keyaki Mall."

"I didn't think you'd be interested in those kinds of things."

"Well, have you ever tried it?"

"No, not at all. I don't believe in it, anyway. I think it's a waste of time and money."

"Talk about harsh... If you don't have any plans, then why don't we check it out for a bit? It's our chance to sate our curiosity."

"You haven't forgotten about the main theme of this fortune-telling, have you? That's why you called me in the first place," she sighed. "I don't really mind accompanying you to meet the requirements, but wouldn't rumors pop up if people see us together like that?"

Her worries weren't ungrounded. It already happened before.

"I don't really mind the rumors as long it doesn't bother you. The same rumors would spread even if I invite another girl, anyway."

Research demonstrates that gossip is emotionally rewarding. Even if rumors about my romantic relationship aren't outright damaging, it would still bother me and the other party. The gossipers wouldn't really care about that, though. Someone with a strong mental fortitude like Horikita would probably be the best choice for me other than Kikyou.

"Hmm, I guess you're right. Fine, I'll go with you."

I'm surprised. Persuading her became easier nowadays.

"Alright. Let's meet at the dorm lobby before lunch."

I'll also have to tell the truth about why I invited her to avoid any future disasters.

Backreading the class group chat and calling Kikyou and Horikita took about ten minutes to complete. I don't think that's too long. For now, I'll just tell them that I already had plans to go with Horikita.

(9:08) [Sorry, I can't go with you. I already made plans with Horikita. Thanks for the invite, though.]

That was the message that I sent them. It didn't take too long before I received their replies.

(9:09) [Ohh, I see! That's fine. Have fun, you two!] (Haruka)

(9:09) [That's okay. Let's hang out next time!] (Airi)

I didn't mean to deceive them like this, but choosing one over the other would set an inevitable precedent.

SS.22 - A Friendly Battle

A buzz on Sakura Airi's electric doorbell spurred her to open up.

"Haruka-chan, you're here!"

"Yeah... Get ready, Airi. It's today."

Airi nodded with a determined face. They quickly closed the door as soon Haruka got in. It was currently 8:00 AM and the two of them started talking as they sat on Airi's bed.

"You have your clothes ready?" asked Haruka.

"Mn," nodded Airi. "How about you?"

"Yep. It's all prepared inside my room."

"Should we send him a message now?"

Airi fidgeted with a slightly embarrassed expression. The way she rubbed her supple bare thighs together would instantly stimulate any boy.

"Hmm... Knowing Kiyopon, he should be awake around this time. But then again, it's summer vacation so I'm not too sure."

"I see..."

"Well, we don't have to rush anything. For now, let's try writing our potential invitations."

Haruka smiled before leaning her body backward.

"Alright, let's do that."

Around half an hour passed after Airi and Haruka wrote their drafts while chatting with each other.

"Kiyopon, wanna go to a fortune-teller? Everyone's yapping about them." Haruka read her message out loud. "Do you think that sounds okay?"

"Sounds like you, doesn't it? I think it's fine."

"Alright, that'll be it. How about yours, Airi?"

"Kiyotaka-kun, if you're free, do you want to check out one of the fortune-tellers at Keyaki Mall with me?" she said. "How is it?"

"Ohh, isn't that good? Totally sounds natural."

"Okay, I'll send this one."

They turned to their phones and decided to send their respective messages at the same time, just as they planned. A good minute passed and the two of them just kept staring at their phones with stiff smiles.

"Haruka-chan, I'm embarrassed, after all..."

"Crap, me too... I can't believe I'm getting cold feet now, of all times."

Their date invitations were one tap away before getting sent to the boy they like, but both of them can't seem to do it.

"Um, Haruka-chan, since you're the one who thought of this whole fortune-teller plan, I think it's better if you just invite Kiyotaka-kun yourself." Airi poked her cheek with a finger, smiling bitterly.

"What are you talking about, Airi?! We've discussed this already. Spending time with Kiyopon is already easy for us since we're friends with him. What we want out of this plan is something decisive. If the two of us invite him at the same time, we can see who he'll choose. I thought we were both ready to take a loss once he gives his answer. I know I am!"

"Ehehe, you don't have to get so worked up, Haruka-chan." Airi giggled as she held Haruka's hands with a gentle beam. "I don't really have a problem with any of this. I just thought that you were being too considerate of me. You could've invited Kiyotaka-kun a long time ago without any contention, but you still chose to let me know."

"Airi..."

"It's not that I'm running away. I'm delighted with the idea of having my fortune read with Kiyotaka-kun... But even if you snag a couple of opportunities here and there, I won't deem it as unfair because it's not. It would just be me being slow."

Haruka hugged Airi's body and rubbed her cheeks against hers.

"You're so cute, Airi~!" she said before separating herself from her. "But no, we'll have to do this together. My intentions aren't that noble, you know? It's also a calculated plan."

"What do you mean?" asked Airi.

"Say he chooses you. Depending on how things go from there, it might give me a hint that you'd have a better chance of getting together with him. If I face that reality early on, it would make giving up on him way easier. Wouldn't it drastically reduce the pain I would feel?" she smirked.

However, Airi didn't like her response. She looked at her with a frown.

"Aren't you just running away again, Haruka-chan?"

She shook her head to reassure Airi.

"Don't worry-- not this time. I'm just trying to be smart. Remember; I said that "depending on how things go", which means I don't intend to give up just because he didn't choose me. If it turns out that Kiyopon is secretly head over heels for you... then, of course, I'll give up." Haruka pointed her finger at Airi with a smile. "However, if the gap between us isn't that great, then I'll work hard to turn the tables!"

Airi understood that Haruka wanted her mindset to be the same.

"I see... If that's the case, then I'm in," she nodded with an understanding and determined smile.

At 8:57, Haruka and Airi finally managed to press send at the exact same time.

"Oh no, I'm getting really nervous..."

"M-Me too, Haruka-chan..."

They held each other's hands, waiting for his reply. However, they both noticed that none of their messages had been read yet.

"Is Kiyotaka-kun still sleeping, perhaps?"

"Maybe so... Well, let's just wait for now. He can't sleep forever."

"Mn..." Airi's eyes darted all around before asking a question. "W-Who do you think will get chosen, Haruka-chan?"

"I'll be honest, Airi. I don't have a clue. That's why I wanted us to send our messages at the same time."

"That's true," chuckled Airi. "Kiyotaka-kun would just choose whoever sends it first."

About ten minutes passed before their phones simultaneously vibrated.

"It's here! He finally replied!" exclaimed Haruka.

" Sorry, I can't go with you. I already made plans with Horikita. Thanks for the invite, though. That's what Kiyotaka-kun sent. Is yours the same?"

"Oh... Yeah, word for word..."

Their fiery enthusiasm was doused with some cold water because of his reply.

Haruka could only chuckle bitterly.

"Ahaha... To be honest, I expected Kiyopon to get invited already... Seems like he was the inviter this time, though-- and it's with Horikita-san, no less. That's pretty unexpected."

"Mn, I thought Kushida-san would make more sense."

"Well, Kyo-chan might be busy today. Who knows?"

Both of them had a bummed yet strangely relieved expression. Whether this was an ideal result for their first friendly battle or not hardly matters as long as nothing went wrong.

"This seems like our loss, Haruka-chan," smiled Airi.

"Yep... Wanna hang out at a cafe later?"

"Sure!"

The two of them relaxed for the rest of that day.

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 11.2 - Slowly But Surely

"I'll make it up to you. I know you hate dealing with crowds."

Horikita and I were currently walking out of the building when I suddenly started the conversation.

"It's fine... Don't mind it," she sighed. "We're-- friends, aren't we?"

"I wonder what your old self would say if she hears you saying that?"

Horikita turned to glare at me.

"I'm not teasing you. It's a genuine question. You've changed a lot, you know?"

"I guess I have... But I could say the same to you, Ayanokouji-kun."

"Oh, care to elaborate? There's still some time before we reach Keyaki Mall."

It's around 10:30 in the morning. The fortune-telling stalls should've started their activities at 10 o'clock, so a lot of people might be there already.

"It's not something that I can explain thoroughly. I just noticed that you're a bit more relaxed lately, though it doesn't really show on your face. At first, I thought you were great at socializing. Your speech was decent and your pieces of advice were practical. However, I started to realize that you were just trying your hardest to socialize-- a total loner, like I am." Horikita shrugged as if it was no big deal.

The only difference between us was our drive to change. I did my best to make friends, while Horikita couldn't even be bothered with the idea. At first, she only acknowledged my existence because I showcased my abilities. She wouldn't have given me the same amount of respect if I chose to hide my skills.

"Seems like I was found out. I didn't have any friends when I was a child, so it was really hard for me to fit in."

"We're the same. I just didn't bother faking my personality... unlike someone," she eyed me suspiciously.

"I'm not-- Well, I guess you could say that."

Thinking like a normal high school boy, speaking like a normal high school boy, acting like a normal high school boy-- I tried my best to do all of that despite not knowing how. Though it's not like any of my attempts showed on the outside, given my appearance.

"But as you said, it's nothing too obvious," I continued.

"Of course, it wouldn't be obvious. Your doll-like veneer never changes. No one can see behind that expressionless face of yours."

That's the one thing I chose to not change. Even if I could do so, forcing myself to smile and look cheerful would be too exhausting.

"Well, you can." Horikita was able to see through my facade many times.

"You think I'm an idiot? I can only read you when you let me read you. I realized that after we made Ryuuen-kun sign that contract. You're unreadable if you want to be."

I couldn't say anything in response. She's just as sharp as her brother.

"Then again, saying you changed isn't that simple. You may be the person that I've interacted with the most in this school, but I still hardly know anything about you. I can't be confident in what I say," she said.

"I see..." If Horikita can continue fixing her defect, she'd become a formidable leader like Ryuuen or Katsuragi. She doesn't need to know anything about my past just because she's trying to learn from me.

"What about me, then? From the way you phrased your words earlier, it seems like my "changes" were quite noticeable. Care to elaborate?" She returned the question to me.

"Well, yeah. Even our classmates could discern them." I looked ahead, slightly upwards, and recalled. "At first, you seemed like you didn't want anything to do with the class. You were extremely cold to everyone, even to me. All of our classmates thought you were looking down on them."

"I guess that makes sense. I didn't think it was that bad, though." Horikita analyzed what I said without getting offended. "What changed then? I don't think I've become particularly friendly."

"You haven't. But at least you're not as unhospitable as before. Everyone finally realized that you're not cold because you don't like them-- it's just your personality." Some even call her a tsundere. "If I were to put it simply, cooperating with you isn't a pain anymore."

Horikita suddenly went into deep thought.

"Hmm... Arrogance and close-mindedness, huh? In middle school, I made do with that mindset. After all, I could excel among my peers."

"Is that not the case now?" I asked.

"It still is, but not exactly. I worked hard to reach my current level in academics and physical ability. I know I can surpass most students in our year when it comes to those. However, being alone isn't enough. That's why I decided to keep my selfishness and intolerance in check."

She was finally getting somewhere. It seems like these five months weren't for nothing.

"At least you're aware of your past immaturity."

All she needed to do now was catch up. The current Horikita is far behind the likes of Ryuuen. She'd be hard-pressed in keeping the class's position intact.

Everything aside, this should be the perfect opportunity for me to tell her the truth. My hands started sweating with the thought of Horikita walking away out of anger.

"Uh, by the way, Horikita... There's something I'd like to tell you about all this..."

"Let me guess; something happened that forced your hand to invite me today?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe you should be a fortune-teller."

What's with this girl? She's scary.

"It's nothing. You wouldn't invite me to something like this without an underlying reason. Under normal circumstances, you'd be with either Kushida-san, Nishimura-san, or Matsushita-san-- not counting Sakura-san and Hasebe-san, of course."

I sighed in defeat and explained everything to the clairvoyant Horikita-sensei.

September 2, 10:49 AM.

"As expected, tons of students came to get their fortunes read," I commented.

We exited the elevator and walked around the 4th floor. There were a lot of first-years around, but the seniors were equally as many. This event sure piqued the interest of young teenagers-- including myself, of course.

"How childish... There's nothing supernatural about simple cold-reading," said Horikita.

We've come to terms with the possible consequences. Still, I can't help but get worried for both of us. Looking at the crowded central area, there really were a lot of couples. Some pairs even surprised me, like a guy from Ryuuen's class dating a second-year girl.

"Ayanokouji-kun, there are pairs from the same gender lining up."

"They probably have to pretend like they're in a relationship."

Of course, being an actual couple was also a possibility.

The 1st floor and the 4th floor both had event halls. Horikita and I started to observe the one on this floor. One big tent was set up with three different lines. A woman could be seen overseeing the lines, confirming the identity of each customer. There was also a written notice posted near the line; "Guidance is for couples only. We humbly ask for your understanding.".

"Let's line up in the middle. It has the shortest line," I said.

"That's a logical conclusion, but why is that line much shorter than the others?"

"Who knows? Let's ask the attendant."

When the two of us approached said line, the woman called out to us with a gentle expression.

"Good morning, ma'am, sir. The waiting time for this line should be 10 to 15 minutes per customer (pair). Would you like to get your tickets now?" she asked in a very amiable yet professional manner.

"Yes, but... is there any difference between this line and the other two?" I asked.

"Ohh, you must be talking about the fortune-tellers. Sairenji-sensei is stationed on the left while Isamu-sensei is on the right. The one you're lining up for is Ukon-sensei."

"Why is Ukon-sensei's line shorter than the others?"

"Her readings take a bit longer than the others. They also cost more. However, she's the most popular fortune-teller among the three. They say her accuracy is really high."

"How long do the other two lines usually take?" asked Horikita.

"8 to 12 minutes per customer. One thing to note, though, dear customers. Sairenji-sensei and Isamu-sensei will only be here for today. Ukon-sensei will stay until tomorrow."

Ah, I see. It probably made the other two look like limited-edition fortune-tellers.

"What do you want to do, Ayanokouji-kun?"

"I'm fine with lining up here. I just want to have my fortune read once, anyway. Does the waiting time bother you?"

"Not in the least. If I would make a rough estimate, the difference between this line and the other lines shouldn't be too drastic if we put the number of respective customers into the equation."

"Alright then." I turned to the smiling attendant. "We'll take our tickets."

And with that, the two of us started waiting in line.

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 11.3 - A Vague Future

"Ayanokouji?"

"Ohh, it's Ayanokouji-kun and... Horikita-chan?!"

Two students wearing their summer clothes walked behind us.

"Kikuchi and... Mori?"

Kikuchi Kyou and Mori Nene. As their classmate, seeing them together wasn't really surprising.

"Mori-san..." Horikita immediately looked exhausted after seeing her face.

"You don't have to look so repulsed with the sight of me. You'll hurt my feelings, you know?"

Meanwhile, Kikuchi approached me with a smirk.

"So what's the big news? You guys dating?" he asked.

"No," we instantly replied, in sync. Horikita seemed to have heard his question.

"Ehh... Is that the case? I really thought you guys became lovers," said Mori.

"Well, is that the case for you and Kikuchi-kun?" Horikita asked back, raising an eyebrow.

"Tsuki and I? Ahaha, no, no. We're just here to check things out. Having a pair is a requirement, so we came together."

"We're on the same boat, then. You don't get to assume things," scolded Horikita.

"My bad~." But Mori didn't look remorseful at all.

The two of them lined up behind us after getting their tickets.

"I'm surprised. I never thought you'd be interested in these kinds of things, Horikita-chan."

"I wasn't. Ayanokouji-kun was the one who invited me."

"So you're the one who's interested, huh?" Kikuchi followed up with a question directed at me.

"I guess you could say that. It's just pure curiosity. You don't get this kind of opportunity every day. I might as well try it out," I answered. "How about you guys?"

"Romantic divinations! Aren't they super interesting? Or maybe that's just my girly side talking?" Mori looked excited.

"Hmm, I'm not so sure myself. This girl's the one who invited me." Kikuchi turned to her with a provocative glint in his eyes. "Say, Nene. Since you're so interested in the romance aspect of things, why don't we ask about our compatibility?"

"Huh, are you an idiot? What are you saying all of a sudden?" Mori responded with a bored expression.

Kikuchi's smile didn't disappear as he stared at her.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding," he chuckled. "Maybe some tenchuusatsu is fine. But just know that I'm not against it if you're willing to have the fortune-teller read our romantic future."

Mori smacked his arm with an annoyed groan.

"Tenchuusatsu?"

I subconsciously parroted the unfamiliar word. I wasn't the only one who was confused by it, though. My partner also tilted her head on reflex.

"You and Horikita-chan don't know? Hmm... If I were to put it in simple words, I guess it's a type of reading that tells what times are unlucky for you."

Mori explained to us what tenchuusatsu was. I wondered if it was similar to time-based superstitions like "wear the color red during this day" or "be careful not to lose something this month" which was, admittedly, the limit to my fortune-telling knowledge.

"I'm surprised you know about it, Nene. I thought you were just an ignorant brat who came here for the romance stuff." Kikuchi teased Mori with his usual smirk.

"Are you mocking me?" she glared.

"Well... After what I saw back at the ship-"

"S-Stop-! Stop talking!" Mori continuously punched Kikuchi's arm in desperation.

"Alright, alright. Calm down, will you? We're bothering other customers." Kikuchi's laugh contrasted his words.

The two of us observed them with side glances. They seem to be in their own world.

"The two of them are usually calm but they can get pretty rowdy when they're together," Horikita commented with a sigh.

"True." My brief response solicited another sigh.

I know a bit more about Kikuchi's side of things. He's been pretty vocal about liking Mori. And from what I can see, they seem close enough to even joke about it. So Mori is aware of his feelings, huh? The fact they can still get along like this meant they're in a "more than friends, less than lovers" relationship. Of course, this is pure speculation on my part.

On the outside, Kikuchi might've looked like a gigolo hitting on his next target and Mori couldn't be bothered with his advances. But no matter how composed she tried to act, the redness of her cheeks and ears was too apparent for anyone who pays attention.

Kikuchi wouldn't miss something like that.

"Next please!" The attendant called for us with a smile.

"Oh, it's finally your turn. Have fun in there, Ayanokouji."

"See you later, Horikita-chan!"

After a little over an hour, the couple before us finally got out of the tent. Horikita and I entered the tent following our brief goodbyes to Kikuchi and Mori.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting. Please come in."

When the two of us entered, we found a chamber that looked like something out of a reality show. The room wasn't well-lit with only around 30 lux of light. The fortune-teller called "Ukon-sensei" appeared to be an elderly woman, although I couldn't see her face which was hidden under a hood. She perched herself comfortably on a grand yet old-looking chair. On the table were a bulky tome and some kind of crystal ball. It looked like one of those balls you chuck around in the hammer throw in track and field-- just a bit more translucent.

The crystal ball immediately began to glow as soon as Horikita and I got near. There were two stools in front of the fortune-teller. When we sat down, she made an aged chuckle before lightly moving her right hand.

"First... you must pay," she commanded.

She pulled out a small card reader from under the table and placed it before us. Such a product of modern civilization felt out of place because of the current atmosphere. Of course, we knew we'd have to pay for the service.

Seeing our silence, the old lady took the initiative to move things along.

"A healthy pair young'uns, eh? Do you happen to know anything about fortune-telling?"

"I'm afraid I don't. How about you, Ayanokouji-kun?"

"I honestly have no idea."

"I see. Well, fret not. I may have promoted the theme for this caravan, but I can read pretty much anything. It can be about love-life, as you'd guess, academics, career, etcetera."

She gave us a list of "packages" that were oddly mismatched with their price. There's the "Basic Plan" which included the services she just mentioned. After reading through some of the other packages, one of them might've been related to the tenchuusatsu reading that Kikuchi mentioned earlier.

"See the end of your life...? Absurd..." Horikita muttered softly while reading the list.

After scanning the list one last time, I noticed that there were lots of options related to romance which made sense given the theme. Regardless, the prices were still doable for us.

"The other packages will be worth your time. I know you're not after the love-related plans, after all."

"How are you so sure?" Horikita narrowed her eyes.

"Just a hunch, little lass. Of course, you can choose it just to spite me."

Horikita couldn't respond. The fortune-teller was one sharp lady. She instantly concluded that we weren't a couple.

"I'll do the Wanderer's Plan, please."

I glanced over at Horikita who was still in the process of choosing.

"I'll take the Filiation Plan," she said.

It felt like placing an order at a restaurant. We presented our student ID card after choosing the corresponding package.

"Very well, let's start with the young lady. What's your name?"

"Horikita Suzune," she answered flatly.

"When I tell fortunes, I see the face, the hand, and then the heart of the person I'm reading. I may see something that you won't like. Are you prepared for that?" asked the fortune-teller.

"Please do what you normally do. I don't mind," replied Horikita.

I managed to see Ukon-sensei's wrinkled skin under her hood, along with a sharp gleam in her eye. She instructed Horikita to extend both of her hands.

"We'll start with a palm reading," she said. "I see a long life ahead of you. You have a long, long life to look forward to. However, behind such life is an arduous path. Right now, you are still on that path."

That was a pretty typical start. I couldn't imagine that a person could divine such things just by looking at the lines on someone's palm. Maybe these readings were based on Ukon-sensei's personal experiences.

"Your academic excellence is remarkable and it'll stay that way as long you work for it. You won't have any troubles with money either as long you stay as thrifty like the way you are now." After a short pause, she continued. "Hmm... You ought to take care of your body more. Illness and unfortunate physical events are your enemies. Lastly, you don't seem to be interested in the concept of love. A lover might let you see more of life, but the cost would be some opportunities that pertain to your success, especially here in school."

Her words are pretty vague so far, but almost all of them were very relevant to Horikita. It's amazing on the surface, but if she's doing her readings based on how she judged Horikita's personality, then it makes sense. Her readings about her health were eerily accurate, but they could be applied to any person.

"Overworking will be your bane, both physically and mentally. Ask for the help of your friends whenever you need it. Your financial stability could also collapse very easily no matter how careful you are as you will be forced to make big decisions in the future." She continued after a brief pause. "Do not close yourself to others when it comes to love. Learn it for you know little. Being aware of it will give you an advantage."

Ukon-sensei let go of Horikita's hands.

As her friend, I knew that the warnings were precise. It may not show on her face, but Horikita was probably impressed, too-- even if it's just a little bit.

"Well then, it's time for the additional readings."

The Filiation Plan focused on one's relationships with the people around them, mainly with their family. That's what I've read.

"May I ask about your family members? What do you want to know about them?"

Horikita pursed her lips in hesitation, but immediately swallowed those feelings and answered.

"I have a brother..."

"Oh? Does he attend this school?" asked Ukon-sensei.

"Yes..."

She was right on the money, but that was a pretty safe assumption in question form.

"I see..." She hovered her hands on top of the crystal ball which had some sort of fog swirling around inside it. "Would you say that your relationship with him is in a dire situation?"

"Yes. For him, I'm nothing but a disappointment." Horikita's response felt despondent.

Only two people were present to hear this. One was a professional who probably didn't care about hearing personal stuff from her customers. The other was a friend who knows about the stuff she was saying. To Horikita, there was no harm in delving into this.

"Strange... That's not what I'm seeing here," Ukon-sensei replied.

"Eh-?"

"It is hazy, but your brother doesn't necessarily see you as a disappointment. Both of you are excellent individuals, but you are hellbent on taking the same path as him. You can either stay on this current path, which is filled with thorns and glass shards... or go back to your old and original path to get to him closer."

"Old path?"

"It is alright to be confused. Your old path has long been buried under the chasm of time," she said. "You need not be too worried, however. Your fate is heading in the right direction. You were once astray, but someone came along to guide you. Everything else is up to your good judgment. Your brother's true view of you will become clear in the near future."

"Is that... so...?" Horikita was innately skeptical about all this, but hearing the fortune-teller's advice still made her think.

Ukon-sensei proceeded with Horikita's other family members, but based on her reactions, the typical fortune readings regarding them hardly mattered compared to her brother's.

After some more readings about her life along with some advice, Horikita's turn finally ended. Most predictions sounded ordinary with some warnings here and there. Nothing seemed particularly life-threatening.

"Thank you very much," she bowed gracefully.

Horikita inched herself to the side.

It was finally my turn. I'd probably go through the same process. My partner seemed satisfied with what she heard. They were vague and conventional, yes. But most of the things that the fortune-teller had said were strangely relevant to her. Regardless of whether it was a coincidence or not, I was still fairly impressed.

"What is your name, young lad?"

"Ayanokouji. Ayanokouji Kiyotaka," I replied.

I was asked to extend my hand like Horikita.

"Hmm, you have a good fortune with your academics, but your future seems to be unclear. Do not worry, however. This means you're excellent enough to control said future. I also don't see you suffering any sort of major illness in the near future but be very careful with physical injuries. Your wealth comes and goes, so you must be wise. Like the lass beside you, big decisions will be made regarding money. It is inevitable for the two of you."

Ukon-sensei took a bit of her time before continuing.

"Strange. Your fortune in love is a healthy one, but wildly uncertain. For yourself, this decision will be life-changing-- that much is obvious. That goes for your partner, as well. In contrast, your decision won't matter too much in the grand scheme of things. That is the common fate of most humans. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Yes... I think so."

"Oh, you do? Would you care to tell me why?" she asked.

"People live their own lives. As third parties, unless they're directly involved in my romance, my decision should hardly affect them."

For example, if I chose to accept Inogashira or Ichihashi's confessions, our friend groups would probably react in some way. This extends to our other classmates. The students outside our class might also care given my reputation. But that's about it. People would stop caring after a while and everything would go back to normal.

"Yes, that is true. That is how it usually goes. However, your fortune tells the opposite. Depending on your decision, the future would change drastically. Not just for you and your romantic partner, but also for many many people."

That is a strong claim, but I'd have no way of disproving it. The only way to confirm her prediction is to go back in time and see the difference... which is obviously impossible. To put it simply, Ukon-sensei is talking about a large-scale butterfly effect that stems from my decision in romance. Isn't that just a visual novel?

"I see... It seems that you had a harsh childhood," she continued.

Another broad statement. I'm sure everyone would claim to have gone through one or two harsh experiences as a child, especially boys. I wish she could give me a more concrete answer.

Also, I just noticed it, but do fortune-tellers see into the past in order to divine the future? Just like in Horikita's turn, Ukon-sensei was now talking about my past.

"This is..." Ukon-sensei stopped moving her hands. "You're the holder of the fate tenchuusatsu!"

Horikita narrowed her eyes and looked at me. Tenchuusatsu was a word that we only learned earlier. We were more confused than amazed by this revelation. I thought it was a type of reading, but now it's a type of fate?

"Both of you look bewildered but know that this is incredible. You see, wielding this fate is a double-edged sword. It's not as simple as living a life of constant misfortune. Sure, there are harsh negatives: you won't have the blessing of your parents or your family. However, the rest is up to you, individually. You alone decide what you can and can't do," she explained.

Under her flinty expression were eyes of compassion.

"You don't need to be so pessimistic, and you don't need to act like you're starring in a comedy, either."

She let go of my hands and hovered her own hands on top of the crystal ball.

"This must be fate. Since you chose the Wanderer's Plan, I can further read into your journey in this school. Listen carefully now, lad."

I glanced at Horikita who quietly listened to everything.

"Hoho, as expected. Your journey will rely heavily on your social relationships. Your individual abilities are more than enough to get you through, but you will change drastically if you continue interacting with the people around you."

Ukon-sensei proceeded with the predictions.

"I see a coin. Even with its two sides, it is but a single coin. You are able to draw out the best in each face.

I see a chess piece. The towering trials of the mind will stimulate your emotions. You will feel familiarity and solace in its presence.

I see a handkerchief. It covers and hides what's inside, but it also helps remove the tears of others. You are able to open this handkerchief, fold it gently, and carry the burden inside it.

I see a necklace. You have a strong fate with this necklace. It will change you for the better as much as it'll change because of you, but you must understand what it means to cherish it.

I see a book. Different from the solace of competition, this book grants you peace, albeit temporarily. Embrace it, and you may find this peace becoming permanent on your journey here.

I see a photograph. It allows you to see an opposite perspective. The perspective of the common and peaceful days of a normal person.

I see a cup of coffee. It will energize your life as a student and you will never find your journey boring for the rest of your remaining years here. Choose it and see if it can make you smile.

I see a nice meal. You'll spend a great deal of time preparing it and of course, it will not disappoint. You will see how effort can change the course of fate because of it.

I see a cotton cloth. In your head, this cloth is the perfect choice. It will better you and aid you every time you wear it, but whether it can truly make you happy is yet to be known.

I see a sunflower. As the bright contrast that holds both normalcy and mystery, you will inevitably see its charm. However, your encounter will not be a coincidence but rather, fate."

Ten items. Given her words, should I assume that these items equate to people I'd interact with?

"You seem intrigued, lad. My reading has allowed me to see six more items. Would you like to know about them?" she asked.

"I am curious, yes, but I think these ten are more than enough... If it's okay, I'll make do with just knowing what those last six items are."

"Why of course. I saw a ribbon, an earring, a cushion, a white dress, a bracelet, and a crown. Since you're satisfied with what you've heard already, everything else will be up to you." Ukon-sensei smiled as she finished her reading.

"Thank you very much," I bowed.

The things I've been told today were genuinely interesting. However, they were all just fortune-telling, at the end of the day. I didn't really feel too excited about hearing a bunch of vague predictions.

Horikita and I went out of the tent and said our goodbyes to Mori and Kikuchi whose turns were up.

Author's Notes:

Kiyotaka and Horikita had their fortunes read on the first day (arrived at 10:50 AM).

Kiyotaka met Ibuki on the first day (10:00 AM) and left the mall at around the same time after a short conversation. They had their fortunes read the next day during the afternoon (around 3:00 PM). The elevator incident wouldn't happen until then.

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 11.4 - Unclear Path

"So that was your first ever fortune-telling experience?" I asked.

"Yes. The same goes for you, correct?"

"Yep. It was interesting, for sure. How was it for you?"

"Honestly, my knowledge in fortune-telling is limited to what I've seen in morning television shows. I have to admit that I was fairly impressed and satisfied with what I've heard."

Ukon-sensei's predictions for Horikita were strangely germane to her current life. I can see why she'd be impressed. But then again, Horikita's natural attitude made it easier for good cold-readers to guess her personality. With that information, they can make educated predictions based on their judgment.

The same goes for mine...

"I see. Well, you've saved me from quite a bit of trouble. Let me treat you for lunch."

"You're well aware that I have more points than you, right?"

"Yeah, but I have more than enough to pay for two expensive lunches. And besides, you're the class leader. You ought to save your points in case of emergency."

Horikita fixed her sling bag before replying.

"I guess you have a point."

On September 1st, which was also Hirata's birthday, every student finally received their monthly allowance. Class A, our class, got 121,200 private points following our recent promotion. Everyone rejoiced. It's an amount of money that no normal student wouldn't have access to.

Right now, my 405,885 points should be more than enough to go by.

Horikita and I ate in one of the few gourmet restaurants found in Keyaki Mall instead of a fast-food chain. With a total of 15,000 points, our lunch was much more akin to that of a feast. As elegant as Horikita was, her appetite was still apparent considering how she cleanly finished her portion... not that I'm one to talk. The whole fortune-telling ordeal really put a strain on our stomachs-- but it was mostly the waiting line.

"Well then." Horikita nodded slightly right before the elevator gate opened on the dorm's 4th floor. "Thank you for inviting me out today, regardless of your reasons."

"I should be the one thanking you."

"I had fun. You also treated me to a nice restaurant." She smiled, albeit very slightly. "I'll be contacting you and the rest of the class regarding the point rewards. Hirata-kun and I will be receiving them tomorrow."

"Sure. See you around before summer ends, leader," I teased.

"Don't call me that, former leader." Of course, Horikita didn't waste any time in countering back.

I got out of the elevator car as the conversation ended. The two of us exchanged minuscule grins towards each other before the gate closed itself. I thought about our first encounters back in April.

She's grown quite far from her former unpolished self. It's only a matter of time before she becomes a formidable leader. I'm looking forward to your future endeavors, Horikita.

--endeavors paved from defeat.

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 12.1 - Fate and Control

The next day, on the 3rd of September, the school finally opened the pool for every student to enjoy. The Ayanokouji Group immediately made its plans. Akito and Haruka handled the reservations while Airi and I got to work with some purchases. Ken was supposed to come with us, but he should attend his club today if he wanted tomorrow off.

"So you're not wearing your swimsuits?" I asked.

"N-No way! It's too embarrassing..."

"Well, it's not like I'm one to talk. I'll be wearing a rashguard like you, too."

We figured that the first day would result in a packed pool, so preparing now and going tomorrow instead was the ideal plan.

I left the work to Airi the moment we entered the clothing store. Since I didn't really have the best eye on this stuff, I just decided to act as her escort.

Airi happily went to me whenever she wanted to purchase something and I'd give my amateur opinion on it. I would obviously try my best to give a productive response, but my inability ended up making her hear boring answers like "It looks good." or "It seems like a nice fit."... Airi, who understood my lack of fashion sense, took my words with a gentle smile.

The two of us finished shopping at around 1:40 PM. The store we shopped at was, coincidentally, on the 4th floor. Airi suggested chilling inside a cozy cafe on the 2nd floor, but the elevator we used to get up was crowded. We headed towards the other elevator, passing through the ongoing fortune-telling caravan in the event hall.

"It's still here..." commented Airi.

"Sorry I couldn't go with you yesterday."

"I-It's fine, Kiyotaka-kun. It couldn't be helped since you already had plans."

I moved my eyes from the panicked Airi towards the tent.

"Do you want to give it a go?"

"E-Eh-?! But didn't you already..."

"The fortune-teller was sharp enough to find out my real relationship with Horikita. I don't think she'd be weirded out if I brought another friend along-- if she even managed to remember me."

If Airi wants to go, then I'd probably just buy the Basic Plan. Well, given how she's been staring at the tent, I'm sure she wants to give it a try.

"Are you sure it's okay?"

"Yeah. We have tons of free time today, and not too many people are lining up since it's already the second day. It should close up at around 5:00 PM, so we have a bit of time if you want to drop by at a cafe. "

There's also the fact that the pool is open already.

"I'm okay." Airi nodded cutely, her face determined. "Let's go in."

And we lined up.

Ukon-sensei was the last fortune-teller on-site, and after a few more pairs lined up behind us, the attendant lady finally closed the waiting line.

"How was your experience with Horikita-san yesterday?" she asked.

"It was alright. The fortune-teller's words were interesting, to say the least."

"Ohh... I'm looking forward to it, then. It's my first time having my fortune read. How about you, Kiyotaka-kun?"

"It was our first time, too-- both Horikita and I. I didn't expect to come back this quickly, though."

"S-Somehow, sorry..." Airi apologized with a bitter smile.

"I told you, it's fine." I lightly patted her head, which probably looked strange from an outsider's perspective given my dull expression. At times like this, I wish I could grin naturally like how Hirata and the others can. That would probably give Airi some better reassurance.

Before the atmosphere turned awkward, I tried to keep the conversation going by changing the topic.

"By the way, do you have any idea why Haruka assigned me in buying clothes with you instead of herself?"

Airi flinched after hearing the question.

"I... I-I have no idea..." Her eyes darted around.

She was obviously lying, but I don't think I needed to pry for an answer.

"I see..." I thought our chitchat would end there, but I suddenly remembered the thing Airi was working on for the past month or so. "How did the photography contest go?"

"Oh, the contest? I submitted my entry not too long ago." Her panic was replaced with a grin. "Ah-! I forgot to show it to you guys! Only Haruka-chan and some girls managed to see the finished product a while ago."

"That's fine. I'm sure we'll see your submission when the winners are announced. They'll be displayed by the main bulletin, right?"

"No, no. You overestimate me, Kiyotaka-kun. Some amazing seniors participated, you know? I'd be happy if I could even make it as an honorable mention..." Airi lightly scratched her cheek with a finger. "Of course, it'd be nice if my hard work was rewarded, but since it's my first time joining a competition like that, I don't really want to expect too much. After all, I'm already plenty satisfied knowing that I did my best."

"That in itself is already amazing, Airi. I think it's alright for you to be more confident."

The Sakura Airi now and the Sakura Airi back then are almost indistinguishable in some aspects. Once she comes out of her shell completely, more and more people would surely want to befriend her. And if Airi decides to stop disguising herself as a plain-looking girl, she could be someone that could rival the likes of Kikyou or Ichinose when it comes to popularity. Whether she could manage to do that is still up for debate, however.

"Next please."

The two of us were finally called. Airi and I entered the chamber that was already familiar to me. Approaching the same pair of stools, Ukon-sensei slightly raised her head to give me a sharp glint.

"Well, well, well... It's my first time seeing someone have their fortune read two times in a row. You didn't look intrigued after hearing my readings, so this is quite the surprise." Her aged voice made Airi flinch for a second. "This time, with a different lass. What a way to take my readings."

That was probably her way of calling me a playboy.

"U-Um, Kiyotaka-kun and I are not in that kind of..." Airi's gentle protest was met with her creepy chuckle.

"It's alright, young lady. He must've taken you here as a detour."

"Eh-?! How did you know...?"

Ukon-sensei only smiled meaningfully. Due to the atmosphere, Airi's mind was probably filled with the idea of supernatural fortune readings. That's why she forgot about the bags we were carrying.

"First... you must pay."

In the same fashion, she pulled out the card reader for Airi and me to use.

"Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, right?" While Airi was choosing a package, Ukon-sensei suddenly addressed me. "There wouldn't be any point in me reading your fortune again, so you can opt to stay back and relax. That is, unless, you wish to purchase a specific package."

"Hmm... I think I'll be fine. How much is a simple palm reading?"

"A palm reading is easy enough, so I'll give you one for free. However, don't expect me to read too much."

"How kind of you."

"Your words don't fit your facial expression, lad. But you're welcome. Give me your hands. I'll read your fortune first."

The Basic Plan costs 5,000 points, which was obviously within my budget, but I don't mind getting a freebie.

"Oh? Nothing seems particularly odd. If I were to give you some advice, taking any more detours wouldn't be the greatest of ideas. If possible, go straight home. Straying from that path might get you stuck for quite a long time." She promptly let go of my hands.

"Stuck?"

"Don't worry. Even if you do get stuck, you'll be fine as long as you don't panic. You and the little lass should be able to overcome it as long as you work together."

Airi listened with a fascinated expression. After choosing the Compeer Plan with an enthusiastic attitude that she wouldn't otherwise show outside, Ukon-sensei's real reading began.

"What's your name, young lady?"

"S-Sakura Airi..."

After receiving Airi's dainty hands, she started off with some typical stuff derived from her basic palm reading. Her predictions regarding Airi's career, academics, health, and love life weren't too out of the ordinary. That said, they weren't as relevant to her current life unlike how her words were for Horikita's.

Given Airi's adorable show of zeal, Ukon-sensei might've judged her with a bit of inaccuracy.

"Do you happen to like photos?"

Huh? Where did that come from?

"Um, yes, I do! I like photos... and taking photos."

"I see, I see. In my vision, I saw your fortune as a bunch of photos. Some were clear, some were not. But I can assure you one thing; as long as you continue to work your hardest, you shall get what you deserve. The Compeer Plan looks into the people around you at this current time and how they will affect your future. However, I have chosen to look into your immediate future, specifically, your three years inside this school."

"That's... amazing..."

"Well, I won't sell myself to you as someone who always gets things right, little lass, even if I should, from a business standpoint..." Her smile towards Airi was gentle but enigmatic. "After all, there's always the possibility of not being able to stay here for three years."

"You mean to say... that I might get expelled?" Despite such a grim warning, Airi didn't sound as terrified as one would expect.

"In that specific aspect, your fate is unclear, which is a good thing. It means you have the power to control it."

Those were the same words she'd told me.

After that mysterious warning, Ukon-sensei proceeded with her predictions. All of them encompassed Airi's fortune with her friends and peers in accordance with the package she bought.

"The strings of fate all come back to you. You are the one in the center... for it is your life. If you don't do anything to pull them closer, then none of those strings will snap. However, all of them would continue to stray away." Ukon-sensei gently caressed Airi's hand before letting it go. "Being proactive might be the best advice I could give. After all, your fortune is worse than that of an ordinary person's. Unless you seriously move to change things, fate will not show mercy."

Airi listened very intently, but her face tells me that she could hardly understand what her peculiar words mean in the practical world. Of course, it was the same for me, especially since it's not my fortune. During her elaborate explanations, the one thing I understood was her encouragement for Airi to be more proactive. It was a very generic piece of advice that could apply to literally anyone.

"Um, thank you very much!"

"The Compeer Plan focuses on your friends. As far as I can see, they will continue to care about you in the future-- all of them apart from one."

Airi thought her reading was finished, but one final revelation caught her off-guard.

"This person is dear to you and from what I saw, this person cares for you as well. However, depending on what happens in the future, they'll either be your savior... or your executioner."

"Is... that so...?" Airi trembled. She was nervous. But in the end, she faced that last prediction with a determined expression. "I understand. I'll try my best."

"An honorable attitude. Because of that, I'll give you one little bonus. Come closer, lass."

"Eh? Um, okay..." Airi approached the fortune-teller close enough to hear her soft whispers.

After a few seconds...

"E-Ehhh-?!"

"What did she say?" I reflexively asked Airi.

"Oh, um..." she glanced at the smiling fortune-teller whose eyes were hidden under her hood. "I-It's a secret... for now."

"Oh... Okay, gotcha." I guess it's something very private and personal.

"Thank you very much. We'll be going now." Airi bowed deeply as we prepared to leave.

"No matter. Go on, young'uns. Oh, and be careful of downpours, lass." Ukon-sensei waved her hand as if to shoo us away along with that last warning.

I still have mixed feelings, but this whole fortune-telling stuff can really pique one's interest. According to philosopher and psychologist William James, curiosity is "the impulse towards better cognition". As humans, we strive to learn everything as soon as we can. After all, knowing more results in a better chance for survival. That includes the future, especially with modern humans who seek pleasure, happiness, comfort, and security. It's probably one of the main reasons why fortune-telling, despite being a logic-defying concept, is insanely popular.

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 12.2 - Chain of Misfortune

"Did you have fun?"

Airi and I walked out of the tent. I glanced at her side profile, seeing her satisfied smile.

"Mn, that was really fun! Thanks for taking me there, Kiyotaka-kun."

The contents of fortune-telling were partially template-based. They mix common generalizations with truths based on cold-reading deductions. If done properly, their words could easily excite the listener.

"The waiting line was a bit of a pain, but as long as you're happy with the result..." I peeked down at the café on the 2nd floor and my thirst for liquid consumption amplified. "You still wanna head to that café for a drink?"

"Yes... I'm pretty parched. How about you?"

"I'm the same. Let's go there before we go home."

However, it was the elevator near the event hall that was crowded this time.

"As expected, the 4th floor is still packed with people, isn't it?" commented Airi.

The two of us walked towards the other elevator and entered without any incident. It didn't seem like anyone else would enter with us, so I pressed the button to close the car door. We felt the elevator move downwards. I stared at the "4" on the indicator when Airi suddenly brought something up.

"Oh... That's right, Kiyotaka-kun... Didn't the fortune-teller tell us not to make a detou-"

When the light signaled our arrival on the 3rd floor, the elevator made a loud-screeching noise before stopping.

"Kyah-?!"

Airi stumbled to the side right before she could finish her sentence. It's a good thing that I managed to catch her in my embrace.

"You okay?"

"U-Um... Yes... I-I'm okay..."

It was initially pitch-black as the lights went out so I couldn't see Airi's face. After a few seconds, the emergency lights finally turned on.

"It must be a power outage," I said.

Airi gasped before fixing her posture. Her cheeks were very flushed, probably from the embarrassment of being held by a guy.

"Kiyotaka-kun, are we stuck in here...?" asked Airi.

She didn't seem panicked at all. I can tell that she was anxious, but being able to ask that question calmly meant that she doesn't feel too terrified.

"Hmm... We technically are at the moment. I don't think there's anything to worry about, though. The elevators have measures for events like this one."

"Mn, maybe we can use that." Airi pointed at the emergency phone beside the control panel. "I-I'm not good with talking though..."

"Even more reason for you to do it. Think of it as practice."

"E-Ehh...?" Airi pouted before pointing her finger at me. "Kiyotaka-kun, aren't you the same as me, though?"

"Geh-..." I've been seen through.

"You just don't want to deal with talking to adults. That's why you want me to do it."

I hung my head apologetically.

"Sorry... You're right."

Airi's sulking expression turned into a huge smile.

"If you admit it, then I'm satisfied." She picked up the phone and pressed the call button. "I'll do my best."

There's a surveillance camera watching us. And if the emergency phone can't contact anyone, we can use the intercom connected to the emergency dispatch center.

"Hmm... No one seems to be responding," said Airi before trying the intercom. "Here, too... What do we do, Kiyotaka-kun?"

"This is quite the series of unfortunate events, but it's not like we have anything to worry about. Your phone still has some charge left, right?"

"Yes, it does. I'll call the emergency hotline. It should be right... here...?

"A prank like this is evil," I muttered.

The number that Airi tried to call could be found right beside the button panel. However, thanks to some jerk who probably thought they were hilarious, the last four digits were scribbled over with a magic marker.

"We could just call one of our friends from outside to ask for help, right?"

"Yeah... It's a longer, more roundabout method, but a surefire way to get out of here. We can use mine if you want, too. My battery's still basically full."

Given my past position as the class leader, contact with my classmates was inevitable. A smartphone was probably our single most important weapon. That's why I made a habit of charging mine whenever I'm not using it.

"Ehehe, me too. Ever since I became friends with Haruka-chan and you guys, I found myself worrying about my phone's battery life. It'd be bad if we can't contact each other when something comes up."

"Like emergencies, huh?"

Airi giggled happily before tapping on her phone.

"Ah, hello, Haruka-chan?" Airi greeted her before putting the call on speaker.

" Airi ? What's up? Are you alright? The power went out all of a sudden."

"So it's not just Keyaki Mall," I said.

"Oh, Kiyopon ~! You guys are still together, huh?"

"H-Haruka-chan... You see, we're in a bit of a bind."

"Hm, what do you mean?"

"Well, Kiyotaka-kun and I-- we're... stuck inside the elevator."

"Ehhhhhh-?!"

"W-We tried asking for help from the inside, but the emergency communication lines aren't working right now. It'd be nice if you could call someone for us-"

"Leave it to me!"

And Haruka briefly hung up. We didn't even get the chance to say thank you.

"I guess we're saved now."

"Haruka-chan seemed to be in a hurry to call for help," chuckled Airi.

The only thing we could do now was to sit and wait. The two of us didn't panic which was great. If we're lucky, someone might even notice us before Haruka manages to get help. Trying to escape would expose us to the risk of getting hurt.

Of course, that's also when our optimistic thoughts were instantly shattered. We suddenly heard a loud grinding noise inside the elevator. The pleasantly cool air emanating from the vent stopped.

"Eh...?" For the first time, since the start of this crisis, Airi finally looked upset.

We were currently trapped inside a small, enclosed container while summer was at its peak. It's only a matter of time before the heat affects us. We were fine right now, but we'll be sweating buckets very soon.

"Um, Kiyotaka-kun..."

"Yeah, I know. Worst-case scenario; we could suffer from heatstroke."

"I'm sure we'll get sweaty if it takes too long, so I'll send Haruka-chan a text to get my uniform from the laundries. Do you want her to bring you some clothes, too?"

"I'm good, thank you."

After she sent the message, Airi looked at me with a bitter smile.

"This is pretty bad, huh...?"

"Now that it has come to this, getting out as soon as we can should be the ideal plan."

"B-But do you think we can escape on our own?"

"Well, there's an emergency hatch on top of us. I don't know if it'll work, but I'll try to open it."

*Bang*

I jumped to try and push the hatch upwards, but it didn't budge.

"It's probably locked from the outside."

Under normal circumstances, you can't really open an escape hatch from the inside. It's there as a last resort for rescuers to get people out of the elevator if the doors were unusable.

"So we're trapped until Haruka-chan manages to call for help?"

"Probably."

Airi and I ultimately decided to wait, not because we wanted to, but because it was the only option we had. I took off my jacket and sat down on the opposite side. Keeping our distance from each other was probably the best option if we wanted to slow down the heating. Still, with the passing time and rising temperature, Airi's breathing started to get ragged.

"Are you alright, Airi?"

"Hah... Um, yes... I think so..."

Sweat started to trickle down from her forehead. Airi made a futile attempt to fan herself with her hand but to no avail. She eventually removed her glasses to wipe the sweat around her eyes, but even her hands were wet from her own perspiration.

Meanwhile, my shirt was so soaked that it looked like I stood under a waterfall. The situation had gotten significantly more dangerous than I previously imagined. This elevator was installed into Keyaki Mall's external wall. I hadn't noticed that before because of the air conditioning, but it would get extremely hot under these conditions.

Children have died after being stuck inside locked cars in the middle of summer, and the same danger can apply to adults, too. A little more and the two of us would probably suffer from heatstroke.

"K-Kiyotaka-kun... I'm- I think I'm starting to feel dizzy." Airi was panting heavily, and her clothes were extremely drenched. Since we don't know if the cameras are working, stripping might be too much of a request, especially since she's trapped inside with a guy. But even then, this was a matter of life and death. I removed my top to set an example.

"Hyah-?! K-K-K-Kiyotaka-kun?"

"It's too hot at this point. You might faint if you don't do the same. Don't worry. I'll turn around and not look. I won't move an inch from where I am, as well."

"E-Eh... Um, uhh..." As expected, Airi would be conflicted.

"Don't worry, I'm not trying to force you. It's much harder for you as a girl, especially since you're wearing a dress. If help comes and the elevator opens up, you'd be exposing your entire body, only covered in undergarments."

Airi gripped the hem of her dress and her plump thighs started to show.

"I... I can't take it anymore, Kiyotaka-kun... My head feels like it's getting fried..." Airi softly cried. I was unable to distinguish whether the liquid streaming down her cheeks was sweat or tears.

Finally, Airi's eyes started to close as her body collapsed to the side.

I quickly moved to catch her body, which felt like it was on fire.

At that moment, the elevator started to move again. I could only hope that everything was back to normal as I held Airi's barely conscious body. She tried her best to get up as I put my shirt on. After a few seconds, the elevator finally arrived and stopped on the 1st floor. The doors slowly opened as cool air started to flow inside. Two adults greeted us with shocked expressions.

"Are you alright?! Are you hurt?!"

"I'm alright, but..." I looked at Airi who was still trying to compose herself.

"I-I'm fine! I'm alright..." she insisted.

"Airi, Kiyopon!"

Haruka emerged from behind them and hugged Airi.

"Haruka, let her cool down first," I said.

"Ah-! S-Sorry..." Haruka flinched and let go.

"It's alright, Haruka-chan. But I reek of sweat right now, so it's best to not touch me just yet."

Airi and I were offered some sports drinks as we got out of the elevator. They could only guess how hot it was, but given our really sweaty state, it made sense for them to send us to the doctor's office for examination.

As expected, Airi almost suffered from heatstroke, but the physician said she'll be alright as long she changes her clothes as soon as possible.

"Don't worry, Airi. I got what you asked for."

"Thank you, Haruka-chan."

She slipped inside the female restroom, which was adjacent to the doctor's office, to get changed. After her figure disappeared, Haruka's phone suddenly vibrated.

"Geh- Seriously...?" She looked at me with a sharp glare. "Kiyopon, I have many questions about your time with Airi inside that elevator, but they'll have to wait for now."

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"It's about our plans for Kayoko-chan's birthday, so I gotta bounce." I thought she was angry for some reason, but her mood switched back to normal as she started to briskly walk away. "Ah, don't tattle on her about this, okay?! It's a surprise, after all! Tell Airi I said goodbye~!"

We waved our hands to each other but I was slightly confused. I sat inside the doctor's office and waited. I continued wiping myself with a provided towel while enjoying the cool air from the A/C.

"You must've had a rough time in there," said the female physician who looked like she was in her forties.

"Yes..."

"Well, you should go straight home and rest after your cute girlfriend finishes changing."

I was too exhausted to deny the girlfriend part. All I could think about right now was how fortune-telling is serious business.

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 12.3 - Changing at One's Pace

"Thanks for waiting, Kiyotaka-kun."

Airi scuttled towards the doctor's office wearing her uniform. She was holding the eco bag containing her wet clothes. Airi wore a white blouse but not a white skirt. Instead, she wore the skirt with an inverted color scheme; the red skirt with white lines. The combination made her look like she was wearing casual clothes. Well, the red skirt was almost exclusively used outside the school. I've never seen anyone wear it during school hours due to how it'd look with our already-red blazers.

"Ara, she's back. Head home now, you two. I'm sure it was tough getting trapped inside that elevator." The physician lady gave us her regards.

"Y-Yes, thank you very much, Sensei." Airi bowed with a slightly flustered face.

I also bowed without saying a word before returning the towel.

Airi and I finally walked towards the exit. The purchase was a success and we even managed to visit the fortune-teller. If it weren't for that unfortunate power outage, I would call this a fantastic day.

"Are you feeling alright now?" I asked.

"Yes, how about you?"

"I'm okay."

"Um, where's Haruka-chan?"

"She rushed out after receiving a message. She said it was very important so she had to go."

"Ohh, is that so?"

"Yep, Haruka asked me to tell you she said goodbye."

Airi smiled with an understanding nod. We exited Keyaki Mall without much issue. The time was 3:46 PM and the heat from the sun was still scorchingly high. Japanese summers really are to be dreaded. No wonder it felt like we were getting baked alive in there.

The way to the dorms had always been aesthetic. Each path was clean and architecturally pleasing to the eye. Streets had green verges separating the roads from the sidewalks which the school nicely maintains. Passing through the avenue from the shopping district to the school was the boulevard that takes us to the forked pathway that splits the dorm buildings from each other.

"Kiyotaka-kun, did you know about that tree-lined spot behind the school building?" she suddenly asked.

"Hmm, is that the one where you'd have to go behind the water station area near the second gymnasium?"

"Yes, that one!"

"I think I've been there a couple of times. It's a pretty hidden spot."

"Do you want to take a detour?" she asked coyly.

"Hey... Didn't we just go through hell by attempting that?"

"I-It's fine! The fortune-teller said that we'd get stuck, right? Wouldn't that be impossible as long as it's we're in an open area?"

"I guess you have a point... But why do you wanna go there?"

"I'll tell you when we get there... Well, more like show you."

"Okay...? As long as there's no harm to it, I guess."

The two of us walked off from the boulevard and turned towards the school building. It's almost been a month since our summer vacation started. In a couple of days, the 2nd semester will finally be here. I'm sure Airi was having the same thought as we passed through the side of the building. Since I wasn't wearing my uniform, I can't really enter the front gate.

"We're here," I said.

"Let's stay under the shade," suggested Airi.

We were technically inside the school grounds, but there were lots of ways to leave or enter other than the front and back gates. The way this entire city-like campus was built made it possible due to how adjacent everything was to each other. Most of the infrastructure is only separated by trees or other types of greenery. Apart from the leisure pool, open courts, and some buildings, nothing was really enclosed by towering walls or tall fences.

Both of us were expert loners before we got used to having friends. Airi and I knew more than five ways to get in and out of the school grounds without getting detected.

"This might be a secret spot that people rarely go to, but it's still well-kept," I commented.

"The school maintains everything well, doesn't it?"

Airi observed the trees with a smile. Before we drift off to another topic, I decided to ask her about our purpose for taking another detour.

"So, why are we here?"

"Yes, um... You see..." She shyly removed her glasses before untying her hair. "I was thinking, Kiyotaka-kun... Maybe I could come to school without trying to hide my real appearance..."

Right now, the person in front of me was Sakura Airi. Her looks might've been that of Shizuku, the model, but she was undoubtedly still Airi.

"I'm still very shy-- even now... But thanks to you, Haruka-chan, Ken-kun, and Akito-kun, I think I've become stronger. We're in Class A now. If I don't stop hiding inside my shell, I might end up holding everyone back."

She'd seen how Karuizawa dismantled Yamauchi's attitude and status inside the class. Her name was even mentioned back then. Airi admits that her academic performance is among the worst, but unlike Ken, she couldn't make up for it with her poor athleticism. All she can do right now was study harder so as to not become a glaring liability.

However, if she could take advantage of her appearance and make more friends, then she could be a useful asset to the class, just like Kikyou. The only thing holding her back was her own lack of social skills and self-confidence.

That might change very soon, though. Back then, Airi could only stay silent during our conversations, but she speaks her mind more frequently nowadays. She used to be scared of Ken, especially when he gets riled up, but now, she's been able to scold all three of us boys without shying away. Touching someone of the opposite sex makes Airi very uncomfortable, especially after her horrible experience. However, she can pleasantly make contact with us now. She tends to gently tap Ken's arm whenever she scolds him. There was also this one time when she enjoyingly pinched Akito's cheek. And she started growing a habit of caressing my hair whenever I'm beside her.

"I want to change-- both on the inside and the outside. I can't stay the way I am forever, at least not in this school where my incompetence can affect other people..." Airi blushed before looking up at me. "I wanted you to be the first one to see me, Kiyotaka-kun. You were the one who found me, after all."

Our first meeting back then was a coincidence at best. I never expected the two of us to be this close, and honestly, I welcome this outcome with a serene feeling in my chest.

"Airi, you're much more amazing than what you give yourself credit for."

"It's true that I want to be more useful to the class, but my motivations are much more selfish than you think, Kiyotaka-kun. I'm doing this for myself the most," she chuckled.

"And there's nothing wrong with that. I believe in you, and I'm sure the others are, as well." I glanced downwards before continuing. "But there's no need to rush things, you know?"

"Huh?"

"It'll be alright. If you want to change, you're free to do so at your own pace. You don't need to adjust to the class's progress."

I want to support Airi with everything I had. That's why I don't want her to self-destruct by doing something that she wouldn't be able to keep up with. She wasn't ready. Her trembling hands and teary eyes were enough evidence.

"As expected, I really can't hide anything from you," she smiled bitterly.

Airi tied her hair up again before putting on her glasses.

"Maybe... the reason why I wanted to talk to you about this... was that I wanted someone to decide for me..."

That self-deprecating smile was all too familiar for us in the Ayanokouji Group. Haruka wished she could make it disappear from Airi's face forever.

"I won't say that you're fine the way you are. That would be an insult to your resolve to change. But I'm sure that it's okay for you to stay that way a little longer. We're in Class A and I stepped down as the class leader, but Horikita and Hirata are there to shoulder my responsibilities. Most of our classmates are on board with helping, too. You don't need to worry about aiding the class the way they do-- at least not this soon."

"Mn, I understand," she smiled. "Thanks for hearing me out, Kiyotaka-kun."

"No problem. We're friends."

My understanding of Airi's worries goes beyond that of witnessing a friend fly up from their nest. After all, we're not that different, she and I.

I'm trying to change, too. If I can do that, then maybe I can live a truly peaceful life-- one that I can have away from that man.

"Kiyota-" Airi's words were cut off after a droplet of water landed on her nose.

The same happened on my cheek.

"It's raining," she said.

The sun is still high up but...

"Let's head back, Airi."

Despite our efforts to take cover as soon as possible, the rain immediately got intense. The two of us were soaked in an instant.

"It's still sunny... but why did it rain so suddenly?" she asked.

"A sunshower, most likely."

"Sunshower?"

"The clouds where this rain came should be kilometers away from us. But the wind carried the rainfall all the way here."

We were near the coast, so the clouds probably came from the ocean area.

"Ehh... That's interesting."

"You okay?"

"Yes... But I might need to bring these back to the cleaners."

I didn't have the easiest time looking at Airi. Her drenched blouse made some things easier to see. However, I can't get flustered on my own here. This scenario might've been something that boys desired, but that's just a one-sided fantasy.

"Now that I think about it, the fortune-teller did tell you to be careful with downpours."

Airi flinched after recalling Ukon-sensei's words.

"I-I forgot..." she said before giggling. "Looks like we got involved in each other's misfortunes."

"Seems like it."

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 13.1 - A Glimpse of Normal Life

Three pools with three different functions. Extravagant would be an appropriate word to describe the facility. We decided to stay in the first pool which was a standard swimming pool. The second one functioned like a lazy river with a current while the third one focused on sports and other dynamic activities.

"Hey, Kiyotaka! Aren't you gonna swim?!" Ken yelled at me while waving his arm.

He and Akito were having fun inside the pool with Airi and Haruka. They wearing their swimming trunks but the girls, including me, wore rashguards.

"I'll be there soon," I replied.

As unfortunate as it was, I was tasked to take all of our things to our designated tent. It seems like today wasn't my luckiest day to play rock-paper-scissors.

"I wonder how many people came yesterday and the day before in comparison to this...?" The luxurious facility was still crowded even if it was the last day, and the number of people would only increase later on.

I've heard of stories from others, but this really felt like a festival in its own right. Since the pool facility wasn't part of the main school building, we've seen a lot of students wearing their casual clothes outside while eating snacks. When we entered the premises, lots of stalls selling food could be seen everywhere. From what I can see, they were being managed by upperclassmen.

Some of them looked very serious with their business while some just looked like they were having fun. It reminded me of our first special exam.

"Ah, Ayanokouji-kun!"

After finishing up, a familiar voice called out to me.

"Ichinose... and Horikita...?" I couldn't really hide the surprise in my tone.

"What?" she glared.

"Well, you're the last person I'd expect to see with Ichinose."

"Ahaha, I was the one who invited her. My friends are also here!" she answered.

"Don't get me wrong, Ayanokouji-kun. I only accepted her invite because of our deal from the Zodiac Exam."

Ahh, so it's about that, huh?

"You could've just come here with your casual clothes but..." I glanced at Horikita who was wearing a nice two-piece swimsuit with a frilled top and laced bottom.

"What are you looking at?"

"Your swimsuit. It looks good." Horikita probably didn't expect my response given her silence. I turned around and started walking away to avoid creating an awkward atmosphere. "I'm here with Ken and the others. You guys go have fun."

"Ohoho? Just casually escaping after that compliment? Aren't you a sneaky one, Ayanokouji-kun?"

Well, I didn't expect Ichinose to let me off the hook with that one.

"I appreciate your praise, but I was forced to wear this." Horikita finally responded, looking vexed.

"Hehe~, you can thank me for giving you the chance to see Horikita-san in a swimsuit!"

When I reached the edge of the pool, I stopped walking before turning around. Abruptly continuing the conversation would make Ichinose's provocative teasing a fact, so I started doing some stretches. That way, it would look like talking to them again was just a byproduct of what I wanted to do.

"I figured that you were the one responsible for it, but how did you convince Horikita?" I asked.

"With the power of sympathy baiting!" Ichinose boldly answered. "You see, I was originally going to wear my school swimsuit, but my friends told me it's a no-go. So, I begged Horikita-san to wear a stylish swimsuit with me!"

"You were being a little brat about it, so I had no choice but to go along with your whims. I wouldn't want to derail our meeting."

