kiyotaka class B

by vamer

ok

2. Y2

Kiyotaka Of Class B ( Year 2 )
GiKaRa_

Published: 2023
Source: https/

Prologue

I guess it's really happening huh ? Time surely flies fast

It has been exactly one year since the day i have arrived here, At the Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, The most prestigious school in the entirety of Japan

Looking back at my last year, A lot has happened. We took a lot of Special exams and interacted with a lot of people, Friendships were built and destroyed, Relationships sailed and sank, Rivalry bloomed, A Lot of Scheming, Trickery, Deception, Blackmail, Winning and Losing, Cries of Happiness and cries of despair, Betrayals and a lot of People has left us to fight in this Battlefield

Looking back at last year, It has been nothing but Chaotic, There hasn't been a moment where tension subsided or where the sense of Rivalry extinguished. You could say that last Year has been nothing but hell. However, It really depends on the people you're talking with

For instance, A Class D Student would wholeheartedly agree with you that this is a hell. However, If you take a Student from Class A they would most likely disagree with it

Why ? Because this School is a meritocracy, Even if the Staff denies it, They cannot change the fact that it is. Sorting the best Students at the top and the worst in the Bottom and encouraging them to climb to the Top, While they are omniscient to the fact that they won't. The Level of Hypocrisy

However, Despite all of this, And despite a Class A Student being at the Top, They wouldn't be able to deny that they have also experienced some form of suffering during this period. Even i

I, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, A Student of Class A, Have a different opinion. This past year has been nothing but pleasant to me, Compared to my life before that.

I have been able to experience freedom, Despite that this School being a bigger cage than the White Room. I have gotten acquainted with many people i consider my friends now and experience Friendship, I have been able to taste many types of food and deserts and experience some parts of Childhood that i missed

And most importantly, I have an Important person that holds a very dear position inside of my heart, And i have been able to experience love

I have experienced and did many things you told me to do, So you can rest in peace now... Matsuo-san

You are probabl- No, You are definitely the reason why i'm here in the First place, And have gotten this far. So i owe it all to you

You are the reason why i didn't fail my Introduction at the Start of the Year, Since i have practiced it with you beforehand

The reason why i wasn't awkward with people, Because you have taught me how to communicate

You told me to smile, So i did, Even if i didn't genuinely mean it

You've been nothing but kind to me, Even when knowing my background, And how corrupted i am.

To think i used to be wary of such a person when we first met, Makes me sickened with myself

You've been more of a Father figure to me than That Man could ever hope to be. You've treated me like your son even when we weren't biologically connected, And i have thought of you the same

I didn't forget your parting advice to try and find someone to love and hold dear to myself, Someone you can share your soul with.

The Reason why i choose the Beautiful existence knows as Ichinose Honami was because i foresaw a potential for a long-term Relationship with her, Which gives me more Chances to fall in love.

At first, I only saw her as an embodiment of Matsuo and rolled with it as the reason for why i love her. However, That changed later. When i started questioning my reasons for loving her, And before i knew it, I was already deeply in love

She is a precious person to me, Much like Matsuo-san.

You must be pretty happy if you're watching this Matsuo-san.

However, I have one request for you. Is to watch over us for the upcoming year

The First Year is rolling up, Opening the Stage for our Second Year Together. Which means, Opening the Stage for new Threats

Our life currently is under constant pressure, Under the threats of many things.

However, I must remember the person who i am

" Let's go Kiyotaka~ "

Even under all of those looming threats, I must remember who i am

I am the Masterpiece of the White Room

And i will never let go of this opportunity that you gave me Matsuo-san

I would never allow your sacrifice to be in vain

I took my first courageous steps forward, Picking up the pace with a newfound determination

Too many threats and a too precious thing

I have already lost enough

And i refuse to lose anybody else

Prologue 2

3rd POV

??? Time and location.

" Speak up goddammit ! "

Slam

In a facility somewhere in Tokyo, a loud and powerful slam echoed inside one of it's rooms. The perpetrator was an angry looking man in the middle of his thirties, in front of a-

" I have nothing to fess up, I am innocent " A calm and monotonous voice countered the angry shouts, making the man even more irate.

" Innocent ? If you are innocent then how do you explain this ?! " The angry man tapped on his phone, playing an audio file.

' It must feels nice to have a girlfriend right ? That is something the White Room couldn't provide'

' You are my Property Kiyotaka ! You do as i say and OBEY'

' You see, he's no longer alive '

' No, It is your Responsibility, Because of you Kiyotaka isn't obeying me, Because of your selfishness more people are gonna suffer the same fate as Matsuo and his son'

' This school doesn't fit you Kiyotaka. Someone like your Caliber doesn't deserve to be lumped with low-life morons, There is my Chauffeur just outside the school, He would take us straight back home, the White Room, Where you belong'

The man cut the audio short and glared at the middle aged man in front of him. Who's expression remained the same

" This is fake. "

" You're still claiming that again ? We all know that you're lying SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST CONFESS ALREAD- "

" Please calm down Arakaki-san, shouting wouldn't do us any good. " The angry man named Arakaki was grabbed by his seatmate by the shoulder as to calm him down. Arakaki obediently stopped and sat back " We humbly apologize for the inconvenience, Professor Ayanokouji. I know for someone like you you must be pretty busy and we are just a hindrance. No, It's more like unnecessary hindrance, since in reality we all believe in your innocence. "

Despite what his seatmate said, Arakaki surprisingly sat silently glaring at the man in front of him. Professor Ayanokouji took note of that with a quick eye then spoke up

" Good. If that's the case then why aren't you releasing me yet ? "

" That won't do Professor Ayanokouji "

" Huh ? What do you mean ? " He slightly shouted, seemingly in annoyance. However, the person slightly chuckled and stared straight at Professor's eyes

" While we believe in your complete innocence. There is just small matters we cannot ignore, Professor. " The professor furrowed his eyebrows, requesting elaboration. To which the investigator happily complied " Basically, stuff like the strange events that occurred in the Matsuo's family that led to two people's death. We do not have complete information about the situation. However, since one of them was your employee, you must at least know something...

" Right ? "

With a seemingly harmless smile. The investigator crawled up like a cobra and grabbed a hold of Professor Ayanokouji, putting him in a corner. There was basically no other response than to make another excuse

Behind the soundproof wall :

" Ahahahahahahahahaha Sweet talking him to trap him, you're so cruel Hashimaro~ hahahahahahaha " A beautiful blonde woman in military suit clutched her stomach from laughter, while observing the investigations through the one way glass. " Look at that face, he's definitely cornered~ "

" Yep, seems that the plan is working well " The person beside her agreed, which happens to be the lead detective of this case. " In reality, nobody is believing the bullshit he's coming up with. And they are just playing good and bad cops "

" Damn~ such a simple strategy he fell for~ I guess even men like him crumble after daily pressure huh~? Fufu, how uncool~ " The blonde woman gave a thumb down with a small boo, indicating her disappointment. " By the way, you haven't managed to get anything out of him for like... a long while~ how come you're still running with no trouble~? "

Professor Ayanokouji has been in confinement for around 3 months, with little to none freedom whatsoever, getting questioned and pressured on regular basis with little to none gain. He is an important figure in the Japanese government, so for him to be absent for a long while is surely abnormal.