"Ehehe..." Ichinose giggled while clinging to Horikita. "Us aside, it seems like you're not wearing a typical swimsuit, Ayanokouji-kun."

Most of the guys wore swimming trunks but I saw a few others covering up like me.

"It might be strange for a guy, but I don't really like showing my skin to people. We heard it was okay as long as we weren't in class."

Ichinose peeked ahead and saw my friends playing in the water.

"Ohh, Sakura-san and Hasebe-san also wore rashguards, huh?" she smiled. "I think that's fine. 'Not like it's against the rules."

I finished stretching so I decided to leave them be.

"Well, you guys can go have fun. I'm gonna head back."

"Okay~! Let's hang out later, Ayanokouji-kun!" she waved.

The fact that she even managed to rope Horikita into her group already says a lot about Ichinose's abilities in persuasion.

"Kiyopon!" Haruka and the others called for me as I approached them.

A couple of hours later...

"Oh, hey there!"

"Amikura-san... right?"

"Yep, and you're Hasebe-san, correct?"

"Yes..."

"Ohh, so you guys are Ayanokouji-kun's closest friends!"

"You're Sakura-san, right? Nice to meet you. I'm Kobashi. You can call me Yume if you want."

"Uh- Um..."

We were in the same pool, and the area where we played around wasn't too far from where Ichinose's group stayed. It was inevitable for our groups to eventually become adjacent to each other.

So apart from Ichinose and Horikita, there's Amikura, Kobashi, and Shiranami-- a group of five girls. They must've been the initial bunch because from what I can see, some more Class C students joined them later on.

"Hey, Sudou, how are ya?"

"Oh, Shibata. Wanna have a swimming race?"

"You're on!"

"Don't get too excited now. You might bother other students," scolded Kanzaki.

The sporty guys seemed to know each other and were told off by the serious Kanzaki. Meanwhile, Akito was chatting with Beppu.

"Hey, Ayanokouji-kun!" Ichinose called for me from the poolside. Horikita was also beside her.

I sat beside them-- just near enough to hold a conversation.

"Heya~! Are we bothering you guys?"

"No, not at all."

While I do think we're the type to hang out with those we're familiar with, meeting new people shouldn't be too bad.

Ichinose was probably concerned after seeing how on-guard Haruka was along with Airi's reserved attitude. She didn't need to worry about anything, though. They were both fighting their own (social) battles, especially Airi.

"So, did you guys finish up with your discussion?" I asked, changing the topic.

"Yep! The one and half million are now all yours!" Only someone like Ichinose would be able to utter those words with a genuine smile.

"Honami-chan!" Shiranami called out to her with a wave. "Can you come here for a sec'?"

"Okay, I'll be there!" She looked at us, smiling bitterly. "I'll leave you two for now."

Ichinose entered the pool and made her way to her friends.

"How was it?" I asked.

"The transaction?"

"Everything. The transaction, making friends, having fun, and all that jazz."

"Hmm... It's so-so, I guess..." she answered.

If it was the old Horikita, she'd probably try to play dumb saying "I don't know what you're talking about." or something.

"This seems like a huge leap, though. You may be friends with Mori or Makida, but it's not like you're already as comfortable with them as you are with me or Hirata. So it's certainly a big step up for you to go so far as to socialize with a bunch of girls from a different class."

"I was just taking the opportunity. I'm the class leader now, so making connections is necessary. And it's not like everything went perfectly. They were friendly and welcoming, yes. But based on how they're trying to adjust, I think they're a bit intimidated or put off by me."

"I don't think "put off" is the right term for it, but that goes without saying. They're not used to being around someone like you, especially since their home ground is Class C."

It's probably safe to say that I'm friends with Amikura and Kobashi. Shiranami might not like me too much, but I've talked to her before, as well. They're not the type to judge based on initial impressions. Or at least, that's what they've shown me so far. And I'm pretty sure they'd be influenced by Ichinose who seems to like Horikita a lot.

Not to mention that our classes are supposed to be allies.

"To be honest, I wanted to invite Hirata-kun as a co-leader, but considering the location, it'd bring about some problems."

Hirata had a girlfriend, namely; Karuizawa. Horikita was the leader of the class while Karuizawa was the leader of the girls. If word got out that Horikita and Hirata went to the pool during summer, rumors and misunderstandings will surely pop up.

Knowing Karuizawa, I don't think she would personally mind. She knew about Hirata's role as a fellow class leader. But a high school campus is like a lake infested with piranhas. Girls and even boys would gladly take a bite out of any potential scandal, especially when famous people are involved.

"It's fine. You can just tell everything to Hirata tomorrow."

"Tomorrow, huh? Speaking of which, the second semester is finally starting..."

"It's been over five months since the entrance ceremony. I've been so busy being the leader that I almost forgot, but this school is incredibly unique. I wonder what the second semester has in store for us apart from the typical school stuff?"

"Yeah. Surviving on a deserted island and playing a social deduction game... What other school would consider those as exams?"

"Well, at least we still get to experience a normal high school life when there's nothing crazy going on..." I said.

"A normal high school life, is it? That's your main reason for stepping down, right? But you wouldn't have led the class in the first place if you didn't try to test yourself."

"That's true. I'm done doing that, though. We've already reached Class A."

I guess taking that risk on the first day really paid off in the long term. I can only imagine our current situation if the class's ignorance wasn't taken care of back in April.

"You've beaten both Ryuuen-kun and Katsuragi-kun, but what about the student called Sakayanagi? Aren't you curious about her?"

"I'd be lying if I say I wasn't... but I guess I'll just have to find out how good she is by seeing you go up against her."

And I couldn't really say that I've "beaten" Ryuuen and Katsuragi. The school year had just gotten started, after all.

"In your honest opinion, Ayanokouji-kun... Do you think I can face them and end up victorious?"

Now, this was a prime example of the Dunning-Kruger Effect. When she enrolled here and saw how incompetent most of her classmates were, Horikita was at the height of her arrogance. It was understandable since she had excellent grades and athletic abilities. However, I kept her around me. That's when Horikita finally realized that she was nothing but a frog at the bottom of a well.

She's starting to mature, but whether her growth can keep up with the upcoming battles is unknown.

Horikita probably holds a similar kind of respect for me as she does with her brother. That's why my opinion would very much count. Since she asked for it, then I'll give her my honest evaluation.

"I'll be frank. As the way you are now, you can't really defeat Ryuuen or Katsuragi-- not even Ichinose. In fact, you're so behind that I don't think you're even competing on the same battlefield."

Her eyes trembled in shock, but she took my bluntness head-on.

"Can you tell me why you think that?"

"I can give you an insight into why you're a couple of levels below them. Think of this school as a big picture. Ryuuen and the others can see bits of it, like a jigsaw puzzle. It's severely incomplete, but they're on their way to collect the missing pieces. Meanwhile, you're too focused on the pieces you have in hand. So much so that you think that those few pieces are everything you need."

"I see... I think I can see where you're coming from..." Horikita went deep in thought.

"Sorry for being vague, but it's not like I can say anything concrete."

"It's okay. I think what you've said is very helpful. I'll take it to heart."

I didn't really expect such a gentle and understanding response from her.

I thought about what Onizuka and the other guys would say if they were here with me. After all, it was another rare occasion... where I get to see Horikita Suzune's smile.

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 13.2 - Something to Prove

"Woah!"

"Kyah~!"

We heard some noises from the other end of the facility. Was something happening by the third pool?

"They're gettin' fired up with somethin'?"

"Seems like something's happening in that other pool."

"That's the sports pool, right? Maybe there's a game being played by someone popular?"

"The sport that's bein' played the most should be volleyball. And based on the interval of their cheerin' times, it should be the case."

"You sure, Kencchin?"

"I'm 90% sure."

"Ken-kun's really smart when it comes to sports."

"Hah-? So yer sayin' I'm dumb when it comes to things that aren't sports?!" Ken was in dismay after hearing Airi's words.

How did you even reach that interpretation before taking it as a compliment first...?

"Isn't that obvious? You're dumber than the dumb ones in our class!" Haruka crossed her arms while raising an eyebrow. Her breast rested beautifully on her forearms. "Hmm... But these days, you are getting quite smarter-- I should at least admit that."

"Then yer just talkin' about academics! I can be smart about tons of other stuff too, ya know?!"

"Hey man, you're getting too fired up. Don't just let Haruka lead you around the nose with her teasing."

"Ah-! Damn it..."

I stared at my friends' typical banters before Ichinose spoke up beside me.

"I remember lots of 2nd-year students around that place."

"2nd-years, huh?"

"Are you curious, Ayanokouji-kun?" she asked with a probing smile.

"I'd be lying if I say I'm not."

"Let's check it out, then!" Ichinose stood up and faced our considerably large group. "Guys, let's go see what's so fun over there!"

Ichinose's charisma somehow just gets a certain agreeable response from anyone she gets along with. We would either be enthusiastic about her whims or just go with the flow. No one antagonizes her even if she didn't impose authority like Karuizawa or intimidation like Ryuuen. She was someone that you just want to follow.

"Kyah~!"

"Woohoo!"

"Amazing~!"

The uproar grew increasingly louder. It seems like the game was getting intense.

*Splash*

The ball was spiked towards the other side of the court, and the screams of the girls surrounding the pool followed right after. The game was intense, but it was not like a team battle of six-versus-six was happening. One male student heavily stood out.

"That's guy's awesome..." muttered Ken.

If he, of all people, says that, then it must be true.

The guy's blonde hair swayed with each of his movements. Some of the players looked tired while some looked fired up. Contrasting them was his composed expression which made him very eye-catching.

The next round started and he easily caught the serve. The setter didn't even need to move as the ball perfectly bounced on top of him. With an optimal set from an optimal receive, the blonde-haired male student jumped off at the perfect time and spiked a bullet into the enemy court. It wasn't like he was the only good player, though. A student from the opposing team was able to react to his attack but unfortunately failed to bring the ball up.

The cheering ensued as soon as the ball made contact with the water. I didn't recognize anyone from the crowd, so it's safe to assume that most of them are 2nd-year girls with some 3rd-years in the mix. He's really popular in his year.

"That guy's pretty good. Do you think you can beat him, Kiyotaka?" Akito asked, nugding my left side.

Ichinose looked over with a curious smile. Horikita and the other girls did as well. It didn't take long until Airi and Haruka along with the other Class C boys also looked at me.

"No way. I don't even know how to play volleyball."

"You're so humble, Kiyopon~." Haruka nudged my other side with a smirk.

The girls from Class C suddenly muttered to themselves. I couldn't exactly understand what they were mumbling about, but I heard the word "Kiyopon" in there.

"Hey, the poolside court is free now! Do you guys wanna play?!" yelled Shibata with Ken waving his arms beside him.

"Let everyone do some warm-ups first, Shibata. It'd be bad if someone gets injured," said Kanzaki.

"Honami-chan, let's go!"

"I'll be there in a bit, Chihiro-chan." Ichinose subtly waved her hands with an apologetic expression.

I stayed beside her and continued watching the ongoing game. Ichinose stood on my left while Horikita was on my right. I wonder if she was also curious about that guy.

"Do you two know him?" Ichinose broke the silence with that question.

"No, not really..." I glanced at Horikita who also shook her head.

"That's Nagumo-senpai from Class 2-A," she said.

"Nagumo..." I muttered.

Now that's a familiar name. I've had Kikyou tell me some things about him, but this was the first time I've seen his appearance. He does look like a high-spec individual.

Ichinose's gaze stayed ahead as she continued.

"He's the current vice president of the student council, and that's on top of his abilities." Hearing that, Horikita's shoulders tightened slightly. "It looks like he's quite popular with the girls which kinda makes sense, now that I look at it."

Well, we can certainly see that. The pool was gigantic so there were other games being played both in and on the side, but no one else's game was being watched aside from this one. Everyone was fixated on Nagumo.

"Even though he's popular with the ladies, I've never heard of him until now. You don't know him either, right, Ayanokouji-kun? Wouldn't it be safe to assume that his popularity is inferior to that of the student council president?"

Hey, hey, aren't you just picking a fight here?

"I guess so. Everyone knows the student council president, after all. He even made a very big impression on us freshmen during the after-school club recruitment back in April."

Instead of trying to immediately one-up Horikita who tried to oppose her, Ichinose just supported her words with a smile. However, it wasn't like she'd sell him short.

"But according to some rumors, Nagumo-senpai has comparable skills. I don't really know how credible those rumors are, but some events from the past brought them on. Did you know that Nagumo-senpai and Horikita-senpai both ran for the position of president last year? He was just a freshman during that time, but he was bold enough to run against a 2nd-year Class A student."

"You're quite well-informed, aren't you, Ichinose-san?"

"Ahaha, I wouldn't say that. I guess joining the student council comes with picking up on those kinds of information."

"Oh right, you are part of the student council now." I finally found a chance to enter the conversation. I felt like a war was brewing and I didn't want to be in the middle of it.

Horikita was surprised by that sudden revelation.

"You knew about it, Ayanokouji-kun?" asked Ichinose.

"Yeah, by coincidence." I glanced at Horikita before continuing. "Are there any prerequisites for joining the student council? Not just anyone could join, right?"

I could feel Horikita's glare on my back. It was pretty shameless to lie about being ignorant after I was offered the position of vice president, but I needed to be on guard. I can't have Ichinose know about my relationship with the student council president just yet.

"Hmm... To be honest, I'm not too sure myself. Apart from the necessary application requirements, the president hadn't really made anything clear." Ichinose scratched her cheek while smiling bitterly. "I was actually rejected more than once. I persisted, and I was luckily accepted just recently."

"I'm surprised that it worked." Horikita knew her brother more than anyone. She knew that Ichinose's perseverance wouldn't move him. Even an excellent student like Katsuragi was coldly refused.

"Apparently, the final decision came from Nagumo-senpai who used his authority as the vice president. Two 1st-year students are usually accepted into the student council, but according to Nagumo-senpai, President Horikita seemed disappointed in this year's freshmen."

Horikita's eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly after hearing that.

"Ah, now that I think about it, you and the president have the same last names, Horikita-san. Are you related?"

"Well..." Horikita hesitated for a moment before answering. "I'm his little sister."

"Ohh, I knew it! It kinda makes sense, though. I'm not that close to the president, but I guess the two of you are quite similar."

It's not like her assumption was a stretch. There were only about 350 people in the whole world who bear the same last name.

"I see..."

Seeing Horikita's discomfort, I decided to veer the conversation back on topic.

"Nagumo-senpai was originally from Class B, right? But now he's in Class A. It's pretty weird coming from me, but that's amazing."

"Ahaha! Yeah, you guys are much more amazing. You went from Class D to Class A in a span of a semester and set a record that probably won't get surpassed by anyone," giggled Ichinose. "But speaking of records, every student council president in the history of this school came from Class A. Nagumo-senpai came from Class B, but before anyone realized it, he was next in line to become president."

"You really look up to him," I said.

"We get along quite well. I feel like I can relate to him a lot. It seems like President Horikita is stepping down this October, though... So I want to hurry up and prove myself. And then I'm going to become president after Nagumo-senpai." Ichinose paused for a moment before facing us with a grin. "Just kidding!"

She hummed while skipping toward the rest of the group who were raring to go and play.

"Let's go."

After Kanzaki and others managed to get permission, they finally relayed the rules to us. We'll be playing a first-to-two (set) game with each one capping at 15 points unless a deuce happens.

"I'll sit this one out, Honami-chan. I'm already tired from playing around earlier," said Shiranami.

"No problem, Chihiro-chan! Ah, please buy some drinks for us then, once you're done resting."

"Okay, sure!"

Since they had an extra person, it became a perfect six-versus-six match.

"Don't look so scared, Airi. It's just a friendly game. And with Kiyopon and Ken on our team, we probably won't even need to move."

"B-But... I'm not athletic and I don't really know how to play volleyball... And after seeing the spikes from earlier, I can't help but get terrified. My arms might get t-torn off, you know?"

"Well... I'm sure it's not that bad..."

On our side of the court were me, Horikita, Ken, Akito, Haruka, and Airi. On the other side were Ichinose, Amikura, Kobashi, Kanzaki, Shibata, and Beppu. It was basically a full-on class battle.

"Do you want to make bets, Horikita-san?" smirked Ichinose.

"Sure," Horikita responded with confidence.

"Alright. The losers will pay for the winners' lunch. How's that for the stakes."

"Is that fine for all of you?" Horikita asked as she faced us.

All of us nodded without much hesitation.

"Then it's set. Let's have a good game, Horikita-san."

Ichinose offered to shake hands and Horikita accepted.

"If we're going to do this, then let's win," she said.

"You're fired up about this, Horikita-san," mused Haruka.

"Well, we have lots of private points, so it's not like losing is a problem in that aspect. But given how our teams were formed, it's still a match between two classes. We can just back down from that challenge, can't we? Especially since we're just about to debut as the new Class A."

"Hehe, I like your style, Horikita. Alright, leave it to me. As long as I'm here, those meatheads won't stand a chance." Ken punched his fists together.

"Wouldn't the term 'meathead' describe you, though?" Akito tilted his head in confusion.

"Hah? The hell are you sayin', Akito? Doesn't 'meathead' refer to someone who's got too much meat in their head? Like their brain is too big because they study too much. Right?"

Airi smiled bitterly while Akito and Haruka shook their heads in distress. That was quite the misunderstanding.

"Do you have any experience with volleyball, Sudou-kun?" Horikita magnificently ignored the current topic and asked.

"Nope. 'Played a little in class, though."

"And yet you sound really confident."

"Basketball's like all other sports. An upperclassman I respect said that."

While that saying doesn't necessarily hold true in a technical sense, I can get where Ken was coming from. He wasn't a competitive swimmer, yet he showed stellar results in class. It was the same with other sports. As long as he gets the basics, he'll use his overwhelming athletic abilities to defeat his opponents. In other words, he busts through with sheer brute force.

"Alright. Let's see what you got."

Horikita knew that I didn't want any unnecessary attention, so she didn't even bother asking me about my volleyball skills (which were nonexistent). I can't help but thank her in my mind.

Author's Notes:

Now that Suzune is in Class A, she can honestly answer questions regarding her relationship with Manabu as his little sister.

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 13.3 - Class A Versus Class C

The whistle blows, indicating the start of our game. After winning the coin toss, Class C gets to serve first.

"I got it," said Haruka.

After an acceptable receive, Horikita ran after the ball and set it up for an attack.

"Sudou-kun!" she called.

"Here. We. Go-!" And slam.

Kanzaki jumped to block him and Shibata tried to dive for the ball, but it was too fast. The first point goes to us.

"Hell yeah! Did you guys see that?!" he yelled.

"Woohoo! That was amazing, right Airi?!" Haruka excitedly celebrated.

"Y-Yes!" Airi kept her eyes on the spot where the ball landed with a slightly terrified expression.

"It's nice to chill in the corner, right, Kiyotaka?" Akito smirked at me from the other side of the court.

"I know right," I replied with a smug tone.

"That was a bomb of a spike, Sudou!" said Shibata. "We'll definitely get you back for that."

"Heh, try me if you can!"

"The boys are getting fired up now," Amikura commented.

"Phew, that was intense! But things are just getting started, you know?" added Ichinose.

Horikita delivered a solid jump serve when the second whistle was blown, but Ichinose was nimble enough to receive it. Beppu got into position and set it up.

"Wha-?" Ken's expression tightened.

Amikura ran towards the center while Kanzaki and Shibata ran from both sides. Ken and Akito were at a loss with whom to block. They decided too late after seeing Beppu set it up from the back for Shibata, their outside hitter. Both of our blockers managed to jump, but they could only block a cross from that angle. In the end, Shibata spiked a straight... which directly flew towards me.

"Woah-!"

With no volleyball skills, I only managed to hit the ball with my wrist from a sloppy angle and it got blown away to the side.

"Our bluff worked!" Ichinose, Amikura, and Kobashi high-fived each other while the boys pumped their fists.

"Goddamn... They saw through our read," grumbled Ken.

"Their bluff? What does that mean?" asked Haruka.

"I'm originally in the back-right position, but I switched with Ayanokouji-kun, who's in the middle-back, after my serve to support Sakura-san, who's in the back-left. Our blockers were ready to stop an attack from Kanzaki-kun, their right-side hitter, because Sakura-san will be forced to receive it," explained Horikita.

(Note: The opponents' right side is their left side. So the enemy right-side hitter attacks Airi , who was guarding their left side. Haruka was guarding the center in case of a dump.)

"But they went for Kiyopon instead of Airi, right?"

"Yes," she nodded.

"I'm sorry for being a liability," Airi bowed apologetically.

"You did nothing wrong, Sakura-san. We actually had the advantage when it comes to defense because we would predict that they'd target you..." Horikita narrowed her eyes while looking at Ichinose. "It seems like they were one step ahead of us this time."

"My bad. I couldn't receive it," I apologized.

"It's alright, Ayanokouji-kun. That was a sharp straight. Since you don't really have any experience with volleyball, it was the inevitable outcome..." She gave me a side glance before continuing with a whisper. "But I know you can keep up with any of us once you get used to it. You can hold back if you want, but please don't throw the game at the very least."

"Okay..." I nodded slightly.

"Let's take it back, Horikita!" cried Ken.

"Alright," she replied.

Time passed by and the game got heated more and more. Points were being exchanged left and right. Strategies were being formed on the spot and all of them are being improved upon once countered. It wasn't like this was a high-level game or anything. But Ken's insane athleticism covered us a lot. As long we could get the ball up, he'll be there to send it back. Horikita would occasionally attack, too. Ken and Horikita made all of the calls for our team.

The whistle blew and the first set was won by Class A with a score of 16 to 14 points.

"Hell yeah!"

"Woohoo, we did it!"

Horikita still had her poker face, but she sighed with a satisfied expression.

"Ahh, we were so close!"

"It's alright, everyone. We'll take it back on the next set."

The referee, who was also the scorer and the lineman, approached Kanzaki. Since this wasn't an official game or anything, we can decide how long our breaks between sets will be-- in consideration of it not being too long, of course. We'll just have to call him back once we're ready to go again.

"The referee is a 2nd-year student, right?" I turned to my friends.

"Hm? Yeah, I think so. I don't know his name, but I'm pretty sure I've seen him around." Haruka answered with a shrug.

"The second-years are taking jobs during these last three days around the pool, from food stalls to general services like this one. I heard about it from one of my seniors during a club meeting. Maybe it's exclusive for the second-years or something."

"I see..." I wonder if we'll also be asked to do something like this next year.

"Are you guys ready?!" Ichinose smilingly waved at us.

"Yeah, let's do this."

After finishing the drinks that Shiranami bought for everyone, the match finally continued.

Unsurprisingly, that's when things started slowing down for us.

"Ahh... Gahh... Damn it..." Ken was finally showing signs of exhaustion.

It was the best strategy for Class C. Making Ken chase the ball over and over would inevitably tire him out.

"We need to close it out in this set. Sudou-kun won't last until then," said Horikita.

The score was 11 to 13 points, in favor of us. Just a little longer and we can finally have our free lunch, but Ken was just about to run out of steam.

"We'll have to step it up, Kiyotaka," said Akito.

"I've been trying my best the whole time, though. I don't how I can step it up even further."

"Really? You're incredibly athletic, right? Then maybe you're just bad at volleyball in particular?" he mused.

"Any ball game except for dodgeball. That one doesn't really require much technical knowledge and skill unless you're playing on a high level."

"I guess so..." Akito smirked at me once again before chuckling. "I really thought you were about to pop off when you tried to do a jump serve earlier."

"And fumbled badly."

"It's one of the rare times where you looked uncool."

"You don't have to rub it in..."

Ken and Horikita were doing those amazing serves. Ichinose, Kanzaki, and Shibata also managed to do it. I was satisfied with doing mediocre overhead serves, but my curiosity got the best of me. After studying their movements, I figured that I wanted to try and do a jump serve, too.

My release and initial motions were good, but after seeing Kanzaki and Ichinose scrutinize me from the other side of the net, I decided to swing without much control. In the end, the ball went outside and I gave away a point. Ken also yelled at me for doing so.

"I mean, it's all good. It's not like you're a volleyball expert or anything," said Akito.

"That's true." The jump serve was the most advanced serve in volleyball. No one would be able to do it perfectly for the first time.

The referee approached the Shiranami who sat by the scoreboard. Since the referee also had the duty of a lineman, he was usually around the edges of the court to confirm some points. However, it seems like he had to go to the restroom for a bit.

After my brief talk with Akito, Shiranami got ready to pitch in for the referee. When she blew the spare unused whistle that the referee provided for her, Airi tried to serve the ball only to fail.

"I'm sorry..."

"It's alright, Airi. Them serving means we get to attack." Ken comforted her with a confident grin.

Airi did a great job holding on this whole time. Despite being a liability, she didn't really get in anyone's way. She'd give away a few points here and there, but with Horikita and Ken covering for her, it didn't really matter too much.

Also, her success rate in serving was 40% so far, meaning she got two out of five serves on the other side of the court. They might not be service aces or anything, but it's still amazing for an absolute beginner like her.

The whistle blows and the ball was served by Shibata. He ran up and threw the ball up in the air. After a swift jump and spiking motion, the ball got launched in a beautifully straight line. Sadly for him, his serve got caught in the net.

"Ahh! Sorry about that!" he cried.

"Hey, Sou, you idiot! What if you hit me on the head?!" scolded Beppu.

"That would've been hilarious!" replied Shibata.

Shiranami blew the whistle and now we were on match point. In a twist of fate, I was the one who'll serve next.

I muttered softly, but loud enough for the person in front of me to hear.

"You're in luck, Horikita. I'm hungry, so I wanna finish this now."

Surprised by my words, she turned around with a slightly tensed-up expression.

Seeing me in the far back, Ken immediately knew that I was going for a jump serve once again.

"Hey, Kiyotaka! You better take this home or I'll clobber you!"

I ignored him and focused forward. Based on what I observed earlier, I need to jump a bit higher if I wanted to exert more power. That's probably what Shibata tried to do. If he pulled it off, I doubt our backline could receive his serve.

I gently tossed the ball upward and followed up with a running jump.

Alright, let's get this over with.

*Bam*

The sound of my hand hitting the ball and the sound of the ball hitting the floor didn't even take half a second to happen in succession. There wasn't any way for Amikura and Kanzaki to react. I also managed to serve the ball directly in between them, so they'd both hesitate even if they did try to get it.

No matter what happened, me scoring that point was already set in stone.

Author's notes:

Yes, Kiyotaka did Oikawa's diabolical serve.

Vol. 4.5: Chapter 13.4 - Last Day of Summer

The 2-second silence felt like forever. I stared at Shiranami who was also in a daze. Of course, it didn't take too long before she finally realized what happened.

*Fweeet*

She blew the whistle and changed our score to 15, marking our win. It was also at that moment that the referee got back from the restroom.

"Hell yeah!" Ken was the first one who celebrated our victory.

"What the heck was that...?" Akito had to do a double-take to confirm what he saw.

"K-Kiyopon..." Haruka was also at a loss for words.

"Awawawawa..." Meanwhile, Airi was trembling beside me.

Horikita was also in a state of shock, but she recovered much faster than everyone else before shaking her head with a sigh.

"Ayanokouji! That was insane!" Shibata yelled at me from the enemy court.

"H-Honami-chan..." Amikura staggered before leaning her body onto Ichinose. "I... I thought I was gonna die!"

"Ahaha, yeah, that was such a strong serve!" Ichinose was seriously staring at the area where I served the ball, but she instantly went back to her normal self when Amikura approached her.

Kobashi patted Amikura's head while Kanzaki gave me an eyeful.

"How about that?! Free lunch for us, baby!" Ken basked in our victory despite looking really exhausted a minute ago.

"Aww, we lost!" Ichinose looked frustrated but was still all smiles. "Alright, everyone! Lunch is on me. Don't hold back and get anything you want."

"You sure? I'm a big eater, you know?" asked Ken.

"Of course! I was the one who suggested the whole thing, anyway." Ichinose gave us a thumbs up. "I know you guys are super rich right now, but I'm not poor either! I can treat everyone without a problem."

"What are you saying, Ichinose? Don't tell me you're paying for the whole thing?" asked Kanzaki.

"Yep! You guys go eat, too. Everything's on me."

"Well, you are pretty frugal. I suppose going on a food spree today wouldn't do much," said Shibata.

The other girls didn't really have anything to say. If Ichinose wanted to treat them, it's impossible to change her mind. They accepted her generosity with a smile.

"Didn't you spend lots of points on things like swimwear, though? Not to mention summer clothes..." Haruka tilted her head while asking.

"Oh, right. Well, this was probably my only notable purchase," she replied, looking at her swimsuit. "I don't really think much about fashion. I kinda wear whatever's there since I can just rotate my outfits. Though I guess that's pretty weird coming from a girl."

"Not at all. I'm actually impressed that you have that mindset while still looking pretty most of the time. I think it's good to not spend a lot, right, Airi?"

"Y-Yes... I think Ichinose-san is amazing in that regard."

"Well, isn't Honami just amazing in everything, though?" Amikura clung to her from behind.

Shiranami nodded furiously.

"Oh stop it, you guys. I don't really like spending a lot, you see. And that goes double in this school. There might be something more important for me to use points on in the future. Who knows?" she chuckled.

"Well then, thank you in advance, Ichinose-san." Horikita walked away towards the food stalls.

"Thank you, as well, Ichinose-san!" followed Haruka.

Airi bowed beside her before they turned around to go eat.

"In that case, I won't be holding back! Let's go, Kiyotaka, Akito!"

I was also interested in junk food, so I chose what I wanted to eat. And just like that, all of us decided to have our lunch in peace.

September 4th, 4:35 PM.

Taking Ichinose's suggestion, our not-so-little group decided to head out a bit earlier before the crowd gets worse. The closing time was 5:30 PM, so 5:00 PM onwards would be hell if we wanted to change since the locker rooms would be packed.

"Ahh man, my body's sore," Akito grumbled as he put on his shirt.

"Same, dude. That volleyball match was something else. In hindsight, I'm glad it ended on the 2nd set. I'd be dead before we could even finish the game," said Beppu.

"Well, with no timeouts and substitutions, we're bound to get ourselves exhausted, even if every set ends only with 15 points. Both sets were close fights and we've been playing in the pool for a couple of hours by then, too."

We nodded at Kanzaki's logical explanation.

"Someone saved their strength at the last minute, though." Shibata leered at me with a smirk.

"Heh, I knew Kiyotaka was just playin' around at first."

"Dude... I thought you were bad at volleyball. I feel betrayed now."

"I am bad. That was my first ever volleyball game apart from the ones we had in PE. You could say that my last point was a fluke-- a winning fluke. Man, I sure am lucky."

"That's such a grand coincidence, don't you think?" mused Beppu.

"Coincidences can be freaky."

"I thought it was only a matter of time, though. It's Kiyotaka, after all," shrugged Ken.

"Some of the guys in our class are in the basketball club, too. They say that Sudou is the most amazing athlete in our year. The fact that he praises you like this says a lot, Ayanokouji!"

"It's just some friendly bias. Ken always tends to overhype me."

"You're really something else, aren't you, Ayanokouji? With your mental and physical capabilities, I'm sure you could continue leading Class A without a problem. Why'd you step down?" asked Kanzaki.

"It's nothing special. I got tired so I dipped out. I think I've done enough for the class. I just want to live peacefully from now on."

"So you're not going to help your class from here on out?"

"I'd at least do the bare minimum. Horikita and Hirata can handle the heavy lifting. I'm just an ordinary member of the class now."

"Well, you're certainly taking it easy now. Your exams and quizzes are starting to decline, you know?" said Akito.

"They're still above 80. I think that's good."

"I wish you'd relax with my studies, though," Ken complained.

"You know I can't do that. You have the attention span of a 12-year-old. And while I can slack off with my studies, I can't possibly neglect you guys."

"Ayanokouji's tutoring you, too, Miyake?" asked Shibata.

"Something like that. It was our way to get past the midterms back then. That's how our little group was formed, too." Akito explained as a matter of factly.

"Our class had a similar idea."

"You guys look like honor students, though."

"Katsuragi's class is the one with honor students. We have idiots like Shibata."

"Hey."

"If we're talking about idiots, we're probably even worse than Ryuuen's class. If the rankings were based on pure academic performance, then we really deserve Class D," said Akito.

"You can't call Shibata an idiot when I'm here," followed Ken.

"Don't be proud about it..." I retorted.

The six of us exited the boys' locker room and stood by the walkway towards the boulevard.

"Sorry for the wait!"

We didn't need to wait so much before the girls arrived. Something was weird with their atmosphere, though-- well, someone's atmosphere in particular.

"Heya, everyone! Should we go back, or is there anywhere else you wanna go to?" asked Ichinose.

"I'm done for the day. I'll be heading back to the dorms now," replied Kanzaki.

All of the guys seemed to share the same sentiment. Because of that, all of us decided to go back as one group.

Everyone seemed to be engaged in some sort of conversation and I somehow got left out of the loop. They started to slowly walk forward leaving me and Haruka behind a bit.

"You good?" I asked.

"Eh, ah-- Mn, yeah..." she nodded timidly.

Did something happen when they were inside the girls' locker room? Haruka would usually be the one who'd vibe the most of Ichinose especially since they've become a lot closer than before. Her current behavior was kind of strange, to say the least.

"Say, Kiyopon..."

"Hm?"

"Well, you see..."

Haruka looked like she was desperately fumbling for the right words. I gave her all the time she needed. Of course, it didn't take long before she lit up again.

"Ah, right! Airi told me that you two went to the fortune-teller yesterday!"

"Ohh, yeah. We still had some time to spare. It ended in a disaster, though. I'm glad we were able to contact you."

"It must've been hard for Airi..."

"What about me?"

"Oh, you'll be fine. It's you, after all." Haruka dismissed my protest.

For some reason, I'm not being treated like a normal human being.

"So is that all you wanted to tell me?"

"Well, something related to that. You see, I also wanna hang out with you. Just the two of us." Haruka made it sound casual, but her cheeks were getting really flushed.

"Okay...?" My tone was dubious which made her panic.

"Just so you know, I don't mean anything by it, okay? You can call it a date, a hangout, or whatever, but it's not what you think! It's just-"

"Alright, alright, I get it. Stop making a fuss..."

I turned to the main group before glancing back at Haruka. They were looking at us with wondering expressions. Ichinose was smirking, though.

"Hey! You guys okay over there?" she waved.

They were a few meters ahead of us so Ichinose had to raise her voice.

"Yes, we're good! Kiyopon was just saying some nonsense!"

"I wasn't, though."

Haruka grabbed my arm as she ran towards everyone, dragging me along.

"On second thought, let's take a detour. Anyone wanna grab some ice cream at the convenience store?"

"Ohh, nice idea, Hasebe-san. Let's do it!"

Everyone agreed without much debate. It was almost five o'clock. After playing around from morning to afternoon, all of us were bound to get tired. A small refresher is always welcome.

After arriving, everyone rushed to get their ice cream. I managed to quickly grab what I like so I had the luxury to wait for them. Akito and Haruka looked like they were arguing about what to get while Ken was trying to calm a panicking and indecisive Airi. Kanzaki was trying to scold the rowdy Shibata and Beppu while the Class C girls were chatting with Horikita about the flavors.

"Did you have fun today?" Ichinose nudged me from the side. It seems like she was done choosing hers, too.

"Yeah, I did. I had lots of fun." Despite my monotonous delivery, I gave her a genuine answer.

"I see." Ichinose walked towards the register and I followed suit.

We munched on our ice cream after paying and stepped out of the store.

"The day after tomorrow... will be the start of a new semester," she said.

"Yeah."

"We'll be rivals once again."

"I'm just a typical member of the class now-- not a leader or anything. If you're talking about being rivals as leaders, then I'm no longer qualified to receive your words."

"Ahaha, I guess so... You talked to me about that quite a while ago. To be honest, I really wanted to surpass you, Ayanokouji-kun-- to beat you, fair and square. I think I'm doing alright as Class C's leader, but I want to get results as you do."

"I'm sure you guys can do it. If I'm being honest, a lot of luck was involved in my successes. And I couldn't have done it alone. Horikita and the others were a huge part of why we're Class A now. I don't think you need to beat me, specifically."

"You're still terribly humble."

"I'm just telling the truth."

I was met with her usual bright smile followed by an adorable chuckle.

Our friends finally finished purchasing their cold treats. My conversation with Ichinose ended, as well. We walked towards the dorms while watching the sun set much later.

"This is great... as always..." I said quietly.

This soft-serve ice cream never disappoints me in terms of the overall experience. It's delicious and refreshing, and it keeps me wanting more. But as much as I like it, I can't eat too much.

"Whoa, you sure are enjoying that. It's almost like it's your first time eating one," observed Ichinose.

"I don't think I'm alone in having my reaction, especially in this heat," I replied like I was stating the obvious.

"I suppose, but you seem to really like it. I've never seen you make a face like that."

Like what...?

"That's because he has a face like a doll. His expression never changes," said Horikita, interjecting on my behalf.

"You're one to talk."

"I guess we're a bit similar in that sense."

I bit back, but Horikita chose to compromise.

"Kiyotaka-kun made the same face when he ate one for the first time." Airi came in at the perfect time. Her words didn't assist me in any way, though...

"Ehhh, really?"

"So you're an ice cream lover."

"No... Not really..."

And just like that, I became the topic of our conversation-- for some time, at least.

It didn't take long before we said our goodbyes. My group and Ichinose's classmates seemed satisfied with how their vacations went. Whatever our plans are for tomorrow, this was personally the last day of summer for me. When Monday comes, we'll be seeing each other wearing our school uniforms once again.

Author's Notes:

The pool chapters happened on the 'third' and last day of the pool's public access in the Light Novel, which was the day before the 2nd semester started. Kiyotaka and his group went on the 'second' day. This should mean that Honami and the others shouldn't have met them, but Horikita's desire to meet with her (regarding the points) influenced their schedule. Consequently, rather than joining Honami's group by chance like in the Light Novel, Kanzaki and the other Class C guys were invited by her instead.

This is the last chapter of Volume 4.5. Thanks for the wait!

SS.23 - Ayanokouji Kiyotaka Fans (5)

Date: September 5th

Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Group Chat Name: A.K. Fans

Total Members: 35

Males: 0
Females: 35

Class Distribution:

A: 20
B: 7
C: 8
D: 0

Names of Members:

Class A:

- 2M1I1 (Admin/Creator)
- A2S
- DeKai
- Sawako
- Memento
- Nika0
- Ui-tan
- T0ka
- Yuu-chan
- Kabe-don
- Shizu
- Doragon
- Haato
- Salmoon
- Kuru0t0
- Hashiri (New)
- Ringo (New)
-Gh05T (New)
- Tamamo (New)
-Dachi (New)

Class B:

- Osa7jimi (Admin)
- Beer4U
- Fr00tky
- Iiko (New)
- WestNight (New)
- PinkE (New)
- Kazuhime (New)

Class C:

- BunBun (Admin)
- Weivu1
- WhiteFlower
- Dreamuu
- 2Bmi
- Ay0 (New)
- Miku (New)
- Jinja2 (New)

Chatrooms:

1st-Year Chatroom:

[Welcome to the newcomers!]
[I can't believe how big this group has gotten!](2M1I1)

[Well, you should.]
[It's a fan group about Ayanokouji-kun, after all.] (T0ka)

[That is indeed a great point.] (Osa7jimi)

[True!](2M1I1)

[Hey, everyone!] (Kabe-don)

[Heya!] (Ui-tan)

[Hi.] (Shizu)

[The group chat is finally back.]
[Like, it's been so long since it got closed.] (Salmoon)

[Well, it can't be regulated easily if it stays open every time.] (Weivu1)

[I think it's great.]
[We'll have more things to say if we chat with each other less often.] (Dreamuu)

[That's so true.]
[There's so much more of us now, too!] (Memento)

[Yep! So let's have them talk right away!]
[Alright, newcomers. Please introduce yourselves! Well, you don't really need to say anything about yourself. Just tell us why you decided to come here!]
[I can see that everyone is online, so we'll go by join order, from Class A to C, respectively.] (2M1I1)

[I'm excited to read everyone's responses.] (Nika0)

[Alright! New girls!] (BunBun)

[The stage is all yours.] (Doragon)

[Okay, I'll have to go first then.]
[I know I'm not alone here when I say I have a crush on him, right?] (Hashiri)

[Well, yeah.](2M1I1)

[Yep!] (Kabe-don)

[Mhm.](Doragon)

[I guess so.] (T0ka)

[So, yeah, that.]
[And of course, it's nice to see girls like me say great things about Ayanokouji-kun.] (Hashiri)

[Said like a true fan!] (Ui-tan)

[Thanks, @Hashiri-san!]
[Alright, let's keep it going!] (2M1I1)

[Hey everyone!]
[There really isn't anything unique about my reason. I just admire Ayanokouji-kun as a classmate and as a boy. I joined in to see what the other girls are saying about him.] (Ringo)

[Like @Ringo-san, I came to check things out between Ayanokouji-kun's admirers.] (Gh05T)

[I'm the same!] (Tamamo)

[Me too!] (Dachi)

[Thanks!]
[That was really straightforward and efficient!](2M1I1)

[Welp, not much else could be said, anyway.] (T0ka)

[Let's hear it from the other classes then!] (2M1I1)

[I only got to know him during the Island Exam.] (Iiko)

[You talked?] (A2S)

[Ah, no, no.]
[I just heard my classmates talking about him. I've been curious ever since.] (Iiko)

[I'm practically the same.] (WestNight)

[I started getting curious about him during the Zodiac Exam.]
[From an outsider's perspective, he's a really mysterious guy... Though that didn't really change after I managed to talk to him...] (PinkE)

[Yep! He's fun to talk to. He's really innocent and cute, but I can't figure out what he's thinking.] (Kazuhime)

[Welp, that's practically Ayanokouji-kun.]
[Even us, his classmates, can't read him.](2M1I1)

[Ayanokouji-kun is quite friendly with everyone in Class C, so I joined because I was curious about what everyone else thought of him.]
[It was also nice to see some members from the same class.] (Ay0)

[ @PinkE-san was on-point with the mystery aspect.]
[That's what's so fun about Ayanokouji-kun!] (Miku)

[Being the last one doesn't really help. Everyone already laid down all of the reasons that I personally had. Lol.] (Jinja2)

[That's so true!]
[It's all good, though. Everyone's got a good grasp on your girls' reasons.]
[Also, due to how this group chat works, you wouldn't be able to backread any old messages, so I thought I'd briefly make the old members introduce themselves, but their reasons for being here are essentially the same.] (2M1I1)

[Yep.]
[Like, this introductory conversation was just like last time.] (Ui-tan)

[Welcome again, everyone! I look forward to chatting with you.] (Nika0)

[Please take care of me!] (Ringo)

[Thanks for the welcome.] (Iiko)

[Likewise.] (Osa7jimi)

[Us too!] (Weivu1)

Class A Chatroom:

[Okay. Let's address the elephant in the room...]
[It seems like every girl in Class 1-A has joined the group chat!] (2M1I1)

[Yeah... I guess so.] (Salmoon)

[That's amazing, to say the least.] (A2S)

[Like, not gonna lie, I didn't expect this. Although as @T0ka-san had said earlier, I should've.] (2M1I1)

[Wait a minute! If we're all here, then that means Karuizawa-san is also here with us, right?!] (Ringo)

[Well, yes. That should be the case.] (Nika0)

[Ah, sorry. I'm not implying anything. I just thought it was amazing that Ayanokouji-kun could make her his fan even though she has Hirata-kun as her boyfriend.] (Ringo)

[Ohh, that is amazing. Nothing less from Ayanokouji-kun!] (DeKai)

[I mean, they are close. And as the girls' leader, I guess she'd easily get a whiff of this group chat's existence.] (Ui-tan)

[Yep. You never know.]
[Like, she might even be talking to us already, and we just don't notice it!] (Salmoon)

[Now, now.]
[We're not here to expose each other, right?] (Memento)

[But it's really so amazing.]
[That all of the girls in our class are here, I mean.] (Sawako)

[Is there even any point in hiding behind code names then?]
[It's not like the girls from other classes will see our chat, and it'll get deleted after the closing.] (Memento)

[Oh, that's true.] (Tamamo)

[Wait, no!] (T0ka)

[Wait!] (Kabe-don)

[Wait, I don't think that's a good idea!] (Ui-tan)

[Wait a minute!] (Nika0)

[Oh...] (2M1I1)

[Wow. The four of you really panicked there.] (Hashiri)

[What I'm just saying is that some of us might still value their anonymity.] (T0ka)

[That's right!] (Kabe-don)

[I can understand that, especially coming from the two of you. ] (DeKai)

[Well, we don't really need to expose ourselves, right?] (Ui-tan)

[I think staying behind our code names makes things more fun!] (Nika0)

[Ahahaha!]
[There's no need to get worked up.]
[I think it's alright if we keep our identities hidden. This is just a forum between fans, after all.] (2M1I1)

[I knew you'd understand, @2M1I1-san!] (Ui-tan)

[Now then, let's talk about Ayanokouji-kun, shall we?] (2M1I1)

[Thanks to him, we're Class A now!] (Ui-tan)

[Yes! Although Horikita-san technically pushed us to promotion, it's obvious that Ayanokouji was the one who laid all the groundwork from the start.] (A2S)

[Well, he was the one who bought the explanation for the S-System.] (Dachi)

[I'll be honest, if Ayanokouji-kun hadn't done that, I might've committed tons of behavioral misconduct during class.] (Gh05T)

[Same...]
[I mean, if I noticed that they weren't calling us out or punishing us for using our phones or talking during class discussions, then I'd probably get carried away.] (Tamamo)

[Who wouldn't, though?]
[We couldn't have possibly guessed such a system to be in place.]
[Like, what are we, in a manga?] (Hashiri)

[Well, they say that reality is even weirder than fantasy sometimes.] (Doragon)

[I bet we'd have close to no points back in May if that happened.]
[I honestly don't mind that Horikita-san and Hirata-kun are leading us. They're smart, and they have Kushida-san and Karuizawa-san supporting them.] (A2S)

[I think Ayanokouji-kun would still be the optimal leader, but we can't keep depending on him, as a class.] (Kuru0t0)

[That's right. We need to show everyone that we're worthy of being Class A.] (Doragon)

[Ehh, it's kind of a pain, though. I'm sure things will be tougher from here on out.] (Tamamo)

[Yeah, I'm sure the following exams will be a bloodbath...] (Ringo)

[Ayanokouji-sama, save us!] (Gh05T)

[Ahh, Ayanokouji-kun's amazing feats are more apparent now because he's gone.] (Dachi)

[He's not gone, you know?]
[And think about it. Wouldn't this be a better chance to get to know him better? He has fewer responsibilities, after all!] (Memento)

[That's true!] (Tamamo)

[You're right!] (Dachi)

[Everyone sure is lively.]
[Oh, man. I remember hanging out with Ayanokouji-kun during the Island Exam.]
[I got to know him a little better.] (2M1I1)

[Ayanokouji-kun was really cool during the Island Exam!] (Haato)

[Yes!] (Shizu)

[Mhm!] (Yuu-chan)

[He went running like a madman to get those spots! He was super cool!] (DeKai)

[Now that I think recall, those spots were super far.]
[I'm surprised he didn't crave the comfort of the luxury ship after all that.] (Ui-tan)

[Nah, I'm sure he did.] (Kabe-don)

[Ahh, the luxury ship!]
[I missed the opportunity to hang out with him during our week on it!] (Ringo)

[Hehe, well I didn't!] (Hashiri)

[Me too!] (Doragon)

[Okay, nice flex.] (Ringo)

[How enviable.] (Dachi)

[As far as I know, Ayanokouji-kun took a backseat during the Zodiac Exam.] (Memento)

[That's what Hirata-kun said, too.] (Tamamo)

[Well, he did say that he wanted Horikita-san and the others to take it on without his help.] (Nika0)

[He was injured, too...] (Yuu-chan)

[Yeah, that was really worrying.] (Sawako)

[In the end, they managed to win. Horikita-san, Hirata-kun, and Kushida-san are amazing, aren't they?] (Haato)

[Let's forget about the exams for now!]
[Hasebe-san and Sakura-san are here, right? I wish I could ask them how it felt to be in the pool with Ayanokouji-kun.] (Dachi)

[Ahaha, well, they can't really talk about it in this chat, can they?] (DeKai)

[I was there and I saw them!] (Kabe-don)

[Wow, really?! What did you see?] (Tamamo)

[Well, apart from the excessive amount of people, it didn't really feel any different from when we were allowed to play in the pool during class.]
[They just seemed to be having fun.] (Kabe-don)

[Ohh, I see.] (Tamamo)

[That's pretty nice.] (Shizu)

[There's more, right?! I was there, too!] (DeKai)

[Ehh?! What did you see?!] (Kabe-don)

[I was eating some corndogs when I suddenly saw them playing volleyball.] (DeKai)

[Ayanokouji-kun was playing volleyball?!] (A2S)

[Kyah! What a turn-on!] (Gh05T)

[He must've looked so cool!] (Tamamo)

[He was!]
[Well, it was actually Sudou-kun who was carrying the game for them along with Horikita-san. Ayanokouji-kun didn't really do much until the final set.] (DeKai)

[Ehh, what happened?] (Hashiri)

[They were on match point, meaning they needed one point before winning the game. Ayanokouji-kun was the one who will serve the ball and you can guess what happened next!](DeKai)

[He beat them with a serve?!] (T0ka)

[What do you call that again? A service ace?] (Ui-tan)

[Yes! It was the most powerful serve I've ever seen in my life, and I'm not even exaggerating! The defenders didn't even have the time to react! He looked so cool when he did it!] (DeKai)

[Kyah~!!] (2M1I1)

[Ahhh, I wanna see!] (Salmoon)

[Woah...] (Doragon)

[Me too!] (Dachi)

[He's too cool!] (T0ka)

[He's so dreamy!] (Tamamo)

[I wish I was there!!!] (Kabe-don)

[Oh, man... I'm so envious.] (Hashiri)

[Aww, I wish I could invite him out next vacation!] (2M1I1)

[We'll probably see less of him in action now that he's not a class leader.]
[But of course, my goal of becoming someone close to him won't change!] (T0ka)

[We're all the same!] (2M1I1)

[Yep!] (Memento)

[That's right!] (Ringo)

Class B Chatroom:

[Alright, everyone. I'll still address this even though it should be common sense. We are not going to talk about anything else other than Ayanokouji-kun, specifically about us getting demoted to Class B. We have other group chats for those.] (Osa7jimi)

[Of course. Those topics are irrelevant to why we're here.] (Beer4U)

[I'm genuinely a fan, regardless of what's happening with the class competition.] (PinkE)

[Aww, it's too bad that Ayanokouji-kun had stepped down.] (Kazuhime)

[Yes. I would've like to see more of him from the frontline.] (Iiko)

[He may have been doing it covertly during the last semester, but I'm sure he's a great class leader.] (WestNight)

[I may not have a crush on him like most of the girls here, but I still get why lots of them are so crazy about him.] (Kazuhime)

[Well, I wouldn't say crazy...] (PinkE)

[If we look at things objectively, we have heavy-hitters like Satonaka-kun, Hashimoto-kun, and Shiroki-kun. And then there's Hirata-kun, as well.] (Osa7jimi)

[Class C's Shibata-kun and Kanzaki-kun, too. Lots of girls find them cool.] (Kazuhime)

[Yes. And somehow, Ayanokouji-kun has a larger following than all of them, albeit a secret one. I guess that says a lot.] (Osa7jimi)

[Yeah.]
[After checking, I didn't find any other group chats like this one.] (Beer4U)

[I think it's his mysteriousness, after all.] (Fr00tky)

[Agree.] (Beer4U)

[I agree.] (Iiko)

[I wish I could talk to Ayanokouji-kun at length. It would be really great if I could have a nice, long chat with him.] (Osa7jimi)

[Your desires are leaking out.] (Beer4U)

[Oh my, I'm so sorry.] (Osa7jimi)

[Do you happen to have a crush on him, @Osa7jimi-san?] (PinkE)

[I'm not quite sure myself. I wonder.] (Osa7jimi)

[Ohh, okay, gotcha.] (PinkE)

[You almost typed something there, @Beer4U-san. Is something the matter?] (Osa7jimi)

[No, not really.] (Beer4U)

[Fufufu, I see.]
[Anyway, while we're on that topic, do any of you bear romantic feelings for Ayanokouji-kun then?] (Osa7jimi)

[As far as appearances go, I don't think I can develop a crush on him that easily given the circumstances.]
[My tastes may not be too specific when it comes to looks, but as @Osa7jimi-sanhad mentioned, we have handsome guys like Satonaka-kun in our class, too.] (WestNight)

[And for personality, that's probably much harder to figure out given how he's not even our classmate.] (Iiko)

[Those are really sound arguments. I assume the others feel the same?] (Osa7jimi)

[Well, yeah.] (PinkE)

[I think so.] (Kazuhime)

[I see.]
[But all of us are still fans, right? I guess that's wonderful.] (Osa7jimi)

[Well, he's really distinct from the other hot guys.]
[He catches my attention.] (WestNight)

[Yes. His demeanor draws me in, especially after observing it up close.] (Iiko)

[Oh, that's interesting. Up close, huh?] (Osa7jimi)

[It gives off that attractive mature vibe.]
[I've been lucky enough to somewhat interact with him during the luxury cruise ship trip.] (Iiko)

[It is pretty attractive, I guess. I mean most of the 1st-year guys still act like kids thinking they're cool.] (Beer4U)

[You sound resentful.] (Fr00tky)

[Not really. Just annoyed and fed up.] (Beer4U)

[Oh...](Fr00tky)

[I think I can understand more of where my fellow Class B girls stand in this now.]
[Personally, I think Ayanokouji-kun is a wonderful person. I just want to know more about him regardless of our classes' rivalry.] (Osa7jimi)

[If presented with such an opportunity, then I wouldn't mind it.] (Iiko)

[Nothing wrong with that, I guess.] (Beer4U)

Class C Chatr oom:

[We have three new members! Yay!] (BunBun)

[Yay!] (Weivu1)

[I'm new here! ]
[Now you guys start proclaiming your love for Ayanokouji-kun. I'll enjoy reading them. ] (Miku)

[Hey, we're not that intense!] (2Bmi)

[We do think he's super cool, though.] (Dreamuu)

[Well, he is kinda cool.] (WhiteFlower)

[That's exactly why I joined!]
[I would like to know more about his coolness, gossip-wise.] (Ay0)

[Ooh, speaking of gossip, do you think Honami-chan is here?] (Jinja2)

[Hey, hey, we can't expose each others' identities, right?] (Miku)

[I know, but it's exciting to think about!]
[I have so many questions!]
[One of them being: Does she like Ayanokouji-kun?] (Jinja2)

[I don't know about that.] (WhiteFlower)

[They are close friends, but I don't think there's anything more than that.] (Weivu1)

[It would've been so romantic if they got together, though...]
[Just think about it! A forbidden love between two class leaders. They should've been rivals but they decided to put their feelings first! Ahh, so exciting!] (Jinja2)

[Now that I think about it...] (Ay0)

[Right?!](Jinja2)

[What was that about not being this intense...?] (WhiteFlower)

[Well...] (2Bmi)

[And imagine them being in a relationship SECRETLY?!] (Jinja2)

[Okay, okay, these fantasies are getting out of hand.] (BunBun)

[Ehehe.] (Jinja2)

[It's not like I can't understand where you're coming from, though. The system of this school might be breakneck fierce, but it honestly made our high school days more thrilling.]
[Something like Ayanokouji-kun and Honami-chan being together makes my heart flutter.] (BunBun)

[Thrilling is the right word.] (Weivu1)

[Aww, I hope Ayanokouji-kun is in our class, though...] (2Bmi)

[Ahaha, I'm sure the Class A girls won't let that happen. They like him a lot, too.] (Dreamuu)

[Well, well, well.]
[Ayanokouji-kun stepped down as their leader, right?]
[Wouldn't this be a good chance to get close to him?] (Ay0)

[That would've been a good idea if the other girls hadn't thought of the same thing.]
[We know how Ayanokouji-kun is. He'd probably dislike that much attention from others.] (Weivu1)

[Ah, that's true. I wouldn't want him to hate me.] (Dreamuu)

[Welp, whatever happens, happens, I guess. I wish I could talk to him more though.] (BunBun)

[It's fiiine.]
[Let's just admire him from afar!] (Miku)

[Like we always do!] (2Bmi)

[Yeah!] (BunBun)

Additional Group Chat Settings:

- 1st-Year Chatroom: Public
- Class A Chatroom: Private
- Class B Chatroom: Private
- Class C Chatroom: Private

(Only users with Creator Privileges have access to all Private Chatrooms)

- Screenshots: Disabled
- Clear Cycle: Every 24 Hours, 6:00 AM

Membership Settings:

- Male: Invite-only
- Female: Visible to all

Note:

Due to the increasing amount of members, the Group Chat will be scheduled to only open on specific dates. The dates are unspecified, but the Creator will send a notification to all members 3 days before the group chat opens again.

Vol. 5: Chapter 1.1 - The School Sports Festival

"Alright! See ya later, Ayanokouji!"

"Yeah."

I returned to the classroom after hanging out with some guys from my class. The second semester has finally started, and I certainly feel the life of a normal high school student. With a healthy reputation inside my class, my social status is very stable, and I'm surrounded by people who think fondly of me.

Really, what a great time to be alive.

"Starting today, classes begin again. However, from September to the beginning of October, we will be holding more physical education classes to prepare for the school sports festival. Students seated at the front, please pass handouts to those behind you, and so on."

Well... that didn't last long.

Our afternoon class was turned into a two-hour homeroom period. Chabashira-sensei started to instruct us with her usual tone. Most of us were pretty excited. It was one of the long-awaited events for any high school student along with the cultural festival. Well, this school, unfortunately, doesn't have a cultural festival, so we're happy with whatever we get.

"The details on the printed handouts can also be found on the school homepage. Please refer to them if necessary." Chabashira-sensei continued looking forward in silence, waiting for questions to come.

"Sensei, is the sports festival another one of the special exams?" Hirata asked, raising his hand.

"You're free to interpret this however you wish. In any case, this event will massively impact each and every class."

"We'll probably get points and stuff, right? Then it is another special exam," said Ike, inserting himself into the conversation.

"Let's say that you'll indeed get points. The same thing happens with your midterms and final exams, but they're not special exams, correct? And what if you lose points? The same thing happens whenever you're caught misbehaving during and even outside classes. From your words, your everyday school life would also count as a special exam. Is that what you're trying to say, Ike?"

Well, yeah. In fact, being enrolled in this school probably counts as a special exam already.

"U-Uh... I guess not...?" Unfortunately, he couldn't find the right words after Chabashira-sensei dismantled his statement with an argument exploiting semantics.

Most of our classmates didn't even pay attention to Ike, though. The frail students were worried and the ones who hated exercise were grumbling. Of course, athletic ones like Ken and Onodera were hyped about this.

"Ayanokouji-kun, look..." While everyone else agonized over the surface-level details, Horikita pointed something out from the handout that she was reading.

I checked what she was referring to when I noticed that Chabashira-sensei was glancing at us.

"For this year's sports festival, we're going to divide all students across all grade levels into two groups and have them compete with each other." She relayed some more information about the event as I read through the handout. "You, Class A will be teaming up with Class D as part of the Red Team. Class B and C will team up in the same fashion as part of the White Team. They will compete alongside you."

"Whoa... Seriously? We're doing that...?" muttered Ike.

He wasn't the only one with this sentiment, though. A lot of us probably thought that the school would pit all four classes against one another, just like the first two written exams and the first two special exams. The class would need to create a new strategy that factors cooperation out in the open.

Not only that... We'd also have to cooperate with students from other year levels.

"Doesn't this make you happy?" I asked.

"I would appreciate it if you refrain from talking about that here," she warned.

I almost skipped the "warned" part and went straight to the "attacked" part. The tip of her pencil shook like a cornered rattlesnake and I didn't want to be on the receiving end of it.

While fearing for my life, I flipped the page over and saw the general rules and mechanics for the event.

Sports Festival Rules and Team Division

The sports festival divides all students, across all grade levels, into two teams: Red and White: The breakdown goes as follows: Classes A and D are on the Red Team, while Class B and C are on the White Team.

Point Allocation for All Competitors (Individual Competitions)

Points will be allocated as follows:

- 1st place will be awarded 15 points
- 2nd place will be awarded 12 points
- 3rd place will be awarded 10 points
- 4th place will be awarded 8 points

1 point will be deducted for coming in fifth place, and one additional point will be subtracted for each place below that.

During a team competition, the winning team will be awarded 500 points.

Point Allocation for Recommended Competitors

Points will be allocated as follows:

- 1st place will be awarded 50 points
- 2nd place will be awarded 30 points
- 3rd place will be awarded 15 points
- 4th place will be awarded 10 points

2 points will be deducted for coming in fifth place, and two additional points will be subtracted for each place below that.

The final competition, the Relay Race, will offer three times the point values.

Red Team vs. White Team Outcome

After reviewing the combined overall score for each class, 100 class points will be deducted from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-year batches of the two classes on the losing team.

The Effect of Ranking by Grade Level

50 class points will be awarded to the class that scores the highest and achieves 1st place in each of the three grade levels. Classes that achieve 2nd place in their grade level will not see any changes to their class point totals. Classes that achieve 3rd place in their grade level will have 50 class points deducted, and classes that achieve 4th place will have 100 class points deducted.

"Um, Sensei, how many points does the winning team get? That doesn't appear to be written anywhere," said Hirata.

"None. Their reward will be not having any points deducted."Chabashira-sensei's brief response showed how naive Hirata's question was.

The class moaned in misery. It didn't seem like the setbacks and rewards were proportionate at all. In the Deserted Island Exam, we had to camp out for a week, but there were no risks to our class points no matter the outcome. The Zodiac Exam had risks but the rewards were ridiculously huge. The upcoming sports festival doesn't feel like it's in the same vein.

"Please keep in mind that points are awarded and deducted not just by team but on a class-by-class basis. So even if the Red Team wins, you'll still be hit by the 100-point penalty if Class 1-A gets the lowest overall score compared to the other 1st-year classes," she added in the midst of the pandemonium.

The worst-case scenario would be being in a losing team while placing 4th place in our year. Our class would be penalized by 200 class points in total. I'm sure everyone was worried about that.

Individual Competition Rewards
(applicable to the next midterm exam)

Students who achieve 1st place in an individual competition will be awarded either 5000 private points or a score equivalent to 3 points on a written test.

Students who achieve 2nd place in an individual competition will be awarded either 3000 private points or a score equivalent to 2 points on a written test.

Students who achieve 3rd place in an individual competition will be awarded either 1000 private points or a score equivalent to 1 pointon a written test.

In the event that a student accepts the test points, they will not be allowed to give those test points to another student.

Students who score lowest in an individual competition will have 1000 private points deducted from their total.

In the event that a student has less than 1000 private points, they will instead receive a 1-point penalty on the next written exam.