" There is just too much weird and shady stuff flying around Mr. Ayanokouji that drew the higher-ups's attention, but they couldn't find some decisive evidence and opted to observe. " The lead detective continued. " However, that was before my comrade Sakayanagi entrusted me with this case and gave me some evidence alongside his testimony "

" I see " The woman mumbled.

" This recording just solved and created more questions for us. Questions like : Where was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka before he joined the Advanced nurturing high school. " The lead detective pulled a keyboard and started typing " From his records, he has only been to America once during the age of 8. However, he never appeared before or after that. He didn't attend any schools nor he was spotted on one of Mr. Ayanokouji's mansions. So if this white room thing exists, it would explain many things. "

Not only does this white room theory that Chairman Sakayanagi provided solves this, but it also provides solutions to many more theories in different fields.

However, even with this much evidence, taking down Mr. Ayanokouji is still far. The man has too strong of an influence to get detached this easily, they need to present the higher ups with something decisive in order for them to act.

" Man~ Arakaki is doing a better job than expected acting as the bad cop~ his anger and lashes look too real, maybe we shoul- "

" No, they are real "

" Huh ? " The blonde woman emitted a sound of confusion and instinctively looked at him with furrowed eyebrows.

" Arakaki suspects Mr. Ayanokouji for the murder of his sister, he took the bad cop job because he knew that he cannot stay calm like he usually does. " The lead detective elaborated. " Although he's letting his emotions take the control of him, it's working for our favor. "

" I see I see " The blonde general sighed in small pity, while looking through the glass towards the investigation table. " If you don't mind me asking, when did his sister die ? "

The detective typed some stuff on his computer to get access to the database, he opened a file and displayed it to the general.

" Basically, it was 2 years ago... "

Vol 1 Chap 1 : Co-ed Deluxe

( Scene after Prologue No'1 )

Seeing the sign on top of the doorway, Honami and I finished our first walk as second-year high school students and arrived in front of our newly allotted Classroom.

' Sit back on on your old seats and silently for your homeroom teacher '

Honami and I stared at each other as if using telepathy to communicate before subconsciously receiving the messages. She gave me a small nod before taking the initiative and entering the room.

As soon as I stepped inside, I immediately spotted the drastic changes. The most notable one was the presence of a massive black screen behind the podium, instead of a whiteboard. Alongside some what it appeared to be tablets on top of each table

Many of my Classmates spotted us and gave us a small wave while we made our way towards our seats in the back of the Classroom. Occasionally, I checked for the security cameras around the room for safety measures to find them untouched. I brushed my thoughts off before sitting on my desk

Despite the heavy silence, the atmosphere was surprisingly pretty light. Many of my classmates were silently communicating with each other through eye contact. Some smiles, weird facial expressions and stiffled laughs, the atmosphere was comparable to the usual one

This didn't come as a surprise, our class has definitely came far in order to maintain this atmosphere even during confusion. Our bounds are built from tough solids and their trust in each other is unshakable. Which is a sign of a healthy and stable Class

It is a must to have good stability and unity in order to pull out victories, even if my Class is a bit too obsessed on this part, with a capable enough leader they'll manage to pull away with no problems.

After observing them for a while, my gaze slowly drawn towards the window and observed the outside.

Yesterday was the conclusion of the first third of my stay in this institution, and today was the start of the second one. We are on the exact same day when I passed through the front gates, and said my goodbyes to Matsuo. It was the same day, yet one year after.

This isn't the only difference tho, contrary to last year today was cloudy instead of sunny. Simultaneously, this year is gonna be much harder for me compared to the last one.

The thought of having an unknown number of white room students hiding in plain sight and chasing after your head isn't reassuring at all. One of them would be enough to pull the rug under me if I was careless, so having multiple is quite troublesome

I still cannot comprehend why did Tsukishiro relay such an information to me. Whether I was aware or not, this is a crucial piece that basically confirmed by doubts and told me his next moves.

If this is a bluff, then he is basically lost. His only chance of winning is to rely on the students of this school to expel me in one way or another during an exam which is practically impossible unless I act like a moron. So his only bet is a white room student

As for the number, that man would want to send as much backup as he possibly can. However, he'd have to stay under the radar in order to not be suspicious. So the possibility of 160 white room students is basically impossible and the true number would remain a mystery

Until I discover it later on...

Kriiiiiiiiiiing

The sound of the morning bell echoed as the clock hit 8. Simultaneously, my classmates shifted in their seats to fix their postures and facing forward, getting ready for the first session of homeroom.

" Gooood morning Class~! " At that precise moment, the usual sight of Chie-sensei waltzing inside the room played in front of us again. However, with a different background. " You'all aren't looking pretty shabby, did you enjoy your spring break~? "

" Mhm " Collective nods were earned at her question. To which she smiled

" That's good to hear~ " Chie-sensei remarked before lowering herself and grabbing some wires. Seemingly setting the screen up. She spoke up to us in the meantime " Tell me guys, how do you feel now that you have advanced one grade level and became second-years. Becoming older~ "

She said that last part with a small smug, as if she was inwardly amused at us aging.

" Well~ It's not like I'm jealous or anything~... I'm just curious okay~? " We watched how her mood kept swinging left and right while fixing up the screen. When it lit up she finally dropped her gadget and wiped some sweat off. " Anyway, before I forget. Does anyone of you want to change seats ? "

Small confusion erupted in the Class. To which Chie-sensei quickly elaborated

" If you got bored of your seating arrangements, all you gotta do is get some private points alongside the person you want to exchange seats with and contact me~ As we said at the first day of school, anything can be bought with points. Including the seating arrangements~ "

It seems that it never crossed the minds of some of our Classmates that you could buy such a thing using points, and if I have to be honest me neither. I am simply happy with my seating arrangement, and so does the others.

Some small changes happened across the board. Most notably Shibata sitting closer to Amikura for some obvious reasons, it was cheap so it didn't really affect that much.

" Now~ I know that you might have an idea over what are these for, but allow me to explain regardless~ " Chie-sensei pointed towards the tablets on our desks, before grabbing her own. " These are digital tablets afforded by the government in order to advance the level of education in this school~ Everyone of you gets to have one of these and they are basically your notebooks

" Everything would be moved towards these tablets, so there would be no need for you to bring notebooks. However, you're not allowed to take them anywhere outside of this room. If you ever need something just connect to the school's cloud network and you get to access them even from your phone~ Isn't that like super cool~? "

Many astonished and surprised reactions flew around the class, chie-sensei displayed some images on the screen using her own tablet and started explaining some more details. The school would provide the necessary documents for each lesson to download, and you could access them anytime using your phone. It seems that the school wants us to focus more on understanding the lessons rather than wasting time on taking notes.

Wait, maybe I could...

Suddenly, an idea crossed my mind in the middle of her explanation. I waited until she was done with answering the questions, to raise my hand.

" Ara~ it's rare for you to ask any questions Kiyotaka-kun, so what's up~? " At her remarks. Surprisingly, many heads were turned towards me with curious gleams on their eyes. It was as if an anomaly has occurred, which is understandable since I pretty much never asked questions before.

" If you don't mind answering Sensei, does the school monitor the tablets ? " At my question, many confused expressions were thrown towards my way. Chie-sensei furrowed her eyebrows, seemingly confused too. " What I mean is, does the school keep track of what's happening inside of each student's tablet in order to punish those who use it for other purposes than studying in the middle of classes ? "

This tablet is just like any other you could find, it operates on a full system and it has external browsers and applications. People could use those apps for entertainment purposes instead of studying. So the question is, does the school monitor the usage of those apps just like how they monitor our behavior and deduct class points the same way ?

Many seems that have gotten my question and turned to Sensei for answers.

" Ara~ I wonder for what reason you're asking this Kiyotaka-kun~ are you perhaps planning to turn rogue ? " She gave me a teasing grin while uttering that question in a wondering tone. I simply just ignored her and stared back with my apathetic expression, to which she let a sigh. " Sorry, that is a question I cannot answer. "

" I see... " I muttered, before adding. " How much private points would it take for you to answer my question Sensei ? "

" Hmmmm~ 30.000 " She put on a thinking pose before emitting the number. I simply nodded before taking my phone out and transferring the required amount of points. She gave me a nod, indicating the completion of the process. " Well~ for your question is no, the school doesn't monitor the tablets and only tracks their location.

" However, we use the cameras to track what's the students are browsing~ so if we find out that you are using it for a different purpose during classes we will deduct class points~! "

At her response, I felt myself perking up both physically and mentally, but I managed to conceal it. If the cameras won't catch a wind of what you're doing then you'll be able to do as you please with the tablet... Which means that

I won't get bored to death !

" Hehe~ " I was snapped out by small giggles from my side, Honami was amusingly chuckling at my state, seemingly seeing through my cover and aware of my feelings. She gave me a happy smile, indicating her happiness as well.

Chie-sensei was pretty much in the same state too. Both of them have a decent understanding of my past and my true capabilities, more so than everybody else. So they must understand my pain of going through hours of boring lessons I already learned.

" Alright~ now onto the main topic of today~! " Chie-sensei enthusiastically navigated through her tablet and the screen flashed up with white color with some text on it. Chie-sensei's head shot up with an avid smile. " Allow me to introduce you to our newest co-ed deluxe system~! "

" Co-ed... deluxe system ? " Shibata repeated mindlessly. To which Chie-sensei nodded

" Yes~ you guys remember that this school used to implement co-ed dormitory system yes ? "

" Hmm yes, I think I do recall reading that somewhere " Yousuke mused loud enough for everyone to hear. On a side note, that somewhere is on the dormitory rule book given with the keys at the start of the year.

" Wait, so you guys are reimplementing it back ? " Amikura asked.

" Well... you could say that " Chie-sensei grinned. Before tapping on her tablet some more and an image flashed up

" T-That... " At that image, many faces flashed up in recognition.

" Do you guys remember that building near the teacher's dorms that everyone made a big fuss about for being haunted and other bullshit~? " We all decided to ignore the inappropriate usage of words and nod. " Yeah, the school has worked on reconstructing it for the past months in order to create what we call a special dorm building that carries out a double dorm size, enough for two people to live in "

She explained while simultaneously tapping on her tablet to pop up some images, showcasing the interior of those special dorms. From the images only, it certainly did appear twice the size of the usual normal dorm room with a lot more space for comfort, the kitchen, bathroom were all larger in comparison.

" It really looks like an apartment from New York. " I heard some small remarks around me. Seemingly impressed. Chie-sensei caught wind of those and grinned

" I know right~! It's pretty amazing ! I know we named it co-ed deluxe but it's more like a special dormitory with unique rules that allows sharing. You can live alone if you'd like, it's up to the owner to do as he pleases~ " She elaborated further.

The images shown on the screen popped up on our tablets to help us further our inspections, alongside some important information regarding the building as well as it's rules. The special dorms has 60 rooms available with the option of having a roommate disregarding their gender. The normal rules for dormitory applies on this building too with a small change of curfew time, which got extended towards 11 PM. This was the gist of it

" Now~ into the main point " Chie's enthusiastic tone took a dip and turned serious, this indicates that she'll start explaining the drawbacks. " Now, those dorms may sound good on paper. In order for you to obtain them there is two ways.

" The first way is to pay a monthly rent of 45.000 Private points and you'll be required to leave whenever you're not able to pay up.

" And the second way is to pay 1 Million Points in one go and have your room for life ! Well~ by life I mean until graduation but you get my point ! "

Unsurprisingly, the prices for such rooms were high, leaving multiple mouths agape. This was basically unaffordable for the average student, whether it was by option 1 or 2.

However, I couldn't help but notice some hidden plots that somewhat intrigued me.

" Sensei ? What would happen to our old dorm rooms if we manage to afford one of these ? " Honami formally rose her hand and asked a question. Chie-sensei responded by pointing at her

" A good question Honami-chan~ basically, nothing would happen and they'll remain yours. So you'd have two homes~ " Honami nodded in comprehension.

This is a great strategy from the school to push the rich students into spending more money to indulge in more luxuries. Those special dormitories are classified to the 'luxuries' section, which is why their prices are pretty high.

They aren't an important necessity, so the students cannot really complain about the prices. The normal dorms are enough to live comfortably, so there should be no complains on this part.

This is also affordable by 2 above average income students, by splitting the bill they could indulge in luxuries while being with their friends. Whether this was intentional or not it certainly is a great move.

However, one small detail is harmless yet, it makes me want to laugh. I do wonder about how a newly admitted first-year would feel about this announcement. Currently, they are slowly flooding the school for the entrance ceremony and they'll receive the explanation of the S system sooner or later

It is known that most students thought that they'd receive 100.000 points each month or at least had some slight doubts about it. So, would the first-years be greedy and reckless enough to chase for more luxury and sacrifice half of their allowance ?