Regarding Rule Violations and Foul Play

Read and comply with every competition's rules. Those who violate the rules will be disqualified. Anyone engaging in foul play may render all previously awarded points invalid.

MVP Reward

The student who receives the highest total score across all competitions will be awarded 100,000 private points.

MVP Rewards for Each Individual Grade Level

The three students from each grade level who receive their grade's highest total score across all competitions will be awarded 10,000 private points.

Considering its scale, the sports festival offered lesser rewards in terms of point value compared to the two previous special exams. However, we can't count out the variety of potential benefits.

"Um, Sensei. The perks that are written here, about receiving points for written test..." Ike called out in a loud voice.

"It's exactly what you think it is, Ike. You can earn test points as a prize, which you can apply to a written exam. In this case, the rewards are applicable for the next midterms. You struggle with English and Mathematics, right? I'm sure they'd be useful to you."

The most athletic students looked understandably excited. If academics weren't their strongest suit, they could supplement their results using these points. Of course, students like Horikita and Hirata who excel in both didn't have much use for it, but they'll get private points instead.

That said, more than a few students who weren't confident in both their athletics and academics looked a bit worried, especially after seeing another part of the handout.

Penalties for the Lowest Scorers

After all the competitions end, the school will calculate each student's total points and assign penalties to the ten lowest-scoring students from each year. The exact nature of these penalties will vary depending on grade level, so please consult the homeroom instructor in charge.

This was what most of us were worried about.

"Sensei, what kind of penalty will the 1st-years get?" asked Horikita.

"You freshmen would be penalized through point deductions on your next written exam scores. The ten students with the lowest overall scores will each receive a deduction of 10 points," she answered.

"Ehhh...?"

"Seriously...?"

"Aghh!"

If the penalties from this sports festival cause them to have a failing midterms grade, then they'd be expelled-- no question. Their reactions were only natural.

Moving on from the rules were the actual sports events that we'd be participating in. They were separated into two main categories: "All Participants" and "Recommended Participants". Of course, they were exactly as they sounded.

The events in the All Participants category would include all students in a class. Meanwhile, only a select few would participate in the Recommended Participants events. The representatives would be nominated and selected by the class.

Events for All Participants

- 100 m Dash
- Hurdle Race
- Capture the Flag (boys only)
- Ball Toss (girls only)
- Tug-of-War (separate events by gender)
- Obstacle Course Race
- Three-Legged Race
- Cavalry Battle
- 200 m Dash

Events for Recommended Participants

- Scavenger Hunt
- Four-Way Tug-of-War
- Three-Legged Race (mixed gender)
- 1200 m Relay Race (mixed gender, all 3 grades)

There were 13 competitions in total... What a lineup.

They were arranged based on the order they'd be held in. Some were dissatisfied with the large number of All Participants Events compared to Recommended Participants Events.

Maezono raised her hand and asked.

"Sensei, wouldn't this mean that there would be, like, three or four events for a single person? And besides, is it even possible to do all these in one day?"

"I appreciate your concern, but the school already considered that. No events require specific skills, such as cheerleading, dancing, ball games, or coordinated group gymnastics. The sports festival will be a thorough test of your general physical ability and stamina," she explained.

The unathletic students' resistance was in vain. Chabashira-sensei, as an extension of the school, had anticipated their every complaint.

"Here's the participation table. Fill it out with the order you'll participate in, and I will submit it to the school on your behalf. I don't imagine any junior high school has adopted a system like this, so do be extra careful not to make any mistakes."

Hirata stood up and received the participation table.

"Exactly how much freedom do we have, Sensei?" he asked.

"Your class must come to a consensus on everything to do with the sports festival, such as which students will participate in which events. No changes will be allowed once the deadline passes, no matter the reason. The submission window opens one week prior to the festival and ends at 5:00 PM on the day before it begins. If by any chance you miss the submission, you will be assigned randomly, so be careful."

"Sensei, in the event of someone's absence, what do we do? For individual competitions, I assume that would be treated as an absence, but what about group competitions? In games like the Cavalry Battle and the Three-Legged Race, we might not be able to compete at all if one important person is missing," Horikita raised her hand and asked an all-important batch of questions.

The class seemed impressed by her initiative to ask about this given how much it can impact our results.

"Should you fall short of the minimum required number of people for competitions in the All Participants category, you will be deemed unable to take part and disqualified. However, you are permitted to arrange a substitute for absentees in the Recommended Participants events," Chabashira-sensei explained. "Of course, you'll have to offer points as compensation."

If we'd have to pay to prove we weren't cheating, then I wonder how big the required amount will be?

"I see... While we're on the subject, if an athlete's health suffers, or they're severely injured, will it be possible for that person to continue participating if they wish? Or will they have to stop and see a doctor?" she asked?

"We leave that to the students to decide for themselves. Knowing your own limits will be an indispensable skill in the working world. For an instance, you can't simply take a day off just because you have a fever on the date of an extremely important conference," replied Chabashira-sensei.

"I understand. Well then... How many points are needed to assign a substitute?"

"A substitute requires 100,000 private points per competition. That's expensive or cheap depending on your resources."

"I see. Thank you very much."

Given our position and funds, 100,000 private points is an affordable amount. However, we can't use them up willy-nilly. It equates to a student's entire monthly allowance after starting school. We may be rich right now, but it's still not a small number.

"If there are no more questions, we'll wrap up," said Chabashira-sensei. "Next period's location will move to Gymnasium 1 where you'll meet up with students from other classes and grade levels."

Some were murmuring amongst themselves about the current situation, but most of us were just waiting for Chabashira-sensei to close everything out. However, we didn't expect her next words.

"Before I go, I would like to address one specific thing." Her usually cold expression wasn't as apparent and I think I could make out a small, gentle smile on her face. "Congratulations on reaching Class A. I honestly didn't think you lot could make it, that's why I didn't pay much attention to your efforts, but you've proven me wrong."

The classroom suddenly became overcome with silence. Everyone was dumbfounded about what they just heard.

"This school has been around for a little over 50 years now, and you're the only Class D who had ever accomplished the feat of overtaking Class A. And you've done so in your freshmen year, too. I cannot stress how amazing that is."

Chabashira-sensei spoke calmly, which was honestly just her usual tone. But because of her words, we didn't feel her cold and detached self. She chuckled after noticing how speechless we were.

"It seems like it's a bit too late for me to start acting like a teacher now, given your reactions. However, my point still stands. I'm proud of you, but it takes more than what you've achieved to be on top of this school." Chabashira-sensei gracefully walked to the door with her parting words. "Your journey here is just getting started, I hope you don't forget that."

"Yes, Sensei." Hirata managed to snap out of it and addressed her as she went out of the room.

After the sliding door was closed, Class 1-A has been enveloped by silence once again. I saw Horikita and Hirata glance and nod to each other before making their move.

"Everyone, I know Chabashira-sensei caught us off-guard just now, but I think we should start talking about our plans for the sports festival." Hirata walked to the front and clapped twice to make everyone notice him.

"Man, that was something. I didn't know Sae-chan-sensei loved us that much!" shouted Ike.

"Really! My heart went 'Kyun~' for that one!" followed Yamauchi.

"Didn't that, like, sound really cheesy~?" said Satou.

"Not gonna lie, I felt both proud and embarrassed," added Shinohara.

After Hirata fixed the weird atmosphere, the class became noisy once again. Horikita got up and propped herself next to Hirata.

"Alright. May I have everyone's attention, please?" Horikita was standing where Chabashira-sensei stood just seconds ago. Everyone stopped talking and looked at her. "Thank you. Now then, why don't we use our remaining time to discuss what Class 1-A will do for this sports festival?"

Her question was met with different kinds of smiles-- gentle ones, anxious ones, excited ones-- But one thing was for sure. Our class was ready to take on the sports festival.

Vol. 5: Chapter 1.2 - Class 1-A's Plan

"Firstly, we must address our main problem." Horikita started off with the thing that's been weighing on everyone's mind. "For this sports festival, we'll be teaming up with Class D. In other words, Ryuuen-kun's class."

A lot of my classmates looked anxious. Some of them instinctively gave me a glance. Of course, I plan to do nothing but sit back and watch for now.

"That bastard..." grumbled Yamauchi.

Ike looked pretty pissed, as well.

"No way in hell I'd cooperate with that guy," said Ken.

"I understand that this will be a team battle, but this is Ryuuen we're talking about." Akito backed him up.

He was usually quiet in these kinds of discussions, but considering our partners for the sports festival, he didn't hesitate to say what he was thinking.

"Frankly speaking, I don't think it's possible to work with him, too. In all likelihood, Ryuuen-kun might even do something to trip us up, even though we're in the same team," Horikita sighed. "But we can't make hasty decisions. For now, it's good that this was brought to everyone's attention. We'll continue discussing this topic after getting a feel for what they want to do."

"For now, why don't we talk about the direction we wanna go to for this sports festival?" asked Hirata.

"Have fun and win!" yelled Ike.

"Having fun is easy, but winning is a hard goal even if we don't try to have fun," explained Horikita. "There are the test point rewards, but winning can earn you some private points, as well. Is that what you're talking about with having fun, Ike-kun?"

Horikita had easily seen through their motives.

"Well, yeah! Having additional points will boost our class's economy, right?"

"Yes, you're right. But here's the kicker. Do you think you can win?" she asked.

"W-Well, who knows? Miracles happen all the time, right?"

"I'll participate in all of the Recommended Participants competitions. If we do that, I'm sure we'll win," Ken proposed what seemed to be a good idea. The class agrees with him, too.

"Wouldn't that dampen the chance for others, though?" asked Yamauchi.

"Obviously, but doing so would help our class win in the long run. I'm your best bet in taking home the victory for this."

Ken didn't excel in academics. In fact, he was incredibly bad at it. He may have been making a lot of progress as time goes on, but the sports festival is where he can really shine.

"It would be great if the class could win, but I get where Haruki and Kanji are coming from," said Miyamoto.

Hondou nodded in agreement.

"I can obviously understand the merit of gaining private points, but there's a huge dent in your argument. If our class was running low on private points, then I might've considered your suggestion. But over the course of receiving six months' worth of allowances from the 1st of April to the 1st of September, each Class A student should've had a grand total of 520,400 private points. We are in no way lacking in terms of individual budgets. I haven't even distributed the rewards from the Zodiac Exam. There's no reason for us to prioritize those who can't secure results," explained Horikita.

"Well..." The four of them can't really say anything back. Our classmates seemed to be on Horikita's side, too.

"Unless of course, that's exactly the case. Are you guys running low on private points?"

"What-? No. I still have a lot-- like 200,000..." replied Ike.

"Are the three of you the same?" She looked at Miyamoto and the other two.

"Uhh, yeah... Kinda..."

The private points we gained on September 1st were 121,200 private points. That means over the course of five months, Ike and his friends only had about 80,000 left from a grand total of around 400,000... They sure spend a lot.

The class gave them weird looks after hearing that. I also noticed that some of the girls had nervous expressions. Maybe they've spent a similar amount. Well, it was easy to get carried away when you have this much money, so it's not like I can't see where they're coming from.

"If you have any other suggestions that can enhance our chances, then feel free to speak." Horikita didn't wait very long before continuing. "Hirata-kun and I have a very orthodox plan which should be good both on paper and in practice. Since there are no events involving technical knowledge and skills, we'll be stacking the most athletic individuals for the Recommended Participants competitions. Of course, stamina would be a problem, so we'll carefully take that into account as the days go on."

Technical sports like basketball weren't included in the competition. Anyone could play and win in any of these events as long they're athletic enough. In other words, Horikita and Hirata want to brute-force their way to victory, with Ken spearheading the charge. It's a simple yet extremely effective plan.

"For those who don't have the best athletic abilities, we can try to prevent your overall scores from plummeting by assigning you to a specific Recommended Participants competition, which is the Scavenger Hunt." Hirata tapped that certain part of the handout.

"Since your participation in the All Participants competitions is mandatory, you will lose to more athletic students and your scores will inevitably suffer. Participating in the Scavenger Hunt should help, even a little," said Horikita.

"But I think it'll be alright. We still have a month to prepare for this. If everyone trains properly, your results will surely improve," he encouraged.

After the two of them finished their briefing, it was finally time for our second homeroom.

"Now that everyone has a general idea of how our class will tackle this event, we'll continue with the specifics at a later date." Horikita brought the discussion to an end.

Vol. 5: Chapter 1.3 - The State of Teams

Over four hundred people with a mix of students and instructors gathered in the gymnasium during our 2nd homeroom period. Horikita scanned the place with a slightly fretful expression.

"Are you looking for him?" I whispered.

She flinched in surprise. I thought she'd scold me again, but Horikita stopped glaring at me as soon as she saw my genuinely curious stare.

"Well... yes," she replied timidly.

"You wouldn't be able to spot him this easily in this crowd."

There wasn't any point in teasing someone who decided to answer honestly, so I tried to keep an eye out for him, too.

"It's okay. I just tried to check if he's somewhere noticeable."

Horikita was someone who appeared tough, but she was actually very delicate. She hates being vulnerable, so no one's really seen that side of her. Well, no one except for me. That little coincidence back then was probably why I could understand her more than most people, and why she opens up to me even with her personality.

After lining up without any particular order or form, our class sat down in an empty area. Nothing was really happening yet. The instructors were just there to keep things peaceful and civil. I glanced in Kikyou's direction and saw her chatting with Hondou and the others. I guess I can just ask for her impressions on this assembly later on.

A short minute passed and a bunch of students came forward. Everyone focused their attention on them, eager to hear some instructions.

"I'm Fujimaki, from Class 3-A. It's been decided that I will assume command of the Red Team."

I glanced at Horikita and she also seemed to be in thought. Considering that her older brother was the student council president, I assumed that he would be taking the lead. That doesn't seem to be the case, though.

The class pairs of A and D started to assemble and sit near Fujimaki's general area.

I can hear a different voice on the opposite side of the gymnasium. It was probably the commander of the White Team, not that I should worry about them right now.

"I'd like to give the 1st-year students one piece of advice. The sports festival is extremely important. Your experiences here will most certainly be applicable to real life. In fact, many of your future exams may look like games at first glance. However, each and every one of them is a crucial battle in which you stake your survival in this school," said Fujimaki.

His words were a bit vague but still helpful.

"You may not feel motivated right now, but we're going to try and win this thing. I want you to try and hold on to that feeling," he continued. "The only competition in which all classes from all grade levels will participate together is the final event-- the 1200-meter Relay Race. Aside from that, all the other events are divided up by grade level. So, please, feel free to gather and discuss your strategies, starting now."

In response to Fujimaki's words, the students from both the 2nd and 3rd years grouped up without much delay. Our class seemed to flounder in comparison. Of course, our "partners" were also in sight. They didn't move an inch.

Hirata assembled our class to look a bit more orderly as Horikita took the initiative to approach Class D.

"Oh? Would you look at that? It's Class 1-A, our dear allies."

"I'll be blunt, Ryuuen-kun. Our class is open for cooperation, but that's only if you fulfill your end of the bargain." Horikita pre-emptively took hold of the conversation.

"Look at you, acting like a big shot all of a sudden. Did your new title as Class A's leader reach your head, Suzune?"

"We don't have time for your nonsense, Ryuuen. All we need is a yes or no."

To everyone's surprise, that return didn't come from Horikita nor Hirata. It came from Akito.

"Hey, Miyake, who do you think you're talking to?!" yelled Ishizaki.

"Lackeys shouldn't speak, Ishizaki."

"Why you-!"

"Drop it, Ishizaki. This isn't the place to throw down. Miyake can run his mouth like that precisely because that's the case. Don't get caught in his flow," Ryuuen calmly stops him with a smile.

Knowing Akito, I doubt he'd be afraid to speak up to Ryuuen regardless of the place, though.

"Anyway, let's get back to your question. Will I cooperate? The short answer is no. I'm sure you can already guess why, right, Suzune? Because we don't need to." Ryuuen turned around, putting his hands inside his pockets. "Good luck on whatever strategy you'll come up with, Class A."

He walked away with his entire class in tow.

"Hey, Horikita-chan, what did that guy mean by us not needing to cooperate?" asked Ike. His voice was a bit more serious than usual.

"Yeah, I don't understand."

"Isn't this a team battle?"

His question was echoed by the others.

"That's because, in terms of individual athletic abilities, the combination of our two classes would probably be the most lethal," she said.

That was honestly a fair evaluation. Class B has some well-built students, but that's about it. Class C has a star athlete in Shibata, along with other similarly capable students, but that's where it ends for them. Meanwhile, Class A has Sudou, who's arguably the most athletic 1st-year right now. And Class D has the largest assortment of physically gifted students.

"If team-centered sports like basketball, volleyball, or soccer were abundant in the sports festival, then they may have a chance. After all, the White Team line-up consists of the two most well-coordinated classes. Namely, Ichinose-san's class and the former Class A."

"No one would beat me in basketball. What are you talking about?" whined Ken.

"Yes, of course. Even I know that. But if your opponents are a coordinated team of five, then you wouldn't stand a chance. An untrained team might even hold you back rather than if you're playing them alone. And even if you did win, you can't possibly do the same for sports like volleyball or soccer."

"I... I guess so..." As an athlete, he understood that more than anyone.

"Remember, the events are composed of competitions that test our general physical abilities and stamina. That's why both of our classes will strive if we're not in contact. Class A has me, Hirata-kun, Ayanokouji-kun, Onodera-san, and some others, but it's still centered around Sudou-kun's physical prowess which means his individuality will shine. Meanwhile, Class D will benefit on its own, but for a different reason. If we try to compete side-by-side, we might just trample each other."

"With guys like Ishizaki and Yamada, I guess that can happen literally, even," commented Kikuchi, to which the guys in our class agreed.

Considering how we were once Classes C and D, it would be appropriate to associate us with "chaos", with the former Classes A and B as "order". Horikita wants us to ride the wave of chaos instead of containing it to avoid collapse.

"But in theory, shouldn't we at least incorporate our participation tables together so we can dominate without unintentionally fighting each other?" asked Ryuuko.

"You're absolutely right, Nishimura-san... That would've been the optimal choice, but there's one big problem..." Horikita answered with a conflicted expression.

"It's the fact that it's Ryuuen-kun, right, Horikita-san?" continued Matsushita.

"Yes. Even if we're teammates, I doubt he'd hesitate in sabotaging our lineup if he gets a hold of our participation table. He might even deceive us by presenting a fake," she explained.

"We're Class A, remember? We're the ones they're trying to overthrow now. Like, the rules don't necessarily provide us any protection from a well-executed subterfuge," added Karuizawa.

"In other words, we can only protect ourselves. Is that why you're not that opposed to Ryuuen-kun's suggestion, Horikita-san?" asked Hirata.

She nodded in response. After a brief talk, our class had finally come to a conclusion.

"Ohh, Horikita-san and the rest of Class A! Hey there!"

A familiar voice called out to us. It was none other than Class C's leader, Ichinose Honami.

"Is the White Team duo done with their meeting?" asked Horikita.

"Well, kinda. I really wanted to cooperate with Sakayanagi-san and the rest of Class B. You guys will be a really tough competition, after all."

"Sakayanagi...?"

"Ahh, right. It doesn't seem like Katsuragi-kun will be taking the lead in their class this time."

Overhearing this, most of us looked over to where the Class B students settled down. One girl stood out because she sat on a chair instead of the floor. Eyes were drawn to the cane she was holding.

"Ohhh! Dude, look!"

"She's a total cutie!"

"That's Class B's Sakayanagi-chan, huh?"

"She looks so petite and delicate!"

Sakayanagi Arisu-- her name reminded me of a certain mysterious girl who fell down a rabbit hole to Wonderland. With her short, silver hair, and pale skin, Sakayanagi's appearance was quite eye-catching.

So this girl is the rumored leader of the other faction, the person I'd talked to during that phone call, the Chairman's daughter... and the only other student who knows about my past.

"She won't be able to participate in any of the competitions due to her weak heart. Her condition had affected her legs, as well, so please be sensitive about it," she said.

"Ichinose-san, it seems like you've invited some friends from another class." Noticing the looks from the guys in our class, Sakayanagi called out to Ichinose instead.

"Good day to you, Sakayanagi-san. We were actually just about to exit the gymnasium. I'm sorry if we're bothering your strategy meeting." Hirata instantly took action.

"Oh, please, don't worry. We're currently just waiting for further instructions from the seniors, anyway. Our classes hadn't had the chance to say hello, so maybe this was a good chance encounter. It's late, but I would like to congratulate you for making it to Class A."

Belligerent and confrontational. That was how Sakayanagi was often described to me. She also gave off that impression during our first conversation. However, she was very polite and well-spoken right now. Not a hint of aggression could be seen.

However, the fact that she was kind enough to celebrate our promotion was a violent stab at the other faction-- the fallen faction of Katsuragi. According to Kikyou, Katsuragi lost all of his prestige inside their class after they got demoted. After all, they lost badly under his leadership on two consecutive special exams. There's no way his faction can stay intact after that.

Looking at Katsuragi's current state, it seems like she was telling the truth. He was lined up like the rest of the class, unlike Sakayanagi or other star students like Tsukasaki and Matoba.

"You didn't have to, Sakayanagi-san," Hirata accepted her congratulations with a smile. "We're still in our freshmen year. I'm sure things are just getting started."

"That is true. The gap between our points isn't that far from each other. Ichinose-san's class and even Ryuuen-kun's class are still very much in the race."

"Of course! We're going to try and close that gap in this sports festival, right, guys?" Ichinose riled up her classmates with that question.

And before I knew it, Ken and some others were already chatting with Class C's Shibata and his friends. They're all harping about beating each other in the competitions.

"Speaking of Ryuuen-kun, I don't see him anywhere," said Sakayanagi.

"It seems like having a meeting with us wasn't in his schedule. I envy the solidarity between Class B and C," replied Horikita.

"Ehhh, so he ditched you guys without any plans? That's certainly Ryuuen-kun's thing."

The Class A students who had been listening instantly grew tense. They knew Horikita wasn't telling the whole story. Considering how we don't know anything regarding the state of their alliance, Horikita wasn't just about to give them free information.

Sakayanagi's gentle yet enigmatic smile could be seen as she scrutinized her.

"That's a shame. In terms of raw physical prowess and athletic abilities, Class A and D seem to be the best possible duo."

Since she was Class B's leader, students like Hashimoto or Kamuro could give her all the data she needed. It wasn't really surprising for her to have the same evaluation as Horikita despite not being present during the first two special exams.

"I think so, too! They have a lot of sporty guys and gals."

"Your class can surely stand up to them, Ichinose-san." Sakayanagi praised.

"Ryuuen-kun's class has power, that's for sure. But when it comes to speed, I think Class C would be the superior contender," said Hirata.

A cycle of back and forth. As a listener who was more or less aware of the situation, it didn't seem like anyone let their guard down. No significant information was exchanged nor given away. Everything just ended up being idle talk.

After that brief conversation between the leaders of the three classes, we finally made our exit from the gymnasium.

"Kikyou-chan, did you know...-?"

"Shut it, Soshi!"

"Sonoda-san!"

"Watase-san, what's up?"

"Satonaka, let's go to the karaoke!"

Many students started making noise.

Some of our classmates went to Keyaki Mall while most of them walked straight back to the dorms. A number of them were even hanging out with students from other classes. I saw Kikyou and Ishikura walking with Hondou and Miyamoto. I wanted to talk to her, but they seem to be having a fun conversation, so I guess the waiting will have to be extended.

I stood by the exit for some time with my phone in hand. I checked the Ayanokouji Group chat and found out that Ken and Akito went to their clubs. Meanwhile, Airi and Haruka decided to wait inside the classroom for the Photo Contest results.

"Ayanokouji-kun..." Just then, Horikita suddenly called out to me. "Were you waiting for me?"

She finally got back after talking to some seniors. I tucked my phone back and faced her.

"Yeah, I thought you wanted to ask me something."

We started walking as the conversation began.

"Yes, actually. I want to know what your plans are. Are you going to hold back, like what you're doing with your written tests? Or will you go all-out? I'll try my best to adjust accordingly," she asked.

"Hold back? The class knows how athletic I am. If I get lackluster results, they'll think I'm not taking this seriously. It's a no-good plan."

"That's true. Some of them even expect you to get better results than Sudou-kun... But you don't want to attract any more attention, right? What are you going to do?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary. I'll participate like how a normal member of the class would and try my best. I hate it when everyone's eyes are on me, but I can't afford to hold back in the competitions that I'm in."

"Alright. I have a proposal, then. Like with your excuse regarding mental stress, we can limit your participation by using stamina as the reason."

"That's my idea, too."

"Then, it's settled."

I looked ahead as if the conversation was over. Horikita seemed satisfied, as well.

"Also, anyone's grades would stagnate if they stop studying," I said, breaking the silence.

"So your whole spiel about having reached the peak of academic education was a lie?" Horikita raised an eyebrow.

"You actually believed that?"

"I'm honestly still on the fence. No one would normally believe such nonsense, but for some reason, I can't seem to dismiss your words as lies back then, especially when you were able to back them up by scoring perfects in our first quizzes."

Back then, it didn't really matter whether she believed me or not, as long she didn't get in my way.

"Well, anyway, I'll be counting on you for my role in the sports festival. Good luck."

"You sure are enjoying your life right now."

"You bet I am."

"I see. Good for you, then, Ayanokouji-kun," she sighed.

I walked away towards the main building. I didn't look back even after noticing that Horikita went the other way. We have separate matters to attend to. While I was treading my path, I saw a familiar girl going to the special building. It felt strange, but I didn't put too much mind into it. I promised Airi that I would check out the results with them later on.

Author's Notes:

In the Light Novel, Katsuragi's reputation was still a bit intact with some students following him.

But in this timeline, his leadership in the first two special exams cost them their position as Class A. His faction was completely dissolved as a result, and he could only convince his most loyal subordinates to follow Sakayanagi instead, even if they didn't like her.

SS.24 - At the End of the Day

"Ah, Kiyopon~!"

"Airi, Haruka. Are the results out?"

"Yeah! According to the school's post, the results had just been posted in the main building lobby. We're on our way there."

"Let's go together then," I said.

The two of them nodded in response.

"Oh, it's Sakura-chan and the others!"

Three girls approached us after we arrived in the immediate area. They were Azuma, Ichihashi, and Ryuuko.

"Ichihashi-san, Azuma-san! Even Nishimura-san is here. Did you come to look at the results, too?" asked Airi.

I glanced at Haruka who didn't have the most enthusiastic expression but was still smiling.

"We saw how great your entry was when you were finalizing it. Of course, we're here to see it place high!"

"It suddenly got pretty crowded, though."

"Alright! Why don't we go ahead and take a look?"

The six of us walked forward and saw the big displays. The entries were set up on a huge long table supported by frames and stands, and each of them was accompanied by details descriptions. All of them were great photographs with amazing edits. I can see why these entries were chosen as winners and honorable mentions.

"Woah, Sakura-chan! That's yours!" yelled Ichihashi.

"Geh-! You placed 2nd!" said Azuma, who had mixed feelings about the results. "I'm so happy for you, but... M-My face and my body!"

"Looks like your beautiful self is up for display, Sana-san," teased Ryuuko.

"The aloof and mature impression one would usually get from Sana-chan can't be found anywhere here."

"Sakura-san really captured your child-like innocence."

"Stop analyzing it again!"

"I-I placed just behind Kawauchi-senpai...? T-That high...?! Really...?" The girl in question couldn't believe what she just heard and seen.

Haruka and I walked toward the standing display of the 2nd placer along with the nervous Airi.

"Sakura Airi from Class 1-A. I'm glad they managed to update your class in time. It would've been funny if you were still in Class B," joke Haruka.

"This is the first time I've seen this... You really did a great job, Airi." I gave her an honest compliment. Even though this was her first time, Airi truly deserved to be in 2nd place with this entry.

A bunch of 2nd-year students approached our area and looked at the photo.

"Woah, check this out."

"That's a nice picture, huh?"

"The girl in it looks mad cute."

"She's a student in this school, right?"

"Do you think it's the girl who took the photo?"

"Are you dumb? Do you think this amazing angle could be taken without anyone holding the camera? And you can't be the subject of your own entry based on the rules!"

"Well, you're the one who entered this competition! Hell if I know the rules?!"

"Hey, stop fighting, you dimwits. Both names are here, anyway. The photographer is Sakura... Sakura Airi. And the subject is Azuma... Azuma Sana. Their names are easy to remember, at least."

"She's a freshman? That's amazing! Everyone already expected Kawauchi-senpai to win 1st place, but this was quite an upset."

One of them seemed to be a contender. It's nice to hear Azuma and Airi getting complimented.

"Hey, hey, you're getting complimented, Sana-chan."

"The dawn of Sana-san's popularity is coming."

"S-Stop it!"

It's rare to see Azuma as the recipient of the teasing. I'm sure Ichihashi is enjoying her time.

Airi stared at them with a warm smile.

"I'm glad everything turned out great. I'm still hung up on the feeling of relief, to be honest. The fact that I placed 2nd hasn't sunk in yet."

"You deserve it, Airi. I'm sure Kawauchi-senpai will ask you to join the Photography Club again," said Haruka.

"You're finally going to join a club, Airi?" I asked.

"Well... I'm still not too sure."

"It's me, right? I already told you. You don't have to worry about me. We started off as a group of loners, remember? Being alone isn't a big deal for me. And I'll wait for you, so we can still go home together every day."

"Mmmnnn..." Airi racked her brains like there was no tomorrow-- or at least, that's what it looked like-- but it seemed like both of them already had this figured out. "Fine, I'll join. But that's only if they invite me, okay?"

"After this result, they'll be begging for someone like you to be in their club-- Oh-!" Haruka was surprised when Airi suddenly clung to her, but she was happy nonetheless.

"Kiyotaka-kun, do you know where Sotomura-kun is? I'd like to thank him personally. He's been a huge help for my improvement in the editing aspect," asked Airi.

"He's probably back in the dorms. I can go with you later."

"Thanks!"

Azuma and the other two had plans for Keyaki Mall, so our group split up after looking at the results.

"Goodbye, Sakura-chan! Ayanokouji-kun and Hasebe-san, too!"

"Thank you so much, Azuma-san! Maybe I'll ask for your help again in the future!" said Airi.

"No, thanks! You'll probably end up putting me on display again." Azuma's joke made Airi giggle.

"Congratulations again, Sakura-chan. You're a great photographer," praised Ichihashi.

"You should join these contests again. You'll surely win," added Ryuuko.

"N-No, no, no. I still have a lot to improve on."

"Thanks for hanging out with us, Ryuuko-chan. Say hi to Kyo-chan and the others for me!" waved Haruka.

Kyo-chan-- she must be referring to Kikyou. That reminds me, it's been around a month since I've listened to her vent. Just a little more and she'll advance my plans soon enough.

"Sure! We'll be meeting up with them later, anyway."

"Goodbye to you, too, Azuma-san, Ichihashi-san." Haruka didn't ignore them this time. She even gave the two of them an affable goodbye.

"Yes. Thanks for letting us hang around, Hasebe-san. You too, Ayanokouji-kun. We'll be going now," said Ichihashi.

And with that, the first day of the 2nd semester ended without much issue. Being friends with the likes of Karuizawa, Shinohara, or even Matsushita is a bit of a stretch, but maybe Haruka could get along with the likes of Azuma or Ichihashi. She's probably starting to realize that those two aren't using Airi to get closer to me.

Of course, it's not like I can't understand where Haruka is coming from. Sometimes, you just don't wanna get involved with some people, and others need to respect that. It doesn't matter if you don't have bad blood with them or anything like that. There are just times when you can't be bothered with having them in your life. As long you're not bothering them, I personally think there's nothing wrong with that.

Vol. 5: Chapter 2.1 - Student #1100

"Sorry for the wait, everyone. We'll be distributing your points now. Those who won't receive anything can leave if they want to," announced Horikita. "Please form a line."

Kikuchi, Minami (Setsuya), and Sugawara went out of the classroom as a group. Club-goers like Ken, Akito, and Airi did the same and left the room after saying goodbye to me and Haruka.

Wait, Airi...? So she really did join the Photography Club. That's great.

Ryuuko also went out with Ishikura and Inogashira.

"Let's meet up later, okay?" Kikyou waved them goodbye.

Apparently, they were going to hang out at Keyaki Mall, but Kikyou and Mii-chan needed to get their points first. The three went ahead to secure a place.

"Yo, Ayanokouji. So you're in charge of giving us the money, huh?" Yamauchi greeted me with his usual grin.

He was currently the first one in line, sprinting to the front as soon as the last subject ended.

"Yep. I've registered with this ID already. Look at this." I showed him the screen of my phone.

"Holy shit!" Yamauchi flinched in surprise. "T-T-T-That's 7,000,000 private points!"

Everyone heard him, and the class got considerably excited.

"Calm down, everyone. You'll get your own respective points. Let's do this properly so there will be no complications." Hirata spoke as he posted a tally of how much each person will receive on the blackboard.

"There you go, Yamauchi. 125,000 points. Enjoy," I said.

"Ohh, thanks, man."

He scampered off to Ike, who was waiting for him. They'll probably stick around until Hondou and Miyamoto get theirs.

"Yo, Ayanokouji."

Speak of the devil.

"Oh, Hondou..." I swiftly gave him the points he was supposed to get. "There, 166,666 points."

"Thanks, dude."

"No problem. Congrats on getting your points."

Hondou put his hands inside his pockets and grinningly approached Ike and Yamauchi. I then gave 166,667 points to Miyamoto who was next in line. They started chatting it out without a care in the world.

After a while, the line of people decreased and Kikyou finally got to me.

"It's the star of the day."

"Please don't call me that, Kiyotaka-kun..."

"I'm not exaggerating, though." I transferred the points to her with a ding. "1,000,000 points. Congratulations."

Our surrounding classmates gasped in awe. A million private points, just like that. It might be a small amount in the grand scheme of things, but it's still one million. Anyone would be envious.

"Woah, you're loaded, Kikyou-chan." Hondou approached Kikyou as she walked to her seat. "But remember our deal, okay? I'll be the one paying for tomorrow. You won't have to spend a single point."

"You really don't need to... But that's very kind of you, Ryoutarou-kun."

"It's fine, really. I owe you some goodwill, anyway. Just think of it as my way of saying thanks."

A lot of the girls started murmuring about their sudden conversation. "Aren't they acting so friendly with each other, especially recently?", "Are they going to have a date after school?", "What's this about Hondou-kun paying for tomorrow?", "Don't tell me... they're going out?" Those were the questions I heard as I continued giving out everyone's private points.

Well, if they do end up dating, then at least Kikyou would have someone else she can share her burden with apart from me.

"Alright, sweet. Oh, by the way, you and Mii-chan are on your way to Keyaki Mall, right?" he asked.

"Yes, we're going to meet up with Kayoko-chan and the others," answered Kikyou.

"Why don't we all go together? Our group has some business in Keyaki Mall, too."

"We do?" asked the oblivious Yamauchi.

Apparently, he was unaware of this so-called "business".

"Yep. We just got more money and our daily supplies are running out. I'm planning to drop by the department store to stock up," he explained. "You guys are the same, no?"

"Now that I think about it, you're right," said Miyamoto.

"Ahh, I just remembered! I ran out of oil this morning!" added Ike.

Considering how close they are, it's probably safe to assume that their group would have similar shopping schedules and habits. That was a smart deduction by Hondou if he thought it up on the fly.

"Let's go together, then. Is that alright, Mii-chan?" asked Kikyou.

"Mn," she nodded.

"Goodbye, everyone! Goodbye, Kiyotaka-kun!" Kikyou didn't miss giving us a farewell.

I could only respond with a weak wave as my work continued. Of course, I didn't fail to notice the extended stare that Hondou gave me before they left.

"Wow! That's 250,000 on my account! Thanks, Kiyopon!"

"Half of that belongs to Akito. Don't forget to give him his share," I said.

"I know! I'm not gonna take it for myself! Maybe..."

"Oi..."

"Ehehe... Well, don't worry about it." Haruka glanced at the door before looking back at me. "You'll stay behind with Horikita-san and the others, right? Should I go ahead?"

"Sure. We'll have lots of stuff to take care of like reporting everything to the teacher."

"Ooh, sounds like a pain. Welp, good luck to you guys. I'll be hanging out with Airi in their clubroom."

"Don't bother them too much."

"Fufun~! I'm quite close with Kawauchi-senpai, you know?"

I continued my job after Haruka left. Of course, it didn't take long until the last student was accommodated.

"166,667 points," I said.

"Thanks, Ayanokouji. Man, that was a hellish wait." Ueno looked fed up as he put his phone away.

The final student who received points was Ueno. While everyone stood in line, he just slumped on his chair like he usually does.

"Well, you didn't line up until the very last minute. Of course, you'd have to wait until everyone was done. Although in your case, waiting meant sleeping through the entire process."

"Lining up is a pain. I'm not energetic enough to try and compete with the likes of Yamauchi. Hell, there wasn't even a competition. He was already lined up before I could even move my ass up."

"I feel you, to be honest."

"Alright. I'm gonna go home and sleep. Goodbye to you guys."

"See you tomorrow, Ueno-kun." Hirata bid him farewell with a smile.

After he left, the remaining people inside the classroom were just me, Horikita, and Hirata. We had another purpose other than the one I told Haruka about. That's why we're waiting.

"For now, here's your 500,000 private points," I said.

I told Horikita and Hirata that a certain classmate wants to meet them. I've pitched the general idea, and the two of them are willing to listen.

"So this mystery classmate wants to have a discussion with us, right? Are you sure about doing it in the classroom, Ayanokouji-kun? What if Ryuuen-kun finds out about it?" asked Horikita.

"Don't worry. Ryuuen nor his lackeys won't be spying on us today. I've been monitoring him the entire time. I would've moved the meeting to a later date if I caught him sniffing."

"Alright, that's reassuring," she replied.

"So this person holds a lot of the boys' private points, right?" Hirata asked.

"Yeah. He reached out to me not too long ago. You can consider him as our banker of sorts. Whether you'd work with him or not-- you should decide that in this meeting."

After a short while, the sliding door opened and a lone boy entered the classroom.

"Ohh, so it's just the three of you."

"Ijuuin-kun...?" Horikita's reaction told us that she didn't expect Ijuuin, of all people, to show up.

I moved to the front-corner seat. Ijuuin sat in the middle front, directly facing Horikita and Hirata who were behind the podium. I'll be nothing but an observer for now.

"Ijuuin-kun, are you the one who wanted to meet us?" asked Hirata.

"That would be me, yes. I assume Ayanokouji-kun had given you a rundown of what I've been doing behind the scenes?"

"You're storing a large portion of some of the boys' private points, correct?" started Horikita.

"Yes. Although I haven't contacted Hirata-kun as he was a very high-profile person. I also didn't bother trying to negotiate with Kouenji-kun, so he's out of the picture, as well. The same goes for Ayanokouji-kun since he was a leader back then."

"So you're saying that the three of them are the only ones who haven't invested yet?"

"No, actually. There are four more-- Kanji-kun, Haruki-kun, Soshi-kun, and Ryoutarou-kun."

"That's pretty strange. They're your close friends, aren't they?" mused Hirata.

"Well, yes. But that's precisely why I kept them in the dark. I know how incompetent and immature they are, objectively speaking, so I cannot risk letting them in on this plan. They might start disputes or even accidentally leak the whole thing to other classes. You can never be too careful, especially with those four."

"But how are you so sure that the other boys can be trusted?" asked Horikita.

"We've been in the same classroom as them, Horikita-san, for five whole months. You should have a grasp on our classmate's nature and habits. Apart from Kanji-kun's group of four, and Kouenji-kun, the other guys don't have the problematic attitudes that I'm worried about."

"How did you explain your plan to them, exactly?"

"It's pretty simple. On the surface, I'll be holding on to their private points. The grounds for their agreement were also simple. We have lots of excess private points, receiving way more than we could spend. Everyone who had invested agreed that it was better if someone kept everything in one place to prevent unnecessary spending. I've worked hard in gaining our classmates' trust which made the plan possible."

"To prevent unnecessary spending, is it? If that's what you're doing on the surface, then what's on the other side?"

"Emergency funds," he replied with a sigh. "There are still too many unknowns in this school's rules. I wanted to make an organized front in terms of managing our class's private points. You can consider it as "insurance" for those who have invested."

"Insurance, huh?"

"Our class is in a pretty awkward position, but it's a good position nonetheless. We're at the top thanks to the leaders' heavy-lifting, but we're still, in fact, the worst class overall. I couldn't really become a "banker" if we didn't have a bank-like amount of points, so I must thank Ayanokouji-kun for securing a large number of class points early on. It has tons of potential uses. One of which pertains to our written exams. I've already consulted Chabashira-sensei about it."

"100,000 private points for an exam point, right? We've done our research on it, too. It would be great if we knew about the consequences with regards to expulsion, but according to Chabashira-sensei, it's unlikely for us to get that information unless someone from our class gets expelled."

"As expected of you, Horikita-san. You can probably see where I'm going with this. Our class had the worst average during the final exam because we didn't have any tricks. More than a few students had near-failing grades, too."

We had the best average during the midterm exam because everyone only had to memorize the answers to the near-identical test questions Horikita and I got from a senior.

"Isn't your plan a bit counter-productive? If you're doing this with the investors in mind, then wouldn't you prioritize the students in the red, like Yamauchi-kun and the others? They wouldn't get the so-called benefits if they're not included."

"It's not counter-productive at all. Sudou-kun, Okitani-kun, Kikuchi-kun, and some other boys are also struggling in academics and these points will be readily used for them if necessary. Unfortunately, those four are just an exception because keeping the plan's secrecy from other classes is a higher priority."

"I can't quite agree with this, Ijuuin-kun. Are you saying that Ike-kun and the others will be ignored if they fail their written exams?"

Ijuuin smiled and shook his head.

"I apologize if it sounded like I was planning to abandon them. I've already mentioned this exact scenario to the other guys. If any of the excluded ones cannot afford to pay for their own exam points, then I'll personally step in to help. I'll just loan them how much is needed without mentioning the plan."

"I see... So you've already thought this far ahead. That's amazing, Ijuuin-kun."

"How much do you have in store?" asked Horikita.

"Everyone had sent their contributions a bit earlier, so there's been a spike of private points in my account. But I've already calculated the amount in advance. The bank is currently worth 4,870,000 private points."

"I see... That much from just thirteen students, huh?" Horikita faced Ijuuin with a sharp look. "So, why did you decide to let us, the leaders, know about this now?"

"You could probably already guess what I'm after, Horikita-san."

"Pretty much. You want the girls to cooperate, correct?"

"Exactly. I'm glad we're on the same page."

"Yes, I'm pretty convinced. I agree with your plan," said Horikita. "How about you, Hirata-kun."

"I agree, as well. Let us help you out, Ijuuin-kun."

"If it's convincing the girls, then Hirata-kun and I can probably make something happen."

"Thank you very much. Here's a list of the people I'd like to exclude." Ijuuin grabbed a piece of paper from his bag and handed it over to Hirata.

"Karuizawa-san, Sonoda-san, Rino-san, Maezono-san, Shinohara-san, Satou-san, Ishikura-san, Ichihashi-san, and Mori-san... That's nine. May I ask why you chose them in particular?"

"For the same reason that I excluded Kanji-kun and the others. Only two or three of them have problematic attitudes, in my opinion. But since they're all still friends, I cannot find them trustworthy as a group," he explained. "I know that it's quite hard to not involve someone like Karuizawa-san. She is the leader of Class A's girls, after all. I don't mind pitching her in if you can reason with her, especially with keeping everything in secret."

"I'll try my best," said Hirata. "Karuizawa-san will surely cooperate."

"I'm looking forward to it."

"Wait, Ijuuin," I called. "Ishikura should be part of Kikyou's friend group. Why did you exclude her?"

"Based on my recent observations, Ishikura-san has been hanging out with Karuizawa-san's group more and more. I think she's starting to slowly shift friends groups. Of course, I am also aware that she's still friends with Kushida-san and the others. We even saw her going out of the classroom with Nishimura-san and Inogashira-san earlier."

"Hmm... I guess that's fair."

"Anything else, Ijuuin-kun?" asked Horikita.

"There's still one last thing, actually. It's very important. You see, while I was out, I consulted Chabashira-sensei about a thing that you three currently possess."

"You must be talking about the Temporary ID," said Hirata.

"Yes. Chabashira-sensei said that we can do whatever we please with it. We can return it to the school or keep it for future use. The latter is needed for this plan to progress. Since transactions are very frequent, it's better for me to have an anonymous ID while doing it. I've already paid a hefty sum of private points to have the school remove all past transactions from my history."

"Deleting your transactions logs... You can't normally do that since there aren't any options for it in the app. So the school can do it for you as long as you pay for it with private points, huh?"

"Is that alright with you, Horikita?" I asked.

"Go ahead," she replied.

I wrote the username and password on a small piece of paper and gave it to Ijuuin.

"Thank you, Ayanokouji-kun. "Student #1100", is it? I suppose that would be my new alias for from now on."

"I guess so."

"Well, that's all that I needed to say, Horikita-san, Hirata-kun. I'm glad we've come to an understanding," said Ijuuin.

"It's no problem. Thank you for involving us in this," replied Horikita.

I got up from my seat and grabbed my bag.

"By the way, Ijuuin. I finished the latest volume of the light novel you lent me. Do you have a new one to recommend?"

"I have lots! Let's go ahead and visit Professor's room."

With the discussion pretty much over, I decided to take my leave with Ijuuin in tow.

"Wait a minute, Ijuuin-kun. Can I ask you one last question?" Horikita's voice stopped us dead in our tracks.

"Hm? What is it, Horikita-san?"

"Were you really the one who thought of this plan?" she asked.

Hirata seemed surprised, but he didn't say anything.

"I see. It does make sense for you to have doubts."

"I'm not trying to be rude, but frankly speaking, I think Ayanokouji-kun is the one behind you in all of this."

"Really? Right to my face?" I retorted.

"Well? Spill the beans if I'm right or deny me if I'm wrong," she said.

"I've withdrawn from the class battles, Horikita. I don't have the time nor interest to organize something like this."

"Is that so?" While she didn't look convinced, Horikita didn't press any further. "Alright then. Sorry for jumping to conclusions."

"Sure."

After saying goodbye, Ijuuin and I left the classroom without any issue, leaving Horikita and Hirata behind. The two of them will remain to close everything up.

Ijuuin and I started talking after exiting the main building. The sun was already down, but the light posts brightened up our way to the dorms.

"Ugh... Horikita had been too exposed to my past schemes. I don't think it would've mattered whether I was the one behind you or not. I'm sure she'd still suspect me," I sighed.

Technically speaking, I was the one who made up the plan, so I did lie. But everything else about what I said was true.

"Ahaha. Well, you didn't totally deceive Horikita-san, did you? It is true that you no longer have any interest in managing this bank plan."

"Yeah, you tell 'em."

Ijuuin laughed as he raised his head and looked at the night sky.

"From now on, I'll be the one who'll manage everything without reporting them to you. You've really withdrawn from all of this, Ayanokouji-kun."

"Yeah, I'm sure you and Professor can handle it. Of course, you can always tell me if it becomes a pain. I don't mind taking the managerial role again since I'm the one who pushed this onto you, anyway."

"I don't think that'll be the case. You gave us this role, so we'll take it seriously. And with the spice of keeping everything in secret, our boring high school lives just got more thrilling. I'm sure Professor thinks the same. We'll have to thank you for that."

"You're very much welcome. I'll take your recommendations as thanks."

"Oh, sure. I have a good one for you."

And with that, Ijuuin started to ramble about an upcoming light novel written by his favorite author.

Author's Notes:

Kouenji got his 500,000 private points on his own.

Kiyotaka was in contact with Kikuchi. He was the one "monitoring" Ryuuen that day.

Ijuuin Wataru, a new key player for Class A, Student #1100.

Vol. 5: Chapter 3.1 - Unguarded

One week passed and our class finally decided to discuss what kind of preparations we'll be having for the sports festival, which was about a month away.

Chabashira-sensei walked towards the back of the classroom after greeting us, probably with the intention of just silently watching. She said we could use our weekly homeroom however we wished, so this was the perfect time for Horikita and the others to discuss our strategy. Well, I say strategy, but given the nature of this event, options remain limited.

Our leader duo took the initiative and walked to the front.

"Fortunately, we only tackled basic physical training during our PE class last week. Before we start practicing for the actual competitions, we need to decide the specifics for our participation, like the order, or who the participants will be, especially for the recommended-participant events," explained Hirata.

"I've decided on what method would give us the biggest chance to win. We will be assigning our recommended participants based on their abilities," said Horikita. "If anyone is against this, the floor is open for better suggestions."

The class was silent. Some students started looking around, but in the end, no one spoke up against Horikita's proposed strategy. However, the frail-bodied students looked particularly worried.

"Now then, we'll have our most athletic students take part in all recommended-participant competitions. Of course, that's excluding Kouenji-kun." Horikita turned to the boy who was currently admiring his looks in front of a handheld mirror. "Is that alright with you?"

"Why, thank you, Horikita-girl. As you can see, I have no interest in this festival whatsoever. You people do what you like." Kouenji didn't even look at her as he responded.

"Yeah, we have no need for a freeloader like you," spat Ken.

"That's where you're wrong, Red Hair-kun. The word "freeloader" fits you and more than half of this class rather than someone as amazing as me," he replied.

"Hah?! You're the one who never cooperates! And you even fucked things up for us during the island exam!"

"Wrong again. A freeloader, in this context, would be incompetent, thus becoming dead weight. There was never a case where I, the epitome of competence, had shown incompetence. Beneficial or not, I just did everything based on my desires. There is nothing in this school that I am incapable of doing or overcoming, unlike you."

Ken might've been our ace for this sports festival, but his extreme shortcomings in academics make him a setback during written exams. Meanwhile, Kouenji has never struggled in anything thus far.

"Who the hell cares about that?! The fact is you're a liability to this class unless you work with us, meaning you're dead weight."

Kouenji finally stopped looking at his reflection and gave Ken a side-eye.

"It seems like your brain cannot comprehend even the simplest things, Red Hair-kun. I do what I want whether you like it or not. That's what happened in the island exam and in the Zodiac exam. It's strange for you to leave that part out... Ah, of course. That's because I've coincidentally done something that benefited the class. Meanwhile, your mind was rotting the entire time because you can't figure anything out on your own," he snorted.

"The fuck did you say?!"

Kouenji was technically right, but instead of dragging us down by being incompetent, his neglectful actions are just straight-up destructive. But he was also right about having the ability to get results as long as he wanted to. Kouenji always had excellent grades in every subject, including PE. His stubbornness was probably the reason why he was originally placed in Class D despite his abilities.

Kouenji faced Horikita and Hirata who stood in the front.

"I will continue to act based on my mood. Whether my actions benefit the class or not, I couldn't care less. I think you already have a word for me, Horikita-girl. What was it again...? Ah, I remember-- a "double-edged sword", correct?"

Horikita didn't respond, but her eyes visibly narrowed. Meanwhile, Kouenji went back to admiring his looks with his mirror.

"Hmph, I look forward to "working" with you lot. And by that, I mean letting me do as I please. Not that you can do anything even if you don't want me to."

"You bastard... Let's take this outside!"

After their exchange, Ken was ignored as if he was air. This pissed him off even more, so he stood up and started to approach Kouenji's seat.

"Sudou-kun, this isn't the time for that," Horikita immediately called out to him.

"But this bastard needs to be taught a lesson."

"That's fine, but do it after we're done here. You've already wasted a lot of our time, so please stay put for now. And if you're going to fight each other, do it somewhere hidden."

Horikita couldn't be bothered by their own personal conflicts. The only thing that matters right now was to move things forward. Her words were what I'd imagine Chabashira-sensei would say.

Ken could only click his tongue in frustration before facing Horikita.

"Hey, Horikita. I'll participate in everything. If anyone doesn't like the sound of that, you can meet me outside later on."

"We'll get to that later."

No one dared go against Ken when he was in this kind of mood. Well, no one except Akito.

"Don't go picking fights with your classmates, you idiot." Akito scolded Ken without batting an eye.

"Hah?" Of course, Ken was displeased by his words.

"Your quarrel with Kouenji is over and we're all being cooperative right now. Stop intimidating everyone with your hostile attitude."

Ken's eyes darted around for a bit before groaning in annoyance.

"You're being too heated, Kencchin. Just listen to Horikita-san for now." Haruka joined in with a gentle voice.

Ken glanced at the worried Airi and then at me before finally realizing that he was getting unnecessarily worked up.

"Tsk... My bad," he said, sitting down once more.

The class had not witnessed Ken's rage again since our first days. It was only thanks to Akito and the members of the Ayanokouji Group that his nature was kept in check. But now, Kouenji's provocations quickly popped a nerve.

"Thank you. Now then, I have a list of nominees for the people who would be in the recommended-participant competitions."

Ken was still in a foul mood, but he chose to shut up and listen to Horikita. The meeting finally started making progress.

"These are all based on the scores I've filed from your physical fitness and abilities during PE class, in no particular order. According to the date, Sudou-kun, Ayanokouji-kun, Hirata-kun, Miyake-kun, Makida-kun, and Minami Setsuya-kun are the most of athletic boys in our class."

"Sounds good to me," Minami said with a smirk.

"For girls, there's Onodera-san, Kushida-san, Maezono-san, Matsushita-san, Ichihashi-san, and myself."

"E-Ehh... I can't believe I got in..." Maezono felt noticeably conflicted.

"We'll be drafting two to three students per event before deciding on the final roster. The recommended nominees will compete for their spots while the class improves their physical abilities. Everything will be decided based on the results of our upcoming training. Hirata-kun and I have decided to push the creation of our participant list to the very last day."

"In other words, we'll optimize our roster to the very limit. Horikita-san said that it'll give us the biggest chance of winning. I wonder if everyone agrees?"

"Please feel free to give us suggestions."

Our classmates started murmuring among themselves.

"What they're saying makes sense."

"I guess Horikita-san's strategy would be for the best."

"Yeah... I don't really wanna compete against better guys in the recommended-participant competitions."

Karuizawa raised her voice and addressed the duo in the front.

"Isn't this fine? You and Yousuke-kun have already done the brainy stuff for us. I'm okay with just following the lead as long we win. And I'm sure we'll have a plan for those who are gonna suck. Right?"

"That's true..."

"Like, I don't really wanna think about it too much."

"Yeah, we don't really have anything to complain about at this point."

"We'll just have to do our best and place as high as possible, right?"

She rallied the girls which in turn rallied the rest of our classmates who looked unsure.

When the meeting continued, the three members of the previous exam's Dog Group were assigned to pay up in case we needed a substitution. And for extremely unathletic students like Professor and Airi, measures have been placed in case of the worst. We, of the Dragon Group, were assigned to cover for their lack of exam points in case they come off short. Of course, our help will still be very limited due to how expensive each point is.

Ultimately, the choices were sifted and I ended up getting drafted for the Mixed-Gender Three-Legged Race. Of course, some of my classmates asked Horikita why I'm only competing in one recommended-participants event, but she argued about my lack of stamina which I confirmed myself.

Of course, this was all scripted so I won't have to get as involved. We're already bound to participate in at least eight events, anyway. One more should be enough for someone like me.

That said, something was a bit weird about my nomination for that event...

"Does anyone else from the guy-nominees want to try for the Three-Legged Race?" asked Hirata.

"I'm good. Kiyotaka's got this," answered Ken.

The rest of the guys also went silent.

On the other hand, all six girls tried for the spot of being my partner. Some non-nominees even jokingly raised their hand trying to volunteer themselves. Because of that, I have once again become the object of the boys' dagger-like glares.

After Horikita and Hirata took some opinions from the likes of Yukimura, Kikyou, Ryuuko, and a few other classmates, our first rough meeting had finally come to a close.

"Well done, Horikita. It seems like you're shaping up to be a great leader. Of course, my praise extends to you, Hirata." Chabashira-sensei complimented them on the way out.

"I'm still lacking, Sensei. I can't be compared to Ayanokouji-kun just yet."

"Thank you for your praise, Chabashira-sensei. We'll do our best to meet everyone's expectations."

Horikita's plan truly showcased her will to win. She'd fully taken advantage of Ken and the other athletic students' strengths. One can say that her offense was sharp and airtight. Horikita's strategy was almost perfect.

If not for the gaping hole in her defense.

Author's Notes:

The main reason Shinohara, Ike's group, and some of the girls went against Horikita's plan in the canon was the lack of private points. However, being in Class A with an overabundance of monthly allowance, no one was really concerned about that aspect of the rewards, especially since they aren't that big in comparison to the rewards from the first two special exams.

Vol. 5: Chapter 3.2 - The Perfect Choice

"Kikyou-chan is hanging out with Hondou-kun again. Are you lonely?"

"Why would I be?"

"Oh, you. It's okay to be honest, you know? Your Onee-san is here to lend you a shoulder."

"You're just a few months older than me... But I guess you're still technically right."

"Yup, yup. So I'm all ears if you want someone to talk to."

I noticed Kikuchi and Mori walking together, but not in the direction of the dorm. I wonder if they're going on an after-school date.

"I told you already, I'm not sad or lonely or anything like that. And Kikyou aside, I'm actually quite glad about everything that's happening so far, especially with my increasing obscurity," I sighed. "Not that it shows on my face."

"Oh yeah?" Matsushita narrowed her eyes and closed in towards me with an eyebrow raised. "Is that why you and Horikita-san lied about earlier?"

"Ohh..."

Well, it's not like I expected anyone to truly believe that reason.

"You literally scaled mountains and forests during the island exam at frightening speeds. Some might not have been aware of that, but a lot of us were. There's no way you'd run out of stamina in a sports festival," she said.

"I know, and I'm sure Horikita knows that as well. I guess it was part of her plan."

Both of us knew how flimsy that excuse was, but I decided to play along.

"Hehh... Is that so? I wanna guess what her plan is. Can you give me a hint?" Matsushita smirked as her interest was piqued.

"Let's see... It's all about 'me', in a sense."

"That's pretty vague, but it doesn't go against my theory..." Matsushita put on a thinking pose as she walked. "I see... I think I got it."

"Oh yeah? Fire away, then."

"Horikita was testing the class, wasn't she?"

"Right on the money. As expected of you," I said.

"I kept thinking about it earlier. I really wanted to raise my hand in retaliation because there's no way that you, of all people, would lose in terms of stamina compared to anyone in our year-- maybe even in the entire school."

"Surely, that's an exaggeration."

"Is it, now?" she smirked.

"Whatever. Just proceed with your explanation."

Matsushita giggled before continuing.

"Anyway, I observed Horikita-san's face it seemed like she was gathering information rather than giving them. It was after she made you confirm your "lack of stamina" in front of everyone. The way she scrutinized us was quite apparent in hindsight."

"What kind of test was she doing, in your opinion?"

"It's not just an opinion anymore. I'm confident that it's an absolute fact." Matsushita put on a serious expression as she spoke. "Horikita-san wanted to know how much we trust your words."

"Hmm... I see. You're probably right."

"I mean, what else could it be? To be honest, I was also fascinated with how fast our classmates just accepted the fact you're suddenly less resilient than what you've shown us back then. They really trust you, almost blindly."

Matsushita can be haughty sometimes, but she really does have a sharp instinct.

Karuizawa, Horikita, Kikyou... They possess amazing abilities, but they also come with their own respective drawbacks.

On the other hand, Matsushita can probably do what they can without any risk, or at least, none that I'm currently aware of. If I think about it logically, she'd be the perfect choice as an accomplice for any potential plans. In other words, a perfect partner in crime.

Of course, I wouldn't really have to think about that right now, given my current position and goal. If anything, I can just think of Matsushita as the kind of person she is to me right now-- a friend.

I stayed silent while Matsushita continued to gather her thoughts.

"Wait-! Is that the reason why you stepped down-? Because you don't want the class to be overly dependent on you? So they can stand on their own?" she suddenly sprang up with vigor.

"Woah there, Ms. Conspiracy Theorist. Calm down for a second."

"Ah- Hehe, my bad. I kinda got excited there for a moment."

"It's fine. You've always been like that."

"N-No, I'm not!"

The answer was yes and no. Matsushita Chiaki was always the elegant and mature girl in the class like Ichihashi and Ryuuko. She was also mysterious like Horikita but in a different way. That's just how she is around other people. However, that couldn't be further from the truth when it's just the two of us.

"Sorry, but I'm often exposed to your adventurous side, so I can't even tell anymore."

"Ehh... I guess so," Matsushita shrugged it off in the end and smiled as if it couldn't be helped.

You could say that she was the opposite of me. I yearned for a normal high school life without much conflict-- a peaceful paradise where I can either keep to myself or hang out with friends. Matsushita could do that very easily, but she'd already experienced that kind of life during her middle school days.

As we grow older, we think of the future, our stability, and following our path in life. Matsushita wasn't an exception to that.

"But wouldn't it be thrilling? Having layers upon layers of tactics in your plans... Isn't that just so cool?"

But right now, she wants to live in the moment. After entering this high school and experiencing things as gripping as special exams and class rankings, a new desire was born inside of her. The competitive nature of our class battles was made for students with abilities to show off, like her.

That's especially true for someone of Matsushita's intellect. She was an expert in assessing people and drawing out answers from them. Her scholastic abilities, physical abilities, and social abilities are all excellent. There's no way that a life of normalcy in this kind of environment will satisfy her.

We're similar in the sense that we both dislike trouble, but unlike me, Matsushita was a bit more ambitious with graduating in Class A, especially since we actually have a solid chance of doing so.

"Thrilling, huh? I guess you hate being bored."

"It's not that simple, you know? If this were a normal high school, then I'm fine doing my typical honor student schtick. But this school is a lot more fun."

Matsushita looked ahead as the sunset slowly came upon us. The breeze was slowly starting to get cold.

"I see. Then you'd have to do your best in assisting Horikita and Hirata. I'm sure they're counting on you, too."

"It depends on what kind of assistance they require. I'm honestly tired of getting excessively relied on for our classmates' studies and whatnot. I wonder if hiding my abilities early on was a better move..."

Matsushita was on the fence back during the first semester, but I destroyed her cover when she tried to tease me. She was known as a smart student from then on.

In other words, it's partly my fault that she's forced to work hard for the class. But to be honest, she can just back out whenever she wants. Her place in the class hierarchy is pretty high, after all.

I know Matsushita won't leave her current post just like that, though. She needs to maintain the reputation she's built up.

"Ahh, we're here. Man, I'm so tired."

"Same..."

The two of us immediately got inside the elevator.

"You'll probably get spent a lot more starting next week."

"That's true," she sighed. "But get it together with your stuff in the festival, okay? You said you run really fast, so use it for the final race. I'm sure you'll lap over those slowpokes."

"Yeah, yeah. Nothing was final with what we discussed earlier, anyway. Everything can still be changed depending on how we do during practice."

"Of course..." The elevator door opened as we reached the 4th floor. Matsushita yawned lightly while waving her hand. "See you tomorrow, Ayanokouji-kun."

After arriving inside my room, I checked the notifications from messages and spotted Kikyou's name.

"She's getting really stressed out," I muttered.

Apparently, she's bottled up a lot of unpleasant emotions over the course of a month.

Holding out for this long might be considered good progress, but I'll have to lend her an ear as soon as possible. I gave her some reassurance and promised to hear her out tomorrow.

Vol. 5: Chapter 4.1 - The Grip Test

"Woohoo! More free time!" celebrated Ike.

Since there was a lot to do before the sports festival, our physical education classes would be used for practice from here on out, too. And that's exactly how we're going to spend our time from now on.

"Please line up. We'll be looking at everyone's current physical strength with a couple of tests," announced Hirata.

He submitted a request in advance and managed to procure a device for measuring grip strength. We're about to fill in our roster for the recommended-participant competitions.

"I borrowed two of these so we can split the class in half and save time. Yukimura-kun and I will be recording the results."

The boys casually made two lines of nine and ten, courtesy to Kouenji's unresponsiveness.

"What's that, Ayanokouji?" asked Kikuchi, who was lined up behind me.

"A measuring instrument?"

"I know that, dude... I'm just curious if you know the specific name for it. You look like someone who does." His all-knowing smirk is annoying and scary at the same time.

"What kind of judgment is that...?" I sighed before addressing Hirata. "Hey, Hirata. What's that device called?"

"This...? I actually don't know," he answered.

"Hmm. What unit does it use?" I asked.

"Oh, let's see... It's kilograms."

"Alright, thanks."

"Why do you ask?"

"Kikuchi was asking about it for some reason."

Kikuchi beamed at him while making a peace sign.

"Oi, Kiyotaka! I'll go first. 'That okay?"

Ken approached us with a scary look on his face.

"Uh, sure... Go ahead."

Yukimura's line started measuring their grip strength along with us. I faced Kikuchi, who was still waiting for an answer.

"You heard the man. The name of that device will be a mystery unless we ask someone who knows."

Kikuchi scoffed at me and shook his head.

"Hahaha, c'mon now. Don't me take for an idiot, Ayanokouji. You know what it's called, don't you?" he chuckled. "I know because you let your curiosity get the best of you."

This is why I hate talking to clever guys. I'm getting the same vibe as that bespectacled student council president from him. Just a bit more annoying.

"I see. I thought you wouldn't notice."

Kikuchi only shrugged his shoulders in response.

"It's a Jamar Dynamometer. It's pretty common."

"I knew I could count on you." He laughed while patting my shoulder.

He looked like he didn't even need the answer in the first place. This guy...

"Woah, 57.3 kilograms? You're strong, Sestu!"

"I think that's pretty average," Minami replied.

"Hmph, I'll put that record in its place. Watch this, Minami. Uraaah!" The competitive Ken wouldn't let Minami hog the spotlight.

His shoulders trembled as he tightly squeezed the device in his right hand. The numbers on the digital readout spiked in an instant. 50 kg... 60 kg... 70 kg... 80 kg... In the end, the measurement of his grip strength was displayed for everyone to see.

"82.4 kilograms?!"

"What the heck, dude? You're stupidly strong!"

"Ohh! As expected of Sudou!"

The boys got hyped up after Ken's show of strength.

"Heh, it's just 'cause I train all the time. Only natural."

He faced Kouenji with an arrogant expression.

"Hey, c'mon. You do it, Kouenji." Ken displayed his score at him with a provocative tone.

"I'll pass. Ignore me."

The guy was currently polishing his fingernails with a relaxed smile. He did even look at Ken as he blew on them.

"What? Ya scared of losin' to me or somethin'?" He was clearly trying to stir him up, but Kouenji wasn't biting.

"Tch..."

"Good job on stopping there," I patted his shoulder.

"That guy pisses me off to no end, but I'm better than talking to a brick wall."

Apparently, Ken got scolded by Akito yesterday. It almost escalated into a fight, but Haruka and Airi were there to stop them. I'm glad he's restraining his anger now.

"On that note, you'll be my competitor, Kiyotaka! Take this seriously or I'll kill you." Ken shoved the device into my hand.

"I know, I know..."

I glanced at the girls who were currently recording their 100-meter dash speeds which will be used as their basis for the Three-Legged Race and the final relay. From what I can see, Horikita and Kikyou were the ones doing the documentation.

The boys behind me were looking at the device in anticipation.

"C'mon, Ayanokouji!"

"Beat Sudou's record!"

"Ayanokouji should be really strong, but he told us that speed was his specialty. And besides, Sudou is jacked. It's a close fight, but Sudou will probably take home the victory."

Hondou's explanation would've been the perfect camouflage. Even if I didn't know the average grip strength of a boy my age, I can at least score below Ken. Unfortunately, I've made a terrible blunder in the past.

Ken was currently giving me a hawkeye's glare. He knew I was stronger than him in both power and grip strength, so it didn't seem like I can afford to feign weakness on this one...

"I see..."

"I guess that makes sense."

"Sudou does look like the more powerful guy."

"What do you think, Sudou?" asked Miyamoto.

"Just shut up watch," he spat.

And with that, everyone turned to me with a silent stare.

"Good grief..." I started gripping the device as I sighed. "Alright, Ken. I'm going all out, or even beyond that. I'll give this everything I've got. So much so that I'll probably never surpass the score that I'm gonna get here."

My sudden vigor surprised a lot of my classmates. It wasn't really on my character, but I needed to make that kind of show to make them believe that I'm going all out. Ken looked like he bought my act after he smiled and nodded.

"Ohh! Go for it, Ayanokouji!"

"Beat him!"

"Damn... I just looked it up, and apparently, the average grip strength of a high school boy is 42.5 kilograms..."

"Sudou really put a high bar."

I gripped the device with a noticeably agitated grimace, giving them the impression that I'm pouring all of my strength into it.

"Ohh! He's doing it!"

"This is insane!"

I stared at the device as the score went up from 79 kg to 80 kg. After doing some microadjustments, I released my hand and scored a nice 82.9 kg.

"Holy shit! He actually did it!"

"How was that even possible?!"

"Are you a god, Ayanokouji?!"

I heaved a big sigh as if I was out of breath.

"Phew..."

Ken walked towards me and suddenly grabbed the device.

"Oi, oi, Sudou. Don't get too pissed now. It was a fair and square fight, you know?" teased Ike.

That normally resulted in a death sentence, but Ken's focus was on my score.

"Hmm... Did you really go all out?" he said, looking skeptical.

"Yeah, I did. You think I'd get that score otherwise? I even felt my flesh and bones start to tear apart," I replied.

"What are you talking about, Sudou?"

"Kiyotaka beat me in an arm wrestling match-- easily. Of course, I'd be surprised if our gap isn't that wide."

"What?!"

"He beat you in arm-wrestling?!"

The boys erupted in instant. Even the other line started to scatter towards us after hearing that.

"I told you, it's my technique. That's what matters when you're up against someone of similar strength," I explained.

"Well, I guess so..."

My excuses made sense, but I'm starting to dislike the current atmosphere.

"Everyone, let's move on with it, please." After recording my result, Hirata finally came to my rescue.

I hung out with Ken and the other guys who finished first. The girls were done with their test, too.

"Hey, Ayanokouji. Can you pass this on to Ike over there? He and Yamauchi are the only ones left in our line. Well... if you exclude Kouenji." Ueno gave me the device with a listless look.

It didn't seem like he was thrilled about this whole thing. I feel him.

"Sure."

I walked toward the two who were busy chatting it out.

"Are you okay, Mori-san? You look really pale."

"I-I'm okay... Just a bit tired, I guess."

"Let's line up, Sana-chan."

"Wait a minute, my shoelace is untied."

I passed by a bunch of girls who were doing their own things.

"How was it, Kikyou-chan?"

"Oh, it was alright. Everyone did their best."

"Ehh. How about you? Did you place well?"

"Fortunately, yes. I think I got lucky, though."

"Pfft, you're being humble again. We all know how athletic you are."

On the way, I also heard Hondou chatting casually with Kikyou. It seems like it went well on their end. Now that I think about it, I can't afford to hold back in this next test either...

"Ike, Yamauchi, take this and get your measurements. Then get Hirata to record your results."

"Ohh, is everyone done now?"

"Alright, it's my time to shine! Let's do this Haruki!"

They seem pretty excited. I hope they don't rig their results, though, not that Hirata would let that happen. I planned to walked away, but Ike suddenly called out to me.

"Huh? Hey, Ayanokouji! How do you reset this thing? I think it's broken," he said.

"Yeah, it's broken. It says 126.3 kilograms on the display. How do you put it back to zero?" asked Yamauchi.

"Ahh, it's not broken. Maybe there's a bug on the display. Just restart the entire device. There should be a button for it at the top," I replied.

"Ohh, I think it's this button... Yep, it is. Thanks dude."

I should probably start warming up. I can see the other guys do so, as well.

Author's Notes:

Kiyotaka originally didn't know the specific name of the device, so he had to ask Hirata what unit it uses to know whether it was a Jamar Dynamometer (kilograms) or a Martin Vigorimeter (kilopascals). Of course, Kikuchi took note of that fairly easily and concluded that Kiyotaka did indeed know what it was. He wouldn't have noticed it if Kiyotaka didn't let his curiosity get the best of him, as Kikuchi had stated.

Vol. 5: Chapter 4.2 - The Sprinting Test

"Thanks, Hirata-kun." Horikita took the two devices and faced the girls. "Alright. Before we do the grip test, I want everyone to rest up and regain their strength."

The girls started withdrawing to the side of the athletic grounds. The boys started lining up for the sprinting test. For that, we will do a simple 100-meter dash, just like the girls.

"How are the results, Hirata?" asked Ken.

"Ah, Sudou-kun. Well, it didn't really change much after you and Ayanokouji-kun set the standards."

He then showed us the complete record.

"Geh... You guys are weak," he said.

"Well, compared to the two of you, I guess we are," smiled Hirata.

"That's a ridiculously large gap between the top two and the rest of us..." muttered Yukimura.

"Hehe. How does it feel, Yukimura? To be finally below us at something?" Ike teased Yukimura as he put his arm around his shoulder.

Yamauchi was beside him, wearing the same smug expression.

"I couldn't care less. I'm aware of my own strengths and weakness," he replied, removing Ike's arm.

"You're seriously celebrating that?" Akito left them a contemptuous comment before lining up.

"Isn't that pretty lame, Ike and Yamauchi?" Now they're the ones getting teased-- by Kikuchi, no less?

He then muttered under his breath.

"Anything just to inflate those pathetic little egos, huh?"

Failing to hear his next words, the two continued to retaliate.

"H-Hey, you gotta celebrate every win, right? No matter how small!"

"That's right!"

Well, it's rare for them to get a win in general. Especially against the number one student in class in terms of academics.

I got in line and noticed the increasing frequency of someone's glances.

"I wasn't even using my full strength," said Yamauchi.

"Off with your excuses, Haruki. You're just weak. Same for you, Ryoutarou!" countered Ike.

"It was literally half a kilogram. I didn't even try," Hondou replied.

"Shut up, you three. You didn't even come close to mine," followed Miyamoto.

"Now that I think about it, I'm surprised you were that strong, Soshi."

"Maybe you were gripping so hard that some poop came out?"

Okitani and Onizuka joined in on their conversation.

"Alright, alright, line it up. Let's get this over with!" Sudou yelled and took the lead with Hirata.

The boys warmed up and started getting ready. We were assigned to use the athletic grounds that weren't adjacent to the main building, so we didn't have to worry about getting spied on. It was the perfect time to decide on the Recommended Participants roster. That was the case for every class during the first week of preparation.

"Is everything good over there, Yukimura-kun?" asked Hirata.

"Yeah, I'm ready to go," Yukimura answered, holding the stopwatch.

"Kiyotaka, let's compete!" yelled Ken.

"I'm actually going to pass this time. I don't feel like running," I replied before approaching Hirata. "I'll be around the water station if you wanna look for me."

"Alright. See you later."

I walked toward the drinking area and refreshed myself. I waited for a short minute before seeing someone else come around.

"Hey, Kikyou. It's been a while."

"Kiyotaka-kun..." She slowly walked in my direction before speeding it up to a jog.

Kikyou hugged me, but her expression went dark.

"It's really been a while, huh?"

"I feel so heavy... I wanted to release all of my emotions long ago, but I couldn't risk it. I'm glad I waited for you."

"I'm sorry for not being there for you when you needed it. This place is pretty dangerous, but it doesn't seem like you can't take any more stress to wait until classes end."

"I can't... I can't anymore." Kikyou buried her head into my chest.

It wasn't like she was crying, but I could tell that her frustrations had gotten to her.

"It's alright. You can tell me everything."

The water station was on the right side of Gymnasium #2 while the grounds we were using stood on the opposite side. Since we have a whole gymnasium's worth of distance between us and everyone else, Kikyou insisted that I listen to her right here and now.

I expected her to take a long time picking apart who she wants to talk about, but her main source of stress didn't really involve other people... It was her own internal struggle.

"I kept thinking about it, Kiyotaka-kun... On and on..." she said. "Can I really change? Is that even possible with who I am?

Kushida Kikyou was the angelic idol of Class A and my devilish best friend. For her, she should be the center of everything, and she loves the attention given to her. She looks down on everyone and thinks ill of them behind their backs. However, I'm the only one who knows that, if I don't count the disinterested Horikita. On the outside, she was one of, if not, the most popular girl in our year. She was a role model, excelling in both athletics and academics. And in terms of appearance, she was among the cutest. But her most notable attribute was her ability to communicate. In terms of social connections, no one can probably top Kikyou. She was friends with everyone in our year and acquainted with almost every student in the school. And she's extremely popular with the boys. She easily managed to achieve all of that despite her true nature.

In other words, she shows one thing while hiding another, and says one thing while thinking another. Hypocritical, two-faced, cruel, poisonous-- you can describe her with a lot of denouncing words. If you're aware of her true nature, you could only agree.

However, the most interesting thing about Kikyou was her ability to be rational and meticulous about having this mindset. Her traits weren't unique in any way. In fact, someone like her is pretty common in society. They think of themselves as the main character of the world, acting nice while looking down on others to get that sweet sense of superiority, inflating their "pathetic little ego", from Kikuchi's words. They think they're the smartest person in the room, constantly trying to one-up anyone who takes the spotlight in their headspace.

"Pfft, what an idiot. What is this person even saying?" they might think towards someone who's taking the lead.

Afraid of direct confrontation, their scornful scoffs are only found inside their minds. However, their nature is often exposed online. Arguments on the internet lay everything bare. These people are innately pretentious and prideful. Anonymity gave everyone the freedom to be as arrogant as they want, and you can often see online arguments flooded with these kinds of people. For them, it's not about reaching an understanding. It's about being the winner-- the "smartest" one in the thread, which they most likely aren't.

Kushida Kikyou was similar in a sense, but she wasn't as pitifully obvious.

She may have used the internet as an outlet for her true feelings, but it was her only way to vent. And she may have used her supporters to validate her hateful feelings but she didn't argue nor converse with anyone. She just relayed her stories.

The most terrifying thing about Kikyou was her undying resolve for her way of living. This allowed her to continually keep her true nature hidden from the eyes of the world. Pair that with her cunning and intelligence and you get the school's current freshman idol-- the perfect girl that everyone wants to befriend.

However, everything changed after she met me.

Despite not being in the same middle school, I managed to uncover and learn about her past. It was all thanks to Horikita's initial warning, but Kikyou didn't need to know that. I continued being her best friend, even after her true nature was exposed to me. It opened up new possibilities for Kikyou.

"Maybe having an ally was possible," she may have thought.

Kikyou knew my abilities firsthand. She was smart enough to conclude that opposing me was the wrong move. Therefore, the two of us continued being involved with each other as "best friends". After all, we were both beneficial to each other. She would lend me her power and I'll keep her secret safe while advancing the class.

Her train of thought eventually evolved.

"Should I start opening up to other people?"

The possibility of total change was unlocked, but it wasn't that easy. Kikyou had been the condescending and conceited narcissist even since she was a child. Being a genuinely kind person on the outside and on the inside wasn't a feat that anyone who shared the same circumstances can achieve over the course of a few weeks.

"Do you want to change?"

That question made everything clear to Kikyou, and that's precisely why I asked it. Her face started to make a grim expression.

"You still look down on problematic people like Ike, Yamauchi, Shinohara, or Karuizawa. But as you said before, there isn't anything nasty that you can say about your other friends like Inogashira, Mii-chan, or Ryuuko."

"Yes..."

"Saints don't exist, and I'm sure you know that. Insulting someone in your mind while giving them compliments is common for anyone. It's all about selecting who is who. I personally think it's okay... But that's not what this is about, is it?"

Hearing that, I felt Kikyou shiver.

"You lied about your thoughts on your friends. You lied to me, but you also lied to yourself. You look down on them as much as you look down on others. No one's an exception, not even me."

"Hehe..." she chuckled in response. "Ahh... This tone of yours. Other people wouldn't be able to notice anything, but I certainly can. The person that's hugging me right now... is the Kiyotaka-kun that instilled fear into me that night."

Kikyou slowly removed herself from my embrace and looked up to me, wearing a relieved smile.

"You really do understand me."

With those words, I can probably assume that I was right.

"I've been your best friend for almost half the school year now. Anyone in my position would end up with the same evaluation."

"Is that so?" Kikyou couldn't care less about that response and immediately went back on topic. "This is what I'm struggling with... and I can barely take it anymore."

As expected, her pained look earlier wasn't an act.

"I've never doubted my ability to survive alone. Even with things like the class competitions, this school was not any different. Graduating in Class A was a nice goal, but more than that, I want my high school life to be as fun as my elementary and middle school days. I was gonna go about my own thing without getting found out."

Someone of her caliber can make that happen.

"But everything changed after I saw Horikita-san on that bus. I couldn't have someone who knows my past be on the same school. I will never be at peace." Kikyou grinned at me as she spoke. "And then there's you. Just like Horikita-san, you're aware of my true nature. But even worse, you know about the entirety of the incident. Logically speaking, you should be the number one person on my hitlist."

We've talked about this before, but Kikyou was rattled with the idea of me leaving.

"You should've been... but I became dependent on you. You propelled the class forward with your abilities, and you became an outlet for my frustrations. An irreplaceable existence-- that's what you are to me now. Call it friendship or alliance or whatever, but this was the first time that I thought about coexisting with a person that knows who I truly am. And because of your reassurance, I decided to stop going after Horikita-san no matter how much I wanted to expel her."

"And so? Why are you telling me all this?"

What does it have to do with her internal struggle? Well, I may have decided to ask that question, but I already knew the answer right from the start. Her next words could only confirm it.

"Because before changing myself... I first thought about changing sides."

"Changing sides, huh? So in the end, you decided against that idea. That's why you're revealing everything to me, now, right?"

"Yes. If I did go through with it, I would've tried to temporarily betray the class. I might have conspired with Ryuuen-kun or Sakayanagi-san in order to expel you and Horikita-san."

"I see... That would've been the correct move if you wanted to get rid of us. Why didn't you go through with it?"

"It did go with a bunch of setbacks. My true nature will be revealed to my accomplice, and I'll have no one to vent my feelings to. And without you, this class is doomed, so I'll need to work hard in order to save 20 million private points for a class exchange."

"I understand what you're saying, and I'm glad you didn't betray us," I said, locking eyes with her. "After all, it would be a loss to the class if you were suddenly expelled."

Kikyou stiffened for a brief moment before chuckling.

"Please don't say such scary things, Kiyotaka-kun. I can actually see that happening, you know? That's why I decided to keep myself in check. I don't see anyone in this school who can match up with your abilities. I'd rather suck it up than force you and Horikita out of the school."

"Smart move, because even if you wanted to, you won't be able to do it."

"In hindsight, I guess you're right. It's just the reality of things. Someone will always be higher than you," Kikyou stretched her body with a moan. "Let's go back to your main question then. Do I want to change?"

By change, Kikyou was most likely talking about her mindset.

"Heehee..." she giggled. "That option was only possible because I sided with you. If I betrayed you and the class, I wouldn't even have thought of it. It's been eating away at me for a while now. I can't take it anymore."

"Looks like it. You should probably decide now."

"I've thought about it for a while, so I'll give you the gist of it to keep everything brief. The main reason why I'm like this is the fact that I need to act like a perfect girl in front of everyone, including trash like Ike-kun. It's stressing and I wound up getting swallowed by hate..."

Hate that spreads even towards her closest friends.

"If I try to change, then that would mean I'd get rid of my act. The stress would disappear, but I'll eventually stop getting as much attention."

"And people will eventually suspect your initial self as a fake if you change. Your reputation won't just stagnate. It's possible for it to deteriorate, as well," I added.

"Yeah, that too... Sigh..."

So this is what's been bugging her for a long time now. It's certainly not an easy decision to make especially after she's come this far. And it'll only get worse the more Kikyou tries to delay it.

"Ahhh!" Kikyou stretched once more but with a yell this time. "I feel a lot better now."

"But you haven't even decided yet."

"It's annoying, but I'll think about it more. Sharing everything with you was more important. I've been extremely stressed thinking about potentially betraying you and stuff. It was pretty nerve-wracking. Depending on my decision, everything I've built up might end up falling apart," she explained.

As Kikyou had said earlier, I've instilled a certain amount of fear inside her. The thought of going against me might've triggered some of the memories from that night, and her anxiety just kept on building up.

"We can continue talking in a more private place. The heavy feeling in my chest is gone now..." said Kikyou. "Now I can truly call myself your ally. I won't betray you any time soon."

"So you'll do so in the future?"

"If someone capable of expelling you comes around, then I might consider it." Kikyou's cute smile didn't match her words.

"I see. I guess that's reasonable."

"Are you kidding? I doubt anyone like that exists. At least, not in this school. Well, even if that's the case, I don't think I'll be able to scheme anything without you knowing about it already," she smirked. "I'll be on your side until the very end, so I want you to protect my high school life, too..."

"That was my plan from the start. Nothing has really changed."

A valuable piece and an important friend. That's what Kikyou was to me, and that's probably what she thinks she is as long as she's on my side. I guess that's true to some extent, but that'll depend on how useful she is. If Kikyou's abilities weren't proportional to the position I've given her, then she's as disposable as anyone else.

Author's Notes:

There wasn't actually any sprinting test-- at least for Kiyotaka.

Vol. 5: Chapter 4.3 - To Prevent a Disaster

"So that was your issue, huh...? I'm surprised you're not that stressed about anyone right now," I said.

"Oh, I am! But I'm somehow managing it. I guess it's not as bad as before. During elementary and middle school, my peers were a lot more unreasonable because we were young. For the most part, I can brush off the perverts and immature ones with a simple sigh. Some of them still get on my nerves, though."

Kikyou will be a reliable ally for the rest of my days here, so the recordings I have against her have lost most of their value now. In fact, they might become a liability if an enemy gets a hold of them. It's better to keep them somewhere safer, or maybe just get rid of them entirely.

"I see. You can talk about them later."

Kikyou and I started walking back to the grounds but...

"Kukuku... Ahh, man, that sure was something."

A man intercepted our return with a malicious smile on his face. It was none other than Class D's dictator, Ryuuen Kakeru.

If he'd been staying right where he's at, the possibility of him eavesdropping on our conversation earlier was very high. Kikyou's expression turned serious for a brief second, but she immediately switched gears.

"Oh, hi! What are you doing here, Ryuuen-kun?" she asked.

"Keh, drop it, Kikyou. The way you're acting is laughable now that I know who you truly are," he said.

Kikyou probably expected those words, so she didn't try to force her angelic act. She immediately dropped her smile and glared at him.

"Hehh... So you heard everything, huh?" Her voice turned deep and the look in her eyes darkened.

"Ohh-! That's it! That's what I'd like to see. I knew you were rotten in some way or form. This is really interesting."

"Answer my question," she insisted.

"You don't get to decide that." Ryuuen looked at his right hand as it shook lightly inside his pocket. His smile widened as Kikyou started to look more shaken.

"You recorded our conversation...? How dare you..." Her fists were clenched, but she couldn't say any more.

"Kukuku, don't you worry now. I don't plan on exposing you or anything. Trust me, I really want to, but the guy beside you wouldn't let me act as I please. At least, not right now."

"What are you planning, then?" I asked.

"You could probably guess that already, Ayanokouji."

"You're not going to expose me? Then what did you record us for?"

"I can answer that, but I'd like to propose something first." Ryuuen's smile widened as he looked at the two of us. "Join me, Kikyou. I don't know your past, and I'm not interested either. Ayanokouji and Suzune know about it, so you want to get rid of them, right? I'll help if you join forces with me."

"Huh? You eavesdropped on us, didn't you? I clearly said that I won't betray Kiyotaka-kun."

"Hehe, think about it. You can get rid of the only two people who know about your past. Isn't that your main goal?"

"Drop it. I won't join the likes of you." Kikyou rejected him without hesitation. "Now that I've responded to your 'proposal', answer my question already. From the way you worded it, it doesn't look like you'll use that recording as leverage to make me join you."

"I certainly can, but it's not the right move. You have two main weaknesses that you're currently hiding, Kikyou. One is your true nature, and one is your past. What I've recorded right here is only about your true nature. Exposing it wouldn't destroy you completely. However, it would've been different if it was your past. Am I right?"

Just by listening to that conversation, Ryuuen had perfectly grasped how Kikyou's weaknesses worked. She was visibly disturbed by this.

"Then just answer me. Where are you gonna use those recordings?"

"I was wondering why the two of you were taking so long. It seems like you got held up by a troublesome person."

At that moment, the class leader, Horikita walked into the scene.

"Ahh, Suzune, perfect timing. These two were doing some nasty shit over there. Discipline your classmates, will you?" he teased.

"Stop playing around, Ryuuen-kun. How did you even know we were here?" she asked.

We changed inside our respective locker rooms before coming here. Around that time, Ryuuen's class should be having lessons on a different subject. To know where we are on this massive campus, he should've started following us after we exited the locker rooms. But Horikita and the others didn't notice anyone around. Even I didn't sense any presence.

That said, Ryuuen completely ignored the question as he faced her.

"Since you're already here, I'll get straight to the point. We'll make a new contract while nullifying the other one. I finally got a nice bargaining chip to do so."

"A bargaining chip...?" Horikita turned to us with a confused look.

"Ayanokouji and Kikyou can tell you the story. For now, I'll be excusing myself. I have to make an appointment with your big brother to look over everything," he said.

It seems like Kikyou's question had been finally answered. She couldn't say anything in return and could only bite her lips in frustration.

"What happened?" Horikita asked sharply.

The two of us answered her honestly. We told her the contents of what Ryuuen might have recorded and the conversation we had with him before she got here.

"I see..."

"What do you mean "you see"?" Kikyou asked in a slightly irritated tone.

"I would advise you to not act like that towards me, Kushida-san. After getting a clear picture of your relationship with Ayanokouji-kun, and how this incident went, it's easy to tell that you're the one at fault here."

If Kikyou didn't insist on talking to me, then Ryuuen wouldn't have anything to record. That's probably what Horikita was saying.

"Just so you know, Horikita- san, I'm aware of that more than anyone else, but I don't want to hear you preaching to me."

"This is the first time you've shown your true colors to me without holding back. To be honest, I feel relieved."

"Ughh! Shut up, would you? The only reason why you're taking that tone with me is that you know who I am."

Horikita had known about Kikyou's true nature from the start, or at least, had some clue about it. If she didn't, then Horikita would've had good impressions of her, or even admired her. But because of an unfortunate coincidence of them coming from the same middle school, Horikita knew that her outside personality wasn't true and she looks at her fake act with contempt. Kikyou then feels like Horikita has something over her. That fact alone infuriates her to no end.

If Horikita didn't tell me about her back then, the same thing might've happened to me.

Wanting to solve our current predicament, Horikita decided to ignore Kikyou and faced me instead.

"Hmm... It's easy to guess Ryuuen-kun's plan after this, so we will meet his demands on equal footing. Do you still have the recordings from before?" she asked me.

"Yeah," I replied.

"Alright. We'll just have to make sure that he can't use what he recorded here against us in the future. That's fine with you, right, Ayanokouji-kun?"

"Sure. It doesn't really matter to me anymore."

Our previous contract involved forcing cooperation from Ryuuen's class in exchange for our silence regarding the truth about the sexual assault incident. However, we'll probably need to delete the evidence we have in exchange for Ryuuen deleting the recording he took earlier.

"So you're just throwing away the contract like that?" asked Kikyou.

"It was a blessing made from disaster, anyway. If we could make use of it to prevent another disaster, then I'd say it's a net positive. And besides, Ayanokouji-kun was the one who got it for the class. I don't really plan on using it myself since cooperating with Ryuuen-kun carries its own risks even with a contract binding him."

"To prevent a disaster, huh? So you're going to help me?"

"Why are you surprised? Your abilities are an asset to the class. If you can keep on doing what you're doing, then I'd join in on preventing Ryuuen-kun from exposing you."

"You're aware that your know-it-all attitude pisses me off the most, right? That's why I can't stand you," Kikyou spat.

"Is that so? You'll have to make do with it, then. This is who I am. It's fine if you can't stand me. It's not like I'm forcing you to interact with me, anyway. But as a classmate, I'd rather think of us as allies."

"You're free to think that. But my only true ally is Kiyotaka-kun. I want to make that clear."

"That's alright, as long as we're not against each other."

Kikyou clicked her tongue and walked away.

"I'll be going ahead."

Horikita and I followed suit, but our pace was much slower.

"Kikyou really doesn't like you," I commented.

"Looks like it," she sighed.

"That's just her personality. Because you know something about her past and her true nature, it's inevitable for her to feel some sort of inferiority. For someone like her, who thinks she's above everyone else, she'll never tolerate feeling like she's below someone. It doesn't matter if you're against her or not."

"How childish."

"That's rich coming from you."

Horikita tried to elbow me, but I managed to dodge it. She didn't say anything back, probably because she knew I was right.

"Do you think she won't betray us?" she suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

"Does it matter what I think?"

"Don't dodge the question."

"To be honest, only time will tell. She won't betray me-- at least not right now. But whether or not she will betray you and the class is a different story. I did tell her to not go after you a long time ago, but I guess you'll have to work for it to make sure."

"Can't you keep her in check?"

"Maybe. I don't really feel like getting involved."

Horikita rolled her eyes, but she didn't complain. She was aware of my current stance as an observer-- a normal student of Class A. She knew that forcing me to do something was futile.

"By the way, about the data you were collecting earlier..."

"We won't keep them or submit them to the teacher, so they won't go public. Don't worry."

It seems like she knew what my concern was. That's convenient. The only way for that information to spread was via rumors. After all, the energetic boys in my class know about it. There's no guarantee that they won't blabber to the other classes.

"Hey, Kiyotaka, Horikita!" called Ken.

The two of us finally got back. Ken asked me to run, but I told him that I didn't want to. He complained for a while, but that was the end of it. Hirata ended up adding me to the final relay, though.

Vol. 5: Chapter 5.1 - Alteration

Our class started practicing independently during the free periods. This time, we made our way toward the athletic grounds adjacent to the main building.

"Woah, check it out..." Ike was wearing an unpleasant expression as he stared back at the students who were watching us from their classroom windows. "That's Ichinose-san's class, right? Class B is checking us out, too."

"You can really feel the pressure," added Yamauchi.

"We're training in such a conspicuous place. It's only natural for us to be watched. I'm sure you'd do the same if you were in their position," Hondou shrugged them off with a composed response.

"You're pretty confident, Ryoutarou."

"It's no use being a scaredy-cat. We're Class A now, remember?"

Miyamoto jumped at him with a laugh.

"What's with you, Ryoutarou? You're being really cool, lately!" he said.

"The heck are you talking about?"

"Yeah... I just noticed it, but you've been talking to a lot of girls this week..." said Yamauchi.

"That's not it. Kikyou-chan's close with everyone, right? That's the only reason why I get to talk with Nishimura-san and the others more often."

"You idiot! The fact that you're so close to Kikyou-chan lately... Kuu-! I'm so jealous!" Ike cried in agony.

"Is your popular phase starting to come? You, of all people?!"

"Shut up, Haruki! I don't wanna hear that from you!" replied Hondou.

The four of them were having fun talking to each other, but I hope they get on with their training. I glanced at another part of the place and saw Professor and Ijuuin having a conclave-like meeting with a lot of the guys. I walked toward them to say hi.

"Ohh, Ayanokouji, hey there!" Kikuchi was the first one who noticed me.

"What are you guys up to?" I asked.

I can see that they were doing some stretches and limb swings.

"The usual. We're just chatting about anime and stuff. Ah, don't get it wrong, though. We're doing our warm-ups while talking," he explained.

"Then just say you're warming up, dude..."

"Ahaha, that's true. But we're more immersed in our talks, so it'd feel like a lie."

Professor and Ijuuin were the experts in terms of general knowledge, but several guys in our class are also into anime, manga, and the like. In fact, I'd say it's most of them. Even the lethargic Ueno knows more than me.

I guess that's the difference between having a delayed start and consuming such media from childhood.

"Hey, you guys! What's up?" Hondou waved his hand as he approached the group.

The other three followed suit.

"Oh, Hondou. Wanna join our warm-up session?" asked Sugawara.

"That's obvious... You think I'd rather join those meatheads over there?" Hondou pointed at another group of boys who were doing their own warm-ups.

Ken, Akito, Minami (Setsuya), Makida, and Hirata... I guess the word "meathead" applies to most of them, though Ken has a different understanding of the word.

"Hirata and Miyake aren't meatheads, though..." said Okitani.

"Hahaha! My point stands, dude. Take Hirata as an example. He won't be there for long," he laughed. "Look. He's getting dragged away by the girls."

The boys looked at the scene with dispirited expressions.

" Hiwata-kyun~! Pwease hewp me warm up~! That's probably what they're swarming him for. Tch," Ike instantly showed his displeasure.

The other guys sympathized with him, too.

"Of course, Miyake will leave instructing the other guys to Sudou so he can hang out with Hasebe-san and Sakura-san. In the end, it's the meatheads of the class that are left."

"Sudou, Setsu and Sumu, huh...? I guess so." Minami (Hakuo) squinted his eyes, trying to look at the group with his sun-irritated eyes.

"What am I even listening to anymore..." Yukimura muttered from the side.

"So you're here as well, Yukimura."

The two of us put a small distance from the currently noisy cluster of guys. One group was getting jealous of Hirata. The other was continuing their anime talk. All while doing warm-ups.

"Kikuchi and Minami invited me to exercise with them, so I accepted. I didn't expect it to go this way, though."

"Really? Isn't this kind of development common for these guys?"

"Hm, now that you say that, I guess you're right," he nodded before facing me again. "How about you? I noticed that you haven't been able to hang out with the rest of the class lately."

Yukimura was in a similar position as me as a class observer. But he only usually pays attention to each student's academic development. So I never thought he'd notice the subtle change in our class's social biosphere.

"Ahh, I guess so. There hasn't been a lot of opportunities for me to hang out with some of our classmates in school."

Contrary to popular belief, my social interaction actually weakened a bit after the start of the second semester. There are a bunch of reasons for it, but I guess it's starting to become noticeable.

Of course, I'm still hanging out with my group, but my presence inside the class was dimming.

"Well, even if that's the case, I'm sure you're still our most respected classmate." Yukimura was blunt about whatever he says. It didn't matter if it was positive or negative. "Speaking of presence..."

He glanced at Hondou, who was joyfully engaging with the group. It seems like he wasn't only getting along with the girls. A lot of the guys really enjoy hanging out with him in recent days.

"Hondou's been pretty social lately. His change was so drastic that even I took notice of it. He's usually just chatting with Ike and the others. Either that or he's busy fiddling with his phone."

Those words carried a lot of weight considering it was Yukimura who said it.

"That's great, isn't it? He gets along with most of the boys, anyway. It shouldn't be that surprising for him to gain more confidence."

"Confidence, huh? I guess that's the word I was looking for. He's acting a lot like Hirata. He used to boast about his thin presence, but he got rid of that identity in just a couple of weeks. Maybe hanging out with Kushida helped him a lot."

"Ahh, you're right. Kikyou had mentioned that to me some time ago, as well. I guess her radiant personality had an effect on Hondou."

The boys started to scatter as they chose what kind of competition they'll be practicing for.

"That's great and all, but I hope he and his group put more effort into their studies. I'm basically useless in this school festival in contrast to Sudou, but at least the two of us are doing our best to cover our weaknesses," he sighed. "Alright. I'll practice the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash with Kikuchi-kun over there. See you around, Ayanokouji."

"Yeah, do you best."

More groups started forming from both the boys and the girls. As everything progresses, I'm sure our roster will get more and more optimized.

Author's Notes:

Thanks to Year 2 Volume 7, I managed to get a clearer picture of the class's relationship with each other.

Vol. 5: Chapter 5.1.2 - Making Contact

After classes ended, Horikita asked for my company regarding our encounter with Ryuuen a couple of days ago. The two of us were the only ones left in the classroom now.

"Did Ryuuen contact you already?"

"No, he hasn't. But I'm sure he will, soon. Nii-san wouldn't be leading his class this time, so he shouldn't be that busy."

"I guess so."

The two of us were staring out of the window. The orange sky was starting to darken.

"Say, Ayanokouji-kun..."

"Yeah?"

"Kushida-san hates me because I know about her true nature and it makes her feel like I'm above her. I can understand where she's coming from, but you're the same case... So why does she consider you as an ally?"

I can feel Horikita's genuine confusion. She faced me with a serious stare, so I could only respond in earnest.

"To put it simply, I made Kikyou accept that I'll always be above her."

Horikita's eyes trembled slightly before she mustered up her composure.

"I see... I don't think there's anything I can do to achieve that."

"No, there isn't."

Right now, the two of them can coexist while living in different worlds. But in this school, where classes don't change each year, the two of them are bound to interact closely someday. Whether the current peace crumbles in the future is up to the two of them.

If Kikyou was against me, then I wouldn't mind giving Horikita a hand in containing her. But since she wasn't, Horikita would have to deal with a potential threat on her own.

"Kushida-san may be an asset, but I will take action if she tries to betray the class. I hope you won't give her any special treatment."

"If you want to expel her for defecting from the class, then do so. Back then, I promised to protect her from you because I needed her to quickly advance to Class A. But I've already done that. It would be a shame if our class collapses, but I won't move for you nor move against you."

Of course, on the off chance that Horikita wanted to expel Kikyou for no reason, then I'd take Kikyou's side.

"You've really embraced your observer role, haven't you?"

"I think you got it wrong. I've been the observer-type from a young age. I just thought I'd change things up a bit in high school."

"Why not continue changing things up until you graduate?"

"We've been friends for a long time now. You already know the answer to that."

"Because you dislike trouble, huh?" she sighed. "I guess you never change no matter what your position is."

I don't think I need to change, nor do I have the ability to do so. And even if I wanted to, it wouldn't be easy.

"I don't think Ryuuen-kun will make contact with us today, so I'll be going ahead now. I need to submit a report to Chabashira-sensei. Thanks for accompanying me, Ayanokouji-kun."

"It's fine. I'll see you tomorrow, Horikita."

She nodded in response before exiting the classroom.

"They should be here soon..." I muttered.

The wait didn't even take ten minutes before the sliding door opened once more.

"Come with me," a familiar voice of a girl said.

I silently turned around and followed suit. I guess it's finally time.

Author's Notes:

I wanted to make a reflective monologue with Kiyotaka describing himself as "the ordinary, curious boy that wants to live a normal life and the wretched creation of an ambitious monster". Those are the two opposing sides of Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. However, it is yet to be known whether he's aware of this. After all, the normal Kiyotaka is really just a curious high school boy who wants to know more about the outside world. But the moment something threatens his peace, his White Room personality manifests simultaneously, and will do everything to dismantle his enemies.

Vol. 5: Chapter 6.1 - The Princess of the Playground

"The library, huh?" I muttered after figuring out the path we were taking.

The girl in front of me didn't speak a word. I can't tell if she was orderedto stay quiet, but for now, I wanna try making a conversation.

"You're Kamuro, right?"

"Yes, I'm Kamuro."

She didn't even look back as she responded, and she even sighed. I'm glad I couldn't see her face. My heart wouldn't be able to take it if I saw her rolling her eyes in annoyance.

But at least I got a response.

"Are you with anyone else?"

"No," she replied.

"Hm..."

Before I could mumble to myself any longer, the two of us finally reached our destination.

"You're not going in?" I asked after seeing her unmoving posture.

"She wanted to meet you alone, so I'll be going home after this."

"Ohh... I see."

Kamuro turned around without changing her expression.

I entered the library and admired its size like I usually do. I really like how it feels whenever I'm here. That said, the vibe wasn't as light-hearted knowing what's about to come next.

As I walked past the large shelves, a lone girl was sitting on a two-person table with a certain board game ready for play.

That petite stature, silver hair, charming smile, and prepossessing face-- this was my first time to be directly on the receiving end of it.

"Good evening, Ayanokouji-kun," Sakayanagi Arisu smiled at me with a nod. "Would like you to play a game of chess?"

I took the seat in front of her and glanced at the board.

"This should be our first official meeting. It's a pleasure to finally talk to you," she said.

"Likewise."

She gently took the digital chess clock and adjusted it.

"A 30-minute rapid game should be sufficient, yes?"

"I guess it's fine as long there's no increment. We don't want to be in here for too long."

"You don't have to worry about anything. I've already consulted the faculty about borrowing the library for a bit."

"It's a different thing when it's already past school hours. You must've used quite a bit of private points."

"How sharp." Sakayanagi put the clock back in place and moved her pawn to e4 before pressing the button. "Now then. Why don't we begin our little chat?"

e4

I briefly replied with e5to get things started.

e5

"Do you have anything that you want to talk about in particular?"

Nf3

"I should be the one asking you that. You're the one who called me here, weren't you?"

Nc6

"Fufu~, you're right. Oh my, how silly of me."

Bc4

The Italian, huh? I almost grabbed my dark-squared bishop, but I decided to move my other knight instead. (1)

Nf6

"Oh... I guess you have no intention of getting things heated," she smiled. (2)

d3

"That might be the case. I think it's better to have a nice, relaxing talk."

Bc5

"Is that so? I don't see why we can't do both at the same time."

"Well, it's your choice. You're the one with the white pieces."

"Fufufu. It's alright. We can relax in the opening if you want."

c3

After pushing her pawn to c3, the Giuoco Pianissimo was finally on the board. Sakayanagi interlaced her fingers as she laid back on her chair to talk to me. (3)

"So you've heard about me from my father, correct?"

d6

"That's right. He called for me during the start of May."

O-O
O-O (4)

"I actually have mixed feelings about that... Do you know how disappointed I was knowing that the element of surprise had gone to smoke? I would've loved to see that calm expression of yours crumble in panic."

Unlike Kikyou, her sweet smile did not try to hide her belligerence.

Re1

"To be completely honest, you might've actually caught me off-guard if it weren't for my prior knowledge." I ignored her developing move toward the center and pushed my pawn to a5. "You never know when you might get attacked from the side." (5)

"You really don't want me to play b4, do you?" Sakayanagi chuckled. (6)

h3
h6

"According to the chairman, you know where I'm from."

Nbd2
Be6
Bb5
Qb8

"Of course. That's precisely why I wanted the two of us to be alone. I assume you don't want any outsiders to hear about it..." Sakayanagi grabbed her light-squared bishop with a smile. "The White Room, I mean."

The first capture finally happened on Move #11. She confidently took my knight on c6. (7)

Bxc6

The moves we've made so far were pretty standard, but this one was a bit on the rarer side.

This could only mean one thing. Sakayanagi was prepared for this line.

My time ticked away as I started thinking.

"Are you surprised? From the start, I knew that you were going to avoid me."

"So you predicted that I would play these moves, huh? Of course, it was also possible for me to play other openings, but I'm guessing you've prepared lines for those, as well?"

"I had fun preparing them last night," she replied.

It seems like I have a troublesome opponent on my hand.

After a bit of thinking, I finally took the bishop.

bxc6
d4
exd4
cxd4
Bb6

The dust settles for that little bout. I may have the bishop pair, but Sakayanagi got a dominating center in return. (8)

"I'm sure you're curious about why I'm fixated on you."

Based on our phone call back then, she did give me the impression of someone who's interested in me, albeit not romantically. If I think about it rationally, it must be my abnormal identity as a White Room student.

a4

"That's a nice move," I said. (9)

"Thank you very much."

Her brimming confidence was a sight to see. Alright, I'll take this a little more seriously.

Re8
Ra3

"Fixated, huh? Do tell me your reason, Sakayanagi."

"Fufufu~. The reason should be pretty obvious. We have finally reunited. If only you knew how much elation I felt when I saw your name on top of the rankings after our first ever midterm exams."

"So that's how you knew who I was."

"I was surprised. I didn't think I could meet you this soon. I could barely hold my excitement."

"Seeing how Kamuro was the only one who called for me along with how she immediately left the two of us alone, I guess you haven't told anyone about me, yet."

Qa7

I played queen to a7, creating a queen-bishop battery to target her d-pawn.

Nf1

"I don't plan on doing so-- at least, not at present," she replied, re-maneuvering her knight to f1 and givingthe pawn a second defender with her queen. (10)

"I see..."

Sakayanagi would love to commence her attack on my king as soon as possible. After all, my pieces aren't that well-coordinated to defend it right now. Of course, I wouldn't let that happen.

d5
e5

After seeing me push d5, Sakayanagi narrowed her eyes before quickly playing e5. I let her take some more space in the center, but my knight was then allowed to jump in.

Ne4

"That's a strong knight, isn't it? Would you like to trade it off?" she asked, moving her f1-knight back to d2. (11)

N1d2

"Take it as you please." If she wants my knight, we'll have to trade on my terms.

Bf5

Sakayanagi smiled but she didn't capture my knight.

Re2

I stopped thinking for a second and opted for a normal developing move.

Rad8

This prompted Sakayanagi to think for a quick second in return.

"Wouldn't things be easier for you if people find out who I am?" I asked.

"Really? Well, it might the case, but I personally don't think so. If anything, people knowing about you would be quite the nuisance."

Nb3

"Nuisance? I thought that was only from my perspective. Why would it be a nuisance for a rival student like you?" I asked, pushing c5.

c5

She raised her eyes from the board and looked at me. Sakayanagi took the pawn on c5, and her unwavering smile told me the answer before she could even verbalize it.

dxc5

"Why would I let anyone else get in the way? I'm the perfect person to bury false genius."

"Is that so...? Bury me, huh...?"

I grabbed the white pawn on c5 and stared at it. I can capture it in two ways-- with my knight or with my bishop. However, only one of them is the correct way. One leads to a better game, and one leads to a trap set by the girl in front of me. (12)

Deliberately touching an opponent's chess piece means you have to capture it, but I plan to do just that. I placed the pawn outside of the board and I looked at Sakayanagi before grabbing my chosen piece-- the bishop.

Bxc5

"Can you bury me?"

She chuckled to herself without restraint.

"I'm sorry for laughing. I just couldn't help it." This time, it was her turn to grab my chess piece and play with it. "The more we play, the more I get convinced that you're the real deal. Well, it's not like I doubted it for even a second, but this has been my dearest wish. Seeing you right in front of me... It's just surreal."

Sakayanagi proceeded to take my bishop with her knight to which I take the knight back with my queen.

Nxc5
Qxc5

She puts her knight in the center and attacks my other bishop, but I retreated it back to d7.

Nd4
Bd7

"Your dearest wish, huh?"

"Fufu~. I've been looking forward to this, Ayanokouji-kun. My dearest wish... I will be able to realize it by destroying the greatest masterpiece that your father has ever created."

I wanted that. My defeat... would also mean that man's defeat. If Sakayanagi could destroy me, then she'll take the sad contradiction that I carried within me along with it. I wanted that-- I wished for that-- from the bottom of my heart.

As I lost myself inside my own head. Her next move was once again, a fast one.

Bf4

"I'm sure you already know, but... I've stepped down from being the class's leader. If want to take back your place as Class A, you'd have to fight Horikita, not me."

"Horikita Suzune-san, is it?"

"And she's not the only excellent student in our class."

"Are you talking about Hirata Yousuke-kun? Or Kushida Kikyou-san?" Sakayanagi let out a sigh. "I just want to let you know, Ayanokouji-kun. None of them matters to me, not even the likes of Ryuuen-kun or Ichinose-san. You're the one I want to face off against. That desire had only gone up the more I spend time with you here."

"That might be the case for you... but I'm done taking the spotlight." I said, retreating my queen back to e7.

Qe7

So far, Sakayanagi hadn't taken more than a minute to make her moves. She had around fifteen more minutes than I did. That's how far she had prepared. However, her smile dimmed after my move.

"Once again, you've found the best move." (13)

I've severely limited Sakayanagi's attacking chances, but she still made her move almost instantly. So even that was within her preparations.

Nb5

She attacked my c7 pawn with her knight and d5 pawn with her queen. If I play c6, I can attack her knight while defending the d5 pawn at the same time-- a logical move.

Or at least, that's what Sakayanagi wanted me to do. (14)
Bxb5

Not to be caught up in her schemes, I made the decisive decision to exchange my bishop with her knight.

axb5
Ng5

She took back with her a-pawn and I played knight to g5 to seal the deal.

"Do you want to wrap this up, Sakayanagi? I don't think continuing any further would make any sense."

"Fufufu... You might be right."

Using her time, Sakayanagi looked at the board for a couple of minutes before sighing in disappointment.

"You're cruel, Ayanokouji-kun. Did you really have to end things there?"

If Sakayanagi exchanges her dark-squared bishop for my knight, I can easily convert the heavy-piece endgame into a draw. If not, then no matter what Sakayanagi plays, she won't be able to stop me from posting my knight to e6. Once that happens, her chances of playing for a win are almost gone. It'll be a draw no matter what. (15)

"I never intended to win. I told you, I just wanted to have a nice, relaxing talk."

In fact, it was the best course of action to not play for a win as black. Sakayanagi's preparation was very deep. If I tried to go for the win and make risky plays, it might've not ended well for me.

"I calculated a lot of possible variations. I know you can play for an advantage down the line."

"That'll just make our positions switch. Even if I try to play on, I'm sure your skills are more than enough to hold the position."

Sakayanagi knew that I was right. She could only giggle before offering her hand.

"That was a nice game, Ayanokouji-kun. It seems like my wait for you was worth it."

"I enjoyed the game, as well. Your preparation was amazing."

With that, our little chess match ended in a draw.

After the two of us exited the library, the main building had long succumbed to the darkness of the night.

"This is my first time staying here until this late," she said.

"It's almost 8 o'clock. I've stayed behind before, but not this late."

"We're on the same boat, then. Doesn't it seem thrilling?"

"I guess so."

After informing the faculty about our exit, Sakayanagi and I decided to walk home together.

"Thinking about it now, it's really been so long since I've first seen you."

"So you were taken to the White Room back when we were just kids?"

"Yes. It's been quite a while. 8 years and 225 days, actually."

8 years and 225 days, huh...?

"I was playing chess during that day. I see... So you were behind one of the many one-way glasses during that time."

"You remember? My father brought me there and I saw you dominate everyone. I've been fond of chess ever since."

A small gust of wind blew which aided the sudden relaxing silence.

"To challenge you and defeat you... I wonder if you could grant me that wish?" she asked.

"We're already in Class A. There's no reason for me to engage in class battles any longer."

"What if you weren't in Class A?"

"I'm sure they'll be fine. We have more than enough class points, anyway."

Sakayanagi stopped dead in her tracks. I looked back and saw her dauntless smile.

"What if your class points were low enough...? Would that prompt you to make a move? I see it in your eyes, Ayanokouji-kun. We're the same. I find little pleasure in this boring school life. You stepped down from being your class's leader because there was nothing else for you to do. However, I can help you with that. I'll destroy your class thoroughly so you fight for them once again. And then, we'll have a nice and serious battle between the two of us."

This was her goal from the very beginning. And from the way things are looking, it seems like her plans were already in motion.

"You can't say that for sure. Unlike you, having a boring school life isn't too bad for me."

"That may be true... But you're not finished testing yourself yet, are you?"

She tapped into the conflicting feelings I held inside my heart. If she was the one offering to help, then who am I to refuse?

"Sakayanagi..." I looked her straight in the eyes. "Can you... destroy my class?"

"Fufufu~... As you wish, Ayanokouji-kun."

Author's Notes:

Illustration colored by Reddit useru/SlaveOfPriscilla.

I wrote the notations down as they did it for maximum immersion.

The following notes are for those who want to understand the nuances in their dialogue related to chess.

1. Kiyotaka initially wanted to move his dark-squared bishop to c5. But knowing Arisu as someone who likes to fight head-on, he knew she'd go for the Evan's Gambit; an aggressive and sharp attacking gambit for white. Kiyotaka was too lazy to play into that variation, so he grabbed his knight and played the Two Knights' Defense instead.

2. Of course, his hunch about facing an Evan's Gambit was confirmed after Arisu's comment.

3. This is the basic setup for a Giuoco Pianissimo.

4. The notation for King-side Castle.

5. If Kiyotaka reacted to Arisu developing her rook to e1 with a move that tries to reinforce the center, she will strike using a flank pawn from the side, which is the b-pawn in this case. This nicely ties in with Kiyotaka's dialogue.

6.If Kiyotaka moved his bishop to c5 on Move #3, Arisu would've replied with pawn to b4, aka the Evan's Gambit. Later on, Kiyotaka pushed his pawn to a5 on Move #7 to prevent Arisu from again, pushing her pawn to b4. Hence, her comment.

7. Bxc6 - bishop takes on c6.

8. This is the structure that Kiyotaka was describing.

9 . The move pawn to a4 had three purposes. Firstly, it prevents the a2 pawn from being targeted by Kiyotaka's light-squared bishop. Secondly, it locks his a5 pawn in place, preventing the dark-squared bishop from coming to a5 itself to use that new diagonal (with its current diagonal blocked by Arisu's d4 pawn). Lastly, the rook in a1 can now be lifted into the game.

10. The knight maneuvering to f1 is a common move in the Giuoco Pianissimo because of the given options of helping with the attack on the king-side or moving back to defend the center. This ties in with Arisu's probing words and attitude.

11. Arisu's pawn push took a lot of space, but Kiyotaka's knight became extremely dominant. It would've been ideal for Arisu to trade it off, but it wasn't that easy.

12. If Kiyotaka took with the knight, he would've been caught in a trap involving bishop captures on h6. With his pieces stranded on the queen-side, Arisu would start swarming his king after that piece sacrifice. Meanwhile, capturing the pawn with the dark-squared bishop forces Arisu to take it back with her knight because it'll be too strong if left on the board.

13. Queen to e7 was an extremely important move that really dropped the potency of Arisu's attacking chances. The queen's presence near the king helps out so much with the defense, making it the best tactical retreat and also the absolute best move. Of course, it connects beautifully with Kiyotaka's dialogue about stepping down.

14. If Kiyotaka plays c6, Arisu will have the initiative to take her advantage back. She even has the option of playing rook takes knight on e4, an exchange sacrifice that leads to her making an extremely powerful knight on d5, which will arguably be her most powerful piece in the game going forward.

15. Kiyotaka managed to exchange enough pieces and pawns to create an ultra-solid set-up around the king. Arisu might be able to capture the pawn on a5, but Kiyotaka has a nigh-unbreakable blockade on the king-side along with his passed pawn on the d-file.

This game was based on a match between GM Hikaru Nakamura and GM Ding Liren during the FIDE Candidates (2022).

P.S. - I'm not gonna lie. I was pretty underwhelmed with how Kinu-sensei handled the chess battle in the light novel.

It was by no means bad and I don't doubt Kinu-sensei's knowledge of chess, but I guess he was thinking about his audience too much. Since chess isn't that big in Japan (unlike shogi or go), he must've thought that going into detail would be a waste of time and space for the volume, so I couldn't really blame him.

However, I simply couldn't take Kiyotaka and Arisu's chess battle seriously with only the vague dialogues and spectator comments.

The final nail in the coffin was Kiyotaka's comment after the match.

"Your queen sacrifice was brilliant."

Bruh? That was the most 1000-rated evaluation I've ever heard (or even lower), not because it was short or simple, but because it was simply wrong.

In the match, Tsukishiro interfered somewhere around the endgame, but nowhere near the actual end of the match. Tsukishiro's supposed brilliant "second-best move" was beaten by Arisu's counter-brilliancy before she and Kiyotaka continued playing. A flurry of moves was made all the way until checkmate which Arisu forced via queen sacrifice.

"What gives?" you might be asking.

Well, all of what Kinu-sensei has written clearly told us that Arisu's brilliant move happened way before her queen sacrifice. The queen sacrifice was just the move that executed Kiyotaka. It's flashy, sure, but there was nothing "brilliant" about it. Arisu even pointed it out herself, but Kiyotaka's attention was on that queen sacrifice for whatever reason.

That scene made Kiyotaka look like a complete chess amateur.

Vol. 5: Chapter 7.1 - The Right Blend

It was a Friday in mid-September. Our practice was going swimmingly, is what I wish I could say, but nothing is perfect in this world.

"Hmm... I really am perfect."

Kouenji would probably disagree with me then. Good for him, I guess. I walked past the relaxing Kouenji and arrived near the track.

"Hey, Hondou-kun! Stop using your phone and start practicing! You too, Miyamoto-kun!" scolded Onodera.

"A-Ah, sorry! I just had to respond to someone. I'll be right there!" he replied.

"Ehh, I'm pretty tired already..." said Miyamoto as he faced Hondou. "Hey, Ryoutarou, you've been on your phone since we started practicing. I thought you were gonna show off your hidden potential?"

"Pfft, did you seriously believe that? I know my place in this world, Soshi. I've got no hidden talents whatsoever. I was just going with the flow when Haruki and Kanji were yapping about their goals to get girls," he shrugged.

"Haha, I guess that makes sense. But who are you chatting with? I thought you were going for Kikyou-chan?"

Hey, hey... I don't think you should talk about that when there are a bunch of girls near you. Even I can understand your conversation clearly from a distance.

"I-Idiot, don't talk about that here! I'm also practicing seriously, y'know? It's just that..." He started whispering to Miyamoto.

"Ehhh?! You're asking a girl from another class for help?!"

"So much for my whispering, you moron!"

Miyamoto sprinted out of Hondou's attempt to smack him and they started chasing each other around. I wonder if this could be considered practice? It wasn't long until they reunited with Ike and Yamauchi on the field. A lot of our classmates were having the same routine of chit-chatting in between their practice sets.

"They're finally here," I muttered after seeing two figures approach my spot.

Two girls finished running as they sat down on the grass, huffing and puffing from exhaustion. I crouched to their level so I can hold a conversation.

"Please... *pant* run faster. You're holding me back."

"I don't think that's possible, Horikita-san... *pant* I'm already trying my best. Onodera-san is a faster runner than me, but even she can't keep up with you," replied Kikyou.

"Are you guys having trouble?" I asked.

"Ayanokouji-kun? I didn't notice you there," said Horikita.

Well, sorry for my thin presence.

"Kiyotaka-kun..." Kikyou smiled despite having a bad time. "It seems like we can't find a partner for Horikita-san in the three-legged race."

"Looks like it."

"None of them can keep up with me. This is really troubling..."

Horikita uttered those words without a hint of arrogance or disappointment. She looks genuinely concerned.

"How many partners have you been with? I saw you running with Onodera and Shinohara the other day."

"Oh, I've only partnered up with the two of them. And today, I'm trying things out with Kushida-san."

"I see... What happened with the other two?"

"Shinohara-san immediately wanted to pair up with someone else after one run. Onodera-san managed to barely keep up, but she gave up in the end. I tried to encourage them to train harder with me, but it didn't work..."

She tried to encourage them, huh?

"Did they say anything else?"

"Hm...? Well... They briefly apologized about not being fast enough before asking to find another partner."

"They didn't tell you to slow down?"

"Tell me to slow down...? Uh, I think Onodera-san said something like that, but she immediately took it back."

"I see... So that's the problem." I looked at the grinning Kikyou who probably understood the whole situation. "Why don't you tell her?"

"Kiyotaka-kun... You know I can't do that," she replied.

"I might not be able to hold myself back from talking out of pure spite, and it'll risk my image if anyone overhears me... again..." was the continuation I could come up with from looking at her beaming face.

"I'll just tell her now, then." I turned to Horikita once more. "You're the problem, Horikita. You should've realized that by now."

"I'm the problem...?" Horikita looked worried rather than angry which exhibits her growth.

After a quick think, she assembled the pieces together.

"You think I should slow down for my partner. Is that correct?"

"I get that your idea was to be as fast as humanly possible, but it won't work in the three-legged race."

"That much is obvious. I know that coordination between partners is key. That's why I initially wanted to train until my partner and I are of the same pace."

"Yes, but that in itself is a problem on your end. You may recognize that you need to cooperate with your partner, but you're setting the range of their labor a tad bit too high."

Horikita set the upper limit and encouraged her partner to reach it, but alas, they simply couldn't. Her idea was to practice until they can eventually do so, but it was fundamentally impossible unless there was someone with the same speed as hers or if we had months to practice. Both options don't seem to be available for us.

"I don't think you have to worry about speed, Horikita-san. It's better to think about the harmony of our movements," added Kikyou.

"Not worry about speed, is it?"

Horikita thought about our words as Kikyou looked around to see if anyone was nearby.

"In other words, you're not thinking about your partner at all. No matter how much you encourage them to run faster, they can't just magically raise their speed to match your level. Shinohara-san and Onodera-san probably chose not to say anything out of their respect for you, but your method simply won't fly. I almost tripped a bunch of times because of your thoughtlessness. Would you take responsibility if your partner gets injured in an accident?" Kikyou elaborated her honest criticism with her usual angelic veneer.

"Your words don't match your face, Kushida-san."

"Fuck off," she smiled. "Ack-!"

I grabbed Kikyou's head and ruffled her hair as I talked to Horikita.

"K-Kiyotaka-kun, you're being rough!" she complained.

"Kyah!"

"Look at them!"

"I wish she was me!"

"Ohh, good going, Ayanokouji!"

"To touch Kushida-chan like that... I'm so jealous!"

I instantly heard some squeals from girls and boys alike. I knew that the cause was my casual skinship with Kikyou, but I personally didn't really care. I continued ruffling her hair like I usually do.

"Kikyou's right, Horikita. I know you want to win, but unless you pair up with your own clone, running at your top speed without any adjustments will only harm you and your partner."

"Now that I think about it, the problem was pretty obvious. It was foolish of me to oversee such a thing... Thank you for the advice," she bowed lightly.

"Kiyotaka-kun, you're ruining my hair!"

She grabbed my hand and glared at me.

"Really? It was already ruined before you got here, though..."

"Still! Geez..." She continued fanning herself before grabbing my towel. "Ugh, I'm drenched in sweat. Lend this to me for a bit. I doubt you'd need to use them right now, anyway."

Kikyou correctly guessed that the towel around my neck was still dry and clean. I haven't really practiced much today, so I didn't have to use them for anything.

"Oh my god, that's Ayanokouji-kun's towel!"