I guess we are just about to find out

" Also, if you don't feel like paying or don't have enough money~ you don't have to worry about that~! " This sudden exclamation snapped me out of my thoughts and drew my attention back towards the podium. Where Chie-sensei garnered all of our curious glances and responded with a mischievous grin. " To celebrate the opening of co-ed deluxe~! The school is gonna giveaway some of those rooms and award them to the first place winners~! And yes, with until graduation residency so don't miss out on the chance~ "

She directed that last statement more towards me and Honami with a wink. This was certainly a generous offer from the school to the capable to indulge themselves in some luxury without wasting money. However, I wonder if it's gonna be as easy as it sounds

Moreover, what did she mean by-

" Sensei, by first place winners, you mean on a special exam ? " As I was thinking about it, Kanzaki rose his hand and asked the question.

" Yes Kanzaki-kun~ your next special exam is coming soon so stay tuned for the announcement " Chie winked with a bright smile. Her confirmation somewhat disturbed the atmosphere. However, it still remained strong.

" Chie-sensei~ by 'first place winners' you mean that there would be multiple people tied for first place ? " Honami followed up after Kanzaki with another good question. To which however, Sensei ended up dismissing

" I cannot answer that Honami-chan~ please wait for the announcement and you'll understand " Honami decided to not persuade any further and locked it with a strong nod, indicating her retreat. Chie-sensei checked her watch before starting to walk towards the doorway " Phew~ that was quite a long talk eh ? You have 15 minutes left for the entrance ceremony so you can do whatever you please, just make sure to attend Kay~? "

With those final words she took her leave and disappeared around the corner, making everyone loosen up before excitement started rushing through.

For the rest of the 15 minutes, everyone excitedly talked their opinions with each other about those luxurious dorms and whether to afford them or not. Honami was looking at me with a bright and excited smile and shining eyes

I think I know what she's gonna ask for her birthday, even this early...

* 1 Week Later *

Exactly one week has passed since that announcement, and currently, we were sitting in the class awaiting for another.

Last week was uneventful, just as I predicted. The white room student is laying low not giving up any cues. I managed to memorize all the faces during the entrance ceremony and apply them to the database thanks to the OAA App and came up with some theories and suspects. But nothing solid so far.

Regardless, this was within the reach of my consideration. Everything was going according to what I expected... All except for one

One prediction... was wrong

Vol 1 Chap 2 : Partnering exam

It's been one week since our return to school and the entrance ceremony, and now, it was Monday April 8th, the start of the second week of my first month as a second-year high school student.

It was also the second week of my battle against the hidden white room enforcer. I haven't really done anything major during this period of time and remained passive for the most of it, they seemingly adapted a similar approach, rending our battle as stalemate.

However, apparently, it is about to get broken.

" Sit down Class~ " Just as the morning bell rang, Chie-sensei carrying a tablet in her hand strolled inside of the Classroom with a small vibrant smile on her face. Her unusual commanding tone sent hidden signals we knew too well, and mentally prepared for what's coming ahead. " Your midterms are coming up by the end of this month, and they would be an indispensable part of your newest upcoming special exam. So listen closely~ "

Chie-sensei tapped on her tablet and the screen flashed up as well as our tablets. I haven't used my tablet aside from reading Manga and Light Novels so it took me longer than the average student to get through with the documents. However, I eventually gotten with it and memorized the process more clearly

It isn't very bad, I have managed to find the perfect angle to hide the tablet from the cameras while making it appear as natural as possible. It may be a little exposed to the Teachers however, I have worked up some excuses in the unlikely case they try to sabotage me.

Can you blame me ? I literally memorized those lessons like the back of my hand and extra. So I'm actually utilizing my time in something more useful than repeating school.

" Your exam's name is the partnering exam. It is an exam where both the first-years and second-years partner up for a written test. This exam's nature is to test out your academical skills obviously, as well as your communication skills " Chie-sensei with a serious and elaborative tone began her explanation. She turned and used the screen to further her explanation " You will have two weeks to select your partners, starting from today until the 22nd where you'll be taking on the midterms. Both of you and your partner's combined scores has to reach a certain threshold, if not then you'll be subjected to punishments. "

" Sensei ? Isn't that similar to paper shuffle ? " Yousuke formally rose his hand and inquired.

" Yes Hirata-kun, it is similar to the exam you took on the second semester of your last year. However~ there is key differences. " Chie-sensei nodded before pointing out towards the board. " For instance, you wouldn't take a test to determine your partners but instead, you'll have to convince a first-year to partner up with you and send an invitation for them through the OAA app. If they happen to not accept, your application will reset in 24 hours and if they do accept, it would be finalized and you cannot change partners unless for very extenuating circumstances. "

Just as Sensei explained, this exam follows the same criteria as paper shuffle with major differences. Both of you and your partner's combined scores has to reach a certain threshold, unlike paper shuffle where you'll have to meet two conditions to pass. The general pairing method is also different, instead of taking a test and getting partners at random, you will be given the option to select your own partner

This is where your communication skills would come into play. Someone who can easily talk to strangers and make friends would have an easier time getting access to a partner than someone who can't.

" Keep in mind that once the partnership has been finalized, the information would be displayed on the OAA app would be updated at 8 AM next morning and no further applications would be accepted for both parties. Additionally, the details about the person you've partnered wouldn't be shown and kept anonymous. "

This is a small addition to clear up confusion and make the process of partnership more clean. This would also prevent people from targeting each other's partners for the sake of increasing the chances of expelling them

" In the event that a second-year student fails to acquire a partner before the deadline, a random first-year student would be selected for them at 8 AM of the exam day. Additionally, since you guys's number are smaller in comparison to the first-years, the leftovers would have their score doubled in order to compensate for their lack of partner. "

It seems reasonable enough, a total number of 16 students has gotten expelled from our grade so there is bound to be some leftovers. This is a plus for the second-years, since they don't have to worry about not getting a partner.

" However, in both of those cases. The students would incur a penalty of 5% deduction on their score, so you'll be forced to act up before the time runs out. "

This would ignite a small fire under the first-year students to act up and actively search for partners in order to not fall on this category. Which means another plus for the second-years

Hmm... I wonder how far would this go

" Now that we are done with the partnering method, let's move on towards the other parts of this exam " Chie-sensei switched the screen towards another page and wiped some sweat off her forehead " As I explained before, both of you and your partner's combined scores have to reach a certain threshold. On the day of 22nd, you'll be tested on five subjects each one with a 100 points in total of 500. Just like your usual midterms~

" However, there would be an added twist~! "

She gave us a mischievous grin before tapping on her tablet and switching images on screen.

" Sensei, what's that ? " Somebody blurted out and asked.

E Rating - Between 150 and 200 Points

D Rating - Between 200 and 250 Points

C Rating - Between 250 and 300 Points

B Rating - Around 350 Points

A Rating - Around 400 Points

" These are the possible points that can be scored based on your academical abilities " Chie-sensei elaborated, before giving us some time to read and understand the text. " The added twist is that it would be pretty much impossible for somebody to score very high points, let alone ace it. It would contain questions from university level to even post-graduation, like if you manage to score above an 80 you'll already be considered pretty amazing~!