"Kushida-san is using it!"

"Kyah~!"

I thought my careless habit was the end of it, but Kikyou's actions escalated things even more.

"You can take that towel. Just give it back after class," I said.

Kikyou jumped to my side and whispered in a bewitching manner.

"You're free to do what you want with it later."

"Idiot," I replied, flicking her forehead.

"Ow-! That was uncalled for!"

"You're making the class even rowdier. Let's stop here."

She took a step back and waved her hand.

"Done flirting?" asked Horikita.

"Yep, so let's continue practicing, Horikita-san!"

Kikyou looked cheerful and enthusiastic, but I know that practicing with Horikita was probably the last thing she'd like to do.

Vol. 5: Chapter 7.2 - No Time for Breaks

During the night of that same day, my intention to relax inside my room was disrupted by a couple of sudden calls.

"Hello?"

"Good evening, Ayanokouji. Are you busy?"

The first person to contact me was an unknown number. But after hearing the other person's voice, I knew that it was none other than the student council president, Horikita Manabu.

"I was cooking, but it's alright."

"I see. I called to give you a warning. Once the second semester starts rolling, I will finally be stepping down as president. If you want to move against Nagumo, then you'll have to decide on your approach soon."

I sat on my bed and sighed.

"Then why not decide now?"

"That's ideal, but do you have enough information to make your best move?"

"Of course. For my source of that information... Well, I'm talking to him right now."

"I see. Then let's hear your inquiries."

"By deciding on my approach, your talking about whether I should fight Nagumo from the shadows or out in the open, am I right?"

"The fact that you're asking such a question means that you're considering another approach, correct?"

This guy, answering my question with another question. He's still as sharp as ever just as I'd expect from him.

"Yeah. I was wondering if I could just let Nagumo do whatever he wants."

"Based on what we've talked about last time, you must have a vague idea of what's about to come. Are you sure about letting Nagumo loose after he ascends to power?"

"A vague idea is just a vague idea in the end. That's why I'm still lying low at the moment. Why don't you just tell me everything that you know? Depending on your answer, I might just choose to fight him head-on."

Horikita Manabu scoffed as if he understood what I was doing. I wanted free information from him without making an effort, but I guess that's too ambitious of me.

"To be honest, I'm not against the idea of giving you every information I have on Nagumo. Unfortunately, I cannot help you when it comes to his true goals and motives. As much as I want to tell you, I'm not so sure of it myself. Only he knows what he truly wants to do."

"So even you can't get a read on him? Given my initial impression of Nagumo, I find that hard to believe."

Frankly speaking, I don't think Nagumo is anything special.

"You might be right, but that's just because we think too differently from each other."

It wasn't a matter of skill or ability. Their mindset and outlook on things were just too unalike. In other words, he doesn't find it hard to read him. Rather, he finds it hard to understand him. Of course, that's just speculation on my part. I haven't interacted with Nagumo enough to know just how different he really is from the president.

"I see. Then I'll accept any helpful information before deciding."

After a short pause, he finally started laying out the context for what Nagumo was potentially scheming.

"The school was built on the idea of meritocracy, but as you've noticed, things were never as simple as they were intended to be. While the ranking system favoring the class with the most points by graduation is still in place, a lot of incompetent and undeserving students are still able to experience those benefits as long as they belong to the winning class in the end. Meanwhile, amazing students with actual abilities are left defeated if they fail to carry their own class to victory. It's the glaring flaw of the current system that's been around since the school's founding."

"That's why harsher rules regarding expulsion were put in place, right? But, well, even if that was the case, preventing those expulsions is also a test of ability for each competent student. Pitting those students against each other was the core idea of the system, that's why each class, despite having different labels, may find themselves on an equal footing more often than not."

If Class A was really composed of all the Class A-esque students, then competition would be essentially pointless. And of course, competence is still a broad word. If the school really wanted competent students to compete, then finding 160 of them would be easy if they were searching for candidates all over the country. It wouldn't make sense for them to admit students like Yamauchi, who is generally incompetent in every sense of the word, or Ueno, who couldn't care less about the class competitions-- no offense to them. In other words, this school was more than just a meritocratic team battle.

"So you've understood this much in such a short time."

"It is true that I know more than what an average student should know. But in terms of understanding how this school's system works, I'm still pretty much ignorant."

"Hmm..." Horikita Manabu seemed to have doubts, but he decided to set them aside temporarily. "I'll take your word for it in the meantime. For now, we should continue with the matter at hand."

"That would be great."

"From what I've discovered, Nagumo wants to strip the school of what he considers as unnecessary policies. He wants students to be punished and rewarded based on their value. In other words, everyone will be ruled under meritocracy in a much purer, more straightforward sense of the word."

Those who don't have the abilities will fall, and those with talent will be forced to play. That's what this man had told back then.

"Alright. I get what kind of president Nagumo will be. But before I decide, I also want to know the kind of person he is."

"The kind of person Nagumo is, huh?" He thought for a bit before giving an answer. "His abilities are excellent. Whether it's academics, athletics, or social ability, Nagumo is pretty much unrivaled in his year. Of course, some of his peers might surpass him in one or two aspects, but none of them have tried to oppose him openly."

"That's quite the high praise, but I guess it makes sense. What about his personality then?"

"Nagumo likes to compete, but as you'd guess, he doesn't use the conventional method too often."

"You don't have to sugarcoat it. Just say that he uses underhanded tactics to get ahead. That's what we've been dealing with in Ryuuen, anyway."

"I suppose that's true. However, one thing I can say about Nagumo is that he always keeps his word. Or at least, that's how it's always been ever since he started challenging me."

"That's quite reassuring then," I shrugged before making a slight change in tone. "After everything that you've said, I still can't understand why you want me to stop him. Objectively speaking, his plans aren't that bad. It does suck that my peaceful life might be put in jeopardy, but without that bias, I don't actually mind letting him do what he wants."

"It's honestly not a plan that I'm personally against, but his methods will be fatal for many students. A lot of baseless expulsions are waiting not just for those who are weak, but for those who oppose him. I don't doubt his abilities as a leader, but his arrogance makes him a tyrant. A large number of innocent students had already been expelled just because they opposed Nagumo. It didn't matter how small the issue was."

So that's how it is. A desperate move to protect...

"In other words, you want me to stop a corrupt dictator in the making. Alright, I understand. I now have a general idea of who Nagumo Miyabi is, so I think that's enough information about him. Given your difference in grade, I doubt you'd be too familiar with his daily schedule or group of friends, so I'll do something about that on my own. For that, I want to know the bounds of what I'm allowed to do."

"You're using Suzune as a front right now, correct? You can keep using her as much as you want. I'm also allowing you to mobilize the third-years if needed."

"Oh, now that's one big favor."

"That's just how dangerous of an opponent Nagumo is. However, I am placing one condition. Any of your moves must not disrupt the competition between us third-years. I won't allow you to get involved in our matters."

"So I don't need to try and help you, even as thanks? That's really generous of you."

"I'm the one who sought your help, anyway. This much is nothing."

I initially intended to end our negotiation by using that exact argument as leverage, but he perfectly prevented me from doing so by pre-emptively offering the most ideal compensation. This guy really doesn't cut any corners.

"Alright, I'll make my move when I feel like doing so. Talking for much longer might put our positions in danger."

"I'm also in my room right now. If I used my personal number, then it might've been a bit risky, but this dummy number allows me to have a lengthy conversation with you. There's nothing to worry about."

He was usually the type to discuss things like this in person, but the opponent was someone who was too involved with him. The president knew that he couldn't disclose anything without running the risk of my existence getting noticed by Nagumo.

"I understand. I'll take care of Nagumo. And for my approach, I'll play with him from behind the curtains."

"Yes. I knew this would be a good time. After all, you've resigned yourself from the class competitions among your grade."

"Yep, but it won't be for long. In the near future, the class would need my assistance again."

"Is that so? Well, you can always put matters involving Nagumo down your priority list. It's enough that you've acknowledged this request of mine. Goodbye."

Without giving me the chance to reply, the president abruptly ended the call. That's when I noticed something strange about my notifications.

*Ring!*

"I haven't even sighed yet..." My phone rang with a familiar caller ID. "Well at least, it's not an unknown number."

"Ayanokouji-kun?"

"What's up Horikita? You've called me a bunch of times now. Sorry about that."

10 missed calls-- That's a lot, especially if I consider that it's Horikita.

"I knew you were on a different call, but it was urgent, so I decided to not wait. Are you free tomorrow?"

"Are you perhaps asking me out on a date, Horikita-san?" I replied, slightly imitating the great Professor.

"What? Stop joking around. It's Ryuuen-kun. He has finally decided to make contact."

Speak of the devil. Welp, it was only a matter of time, anyway.

"I see. Ryuuen, huh? Alright, I'll go with you."

"Okay. Is there anything we need to prepare for?" she asked in a slightly worried tone.

"That kind of thing is up to you. I'm just here to follow your instructions. Don't forget, Horikita. You're the leader now, not me."

She paused for a moment before regaining her composure.

"Hmm... You're right, my bad. Let me think about this for a bit. I'll call you again if anything comes up."

"Sur-"

*Beep...*

Once again, the call was abruptly ended before I could say anything. Those siblings... I wonder if this kind of thing runs in their family...?

Vol. 5: Chapter 8.1 - I Don't Really Care

I was asked to come by the student council room around this time, but I don't really see anyone around the hallway.

"Oh, it's you."

Of course, that didn't last long after Ibuki came walking in the direction I was from.

"Did Ryuuen ask you to come here?" I asked.

"Obviously. I wouldn't have any business here otherwise. What about you?"

Before I could respond, the door finally opened and a pair of students came out of the room with Secretary Tachibana accompanying them. Of course, they were none other than Horikita and Ryuuen.

"Well then," she bowed slightly before closing the door once more.

"Oh, Ayanokouji. How's Kikyou doing?" he asked.

"She's cleaning her room," I replied.

"So the two of you went ahead on your own, huh?" said Ibuki.

"Kukuku. That goes without saying. As a lackey, you don't really have a place inside that room," shrugged Ryuuen.

"I'm nobody's lackey!" she spat.

The four of us started walking. We were supposed to have our talk around the resting area near the track and field.

Ryuuen stayed relaxed and unguarded as he stole glimpses from the unsurveilled hallways without cameras hidden on the ceiling. It almost felt like he had fully memorized which specific hallways didn't have any cameras monitoring them.

"The deal's over Ayanokouji-kun. We've removed all copies of the recordings that we had. If the school finds out that we're hiding any extra copies, the new contract states that the perpetrator will be penalized with expulsion, along with a deduction of 500 class points," explained Horikita.

"That's pretty hardcore."

"It's a fitting punishment for the desperate, don't you think?" Ryuuen said. "I'm quite satisfied with the terms. The damage that our recordings would've dealt to each other wasn't equal, to begin with. A lot of us might've been suspended or even expelled. Meanwhile, only Kikyou would take a hit on your end."

"What? Is there something up with that Kushida girl?" asked the confused Ibuki.

"The deal might've been in your favor, but I hope you'd refrain from talking about the details from now on," I sighed.

"Kukuku. Sure, that's my bad," he replied before facing Ibuki. "You heard what he said, Ibuki. I can't answer your question. I still have taste despite being their enemy."

"Stop your gloating, Ryuuen-kun. We were also forbidden from verbally spreading anything as a condition. Even if you tell your classmates secretly, in the off chance that the information metastasizes to the student body, you and all of your accomplices will suffer the punishment."

"How scary," Ryuuen scoffed, turning to us with an insidious grin. "But don't bother wasting your breath to remind me, Suzune. I don't really care either way. Regarding Kikyou's little secret... Well, she doesn't need to worry about me."

No, she doesn't-- Not you, at least.

"Hey, Ayanokouji. Are you seriously stepping down?" Ibuki asked out of nowhere.

"Oi, Ibuki. I called you here as a listener and a witness, so all you need to do is shut up. If I wanted someone to run their mouth off, I would've brought Kaneda or Hiyori."

"I know that, but I don't see an opportunity where I can ask him this question again anytime soon. I just want an answer."

Instead of bantering with Ryuuen, Ibuki gave him a serious response. Hearing that, Ryuuen glanced at me.

"I'm no longer a leader. Like you, I'm just a regular member of my class," I answered.

"Why? Do you seriously think you've won just because you're in Class A now? We're just starting the second semester, you know?!" Ibuki unconsciously raised her voice.

"You've misunderstood something. It's not about me winning or anything like that. I'm just tired of standing at the forefront."

"Heh, so now you're just a callboy for that girl?" she scoffed.

"Who knows?"

A callboy, huh? That would defeat the purpose of my decision to step down. I can't call myself free if I'm at the beck and call of another person. I'm just here because I wanted to. I can easily decline Horikita's request and she wouldn't be able to do anything about it. Of course, I have no obligation of explaining any of that to Ibuki.

"Tsk... Why do you like pretending to be a harmless sheep?"

"We've talked about this before, Ibuki. "It's not like you advertise your fighting skills in front of others, right?" Those were the same exact words I've told you before. And the answer should be obvious for someone like you."

"I know! It's so you can keep your enemies' guards low when they're around you. I know that. That's the basics of the basics. But it's just so... frustrating..."

As a girl, she knew full well how it felt to be seen as weak, to be underestimated, to not be taken seriously. That's probably why she's so adamant about wanting to see me go all out against her class-- against her. By keeping my weak act, she feels like I'm looking down on her. Ibuki probably hates that more than how Ryuuen treats her.

"I can't really do much about your frustration, Ibuki. I just want to attend this school like a normal person. I'm sorry, but I don't care how my decision makes you feel."

It was an honest, yet cruel response.

We finally reached the resting area and I gladly took a seat under the shade.

"Forgive her, Ayanokouji," smirked Ryuuen. "Ibuki was the one watching our little fight on the island, right? As a fighter, she's intrigued by how strong you really are, both brain and brawn. Of course, it's the same for me. Kinda sucks to be left hanging without an answer, don't you think?"

"That's not my problem. I'm not interested in going to war."

"And that's also why I'm personally bringing the war to you. I'm sorry, but I don't care how my decision makes you feel."

"He got you there, Ayanokouji-kun," sighed Horikita. I don't know if she was sarcastic or just unamused, but her tone lacked any feelings.

"He sure did," I replied.

You don't have to worry, Ryuuen. I already knew that right from the start.

"Are you done now? I'd like to get things going, if possible." Horikita sat beside me and put the papers on the table.

"Seems like it. Go ahead, Suzune."

Ryuuen glanced at Ibuki who took a seat while clicking her tongue.

The atmosphere instantly shifted to a more business-like vibe thanks to Horikita.

"There's one thing that I'd like to confirm, and that's your stance on the sports festival. Since you really want to fight us, it's a shame that we're on the same side. We could get a clean win against Class B and Class C by fully cooperating with each other, but I personally think that working with you is a bad idea. You betrayed Katsuragi-kun during the Deserted Island Exam. Who's to say you won't do the same thing with us for the sports festival?"

"Ohh, that's certainly a valid point. Truly a valid point." Ryuuen nodded merrily, looking pleased.

"Yes, but I'm still willing to cooperate if you yourself are willing to do so. Of course, I'll be setting up countermeasures in case you betray us."

"Hehe, don't bother. I'm not interested in any of your bullcrap. Class D will be doing its own thing. If our athletic students end up clashing with each other, then so be it. We'll be taking first place, anyway."

Ryuuen crossed his legs and leaned back, openly showing his disinterest. A stark contrast to his earlier attitude.

"Hmph, I wonder where your confidence is based from?" commented Horikita.

"You should get used to it by now," he sighed "This meeting seems pretty pointless, Suzune. You could've just asked me on the phone and I'd give you my short and honest answer."

Ryuuen stood up. He's probably done listening to whatever Horikita has to say.

"This is your leader now, Ayanokouji? What a waste of time," said the displeased Ibuki.

"Do you have any problem with me, Ibuki-san?"

"Not really. I just don't see you worth following, that's all."

"Could I interpret that as you saying you're better than me?"

"Interpret my words however you want. I don't really care."

"I see. I just find it amusing that you're running your mouth despite achieving nothing but failure." Horikita bit back.

She had ammunition. After all, she knew how I led Ibuki around by the nose during the island exam.

"Hah? Are you picking a fight with me?"

"That should be my question. Your words have no basis. I recognize that Ayanokouji-kun is a much better leader than me, but I don't want to hear that from someone incompetent like you."

Ibuki angrily walked toward the unfazed Horikita after hearing those words. I stood behind Horikita after sensing that a fight was brewing, but Ryuuen didn't stop Ibuki at all. He was even smiling. There were no cameras around and the people playing on the soccer field can't possibly see or hear us from here. I can see why he isn't worried.

"Alright, you wanna know who's better between the two of us? Why don't we find out now?"

"Are you talking about a physical fight? I don't mind taking you on, but how does that measure how one of us is objectively the better and more competent student? Won't it just be a showdown to see who's the better fighter?"

Ibuki's nerve was popped at this point, so she didn't care about anything else anymore. A powerful kick was suddenly thrown toward Horikita. It was very fast, but Horikita managed to step back and avoid it.

"I didn't think you'd actually do something. I'm impressed and baffled at the same time."

"Still not shutting your mouth, eh? Would you stop if I make it bleed?"

"Hey, Ibuki. I think this is a bad idea," I said.

Both of them were prideful. Ibuki won't go home empty-handed and Horikita won't beg her to stop. I had no choice but to step in.

"Shut it, Ayanokouji. You'll fight me, too," she replied.

Horikita's eyes narrowed after hearing that.

"You'll fight Ayanokouji-kun...?"

"That's right."

Horikita got agitated and wanted to say something in response, but I stopped her from doing so.

"Calm down for a minute. Fighting here is pointless, so it'd be great if you refrain from kicking people."

"And why should I listen to you?" asked the irritated Ibuki.

"I have a proposal. You want to see who's better between the two of you, right? Then do it during the school festival. Choose an all-participant event to compete in and we'll make arrangements to ensure you two face each other."

I looked at Ryuuen, who silently watched everything unfold with a smile.

"Ohh, wouldn't that be nice? Let's make it happen." Fortunately, he was entertained by the idea, as well.

Ibuki still looked mad. I didn't expect her to be convinced immediately, but I had a trick under my sleeve.

"To be honest, I don't really care if you guys fight, but don't do it right here and now. Think about what you're wearing, Ibuki."

With our business being inside the main campus, we were required to wear our school uniform. I was behind Horikita when Ibuki tried to kick her. Whatever it was that was accidentally shown to her, I saw, too.

"Pervert." Ibuki blushed but was too pissed to show her embarrassed expression.

"Alright, alright. Back it up. We're out of here, Ibuki. We still have some things to do." Ryuuen finally stepped in and tapped Ibuki's shoulder.

He turned his back to us and started walking away. Ibuki was still annoyed, but she chose to follow Ryuuen instead.

"Wait a minute, Ryuuen-kun. I never told you that the discussion was over, right?" Horikita suddenly stopped him in his tracks.

"Oho? I thought you were done with this pointless meeting."

"I'm not so foolish that I'd call you and Ayanokouji-kun out here solely just for that," she replied.

Horikita glanced at me for a second, probably fishing for a reaction.

"I see. This is getting interesting. What do you have in mind?"

"There's another thing that I'd like to confirm. At the end of the Zodiac Exam, you said that no one figured it out in the end, correct?"

Ryuuen's smile widened and his eyes seemed surprised. He looked at me with a delighted grin.

"Now we're talking. Do continue, Suzune. It seems like you've found an answer."

Ibuki was confused by the sudden change in topic, but she continued listening without making a noise.

"I've been thinking about what might've happened behind the scenes. And after investigating all of the notable events during the exam, I could only point towards one conclusion."

Ryuuen raised his eyebrows expectantly, waiting for Horikita's answer.

"You were the one behind everything, weren't you, Ayanokouji-kun...?"

Author's Notes:

Kikyou cleaning her room during this day is canon.

Vol. 5: Chapter 8.2 - The True Mastermind

"You don't have to look so expectant, Horikita. I won't confirm or deny your claim. For now, why don't you give us an explanation?" I said.

Ryuuen took a seat, looking relaxed. Horikita and I did the same while Ibuki continued standing beside Ryuuen.

"Firstly, we'd have to consider the most vital students who participated during the exam. They would be the two of you, Katsuragi-kun, Ichinose-san, Kanzaki-kun, the former Class A's traitor, and Kouenji-kun," started Horikita. "Before I get to why I pointed my finger at Ayanokouji-kun, I'd have to give some context regarding my understanding of how the whole narrative was made."

The three of us listened in silence, letting Horikita continue as she pleases.

"The students of the former Class A were stressed about their loss during the island exam. However, Katsuragi-kun's faction wholeheartedly believed his explanation regarding a traitor inside their class. Because the traitor's actions weren't known to the rest of the class, all of them decided to cooperate in keeping the security tight. It resulted in Katsuragi-kun's decision to implement his strategy. That was Class A's initial move."

"For us, who were Class B at that time, our decision to protect our VIPs took priority. It was the job assigned to Hirata-kun and Kushida-san. In my case, I wanted to take the exam as a chance to gain more points. I tried to find a way to win which eventually lead to me trying to find the pattern. The last member of our group was Ayanokouji-kun, but he challenged us to tackle the exam by ourselves. We didn't mind his idea given how hard he worked during the previous special exam."

"For Ichinose-san's class, her initial idea was to wait it out until the end. She took this exam as an opportunity to make her classmates forge new relationships with students from other classes. After doing so, Ichinose-san would later reveal her strategy of isolating the VIP."

"Lastly, Ryuuen-kun's class. Your idea was the same as mine which was to find the pattern. Of course, both of us eventually realized how hard that would be without having the important pieces. In this case, the members' list as a whole along with a sufficient number of VIP names in hand."

It turns out that the envelope Horikita was holding didn't just contain a copy of the new contract. Her notes regarding her investigations were also there. She carefully presented them to us while explaining her train of thought.

"With Katsuragi-kun's strategy, Ichinose-san won't have the opportunity to earn the trust of Class A students, Ryuuen-kun would be hard-pressed to solicit any sort of backdoor cooperation, and it would hurt my progress if Class A won't be in the equation. It was a total stalemate. Honestly, I thought that would the case until the end of the exam."

"Of course, all of that changed when Kouenji-kun suddenly submitted his answer as the Monkey Group's traitor."

Horikita was right. That simple, nonchalant move by Kouenji changed the entire game. It was the most critical point of the exam which led to our class's victory.

"Each class made their own moves against the sudden change of stakes. Ichinose-san met up with us after the news reached her. We denied their suspicion that our class was targeting theirs before confirming that the VIP name Kouenji-kun entered was indeed the right one. As a result, Ichinose-san offered to give us the half-million private point reward in exchange for a VIP name."

"That's odd. Shouldn't you just deliberately submit a wrong name in a group where the VIP is from her class?" asked Ibuki.

"On the surface, that seems like the obvious move, but we've already decided on cooperating before the incident regarding Kouenji-kun happened. There were two collaborative moves that two classes can achieve if they worked together. The first one was a devastating attack while the other one was a defensive resource," replied Horikita.

"If both of you achieve Outcome #3 while targeting each other's classes, it would result in a draw with both classes having 6 VIP names. You can use that knowledge to attack the two remaining classes. Pull it off and it's an automatic win." Ryuuen continued the explanation.

"Then why didn't you do it?"

"Trust me, Ibuki. I would've loved to. It's the first strategy that I came up with. But then I realized that I wouldn't be able to make it work no matter what, mostly because of the Memorandum Restriction," he replied.

Unlike what he did during the Deserted Island Exam, Ryuuen can't make shady deals with anyone by abusing contracts.

"Ryuuen-kun's way of tackling things has been known to the other classes before the special exams even started. That attack would only work if both classes have absolute trust in each other due to the absence of reliable contracts. After all, you can just give away three fake names and you'd still get the same result, but this time, with the additional rewards from betraying your ally," explained Horikita.

Ibuki carefully digested the information with a tense expression.

"Yeah... There's no way Katsuragi would trust this guy again," she said.

Ryuuen shrugged her comment off like it was a compliment.

"The defensive version can counter that attack if and only if done immediately. And by doing so, you'll leave the two remaining classes thinking. Should they continue trying to one-up the other, or join the first two classes in achieving a total draw? Of course, with the possibility of getting their VIPs targetted by enemies that they can't target back, they would probably choose the safer and faster option, and go for the draw," continued Horikita.

"Why should you immediately commit if you decide to play defense? Won't the school alert everyone that answers had been sent? It would've been obvious if two enemy classes were cooperating. You can just implement that defensive move after finding out that the others are attacking, right? That would leave the option to attack open for yourselves," said Ibuki.

"That's a good point, Ibuki-san, but that's under the notion that they submit the answer immediately. The school most likely included that as a defensive mechanism against such a plan, but the two cooperating classes can always find the pattern in secret. Doing so bypasses that mechanism and by the time they become aware of the situation, all twelve VIP names would've been already submitted in quick succession. The losing classes wouldn't even have the chance to make a move."

"Hmm, I get that, but it's also possible that the other two classes are cooperating themselves while doing the same strategy. They might even end up finding the pattern first."

"Then it's just a matter of skill at that point."

"No sure-win strategy from that angle, huh? That's pretty anticlimactic," she commented.

"Yes, and that's also why we opted for Outcome #3 instead of Outcome #4 during our deal with Ichinose-san. Both outcomes would result in a draw between Class B and Class C, but if we achieve the latter, we would decrease the number of vulnerable targets on our side."

"But you'd be giving up your only advantage of having 4 VIP names."

"It's the concession we chose to give them because around that time, we weren't sure whether Ryuuen-kun really knew who the VIPs were. If he did and he suddenly decides to drop the hammer on us, then we could at least reduce the damage dealt on our class points."

"Hehh, so you really can't have it all, huh? I guess none of the available plans were invincible in the end," Ibuki shrugged.

"As things moved forward, that's when I started to become unaware of what the other classes were doing. I was focused on finding the pattern, after all. We finalized the deal with Ichinose-san and gave up on one of our VIPs. In the end, I managed to figure out the pattern, but things weren't so simple."

"Wait a minute, Suzune. So far, all of the crap you've said are things that everyone already knows. I don't mind getting a refresher, but shouldn't you get on with the big reveal?" Ryuuen commented.

"How impatient. Well, I was actually just getting to it," she replied. "You see, things started to become clear the more I analyze the details of the results."

"I worked backwards and started with the Dragon Group. During the last hour of the final day, our showdown reached its climax. At that point, almost all of the VIP names have been sent and their identities were known to me and most of my classmates. But a slew of strange things created questions in my head."

Horikita briefly glanced at me, but I continued to stay silent.

"Firstly, I get that Katsuragi-kun cooperated with Ryuuen-kun to acquire the VIP name from the Cow Group in exchange for private points while sparing their VIPs in the process. And then, Class D would submit the VIP names from the Horse Group and Tiger Group for themselves. But it's odd. Why did you choose to leave the Dragon Group and Dog Group in particular?"

"Isn't the answer already laid out? Even I was aware that my class's Dog Group members were cooperating with your class's Dog Group members under Ayanokouji's orders. I didn't really mind it," said Ryuuen.

"Of course, you didn't. If they achieved Outcome #1, the rewards would be overwhelmingly in Class D's favor. And that's exactly what happened. Ayanokouji-kun roped the Dog Group members from our class into his plan and kept it a secret from me. They didn't have any reason to do that unless he gained something in return."

"Ohh-hoho, that's excellent, Suzune. We're finally getting somewhere."

"Katsuragi-kun wanted you to do the defensive draw while there was still time, right? But you refused to do it until the very end."

"Just like I said from back then, that's because I hated it."

"I don't know if that's a lie or not and I don't really care. What I do know is that you had another reason for refusing him. Going back to Ayanokouji-kun's cooperation with Class D in the Dog Group, I don't believe that you simply "didn't mind". You were also personally involved, just as much as him," declared Horikita. "The Dragon Group and Dog Group achieving Outcome #1 wasn't a mere coincidence. They were chosen deliberately for a plan that's been laid out right from the start."

"As you can see, both groups were chosen so the winning class gains the maximum reward of two and a half-million private points since the VIPs are from their respective classes while having the fourth "extra" student at the same time."

"Hey, hey, you're making it sound like Ayanokouji's the one moving the pieces around. Everything might've happened according to my wishes, you know? What if I was the one who told Ayanokouji about the Dog Group's VIP?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Ryuuen-kun. The answer becomes obvious once you look at the overall result. Our class won. If it was really your plan, then there's no way that would be the case. I fell for your ruse about knowing who the VIPs were, and so did Katsuragi-kun and Ichinose-san. You never knew them-- at least not until the very last day." Horikita turned to me with a glare. "You were the only one who knew about the VIP names, Ayanokouji-kun. Now, I'm sure of it."

"The hell? Everyone including those brainiacs in Katsuragi's class was scrambling to find that silly pattern, and you were the only one who actually got them on the final day along with Ryuuen. So you're saying that Ayanokouji figured it out way earlier than you?" asked Ibuki.

"Yes. The deal with the Dog Group wouldn't have been successfully orchestrated if it wasn't part of a long-running plan where he knew every group's VIP."

"Hey, you. When did you figure out the pattern?" Ibuki asked me.

"Who knows? I don't really remember the exact moment and time," I replied.

"Ugh, it's such a waste of time to ask you," she rolled her eyes.

"It was during the night of the first day," Horikita had an answer to Ibuki's question. "We had a conversation regarding the number of names required to figure out the pattern. Ayanokouji-kun had something in mind, but he didn't continue and asked for my opinion instead."

She turned to me while explaining.

"I told you that we needed at least three other names to crack the code, right? In other words, six names in total. However, that wasn't the case for you. You asked for my opinion first so you wouldn't accidentally reveal that you're able to solve the pattern with just four names. With that in mind, you should've figured everything out right after Kouenji-kun told you the identity of his group's VIP."

"Seriously? That fast?" commented Ibuki.

"After that, you asked Hirata-kun to contact us immediately, but you didn't come with him because you had another "business" to attend to. When I asked you about what you did that night, you told me that you were trying to find Chabashira-sensei on the 5th deck. That was a lie, wasn't it? You were actually meeting up with Ryuuen-kun to pitch this plan."

"Kukuku. Oi, Ayanokouji. Suzune's exposing all your dirty secrets over here. Aren't you gonna defend yourself?" Ryuuen addressed me with a smug grin.

Horikita and Ibuki looked at me with anticipation. At this point, the only thing I could do was sigh.

"That's incredible, Horikita. You actually figured it out," I leaned back with my arms crossed. "You're right. I was the true mastermind behind everything that happened during the Zodiac Exam."

"So you were in on it the whole time, huh, Ryuuen?" said Ibuki.

"'Guess so. I don't mind cooperating with the guy if he's gonna give me a free pass on that lost cause of an exam. It ended before I could even think up of another plan."

Kouenji broke the balance, so I had to make a move. If I stayed passive, Ryuuen would be able to overwhelm Horikita with whatever plan he had in mind.

"Huh-? Wait, what...? Hey, wait a minute. If you already knew the pattern, then why didn't you just tell your classmates and end the exam in one go? Your class would've gained a lot more points. There's no reason for you to cooperate with Ryuuen since you've basically won already." Ibuki was understandably confused.

"Knowing Ayanokouji-kun, I think it's because he thought it wasn't necessary. He won us the bare minimum number of class points required to become Class A. All of that so he could step down as our leader."

"Geez, you must've hated leading your class, Ayanokouji," he said. "Sorry to hear that Suzune, but you finding that pattern and telling everyone was just a part of this guy's plan. Although I'm sure he would've done it himself if you couldn't do it."

"You're wrong, Ryuuen," I replied. "I needed Horikita to figure out the pattern herself. That's the only way I could show everyone in our class that she has the potential to become a capable leader."

"Heh, is that so?" he scoffed before looking at Horikita. "What's with that face, Suzune? You don't have to feel too bad, you know? In the end, you solved the puzzle yourself with just four names, just like Ayanokouji. Isn't that amazing?"

"Shut up, Ryuuen-kun. I'm not an idiot. After finding out the truth, I realized how much Ayanokouji-kun indirectly helped me with finding the pattern. Whenever we discussed my so-called "progress", he would sprinkle hints without being explicit about it. In the end, those hints were the reason why I figured out the pattern." She faced me with a defeated expression. "Say, Ayanokouji-kun... I was just dancing on the palm of your hand this whole, wasn't I? No-- all of us were. Ryuuen-kun already gave me the answer back then but I didn't get it. Everything was just a part of a script-- yourscript."

"You didn't really have to put it that way, but yeah, I guess so," I shrugged.

"I see," Horikita sighed and fixed her belongings. "Well, it's not like I have any right to be offended. In the end, you did what was best for the class."

"That's it? How boring. I was waiting for you to get depressed and insecure," Ryuuen ridiculed her.

"I don't have time to feel such things, Ryuuen-kun. And also, I must thank you and Ibuki-san for being here. Your presence was necessary so I can prevent Ayanokouji-kun from evading my confrontation."

"Keh, don't get ahead of yourself, Suzune. You're, at most, an enemy that could entertain me. You shouldn't start acting arrogant just because you solved another puzzle."

"Of course. I recognize the disparity between Ayanokouji-kun's abilities and mine. I'm his classmate and friend. I don't need you to remind me."

Ryuuen sneered before standing up.

"You're weak, Horikita. That's why you lose. Even if your opponent is better than you in one aspect, you just have to crush them in another. There are tons of ways to thoroughly decimate an enemy. Ichinose, Sakayanagi, or even Ayanokouji are not an exception to that."

"So you still intend to fight Ayanokouji-kun?"

"I'm just trying to finish what I've started. After I eliminate you and that doll-faced bastard, maybe Sakayanagi can stave off the inevitable boredom that comes next after I win."

Ryuuen walked away without looking back. Ibuki was also glaring at us, but she followed Ryuuen soon after, leaving Horikita and me behind.

Author's Notes:

Even with just three names, Kiyotaka would easily figure out the pattern as long as he had access to the members' lists. Making Suzune and the others think that he needed fournames is just another stunt.

Remember, the main reason why he couldn't do so in the canon was his horrendous social connections. Meanwhile, Suzune basically handed him the answer after sending that spreadsheet. We managed to follow Suzune's thought process when she finally figured it out, but Kiyotaka's problem-solving skills would've been more straightforward and efficient, and much faster.

Vol. 5: Chapter 8.3 - To Hold On

"What an ordeal that was," I said.

Horikita and I faced each other. Now that Ryuuen and Ibuki are gone, I can finally have her explain what just happened.

"So? What was that all about, Horikita?"

"Hmph, of course, you'd sense that something was off," she replied.

"That's obvious. You wouldn't organize this whole meeting just to expose me in front of someone who already knew everything that happened. Ryuuen was my accomplice, after all."

Horikita sighed and leaned her back.

"I was trying to help you. I tried, but Ryuuen-kun didn't take the bait."

"You'd tried to help me? What do you mean?"

"You're making me angry, Ayanokouji-kun. Could you please stop playing dumb?" she glared. "You already knew why, right from the start, don't you? My plan was beneficial to you. That's the only reason why you said yes about coming here in the first place. If it were an inconvenience, then you would've declined."

The conversation went to a brief pause before I finally responded.

"Do you really think that, Horikita?"

"I'm a hundred percent sure."

Her resolute expression was admirable. If I continued playing the fool, I'll start feeling like the bad guy. Well, Horikita worked hard today, so I guess I'll give her the satisfaction of being right.

"I won the Zodiac Exam behind everyone's backs. We got to Class A and I managed to step down. However, as much as I wanted a peaceful life, Ryuuen wants to continue fighting me. That's why you continued investigating what really happened on the exam. You arranged this meeting to show that you've figured me and Ryuuen out-- to show that you have the ability to keep up with us. That way, Ryuuen would find you interesting, and hopefully, he'll want to fight you instead of me."

"So you do know."

"Yeah. Sorry about that," I shrugged. "But I should also thank you. The plan might not have worked, but I really appreciate it."

"You wanted peace. I thought I should at least help you get that much. You've already done so much for the class, anyway."

"I was happy, you know? You called me your friend earlier, right?"

"W-What are you-... E-Eherm... Don't sweat the small details. It's nothing special." Horikita was caught off-guard, but she immediately regained her composure. "Anyway, my little scheme to veer Ryuuen-kun's attention away from you failed. What do you plan to do now?"

"The other reason why I chose Ryuuen as my accomplice was to display the gap in our abilities. I wanted to discourage him from targeting me by showing him how I formulate plans that he can't defeat."

"But it had the opposite effect, didn't it? That means he still thinks he can defeat you even with your display of intellect and ingenuity. What are you going to do?"

"Well, this result was still within my expectations. I'll just crush him thoroughly the moment he decides to come at me."

"I see... Then I guess I don't have to worry."

"I'm glad that you feel that way, but you need to worry about the class more than anything else."

"What? I'm not worried about you in particular-- not in the least. I'm worried about whatever you've got cooked up that in that head of yours."

It would've been alright if she was just being shy, but the way Horikita spoke... She was saying the cold, hard truth.

"You could've at least lied to make me feel better, you know...?" I sighed.

"I know I've been your pawn ever since the class competition started and that's fine, but I'm worried that you'll use me again without my knowledge. If you want my help, then just say so. And if I somehow become a part of your plans, then at least let me know."

"That's true. Ignorance is the last thing you'd want, especially as a leader."

"Oh, it's rare to see students around here. What are you guys doing?"

An unexpected guy arrived from an adjacent area. He was wearing a jersey, and sweat could be seen trickling all over his face. Since he didn't come from the field, he must've been jogging around, instead. Horikita stared at him with her head slightly tilted. I didn't speak either.

"Ah, my bad, my bad. It's disrespectful of me to suddenly barge in on someone else's date. You don't have to mind me. I was just running around to warm up. I'll join the guys at the soccer club, soon. Bye~."

He started walking away with a smile, but Horikita spoke up to stop him.

"Please wait a minute,"

"Hm?"

"Please forgive me if it turns out that I'm just assuming things, but did you really talk to us out of pure chance and curiosity?"

"What makes you think that I didn't?"

Instead of giving the answer straight out, he decided to indulge in Horikita's peculiar question.

"Once again, please forgive me if I'm being pretentious, but I thought you just wanted to make a conversation with me."

"With you, eh?"

"Yes, with me. Not because I'm a notable 1st-year student or anything like that... but because I'm Nii-san's-- Horikita Manabu's little sister. Please correct me if I'm wrong, Nagumo Miyabi-senpai."

"Haha, interesting, quite interesting. Well, to give you the answer, it's a combination of all of them. I finished warming up and coincidentally saw Horikita-senpai's little sister. I did try to strike up a conversation simply out of curiosity, but you're also right that your identity reinforced my will to do it," he explained. "Does that satisfy you?"

"Yes, thank you very much."

"Does Horikita-senpai know that you have a boyfriend?"

"Ayanokouji-kun is not my boyfriend, but I get why you'd come to such a misunderstanding."

"Your composure reminds me of your older brother," he shrugged. "Well, anyway, I knew that right from the start. I just thought it would be fun to do a little teasing. Do enjoy your time inside the campus. You can watch us play if you want. Who knows? The things you'll see might prove useful for the upcoming sports festival."

"I see... Since some Class B and Class C students are also part of the Soccer Club, then it might be worth our time," she muttered.

Before Nagumo could create a considerable distance between us, he turned around to address Horikita once more.

"By the way, if you're willing, then you're free to join the student council. The two of us might not be completely the same, but we're similar in some regards. We weren't admitted to Class A, but we rose to the top as our class's leader. I'd want someone as capable as you under my wing. What do you say?"

"Thank you for the offer, Nagumo-senpai. I'll think about it."

Nagumo waved his hand as he continued walking away.

"It's not like you to provoke someone out of nowhere," I said.

"He's not just someone... Ichinose-san talked about him before, didn't she? Nagumo-senpai is the person who always challenges my brother. If he can keep that up for more than a year, then he's probably capable enough that he's not losing too horribly."

"That's pretty harsh on Nagumo. You think your brother is always the winner?"

"I know he is always the winner. That's just how it is, considering that it's him."

"You really have a lot of faith in him. What if I try to fight your brother? Do you think I can win against him?"

It seemed like a natural follow-up question, but Horikita's tongue suddenly got tied.

"That's..."

"I see... So from your point of view, we're more or less on the same level, huh? That's probably the highest form of compliment that I could ever receive from you."

"I never said that!"

I kept Horikita close to me during my conquest to overtake Class A. Because I showed her what I'm capable of, she couldn't count me out without hesitating. Along with the fact that I did what no one could do in such a short amount of time, it would make sense for her to think that.

"I'm kidding," I said "I honestly don't really care. Your brother is an amazing person, after all."

"Results speak for themselves, that's all that there is to it," she sighed.

"Alright, alright. Going back to my previous concern, why did you go out of your way to confront him like that?"

"His goal was probably to see what kind of person Horikita Manabu's little sister was. If I didn't say anything, I'd appear ignorant. And if I didn't push as far as I did, I'd appear weak. Personally, I didn't mind if he thought any of that, but I don't want to shame my brother."

"So the reason was him, after all. Was that okay, though? You've got his attention now."

"I don't really know if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but it definitely benefits you, who doesn't want any attention. He even treated you like air earlier."

"You've also done that before."

"Don't hold it against me," replied Horikita.

After the brief silence following that banter, Horikita smiled.

"You've really changed," I said.

"Have I now?"

Horikita stood up and started walking towards the field. Maybe she wasn't interested in hearing any elaboration to my comment. I followed her silently until we reached the bleacher area.

"If he's the vice president of the student council, I wonder if it's okay for him to be a member of a club?"

"I wonder," she dismissed Nagumo's existence while focusing on the others. "That's Shibata Sou-kun from Class C and Sonoda Masashi-kun from Class D."

"Hirata is skilled, for sure. The same goes for Shibata and the other freshmen, but..."

"They're easily getting beaten by Nagumo-senpai. Not just the freshmen. The 2nd-years and 3rd-years aren't an exception." Even if she didn't recognize him as her brother's rival, she was still impressed with Nagumo's display of athleticism.

"He's in a completely different league."

I was vaguely aware of what the game was like a while ago, but now that Nagumo's in the field, everything felt different. The first play almost revolved around him entirely. He's a reliable teammate which also makes him a dangerous opponent.

Hirata and the others couldn't keep up with his dribbling skills. His ball control and passing accuracy were also insane.

"Everyone suddenly looks tired," I said.

The game might've been centered around Nagumo now, but it's actually pretty helpful to us. Horikita and I can roughly assess someone's general athletic skill depending on how long they can last against him. It didn't really matter if it was offense or defense.

After some time, Horikita and I stopped watching the game. We didn't want to bother Hirata, so we took off before they could take a break.

"What are you going to do now?" I asked.

"I'm going to continue everything that I've started for the school festival. Apart from me and Hirata-kun, no one else would have access to the finalized version of the participation table. Countermeasures in case of injury have also been put in place. Kouenji-kun absence will surely hurt us, but we'll just have to play around it. Those and other things."

"Then I guess there's no need for me to be worried."

"Yes, leave it to us. We'll try our best to hold on."

Yeah, I look forward to seeing that.

Vol. 5: Chapter 9.1 - Before the Tempest

Everyone worked their hardest during practice over the course of the next week. Before we knew it, the day to submit our participation table has come and we had one week left to prepare before the sports festival.

"I've tallied the results for every student in my own notes. They were the main basis of how I grouped everyone for the upcoming sports festival. The participation table will be submitted today after class." Hirata was currently behind the podium, announcing Class A's current plan of action.

"Aren't you gonna show us?" asked Ike.

"You don't have to worry, Ike-kun. These are all based on the numbers. There were no biases involved in assigning each of you," explained Horikita.

"No, no. I get that. I just wanted to see the list for myself. I'm sure everyone's thinking of the same thing."

Most of our classmates nodded. They seem to agree with what Ike was saying.

"I'm sorry, but we can't do that for security purposes."

Ike's eyebrows furrowed along some of the girls.

I secretly took a glance at two particular people and checked their reactions.

"Security purposes? It makes sense that you're worried about the participation getting leaked, but isn't that going too far?" wondered Maezono.

"I agree. It's like you don't trust us. And besides, isn't it a pretty shitty move to have us compete blindly? It might put us at a disadvantage." Karuizawa, the representative of Class A's girls, voiced her verdict.

"It's not about trust, Karuizawa-san. The sports festival is a bit unique in terms of participation, so you're not going in completely blind, or at least, that's how it is for most of you who are only competing in the All-Participant events," answered Horikita.

"What do you mean...?"

"At the end of the day, you'll be participating in all nine events. The only thing that you wouldn't know would be the order in which you'll go. But that doesn't really matter since you don't even know the order in which your opponents will go, anyway. Am I wrong?"

The class started to murmur. Their previous concerns didn't feel like it was that big of a deal, all of a sudden.

"Hmm... I guess that makes sense. The only ones who should feel weirded out about this are the ones competing for the Recommended-Participants events."

"Don't worry Karuizawa-san. We've already consulted those who were picked for at least one event. They've agreed on being in the dark about the specifics."

"Well... If you've thought about it in advance, then I guess it's fine." Karuizawa ended in such a fashion, which was pretty unusual. (1)

After hearing Horikita and Hirata's explanations, most of our classmates were then influenced by Karuizawa's convinced attitude.

"Ehhh, but I kinda wanna see when I'm going in, though. It's not like anyone's gonna betray the class and sell it out," said Yamauchi.

"Stop that, Haruki. Just agree with what Horikita-chan and Hirata are saying. Do you wanna get chewed out again?" Hondou interfered.

"Of course, not! But it's not like I'm saying anything bad, right?"

"We know, but you have to understand where they're coming from. We need to up our chances of winning as much as we can. Even now, the risk of a leak is not zero. And it'll only go higher the more we're in the know," he explained.

"Geez, Yamauchi. Does Hondou need to speak some sense to you every time?" teased Kikuchi.

"Hondou-kun is right," smirked Rino. "You might want to refrain from running your mouth, lest Karuizawa-san gets pissed at you again."

Yamauchi reflexively glanced at Karuizawa who was already staring at him with her eyes narrowed. He instantly looked away from her in a panic.

"S-Shut up! I got it, okay? I won't complain anymore!" The nervous Yamauchi immediately backpedaled.

Hondou's calm interruption along with Kikuchi and Rino's light-hearted teasing made the class laugh. It was entirely different from before when Karuizawa mercilessly tore Yamauchi and Ike down(mostly Yamauchi) and made the class a bit nervous.

Hirata smiled after seeing the usual liveliness of the class. Little did he know that a storm was approaching, and it won't wait for him nor Horikita before striking.

Author's Notes:

This chapter-part is pretty short since it's something of a prologue. Didn't know I needed to point that out since some peeps are still complaining about the length. I thought it was obvious enough considering how I'm labeling chapter-parts accordingly with "n.1", "n.2", etc. but apparently not. Some still think that every upload is a full chapter when that's not often the case.

1. This should be the part where Kei goes "Well, if Hirata-kun says so, then I also agree!" but since she wanted to help increase Horikita's reputation inside the class, she agreed with the two of them, instead.

Vol. 5: Chapter 9.2 - Folly

September 27th, 3:31 PM.

"Sudou-kun, can I talk to you for a second? You don't have club today, right?" Horikita walked up to Ken, who was preparing to leave the classroom.

"It's 'bout the sports festival, I'm bettin'?" he replied.

"Yes. I would prefer if we talk about it somewhere secluded."

Many of our classmates were paying attention to their conversation, so it was a pretty bold thing to say so candidly. But then again, if it's about the sports festival, all of us have already agreed with Horikita's stealth strategy.

"Aight, sure. But I want Kiyotaka to come with us."

Ken looked at me with a serious expression. Some of our classmates turned to me, as well.

"Ayanokouji-kun? Why is that?" asked Horikita.

"I ain't so sure myself, but that's my condition." Ken crossed his arms as if he was prepared to wait for Horikita's answer but to his surprise, Horikita didn't waver an inch.

"You're in luck, then. Ayanokouji could already be considered as someone who's "partially involved" in this particular matter, so it's fine." Horikita turned around and walked out. "Let's go. I'm leaving the submission to you, Hirata-kun."

"Don't worry Horikita-san. I'll be sure to submit our participation table after we close up the classroom," he said.

"You really don't have to, Hirata-kun. It's not like you're on duty today..." said Azuma. She was one of the students who are assigned for today.

"It's fine, Azuma-san. Everyone has been working hard for the past few weeks. I could at least help you guys finish faster. You'll be able to have more rest that way."

"Sheesh, Hirata. We're always grateful for your kindness, but don't pass out on us before the sports festival because of a fever, okay? Most of us are wimpy and lanky, so losing you would be- Ack-?!" Onizuka's words were promptly stopped by a head smack from Makida. "Ow! That hurt, Sumu!"

"Shut up, you idiot," he said before looking at Hirata. "Don't mind him, Hirata. It's just his stupid way of telling you to not force yourself. All of us feel the same way."

"Yes, you don't have to worry. I know Onizuka-kun didn't mean anything bad."

Hirata has been proactive in helping the class in every possible way this month. Whenever he's not attending to his club or going on an after-school date with Karuizawa, he always spares some time to help out after class. That and his consistent leadership alongside Horikita when preparing for the sports festival... No wonder everyone was working hard. It's difficult to not get infected by Hirata's fervor.

September 27th, 3:34 PM.

The three of us arrived on the third floor to an empty hallway that connects a lot of vacant rooms (used for some club activities) to the main classrooms.

"Before anything else, I want to ask something just to make things clear. What's with Sudou-kun demanding your presence here? Is this a part of some sort of plan?" asked Horikita.

She wasn't angry or anything. She was just curious.

"No, not this time. Even I was surprised about this," I replied.

"Don't worry, Horikita. I don't know if Kiyotaka has somethin' planned or anythin' like that, but this certainly ain't part of it," he said.

"Then why? You said you weren't sure, but there's no way that's really the case, right?" she pried.

"Yeah. I thought that even if Kiyotaka's no longer the leader, he should still hear about this."

"You don't even know what I'm going to be talking about. What makes you think that Ayanokouji-kun needs to hear whatever our discussion would be?"

"Call it a gut feeling. You're the leader and I'm gonna be the lead athlete 'part from Hirata and Kiyotaka. I immediately assumed that this was goin' to be important. Was that wrong?" Ken explained.

Horikita put on a thinking face before facing him.

"You're sharper than I thought." (1)

"I've been 'round Kiyotaka for so long now. You could say that I was influenced by him even if it's just a lil' bit. Aren'tcha the same?" smirked Ken.

"I guess you're right," Horikita sighed.

"I'm right here, you know? Can you stop talking about me and get on with it?" Their conversation was starting to go in an embarrassing direction (for me), so I urged them to get to the point.

"To be honest, it's not that important... to the class, at least." Horikita started the discussion with a slightly guilty expression.

"What do ya mean?"

"In the last event, which is the 1200-meter Relay... According to the data, you're our first choice as the team's anchor."

"Me? Hmm... I get that, but I think Kiyotaka's a better choice. I'm confident with my runnin' speed, but wasn't Kiyotaka faster than me durin' practice?"

Ken and I were the top two runners during practice. Our times were 11.14 seconds and 11.05 seconds for the 100-meter dash, respectively. And for the 200-meter dash, they were 21.43 seconds and 21.19 seconds, respectively. We were extremely close, but I was always a bit faster than him.

"That's beside the point. Ayanokouji-kun has already requested to be the first person to run."

During a relay, the best strategy was to have the second-fastest person be the first runner followed by the third-fastest, and so on. The fastest runner would always come last as the team's anchor.

"Our times were very close. So I thought it didn't really matter."

"Ohh, I guess that's a good strategy if you don't wanna stand out," Ken shrugged. He knew me as a person, so he understood what I wanted to do.

"The fastest person behind the two of you was Hirata-kun with me following shortly after. Onodera-san would be our fifth runner, and the sixth runner to complete the line-up would either be Kushida-san or Matsushita-san, according to the numbers. I was supposed to optimize our roster, but I wanted to have the anchor position for this race." Horikita's seriousness made Ken curious.

"I personally don't wanna go against your decision since you're the leader. And it's not like you're replacin' someone for a slower runner. You're just tweakin' the order," he said. "But that makes me curious. What's this, all of a sudden? Accordin' to what ya said earlier, Kiyotaka's already partially involved. Whatcha mean by that?"

"It's your brother, isn't it?" I said.

Horikita was completely reserved about sharing her personal matters with others, but she decided to resolve herself this time. The class would be affected, after all.

"Your brother?" Ken tilted his head.

"Hey, Ken. Do you remember the glasses guy way back on the second day of school?"

"Glasses guy...? Ah, that serious-lookin' dude who stood on stage for a long time without sayin' anythin'? He sure made an impression. Even I hadn't forgotten that."

"Yeah. He was the student council president, remember? And as it turns out, he's also Horikita's older brother," I explained.

"I see... I knew he was the president, but I never thought he'd be Horikita's brother."

"Yes... The student council president is indeed my brother. I think he's going to be an anchor. That's why I want the position."

"You want to be an anchor just like your brother? Do you want to race against him or something?"

"Well, something like that..."

Ken raised an eyebrow. No one would understand something so vague, so I decided to help Horikita explain.

"Some stuff happened, so Horikita and her brother aren't really on speaking terms. She probably wants this opportunity to patch things up with him."

I didn't lie, but I didn't tell him the truth either.

"What about Hirata and Onodera?"

"I found lots of opportunities to tell them during practice. I thought the same would happen with you, but you were always occupied. I'm sorry if it was delayed until the last minute."

"So that's why you were forced to ask for my time up front," said Ken.

Well, given the topic, I assume Horikita would want to talk about this with the other person in a candid yet conspicuous way. But Ken didn't have any opportunities to be alone with her.

"Hey, Kiyotaka. Are you close with Horikita's brother?"

"Well, I wouldn't say that. I just happen to know what's going in between them."

"Ahh, so that's why she said you were "partially involved". I get it now." Ken turned to Horikita and nodded. "Alright, you can fix my position to wherever. It's not like anything would change as long as all five of us run our fastest."

"I'm thankful for your cooperation, Sudou-kun," Horikita responded with a slight bow.

"Is that all?" he asked. "I'm supposed to hang out with some of the guys today, you see."

"Actually, there's one more thing... Since Ayanokouji-kun is already here, I think this is a good time. However, I might end up giving you a lengthy explanation. Would that be alright?" asked Horikita.

"I'm fine. I don't really have any plans," I replied.

Ken took his phone and typed something. After putting it back in his pocket, he leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.

"I made time. What is it?"

Horikita nodded before speaking.

"On October 3rd, next Sunday, right before 5:00 PM, I will send you the list for the Recommended-Participant portion of our roster. The same goes for you, Ayanokouji-kun, as well the other students competing in the Recommended-Participant events."

"Huh? I thought you're gonna keep us in the dark about this?"

"I changed my mind... Or at least, that's what I'll tell Hirata-kun and the other students. I never planned on completely keeping our line-ups a secret."

"In other words, you deliberately lied to most of our classmates?" asked Ken.

"Yes, I lied."

"I've got two things to ask you then. Why did you lie to Hirata and why did you tell me and Kiyotaka."

"All of it boils down to one answer..." Horikita's eyes turned sharp. "It's because I'm wary of a traitor. I lied to Hirata-kun because he wouldn't agree with me suspecting a classmate-- at least not right now where I don't have a solid basis. That's why I'm temporarily keeping him out of the loop. The opposite is true for the two of you. I don't mind telling you my true plan."

"So you're trusting us, huh?"

"But it's not like our innocence is guaranteed. What if one of us turned out to be the traitor," I asked.

"Then shame on me. I trusted the wrong people. I'll accept my loss right then and there." Horikita answered with a defeated expression.

"Hey, how can you say that so easily?" asked Ken.

"Let's say I become even more vigilant than I already am. Wouldn't that make me a leader who has zero trust in all of her allies? I might as well be fighting alone," Horikita smiled after giving Ken a gentle answer.

He froze up after seeing a completely different side of her. Unlike me, he wasn't privy to the gradual change in Horikita's mindset.

"Don't get me wrong. The reason why I'm keeping secrets right now is to make sure that I won't have to do so later. In the future, I want to lead Class A with each and every member of the class knowing my plan. However, I can't do that right now. I must assess whether or not someone could betray us."

"I get what you mean, Horikita. I really do. But it doesn't make sense. Why would any of our classmates betray us at this point? We're already in Class A. There would be no merit in doing so," replied Ken.

His concern wasn't without reason. It's hard to suspect your classmates let alone your friends. That goes double for us who were already at the top.

"We're in Class A right now, but I can't personally guarantee that we would stay in Class A. If a disaster happens and we get demoted, one of us might change sides. And that's already with the assumption that there are no traitors in our class right now. Remember, changing classes is possible with the use of private points. If a mole is hiding inside our class, then we're in big trouble."

"That costs 20 million private points, right? We would probably notice if someone has that much money."

"It's almost impossible to hide, yes. But if they're getting backed by another class, then it's doable."

Ken was holding the side of his head in thought. However, it didn't even take a minute before he groaned in annoyance and gave up.

"Aaargh, whatever! There's too much information!" he grunted. "It doesn't seem like Kiyotaka is against you, so I'll be on your side. But remember this, Horikita. My friends-- Airi, Akito, and Haruka-- they'll never betray the class. So protect them, as well."

"I promise," she replied.

"I understand what you wanna do for the class, so you can ask for my help if you ever need me. I'll keep my mouth shut about it, too." Ken turned to me and asked. "What about you, Kiyotaka?"

"With all due respect, I'd prefer to be left out of this. I don't like the idea of having a traitor inside the class, but I don't feel like going on a witch hunt, either." I gave them my honest answer.

"That's fine. I already expected your stance on this, Ayanokouji-kun."

"Alright, alright! Now that I kinda understand your motive, let's go back to your actions themselves. Can you explain your plan for the participation table?"

"In terms of gaining points on the festival itself, focusing on the Recommended-Participant competitions would be the right move. But if we're not careful, neglecting our roster for the All-Participant competitions might be our undoing in case of a leak."

"Wait a minute... This is a bit more complicated than earlier, so I'm starting to get lost. Please explain it to me like I'm a dumbass."

"Because you're a dumbass?" I teased.

*Schwoop*

*Whack*

Ken threw a punch at me, but I caught his hand before it could connect.

"Don't hit any other person who tries to make fun of you, alright, Ken?"

"Shut up, Kiyotaka. You and Akito are the only guys who would dare make fun of me."

Well, if we're talking about friendly banters, then I guess he's right. Someone like Ryuuen would surely dare to do so, after all.

"Sorry, Horikita. Please, go on."

The staid Horikita sighed.

"Let's create a hypothetical scenario, then. Let's say Class A and Class B had 10 students and we quantify their athletic abilities into the numbers 1 to 10."

"I'm the one with the label of 10, of course," said Ken.

"Sure, you are... Anyway, if they had a student for each level of athleticism, then under normal circumstances the match-ups would have an average of a 50-50 result, probability-wise."

"Ohh... Okay, I think I get it."

"But what if Class B gets a hold of Class A's participation table? Competitions like the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash are doomed. In this scenario, they can manipulate their own order and win up to 9 out of 10 match-ups."

"Hmm... So they'll pit their lankiest student against me while barely beatin' everyone...? That does seem like a landslide victory for the enemy."

"Only if they have information on our roster. Of course, we'll never know the truth until the sports festival has started." Horikita narrowed her eyes. "But you wouldn't want to find out the hard way, would you?"

"Yeah, I get what you mean."

"Well, my example was just hypothetical in the end. The concept is the same, but it'll never be that simple. Since they won't have information on how athletic most of our classmates are, then they'd have to make a rough estimate for a lot of the match-ups. There's also the possibility of underdogs overperforming," she explained. "It's simple on the surface, but it can be quite complicated. The main reason why I kept everything as hidden as possible was to prevent this in the first place." (2)

"On the other hand, our class would win by a large margin if we get a hold of their participation table."

"That's where traitors come in. It would be possible if someone was willing to sell their class out. But of course, that strategy also comes with a risk. The traitor might turn out to be a double agent, for example."

If we tackle the sports festival normally, then the only way to win is to perform better than everyone. Trying to look for shortcuts would be troublesome and risky which is pretty ironic.

"Ughh... All this scheming is making my head hurt."

"I had to do the same thing back when I was the class leader..." I sighed.

"I appreciate the two of you more now," said Ken, who didn't really sound sincere.

"I believe that Class A can hold its own. That's why I wanted the match-ups to be random at worst. If we can defend ourselves from any underhanded tactics, then our victory will at least depend on our own class's abilities," said Horikita.

Ken groaned as he stretched his arms.

"I hear ya loud and clear, Horikita. But you don't have to worry. I'm sure everyone will do their best. I was asked by Hirata to look over some of our classmates, ya know? I was personally coachin' them how to improve, so of course, they'll do well!"

"Weren't they just afraid of you?" I joked.

"Want me to punch ya again? Not that I'd ever land a hit."

"It's still scary, so please stop."

"You've changed quite a bit, Sudou-kun," Horikita commented.

As expected, Ken was again caught off-guard by her attitude. In his eyes, this was far from the usual Horikita.

"Hah, what are you sayin' all of a sudden, Horikita? Wasn't it you who changed? You were so stuck-up back then. You didn't even want anythin' to do with us," he shrugged. "Now you're speaking like a team player. It feels strange-- in a good way, though!"

Horikita smiled lightly in response.

"I could say the same to you, though. You weren't the type to listen at all, but you were pretty calm and collected this whole time despite your occasional overreactions," she replied.

If I look back on the first semester, I could never imagine these two having such a conversation. We've come a long way, and they've both grown to be assets for the class. Of course, they still have a lot of things to improve on.

"Both of you had changed. I can say that as a third party. And I'm sure it's not just you guys." I joined their conversation with a comment of my own.

"Ah, shucks. Let's get the hell outta here before everything gets weird. Hirata should be on his way to Chabashira-sensei right about now," said Ken.

"I guess so," she replied.

"Heh. In the end, no one got to see what was on that paper. All that's left now is to beat everyone during the actual-"

"Hey, Horikita-chan, Sudou, Ayanokouji!"

The three of us suddenly heard someone call our names. When we turned to see who it was, Ike was running towards us at full speed.

"Ike? 'The hell are you shouting and running for?" asked Ken.

"Ike-kun, is everything okay?" Horikita was concerned. Ike looked like he was in panic and distress.

"Did something happen, Ike?" I asked.

He huffed and puffed in exhaustion before breathing out to speak.

"I looked for you guys everywhere. You gotta go back to the classroom. Now!" he said.

"Why?"

"It's Ryuuen and his goons. They got Hirata cornered inside. They must be after the list!"

"What, Ryuuen-?!" Ken reacted in surprise. He couldn't have seen this coming.

"Let's go," said Horikita whose face was grim.

Author's Notes:

1. Assuming the importance of their talk is one thing, but Suzune was more impressed by Ken's move following that assumption which was to bring Kiyotaka to the table.

2. The strategy that they talked about was the one used by Ryuuen when Kikyou betrayed the class in the canon.

Let's discuss why Suzune was suddenly concerned with the possibility of a traitor.

Here are some stupid reasons that are wrong:
- Fanfic Author buffs Horikita
- Fanfic Author makes Horikita smarter than her canon counterpart

Actual reasons:
- She was aware of the previous Class A traitor's self-destructive actions and wary about the same thing happening in her class.
- Kikyou blatantly admitted that she would betray the class if it weren't for Kiyotaka. She needed to make preparations for that, too.
- Overall character development in general along with her learnings from observing Kiyotaka. Though she still has a long way to go, obviously. She'll be taking on Ryuuen and Arisu on her own, after all.
- In the canon, she learned the possibility of a traitor's existence the hard way. And it's not about Alter Horikita being smarter or skillful. Canon Horikita was just much more ignorant.

Vol. 5: Chapter 9.3 - The Devil's Offer

After everything I've witnessed during Ayanokouji-kun's time as our class's leader, I finally realized just how inadequate I am in comparison. The clear-cut confidence I had for my every move had vanished, and I'm forced to double-take my decisions at every turn. Ayanokouji-kun was on guard against everyone, making calculated attacks while ensuring a solid defense. I must take after his methods.

This time wasn't an exception. Despite all my planning along with the help I've garnered from Hirata-kun and the others, I never actually believed that I was in control of our situation. That's why I was still prepared for the worst-case scenario if anything unexpected ever happened. Sure enough, our enemies wouldn't sit down without doing anything. Ryuuen-kun, our supposed ally, seems to have made his move.

Ryuuen-kun and now Sakayanagi-san... If they're on a level that I haven't reached yet, I can't be cautious enough about my own moves.

September 27th, 3:57 PM.

"Ah, Suzune. You're finally here."

The three of us arrived inside the classroom after being led by Ike-kun. The student named Yamada Albert was guarding outside while Ibuki-san and Ishizaki-kun were inside along with Ryuuen-kun himself. Hirata-kun was still holding the metal clasp envelope containing our participation table. Beside him were Yamauchi-kun, Hondou-kun, and Miyamoto-kun.

"We told you to get the outta here already," Hondou-kun angrily reprimanded the other group.

"Shut your trap, Hondou. You're the one who's not needed here. Why don't you and your other idiot friends get out?" Ishizaki-kun replied.

Yamauchi-kun was clenching his fists in rage, but he stayed quiet.

"The hell are you up to this time, Ryuuen?!" yelled Sudou-kun.

"Calm down, Ken. The classroom is being monitored by cameras. They won't do anything rash." Ayanokouji-kun's words calmed him and Ike-kun's group.

"Good job on calling them, Ike. Now that Suzune is here, we can finally get down to business."

"What are you doing here, Ryuuen-kun?" I asked.

"Kukuku. You're getting the wrong idea. I don't really care about your participation table or list or whatever. I'm just here to talk."

"Quite the company for a simple talk."

"Heh, you don't have to mind them. For now, why don't we relax for a bit?"

Ryuuen-kun sat on top of the teacher's table and urged us to take our seats.

Hirata-kun and the others did the same. They're not letting their guards down. I can tell just by looking at their sharp-eyed expressions.

"So? What is this about?" As the leader, I broke the silence and started the discourse.

"Long story short, I want the two of us to team up," he smirked.

"Don't do it, Horikita-chan! There's no way you can trust this guy!" Yamauchi-kun instantly raised his voice in protest.

"That's right!" Ike-kun followed.

Ryuuen-kun didn't seem to mind their unruly interruption. He raised an eyebrow while waiting for my answer.

"Before I make a decision, I would like to hear what you have in mind first. Is that fine?"

"Of course, of course. Asking you to team up with me is suspicious enough already. I can't possibly convince any of you without a good rationale."

"Wait, Horikita-san. I would usually be the voice of reason for Haruki or Kanji, but I agree with them this time. I don't think working with Ryuuen is a good idea..." Hondou-kun said.

"Don't worry. I already know that much. But I do think it's a good idea to at least see if Ryuuen-kun has anything useful to say."

"Sure. I don't mind if you treat this as simple information gathering."

I briefly glanced at Ayanokouji-kun and Sudou-kun who continued to listen in silence.

"Alright, spill it. You were so adamant about not getting involved with us for the longest time. What suddenly changed your mind?"

"You see, a piece of juicy information reached me recently. Apparently, Sakayanagi has something planned this time."

"Sakayanagi-san is it...? From whom did you hear this so-called "information"?"

"I can't tell you their name, but a remnant of the Katsuragi Faction told me."

From Katsuragi-kun's faction...? I heard they got completely dissolved. Something about this makes me a bit skeptical. I need to know if Ryuuen-kun is telling the truth.

"Don't do anything stupid, Suzune. I know what you're thinking. You want to consult Katsuragi to confirm whether I'm lying or not."

It seems like he expected that line of thinking.

"What's wrong with that?"

"It doesn't seem like you're aware of Class B's current state. That's pathetic considering you're the leader," he sneered. "Katsuragi's allies were all absorbed into Sakayanagi's new Class B. This was under Katsuragi's orders himself. I'm one thing, but Sakayanagi is her own type of ruthless. Katsuragi knew what would happen to the few people who wanted to continue following him if they don't conform to Sakayanagi's ruling."

"In other words, an opposition against Sakayanagi-san must be kept in secret at all cost."

"That's right. You can't just casually mention what I said to Katsuragi. Even he's unaware that someone from his past circle is moving against Sakayanagi. If that girl winds up sniffing my informant out, we'll lose our only key to beating her."

"Alright, I can understand that. Let's say that you're telling the truth. Did this informant tell you anything specific?"

"Nope. None of Katsuragi's former flunkeys are that deep inside Class B's new top brass. And even if they did, you can't really expect me to tell you anything right now, can you? But of course, it's not like I can just wait around without doing jack shit. That's why I came to you for cooperation."

"If I assume that everything you've told me thus far is true, how would you get me to trust you?"

"As I've said earlier, I don't really care about your participation table. Seeing it won't do me any good-- at least, not anymore."

"You've already submitted Class D's participation table?"

"Why do you think I brought these guys with me? I was expecting to get ambushed by Sakayanagi and his minions," Ryuuen-kun chuckled. "Of course, they didn't show up. Pretty boring if you ask me."

I have to take those words with a grain of salt, but if he's telling the truth, then I wouldn't have to worry about getting sabotaged by him, specifically. After all, once they've submitted their participation table, they will no longer be able to make any changes.

"If we team up, what kind of strategy do you have in mind?"

"That's for you to find out. I can't show you all of my cards while your other foot is still on the fence, can I?"

Hirata-kun and the others awaited my decision, but I needed to think about this.

"I don't know if you've realized this yet, but you have to take my offer Suzune. You don't have a choice," Contrary to his former attitude, Ryuuen-kun suddenly gave me a baleful smile.

"What would you do if I refuse?"

"It's simple. I'll team up with Sakayanagi instead," he threatened.

"That's strange. Why didn't you team up with Sakayanagi-san in the first place?"

"What do you mean by strange? Aren't you guys the obvious first choice? After all, you've got that bastard among you." Ryuuen-kun turned to Ayanokouji-kun who did nothing but observe. "I know he'd stepped down as your leader or whatever, but there's no way to be sure if he's not getting involved. If you refuse to team up with me, however, then I'd just have to fight you guys all over again."

I thought I could use Ayanokouji-kun's presence as a bluff, but it doesn't seem like Ryuuen-kun is afraid to go against him. I know for a fact that Ayanokouji-kun won't do anything to help us other than compete for the festival, so it would be bad if Class B and Class D started teaming against us.

"So, Suzune? What do you say?" Ryuuen leered at me, seemingly amused.

"I understand. Can you give me some time to think about this?"

"Ahh, you're so indecisive. That's no good, Suzune. But fine. We're running out of time, so you have to give me your answer tomorrow. I'll be sure to visit again," he said.

Without giving any of us the chance to reply, Ryuuen-kun left the classroom along with his classmates. There was a brief second of silence after the sliding door was closed, but it was immediately stunted by Yamauchi-kun's voice.

"Ahh, it's so annoying! I can't believe that guy just waltz in here like it's nothing!"

"I wanted to punch that damn Ishizaki," said Ike-kun.

"Calm down, you two. You can rant about your personal grudges later." Miyamoto-kun tried to placate his friends.

"Hirata, Horikita-san. What are you planning to do about this? You don't have to take the advice of an idiot like me, but personally, I can't trust Ryuuen." Hondou-kun addressed us regarding the situation.

"I agree. What he said kinda makes sense, but it's not like we're afraid. Even if they do team up, what are they even gonna do?" Sudou-kun followed.

"Just because we can't think of anything doesn't mean they can't. That type of complacency will be our undoing."

I put a bit of force behind my words which made them stop talking.

"I can understand the point of both sides, but there's still too much that we don't know. I think we should ask for everyone's opinion about this." Hirata-kun stood up and gave me the envelope. We were thinking of the same thing.

"We'll hold the submission for now," I said. "After I finish doing some investigation regarding this matter, we'll have a meeting to decide whether or not this is worth considering."

September 27th, 4:09 PM.

"Hirata-kun and I will stop by the faculty room. Chabashira-sensei should be waiting for us right now."

"I'm gonna go to Keyaki Mall to blow off some steam. Just remembering that Ryuuen's face irritates me," Yamauchi-kun replied.

"We'll go with you, Haruki. It's not like we got anything planned," said Miyamoto-kun.

"Can I come with you guys on the way there? I was planning to buy some stuff before going home," Ayanokouji-kun asked.

"Sure thing, dude," replied Hondou-kun.

"This is a rare time, so just hang out with us while you're at it, Ayanokouji. We've got some things to ask you, too."

"I mean, I don't really have any other plans, so I've got no reason to decline."

"Sweet!" Ike-kun celebrated.

"It's prolly somethin' about the girls again, right, Ike?" Sudou-kun gave him a suspicious look.

"N-No! I mean, I guess that's part of it, but not all of it! It's nothing perverted, I promise! I'm a changed man!"

"I never said you were gonna ask anything perverted, though..."

"Ah-!"

"Well, whatever. I'm gonna go ahead now. Don't hold back on sluggin' these idiots if they do anythin' stupid, ya hear me, Kiyotaka?"

"Alright, sure, sure..."

September 27th, 4:14 PM.

"It would be nice if we can get Ayanokouji-kun's reassurance about this," said Hirata-kun.

"His stance is firm. He won't get involved in these matters from now on. I'm sure it's going to be tough, but we'll have to figure this out ourselves."

"That's true. We'll just have to show the other classes that we can rely on ourselves just fine."

After getting permission to enter, Hirata-kun and I were finally face-to-face with Chabashira-sensei. She was currently the only one inside the room, so we won't have any reservations about telling her everything.

"What took you so long? Did anything happen?" she asked.

"Before that, is it alright if we move our submission to tomorrow?"

"That's fine. Are you planning to make any changes?"

"Depending on what we find out, then it's possible. You see..."

I explained what happened inside the classroom with Hirata-kun's help.

"I see... I'm sure you know that my help would be limited to answering simple questions. But it's fine since that's what you're after, correct?"

"Yes. We would like to know if Ryuuen-kun is telling the truth about submitting Class D's participation table."

"Hmm, well, I was here when he looked for Sakagami-sensei earlier. I didn't really see anything, but I overheard their conversation a little bit."

What a stroke of luck.

"What did they say?"

"I'll tell you the things that I clearly heard."

And that she did.

September 27th, 3:33 PM.

"Is Sakagami-sensei in here?"

"Ryuuen, are you here to submit your class's participation table?"

"Here ya go, Sensei. Feel free to check it out."

The sound of an envelope opening and a piece of paper rustling could be heard.

"Hmm, I see. This is indeed reasonable."

"Heh, right?"

"Alright, I'll see to it that your participation table is delivered safely."

"Kukuku. Thanks, Sensei. I'll be going ahead now."

"That was it?"

"Yes. It was a pretty cut-and-dried conversation," Chabashira-sensei shrugged as she leaned back in her chair.

"Hirata-kun, what do you think?" I asked.

"Well, nothing seemed irregular about it..."

"Hmm... If I were to submit Class A's participation table, then I'd rather keep the envelope closed, if possible," I said. "Are teachers required to check the contents of our participation table before it's submitted to the organizers?"

"It's optional, but not recommended."

"Why is that?"

"Teachers aren't allowed to give any advice unless the students themselves ask, and even that is pretty limited depending on what the students ask for. In a lot of situations, we can't help you out of our own volition due to the possibility of giving one class an unfair advantage."

"I see... But it would be allowed if I asked you to look through our class's participation table and give your opinion?"

"That is allowed, yes. Take what I heard from Sakagami-sensei, as an example. I would give you an objective and general opinion based on what I know about your class." Chabashira-sensei's authoritative tone reverberated throughout the room. "However, I can't help you if you ask me for a detailed methodology on how to beat a specific class, for instance."

"That example is a bit on the extreme end. I still think it's a bit tricky to identify where the line is drawn if we reach the grayer areas."

"We can just deal with it if we ever get there. I'll tell you whether I can or can't answer a question, and I'll tell you whether I can or can't cooperate if you ever need me to do something."

"I understand. Thank you, Sensei."

Hirata-kun and I exited the room feeling fairly satisfied.

"For now, we can assume that Class D has indeed submitted their participation table. The last matter would be whether or not Sakayanagi-san is really planning something. We must confirm that before moving forward."

"Do you have anything in mind, Horikita-san?"

"Yes," I replied. "I'll be sure to find out tomorrow."

Vol. 5: Chapter 10.1 - Time for an Answer

September 28th, 12:02 PM.

"Heya~, Horikita-san! I'm here!"

"I'm sorry for intruding."

"Thank you for coming, Ichinose-san, Kanzaki-kun. Sorry for the sudden notice."

"It's fine, it's fine. I get to have lunch with you, after all. I can't possibly pass this chance up," she said.

A lot of our classmates were staring curiously. It's understandable with Ichinose-san's popularity. All things considered, it must've been interesting to see someone like her eat lunch inside our classroom.

"I'm sorry if I can't find a more suitable location."

"To be honest, it's a nice refresher. Your classroom looks really clean."

"I'm sure your classroom looks just as nice, Ichinose-san." Hirata-kun, my co-leader, open his packed lunch beside me.

"Ehh, is that really the case? I haven't been to Class C's room that much so I didn't notice," Karuizawa followed up.

"You should come by and hang out sometimes, Karuizawa-san."

"For sure! I'm friends with some of the girls in your class. They're pretty energetic."

"Right? Aren't they adorable?"

With four tables clumped together, our group of five finally began eating lunch.

"I assume you wanted to talk about something of importance, Horikita-san." Kanzaki-kun started the discussion.

"Yes. It's regarding the sports festival."

"Ah, I thought so~!" said Ichinose-san. "Mm, these are great."

"I'm just curious. Does your class have any strategy in mind or anything of that sort?"

"Wait, Horikita. Before we respond to that question, why don't you give us your answer to it first?" said Kanzaki-kun.

"Of course. You see, our class doesn't have anything unique in mind. After considering the abilities of each and every one of my classmates, I've concluded that we'd still have a high chance of winning if we just tackled the sports festival head-on."

Ichinose-san gave Kanzaki-kun a smile. She seemed to have expected my answer.

"I knew Horikita-san would be the same as us."

"With Shibata-kun and the others, it makes sense that Class C is confident," Hirata-kun said.

"But of course! My class can hold their own, you know?"

"Like, I've watched some of Yousuke-kun's practice games, and I guess Shibata-kun from your class is quite athletic."

"Not just him. We've got many students who had joined other sports clubs," Ichinose-san explained. "Well... Even if that was the case, I still honestly don't think we could brute-force our way to the top, though."

"Ehh, what do you mean?" Karuizawa-san tilted her head.

"Considering the type of competitions we'll have, the class with the most number of physically gifted students would most likely have the easiest time. That class belongs to Ryuuen-kun. Class B and Class C would usually come next with Horikita-san's Class A coming in last, but unfortunately for us, anomalies also exist."

"Anomalies, huh? You're talking about Sudou-kun and Ayanokouji-kun, aren't you? Those two are just super athletic-- like, an absurd level of athletic." Karuizawa-san smirked before munching on some rolled eggs.

"You said it. Those two would probably win any competition they're in, so a lot of points are guaranteed for your class, especially for the Recommended-Participant events. I'm confident that our classes can still take you guys on, but it won't be that easy," Ichinose-san shrugged before munching on some of her own rolled eggs.

"Mmm, yummy~!" they said.

Hirata-kun smiled at this sight while the boys audibly gasped in awe. That's especially true for Ike-kun and his group.

"So our plans are basically the same. That's reassuring considering how prevalent underhanded tactics are, thanks to Ryuuen-kun."

That's true, but he's also the only one who has used them so far.

I wouldn't really consider Ayanokouji-kun's methods as "underhanded". He may have threatened Kushida-san, but his blackmail material was her own stain, and his intention was to make her an ally. On the island, his strategy was pretty straightforward, and he used deception only to counter Ryuuen-kun's own deceptive strategy. Meanwhile, his methods were entirely different on the cruise ship. He just won by default after solving the pattern before anyone else. He then used that power to manipulate the results.

Ayanokouji-kun never resorted to using foul methods to defeat anyone. That's just how surgical and flawless his plans were.

"Well, I don't see how Ryuuen-kun can do anything weird this time, though. Sakayanagi-san and I made sure that no one would see our participation tables before submitting, and we're also on guard about showing them to our class since they might get leaked."

"Wait, so you and Sakayanagi-san have already finished submitting your participation tables?" I asked.

"Yep, we did it last week. Sakayanagi-san actually finished earlier than me, but she said she wanted us to submit our tables together, so she waited until I finished Class C's participation table."

"How considerate of her," said Hirata-kun.

"Yep! She's really sweet, isn't she?"

"Is there a possibility that she's just tricking you by submitting an empty envelope?" I asked.

"Hmm, I don't think so. Mashima-sensei's table is a bit far from Hoshinomiya-sensei's table, but I saw him looking over the paper itself when I took a quick glance. So I don't think she submitted a dud envelope."

In that case, all three classes have already submitted their participation tables. There would be no room for changes even if a leak happens.

"What about you guys?" asked Kanzaki-kun.

"We're submitting ours today," I replied.

"In other words, we won't have to worry about Class A in that aspect. Ryuuen and Class D are the only ones we need to be wary of."

It seems like they're still unaware. I can use that information as leverage.

"Ichinose-san, there's a question that I would like to ask you. However, it might compromise your team. So depending on how you answer, I am willing to give you some useful information in exchange."

"Oh?" she smirked. "Alright, I'm down. Ask away, Horikita-san."

Ichinose-san didn't look surprised at all. I looked at Hirata-kun who nodded at me, looking a little tense. Karuizawa-san stopped making unnecessary noises, too, after noticing the sudden shift in the atmosphere.

"In terms of approach, we already know what each of our classes is planning. So apart from Ryuuen-kun, Sakayanagi-san and her Class B would be the only ones left. Since you guys are on the same team, I thought you'd know some things about them."

"Well, our classes are in a bit of a cooperative relationship, so I can't say that I totally know nothing."

"Then... does Sakayanagi-san have a plan of some sort?"

"This is the main reason why you wanted to have a talk, isn't it, Horikita-san?" Ichinose-san deduced my intentions correctly, so doubling down would be the best move for me.

"Yes, that is right."

"As expected of you! Well, Sakayanagi-san is really mysterious, and facing the unknown is pretty scary. I can understand why you're particularly on guard against her," she shrugged before facing me with a serious expression. "But with that being said, she does have a plan, and she looked pretty confident about it."

"Ichinose... I don't think you should say any more," Kanzaki-kun interrupted her while fixing his bento box.

"It's fine, Kanzaki-kun. I don't plan on getting Sakayanagi-san's plan spoiled. And to tell you the truth, she never really said anything specific to me... But there's one thing that I think you guys should know." She leaned back, looking relaxed.

"W-Which is...?" asked the nervous Karuizawa-san.

"Sakayanagi-san is after you guys. Her target is Class A," Ichinose-san said.

"That's a bit scary... But, I mean, isn't that no-brainer, though? Like, isn't everyone after Class A? Right, Yousuke-kun?"

"Yes, I think you're right..." he replied. "But I don't think that's all there is to it."

"Exactly~! Good sense, Hirata-kun. Sakayanagi-san didn't seem to be going after Class A in a general sense. Of course, this is all speculation based on how I interpreted things, but it seemed pretty personal."

"Personal? Maybe she's coming for revenge?" Karuizawa-san wondered.

"Probably. That makes the most sense," shrugged Ichinose-san.

"I think so, too..." That's what I said, but it couldn't be further from the truth.

If Sakayanagi-san's intentions were exactly as Ichinose-san had framed, then it is indeed strange. If she's planning to seriously defeat us, then wouldn't it be better if she did so before we could overtake Class A? But if you think about it, there's no way she could've prevented our first two major victories due to her absence...

No matter how much I try to read between the lines, the only logical conclusion would be some sort of vengeance stemming from the former Class A's sense of rivalry and pride. But still, I just don't feel like that's the whole truth.

"Nothing about what Ichinose told you was false. We're expecting the same from you, Horikita."

That aside, it was finally time to fulfill my end of the bargain.

"Don't worry, Kanzaki-kun. Despite us being on different teams, I still recognize our alliance. There's no reason for deception," I said.

"Alright then. What kind of information will you give us," he asked.

"You're worried about Ryuuen-kun, right? Well, you can rest easy now. He'd already submitted Class D's participation table."

I told them what Chabashira-sensei had reported to me and Hirata-kun yesterday. It was also Karuizawa-san's first time hearing about it, so she got pretty excited.

"Wait, so all of the other classes have already submitted? That means there's no harm if we get to see our line-up for the school festival!"

Her celebration was heard by everyone inside the classroom. Some made a sigh of relief while some became enthusiastic.

"Ooh, great! My classmates were very excited to see our line-ups, too."

I would've told them about Ryuuen-kun's offer regarding Class A and Class D's potential cooperation, but since I have no idea what Sakayanagi-san is planning, it might be too risky.

September 28th, 12:47 PM.

"Thank you for taking your time to have a discussion with us," I said.

"Oh no, don't mind it. In fact, I'm the one who wanted to thank you guys for inviting us to have lunch. It was very fun."

"See ya, Ichinose-san, Kanzaki-kun," Karuizawa-san waved at them.

She and Ichinose-san seemed to get along just fine. They became the noisiest pair after we finished the discussion. Meanwhile, Hirata-kun and I had a different type of conversation with Kanzaki-kun. We talked about some bits of our practice methods and other things related to it.

"I'll go hang out it with Kayokocchi and the others. See ya later, Yousuke-kun, Horikita-san, too."

Hirata-kun saw her off with a smile, but that immediately faded as soon as he faced me.

"Everything we've discussed with Ichinose-san confirms Ryuuen-kun's claims. I think we can ask for the class's opinion now."

"Yes, I agree. We'll have a meeting after class."

September 28th, 3:32 PM.

"We won't have practice today, but before everyone goes, there's something we'd like to discuss with the class," said Hirata-kun.

I started to report our findings to the class, and Hirata-kun wrote every key point on the blackboard. The class listened intently, apart from Kouenji-kun who left without notice.

- Class B has a plan, info by Ryuuen Kakeru and confirmed by Ichinose Honami.
- Class D wanted cooperation.
- Class D threatened to team up with Class B if we refused.
- Class D had submitted their participation table, confirmed by Chabashira-sensei.
- Class B and Class C had submitted their participation table, confirmed by Ichinose Honami.

"With these in mind, I would like your opinion of whether we should cooperate with Class D."

Hondou-kun raised his hand before anyone else. He's been really active in class lately, helping out in every way he can during practice and giving out his opinions during meetings. The class has a steadily improving impression of him along with Minami Setsuya-kun. It's unfortunate that the two of them aren't as active during lessons, though.

"First of all, what do you think is the best course of action for us, Horikita-san? As our leader, I think it's fine if you try to influence us with our decision."

Everyone nodded after hearing his question.

"Personally, I don't mind giving Ryuuen-kun a chance. If I'm being honest, I don't have the faintest idea as to what Sakayanagi-san's plan could be. Ryuuen-kun might have an answer, but he's only going to give me more information if I teamed up with him. And of course, we'd know what would happen if we refuse his offer."

Well, it was more like a demand, at this point."

"Horikita-san... I can't seem to put my head around it," said Matsushita-san. "What would Sakayanagi-san and Class B even do? How exactly would they take us down?"

"I agree... The most dangerous part about this would be the preparation phase where our participation table could be leaked, but that's not the case anymore," Nishimura-san followed.

Hirata-kun had the same opinion as them. These three are among the smartest and most critical students of Class A. If even they can't grasp Sakayanagi-san's plan, then we're in big trouble.

"What if Sakayanagi is bluffing?" asked Kikuchi-kun.

"Certainly... I mean, it's a possibility considering how open our alliance with Class C is. Sakayanagi-san might've predicted that you'd ask them about this very topic. Don't you think it's a fine strategy to throw us off?" Ijuuin-kun explained.

"Yes, that may be the case... But what would that accomplish? Even if they throw us off now by making us paranoid, it's not like our performance will decline on the actual day of the festival where there's no room for tricks."

"The only viable option would be to beat us by injuring our participants," said Sudou-kun.

A lot of our less athletic students shrunk in fear. The thought of violence being used against them must've been unnerving.

"That's true, but they would also run the risk of getting caught. It's a method that fits someone like Ryuuen. But then again, it's not like we know how Sakayanagi-san thinks, so it's still a possibility," Miyake-kun followed.

We all started to think in silence. A bunch of murmurs could be heard, but all of them were filled with words of wonder and confusion.

"There's another thing that I'm wondering about. If our class refuses and Class D teams up with Class B, what would change? At the end of the day, all four classes will still be against each other in terms of fighting for placements. The only thing that we'd have in common is our team color. There are two-team events like the Tug of War and the Cavalry Battle where two classes are forced to work together, so Ryuuen-kun and his class might deliberately throw those events for Class B's benefit. But if they do that, they would also be shooting themselves in the foot," Matsushita-san explained.

"That's a valid point. They can't afford to do that when they're already at the bottom of the class rankings," I replied.

"Say, Horikita-san. What did that Ryuuen guy even demand from our class if you end up saying yes?" asked Karuizawa-san. That was another vital point.

"Now that you've mentioned it, he didn't really demand anything specific. He just wanted my cooperation."

Just as we reached the closing parts of our meeting, the door suddenly opened without any warning.

"Kukuku, so that's why I can vaguely hear a lot of different voices outside. Everyone's around, huh? Well, everyone except that Kouenji."

Ryuuen-kun entered the classroom just as he said he would. But this time, he came alone.

"You're earlier than expected. We were just discussing your proposal from yesterday," I said.

Fortunately, Hirata-kun managed to erase the last line that he wrote before Ryuuen-kun could properly read what was on the board. We didn't want him to freely gain that information if he was still unaware of it. He then transitioned into gently erasing everything else to give Ryuuen-kun the impression that we weren't trying to hide anything.

"Is that so? Well then, I suppose you guys have an answer now?"

This was the pivotal moment that might make or break our chances to retaliate against whatever Sakayanagi-san is planning.

We need to decide now, huh? It's not like Ryuuen-kun's deadline is absolute, but we'd rather use our right to choose.

Everyone held their breaths as I opened my mouth to answer.

"Sorry, Ryuuen-kun, but I think we'll be fine on our own. It'll be rough if you team up with Sakayanagi-san and Class B, but I refuse to cooperate with you right now."

"Ohh? Is that your final answer, Suzune?"

"Yes."

Ryuuen-kun didn't look fazed at all. This made my classmates more nervous. He came here alone without any fear. One person managed to unsettle our class just by exuding his dominant presence. Adding the fact that we didn't know whether he had Yamada-kun or Ishizaki-kun waiting outside, it made sense for most of us to feel afraid.

Guys like Ayanokouji-kun or Miyake-kun weren't afraid of him, but they just sat quietly without saying anything. The same goes for Sudou-kun who I've been watching out for this whole time. After all, it would've been bad if a fight broke off.

"That's a shame, though I guess it can't be helped. But don't you worry, I'm still very much looking forward to the sports festival." His sinister grin was there for everyone to see.

Ryuuen-kun comfortably walked out of our classroom with his hands inside his pockets. He came to get his answer and then left without any commotion. That was it.

Vol. 5: Chapter 10.1.2 - The Observer's Verdict

After Ryuuen left, the tension seemed to have finally faded.

"I wonder if I made the right decision," said Horikita.

The class didn't come to an agreement before Ryuuen came in, and all of our classmates stayed silent when he questioned her. Horikita had to make a decision on her own, so it's understandable for her to feel doubtful.

"I honestly have no idea what the right decision was, so I don't think you should dwell on it too much, Horikita-san," Hirata replied as he cleaned up the board and put everything in place.

"I personally think Horikita-san made the right decision. Like, there's no way I'd team up with the guy who tries to get others suspended or expelled for no reason." Karuizawa made a callback to what Ryuuen tried to pull against Ken, Ike, and Yamauchi.

Most of our classmates nodded at her words. Unlike Kouenji, Ryuuen wasn't as simple as a double-edged sword. Try using him, and you won't even feel any pain until you notice yourself holding the razor-sharp hilt.

"Well, why don't we raise our hands to vote? I'll ask whether or not you think it's a good idea to team up with Ryuuen-kun," Kikyou suggested with a smile.

The class cooperated without much issue. In the end, more than half were in favor of Horikita's decision. There were some who refused to vote, claiming to be part of the "I don't know" club. But all in all, it seems like no thought that teaming up with Ryuuen was the right move to make. And even if someone did, going against the class now would only raise eyebrows.

"As you can see, you've essentially given Class A's reply to Ryuuen-kun," Kikyou reassured Horikita.

"It'll be fine, Horikita. We've been working hard this whole time. Our class will win this for sure," said Ken.

"We'll take them head-on!" yelled Ike.

"Yeah, I'll pay Ryuuen back this time!" followed Yamauchi.

The Class A students cheered behind them. It's good to see their enthusiasm, but we'd have to face reality soon enough. It's not just us-- every class was doing their best to prepare. And in terms of overall physical ability, Class A definitely places behind the others if it wasn't for Ken. If we look at it just based on pure data, the battle of the first-years will be very close.

Well, that would be the case as long as I take myself out of the picture.

"I see... Then I guess all we have to do is prepare as much as we can. On the day of the sports festival, we'll have nothing but ourselves to rely on."Horikita slightly bowed. "Please do your best, everyone."

"Of course, Horikita-san!"

"You got it!"

In terms of morale, however, our class was definitely among the top. Everyone felt positive despite Ryuuen's foreboding threat.

It was only natural.
We were Class A.
We've experienced nothing but victory.
As long as we work together and do our best, things will surely go our way.

Unfortunately, it's about time they all woke up from this very long dream.

Vol. 5: Chapter 11.1 - The Curtains Rise

The class started pouring their hearts out during the remaining practice week. The most unathletic ones for the guys would be Professor, Ijuuin, Ueno, and Yukimura who had to double their effort just to keep up with everyone. The same could be said for Airi, Ishikura, Rino, and Inogashira for the girls. However, their hard work won't go unrecognized. Everyone would cheer them up whenever they can, and seeing even the least competent ones in our class try their hardest inspired the rest.

Well, Ueno looked like he didn't want anything to do with this, though. Even then, seeing him finish his quota every time during practice encouraged the entire class since all of us knew how much he hated physical activities. (1)

"I... I'm gonna puke..." he said.

"Oi, oi, Itsuki! Hold it in for now, man! Let's get you to the water station," Onizuka accompanied him with a panicked look.

"I'm beat!"

Meanwhile, Yamauchi, Ike, Hondou, and Miyamoto were lying on the ground, huffing and puffing along with Professor and Ijuuin who looked like they were unable to move any further. They were all working hard, just like everyone else.

"I finally surpassed... my record... I'll definitely sprint past those... Class D bastards in the running competitions," said Yamauchi.

"Say... Say that when you... beat me first," said Hondou.

They were all panting heavily.

"Airi! Good job!" yelled Haruka.

"Ohh, that's a record. Nice going, Airi," followed Akito.

"Yeah. You're doing great," I said.

"T-Thank... goodness... Haahh..." Airi crouched down while gasping for air.

Since Ken was busy coaching others, he didn't have much time to hang out with us. Well, it looked like he was having fun, at the very least. I initially thought it wouldn't end well because of Ken's short temper, but Horikita did a great job in assigning the right guys to him. If Ken coached slow and frail students, then he might lash out at them. Fortunately, his training partners were Makida and Minami (Setsuya) who were fairly athletic alongside Akito. He helps with coaching the likes of Ike or Yamauchi sometimes, and as expected, he does scold them, but Hirata would always diffuse the situation before it can get out of hand.

Later on, I did some running and stopped near Hirata.

"Good work today, Ayanokouji-kun," he greeted.

"Good work. You're still collecting data?" I asked.

"Well, yes. It's unnecessary since we've already submitted our Participation Table, but I think it's a good practice in general."

"I guess so," I looked toward Horikita who was practicing with Matsushita and Onodera. "By the way, how did the recent negotiations go?"

There were two notable events that were addressed by our leader duo. I wasn't really involved, but I asked about their outcomes out of curiosity.

"Ahh, the issue with Ibuki-san and Horikita-san's competition was set before we submitted the table a few days ago. They should be able to compete against each other in one of the events. And for the matter with Ichinose-san and Class C, Horikita-san declined because she didn't want to give them any intel."

Apparently, Ichinose asked Horikita if our classes could practice together. She even went so far as to propose a mock battle with our actual line-ups just to test things out. She argued that there would be no risk since they can't change their order, anyway. And the same goes for the other two classes.

Horikita agreed with her on paper, but she didn't want to show any openings before the event so she turned her down.

"Ichinose is pretty confident. She didn't mind showing her cards if it meant seeing ours in return."

"Yes. As a response, Horikita-san wanted to be solid. After she distributed a softcopy of the participation table to the class, she still asked everyone to keep the information exclusive to Class A."

"She sent the file to our class group chat back then, right? I haven't downloaded it yet, though."

"You're not interested in your order of participation?" he asked.

"I am, but I don't mind waiting until the weekend. That said, it doesn't seem like Horikita is completely convinced that we're safe."

"Class B and Class D should've submitted their participation table already, but there is no absolute guarantee unless we've seen them do it in real time. That's what Horikita-san told me. To be honest, I have to agree with her. There's no telling what someone like Sakayanagi-san would do."

Chabashira-sensei wouldn't lie to them so Horikita was confident that Ryuuen was in the safe, but that wasn't the case for Ichinose, who was on the other team. Even if our classes were allies, they wouldn't give her their unwavering trust. Horikita and Hirata refused to take any chances.

"We've all practiced more than what's probably required. After we make sure that no one gets sick or injured before the event, all that's left to do would be to compete and win," said Hirata.

"Yeah, this will be our first major battle as Class A. The class will finally get the chance to prove their worth."

Hirata was worried, but he was also looking forward to seeing the fruits of our classmates' labor. It won't be easy, but we have no choice but to face it. As someone who has looked after the class for the longest time, Hirata knows that more than anyone else. At first glance, he seemed like an optimist, but his positivity stems from realism. He'll gladly harbor all the worry if it meant lessening the anxiety for everyone else.

The 4th of October came and the curtains for the sports festival has finally risen.

The entire student body marched along the gigantic sports field. We were all wearing our standard PE getup, much like the ones we wore during class and practice. The march itself wasn't really uniform, but it was still orderly.

Only a few spectators could be seen from the school ground's outskirts and the bleachers' area. Because of the rules regarding outsiders, the audience were probably adults who work inside the school. It didn't seem like there were any strict regulations against them, so they could freely watch the festival. A number of students might be familiar with a few of the spectators given how some of them would occasionally smile or wave.

On the other hand, the teachers were as stone-faced as ever. And seeing a lot of medical personnel on standby inside a cottage-like facility once again shows how meticulous the school was in terms of preparation. Each team had tents set up on the opposite sides of the track, ready for any situation.

"Alright, we're finally here!" said Yamauchi.

"It's time to show off to the girls!" followed Ike.

"Kikyou-chan won't look at the likes of you," teased Hondou.

"Right back at you, Ryoutarou!"

"Stop arguing, will ya?" Miyamoto scolded.

"Ohoho, how mature of you, Soshi-dono," Professor commented.

"Haruki, Kanji, take a page from Soshi's behavior."

"Hey, Ryoutarou, why did you lump me with Kanji?! I wasn't even arguing with you guys!"

"And you're getting scolded too, aren't you, Ryoutarou?!"

"I don't know what you're talking about. Teehee," Hondou replied, playing dumb.

"Now, now... We should at least try to get a perfect score when it comes to discipline," added Ijuuin.

"Hmph, Wataru's right," Miyamoto snorted. "You guys won't get to show off when I'm here!"

"Ah, I take back what I said about you, Soshi..." Hondou sighed.

It didn't seem like their group was getting hit by nerves which was a good sign. Of course, it couldn't be helped that some of us were nervous, but their resolve could still be seen clearly.

Fujimaki from Class 3-A gave a speech during the opening ceremony which was expected given how the group meet-ups went last time, but it was still weird not seeing the student council president on the forefront.

"Are you ready, Ayanokouji-kun?" Horikita asked from behind.

"I reviewed the participation table last night. I'll be wherever I need to be," I replied.

"I see..." Horikita took a deep breath before facing forward. The class looked at her with confident smiles. "Well, then. Class 1-A has done everything it can. Let's do our best out there."

"This will be in the bag, Horikita!"

"Class A for the win!"

"I've practiced real hard for this that I almost got sick!"

"Hey, don't joke about that!"

The class was in high spirits and their focus was on the sports festival. That's why they didn't notice the gaze of a certain girl who was sitting inside one of the White Team's tents. I can see her grinning-- celebrating the smiles of those who will soon be thoroughly crushed by her.

Author's Notes:

1. Think of Ueno Itsuki as their class's Tanaka from "Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge".

Here's a reference for the class's current athletic abilities in the form of an OAA score.

These scores are canon for the characters with established profiles. Two exceptions are Kiyotaka (91) and Chiaki (54) reason being that they were not holding back (although Kiyotaka is still obviously not giving it his all). Everything else is non-canon and may be changed in the future if Kinu-sensei puts anything out.

The other exception was Mii-chan who was seen as unathletic in Volume 8. However, her Physical OAA rating got better in Year 2 (51) .

Vol. 5: Chapter 12.1 - Presentiment

The first event was the 100-meter dash. This type of event was ordered by grade level, starting with the first-year boys and ending with the third-year girls. After an event is finished, students will be given a short break. The order would be reversed for the next event, starting from the third-year girls to the first-year boys.

The competition was about to start and almost all of us got ready. Due to the pace at which the 100-meter dash will be handled, we should be waiting behind the first competitors on standby. A camera was also set up to watch the finish line. Victory and defeat could come down to a mere millimeter difference, after all. And of course, everyone was excited to be featured on the big screen containing different live feeds from the camera drones.

There were 80 boys in the first-year category. 10 groups with 8 members were formed with 2 students from each class.

Horikita was responsible for how everyone was ordered from a tactical standpoint. And since I wasn't involved during their brainstorming, I didn't really get the philosophy behind the way we were grouped. She only shared some of it with me after explaining why she put me in a certain group. To be honest, I'm just grateful that she considered my feelings.

To avoid attention, I wasn't put in the first group. And having our best athlete, Ken, in the first group was also predictable so he wasn't there. But at the same time, we also wanted to start strong. To do that, they would be our best choice.

"You can do it, Hirata-kun, Minami-kun!"

Some of the girls cheered for our first duo; Hirata Yousuke and Minami Setsuya. Everyone watched with bated breaths. This was our chance to build some early momentum. Any sort of hype will help the rest of our class get in gear.

As for their opponents... Hashimoto Masayoshi from Class B and Sonoda Masashi from Class D... According to the data we've collected from watching their respective classes practice, these two were among the most athletic guys, especially in terms of speed. What an unlucky match-up for our openers.

Hirata looked back at me with a smile.

"It seems like the other classes wanted a strong start, too. But this was also within the range of our expectations," Hirata tapped my shoulder-- he probably guessed what I was thinking. "I'm in top condition today, Ayanokouji-kun. Leave it to me."

He was one of our aces. There's no way Hirata would back down without a fight.

That said, it wasn't just Hashimoto and Sonoda. Their partners were also solid. It wasn't clear if Minami could get even get fourth place.

"Sup, Yousuke!" Sonoda smilingly greeted his fellow Soccer Club member.

"Hey there, Masashi-kun." Hirata responded with a simple wave.

"Kinda sucks that we're up against each other, huh? I wanted to get a clean victory," said Hashimoto.

"Haha, you're right, Hashimoto-kun. This could be anyone's win."

A hint of seriousness could be seen behind Hirata's gentle eyes.

The runners got into position, and as soon as the signal sounded, all of them shot off at incredible speeds. As expected, Hirata, Hashimoto, and Sonoda were in the lead. However, a winner was decided within seconds.

"Wha-? Who the heck won?"

"Yeah... Hirata-kun and Hashimoto-kun finished at the same time..."

The organizers started checking the footage. After a few moments of deliberation.

"First place goes to Hirata Yousuke of Class A."

Our class erupted in joy.

"Let's go!"

"Way to go, Hirata-kun!"

Horikita made a sigh of relief. It was too close of a match for such a decisive round.

"Ahh, that was insane, Hirata. I know you're in the Soccer Club, but that was still something else," commented Hashimoto.

"It was a close fight. Hashimoto-kun is a member of the Tennis Club, right? You're also extremely athletic," Hirata turned to Sonoda who was laughing slightly.

"You're as fast as always, Yousuke. I would've had to settle for fourth place if Sou was here," he said.

Minami was also talking with the other Class A guys. Unfortunately, he got passed by Yonezu Haruto from Class C. It was also a close one between the two of them.

While they were talking, the second group was already preparing to run. Each race had a 20-second interval, so the entire 100-meter dash event would take about half an hour to completely finish.

"It's unfortunate that Minami-kun was matched up with many other students who were more athletic or similarly athletic," said Horikita.

Minami's physical abilities were certainly above average. He was in the same range as Akito or Makida who are expected to place in the top four for their respective groups. Placing fifth wasn't a good result for him, but his match-ups were bad, so it couldn't be helped.

"Ken's up next with Makida," I muttered.

This time, there were two athletic powerhouses hailing Class B going up against them. Namely; Takemoto Shigeru and Matoba Shinji. Class C also had Tokitou Katsumi who was fairly athletic. Ken should be able to beat them all, but Makida would be hard-pressed to place fourth.

When the signal sounded, Ken shot forward like a bullet and took the lead. He easily got first place. There were five runners who finished behind Ken and they were extremely close to each other. But among the three students who were recorded to place after him, none of them were from Class A. In other words, Makida didn't make the top four.

"Let's go, Sudou! You zoomed past them!" celebrated Ike.

"That definitely felt faster than your practice runs!" added Yamauchi.

"Look at all those spectators in awe, Kencchin! They were caught off-guard by your speed!" yelled Haruka.

"Great job, Ken-kun." Airi clapped her hands happily.

"I'll take that MVP title, for sure!" Ken gave them a smile and a thumbs-up.

"That's alright, Sumu-chan. It was a close fight!" Onizuka comforted Makida.

"That may be the case... but it's so frustrating. It was so close. I could've gotten a fourth place," he said.

"Yeah... Apart from Sudou and the last two placers, everyone else was practically on the same level," said Okitani.

The same scenario happened. One of our runners might've gotten first place, but since our other runner got fifth place, we could only receive a total of 14 points. (1)

For the third group, our runners would be Professor and Ijuuin. As the most unathletic boys in the class, everyone expected this to be a giveaway round for Class A.

And as we've predicted, the two of them lost terribly. But on the bright side, one of them would at least get seventh place instead of both of them getting an eighth place if they were in different groups.

"I'm up next..."

Kikuchi and I were part of the fourth group. The two of us stood inside our designated lanes and got in position.

"This is pretty unlucky... I could probably run faster than two or three of these guys, but the rest of them, I'm not confident." Kikuchi clapped twice while facing me. "Thank you in advance for placing first, Ayanokouji-sama."

"Stop praying like I'm some sort of god..."

"Ehehe. C'mon, isn't it fine? This will be an easy win for you."

Kikuchi sounded like he was fooling around, but his intuition was on point. There wasn't anyone in this group that I'm particularly aware of, so I should take first place pretty easily. But to me, this could be considered an unlucky match-up. I'll get so much attention if I win by a landslide and I want to avoid such an outcome at all costs.

"Ayanokouji-kun, you can do this!"

"Do your best, Ayanokouji-kun!"

"I'll kick your ass if you get last place, Tsuki!"

The girls who were cheering on me smiled bitterly after hearing Mori's, err, supportivewords for Kikuchi.

When the signal sounded, I dashed forward to gain an initial lead. However, I didn't follow it up with a fast sprint due to how slow my opponents were. I adjusted my pace to secure the lead, but the distance between me and the others shouldn't have changed until the very end. I didn't run as fast as Ken or Hirata, but I wasn't slow either. I won first place without much trouble, but unfortunately, Kikuchi couldn't make the top-four finish.

"Ahh, my bad! I really tried to snag that fourth place, but the person in front of me wouldn't slow down..."

"It's fine, Tsuki. Ayanokouji got first, anyway," said Minami (Hakuo).

"And you looked like you were dying out there. Placing fifth was already a miracle, right Ayanokouji?" Makida turned to me.

"Yeah. Considering how athletic our opponents were, you've easily surpassed your performance from practice." I gave them my honest evaluation.

Next up was the fifth group which was also bound to give us trouble. Our runners were Yukimura, who wasn't expected to place high, and Kouenji, who was nowhere to be seen.

"Where the hell is that bastard?!" yelled Ken.

"Don't bother, Sudou-kun. It doesn't matter at this point," said Horikita.

"Are you really just going to let him do what he wants? Can't you at least try to convince him? You're our leader, right?" Ken was displeased about Horikita's decision, but Hirata was the one who stood in front of him.

"Sudou-kun, who do you think had spent the most time convincing Kouenji-kun to participate?" he asked.

"Hah? I dunno. You?"

"No. It's Horikita-san. She's been trying to get Kouenji-kun to cooperate with us for a very long time now. If she can't persuade him even after all her efforts, then anything else would be futile."

"Ah, is that so? Sorry, Horikita. I take back what I said earlier." Ken apologized, but his anger didn't seem to fade. "If that's the case, then I'll drag that bastard's ass here by force."

"Stop it, Sudou-kun," Horikita said.

"Please, Sudou-kun!" Kikyou cried out to him, as well.

"Don't even bother. I'll knock some sense into him right now."

Ken instantly spotted Kouenji who stood out like a sore thumb inside one of the tents. He began walking towards him as our classmates panicked.

"Ken-kun, please stop it!" Airi ran in front of him, opening her arms as if to block his way.

"Airi..."

Seeing her naturally softened his rage. He could see her legs trembling, but her eyes were dead-set on stopping him.

"Kencchin, none of what you want to do will benefit the class. In fact, you'll be doing the opposite."

"But that-"

"Get off your own ass, Ken. You're just being arrogant if you think Kouenji will listen to you, even if you try to use force," Akito joined in. "Just do what you're supposed to do, and that's to win. You're the one who's going to be the MVP, right?"

As usual, Akito didn't care about using harsh words against him. But Ken wasn't dumb. He understands that Akito was telling the truth. His friends just wanted him to stop-- for the sake of the class, and for his sake.

I tapped Ken's shoulder and signaled him to go back. Everyone can see his anger leaking away.

"Aaagh! Fine! If Kouenji is going to drag the class down, then I'll drag it up instead!"

Even Hirata and Kikyou wouldn't be able to stop Ken when he gets like this, but with the combined efforts of his closest friends, we managed to prevent any potential conflict.

"Horikita-san, this is bad!" yelled Ryuuko.

"What's going on, Nishimura-san?"

While our attention was on the commotion that Ken made, the sports festival kept going on. And to put things lightly, it wasn't going well for our class.

"Yukimura-kun placed seventh for group five and Kouenji-kun was automatically put in eighth place for his absence. We've already expected that... But the same thing happened for groups six and seven. Our runners were the bottom two. And for group eight, while we expected Ueno-kun to place last, Sugawara-kun didn't even manage to place in the top four. He only finished in sixth place," Ryuuko explained.

"What...?! What the hell are they doing?!" shouted Ken.

"Eek-!"

Ike and Yamauchi panicked after getting glared at by him.

"Please calm down, Sudou-kun. It's not their fault. They were all clearly trying their best... It's just that-"

"It's the match-ups... They were all... extremely unlucky." Horikita had a grim expression while looking at the ninth group race.

"It's Hondou and Miyamoto. They're not bad, but they're not great either," commented Onizuka.

"Ahh, this is a lost cause. Sumida and that guy Class B guy are too fast!" cried Ike.

"Wait, Kanji! Those two are fast, but the rest of them are slowpokes! Ryoutarou and Soshi can still do it!" said Yamauchi.

The whole class started cheering them on, and after a few seconds, Hondou and Miyamoto finished in third and fourth place. Everyone celebrated, but it didn't take long. The last group's signal was sounded and our last pair were Miyake Akito and Minami Hakuo. Akito was pretty athletic, but Minami hovered along the average line.

"What the hell? Their last pairs also look pretty stacked!" said the panting Hondou.

Akito was among those who were fighting for first place. After they reached the finished line, the organizers checked the footage to confirm the placing on what looked like a three-way tie.

Meanwhile, the other runners finally finished the race. And to the class's shock, Minami... placed last.

"Are you serious...?" Miyamoto couldn't believe his eyes. "Minami was just about as fast as me if not a bit faster... and he still placed last...?"

"The guys he was racing with... They were also pretty close to his speed. They were just a tiny bit faster than him..." said Hondou.

"Whaaat?! Man, this is so freakin' unlucky!" whined Ike.

While we were lamenting that tragic outcome, the footage was finally done getting reviewed.

"Beppu Ryouta from Class C places first. Komiya Kyougo from Class D places second. And Miyake Akito from Class A places third."

The other two classes celebrated while our class moaned in disappointment. Akito jogged toward us with an apologetic expression.

"My bad. I couldn't win," he said.

"We weren't groaning because of your performance, Miyake. That was close as hell! You weren't given justice!"

"Yeah, you should've gotten first!"

"I think it's still amazing that Miyake-kun got third..."

"Don't mind, Miyacchi!"

"D-Don't mind, Akito-kun."

"I'm the one who's sorry. I placed last!" said Minami.

"Nothing you could've done about that, Haku!" replied Onizuka.

"Your race was also close. You were just really unlucky. Don't mind, don't mind!" followed Kikuchi.

With that, the first-year male category had finally finished.

"Good luck out there," I said.

"I'll do my best," replied Horikita.

The other girls started preparing, too. However, before they could start running, our current scores were tallied and displayed for everyone to see. The class looked at the screen with different reactions. Some turned away, while some stared absent-mindedly. However, everyone gritted their teeth in frustration.

The result was nothing short of a disaster.

"I knew it was bad... but I didn't know it was this bad..." said Yamauchi.

Class B took the lead with Class C following right behind them. Class D put up a fight and placed third. On the other hand...

Class A... was completely crushed.

Red Team: 107 points
- Class 1-A: 32 points
- Class 1-D: 75 points

White Team: 244 points
- Class 1-B: 129 points
- Class 1-C: 115 points

Author's Notes:

1. This is the Point System mentioned in the first chapter of Volume 5.

1st place: 15 points
2nd place: 12 points
3rd place: 10 points
4th place: 8 points
5th place: -1 points
6th place: -2 points
7th place: -3 points
8th place: -4 points

Regarding the order of participants, the changes were made with a lot of liberty. In the canon, Hirata was the one with the biggest influence on their class's canon participation table. This time, however, he was co-led by Horikita who had a bigger say in the matter.

Note that both of them were explicitly said to rely on hard data, but that only applies to who the competitors for the Recommended-Participant events will be. The order for the All-Participant events will be based on the leader's strategy.

The canon Class D's participation table and the Alter Class A's participation table were made with different mindsets, hence the changes in the order for the All-Participant category. Meanwhile, the lineup for the Recommended-Participant events would've been completely identical with the only difference being Kiyotaka's presence in most of it. Y'know, because he'd shown some of his abilities to the class.

To be honest, my initial idea was to stick to the canon details including everyone's order of participation, but I really felt like it would feel extremely unrealistic and forced considering how much the timeline has diverged. And it kinda works if I extend this reasoning to the other classes. I can use these changes to better fit the plot.

Vol. 5: Chapter 12.2 - Avowal

As we got out of the track, the boys took their seats and focused without making any noise. Their eyes were serious. They planned on watching the girls run with an insane amount of concentration.

"The runners are getting more attention than what your exam papers will ever receive," I said.

"Oh shut it, Ayanokouji. Just sit down and watch with us. It'll be great!"

"We couldn't watch properly during practice, but none of the girls are here to police us right now!"

"A rare chance, I tell you! Rare!"

"Yeah, dude. It's about time we witness some amazing physics."

This group was led by Ike and Yamauchi, to no one's surprise. They said something about this being a once-in-a-school-year opportunity. Most of the guys were trying to play it cool, but they were also paying close attention.

Ken cracked his knuckles and warned everyone.

"If I ever see any of you ogling Airi or Haruka, I won't show any mercy. I'll gauge the eyes of any pervert."

Everyone trembled in fear. However, the shameless Yamauchi asked a shameless question.

"As long as it's not Sakura or Hasebe, then it's fine, right?" he asked.

"Whatever, dude." Ken narrowed his eyes and turned to spectate with everyone.

Everyone sighed in relief.

I mean, they can have whatever motives they want, honestly. At the end of the day, we're just watching the girls run. Of course, I can understand some of the guys' desire to prevent their friends or crushes from getting looked at with malicious eyes.

"Kiyotaka, I'm sure you've noticed it, too..." said Akito.

"Yeah. It seems like our female runners will suffer the same fate."

Just by looking at the line-up, it certainly looks like a repeat of what happened earlier.

"Horikita and Nishimura... You said something about a fixed competition between Horikita and Ibuki from Class D, right? Isn't the 100-meter dash too fast-paced for them to decide a real winner?"

"I don't know anything about the specifics of their competition. I don't even know if they only chose one event."

"I see. If Horikita is the one being challenged, then I'll have to assume that Ibuki can put up a fight." Akito turned her eyes to Ryuuko. "Do you think Nishimura can make the top four? She's one of the more athletic girls in the class but..."

"Yeah... Isoyama Nagisa from Class D and Motodoi Chikako from Class B. Both of them are really athletic, especially Motodoi since she's in the Tennis Club."

Akito must've been paying close attention if he could remember how athletic other students were. We only had a limited number of days when we could freely watch the other classes practice, after all.

"You can do it, Horikita-san!"

"Go, go, Ryuuko!"

"Take this home, you two!"

Cheers could be heard from the boys in the spectators' area and the girls on standby. We may have been stationed in different places, but we supported our classmates with the same amount of enthusiasm.

When the signal sounded, Ibuki instantly took the lead.

"Wha-?! Ibuki-chan is fast!" said Ike.

Horikita's reaction was delayed, so she had the worse start. However, she slowly started to gain on her. Ibuki kept glancing at Horikita who was right behind her, and in a matter of seconds, the two were nipped and tucked. Ibuki became panicked while Horikita looked a bit chuffed about such a development. She managed to grab a tiny lead over Ibuki near the end of the race. Ibuki tried to push harder, but the 100-meter dash was as short as it could've gotten. Before she could turn the tides back in her favor, Horikita already crossed the finish line first.

"Woohoo! Let's go Horikita-san!"

"That's our leader!"

The other runners also finished, but as if fate was making fun of us, Ryuuko placed fifth by a small margin.

"Ahh, so close!"

"Nishimura-chan almost had it!"

We could see Ryuuko making apologetic gestures, but the other girls were just smiling at her, probably saying not to mind it.

The second group came along with Onodera as our other ace. When the race finished, she easily took first place. However, Ishikura, her partner, came in last. Well, everyone probably expected it since she was one of the most unathletic girls in our class. The only frustrating fact about her loss was the fact that it was actually pretty close. Ishikura performed better than ever before and she could've at least gotten sixth if her opponents were any slower.

"Welp, first place is definitely going to Class C's Minamikata Kozue for this group."

Karuizawa and Shinohara were the next pair to go. They were similar in terms of athleticism and that's a huge gamble. It'd be ideal if a two-person package like them could take both top four spots. But if they happen to go against faster runners, then it'd be an instant loss.

"Whaaa! 'The heck was that?! Shinohara definitely got into the top four! That was so unlucky!" cried Ike.

Minamikata cleanly finished in first place, followed by Class B's Nishikawa Ryouko and Class D's Mineshima Eru. The spot for fourth place was hotly contested by Shinohara and the other Class D runner, but in the end, she lost. Karuizawa followed right behind her, placing sixth.

The next five groups were grouped with the same strategy in mind-- that one of them places in the top two while the other places in the top four. However, this tactic was unfortunately shattered by a continuous strain of unlucky match-ups.

"Haruka only placed fourth even though she's one of our faster runners... The same could be said for Azuma-san in the next group, but she only placed third..." muttered Akito.

Our runners kept getting overtaken by opponents who were just a bit faster than them. Of course, some spectacles were seen in groups five and six where Class D's Yajima Mariko and Kinoshita Minori placed first by a wide margin. The same also happened in group seven where Class B's Yano Koharu led the charge.

"Ahh... Hahh... I-It hurts..."

"Here you go, Airi. Have some water."

"T-Thank you, Haruka-chan..."

Airi and Haruka, who were done competing, started walking toward us.

"Ohh, good job out there, Haruka, Airi." Akito waved at them with a smile.

"Yahh, Kinoshita-san from Class D was too fast. I was left in the dust."

"Can't be helped. At least you got fourth," shrugged Akito.

"Nice running, Airi!" Ken gave her a thumbs-up.

"We were watching you go all-out. That was a fantastic result," said Akito.

Airi turned to me for some feedback.

"You did well. You finally beat someone."

She smiled and nodded repeatedly.

"Yes... This is the first time that I didn't finish in last place..."

Even against unathletic girls like Inogashira, Ishikura, or Rino, Airi would still fall short during practice. The student she passed was very similar to her in terms of physical abilities, but she managed to grab the victory in the end and placed seventh. From the position Airi was at, this was the best possible result. Our classmates knew that, as well.

"Go! Mii-chan!"

"Go, go, Satou!"

"You can do it!"

Group eight had Mii-chan and Satou. Satou miraculously placed fourth with Mii-chan finishing seventh. We were finally down to the last two groups.

"Hey, Makida, stop foolin' around. Matsushita's about to run!" called Ken.

"W-Wha-?! Don't be loud about it, Sudou!"

The other guys started nudging their elbows at him. Most of the boys were already aware of his feelings for Matsushita. Anyway, her partner would be Maezono who was fairly fast when it comes to running but had a bad fall this morning.

"Go, go, Sayo-chan!"

"You can do this, Mako-chan!"

Ichinose and Class C's cheers could be heard from the other side of the track. Andou Sayo and Amikura Mako-- both of them are fast runners, too. When the signal sounded, the difference was instantly made clear. Andou and Matsushita were practically running shoulder to shoulder. A Class B girl was behind them competing with Amikura. The rest were left fighting for fifth place.

"Ahh, so close!"

In the end, Andou got the win, but Matsushita got second place. Maezono finished in sixth place after beating the last two girls who were contesting her. She would've easily gotten third if she wasn't feeling pain.

"Final group! We finally get to see Kikyou-chan compete!" celebrated Ike.

"Stop ogling her you pervert," said Hondou.

"What, you think you can act like Sudou now, Ryoutarou?" Ike bit back with a smirk.

"Yeah, that's right! What, you think you can beat me in a fight with your lanky ass?" Of course, Hondou wouldn't let that slide.

"Stop it, you morons. Both of you are lanky as shit anyways. Just sit tight and enjoy the view, for fuck's sake." Miyamoto smacked the back of their heads.

"The hell wuzzat for?!"

"Just look at Haruki. Don't you see how focused he is?" Miyamoto put his arms around them and asked.

The two of them looked at Yamauchi who was so focused that he looked like he was in a trance.

"Tits... Jiggly tits..."

"H-His concentration is insane!" commented Ike.

"Buncha perverts," scoffed Ken who gave them a side-eye.

Most of the girls were already staying near us as the event progressed. They were either cheering for the remaining runners or rehydrating themselves. Hondou and the others were lucky that none of the girls heard what they were talking about.

"Ohh, it's Kyou-chan and Kokoro-chan!" said Haruka.

"I hope the two of them run well." Airi clasped her hands as if to pray.

Kikyou was currently exchanging pleasantries with one of her opponents, Ichinose Honami.

"They'll be up against Ichinose, of all people. Well, no one is really worth the mention apart from her. Kushida might have the chance to win this." Akito's evaluation was fairly accurate, but due to the lack of data, there was one girl that bypassed his radar.

When the signal sounded, everyone's jaws instantly dropped. It wasn't Ichinose or Kikyou who took the lead. It was Class B's Kamuro Masumi.

"S-She's fast!"

With clean and long strides, Kamuro easily got the victory. The battle for second place was fierce, but Kikyou managed to win against Ichinose by a tiny margin. Her partner, Inogashira, placed seventh, which was honestly not too bad.

And just like that, the 100-meter dash event for the freshmen was finally done and over. While the second-years were preparing, the current scores were tallied and shown on the screen.

"Gahh! The gap just widened!"

"Class B's lead is insane!"

"Even Class D got so many points!"

Red Team: 264 points
- Class 1-A: 99 points
- Class 1-D: 165 points

White Team: 437 points
- Class 1-B: 245 points
- Class 1-C: 192 points

At this point, Horikita stopped getting surprised. The result was just a byproduct of what was really going on. She asked for Hirata, Kikyou, Karuizawa, and me. It's about time we discuss this development.

Author's Notes:

Vol. 5: Chapter 13.1 - Impending Doom

Horikita analyzed how everything went using the scores that she and Hirata manually tallied earlier.

According to them, having two of our classmates in the top four was a vital win condition. The disparity between fourth and fifth place was night and day. One was an addition of 8 points while the other was a deduction of 1 point. It was a 9-point difference.

Horikita's strategy was to maximize that fact.

They took the boys' round as an example. If Hirata and Ken were to run in the first group, they could easily secure first and second places. But both of them could secure first place if they were to run in different groups. That's why Horikita wanted to spread our potential first-placers while teaming them up with fairly athletic partners to secure the top four. The unathletic ones were also tactically placed to minimize drawbacks.