" However, you don't have to fret. It is pretty much impossible to score high points, but it would be pretty easy to score good points. Those on the screen are just estimations on how much you'll score based on your academical rating "

It came as a huge relief to my Classmates that they won't have to take on an impossible exam. Based on those estimations alone you could clearly see the difference of averages, and it also gives you ideas on some potential pairs.

" Sensei~ what is the minimum threshold a pair has to reach ? And what happens if we don't reach it ? " Honami questioned.

" 501 " At that blurt, I felt my eyes slightly shot open. " A Pair's combined score must reach at the very least 501 total points. Failing in doing so would result in severe consequences "

Chie-sensei switched her screen towards the next page and looked at all of us.

" If you fail to reach the threshold, both parties would be subjected towards punishments.

" The second-year student would be expelled from the school, while the first-year student wouldn't receive private points for 3 consecutive months, regardless to the amount of Class points they may be in possession of. "

At this revelation, a small storm has befallen into our class, drastically shifting the atmosphere into a tense one. Small confused murmurs were blurted out. However, they all immediately went shut with nervous gulps

" Don't worry guys~ if any student was judged to have deliberately marked questions incorrectly and intentionally lowered their scores, they would be expelled regardless of year level. In addition, if a third party was to be discovered that they forced a student to lower their marks they would be subjected to the same fate. There should be no problems as long as you do everything right~ "

Although she said that to assure the class as a whole, I could clearly feel that it was aimed for me specifically. However, I highly doubt whether that's reassuring or not

In case I happen to get partnered up with the white room enforcer, Tsukishiro could basically pull some strings and make some excuses to bring my expulsion. Even when I ace all 5 exams, the white room student could basically submit an empty sheet of paper and claim their victory just like that

So I have to find a partner who is not the white room student and is guaranteed to score at least 1 point in total. I wonder how hard that is gonna be

" Right~ ending the depressing stuff and entering the rewards~! " Chie-sensei's tone reverted to her usual spontaneous and charismatic one, which slightly improved the atmosphere. " They would be split into two sections~

" The Class rewards and they will be based on the average score of each class in your school year. This will be derived from the combined scores of each person in the class added together with their respective partners. You will all be rewarded by either 75, 50, 10 or 0 Class points based on your placement~ "

The inter-class competition would be based on the average score of each pair in their respective classes, you and your partner's score would affect the standings of your own class.

" As for the individual rewards~ You will be graded based on the combined performance with your pair.

" The top 30% pairs will each receive a special reward of 10.000 Private points.

" As for the Top 5 they will all be awarded with 100.000 Private points. However...

" For the pair that managed to get first place and top all the other pairs. The school would give them an option to swap their rewards with the residency in the special dorms until graduation~! This is the giveaway that I've talked about last week~! "

Everyone's eyes flashed up in recognition at the announcement. The giveaway the school promised us at the start of this year is coming into light in this special exam. The first place winners, which consists of a freshman and sophomore would get to redeem this gift by the school at the cost of their awarded private points.

" Sensei ! It means two rooms would be handed out right~? "

" Yes Mako-chan~ the first and the second year students would each get a separate room if they both happen to swap out for this giveaway. " Just as she finished answering her question, Amikura perked up before drawing her gaze towards me and Honami with a grin plastered on her face. Honami stared back at her before shifting her gaze to me as well, her oceanic beautiful eyes were even more shining than usual, probably from excitement. " Alright that's it for today's explanation~ you still have your documents on your tablets to play with and if you ever need a question just come and ask me Kay~? "

Chie-sensei concluded her explanation with her usual finishing line, she walked out towards the door and looked back at us, her gaze landed on me to which I responded with a brief nod, she thinly smiled before taking her leave and closing the door.

At that precise moment, Honami's seat scratched the ground as she stood up and made her way towards the podium, followed up by Yousuke and Kanzaki, indicating the start of a strategy meeting.

" Alright everyone~ I have thought a way to approach this exam. However, I'd like to hear your thoughts first " Honami started her democratic-like meeting like how she usually does, opening the market for new ideas and opinions.

This exam's nature shouldn't really be hard to comprehend, especially for someone like her, so I am curious about how her approach would be in this special exam.

I have already pledged to not interfere in her leadership, to which I broke many times in the past. However, I fully intent to let her do her own work during this exam, while I figure out ways to fight the white room.

This is probably one of the reasons why I've been developing her in the past month, so she would protect the class from Ryuuen and Sakayanagi, while I protect her and myself from the white room. And I am definitely proud by how far she have come.

Setting that aside, I have to focus on the other side of things while keeping an eye on Honami. As I stated before, I highly doubt that the rules would actually protect us in case we fall in the hands of the white room students, so we'd have to figure out a way to secure safe partners for both of us, me and Kouenji

Since both of that man and his dad are working together to expel us, it's very likely that the White Room students are after his head too. I highly doubt that they could physically injure him since even I have a tough time sparing with him, and I doubt that he would fall for their schemes either.

He has a keen sense of intuition backed up with scary observational skills and intelligence, so I doubt that he would easily fall for a trap. However, this is one of the times where we'd have to cooperate in order to guarantee our safety, I can definitely trust him to find his own partner. However, there is no guarantee in this.

Many ideas were emitted for Honami's ears to take in and discuss. However, I wasn't interested in them and only waited for her to start. Most of the ideas are nothing short of small repetitive suggestions that only serve one small purpose. I was waiting for Honami because she seemingly had a full plan intact

" Okay~ I thought about- "

Dang

Honami's voice got cut off by the sound of a slide followed up by a loud bump. Our attention unconsciously drew towards the source where we found the front door where Chie-sensei left minutes ago to be wide open. At that exact moment, our gazes slightly shifted from the door towards the person's face who was standing there, seemingly the perpetrator.

Every member of my class silently stared at the front door and watched as the person went through every face on my class and scanned them with her utmost attention. Suddenly, when her gaze landed onto mine her eyes immediately shot up before her lips formed into a wide devilish grin and made her way inside the classroom, seemingly approaching my table.

" Emm~ Who are you ? " Honami tried to inquire for information, to which the girl in question ignored and kept making her way deeper inside, while keeping her gaze locked into mine.

Just when I spotted her face at the door, her profile on the OAA app immediately flashed on my head. She had a straight scarlet hair tied into twin tails and yellow gradient eyes, she was a first-year Class A Student that goes by the name of Amasawa Ichika.

By the time she reached my table, she stopped on her tracks right in front of the exit of my seat and looked down on me with a grin wider than before. I simply stared back at her with my apathetic expression, moments later she lightly chuckled

" I finally got to meet you~ Kiyo~sen~pai~ "

Vol 1 Chap 3 : Amasawa Ichika

" I finally got to meet you~ Kiyo~sen~pai~ "

" Eh ? " Amasawa's medium-pitched exclamation garnered the surprised reactions of my classmates. However, it seems they have fallen onto deaf ears as she focused solely on me with her gradient yellow eyes.

" Emm " Needless to say, I was also confused by this whole ordeal. So I decided to act normally " Who are you ? "

" I am Amasawa Ichika~ Pleasure meeting you~ Kiyo-senpai~ " She stuck out her hand in front of me for a handshake with her grin never leaving her face. I simply stared at it for a moment before shifting back towards her eyes

" What do you want ? " I ignored her attempt to befriend me and inquired for information. However, she didn't seem bothered by it.

" Simple~ I want to be Kiyotaka-senpai's partner~ "

She voiced out her desire to which earned more surprised reactions. However, she didn't seem to be bothered by using my first name in front of so many people, one of which was my girlfriend who was laser-beaming holes in the back of her head. In fact, she was speaking in a normal pitched voice like I was the only person present in the room with her.

" Partners ? You mean the upcoming exam ? "

" Mhm~ " She nodded before taking out her phone. " I have a high rating in academical ability~ an A to be exact, so there should be no problems for you right Senpai~ "

As she finished saying this, she stuck her phone close to my face to show me her OAA Profile. I slightly backed away in order to get a more clear look on her OAA again

Amasawa Ichika - Class 1-A

Academic Ability : A

Physical Ability : B

Intelligence : A-

Decision making : B-

Cooperativeness : C

Social contribution : C

Overall rating : B

In theory, I shouldn't have any problems partnering up with her, she has a great Academical rating and she seems to be fairly intelligent too, both of us would absolutely achieve the top spot as far as the OAA is concerned. However...

" I'm cool with being your partner. " She victoriously grinned and took her phone off my face. " However, may I know real reason why do you want me as your partner ? "

This question should have taken her off guard however, she seems to have already anticipated it. For the first time she finally acknowledged somebody's presence and looked behind me where Kouenji was observing our little talk unfold with one eye and crossed legs.

" Sure~ but I want you to come out with me " Consecutively, for the first time, her boisterous expression broke down and stared at me with an apathetic expression. I ignored the small murmurs in the background and stared back at her too

" Sure "

" W-Wait ! Kiyotaka ! " I ignored the small commotion that broke out and stood up from my seat, Amasawa neatly parked towards the side allowing me to stand up after cornering me for the past minutes.

" Don't worry, I'll be right back. " Honami was panicking on top of the podium to which I gave her a soft gaze right in front of the backdoor, she seemingly received the meaning and calmed down. However, she was reluctant about this and her gave me an anxious look. " Alright let's go "

With a final nod at Honami, I left the classroom with a cheeky Kouhai beside me.

" Heeh~ that was quite bold of you Senpai~ leaving your girlfriend like that and going out with a girl you only just met~ " She bent forward and gave me a mischievous grin while we were aimlessly walking on the hallways.

" My instincts are just telling me that this matter is more important than satisfying a girlfriend's jealousy " I shrugged. Before reciprocating her look " I don't think you're trying to hide your motives either. So let me ask this instead...

" Why did you approach me in the first place ? "

It's not like I do not care about what happens to Honami, since her worries are unfounded. However, if my assumptions are correct, then this person's matter right there is far more important, since they are connected to Tsukishiro in one way or another.

However, I do not sense any malice coming out from her and she seems to be purely friendly with me. So if she was connected to Tsukishiro and was sent here to expel me then why is she acting friendly ? This is what I'm about to find out

" I just wanted to meet my favorite Senpai~ " She blurted out immediately.

" I see " We gazed at each other for a few moments before I added. " I don't think I've ever done something to be your favorite during this past week. So I'ma ask you another question

" Who are you ? "

There is no doubt about it

" I'm Amasawa Ichika~...

She is...

" A Class 1-A Student~

And a

" And a 5th generation White room Student~

" It's a pleasure meeting you~ Masterpiece of the White Room, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka~Senpai~! "

" I see. " I said as I handed her a bottle of orange juice from the vending machine. " I never knew I had a fan club. "

" No, as I said, It's more like a Cult Senpai~ they worship you like a god~ " She snickered before cracking her bottle open. " But that's just one half~ The other half condemn you and possesses deep hatred towards you~ "

" Why ? "

" Because they are stooopid~ " She said that before chugging on her bottle.

It has been 10 minutes since the revelation of Amasawa as one of the white room enforcers. Since then, she has basically talked to me about the 5th generation and answered all of my questions in an instant and as honestly as she can. As an attempt to gain my trust

I have yet to spot any malice coming out from her during this time, nor lies. She was basically talking her mind out and answering all of my questions truthfully without a single bit of hesitancy nor faltering no matter how random it was. However, I cannot completely trust her yet

" It seems that you still don't trust me Senpai~ " Amasawa marked while staring deeply into my eyes. " However, I did not expect you to~ I'll basically have to prove myself to you over time that I am worthy of your trust~ "

" I see. Sorry for not believing in your act Amasawa "

" It's not an act~ I'm genuine Senpai~ "

" Sorry, it was to see if you'd slip up " She pouted at me before continuing chugging on her bottle.

I simply stared at her as she kept on gulping non-stop at the bottle of orange juice and examining her expression. In reality, she did really seem like a child drinking her drink and enjoying it to unnatural levels.

" Hey Amasawa, I have a question. " As I spoke up, she immediately halted and lifted the bottle away from her mouth.

" Sure~ What it is Senpai~? " She licked her lips off cleaning the last traces of juice while giving me her utmost attention.

" Do you prefer drinking directly from the bottle ? Or pouring in a cup ? "

" I... eh ? " She opened her mouth to answer. However, she immediately got cut off by her own confusion and gave me a puzzled look. " What is this question Senpai ? "

" I just want to know your preference "

" Well~... I- " This was the first time she actually wondered about a question before offering an answer. However, depending on her response I would get to- " Well~... I don't kno- "

Suddenly, in the middle of her answer. Her eyebrows immediately shot up while staring at the sky after cutting herself mid sentence, as if a sudden realization hit her. Just by monitoring her reaction alone, I have completely disregarded my suspicions and believed... that she was indeed a white room student

" Senpaiiiiiii~ " She slowly uttered my nickname while dramatically shifting her head from the sky towards me, with a wide devilish grin on her face. " I see what you did there Senpai~ was this my real test~? "

" Maybe " I simply shrugged before walking to throw off my bottle, she followed me shortly after and did the same gesture, while grinning at me like a devil.