It's the perfect strategy for random match-ups. Horikita made sure that every pair can yield the best possible result despite their level of athleticism. She couldn't have done it any better in that aspect.

Unfortunately, it ended in disaster. Runners like Minami and Makida had their potential to place higher stunted by extremely unlucky match-ups. Not only that. The same thing happened with the others, too. There were a few students that Ike and Yamauchi could've beaten, and that's even more so for Okitani and Onizuka who were only a bit below average. But in the end, they still finished as the last placers for their respective groups. The ones they could beat were either grouped against Ken, Hirata, or me.

"At first, we would've written this off as bad luck... But after the girls finished, that simply can't be the case anymore. Our few wins were earned too easily while our many losses were very close. If we look at it from a certain perspective, the correlation should be obvious," said Horikita.

"Yes... We think the match-ups had been rigged," Hirata declared with a heavy expression.

Kikyou's eyes narrowed but she wasn't too surprised. Karuizawa, however, seemed to be in shock.

"R-Rigged...? But isn't that impossible? You and Yousuke-kun were the only ones who knew about our class's participation table. And our class was also the last one to submit... How...?"

"Frankly, I still have no idea. The most logical explanation would be Ichinose-san's betrayal. She might have lied to us about Sakayanagi-san submitting Class B's participation table. That in itself is already unlikely, but then what about them knowing every detail of our participation table?" Horikita's grim expression only increased Karuizawa's unease.

"This might be a horrible thing to say, but it's possible for there to be a traitor inside the class..." said Kikyou.

"Ehh, a traitor?! Well, it does make sense if you look at it from that angle, but who would do such a thing?!"

"I don't know... I don't want to suspect any of our classmates..." she replied with a pained expression.

"Horikita-san and I could only arrive at the same conclusion as Kushida-san. But I also feel the same way. I don't want to doubt anyone inside the class."

"I can understand where the two of you are coming from, but I'm sure you're already aware of how naive that is." Horikita acknowledged their compassion, but dragged them back to reality.

"Yes, you're right, Horikita-san... That's why we need to investigate and find the truth." Hirata's eyes had a regretful glint. "But... regarding our current state in the sports festival, it's not like we can change anything at this point. We'll just have to make do with our current order."

"Let's keep this to ourselves for now. Telling the class would only cause chaos. For the time being, I would like Hirata-kun and Karuizawa-san to keep our classmates in line."

"Sure."

"Leave it to us."

When the two of them left, Horikita turned to me and waited for my thoughts on the matter.

"I'm sorry, but I can't help you find the traitor or anything like that. The only thing I can do for the class is to perform well in the sports festival."

"And don't get any ideas about me being the traitor, Horikita-san. I'm not interested in doing that anymore, so it would be great if you could leave me alone." Kikyou dropped her mask and confronted Horikita.

"I already expected those words, and I don't really think any of you would turn traitor." Horikita turned to Kikyou. "With that being said, would you like to help us investigate, Kushida-san?"

"I don't mind, but you don't get to order me around. If I get any clues, then I'll tell you myself."

"That's fine by me."

Kikyou still can't seem to stand Horikita, but at least she's not antagonizing her to a destructive degree. Even I can vouch for her innocence in this matter. If Kikyou really was the traitor, then I would've stopped her before she could even do anything.

"Say, Kiyotaka-kun. Is the sports festival a lost cause at this point? If the matches are rigged, then we can only hope for our classmates to overperform."

"That's basically the case."

Horikita's expression darkened, but she can't think of any solution.

"Heh, I can't even blame you for this, Horikita-san. In my eyes, I even thought you were being overly cautious and paranoid about the preparations," goaded Kikyou.

"Is that your way of making me feeling better?"

"Whatever you say," she scoffed. "I'm heading back. Good luck on your other events, Kiyotaka-kun. I'll try to keep the class's morale high. We can't have them tired and depressed at the same time."

I returned Kikyou's cheerful wave.

"You alright?" I asked.

"Yes, you don't have to worry about me. I was never under the impression that my plan was unbeatable."

The absence of her absolute arrogance was clearly a sign of growth, but it can also hinder her.

"But I never expected the enemy to beat us this way. We're in a really bad spot, to say the least. I can't believe our participation table got leaked..." she said.

"When you tried to confirm whether Ryuuen really submitted Class D's participation table, Chabashira-sensei was the one who helped you, right?"

"Yes," she nodded.

"Hmm... Teachers can't obviously say anything that topples the balance of the playing field, but knowing Chabashira-sensei, she might've given you the answer already. Or at the very, she must have given you some sort of clue."

"A clue?"

"Of course, it should be something within the bounds of what a teacher could say. But who knows? I wasn't there, so I can't say for sure."

As the new Class A, I can see that Chabashira-sensei's initial detachment to the class was slowly fading. I thought it was shallow of her to suddenly change just because the class was improving, but I think there's more to it. If my evaluation of her is right, then I'm sure she had already given Horikita the answer she needs.

"I see... I'll mull over it later," Horikita turned to the field. The upperclassmen were just about finished. "For now, we need to brace ourselves for the rest of the sports festival. It's an uphill battle from here."

"Don't worry. I don't plan on losing any event that I'm participating in."

"Is that so? That's very reassuring," she sighed.

Well, that's under the assumption that I'm going to participate.

Vol. 5: Chapter 13.2 - An Interesting Talk Amongst the Chaos

The next event was the hurdle race. I didn't really expect anything to change since I believed what Horikita and Hirata had speculated. It was too obvious-- too blatant, almost as if Sakayanagi was trying to send a message.

"Gahh! This is hopeless!"

"Run faster guys!"

"Ah, be careful! You'll lose so much time if you keep bumping on the hurdles!"

Everyone tried to cheer for the boys, but it didn't really do much. They were simply outclassed by the other runners in their group. The abundance of close calls was especially frustrating.

Professor and Ijuuin toppled every hurdle and placed last, but at least they finished the race. Hirata and Ken got first place in their respective groups, but their partners can hardly make the top four.

The first-year side of the Red Team should've had the advantage given Sakayanagi's absence in the competitions, but Kouenji leveled the playing field by abandoning the event. He was still staying inside one of the medical tents, looking relaxed.

"Good luck, Kiyotaka-kun," Kikyou cheered for me as I walked inside my lane.

It was finally my turn to participate. As the key runner of the ninth group, I should probably take first place. The Class B students that were pitted against me were also the slowest in their class. This was Sakayanagi's way of telling me that she knew it was futile trying to beat me this way. At the same time, leaving them to eat dust would just make me stand out. And speaking of standing out, this group was very troublesome for me because of one person.

"Oh, Ayanokouji! We're finally up against each other, huh?" Shibata of Class C waved his hand happily.

"Go easy on me," I replied.

"Shouldn't I be the one saying that? I thought you were faster than Sudou and Yousuke."

"They're overestimating me, but I'll try to put up a fight."

"Well, let's have a good one. Even Ichinose was hyping you up, so I'll run like the underdog and do my best."

Our group got into position. When the signal sounded, Shibata and I dashed forward, instantly taking the lead. I could faintly hear the cheers getting louder, but I decided to shift my focus ahead. At first, I adjusted my speed to match that of Shibata but it was a little trickier since he was much faster than the average high schooler. By the end of the race, I inched forward to grab a tiny lead for a very close first place. The footage had to be checked just to be sure, but I was eventually announced as the winner.

"Gahhh, I lost! Man, you're fast as hell, Ayanokouji!"

"I got lucky. There were many times where I thought I would bump on a hurdle."

"Ohh, considering how close we were, I might've won if you touched even one."

"Yeah. Your form was way better than mine."

"Urk-! It's frustrating, but I won't lose next time!"

I went back to the spectators' area where Akito and Ken gave me something to drink. When it was finally the girls' turn, the situation got even more hopeless.

"This is bad. Horikita is up against Kinoshita and Kamuro. Can she even win?" asked Akito.

"It would be difficult, but it's not like we can do anythin' about it. These match-ups are just downright horrendous for our class," said Ken.

In the end, Horikita only got third in their group. It was close, but she couldn't catch up to those who were more athletic than her. Everyone in the class was shocked, but their morale was boosted when Onodera and Mori took first and fourth place, respectively.

"Mori finally got a win," commented Akito.

"It's only a matter of time, ya know? She's pretty unathletic but she's still a member of the volleyball club," said Ken.

"That's surprising. I don't think she applied for any clubs back then," I mused.

"We've talked a buncha times whenever our teams interact about usin' the gyms, so I know. She was a bit late, but she did join durin' the first semester. And in terms of seriousness, Mori's more of a casual member than anythin'. That's what she told me, at least."

"Ehh, is that even allowed? I'm pretty chill in my club, but we can never slack off. Won't Mori's seniors chew her out?" asked Akito.

"Their upperclassmen are pretty lenient, apparently. And they have a lotta skilled senior members, so the first-years hardly get enough motivation to become regulars."

"So none of the new recruits are good, huh? If the third-years are doing most of the heavy lifting, then the team is doomed once they graduate."

"Well, there's one girl from Class B who's really good. I've seen her play a lot during practice with the seniors. I think her name was Busujima...?"

Busujima Rin. She's a really athletic student who's also great in academics. That explains her excellent performance during the 100-meter dash.

"That's her," pointed Ken.

"Ah, that girl."

She took second place very convincingly, only behind Yajima Mariko from Class D. Matsushita from our class came in third after them.

"Ahh, we just can't win against the track and field duo of Class D!" cried Ike.

"Are you falling in love with Kinoshita-san again, Kanji?" Hondou teased him with a smirk.

"Don't even joke about it, Ryoutarou. Remembering what happened back then still pisses me off."

"Well, that goes without saying," he sighed. "That Ryuuen almost expelled you guys."

"I wish I could get back at him," said Yamauchi.

"He's a full-time delinquent with lots of brawny goons at his disposal. What can you even do against that?" asked Miyamoto.

"I personally don't want to challenge that guy with violence, but at least it's satisfying to think that they're the ones in Class D now," said Hondou.

"That's right! Our class is way above them now!"

"But it's not like we can be complacent. Class D may be far away from us, but that's not the case for Class B..."

"You're being quite mature about this, Ryoutaro-dono. I thought you didn't care about anything other than your phone," teased Professor.

"Oh, shut it, Professor. I like reading on my phone, okay?" Hondou poked his nose, looking embarrassed. "And it's important to give as much attention to the people you're talking to. Woah-!"

Ike instantly jumped at Hondou, putting him in a headlock.

"Just admit it, you traitor! You got a girlfriend, didn't you? You're always chatting with someone on your phone, and you're starting to act a lot like Hirata-- even though you're not as handsome as him!"

"I didn't get a girlfriend! I didn't, okay?! And your comment about me being not as handsome as Hirata was uncalled for even though it's true, you bastard!" Hondou repeatedly patted Ike's forearm. "W-What are you getting jealous about, anyway?! You're getting along really well with S-Shinohara, lately! Agh-!"

"Not his girlfriend, but I think they're pretty close at this point. It's Nishino Takeko from Class D," announced Miyamoto.

"Oi, Soshi! Who told you to run your mouth?!" Hondou, who finally broke free from Ike, panicked with a blush.

"It's fine, isn't it? There's no point in hiding it."

"But still! It's nothing worth talking about!"

Ijuuin chuckled which caught the glare of Hondou.

"The hell are you laughing at, Wataru?!"

"Oh, don't mind me. I just found the situation a bit amusing," he said.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, please correct me if I'm wrong, Ryoutarou-kun. But the reason why you're hiding your affiliation with Nishino-san has something to do with that book, right?"

"W-W-Wha-?!"

"Eh...? Did Wataru hit the bullseye...?" Yamauchi gave him a suspicious look.

"Well, Ryoutarou-kun had recently borrowed a light novel series from me. The main character was a moderately social guy, and he has a secret budding relationship with the main heroine who's in another class. I'm very familiar with the story, so I immediately made the connection," he explained.

"Whaaa...? You're trying to act like a light novel protagonist...? Talk about cringe, Ryoutarou." said Yamauchi.

Even Ike was looking at him with a scandalized expression.

"S-Shut up! Okay, I admit that I was trying to emulate the protagonist, but it was just my way of self-development! And my thing with Nishino-- I just wanted to keep it to myself. Is there anything wrong with that?"

"Now, now. I said that Ryoutarou-kun's situation was amusing, but I didn't say it was bad. He's being more social and helpful to the class now, and it's not like he's waving his improvement around like some sort of flag. And he's entitled to keep his relationships to himself." Ijuuin defended Hondou.

"I agree with you, Wataru-dono. Putting the matter with the Class D girl aside, even I have absorbed some qualities from fictional characters. All people do. I think the cringe part depends on how oneapplies these qualities to himself."

"Ahh, you're talking about chuunibyou, right?" asked Miyamoto.

Professor fixed his glasses with a smirk, but it only took a few seconds before his smile froze. It seems like the word "chuunibyou" struck him deep in his core.

"Well, chuunibyou is often associated with kids trying to impersonate characters with powers, but that can also extend to those who are trying to copy normal high school protagonists from romcoms to an excessive degree," Ijuuin explained further.

Ijuuin and I had a discussion about this topic before. He's probably talking about teenagers who want to look calm and cool in front of others, trying to act like Hikigaya Hachiman or Oreki Houtarou. Of course, it can also extend to adults who don't grow out of that phase. (1)

"I'm ain't like that! I'm just trying to be more social! I'm not trying to be a romcom protagonist!" yelled Hondou.

"Well... I guess?" said Ike.

"Oh, shut it. I'm not like you or Haruki. Both of you were already cringe since birth!"

"Hahh, the hell did you say?!"

"Take that back, you bastard!"

The three of them got into some sort of scramble, but Miyamoto was there to smack them out of it.

"Ow, Soshi. That hurt..." Ike turned his attention back to Hondou. "Anyway, Nishino Takeko-chan, huh? She's from Ryuuen's class, though. Do you want to end up like us, Ryoutarou?"

"I'm not gonna confess to her or anything like that. And unlike you guys, I'm alright even if I'm just friends with her," Hondou sighed. "Anyway, stop talking about me or Nishino already."

"I don't want to sound entitled or anything, but what's the harm with telling your best buds now?" asked Ike.

"I didn't want to because I'm sure Miyake and the others can overhear everything, you idiot!"

"Yeah," said Ken.

"Totally," followed Akito.

"See?! This is your fault, Soshi!"

Almost all of the boys in our class could hear them talking. My deepest condolences for you, Hondou.

"If something were to happen, then I would tell you and Haruki. But we're just chatting, you know?"

"Well, I guess so..."

"Hey, Hondou, can I ask you a question?" Yukimura called for his attention.

Everyone tensed up after seeing Yukimura's displeased face.

"Yukimura? What's up? Is there a problem?" asked Hondou.

"I'm sure all of you have noticed something during the sports festival. All of our match-ups are so bad that I think it's been rigged to the enemy's advantage. I was wondering... What if our participation table was leaked to the other classes?"

The atmosphere turned serious.

Hirata and I looked at each other while shaking our heads. So much for Horikita's plan to keep things under the rug. Well, it was only a matter of time. Our classmates have brains too. Even they would come to the same conclusion eventually.

"Hey, Yukimura. Are you accusing Ryoutarou of leaking the participation table to Class D? That's not cool, man." Miyamoto confronted him, looking provoked.

"I can understand your unrest, Yukimura-kun. Even I can notice the flagrant beating that our class is taking right now... But this is a serious claim from you. First of all, we were the last class to submit our participation table. Even if Ryoutarou-kun did leak the participation table to Class D, it wouldn't do anything."

"Are you sure? What if Ryuuen lied?" Yukimura decided to argue, taking on the role of devil's advocate.

"Horikita-san had already told us everything. Chabashira-sensei was there to confirm his conversation with Sakagami-sensei. Or are you saying that Chabashira-sensei deliberately tried to sabotage us?" Ijuuin's counterargument was solid, so Yukimura conceded that point.

"No, I don't think she would do that. But what about Class B and Class C? There's the possibility of Ichinose betraying our class, so we can't be so sure that Class B submitted their participation table before us. If Hondou leaked our participation table to Nishino, she could probably relay that information to Ryuuen. And since we rejected Ryuuen's proposal to team up, he might've sold our participation table to Class B," Yukimura presented a completely different line of thought.

"That... is indeed possible," muttered Ijuuin.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, but I didn't leak our participation table to Nishino. I'm not that much of an idiot. And in the first place, Nishino never asked anything like that from me. We're just chatting buddies. Nothing more," Hondou casually rejected Yukimura's idea. "We're currently in the middle of a disaster, so I'm not going to pick a fight with you for being suspicious of me. I could show you our messages as proof, but I won't do that for privacy. You can suspect me all you want, but I can assure you that you'll get nothing from it."

Yukimura stared at Hondou for a brief second before sighing and bowing his head.

"I see... I'm sorry, Hondou. It was extremely rude of me to suddenly spur this onto you."

"It's fine. I'm suspicious of the situation myself. We can probably talk to Horikita-san about this once everything settles down."

Hirata observed the situation with a smile. It seems like the boys in our class were more level-headed than we thought.

When everyone shifted their attention back to the sports festival, the current score was shown and tallied. We, the Red Team, were currently in the lead, but that's mostly because of the second and third-years. Class 1-A was currently at the bottom of the ranks.

It was finally time for the Capture the Flag event and it'll most likely be another turning point for our class.

Author's Notes:

1. "This shit makes me sad, and I hardly even feel emotions." - Kiyotaka.

Vol. 5: Chapter 13.3 - A Desirable Outcome

"Then let's go with that," Ryuuen shrugged without much discussion.

He agreed with Hirata's decision so readily which made us wonder if they're even planning to take this seriously. Class D was already one of the leading classes when it came to running competitions, but they're certainly the top class among the first-years when it came to physical strength.

"Alright, let's win this!" yelled Ken.

The strategy was straightforward and simple. We'll split the attacking and defending teams by class. We'll change roles only if we lose the round. Ryuuen and his class agreed to be the defenders for round one.

Shibata, Kanzaki, Beppu, and the other guys from Class C could be seen leading the fronts for the White Team's attacking group. Kitou, Hashimoto, Katsuragi, and the Class B folks were the ones assigned for defending. Their strategy was the same as ours, which made a lot of sense. None of us have directly cooperated because we were always on guard against each other. Half-baked strategies like these were the most effective considering the little time we have to prepare.

"Sudou-kun, I'll leave the attack to you. Please lead us," said Hirata.

Ken nodded before facing forward.

"Let's do this, you bastards!"

"Ohh!"

Our class seemed hype about this. Class B had more athletic guys than us, but it didn't matter. None of them could beat Ken. We just have to try and attack. Ken will do the heavy lifting for us.

When the signal went off, Ken instantly charged ahead of us.

According to the rules, the attacking sides of each team weren't allowed to make contact, so our forces just brushed past each other. Flagrant violence was obviously prohibited, so kicking or punching will be dealt with harsh punishments. However, the school would overlook a certain degree of roughhousing since actions like pushing or grabbing were expected in a competition like this.

"I'll pave the way for you guys! Attack!" Ken yelled.

Our forces began flowing in like an echelon of birds.

The battle was man-to-man for the most part, some of us were getting double-teamed or triple-teamed like Ken, but that means we could do the same to them. It didn't matter too much in the grand scheme of things, but Koenji's absence made our situation a bit more strenuous than it should've been.

"Get outta my way!"

"Move it!"

"Agh-!"

It was pure pandemonium, but even if my teammates' attention were away from me, I still needed to exert myself in some way to avoid getting scrutinized. Fortunately, I didn't have to create the situation for myself. Two students have already marked me since the beginning of the round.

"Yo, Ayanokouji. Our classmates look like they're having fun. Wanna join them?" Hashimoto asked.

Kitou Hayato was beside him, ready to receive whatever move I do.

"Did Sakayanagi put you guys up for this?" I responded with a question.

"That much is obvious, right? She's giving you an offer. Would you like to accept?"

"Offer?" I already knew what he meant, but I decided to play dumb.

"You, Hirata, and Sudou are key players for the Class A boys. Once you're gone, it will certainly benefit us. Kitou and I were tasked to remove onekey player from this competition. Sakayanagi told us to pick whoever we wanted, so we chose you. She told us to give our target an offer. If you cooperate, things will be easier for you."

I see... It didn't seem like Sakayanagi said anything about me. How considerate of her. She even manipulated Hashimoto into targeting me. Going for high-profile students like Ken or Hirata would've been too obvious, so I was the best prey. I wouldn't call myself low-key due to my past achievements in the first semester, but I was still less high-profile than the princely Hirata or the top athlete Ken. Only the first-years would consider me "popular".

Sakayanagi must've reassured him that it's Horikita who's behind the wheel this time. So for Hashimoto, I was just the former mastermind of the now-Class A-- a cunning leader who managed to outsmart Ryuuen and Katsuragi in the past. After stepping down, I became nothing but a well-rounded model student like Kikyou.

No... To Hashimoto, I was even less of a threat than Kikyou due to my lack of social skills and connections.

I don't know about Kitou, but Hashimoto genuinely thinks that he could beat me in a physical match. After all, I was just an athletic guy who could run and swim fast. That night really paid off, huh? (1)

"I don't get it, but I need to take your team's flag," I replied.

"That's unfortunate. We'll just have to do this the "harder" way, then."

"Come at us," Kitou uttered calmly.

Without wasting any time, I immediately dashed to their left. They were caught off-guard, but their reaction was pretty fast. Unfortunately for them, I made a non-committal action. I instantly changed direction which nearly made them lurch.

"You're really fast, man."

We were close enough to crash onto each other, but I barely managed to slip past them.

"Got'cha!"

Before I could reach the pole, Hashimoto managed to grab my wrist. His grip was intense, and it bought enough time for Kitou to run towards my flank. Each subtle movement was necessary. I was bound by the two of them, but that only last for a few seconds. Looking at my surroundings, I realized that the three of us were completely covered by the chaos. Since we were in the middle of everyone, none of the spectators would be able to see us. That was the perfect time to strike.

"Hng-!"

Kitou "stumbled" while he was grabbing onto my waist, but it almost felt like a suplex. This caused both of us to drop to the ground. And in that split second, Hashimoto was there to follow it up.

"Nothing personal, Ayanokouji." Hashimoto muttered under his breath.

He "accidentally" stepped on my forearm without looking at me. Because of my lack of reaction, Hashimoto stomped on my arm for a second time while grabbing the nearest guy as if his attention wasn't on me. He did it one last time before tripping and crashing onto me and Kitou. Because of that, his elbow also struck my chest. The force wasn't just composed of gravity. Hashimoto intentionally dropped his elbow on me.

The two of them quickly stood up and started helping their classmates. In the end, Ken and the others managed to topple the post and capture the flag. Class C couldn't pierce Ryuuen's defenses, especially with Yamada Albert guarding the pole at range zero.

My classmates celebrated as the dust settled. I walked up to them but was immediately yelled at by Akito and Ken.

"Kiyotaka!"

They saw my arm which was riddled with dirt. Shoe marks were drawn by the scratches and graze that my arm sustained. The swelling looked particularly bad. It'll become a large bruise if left untreated.

"My bad... I think I'm fine," I said.

"No, you're not! Your arm is swollen as hell!"

A bunch of medical personnel rush toward us, asking the same thing. They checked my torso and found another red mark on my chest. Hashimoto stepped forward and talked to them.

"Um, I think I accidentally stepped on Ayanokouji while we were having that chaotic match. For the contusion on his chest, I'm not sure. I just vividly remember that it was him that I inadvertently collided with." He calmly told them the events that unfolded, framing everything as an unfortunate mishap.

"Is that true?" The head personnel turned to ask me.

Ken angrily approached Hashimoto, but he was stopped by Akito.

"Tch, you must've injured Kiyotaka on purpose!"

"Ken, calm down. This isn't the time!"

Hashimoto looked down and stared at me with a smirk.

"Yes," I replied.

I let Hashimoto finish his little story, so he probably already expected that I wasn't going to say anything against him. Even if I tried to push for foul-play accusations, the footage wouldn't catch anything decisive. They made it look like a legitimate accident.

"Alright. We'll get you some treatment inside one of the medical tents. But for now, you're not allowed to participate in any future events."

Ken, Akito, and even Hirata could only grimace after hearing those words. We won the first round, but at the cost of one student. If I didn't recover in time, we'll not only have two disqualifications for the All-Participant events. We'll also have to make substitutions for my slots in the Recommended-Participant events. Of course, that's not the most pressing issue about this. If I was incapable or mediocre, then it wouldn't impact our class that much. But I was one of the few students in our class who could grab first place on demand. My absence can only bring harm to our already-dire circumstances.

I walked off the field while being supported by Akito.

The girls were currently busy with their ball toss which was a relief. I didn't want this commotion to disturb their focus.

"Sorry, Hirata. I was careless."

"You don't have to apologize, Ayanokouji-kun. That doesn't matter right now. Please get some treatment and rest..." He knew that losing me was fatal, but Hirata chose to show concern instead of frustration.

My other classmates were the same on the surface, but I wouldn't be able to guess what was truly on their minds.

Ken promised to "avenge" me, and as expected, our team won the Capture the Flag event. And with that, the first-year boys started getting ready for the tug-of-war.

"What a barbaric way to skip out. You're lacking in sophistry, boy." Kouenji, the one who excused himself due to sickness, didn't look sick at all.

"I have no idea of what you're talking about, Kouenji."

He stopped looking at the mirror and turned to me.

"Oh, please. I'd advise you to stop treating me like those half-wits. Your current condition is one that you've hoped for..." Kouenji scoffed before continuing. "Well, not hoped, but planned. You're not the type of person who thinks about how the lowly ones see him. I fail to see why you'd go to such lengths just to preserve your "reputation", as you call it."

"The type of person I am, huh? How are you so sure that you know?"

"I am the symbol of perfection. Therefore, my words and thoughts are also perfectly correct. Flawless logic, isn't it?"

"I guess so."

"A wise agreement," Kouenji went back to checking himself out with the mirror. "Well, no matter. Even if you refrain from answering, your motives are already known to me."

"It's known to others, as well. I'm not really trying to hide it."

"To avoid trouble, huh? How ridiculous."

I decided to ignore him entirely. I lay on my back and ignored the matches, too. I honestly didn't care if we won or not.

Author's Notes:

1. Kiyotaka's manipulation of Hashimoto's perception of him goes all the way back in Volume 3 when he made it look like Ryuuen was about to beat him up.

Vol. 5: Chapter 13.4 - Their Plan

"No one else is here. You can drop the acting now, boy."

"Seems like it," I replied, stretching my arm. "I could probably still compete without any problems even with these injuries. It looks bad from a visual standpoint, but I actually didn't sustain much damage. It's not even that painful anymore."

"Hmph, how unsightly. As someone who's destined to be admired, I personally wouldn't let any of those ninnies blemish my beauty. However, I would give your boring face some credit. Your expression never changed, almost like you weren't even injured in the first place."

"Uh... thanks...?"

Well, it's not ideal, but I wanted everything to be simple and straightforward. And besides, these injuries shouldn't develop into bruises if I get them treated later.

I got up with the excuse of heading to the bathroom. In truth, I made my way to a specific classroom that had one of the best views of the athletic field. I didn't really care if cameras saw me loitering around. The repercussions shouldn't be too severe given my injury. I can just tell them I wanted a better view of the games from high up.

"Fufufu. You're finally here, Ayanokouji-kun."

Sakayanagi elegantly sat on top of a desk, looking relaxed. But I knew it must've been quite the journey for someone like her to get here.

"You could've asked them to be a bit more gentle."

"There was at least a 10% chance for them to choose the agreeable Hirata-kun, but in the end, you were the ideal target. So even if I didn't really give them any specific instructions to target you in particular, I knew that this would be the outcome. As their superior, please do forgive them."

"Don't worry. This is honestly just fine," I said before moving a desk beside a window. "Removing me was the best move you could've made for your team."

"Thank you for the compliment, but I know you saw it from a mile away already."

"And since you still did it, you must've been confident that I'd cooperate."

"Confident? Oh, please, Ayanokouji-kun. The moment Hashimoto-kun and Kitou-kun chose you as their target, I already knew that your cooperation was set in stone. After all, you were also hoping to get removed."

I recalled our first meeting. Sakayanagi probably knew that I didn't want to stand out anymore. So removing me was a win for the two of us. After all, I didn't have the luxury of holding back. But if my absence was valid, then I can avoid the spotlight while keeping my reputation in class intact. At the same time, Class B would have an easier time beating Class A.

"Sudou Ken-kun is a bit troublesome, but he won't be able to carry your class for that long."

"So you're planning to remove him, as well?"

"Why, of course. To destroy Class A, I have to be thorough."

I already have a pretty good guess on how she'd do that.

"I see," I replied, watching the Tug of War.

The boys seemed to be winning, but the girls were losing, which was pretty ironic since our Red Team was missing two boys while the White Team was missing one girl.

"Are you sure about not interfering?"

That question solidified my guess on how Sakayanagi will get rid of Ken. It also caused a chain of confirmations about how she planned everything.

"Yeah. You can do what you want. I don't really care."

"Fufufu, that's reassuring. Well, I'm sure your plate is already full enough," Sakayanagi narrowed her eyes as she stared at me.

"Shouldn't it be the opposite? I don't have to worry about being the leader, and I'm not obligated to plan things out during class battles. It's like having a vacation." (1)

Sakayanagi chuckled before giving me a meaningful smile. She probably already knew that I was lying, but I wasn't in the mood to talk about my personal plans.

"Aren't you going to watch the matches more carefully? Staring off into the distance... It seems like you have something else on your mind," she said.

"I've seen them practice, so I already know what to expect. The only question is whether their morale will completely collapse."

"You're probably right. Given the Class A students' lack of mental maturity and resolve, they were bound to become more cynical, unmotivated, and detached in the face of absolute defeat. At first, I was confident that I could easily shatter your classmates' spirits. I thought it wasn't a matter of "if", but a matter of "when", but they're surprisingly much harder to break," she sighed.

"It's not strange for them to grow over time," I said.

"Oh please, Ayanokouji-kun. That's cruel even as a joke," she giggled. "Both of us know that there wasn't any "growth" involved. The reason for this development would be your current position in the class hierarchy. Most of your classmates would've already given up a long time ago if they were still in Class D."

I couldn't do much about how my classmates thought about everything. Forcing immature adolescent teenagers to work hard and study was the same as asking little children to eat their despised vegetables. That's why I gave them some candy, which in this case, was the opportunity to graduate in Class A. In other words, I just used their simple-mindedness to my advantage. That's how I was able to control them all this time.

It'll take Sakayanagi a bit more to break Class A. After all, the opportunity I created gave them "hope". That's why their morale was a lot sturdier than what you might expect from a bunch of selfish and impulsive 16-year-olds.

"Are you leaving?" she asked.

"Well, we have to. You should also get back soon. The two of us shouldn't really be seen together since we're from different teams, so I'll be going on ahead."

Security cameras don't really bother me, but it would be troublesome if my classmates saw me walking around with Sakayanagi.

"Fufufu. Seeing you try to preserve your current reputation in class very much amuses me," she giggled.

"I don't want them to hate me, after all."

That was another lie. To be honest, I couldn't care less about how my classmates felt about me. However, the reputation I've built up cost some time and effort. Having decent social clout makes things a lot easier in my position. It's also a good shield since enemies might see it as a weakness when it's really not.

As long my image as the "reliable ex-leader" is useful, I don't mind sparing some effort to preserve it.

"Such a dependable classmate, you are. But when your class finally hits rock bottom, I wonder how hard they'll beg for you to save them?"

I ignored Sakayanagi and walked towards the door. She turned away from me and continued watching the competitions.

"Please send my regards to Kikuchi Kyou-kun," she said.

I see. So the reason why Sakayanagi told me to come here was this... That's their plan, huh?It'll be one heck of a pain in the butt for Horikita and the others.

"Sure thing," I replied.

Author's Notes:

1. Kiyotaka inhaling some copium.

Vol. 5: Chapter 14.1 - The Lonely Queen

Everyone's cheers could be heard as I walked through the main building's corridors. Class 1-A should be losing in most individual competitions, but their fighting chances are solid with Class D backing them up. Well, it's not like Ryuuen would put in the effort to do that, but they can't just throw the games either.

"Oh? It seems like we have another lost one loitering about."

A female voice reverberated inside my ears. When I turned around, the face I saw wasn't at all familiar. Seeing the white bandana on her wrist, she must be a senior from Class B or Class C.

"Um, is there anything you need from me?"

"Oh, don't mind me. I just find it amusing that a couple of cute first-years are skipping out on such a fun event."

I could say the same for you.

A "couple of cute first-years", huh? I guess she saw Sakayanagi at some point, too.

"Hey now, I'm not going to bite, okay? You don't have to be that cautious. I'm just trying to create some small talk."

Cautious, is it? Wouldn't you usually think of the other person as awkward or nervous?

"I'm sorry... I just... don't know what to say."

"Ahaha, don't apologize now, Kouhai." She laughed merrily as if amused. "Are you going to keep on skipping out? If so, then why not hang out with me?"

Another unexpected question. I'm suddenly getting picked up like a girl in Shibuya. Calling the situation "weird" would be an understatement here.

"Why me?" I asked in a calmer tone.

"Hehh... So you finally stopped acting like a nervous wreck, huh? It doesn't really suit you."

I see. That guy... He must have a reason for this.

"I understand. Then I guess we could go to the infirmary. Please head on first, Senpai."

She smirked and turned around before walking. Since we were from different teams, we can't really be seen walking together. I'm sure she knew that, as well.

We got to the infirmary in silence. There were no patients inside so far. The ones who needed primary treatment were still stationed inside the tents. I opened the door and saw her sitting on a plastic chair. I moved the curtain covering one of the beds and sat. It shouldn't be a problem since I had an actual injury.

"You got anything to say?" she asked.

"What do you want to hear?"

"Anything is fine. It's enough as long as I can figure out what sort of person you are. Think of it as a test."

I'm still in the dark, so the risk of failing this "test" isn't something I'm willing to take.

"What's your name, Senpai?"

She leaned back and shoved her long platinum-blonde hair behind.

"Kiryuuin Fuuka," she replied.

Kiryuuin Fuuka, is it? She smiled expectantly in anticipation to what I would say next.

"So, Kiryuuin-senpai. How much did Horikita-senpai tell you, exactly?"

She lit up and clapped her hands once.

"Perfect score!" she said. "How interesting... Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. I thought the president was hyping you up too much, but you might not be as boring as I initially thought you'd be."

Well, if I gave you a boring answer, then it might derail my plans into something more tedious.

"Sorry, but could you please tell me what's going on?"

"I will. But first, you have to tell me what you think is going on."

How troublesome.

"I assume Horikita-senpai told you something about me. I don't think he's the type of person who would blabber without any thought, so this might have something to do with his goal of stopping Nagumo Miyabi."

She nodded with a satisfied expression.

"Mhm, and?"

"Well, that's about it. I might be able to infer more things if you tell me which class you're from."

"Oh, really? I'm from Class 2-B. Does that help?"

Kiryuuin did not even hesitate on her reply. There was no subtlety in our conversation. She's not afraid of feeding me any amount of information, answering away with a grin.

"I see..." I looked at her with a sigh. "It's seems like I've stumbled upon another strange person..."

"Hey, now. Stop thinking out loud, will ya? You can't expect me to get fooled by your compliments just because I'm a little interested in you."

So being called "strange" is a compliment now?

"I called you strange for how laid back you're acting. In the first place, you wouldn't think about messing with a first-year when students like Horikita Manabu and Nagumo Miyabi are around, right? Capable students like them should be more interesting."

"No need for that kind of prefacing, Ayanokouji. Just ask me what my goal is. That's what you want to know, right?"

That's a bummer. I thought she'd at least let me have some more info at my own pace.

I've only had an indirect interaction with Nagumo once since he was talking to Horikita, but I still managed to make a reasonable evaluation on his thought process. Based on this conversation, Kiryuuin's sharpness should stand on a similar level.

"Alright then, Senpai. What would you gain out of this?"

"That's pretty simple. By meddling in your matters, I hope I could at least receive some amount of entertainment."

"Entertainment?"

"I'm bored, obviously. That's what every excellent student tend to feel. Aren't you the same, Ayanokouji?"

"I would normally deny my excellence, but it's not like you're going to believe me at this point."

"Horikita-senpai doesn't interest me anymore, but I won't doubt his words."

"I figured," I sighed, going back on topic. "Just living my high school days in peace is enough for me. I don't really mind being bored."

"Really? Then why did you let Horikita-senpai hook you in? That Nagumo is a pain in the ass, you know?"

Her lady-like appearance didn't suit her language.

"There's benefit for me, as well. Trying to go against Nagumo-senpai is just a means to an end."

"Is that so? I wish he could hear you right now," she smirked.

Since Horikita Manabu told her about me, then she must have given her word to at least not rat me out. It'd be quite annoying if Nagumo prematurely discovers my actual role.

"I'd rather not... I'm trying to hide from him, after all."

"I know. Horikita-senpai told me. I promised not to say anything to Nagumo since Horikita-senpai's agenda would also get disrupted. But it's not like I needed to do that at all. There's no way I'd let Nagumo know about you."

"Why is that?" I asked.

Kiryuuin leaned in, scoffing as she smirked.

"Obviously, because it'd be extremely boring."

"Are you going to cooperate with Horikita-senpai, then? I thought you weren't interested in him."

"Being interested and cooperating are two completely different things, aren't they? Though, in Horikita-senpai's case, both of them don't apply. I don't really find him interesting-- or at least not anymore. And it's not my thing to "cooperate" with anyone, not even Horikita-senpai."

"So in conclusion, you're here to see what kind of person Horikita-senpai is banking on to fight Nagumo Miyabi. And you're going to assume the role of an observer, I assume."

Regarding the second half of what I said, I don't think it'd be the case at all. But it's better to lower her expectations by getting some things wrong. At least, I can afford to do that now.

"Come on, Ayanokouji. You still don't get me? You got the first one right, but just watching would bore me to death. Depending how things go, I might end up fighting you or Nagumo. Who knows? I'm sure it'll be more fun that way."

"I can only pray for things to not end up in that direction."

Before I could continue speaking, Kiryuuin shot up and stretched her arms with a moan.

"That's it for now, Kouhai. You'll probably start extracting some information on Nagumo, but it'd give you too much of an advantage which would be pretty uninspiring," she said, cutting the conversation right where it mattered.

"I'll go ahead and take back some points. I don't wanna lose too much money for slacking, after all."

Her tall and elegant figure walked out of the infirmary. After glancing at one of the cameras on the ceiling, I approached the area of the room where the medical equipment and medicine are located, and tried to treat my injuries.

Vol. 5: Chapter 15.1 - I'm Not Interested

"Goddamn it!"

Ken ground his teeth in frustration.

"Kiyotaka... You're back," said Akito.

"I made a visit to the infirmary. How did everything go while I was gone?" I asked.

"Well, as you can see, it's pretty bad. We won the Tug-of-War, but the Obstacle Course Race and the Three-Legged Race went just as horribly as the first two events..." Akito looked away with a frustrated expression. "And the Cavalry Battle... "

"Hey now, Class A. You better step it up. I don't want to keep carrying your asses all throughout the festival," chided Ryuuen.

"Shut the hell up! You abandoned us in the Cavalry Battle!" yelled Ken.

"Abandoned? Are you that pathetic, Sudou? We may be from the same team, but we did our best and won. It's your fault for getting annihilated first. Instead of yapping your excuses like a dog, you should probably thank me for salvaging your failures," countered Ryuuen.

A bunch of school staff was staring at us. We shouldn't escalate this any further.

"Ken, it's fine. We can't do anything about it now..."

"Damn it... I'll fuckin' sock that guy..." Ken cursed under his breath.

"Ayanokouji-kun, are you alright?" Hirata approached us with a worried look.

"Yeah. I think I can participate in the 200-meter dash."

"Are you sure?"

"I'll try. The physician said I'm allowed to run, at least."

"I see... Your presence will be a huge help, in more ways than one..."

The others' expressions turned grim as soon as Hirata said those words. Something must've happened while I was gone.

It was almost time for us to get ready. The next event will be the last one before a 50-minute lunch break. I turned my sights toward the girls who were currently engaged in the heated round of their Cavalry Battle.

"Tsk... Those bastards... They're using the same tactic," muttered Ken.

It was a fairly straightforward strategy. The Class D cavaliers try their best to evade while playing defense. After Class A's squadrons get tired and eliminated by the combined forces of Class B and Class C, that's when they'll strike back. I'm not sure if it'll go as smoothly for Class D's girls, though. I noticed that they're actually lacking in numbers.

I see... So that's what happened.

Meanwhile, the girls from our class looked extremely distressed. And Horikita... After getting pincered by Ichinose and Kamuro's group, her bandana was easily stolen as she fell from her horse.

"Hahh... Hahh... Dang... I ran like my life depended on it, and I still got seventh!" cried Ike.

Yamauchi and the others uttered similar things, but it can't be helped.

"Woohoo! Good stuff, Ayanokouji!" Onizuka celebrated.

"Hahh, I can't show off now. I'm too damn slow," laughed Kikuchi.

I'll probably confront him later about what Sakayanagi told me.

Anyway, I managed to get a first during the 200-meter dash. The fast runners got great results, but both the average and slow runners got left severely behind. The same went for the girls. However, Horikita, who was supposed to be a prime candidate for first place, only got sixth. And just like that first half of the sports festival came to an end.

The mood was dark for Class A. We were hundreds of points behind Sakayanagi's class. Thanks to the seniors, the Red Team was still winning, but we'll surely lose the class battle.

"Ayanokouji-kun..." Horikita approached me with a pained look.

"What are you doing, competing at that state?" I asked. "You're injured, aren't you?"

"I'm..."

I crouched down and raised the hem of Horikita's jogging pants. As expected, her ankle was severely swollen, and it'll only get worse the more she forces herself. The class knew about this, but she must've insisted on participating.

"Your condition is a lot worse than mine."

"But..."

"It's useless even if you try to fight on. I'm not saying we should give up, but you should look at things objectively. You're only putting yourself in more danger. There's no point in taking any more risk."

Presented with such an argument, Horikita could only agree.

"I was careless..." she said.

"It can't be helped, right? You were outsmarted, and now you're getting the full brunt of Sakayanagi and Ryuuen's attacks."

Horikita quickly glanced if anyone was trying to listen in.

"The traitor... I need to know who they are."

"And what does that fix?"

"Nothing... At least, not right now. I recognize that there's not much we can do at present, but I'm worried about the future. The class will be in trouble if this keeps happening."

"I see. Then I wish you good luck."

After a short pause, Horikita spoke again.

"Are you willing to help me?" she asked.

"Are you asking for my help?" I instantly returned the question which made Horikita freeze.

"I know I can't keep relying on you, but..."

"Is leading the class too hard for you?"

"It is hard. I already knew that beforehand. Even if it was a very short time, I've been watching you lead us since the very beginning..." Horikita's eyes trembled. "But I know I can do it."

"Then why are you asking for my help?"

She looked up, facing me head-on.

"Because you're part of the class, too. You're a weapon that can take us out of this rut. It's too wasteful not to use you. If you'll allow me, then..."

"Use me, huh? If I'm being completely honest, I'm quite fond of that idea. You're completely in the right to try and utilize me as an asset," I sighed, shaking my head. "But unfortunately, I'm not interested in helping you find the traitor. I also got my own set of problems."

"I see." Horikita closed her eyes, but her expression remained unchanged. "I'll do something about this on my own, or rather, with Hirata-kun and the others' help. That said, I'd greatly appreciate it if you ever give us a hand."

"Sure. It's not like I'm doing this out of spite. You already know the kind of person I am, anyway. I'd just rather not get involved in any of the potential drama. That's the complete opposite of a peaceful life."

"I understand, Ayanokouji-kun. Maybe I just... need to calm down and think about everything more clearly."

"You can do that, but at least get your leg checked first. Someone else can act as your substitute for the rest of the events."

This was probably the hardest pill to swallow for Horikita right now.

Before she and I could go on our separate ways, the people who had been watching us from a distance finally came up and approached us.

"Horikita-san!"

"Ichihashi-san?" Horikita turned around saw Ichihashi along with two other girls; Azuma and Ryuuko.

"Heya, Horikita-san. Did you have plans with Ayanokouji-kun?" asked Azuma.

"Not really. I was just about to leave," I replied.

"Ohh, I see!" she said, looking back at Horikita. "You're gonna visit the infirmary after getting your injury checked, right?"

The physicians were inside the tents, but the beds were inside the infirmary.

"Yes..." Horikita replied with a slightly confused expression.

"Is it alright if we accompany you?"

"Accompany me? But why...?"

"Well, we were pretty worried when you got injured..." said Ryuuko.

"This is your precious lunch time. You shouldn't waste your chance to rest," replied Horikita.

"It's not like we're gonna do anything physically taxing, you know~? And there's plenty of time to eat after we get your injury checked. We'll just have lunch together by then." Azuma's proposal was hard to decline, even for Horikita.

"This was initially Nene-chan's idea. She was supposed to be here, but she had some business with Kikuchi-kun," said Ichihashi.

"This is a bit puzzling for me. Is there any underlying reason why you want to come with me?" Horikita asked bluntly.

Azuma grabbed Horikita's arm in cuddly way.

"We've always wanted to get closer to you, you know? We can't have Ayanokouji-kun having you all to himself." She turned to me with a smug smirk. "You were about to leave, right? Shoo, shoo~!"

Azuma was shooing me away like a stray dog.

"See you around then, Ayanokouji-kun." Ichihashi gave me a small wave.

"Bye-bye, Kiyotaka-kun. We'll take care of Horikita-san," followed Ryuuko.

I didn't really have the energy to say anything else, so I just waved my hand at them. It's good to see Horikita making more friends-- or at least I hope that's what happens. Well, with Azuma around, I'm sure they'll hit it off without a problem. I hope.

I thought about what to eat for lunch as I walked to the cafeteria. The class traitor or whatever should be the least of my concerns right now.

"I'm not interested in helping you find the traitor."

It's true that I wasn't interested in helping Horikita find the traitor. But I never said anything about not trying tofind the traitor myself.

Vol. 5: Chapter 15.2 - I'll Protect You

"Finally... Solitude..."

Ken and the others invited me for lunch, but I passed. Most of my classmates approached me or sent me a message regarding my injuries, but I told them I was fine. I've had enough social interactions for today.

At this moment, I thought about my so-called "enemies". Sakayanagi, Ryuuen, Kiryuuin, Nagumo... So many people are getting in the way.

After the first semester, I thought that it would've been pointless to continue my Self-Test after getting to Class A, but Sakayanagi begged to differ. I don't mind seeing what she can do. Our chess match was definitive proof of her abilities. That girl was a genius, and a natural one at that. She might be weak on the physical side, but given her display of intellect and wit back then, it's still up for debate whether or not she's on par with a White Room student in certain aspects.

Then there's Nagumo... He's probably going to be the root of all my future problems. I can only guess his true goals in reshaping part of the school's system, but if I'm to believe Horikita Manabu's warning, then he'll be a pain in the butt regardless.

And for Kiryuuin... Well, I don't really know anything about her. With how our conversation went earlier, it didn't seem like she'll get associated with me again anytime soon.

My main problem right now would be Ryuuen. I should get him off my case soon. It'd be ideal if Horikita can grab his attention. That said, his plans will soon bear fruit, and once that happens...

"Hahh... I finally found you."

Speak of the devil.

"Kikyou...?"

I was currently spending my lunchtime in the Tea Ceremony Club's clubroom. Konishi-senpai gave me permission, and I was allowed to use the A/C. What a kind senpai. Secretary Tachibana could learn from her.

"Sigh... I don't think I would've been able to find you if I didn't happen to encounter Konishi-senpai." She shook her head in dismay.

"That was the plan from the start. I'm actively trying to not be found by anyone."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Am I being a nuisance?"

"Not really. You're just one person, after all."

Kikyou smiled after hearing my response.

"Tired of all of your friends talking to you?" she chuckled teasingly.

"Yeah, kinda..."

I sat on the floor while leaning against the wall. My packed lunch was laid down in front of me, ready to be devoured. This would be my first time trying out this neat and meaty bento set. Of course, I bought an extra in case one wasn't enough for me.

"Can I stay with you here?" Kikyou asked gently.

"Sure..." I replied while whispering 'itadakimasu'.

Sitting beside me, Kikyou began humming. She stared at me with a huge grin on her face. The sun rays that illuminated the room can never really match how bright Kikyou looks every time.

"You're so cute," she said.

"Hm? Where did that come from?"

"Nothing. You just look cute."

I don't know if that's something you'd usually say to a guy eating his meal.

"Uh, thanks, I guess."

Ah, so this was what the other guys were talking about. Girls would call them "cute" when they'd rather get called "cool" as praise. Kikyou was probably complimenting me, but I didn't feel complimented at all.

"Mhm, go on. Don't mind me."

"Why don't you eat, too? I've got an extra if you want it."

"Ohh, thanks. But it's fine. I already ate lunch earlier. Please eat to your heart's content," she said.

"And you'll just keep watching me?" I asked.

"Yep! Does that make you uncomfortable?"

"Hmm... No, not really. You can do whatever you want." It wasn't anything new. I was used to people watching me while I ate.

"Then, I'll take you up on that offer." Kikyou rested her cheeks on top of her knees as she faced me. I suddenly remembered that time when I was alone with Ichinose on the luxury cruise ship, and that other time with Haruka in the forest.

I started eating with Kikyou's eyes on me. Thanks to her presence, my mind was able to relax a bit.

"So? Why were you looking for me?" I asked before serving a spoonful of food inside my mouth.

"Three reasons. Firstly, I'm tired of interacting with everyone so I ran away. But at the same time, I didn't want to be alone. Secondly, I wanted to ask your opinion on the current state of the sports festival." Kikyou's dramatic response resembled that of a teacher giving an explanation.

"And the third reason?"

She touched her lips with her index finger while giving me a seductive smile.

"I just wanted to spend some time with you, my dearest best friend, Kiyotaka-kun~."

Whenever she did something like this, my heartbeat would get out of control. But now, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that I know Kikyou more than anyone else in this school. I'm used to her constant teasing.

"That's... fine, I guess..." Damn. So much for that monologue. My heart is pounding like crazy right now.

"Ehh, poker face, as usual? Aren't you at least happy?"

I'm glad nothing was shown from my facial expressions.

"I am happy, I just-."

"You just can't express it well." She completed my words while mimicking my expression. "I know that already, and I think it's pretty cute."

"Again...? What part of it is cute...?" I sighed.

Kikyou only replied with a giggle. Now that was cute. Meanwhile, her reason for calling me cute still remains a mystery.

"So? What do you think? Does Class A still have a chance of winning?" she asked.

"Nope. It's a guaranteed loss, for the interclass battle, at least. The seniors are doing some amazing heavy lifting for the Red Team. We'll probably win in the team battle."

"Hmm... So even if we lose 100 class points for getting last place in the interclass battle, we can get those points back if the Red Team wins the overall event? I guess that's somewhat reassuring."

"Yeah. There's no point in trying to win after what just happened. Sakayanagi outplayed Horikita."

"It's not just Sakayanagi-san, right? I'm sure Ryuuen-kun is working with her. The win-loss trades between Class B and Class D were far too convenient to be a coincidence."

"You're probably right."

"This is a pain... Who's the traitor, anyway? What's their motive for doing this?"

"You don't have any idea?" I asked, probing Kikyou to make her own hypothesis.

"Hmm... With the information we have now, one possibility might be an internal rebellion of some sort. After you stepped down, the traitor might've deemed Horikita-san an unworthy leader. So instead of trying to help the class maintain its Class A status, they took Sakayanagi-san's side instead," she explained.

"That's a good hunch."

"I mean... Class A and Class B had polar opposite developments after the first semester. I don't know much about Sakayanagi-san's abilities, but her classmates are treating her like a savior that will push their class back on top. Meanwhile, Horikita-san's leadership is still a bit questionable. And personally, I see her as a downgrade compared to you."

"As things stand now, I think even Horikita would agree with your assessment."

"Hmph. It's good that she knows her place," pouted Kikyou. "That said, there might be some other factors involved regarding the traitor's betrayal. You're still in this class. You can always decide to take over as our leader again and beat Class B. The traitor should know that."

"Maybe they think that I'm not a match for Sakayanagi," I said.

"Thanks for the meal," I thought as I put my hands together.

"I doubt it," she scoffed. "But even then, it still doesn't make sense. Let's say that Sakayanagi-san was indeed a better leader than you. The traitor should be close enough to know her true abilities. But she'd been working from behind the scenes until Katsuragi-kun's faction collapsed, so none of our classmates would've been closer to her than they were to you-- at least not until after the Zodiac Exam."

"None of our classmates seem suspicious to you?" I put the empty bento box inside the plastic bag as I shifted my sitting position.

"Not really... I know our classmates very well, and none of them seemed to be in close contact with Sakayanagi-san. And I would've noticed any sort of weird behavioral changes from anyone if their betrayal was recent."

"Which means that they're so good they could hide from even you... or they've been colluding with Sakayanagi since the very beginning."

"The latter seems... unrealistic," said Kikyou.

"Yep, so we can probably take it out of the equation. The number of potential suspects significantly goes down as a result."

"Oh, you're right, Kiyotaka-kun! There should only be a handful of people in our class who are somewhat on guard against even me," she nodded excitedly.

My body was starting to relax. The cold air was a huge contrast to the blazing heat outside. Our shoulders touched as we slowly felt each other's warmth.

"You know... I felt really nervous seeing how badly our class was getting beat up. Our classmates feel really down about it."

Kikyou stretched her legs in front, matching my posture. Her right foot repeatedly swayed, gently hitting my left ankle.

"If the Red Team wins, we'll still be Class A by the end of the festival. There's nothing to worry about."

"That's reassuring..." Kikyou slowly leaned her head on my shoulder. "It's funny. The sudden relief made me feel a little bit sleepy."

"There's only about twenty minutes before lunch break ends. Do you want to stay here until then?"

"Yes, but... Are you alright with that?"

"I don't really have anything to do. We can just go back together afterward."

"Really now? You can just say it, you know? Say you want to spend time with me~?" Her teasing grin was adorable, but as usual, Kikyou couldn't hide her own embarrassment with how much she was blushing.

"You know, Kikyou. What you assume people want reflects on what you want yourself."

Her laughter stopped as she turned stiff. It was the perfect counter to her words, and Kikyou got stuck in embarrassment. But it didn't last long.

"Well... It is what I want. You're my best friend, after all."

She slowly slid her hand on top of my palm. The comfort I felt was pleasant and I didn't mind feeling it more. I gently closed my hand, clasping Kikyou's in return.

"Best friend, huh?" I muttered under my breath.

"Yes... Best friend..." Kikyou's breathing became slightly disordered as she leaned in to embrace me. "You're my best friend, Kiyotaka-kun... Just my best friend... Nothing more..."

A familiar feeling-- her softness, her warmth. I caressed Kikyou's head with my other hand. The conflict inside her heart was obvious, even to me. As a "best friend", she can be as close to me as she wanted without any consequences... regardless of whether we could be more.

I was her solace, and she was mine.

"Kikyou... Things will get harder from now on."

"Hm? What's that all of a sudden? Of course, things will be harder. You're not our leader anymore," she responded, keeping her face buried in my chest. I might reek of sweat, so seeing her like this makes me a bit nervous.

"I'm not talking about our class. I'm talking about you. Since you're a core part of the class, our enemies might set their sights on you."

"I already knew that... but I'm not too scared. Besides, I'm pretty good with making others have a favorable impression of me."

"I don't doubt your capabilities, but people like Ryuuen or Sakayanagi-- they're not like other students."

"Yes... I can already see that." I felt her grip on my shirt tighten. "Will you... protect me, Kiyotaka-kun?"

As the person who solicited her trust, Kikyou saw me as a pillar of support. However, she's more than capable of protecting herself. She isn't a parasite like Karuizawa who needed a host to latch onto. Unfortunately, she can only go so far. Kikyou recognizes that some enemies might be more than she can handle.

Dread. It was a feeling that Kikyou wasn't used to. She always thought she could handle anyone and anything. Defeat wasn't a possibility. But of course, the one who introduced that possibility to her was none other than me. The hopelessness she felt back when we were 'enemies'... She didn't want to feel that again.

With swords sharper than her armor can take pointed at her, Kikyou needed a shield. That will be my role-- at least for now.

"Yeah, I'll protect you."

Vol. 5: Chapter 15.3 - Make Things Clear

"Do you like my hair that much?" Kikyou asked with a smirk.

I've been either patting or caressing her hair the entire time. As we leaned on each other, the two of us decided to spend the last remaining minutes inside the clubroom before going back to the field.

"Well, it's really soft. I like the way it feels."

"Does every girl hear that from you? Even with your monotone way of speaking, you'll still be branded as a flirt if you say those kinds of words."

"That's why I only say them to you," I replied.

"Wha-?!" Kikyou blushed, but she didn't back down. "So... not even Airi-chan and Haruka-chan get to hear them?"

They're on a first-name basis now, huh? I also remember Haruka calling her Kyou-chan. It's nice to see them getting close. Though, it should be really easy with Kikyou's outgoing personality. She meshes well with Haruka, and they could help Airi open up even faster.

"Yeah. Only you."

"Hehh... Hmph, at least you're aware that you're actually flirting with me," she shrugged.

This should be the part where I either deny her words or say that it wasn't my intention.

"Hmm... Yeah, I guess you can call it flirting."

"E-Eh, you actually admitted it?" She looked at me, surprised and confused. "Um, that's good but..."

I would usually deny everything as part of our usual script, so she didn't expect me to own up to it.

"Are you weirded out that I'm flirting with you?" I asked.

Well, I already knew the answer to that question. It was only reinforced by the fact that Kikyou subconsciously strengthened her grasp on my hand instead of letting it go.

"No... I mean, we've been flirting with each other for who knows how long since the first semester..." Kikyou donned a serious expression as she turned to ask me. "But why call it out now?"

That's a very self-aware question.

"Just felt like it," I replied.

"You cheeky little..." Kikyou saw my response as an opportunity to draw out my true feelings through further teasing. "Hehh~? Maybe you're starting to fall for me? Like, for real this time? That's no good, Kiyotaka-kun. I'm everyone's Kikyou-chan, you know?"

"Not really, but it's a refreshing experience. I know you're everyone's Kikyou-chan, so I'm only flirting with you whenever we're alone."

Hearing that, Kikyou's smile turned melancholic. Our relationship was stuck. Given how close we are, our friendship would never regress. But because of the circumstances, it could also never move forward. My wish was to live in obscurity and her wish was to be loved by everyone. If we dive in and become more than what we are now, maintaining the status quo that would make our wishes come true becomes impossible. One small mistake and this comfort zone-- this little bubble world of ours, would crumble to dust, and we'll be forced to face the chaotic outside world.

"Whenever we're alone, huh...?" Kikyou's hands started to tremble ever so slightly. "Say Kiyotaka-kun..."

She leaned in and touched my cheek. I looked at her as our faces slowly drew closer to each other.

"Since we're alone, is it fine if we do something... sillier?"

I saw the reflection of my own face in Kikyou's moist eyes. Her lips were glistening and her cheeks were flushed pink. Kikyou's vision seemed cloudy as she fully submitted herself to the mood. I was honestly unsure of what I'm supposed to do, and in the end, I decided to let things take their course. After all...

"Yo, Ayanokouji-kun~! How's the cool air in Yua's clubroom?!" Iida-senpai opened the sliding door without any hesitation.

Kikyou instantly jerked up and turned away from me. I faced Iida-senpai whose smile went stiff as a mannequin. Following her, a blond-haired girl entered the room with an apologetic expression.

"Oh my... It seems like we came at the worst time, Aoi."

"U-Uhh... H-Hey there, Ayanokouji-kun... and Kikyou-chan!" In a panic, Iida-senpai decided to ignore what she just saw and greeted us.

And of course, Kikyou gladly accepted her invitation to sweep things under the rug.

"Iida-senpai and Konishi-senpai! Good afternoon!" She stood up with a big smile and welcomed them. "Sorry for barging in. The room was really nice and relaxing, so I decided to stay for a while."

Kikyou's cheeks were still tinged with a small blush. Konishi-senpai chuckled before giving her an understanding smile.

"You can come in anytime, Kikyou-chan."

Konishi-senpai smiled at me and raised an eyebrow. She wants me to stand on stage. Will I choose to continue the two's facade, or will I face the current situation at hand?

Alright, I'll oblige. I'm not fond of misunderstandings, anyway. I stood up and stretched for a quick second.

"Good afternoon, Konishi-senpai, Iida-senpai. Thanks for letting me use the room."

"It's no problem, Ayanokouji-kun. I'm sure you've been working hard for your class. And besides, I thought I'd help a fellow Red Team member rest," she replied with a gentle smile. "We'll be gone shortly. Aoi and I just went to get some teacups as an errand for a teacher."

I approached Iida-senpai and stood beside Kikyou.

"It would be bad if Iida-senpai and Konishi-senpai get the wrong idea. Why don't we come clean and clear things up, Kikyou?"

"Eh...? Erm, well... I guess so..." Kikyou fidgeted her fingers together, looking bashful.

"S-S-So you two... were dating after all?!" yelled the perplexed Iida-senpai.

Author's Notes:

Kiyotaka never bothered calling Nagumo, Kiriyama, Fuuka, or any other senior with the "senpai" honorific in his monologues. Konishi Yua and Iida Aoi were the only exceptions due to them acting as actual senpai(s) to him. The way they act lines up with his image of how a senpai would act in a normal "Senpai-Kouhai" relationship. Thus, he treats them as such while acting like a respectful (but cheeky) kouhai in return.

Kiyotaka never had the chance to interact normally with any senior in the canon, apart from Manabu after his graduation. He was always forced to don his White Room persona because he saw them as potential enemies instead of regular seniors. That wasn't the case for Konishi and Iida who had the same philosophy of living a perfectly normal and fun high school life despite the school's system.

Vol. 5: Chapter 15.4 - Before It's Too Late

"That's a very reasonable assumption, Senpai... but it's just a misunderstanding," I said.

"Y-Yes... Kiyotaka-kun and I aren't dating or anything. We were just caught up in the moment... Or more like, I was caught up in the moment."

Kikyou flawlessly kept up her "Angel Act: Bashful Mode".

"Hehh... The two of you would've ended up kissing if I didn't go in, though..." Iida-senpai looked unconvinced.

"Kikyou was just teasing me. It was practically a game of chicken."

"Ahh, how embarrassing..." She shook her head from side to side while covering her face.

"Have you ever kissed someone, Kikyou-chan?" Konishi-senpai suddenly asked.

"Eh? Err, no..."

"Then, did you have a boyfriend in the past?"

"K-Konishi-senpai, why are you asking this, all of a sudden...?"

"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to ask very personal questions out of nowhere. I just didn't think you'd be the type of girl who would kiss someone so easily."

"O-Of course not!" protested Kikyou. "I wouldn't do that with just any other guy, you know...? And Kiyotaka-kun isn't just any other guy to me..."