My question only served one purpose, that is to detect whether Amasawa had trivial preferences or not. In the white room, in order to remove any obstacles on your growth they cut off all the unnecessary things to allow you to focus on growing, and they are pretty strict in that regard

For instance, the white room does not offer bottles to drink. Instead, they directly serve you the drink to consume since the bottles require more effort to crack open, that is regarded as unnecessary.

For someone who lived their whole life in that white cage, the only way they know how to drink is getting directly served to them, there is no such thing as a choice between a bottle or a cup. So for Amasawa to have a specific preference would be pretty suspicious

If she was claiming to be a white room student, but in reality she was only told basic information to try and deceive me or even went through the curriculum to gain a better view. She would still keep her preferences before her white room life and she'll find this question as trivial. So answering with either responses would be wrong

" Nee~ Senpai~ while the trick you used was cool and all~ there was a chance I would have completely missed it and gave you a wrong answer~ " She seems to have completely analyzed my question and understood the full meaning behind it.

" Then you would be a disappointing white room student " I said as I dropped down the bottle on the trash can. The whole idea behind this question was to figure out whether Amasawa was indeed a white room student or not, it is pretty easy to memorize information to the tee and parrot them. However, it isn't so simple changing your habits that you grew up with, especially for a very long period of time.

" Fufufu~ does that mean Senpai found me impressive~? " She put her fingers on her mouth and snickered while teasing me.

" No, not really. It was expected from you to figure it out " At my bland response she pouted in disappointment. However, by the fact that she was still alive is already impressive enough.

Just as we stopped talking, my ears suddenly picked up on rather faint muffled noises, it was so low that I thought it was my imagination. However, it seems that Amasawa picked it up as well

As we kept walking on our direction, the noises kept getting louder and louder, until it revealed itself as a full blown argument. Apparently, a commotion was happening on the backyard of the school.

However, just as we were about to pass by, I felt my eyes slightly widen in surprise as I recognized one of the voices. I immediately threw my gaze there as soon as the sight came to meet the eye

A girl with curvy silver hair and purple eyes frustratingly glared at her counterpart, I immediately recognized her as Tsubaki Sakurako of Class 1-C, a newly admitted freshman. However, she seemed to be pretty pissed off at the person in front of her, who was a boy with magenta hair and purple eyes, it was none other than Ryuuen Kakeru of Class 2-C with his usual grin on his face.

" I do not take orders from scum like you ! " Tsubaki shouted angrily at Ryuuen with insults. However, he seems to be unbothered.

" Oh will you shut up and answer already ? I happen to be a busy man "

" Shut up ! What could possibly a bandit like you be busy on ? Fighting people ?!! " She shouted again, seemingly rejecting anything coming outfrom Ryuuen. However, it seems that it's started to finally get on his nerves.

Suddenly, as he tried to distract himself somewhere, his eyes landed into mine and they immediately shot up in recognition, before a small smirk formed into his face. Tsubaki was confused by this sudden change followed up with his gaze and widened her eyes too, seemingly in recognition as well.

" Right~ let's go Senpai~ " Amasawa lost interest in the fight as soon as we got spotted and started dragging my arm with both hands away. I forcibly broken eye contact with the both of them, since she pulled me with too much strength. " So Senpai~ have you decided on being my partner yet~? "

She immediately posed a question trying to distract my attention back at her, to which I immediately allowed and started walking on her pace. I sat silent for a while contemplating my answers before voicing out.

" Yep. I'll be your partner " At my response, she immediately stopped and widened her eyes at me, before a happy smile started shaping on her face.

" Sweet~! " She emitted excitedly before starting to take her phone out. However...

" But I won't do it now " She immediately halted and looked back

" Why ? " She asked confusingly.

" I have my reasons. " I said, before breaking eye contact with her and continuing my walk back towards Class.

If I happen to partner up with her now, she would become a target for Tsukishiro. While I'm not sure if they are aware whether she is betraying them or not, if they happen to find out not only she would get hurt but I'll also fall in the hands of Tsukishiro

Once partnership is finalized, you cannot change partners unless for a extenuating reason. Someone beaten to the point of paralyze would be deemed unable to to take the exam, which means that you would be partner-less on the day of the exam and the school would assign random partners for you alongside a small penalty of 5%, that is according to the rules

Which means that If I ever happen to fall on this category, it will spill my doom.

Nevertheless, allying myself with Amasawa isn't safe either. While I haven't noticed anything wrong with her, who knows what kind of illusion she may be playing on me. However, I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt and select her as my partner.

I have no doubt that we would ace the exams together. But if she happen to betray me then...

She... would be the only loser...

Vol 1 Chap 4 : The meet and Greet

" Kiyotaka~! " Standing in front of the Class's doorway, Honami quickly approached me as soon as I sprung into her sight with a small dazzling smile. Her dim searching eyes a moment ago instantly started gleaming as she snapped out of her distressed state.

Her hands slightly rose up when we were in an approximate distance. However, she quickly put them back with a small awkward sigh. I immediately took note of this and took a step forward while raising my own hands and giving her a hug.

" Sorry to keep you waiting Honami, I'm back " I softly spoke while gently rubbing both of my on her back, caressing her as I slightly tilted my head to lean on her. She stood stiff for a moment before reciprocating my hug too, allowing me to hold her on my embrace.

I was well aware of the fact that my decision to leave and go out with Amasawa would leave her stressed out. Nevertheless, it had to be done. Honami didn't want to make herself look desperate by giving me a hug, so I stepped out and gave her my own.

" Nah~ It's okay Kiyotaka, don't apologize~ " Honami's uneasiness completely vanished as she completely relaxed on my arms and held me more tightly, while speaking in a warm comforting tone. We stayed connected for a while, enjoying each other's embrace before quickly separating and standing close. " But don't leave me out for a while~ I almost got kidnapped~ "

" I se- Wait what ? " I was about to let go of her until she uttered those words and my expression slightly dimmed with seriousness. However, I noticed how her pout started puffing even more, as if trying to overwhelm her smile. At this, my face dropped into a dead look as a chuckle escaped her mouth.

She was about to speak. However, her eyes instinctively darted towards the side and immediately cut herself off. Her delighted and joyful expression slowly morphed into an unreadable one as she stared at the little devil creeping up

" Fufufu~ That wasn't a very nice reaction~ Ho~na~mi~sen~pai~! " Amasawa with a small grin emerged from my side, her grin widened into her devilish one as she joined a staring competition with Honami who wasn't happy at all upon seeing her.

" Kiyotaka, what is she doing here ? " Honami's asked me without taking her eyes off Amasawa and observed her with a calculative gaze. I was about to speak but immediately got cut off by the latter.

" Can't I go for a walk with my favorite Senpai~? " Amasawa frowned. Questioning like a child who got oppressed from having their favorite toys.