She walked towards the cupboard and continued talking without looking at us.

"So Ayanokouji-kun is special to you. Do you like him then? Romantically speaking," she asked.

"Yua... The person in question is right beside Kikyou-chan, you know?" Iida-senpai muttered with a pained smile.

"I..." Kikyou bit her lips as she looked down. "I don't know... Kiyotaka-kun is my best friend, so I don't really know how to answer that question... A-And... it's very embarrassing!"

Iida-senpai jumped in front of us, trying to shift the weird atmosphere.

"S-Sorry, Kikyou-chan, Ayanokouji-kun! I hope we wouldn't make things awkward for the two of you!"

"No, no, it's okay, Iida-senpai..." said Kikyou. "I just didn't expect Konishi-senpai to be, uh... assertive... when it comes to romance."

Konishi-senpai was busy getting the teacups, but her hands briefly stopped moving as Kikyou spoke. She must've realized how uncomfortable we were.

"Sorry about that, you two. I must've dampened the mood."She chuckled before turning to us with a guilty smile. "It was none of my business, but I started asking questions like I'm some sort of couples' counselor. That was insensitive and intrusive of me."

Her questions lacked delicacy. It was the polar opposite of her usual considerate self.

"May I ask what spurred that on, Senpai? I doubt it came out of nowhere."

"Ayanokouji-kun..." Iida-senpai looked at me with weary eyes.

"I'm... just not a fan of that kind of stuff, you know?" she answered with a tender and calm tone. "When someone holds their feelings inside because of some unnecessary misunderstanding, you know that it's just a car crash waiting to happen."

How fascinating. I never expected her to be so pessimistic.

"I-I'm sorry. My actions must've looked immature and childish..." Kikyou bowed.

"T-That's not it, Kikyou-chan! I'm not trying to say that at all. It's completely normal to be embarrassed." Konishi-senpai hurriedly denied Kikyou's words before her voice softened. "The thing I was worried about was a sad future where... everything's too late..."

"Yua..."

"B-But that's under the notion that you actually like Ayanokouji-kun that way, of course! As I've said earlier, I got ahead of myself and just assumed stuff. That's why I'm apologizing. I didn't mean to be nosy."

"You don't believe that things will turn out just fine?" I asked.

"Well... This is real life, Ayanokouji-kun. Everything might turn out fine in things like light novels or manga, but it's different out here," she replied, looking pensive.

I could hear the same gentle voice, but it also felt like I was talking to a completely different person. Iida-senpai and Kikyou started to look worried.

"I... would have to agree, especially in this school."

Her pupils trembled slightly, but I was the only one who noticed-- no. Iida-senpai noticed it too. Of course, she would.

"In this school where you can be expelled out of nowhere, we don't have the luxury to act like characters in a rom-com. Misunderstandings, roundabout conversations-- we don't have time for those things... because once we get expelled, it'll be too late for everyone involved, as you've said. You didn't want us to have any regrets."

Konishi-senpai realized that she'd lost her cool, so she closed her eyes and gently breathed out.

"Now I see why Horikita-kun is so interested in you," she smiled.

She decided to run away, but I won't come after her. After all, it's really none of my business. This much should be enough.

"It's just a stupid rambling of a person with a wild imagination. Please don't mind it," I shrugged.

She carefully put the teacups inside a small cardboard box.

"I'm sorry about earlier, Kikyou-chan. I shouldn't have said all of that."

"Senpai..."

She gave us her usual serene smile before heading out with a slightly nervous Iida-senpai in tow.

After the two of them disappeared, Kikyou's mask finally fell off.

"What the heck was that all about...?" she asked.

"She must've been worried about us."

"Worried?! She just assumed what I felt and tried to make me confess outright! Like, get the hell off my case!"

"You managed to slip past her with your acting, at least."

"Ugh... It kinda pisses me off... I didn't expect Konishi-senpai, of all people, to speak like that..."

"Any guesses as to why?"

"Who knows? She was so tactless and arrogant just because she's older than us-- treating us like kids!" Kikyou ranted. "But... Konishi-senpai did say that she didn't mean it like that."

So Kikyou doesn't know about him.

"I guess she was concerned about students who take things too slowly. I mean, if one of us suddenly gets expelled, then you won't get the chance to confess your feelings for me, right?"

"Oi, why are you assuming that I'm gonna confess? Don't get carried away now, best friend." She looked at me with a sickened expression.

"Well, it's your own fault for suddenly trying to kiss me. I doubt a normal best friend would do that." I bit back without missing a beat.

"O-Oh, shut up, will you? I... just got carried away by the mood! Any girl might've done the same if they were being gently held like that in your arms!" She continued her rant with a red face.

I don't even know if that was part of the rant. Even I'm starting to get embarrassed here...

Fortunately, we were saved by the sound of the bell. I'm sure the two of us didn't want to continue the conversation as it was, so we swiftly ran out of the room to meet up with the others.

Vol. 5: Chapter 16.1 - Growth and Regression

As Horikita slowly dragged herself to the infirmary with Azuma, Ichihashi, and Nishimura, a couple of unexpected people crossed paths with them. Horikita froze up, and the three immediately noticed.

One of them stopped in their tracks to look at her, and the other followed. Even Horikita didn't expect this.

"Suzune."

"Nii-san..."

It was Horikita Manabu, her older brother. He instantly noticed the injury on her leg. After heaving a sigh, he spoke to his flustered little sister.

"Do you understand Class 1-A's situation right now?"

"Yes... I do."

"It seems like you're starting to feel the burdens of being a leader."

The three girls behind Horikita gave her a worried look.

"After he led us, everything... started to become clear," Horikita answered with a pained look. "My class has potential, but they're not realized just yet... That's why they-- we were called defects."

"Hm, I see."

Her older brother looked down and gave her an almost imperceptible smile. However, it only took a second before he looked over with his customary sharp stare.

"Ayanokouji Kiyotaka..." he muttered softly, careful so that no one other than them could hear his name. "Now that he'd stepped down, you're just Class A on paper. Without him, you're simply back from where you've started."

Horikita knew that her older brother was probing her for an answer-- a show of her resolve. She steeled herself and looked straight into his eyes.

"That... may be right. But I don't think that's entirely true, either. I don't think... we're the same as we were back then. It may not be true for every single one of us, but most of my classmates were inspired by him. We're trying our best to maintain the position that's been granted to us."

Her older brother walked away without any parting words as Tachibana followed him with a vacant expression. That said, Horikita understood the meaning of Manabu's soft sigh right before he left.

"That's not enough," he must've been thinking.

"Horikita-san..." Nishimura called out to her with a concerned voice.

"It's okay. Let's go."

The girls chose to stay silent. Now wasn't the time to pry, but they'd also made their decision. They wanted to be of help to their leader, so they'll try and get to know her, and hopefully... become friends, even.

"Your condition won't get worse, but it won't get better either, at least for today. Participating in any more events would be difficult," said the nurse.

"Thank you, Sensei."

Horikita could've stayed rested inside one of the tents in the field, but she didn't want to stand out. After she got herself checked, Minami Hakuo, their classmate, rushed to the infirmary to find them.

"H-Horikita-san, I found you!"

"Minami-kun?" called the surprised Ichihashi.

"Is everything okay?" Horikita asked.

"There's trouble! It's Sudou!"

Minami, Azuma, and Ichihashi, hurried back to where everything went down. Horikita couldn't follow them back due to her injury, but she gave them some advice before the others went off, leaving her and Nishimura inside the infirmary.

"I expected them to pull something like this but..." said Horikita, who had a grim expression.

"If this blows out of proportion, Sudou-kun's participation will be the least of our worries..." added Nishimura.

Earlier...

"Ergh-"

"Airi-?!"

Sakura stumbled as they tried to walk out of the field. However, it wasn't due to her carelessness.

"U-Ugh..." She tried her best to endure the pain as she did minutes ago, but walking had become unbearable to her.

Seeing her friend struggle to stand up, Hasebe slightly lifted the ends of Sakura's jogging pants and saw her swelling ankle. Miyake and Sudou instantly took notice and approached them.

"Airi... You're leg-!"

"What the-?"

"You sprained your leg, Airi?"

"Y-Yes... Seems like it..."

Hasebe took Airi's right arm to support her back up. Miyake's eyes turned sharp as he knelt down to her eye level.

"The swelling is pretty severe. This couldn't have been just now. Tell me, Airi. This happened during the 200-meter run, didn't it?"

Feeling Miyake's suspicion, Sakura knew that lying her way out was futile.

"Um... Yes..." she answered, looking away.

Sudou walked up to her and Hasebe with a serious expression.

"I'll take Airi to one of the tents. They need to check her immediately," he said.

"Eh-? Uh, alright..." Hasebe, who was supporting Sakura with her shoulder, switched with Sudou. She knew he was stronger, but wondered why he couldn't have just taken Sakura's other arm so they can support her together.

"H-Hyah-?!"

That's when she finally understood what he wanted to do. Sudou took Sakura's shoulder before lifting her whole body right after, giving her a princess carry.

"Ahh, I see," she nodded.

Surely, carrying the patient would be much faster. Some girls squealed excitement after seeing them, while some boys curiously looked over which caused Sakura to turn red in embarrassment. However, she didn't tell him to let her down.

The four of them stayed inside the tent. After the medical personnel prohibited Sakura's future participation, her friends continued with the questions.

"Well, it's a good thing that you're only participating in the Scavenger Hunt, at least. We'll talk to Hirata-kun about finding a substitute for you," said Hasebe.

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't apologize, Airi. I'm sure it'll be fine," she reassured.

"Yeah, I'm sure they'll take care of it. But now that that's out of the way, can you tell us what really happened, Airi?" Miyake got straight to the point. "This wasn't just a careless mistake, was it? You've wouldn't have tried to hide your injury from us."

"Is it someone from Class B... or Class D?" Sudou asked, looking grim.

"Um, p-please. It was an accident!" Sakura tried to defuse the situation.

"During your run, we were focused on Haruka because of her close competition in the top four. However, we still saw you finish the race. You were really behind, but we initially thought it was because you were tired... Now it makes sense."

"Who was it, Airi? Do you know their name?" Sudou's calm tone didn't scare Sakura, but it made her more nervous.

"I... don't want any trouble..." Sakura grew stressed about the situation. She knew her friends will try to confront the other party.

"We won't cause any trouble, Airi. We'll talk to them after the sports festival," said Miyake.

"I want to know, too, Airi. It's not about getting in trouble. If this was intentional, then they should at least take responsibility," followed Hasebe.

Hearing her friends' reassurance, Sakura finally mustered up the courage to speak.

"T-The one who made contact with me was... Manabe-san..."

Hasebe's face turned dark. Sakura knew her name, and Hasebe also seemed to know about her. This piqued Miyake's curiosity, but he knew this wasn't the right time.

"How did it happen, exactly?"

"Um... When we were at the turning point, she and the other Class D girl stuck close to my lane, I think. I was trying to win so I got a little bit closer to Manabe-san's lane on the left to get to the finish line faster... That's when we made a little bit of contact..."

They knew Sakura wasn't the type of girl who would lie. The fact that the Class D girls managed to raise some suspicion from Sakura herself in the middle of their run says a lot about how obvious their intentions were.

"So it wasn't an accident, after all..."

"At this point, it's pretty obvious that Ryuuen's class is trying to sabotage us with injuries."

"Horikita was the same with that Kinoshita girl, remember? The two of them fell down together," said Miyake. "Airi is a lot slower than Horikita, so there wasn't enough momentum for a huge fall without Manabe making things obvious to the cameras. But in the end, I guess she still made Airi twist her ankle."

"Um, everyone. Again... I-I don't want any trouble. And the All-Participant Events are done, anyway. I can just rest up and heal. I don't want our class to be inconvenienced by my absence, so I'll pay for the substitution myself.."

"That's not what this is about, Airi. I could hardly care about what this does to the class. It's a losin' battle, anyway. What I can't stand is the fact that they hurt my friend." Sudou's expression finally started to show signs of anger.

"Ken-kun, please don't-! Ugh-!" Sakura tried to reach her hand out to Sudou before suddenly looking like she was in pain.

The two boys looked worried. Hasebe immediately got up and approached her.

"H-Haruka-chan-?!"

She slightly lifted Airi's shirt which revealed a reddish mark on the lower right side of her body.

"I knew it... Why did you hide this, too?"

"What do you mean, Haruka?"

"We had a pretty rough time during the Cavalry Battle, as well. I thought Airi had a bad fall, but she denied it, saying she was okay... "

"And the team that attacked you was from Class B, right?"

"Yeah, but the problem wasn't really about that. Two Class D horsemen were near us, but none of them bothered helping us. One of them wasn't even against anyone."

"They clearly targeted Airi!" Sudou couldn't hold his rage any longer and bolted out of the tent.

"Ken-kun!" Sakura called out to her, but he didn't come back.

"I'll go after him. Haruka, please stay with Airi." Miyake followed him without waiting for a response.

"U-Uh, okay!"

"Akito-kun!"

"And they're gone..."

Only a couple of minutes passed since Sudou and Miyake left, but it felt like forever for Hasebe and Sakura. They could only pray in silence that those two would come back soon.

"This... is bad..." Something finally clicked inside Hasebe's mind.

"Haruka-chan...?"

"Miyachhi must stop Kencchin from doing anything rash... This was their plan from the start!"

"You mean..."

"Yeah... They must've targeted you so they can provoke Ken... Horikita-san and Ken are key players in our class. It only makes sense for the enemy to try and remove them. I never expected them to go after you just for that, though..."

"K-Kiyotaka-kun... This also happened to Kiyotaka-kun, right? He was injured while being in contact with a student from Class B..."

"Mn, you're right... If Ryuuen wasn't bluffing and he really did work with Sakayanagi-san, then I guess that's a reasonable connection."

"Ken, stop it! Stop for a second!"

Miyake tried to chase Sudou who was planning to give Ryuuen a piece of his mind.

"Don't even try, Akito! They've gone too far!" he yelled.

Being out in the open, the two of them garnered some attention.

"And what? You'll try to solve it with violence?"

"Shut up!" Ken's eyes turned bloodshot as he glared at Ryuuen who was sitting around in the bleachers area.

"Hey, Ryuuen! Come here, you bastard!"

Minami (Hakuo) immediately sensed the brewing trouble and made a run for it to look for Horikita.

Ryuuen smirked, seemingly amused by Sudou's approach.

"Why would a gorilla suddenly call out to me?"

"You guys targeted Airi as well, didn't you?!"

Ryuuen stood up and confidently walked towards Sudou. At that moment, Miyake noticed a student from Class D arriving at the place with Sakagami-sensei.

"What's this now? We're on the same team, you know? It'll do us no good if you keep blaming your incompetence on others." Ryuuen's smile widened.

"Ken, don't listen to him!"

Miyake's plea was futile. It seemed like Sudou couldn't even hear him anymore.

"Your leader is incompetent, that's why she's injured. Ayanokouji is injured too, but at least he can still move around. And now your friend is out on the count... I don't know, Sudou. It seems like this Airi friend of yours is just like you-- another useless defect."

After hearing Ryuuen's insulting words, something inside Sudou snapped.

Author's Notes:

All Manabu wanted was for Suzune to tread her own path. After all, he knew that Suzune stopped being herself when she started emulating him. She was simply following her brother's path, not her own. Manabu knew that if Suzune kept chasing after his back, her growth will be hindered.

Due to Kiyotaka's show of friendship and leadership, Suzune developed a form of admiration for his mentor-like attitude towards her, as we've seen in the past five volumes. This caused her to self-reflect and progress much earlier toward her character development in Volume 11.5. But of course, it's not yet fully complete.

Manabu's smile in this chapter indicates how he'd noticed this growth, similar to how he smiled and embraced Suzune when they said their goodbyes. Unlike before, Suzune wasn't trying to walk alone. She considers her classmates as allies.

Vol. 5: Chapter 16.2 - What Could Be Done

Everything seemed slow and silent. The sight of Sudou pulling back his arms for a punch tightened the hearts of those watching. Students from Class 1-A ran up to them, but they were too far away. In a blink of an eye, the second-long incident happened.

*Thud*

"Miyake-kun!"

"Miyake!"

The voice of his classmates rang inside Sudou's ears as the sight in front of him became clear. Miyake shoved the smiling Ryuuen away and took the punch instead.

"Oh, Miyake. Why did you have to ruin the fun?" asked Ryuuen.

"Shut the hell up, Ryuuen..."

"Miyake-kun, are you alright?!" Hirata rushed to check on him, but his help was gently rejected.

"I'll be alright, Hirata... You can stay out of this. I'll... handle it."

The strength of Sudou's punch wasn't a joke. Miyake tried his best to hold on, but his head got really shaken from the impact. He could barely stand while staying conscious.

"Akito...?"

Sudou's head suddenly became lucid. His rage dissipated the moment he saw the injured face of his friend.

"What is going on here?" Sakagami-sensei briskly walked toward the commotion.

"Well, well, well. You came at the right time, Sakagami-sensei."

"I've heard from Nomura-kun that you were looking for me, Ryuuen."

"Ahh, right!" he replied, before giving Miyake and Sudou a side glance. "But that can wait for later. We have more important things at hand. Isn't that right, Miyake?"

He seemed a little dubious about Ryuuen's way of talking, but he also knew that he was right.

"I guess so." Sakagami-sensei inched forward in front of the two Class A boys in question. "What is this about, Miyake-kun, Sudou-kun? You know that violence is strictly prohibited, correct?"

"Sakagami-sensei-" Hirata tried to say something, but he stopped. He'll let Miyake do the talking and only provide support when needed.

"Ken... wasn't being violent, Sakagami-sensei... He just... hit me by accident."

Miyake's words earned some gasps from the confused spectators. He was bold enough to say an obvious lie to protect his classmate. Sudou clicked his tongue with a pained look.

"I clearly saw what happened."

"Nothing happened, Sensei..." Miyake's response was paired with a sharp glare.

"Sudou-kun may have hit you on accident, but it's also a fact that he was intent on hitting and harming someone." Sakagami gave Ryuuen a side-eye.

"But he wasn't hit, right...? So... there's no need for you to take action..."

"Miyake-kun, I understand that you don't want your friend or your class to be in trouble, but there were a lot of witnesses. What happened here cannot be denied."

His vision was getting blurry and his legs were starting to give out, but Miyake mustered up all of his remaining strength to give a final reply.

"In... the narrative that you're trying to push, I would be identified as the victim... My words hold more weight... So I'll keep pushing the fact that it was just... an accident. Ken did nothing wrong."

Sakagami-sensei's eyes narrowed looking at Miyake's condition. His cheek was red and will obviously start swelling. And his gums were clearly torn up as seen from the blood flowing from his mouth.

"Alright. Nothing happened here. We'll leave it at that..." Sakagami-sensei sighed before giving him a warning. "However, are you alright with enabling this kind of behavior? You're his friend, aren't you?"

"Y-You don't have to worry about that, S-Sensei," Miyake's footing was collapsing, so he grabbed Sudou's shoulder and used it as support. "I wouldn't have covered for this idiot if he didn't look remorseful..."

The ones who heard him turned to Sudou and saw his guilty and frustrated expression.

"I will not turn a blind eye if this happens again, understood?"

"Y-Yes..."

The sudden surge of relief nearly made Miyake's legs give out. Fortunately, he didn't pass out.

His plan didn't work, but Ryuuen shrugged as if it was nothing but a minor inconvenience. Of course, he had the grounds to think so considering how behind Class A was compared to them. The success of this plan was just the icing on the cake.

"Miyake-kun! Sudou-kun!"

Azuma and the others finally arrived, but the situation had already been dealt with. They could only heave mixed sighs of exhaustion and relief.

"Horikita-san sent us," said Minami.

"I-I see... Maezono... Hirata... C-Can you fill them in on what happened...?"

After that, Sudou supported Miyake as they walked back to one of the tents.

"You would've been... in so much hot water if it weren't for me, you idiot gorilla..." Miyake scolded him while in pain.

"Yeah..." Sudou didn't even bother retaliating. He could only agree with a serious face. "They totally got in my head. It was that bastard's plan from the start."

Looking at Miyake's condition, it didn't seem like he'd be allowed to participate in the Four-Way Tug of War.

"I messed up big time earlier... I'll be sure to apologize to you and everyone later. But still... There's no way I could forgive them for injuring Airi," he said.

Miyake felt the same. He could only smile after hearing Sudou's words.

"You really love Airi, don't you?"

"Huh? 'The hell are you saying, dumbass? Did you hit your head or something?"

" You're the one who hit my head, asshole."

"Shut up," Sudou chuckled. "Well, I guess you're right. I don't think love is the word for it, but Airi is important to me. I feel the same for everyone in the group."

"Yeah, I know... I'm sure we're all on the same boat."

Their journey back to where Sakura and Hasebe were didn't take long. Or at least, it didn't feel long for the two of them.

"Akito-kun, Ken-kun! You're back!" Sakura happily greeted them as they went inside the tent.

"Is everything okay-?" Hasebe asked.

"We managed... somehow..." said the weakened Miyake.

"Haruka, we might need some help..."

"Miyacchi-?!"

Hasebe rushed towards them in a panic as soon as she saw Miyake's condition. Sakura looked very worried, too. Sudou told them everything that happened while the medical personnel they called in checked on Miyake.

"I see... So it was his plan, after all."

"Sorry... I didn't know what I was thinkin'..."

"I'll accept your apology if you let me punch you in the face later," Miyake shrugged. "But for now, what are we going to do about the festival?"

"I don't think we can do anythin'. I can still get MVP, but class battles look bleak. I can't even blame it on how bad our classmates are. Horikita made the best possible roster for us. Even I can see that..." said Sudou.

"But we can't win if the match-ups are rigged..." muttered Sakura.

"They even went so far as to try and injure our players..." Hasebe silently bit her lip as she thought. "What would Kiyopon do in this situation...?"

Author's Notes:

The difference between canon Sudou and Alter Sudou would be his friends, but that's not really the reason per se. It's more accurate to say that it's what his friends brought to him. In Volume 5, he admitted his motives to Horikita. Sudou wanted to show off-- he wanted recognition. He never felt this way in the canon given his reputation both inside and outside the class. His early and shallow friendship with Ike and Yamauchi didn't help, either.

Meanwhile, he already got this early on in Alter. He was first recognized by Ayanokouji when he visited him during his club activities. His reputation inside their classroom was also relatively good. However, most of this recognition and friendship was given to him by the other members of the Ayanokouji Group, especially Miyake.

As a result, while he's still hyped and excited about the sports festival, Sudou wasn't too hung up on getting to show off. He didn't have that desperate need anymore.

Upside: His outburst wasn't as bad in the canon.
Downside: He can't be Horikita's tool.

Vol. 5: Chapter 17.1 - Pawn

Kikyou and I got back for the second half of the event along with Ryuuko. After we said goodbye, they went on to meet with their friends. I, then, found Hirata with Yukimura and Matsushita. Trouble seems to have been averted, but some damage was still done.

"We're substituting Sakura-san for the Scavenger hunt... Horikita-san will be absent for the rest of the competitions, too..."

"Class A is too behind... but on the bright side, Red Team is winning the overall competition."

They were discussing the current state of the sports festival, and it seemed like things wouldn't get any better.

"Ayanokouji-kun!"

Matsushita was the first one to notice me. She looked relieved, but her smile didn't last long,

"How's the situation?" I asked.

"It doesn't seem like there's a good solution for everything," answered Hirata.

"Ayanokouji, we need your help. If anyone can get us out of this situation, it'd be you." Yukimura stepped forward and faced me.

"I can't do anything. Based on what I've heard from Kikyou and the others, there's no chance for us to overtake any class at this point."

"Is that... really the case?"

Yukimura had a pained expression after hearing my honest evaluation.

"Yeah..." I shrugged. "And also, I want to make another thing clear. Even if a solution did exist, I won't bother trying to find out what that is. Well, unless I want to."

"What?" He turned to me, his eyes narrowed.

"I'm no longer the leader. I'm done with stuff like that. We've talked about this before, remember?"

"But you're still part of the class, right? You should contribute-"

"I don't mean to be rude, Yukimura-kun, but I don't think you're in any position to say that to Ayanokouji-kun."

Matsushita's words made him stop. He looked down in frustration, but after a brief moment of silence, Yukimura finally continued speaking in a more collected tone.

"I know what you mean, but I'm doing my best on every front as much as possible, even in sports where I'm basically dead weight. I totally respect Ayanokouji's contribution right now-- excelling both in academics and sports, but he can do so much more, right?"

"If you're talking about thinking up strategies and decisions like how we're doing right now, then wouldn't Ayanokouji-kun's decision to step down amount to nothing?"

Yukimura's question was most likely rooted in my own lack of transparency. He was smart, so I expected someone like him to make a statement regarding my position sometime in the future. I admit that my motivations for stepping down were glazed with half-truths, but...

"Can you get real with me for a second, Ayanokouji? If I'm wrong, I'll bow my head and apologize, but I don't think someone as smart and level-headed as you would succumb to pressure this early into the year. Coming up with strategies to beat the other classes, making defensive measures to protect our classmates-- You can still do all of that even though you're not our leader anymore, can't you?"

"Do all of that, huh?" I sighed. "You're right, Yukimura. I stepped down from my previous position precisely because I didn't want to 'do all of that'anymore. That's all."

"So it's the truth, after all. It's not the duress or the mental burden of being the leader that made you step down. You just... didn't want to take on the responsibility anymore." Rather than looking upset, Yukimura's expression was that of relief.

"Yukimura-kun..." muttered Hirata.

"Sorry about that, Ayanokouji. Please forget everything I said. As Matsushita had said, I'm not in any place to tell you what to do," he said before facing Hirata. "I'll consult our other classmates about the situation."

"Alright," Hirata nodded.

Matsushita sighed as he walked away.

"I'm glad he calmed down..."

"Yukimura has a point, though. It's not like I don't have the ability to help you guys. I'm just choosing not to."

"Hirata-kun and I already knew that. And I'm sure it's the same for Kushida-san and Horikita-san. You have your own reasons, and all of us chose to respect your choice as thanks for everything you've done for the class, and of course, as your friends. At least, that's how it is for me. As for our other classmates... Well, they're better off believing your 'official statement'."

"I think it's fine for you to live your high school life however you want, Ayanokouji-kun. That's what most of us are doing, anyway."

Hirata turned to follow Yukimura. They rearranged our roster for the Recommended Participant events. Airi was out of the Scavenger Hunt while Akito was out of the Four-Way Tug of War. Horikita won't be able to participate in the Three-Legged Race and the Relay Race either. These absences were all caused by injuries. Saying we're in a pinch was an understatement. There's no way we can win against the other three classes. All we can do now is earn as many points as we can to help the Red Team stay in the lead.

"Ohhh!"

"Wow!"

A bit of a commotion ensued after Shinohara, Airi's substitute, grabbed Ike by the wrist to the finish line.

"We have our first contestant, from Class 1-A! Let's see what they got..." The energetic teacher opened the slip of paper and read the contents. "A 'Funny Guy'! How interesting!"

"Shinohara tried her best to look unperturbed, but she was probably just as embarrassed as Ike, who looked like he was about to throw a tantrum."

The others placed well, too, so it was a great round for our class. In the Four-Way Tug of War, our class made a grueling effort to place third. We couldn't beat Class C and D, and we were nearly overwhelmed by Class B. We definitely felt Akito's absence.

"Go, Sudou!"

"You can do it, Kayano-chan!"

It was then time for the Three-Legged Race. Horikita and I were supposed to be the ones participating, but she got injured.

"I'm glad we have a backup roster..." muttered Matsushita.

"Yeah... Horikita-san was ready even for something like this," said Maezono. ""

That said, Horikita already foresaw these potential scenarios. She had Sudou and Onodera practice as backups. In the end, they placed first by a dangerously close margin. The pairs from the other classes did really well, too.

"Maezono-san, Ayanokouji-kun, let's get ready." Hirata called us for the final relay.

"Good luck to the two of you." Matsushita waved at us.

Because of Horikita's absence, a slot opened for one of the girls to become her replacement. Matsushita was supposed to be our go-to substitute, but she gave the position up for Maezono, claiming that she was tired. Maezono, who was only slightly behind Matsushita in speed, didn't mind pitching in.

"Good luck out there, Ayanokouji-kun."

"Good luck!"

"Break a leg, Ayanokouji!"

"Bring home the win for us!"

Despite our current situation, Class A still managed to stay cheery. The fact that the Red Team was still in the lead probably helped a lot. Our win was pretty much solidified as long as the seniors don't throw this last event. Even if Class 1-A lost this race, it wouldn't change the overall result.

Well...

Earlier...

"Kiyotaka-kun, Kikyou-chan..."

"Hi there, Ryuuko-chan! Horikita-san, too." Kikyou waved.

"Ayanokouji-kun, Kushida-san... What are you doing here?" asked Horikita.

After anticipating everything that would happen, I decided to check on Horikita's condition with the goal of holding a very important discussion.

"Hey, Ryuuko. I'm glad you're getting along with Horikita."

"What's with that, Kiyotaka-kun? You're acting like Horikita-san's dad," she chuckled.

Hearing that made the girl in question glare daggers at me. I'll shut up now, so please stop doing that.

"Ryuuko-chan, I wanted to talk to you about something. Is now a good time?"

I asked her to get Ryuuko out of the room so Horikita and I can speak privately, but I still wondered what kind of talk they were going to have.

"Oh, sure." Ryuuko glanced toward me and Horikita before nodding.

She instantly read the signal and walked out of the infirmary with Kikyou.

"You can go back with them later, Nishimura-san. I'll be fine on my own now. Thank you for keeping me company."

"Hmm... I'm still concerned about leaving you alone, but I don't think I can skip out on the events just because I'm not going to participate..."

After the two of them were out of sight, Horikita gave me a vigilant look. Acting the fool in front of her is pointless now, but it's not a problem. I've got a good grasp of Horikita's perception of my abilities, so it'll be easy to gauge how much I can tell her. She's an important piece for the next phase of my plans, after all.

"I heard they tried to get rid of Ken," I started.

"Well, I wouldn't be amazed even if you suddenly say that you knew it was gonna happen," she replied.

"I did know."

"Is that so? I'm surprised you didn't bother trying to save him. Or did you also know that everything was going to turn out alright?"

"I'm not omnipotent, you know? It's not like I can predict everything that's going to happen in the future."

Well, I honestly didn't know if Ken could get out of the situation unscathed, but I'm glad he did. That said, I'm pretty sure he got lucky. If our class wasn't so behind, I'm sure Sakayanagi and Ryuuen could remove him if they really wanted to. (1)

"Oh, really now? Alright then. Let's get to the point. You didn't come here for nothing, did you?"

"That's right. I want you to distract someone for me."

"Distract... is it? You're finally going to be upfront about using me as your pawn, huh?"

"Well, if you're gonna let me use you, this setup should be more convenient for the both of us."

Horikita smiled with a sharp glint in her eyes.

Author's Notes:

1. Kiyotaka didn't care if Sudou got suspended or expelled for violence since it wouldn't affect his plans.

Vol. 5: Chapter 17.2 - The Kind of Person You Are

"Can I make a guess, Ayanokouji-kun?"

After Horikita asked that question, my phone vibrated indicating that I'd received a text message.

"Sure, go ahead." I ignored it, answering Horikita instead.

"I've been thinking about it ever since Nii-san asked me to give you his contact..." She suddenly turned to me, looking upset. "And you never delivered on your promise back then. You said you'd tell me about your talk after you meet him."

"Oh, yeah. I did tell you that," I muttered.

I didn't really forget about that "promise". Telling Horikita just wasn't a necessary move back then, unlike now. Well, that just solidified who I think her guess will be.

"It's Nagumo Miyabi, isn't it? The person you want me to distract..."

I stayed silent, waiting for Horikita to justify her answer first.

"I've done some digging. And even if I didn't, it's easy to tell that he's going to be the next student council president. I only know one person who can take that position from him, but... I don't think it's possible."

Graduating is inevitable. Even if her brother can beat Nagumo, he's not going to be around next year.

"Well, that's beside the point. It's a claim without any strong evidence. I thought your meeting with my brother was connected to this and the future student council president, somehow."

It seemed like Horikita got the gist of the situation, but she couldn't organize a coherent answer just yet. Her instincts were as sharp as always, and I can't help but be impressed.

"Since you got it right, this will be easier to explain."

"I'm right...?" Horikita sounded expectant yet doubtful.

"Yeah, right on mark. If things keep going the way they are now, then he's the one I'll have to fight eventually."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Just imagine what will happen if Ryuuen was a model student who got elected as Student Council President."

Horikita's cheek twitched.

"That would be... annoying."

"Right? Based on what your brother had told me, it seems like Nagumo is a bit similar to him."

"I see... He did keep challenging Nii-san during exams and whatnot, even though they were in different grades. It seems like there's no one in the 2nd-years who can compete with him," she said.

I don't think that's necessarily true... At least, that's the vibe I got from her.

"When your brother graduates, Nagumo would have no one to play with. It's only natural for him to target us, 1st-years, next."

"That makes sense, but why would I need to distract him from you?"

"It's your payment."

"My payment...?"

"The main reason why I came here was for you. Because of your injury, we lost our anchor for the relay. At the same time, you lost your chance to run against your brother."

Horikita's eyebrows furrowed in frustration.

"What are you suggesting?" she asked.

"I'll be your representative. I'll show him Horikita Suzune's resolve by challenging him as a fellow anchor."

Her eyes widened in surprise.

"But... wouldn't leaving this to you become a show of weakness instead?"

"That's not how your brother will see it. He knows that I'll never agree to something like this if your resolve was shallow. The fact that I'm the one pitching this idea to you shows how much I respect your determination," I replied. "Or... are you going to tell me that you're not up for this?"

"Ayanokouji-kun..." The flustered Horikita regained her composure and gave me a serious response. "No, you're right. If anyone can challenge my brother on the field, it can only be you."

"It seems like we've reached a mutual understanding."

Horikita's hands crumpled the sheets as they curled into a fist.

"You're really something else, Ayanokouji-kun... I've been lost for a while now, thinking about how I can make up for my failures during this sports festival..." Before I knew it, Horikita started opening up to me. "I spoke my mind to Nii-san, but I know that was not enough. I wanted to show him my resolve through action, but I had no idea how I could possibly do that..."

And that's when I came to serve the solution on a silver platter.

"The whole school will take notice of me after this, with Nagumo being the most troublesome out of all of them." I took out my phone and showed her the text message that I'd received. "He'll definitely hold this race against me."

I contacted Horikita Manabu before going here and asked him about Nagumo's plans for the sports festival. Being in different years, I didn't expect to get an insider response. However, he managed to give us the answer we were looking for.

(12:51) [...He did try to challenge me, but I never entertained him...]

If Horikita Manabu accepts my challenge, I will instantly find myself in the middle of Nagumo's crosshairs. And that's why I'll use his sister's name to help steer some attention away from myself.

Horikita was dumbstruck, but only for a brief moment.

"I understand," she said, bowing her head. "Please... Show my brother what Class A is made of."

"Leave it to me."

The discussion was over and it was finally time for me to go back.

"Can you answer one last question, Ayanokouji-kun?"

I stopped in my tracks and gave her a side-eye.

"You were once the leader of our class. Being noticed by the likes of Sakayanagi-san and Ryuuen-kun was a necessary part of your jaunt to Class A... However, now that you'd stepped down, getting caught up in trouble should be the last thing you want. Why would you put yourself in the limelight once again? Even if I helped you distract Nagumo, the risk should still outweigh the gain... Why are you doing this...?" Her eyes trembled as they struggled to look straight into mine. "Please, don't make me think that I made a mistake."

I sighed before closing my eyes. After a second of silence, I looked at Horikita before replying.

"Even if I'm no longer the leader, I'm still a member of the class. It wouldn't hurt to help you out like this every once in a while. That said, I wouldn't really do something if it doesn't yield more benefit than harm."

"So... you'll get something out of this?"

"Of course. If I do this, I'd be able to repay a friend. You've been considerate of my position ever since I stepped down. I'm just trying to show some gratitude."

My other reason? Well, it's not something you should worry about, Horikita.

"So this will be our final six-person line-up. Sudou-kun will run first, followed by me, then Onodera-san. Our fourth runner will be Maezono-san followed by Kushida-san. Then finally, Ayanokouji-kun..."

The 1200-meter Relay was the final competition where all twelve classes compete for first place. Winning the whole race will be extremely difficult, but we didn't plan on losing either. The third-years started getting ready. We stood in our lane beside Class 3-A. Of course, Hirata and I already planned this beforehand. Like in the other racing competitions, we could choose any lane we wanted on a first-come-first-serve basis. With this, I can approach the president later without much trouble.

"Let's do this, everyone." Hirata tried to lift our team's morale for the last time.

"We'll do our best!" said Kikyou.

"I'll run as fast as I can," replied Maezono.

"Don't trip now, Maezono-san."

"I should be saying that to you, Onodera."

The onlookers were on the edge of their seats. Well, no, not really. But the students were hyped. That said, most of the hype was coming from the second and third-years. After a quick scan, I managed to determine who the anchors were for the other classes.

*Bang*

Cheers ensued as the first runners bolted forward from their positions.

"Woah! Look at him go!"

"That first-year is fast as hell!"

When it comes to sports, Ken's nerves were as cool as steel. It didn't even take two seconds before he passed every other runner.

"Sudou's amazing!" Even Shibata, Class 1-C's anchor, had to praise him.

The two of them were head-to-head in terms of competing for First-Year MVP, but Ken's sudden burst of speed was still a sight to behold, even for him.

"Hirata, here!"

Ken gave us a solid advantage of around fifteen meters. After seeing him brush past everyone with a big lead, our classmates rejoiced. But of course, it was far from over. Hirata kept the lead as is, but that's about it. After his turn, Onodera, despite being the fastest girl in the class alongside Horikita, was passed by some senior guys.

"They're catching up..."

Our next runner, Maezono, wasn't slow by any means. That said, against the fastest runners of the senior classes, it was inevitable for her to come off short. Suddenly, we were in fifth place.

"I look forward to racing against you, President Horikita." Nagumo glanced at Horikita Manabu. "Our runners seem to be in close competition. Unless you defeat me and place first, Class 2-A will take the overall victory. It really is the dawn of a new era."

Ignoring his taunt, the president posed a question instead.

"Do you seriously plan to change this school?" he asked.

"You're too traditional. And even though you're strict, you're weak. Your rules are too generous, and they stop people from getting expelled. All I'm going to do is help make this school the embodiment of true meritocracy," answered Nagumo.

After the fifth runners set off, I got in position, right beside Horikita Manabu. Our eyes met, and I could tell that this man has his own fight.

"So you're the anchor," he said.

"This was supposed to be your sister's position," I replied.

"I see. I suppose she's struggling to make it through," he responded with vacant eyes.

Horikita probably dreamed of running alongside her brother, even for a moment. Even if a heartfelt conversation was out of reach, she might be able to convey her feelings through actions and simple words.

"It doesn't seem like you've given up, despite everything that's happened."

"You can thank your sister for that. Even if we got outsmarted by our enemies, she continued offering solutions, keeping everything in line-- keeping our heads high. She's changed a lot."

"I can tell..." I wished Horikita was here so she can see her brother's proud smile.

"Oh? If it isn't Suzune's boyfriend," Nagumo instantly joined in on our conversation as soon as he noticed us.

The president and I decided to ignore the fact that he was addressing her with such familiarity. Now that we've got his attention, it's finally time to get the ball rolling.

"Horikita asked me for a favor," I said. "Even if she got injured, she would like to show you how strong her resolve is."

Manabu's eyes narrowed, scrutinizing my intentions.

"Her resolve, huh?" He fixed his glasses before facing me. "If you're fully supporting Suzune, then I have no choice but to recognize it."

At that moment, Nagumo's smile finally disappeared.

"As her proxy, I would like to race against you seriously. However, you'll be forced to give up placing first."

Kikyou was running as fast as she could, but at best, she could only place sixth before passing the baton to me.

"Interesting..." After perceiving my underlying intentions, Horikita Manabu knew what he had to say. "Alright. Show me the kind of person, my sister, Suzune, is."

"Nagumo!" The runner from Class 2-A finally arrived.

"Horikita!" At almost the exact same time, the runner from Class 3-A passed the baton to the president.

The crowd suddenly became confused. Well, it was only natural after witnessing something inexplicable. Nagumo Miyabi and Horikita Manabu-- instead of running as fast as they could to convert their lead into a victory, the two of them stood completely and utterly still.

Vol. 5: Chapter 17.2.2 - Run as Fast as You Can

"You did well. Good work." Horikita Manabu received the baton, leaving their class's fifth runner in a state of shock and confusion.

"U-Uh... Hah... Thanks. Hah..." The guy panted as he walked out of the field.

"I'll join you in this farce, President Horikita."

Nagumo's tone was deep. His gloomy expression indicated that he wasn't amused by this development at all.

"You're free to do what you want, Nagumo."

Nagumo got into position, waiting for Kikyou to pass the baton to me. In mere seconds, she'll be here.

"I'll say one thing to you before we race," I uttered, speaking to him in a way that only he can hear my voice.

"What is it?" he asked, as the two of us got ready.

"Run as fast as you can."

I saw him smile in the corner of my eye. As I focused on what was in front of me, I finally felt the baton touch my hands.

"Kiyotaka-kun!" Kikyou cried.

And with that, I tear through the wind as I dashed down the track.

The cold winds of the fall season brushed past my cheeks as I sprinted with all my might. It felt completely different from the confined air of that sterile room. Ever since I got out of that place, I never had the chance to run seriously. That changed today.

The existence of the other runners almost seemed to have faded from my consciousness. I stopped caring about whether I'd passed them or not. Right now, the only thing that mattered was competing against the man next to me.

Eventually, I could no longer distinguish the things that I'm hearing. The cheers, the wind, the steps, or the cries of our fellow runners-- they all blended into one continuous sound.

"What?!"

"N-No way!"

"Woah-!"

Each student we passed gasped in shock. I sensed Nagumo's presence beside Horikita Manabu and felt like the three of us will eventually take the lead. Speeding through everyone in a straight line, and then curving our paths to reach the parallel side.

In this competition, wits, tactics, strategies-- none of them matter. We can only run and run until we reach the finish line, and the one who gets there first would be the victor.

Alright, let's kick this up a notch, shall we?

Author's Notes:

Apologies that I had to separate the ending part of the race. This was supposed to be included in the last chapter-part, but the one I uploaded was an incomplete version. Turns out, the continuation I wrote (which is the content of this chapter-part) wasn't saved.

Also, I removed that annoying retard who stumbled in fear after seeing Kiyotaka approaching him at light speed.

Vol. 5: Chapter 18.1 - The End of the Sports Festival

"You've really caused a commotion..." Horikita's perplexed sigh hurt my feelings, but at least she was thankful.

"Don't be too hard on Kiyotaka-kun. He beat Horikita-senpai and Nagumo-senpai without breaking a sweat!" Kikyou crossed her arms as she puffed her chest, looking proud. Saying that I beat them without breaking a sweat would be an exaggeration.

The race ended with me being crowned the victor. The crowd was surprised, to say the least. The loudest group was, of course, Class 1-A. Some of the boys even teared up because of the hype. I wish they could stop the overreaction. I'm the one getting embarrassed here, you know?

"You're the prime target for Nagumo now. Are you really okay with this?" she asked.

"Yeah. I made it clear that the whole race was your idea. Since you were injured, it only made sense for you to assign someone else."

"But that's the thing. If it was someone high profile like Hirata-kun, then I think Nagumo would understand. But you're unknown in the senior sphere. Not only that. Hirata-kun would probably put up a good fight, but there's no way he can compete with my brother on that level. Even Sudou-kun would lose. But you beat him. Saying that it caught everyone off guard would be an understatement."

"That's right... Iida-senpai and Konishi-senpai approached me earlier. They were really freaking out, you know? You're the talk of all the third-years right now," said Kikyou.

"Iida-senpai... and Konishi-senpai?" muttered the curious Horikita.

"They're from Horikita-senpai's class. Kiyotaka-kun became acquainted with them recently," she explained.

"I think we're still fine for now." I finally spoke. "Their reactions are strong, but that's just because of the novelty. In the end, you're still the mastermind behind that show in Nagumo's mind."

We also have the first-years to assist us with that. I don't know about Sakayanagi's class, but everyone from Ichinose's class knows my ridiculous record during swimming, and Ryuuen wouldn't hide anything if his classmates ask him about my physical abilities. If they're acquainted with seniors and those seniors ask about me, they'll be able to answer in a way that would make it feel like my show of athleticism wasn't that much of a big deal.

If I decided to hold back from the very beginning, this move would've been much riskier.

"It's not that strange, anyway. Your results for the entire sports festival were near-perfect already," Kikyou shrugged.

Because of my absence, I failed to take the MVP title. And for the overall results...

"Kiyotaka-kun!" Kikyou ran up to me, most likely going for a hug. However, she managed to stop herself before doing anything careless.

Not even one second after I heard her voice...

"Kiyotaka!"

"Ayanokouji!"

The boys tackled me with all their might, with Ken leading the charge. I accepted my fate and fell to the ground.

"I knew you were gonna win!" Ken celebrated.

"You were fast as hell! What the heck was that Ayanokouji?!" Ike excitedly asked.

"You don't even look tired!" yelled Onizuka.

"I'm actually in a world of pain right now, so please get off me..."

I'm a warrior who gave everything he got for everyone. I would appreciate it if you could treat me more gently.

"You're so amazing, Ayanokouji-kun!"

"So dashing!"

The girls gave me praise, as well. And thankfully, since the boys were too hyped, they didn't have the time to get jealous and spite me for it.

"Get back to your posts, everyone." Chabashira-sensei approached us and beckoned everyone to calm down.

We were instructed to sit tight for the closing ceremony. After that will be the final results. The speeches and closing remarks didn't take too long, so the students' enthusiasm never waned.

"We will now announce the results of this year's Sports Festival!"

Everyone cheered excitedly.

The gigantic screen lit up and showed two colors separated with a label saying "Red Team" and "White Team". The tallied numbers under those labels were added up into one final score.

Red Team Wins!

The coalition between Class A and Class D took home the overall victory. Celebrations of glee could be heard all over the place.

"Next up, we will now announce the results for each class's overall points!"

The scoreboard was once again shown on the large electronic screen. Everyone carefully digested the final scores. All twelve classes were divided into three separate years.

Our eyes focused on the Freshmen category.

1st-Year Category:

1st Place: Class B
2nd Place: Class C
3rd Place: Class D
4th Place: Class A

"Agh! We lost!"

"Oh no..."

"Damn it..." Ken cursed under his breath.

"Well, this was to be expected after our previous losses."

"Class B got the win, huh...?"

"Class D almost won against Class C..."

"Their points were super close."

"Ahh, that's a shame..."

Even with Sakayanagi's absence, Class B still beat all of us with a considerable amount of lead. Ichinose's Class C took second place by a very small margin against Ryuuen's class who got third place. Our class had the third lowest amount of total points out of everyone, only beating the Class C's from the other years. Class 2-D secured second place while Class 3-D secured third place in their respective categories. The other Class A's took first place with overwhelming leads.

Kouenji's absence during the early events affected us a lot, and Horikita's injury leave left us in a very bad spot. And the biggest cause of our loss was the leaked participation table. We were doomed from the very beginning.

In the end, our class points didn't change thanks to the reward points canceling out the penalty. Even though Sakayanagi's class won first place, they still received a 50-point deduction for being in the White Team. Ichinose's class suffered the most by getting 100 class points deducted from them. The only class that ever got an increase in points was Class D, Ryuuen's class. In some way, he was the only one who got to laugh in the end among the first-years.

"And lastly, we will now announce the MVP for each school year!"

As the winners celebrated and the losers lamented, the screen changed to show the MVP results.

1st-Year MVP: Shibata Sou
2nd-Year MVP: Nagumo Miyabi
3rd-Year MVP: Horikita Manabu

"Gaaah! I lost!" yelled Ken.

Shibata had consistently placed highest like Ken, so their battles would've been very close. In fact, I'd say Ken was in the lead, especially during the individual competitions. Team competitions like the Cavalry Battle, Capture the Flag, and Tug of War made the difference for the two of them.

"That's too bad, Ken." Akito, whose cheek had a bandage plastered on it, patted him on the shoulder with a smug look.

"Argh!" he cried in frustration before sighing. "I'll be back for revenge next year."

"Sorry, Sudou. If it weren't for unathletic students like me, you could've won the title." Yukimura stepped up to apologize. The other guys looked guilty, as well.

"Nah. I knew what I was going into beforehand and still thought that I could win. Since I lost, I won't blame it on anyone else," he replied.

If you ask me who had the most growth in the class, Ken would be my answer alongside Horikita. He could still work on his temper, but his mind is in the right place. He'll only continue to grow from here on out.

Of course, problems will come along the way. It's up to him whether he can overcome them or not. The same goes for Horikita and everyone in Class A.

The students scattered after the end of the festival was officially announced. Most of us went back to the classroom to grab our things.

"I'm so tired..." groaned Ueno.

"You moved the least out of all of us!" bantered Onizuka.

"Sorry, but this is already too much for me. Any more and I might collapse on the floor..." he replied, sounding listless.

"W-When you say it like that, I can't help but believe you..."

I observed everyone while arranging my stuff.

"Was Nene-chan alright?" Ryuuko asked, looking worried.

"She didn't seem like herself today..." said Azuma.

"Kikuchi-kun said that he'll take her to the infirmary," answered Ichihashi.

"Kikyou-chan!" waved Onodera.

"Yep, I'm coming!" she replied excitedly.

"Are coming with us, Kayoko-chan?" asked Mii-chan.

"Oh, sorry! I made plans with Karuizawa-san and the others!" Ishikura pressed her hands together in apology.

"Kayokocchi, let's go?" called Karuizawa.

Ishikura said her goodbyes to Kikyou and the others before meeting up with Karuizawa's group.

"Hey, Kayoko-chan, your brother was amazing back there. Introduce me sometime!" Sonoda started on a topic as soon as they got together.

Their voices started to fade out as they walked out of the room.

"Kiyotaka! You coming?" Akito called out to me.

"Uh... I've got something to take care of. I think I'll be a bit late," I replied.

"Geez, don't keep us waiting, okay? Airi and I will prepare lots of food to eat, after all."

"I can't wait for Airi's cooking!" Ken said, pumping his fist in the air.

"Just Airi's?" Haruka narrowed her eyes as she questioned him.

"Y-Yours, too, of course..." he answered nervously.

"We'll wait for you, Kiyotaka-kun..." said Airi.

"It's related to Horikita and some stuff about school, so I don't know how long it'll take. I don't mind if you start without me, but I'll definitely make it."

"Alright... But I'll sock you if you don't come!"

Is it just me or does Haruka sound more violent than Ken these days...?

"The event was being broadcasted in the infirmary, so I got to watch everything along with some other incapacitated students. I knew you'd be able to convince Nii-san, but... to think he'd do that just to compete with you..."

I messaged Horikita beforehand, so she stayed inside the infirmary instead of returning. I brought her things for her, instead.

"I was a bit surprised myself. Nagumo joined in, but I didn't really care whether or not he did. I just wanted to challenge your brother, after all."

"I see," she sighed. "And so? I'm curious to know why Kushida-san is here. I thought you were going to hang out with your friends."

"I never planned on joining them from the very beginning. Kiyotaka-kun said he needed me for something."

Kikyou must've judged that it was better to lie about suddenly having an emergency rather than telling her friends in advance that she had plans with someone else.

"For something... I assume you needed me, as well? That's why you came here?"

"Yeah. It's fine if you can't go due to your injury, though."

"No, it's fine. I can walk a little bit now after getting some rest."

As the leader, Horikita didn't want to stay in the dark.

"Is that so? Then we should get going before it's too late."

The two of them have no knowledge of what I'm referring to, but they didn't ask any questions. I don't mind answering, but they must've thought that it's better to see whatever it was for themselves.

Vol. 5: Chapter 18.2 - Behind the Leak

There were a lot of inconspicuous locations around this city-like campus. One of which would be the place we're going to now.

"Oh, this seems like a nice place to make shady deals. Perfect for you, Kiyotaka-kun." Kikyou smiled cutely.

"That's true." I can't help but agree.

We were currently near the edge of the campus, just a few buildings along the westmost boulevard. Most of them are used as storehouses, so there was little to no chance for any students to be here. That's especially true now that the sports festival just ended.

"This should be a good spot," I whispered.

Voices could be heard not far from where we were. With careful steps, the three of us slowly crept up beside the corner of a certain building.

"You're satisfied now, right? Class B won." A familiar voice of a male student shocked Horikita and Kikyou.

"Fufufu. Indeed we have. It's too bad that we still lost 50 class points in the end."

"That's... not our fault anymore." Another familiar voice replied-- this time, from a female student.

"Please don't fret, Mori-san. As per our agreement, we will delete the video after the sports festival is over. There's no need to worry."

Horikita was perplexed while Kikyou's expression was dark. We knew the voices of all three students. Our classmates, Mori and Kikuchi were currently talking to Class B's leader, Sakayanagi Arisu. It seems like some truths will finally be revealed.

"Sorry, Mori-san. We won't bother you after this..." Another female voice was heard. The tone sounded more exhausted than remorseful.

Judging from Horikita's reaction, it didn't seem like she knew her.

"Here. Please delete the video yourself. Although we won't be able to prove it, please believe that we didn't make any copies. We won't use that 'incident' against you in the future," said Sakayanagi.

It didn't seem like they made a deal involving a contract.

A few seconds passed, with Mori or Kikuchi probably deleting whatever it was that they had to delete.

"Here you go. Please take your phones back, as well. Thank you for your assistance Kikuchi-kun. I would love to get your help again in the future but..."

"Don't even think about it. I won't betray my class again."

"I see. Well, that's a shame. I don't mind reserving a spot for you and Mori-san in our class before graduation, you know?"

"Sakayanagi-san, are you serious?" asked the other girl.

"No, thanks. We'll pass up on that 'offer'," Mori answered strongly.

"Fufufu, I merely jest. But I will welcome anyone who's willing," Sakayanagi replied with a relaxed voice. "Even though I didn't participate in the sports festival, today has been a tiring day for me, as well. Do take care now, you two."

The sound of Sakayanagi's cane could be heard as she walked away with the other female student. After I signaled their exit, Horikita didn't think twice about showing her presence.

"Kikuchi-kun, Mori-san... Would you like to explain what just happened here?"

"Horikita-san...?" Kikuchi was surprised, but he didn't seem flustered.

"Why are you here...?" Mori, on the other hand, looked confused.

Kikyou and I followed her out, further adding to Mori's shock.

Most areas inside the campus have benches to sit on. This place wasn't an exception. We sat down to have a conversation with the two people in question.

"So you're the one who leaked the participation table to Sakayanagi-san?" asked Horikita.

Kikyou and I sat on the side as Horikita was scolding them.

"Yeah. It was me. Just so you know, I do feel bad... but I don't regret what I did," replied Kikuchi.

"Please don't blame Tsuki, Horikita-chan... It was my fault."

"Is that so? Then do enlighten me."

"That girl that Sakayanagi-san was with earlier-- that was Busujima-san, right?" asked Kikyou.

"Yes... We're both members of the Volleyball Club."

Busujima Rin. I heard about her from Ken. As expected of Kikyou. Well, it wasn't strange for someone like her to know.

"It was Sakayanagi-san's ploy... After the briefing for the sports festival, Busujima-san contacted me, saying she wanted to talk about the club. I already felt that something was off because she asked me to come to the special building." (1)

"And then?"

"There were only two of us, so I thought everything was fine. Busujima-san suddenly told me that I was being lazy in the club... and that the seniors didn't like me. That's when we started to argue."

"They tried to set you up, huh?"

"Yes... They were actually recording a video in secret. It was filmed at a convenient angle so the actual events didn't look clear."

"What exactly did they accuse you of?"

"Violence..." she answered. "They made it seem like I hit Busujima-san and caused her to fall down."

They all had grim expressions.

"Wait... Nene-chan, how did it even happen...?" Kikyou asked gently.

As Mori grew increasingly more nervous, Kikuchi decided to take the reins.

"The video was taken from a considerable distance with Busujima's backside covering most of the view. Their plan was to call Nene's phone, and the moment she tried to answer the call, Busujima suddenly moved to grab the phone from her hands."

"And that's when the actual footage started," said Horikita.

"Not only that... The person filming the video already had their own narrative to blemish the truth."

"You mean to say...?"

"When the footage started, Nene and Busujima were already clutching the phone in their hands. That's when the person said "Why is that girl trying to grab Busujima-san's phone...?", and after Nene forcefully grabbed the phone, Busujima fell on her own. Of course, the person who filmed the scene followed it up with "She hit her!", before ending the footage while running up to 'help Busujima'. Those statements would obviously be used to strengthen their side of the argument."

If the acting was great, then I don't see them winning in a trial without any counterevidence.

"Who's this person, anyway?"

"They never told us, but it was probably a girl from Class D. The evidence wouldn't be as potent if she was a classmate," Kikuchi shrugged.

An accomplice. If Mori and Kikuchi tried to fight back, Sakayanagi would probably make her step forward as a witness.

"But isn't there a fatal flaw in their setup?" pondered Horikita.

"Yeah, I know... The call history can be our counterevidence. We can use it to prove that the phone belonged to Nene..." said Kikuchi. "I also brought that up before, but it's not that simple. Apparently, Busujima had already involved a senior from the volleyball club. She informed them beforehand about confronting Nene and asked them to call her around the time when the incident was filmed. So, Busujima can also use her call history to match Nene's. And the call that Nene got-- It was from Sonoda."

Sonoda Chiyo, a girl from our class.

"Chiyo isn't an accomplice. It could've been any other girl. Sakayanagi-san orchestrated the whole thing by using another Class D girl. Once the time was right, that Class D girl would ask any girl from our class who had my contact to call me with the pretext of asking something," said Mori. (2)

That is indeed tricky. The other party can always claim that the call Mori received was nothing more than a coincidence. Sakayanagi also used students from Class D, so tracing their connection back to her and Busujima would be near-impossible.

"I see... So that's how they cornered you," said Horikita. "Alright. I'll let this matter go, for now. We won't let the other Class A students know, as well."

"Kiyotaka-kun... This whole thing-- it sounds awfully familiar..."

"Yeah. It was a replication of what Ryuuen tried to do to Ken back then."

It's almost like Sakayanagi was trying to send a message to Ryuuen. "I'll do what you tried to do, but succeed."

It was hard to imagine Ryuuen's full cooperation if Sakayanagi's goal was to one-up him, but she probably solved it by negotiating with private points.

Of course, Sakayanagi never had the intention of expelling Mori. She was merely a pawn to use for the sports festival. She could continue soliciting her and Kikuchi's cooperation, but she let them go. Sakayanagi was telling us that she was confident enough to obtain more pawns if she wanted.

"I'm still scared... Sakayanagi-san might be lying about not making any copies of the video..." said Mori.

"That is a possibility," replied Horikita.

Kikyou seemed to want to say something, but she stopped herself.

I personally don't think Sakayanagi would lie about that, but I'm not obligated to tell them my opinion.

"I-It's okay, Nene-chan... I'll try to talk to Sakayanagi-san myself if that happens." Kikyou tried to comfort her instead.

"Apart from the participation table, what else did she demand from you?" Horikita asked, moving the conversation forward.

"Nothing. I never really talk to them. The moment you gave us the participation table, all I did was forward the image to a dummy account provided by Sakayanagi. Of course, I also used a dummy account of my own to send it."

"But... How did Sakayanagi-san make use of it, anyway? Did Ichinose-san lie about them submitting their participation table together?" asked Mori.

According to Ichinose, Class B and Class C submitted their participation table together. Ryuuen's Class D submitted theirs, afterward. The last class to submit was Class A. So even if Kikuchi leaked the participation table, they would've been unusable. Of course, that wasn't the case, as we've seen at the sports festival. (3)

"I don't think that's it, Mori-san. I finally realized how they did it... But, it was all too late."

I see. So Horikita finally figured it out, huh?

"I was also racking my brain about how they did it... If Ichinose didn't lie, then we probably missed a vital detail," said Kikuchi.

"The teachers and their involvement. That's what we all missed..."

"The teachers..." Kikyou muttered.

"Long story short, Ryuuen-kun and Sakayanagi-san didn't submit their participation table during the time we thought they did. Sakayanagi-san deceived Ichinose-san because she knew we'd ask her."

"What about Chabashira-sensei...?"

"I don't think Chabashira-sensei lied to us. Instead of the participation table, Ryuuen-kun and Sakayanagi-san must've shown their homeroom teachers a paper containing a bunch of instructions. It might've been a script of what they wanted them to say or an instruction to make them act in a certain way."

Based on what Horikita told us back then, Sakagami-sensei's words were along the lines of "This is reasonable." and "I'll deliver your participation table safely.". They were vague and streamlined. None of them were a direct confirmation that the paper he was holding was indeed Class D's participation table. (4)

"They can do that...?"

"Yes. And I think Chabashira-sensei already knew. The reason why she couldn't tell us what was actually happening might be related to the school's policies. But even then, Chabashira-sensei already gave us a big hint."

"Ah! She did! If I remember correctly, Chabashira-sensei said "I can cooperate if you ever want me to do anything." or something similar to that, right?" Kikyou asked. (5)

"Yes... But I didn't realize what she meant back then."

"In others, Ryuuen and Sakayanagi pretended to submit their participation tables by using duds. And they also got the help of their teachers to indirectly deceive us..."

"The fact that they made their move as early as the very first briefing meant that they already had this planned from the start... I admit my defeat completely..." Horikita looked down in frustration.

"Horikita-san... I don't think there's anything we could've done."

"Ayanokouji-kun would've done something." Horikita's subtle glance indicated her train of thought. Once again, she'd realized how outclassed she is right now.

"The fact that you figured everything out on your own is a sign of growth. You'll catch up to them eventually, Horikita."

"Yes... But I can't take too long, or our position as Class A will be put in jeopardy."

When the five of us decided to go back, continuing our conversation as we walked towards the dorm.

"How did the three of you know where we were?" Mori asked.

"Oh, now that you say that, it was Kiyotaka-kun who guided us here."

"I asked him for help," answered Kikuchi.

"I didn't really know the details, but Kikuchi asked me to bring you guys to this place."

"I wanted Horikita-san to know the truth, at least. And I don't really mind if Kushida-san or Hirata gets to know. Sorry for bringing you into this, Ayanokouji. I know you didn't want to get involved."

"This much is fine." It was honestly not a problem. Doing favors for a friend-- it's not so bad.

Author's Notes:

Refreshers for those who want.
1.Vol. 5: Chapter 1.3 - The State of Teams
2.Vol. 5: Chapter 1.3 - The State of Teams
3.Vol. 5: Chapter 10.1 - Time for an Answer
4.Vol. 5: Chapter 9.3 - The Devil's Offer
5.Vol. 5: Chapter 9.3 - The Devil's Offer