" No, you are a menace " Honami hissed, with an antagonizing gleam on her eyes. To which Amasawa smirked at

" We didn't really go for a walk " I intervened. Stopping both of them from going further and gathering their gazes " We just discussed the conditions of our partnership "

" So she is your partner ? " I nodded. " I see... "

Honami's expression softened as a smile crept back into her face, she smiled at me before shifting her eyes towards Amasawa and smiling at her too.

" Thank you for accepting Kiyotaka as your partner in this exam, Amasawa-san " Honami bowed lightly, showing her gratitude towards Amasawa

" Don't worry Ichinose-senpai~ " Amasawa smiled back at Honami while waving her hands off in front of her. Honami's smile widened a little, and so did Amasawa. " I have paid Kiyotaka-senpai~ Properly for this~ so there is no need to thank me~ "

She darted her eyes and winked at me, with a flirtatious smug on her face. By the time she did this, Honami's face has already dropped as she started emitting a very ominous aura. She shifted her eyes towards me as well to which I responded with a head shake, falsifying the small misunderstanding Amasawa caused.

" You are truly a menace "

" Fufu~ "

While the girls were quarreling, I glanced towards the Class's front door where I only saw the front rows through the windows. I instantly connected the dots and glanced at Honami

" Honami where are our Classmates ? " She immediately stopped arguing and looked towards me with a curious glint. However, as her eyes met mine they immediately shot up in realization.

" Oh~ I forgot to tell you~ " Honami expressed with a small surprise. Before moving close and starting to drag my arm " We have relocated somewhere else to execute our plan~ "

" Plan ? " Honami nodded as she kept dragging me through the hallway. Amasawa curiously followed us around which Honami didn't seem to really mind, probably since she is my partner.

Moments later, we arrived in front of the Gymnasium's doorway where Honami excitedly slid the door open, revealing a few dozen of students I recognized as my classmates who were all doing what it seems to be prep work.

" Right~ since you were away when I performed the explanation, I'm gonna start explaining again~ " Honami stepped inside of doorway and turned around, with a confident smile she said- " This is what I call... The meet and greet...

The bustling atmosphere of the gymnasium kept getting more active as the students of both the first and the second years were immersed in their chatters, in this gymnasium no'1 of the advanced nurturing high school.

Much like the other students, I too was immersed in my own chatter, trying to improve my communication skills while making acquaintances in the process. In this certain occasion known as the meet and greet

The meet and greet is an event orchestrated by Honami in order to create bonds between our class and the first-years and bridge our year gap level, it's basically a place where you get to make friends while actively searching for a partner for the upcoming special exam

After getting the consent of the School to use the gymnasium, we have finished the initial steps 2 hours ago and posted a public invitation. Since then, the room has been slowly but surely flooding with students, from both year levels

Honami has created this event specifically for our class. However, she didn't seem to really mind the presence of other classes. There is no real way to kick them out even when they are clearly working as spies, so it's better to roll with it in any case.

Speaking of spies, Honami used the students who aren't as adept as the others in communication skills to spy on the other classes's movements, students like Himeno are relaying information directly to her. They didn't have to worry on securing partners, since we are working to cover all 42 students of our Class

This was some great usage of human resources by Honami, she completely understood that her plan isn't perfect and worked to fill in the gaps using the inept students. I have done something similar too, by sending Kouenji on a little scouting mission.

" Ummm~ Ayanokouji-senpai... " The girl in front of me coyly started rubbing her fingers together while hanging her head low, seemingly embarrassed about something. She has a waist length brown hair one was covering one of her eyes. " W-Would you please... be my partner on this exam ? "

She seems to be one of those shy introverted types, the ones like Shiranami back at the start of our first-year. So for her to come up and utter such a request takes a lot of courage

" I'm sorry, but I already have someone in mind. " Nevertheless, with a bold smile on my face, I willingly broke the 42nd heart today.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, this was victim number 42 that I broke today, and by I broke I mean rejected their request for partnership. It was to be expected that I get a lot of invitations since I hold the highest academical rating on the entire second-grade. However..

" O-Oh.. Umm~ Ok " She immediately took some steps back and left, not before giving me small waves.

However, what was not expected, is that almost all of them are from the same class.

The meet and greet is attended by students from the Freshmen and the Sophomore year levels, across all 4 Class ranks. However, the class with the most attendance on the First-years, is Class 1-D

Class 1-D Ironically beat our own Class, attending with all of their students except for 2. However, all of those 38 Students came and made contact with me, requesting to be my partner whether they were Academically gifted or not.

I briefly glanced towards Amasawa who seems to be doing her own observations too. She was present from the opening and I have kept a close eye on her ever since then, she was pretty much scrolling through her phone the whole time or greeting some people, other than that she was pretty passive.

" Psst~ Kiyotaka~ " Honami reached out to me with a wave, catching my attention before gesturing me to come closer to her, while holding her phone on her free hand. I immediately obliged and picked up my pace, before landing right beside her. " We have received new information~ "

From my side, she showed me her phone where a bunch of texts and images popped up as she kept slowly scrolling through the chat box, allowing me to register information.

" Seems that Sakayanagi has started moving " I mused.

" Mhm~ " Honami gave me a nod as she retracted her phone back and scrolled through some more messages to show them to me. " It seems that they are playing the money game~ "

They were all pretty much the same thing, relaying similar type of information. There were pictures showing Sakayanagi's subordinates talking with some first-years with a high Academical rating and striking some deals with them, one of our spies was brave enough to ask them for the details and they were told to pay up for the information.

One small detail to mention is how feisty and stubborn the first-years are, considering this is the first month of the school they are a bit too coordinated and aware of how the school system works

This was one small thing I confirmed through Amasawa about the Special dorms when nobody from the first-years have rented it. It was the small prediction I got wrong by expecting at least a dozen of them going for the deal. However, once you understand that the school system was explained to them, it would all make sense

Surprisingly, Honami also found out about this. However, through a different way. She deduced it from the fact that the first-years are going through a special exam by their first month of the school and backed it up by this seemingly omniscient behavior of them.

" Now that we know about Sakayanagi, did you receive info about Ryuuen ? " I inquired. Honami scrolled through her messages and answered later

" No, I can't find any " Hmm... Weird

I glanced around the gymnasium where a small group of Class C students were having a chat with their first-year counterparts. There is a decent amount of them scattered through the gymnasium, and they didn't seem to be here for trouble either.

" Ignoring Ryuuen, what do you intend to do with Sakayanagi ? "

Honami has managed to secure the batch of the academically gifted students that offered themselves for free during this event. However, Sakayanagi is easily outpacing her in this race towards grasping the competent.

This event is somewhat of a blessing in disguise for Sakayanagi, as it filters the first-years, drawing all the incompetent academically inside while leaving most of the capable outside. This event is serving as a grace of hope for the weak, so there would be no real merit in giving up your advantage for free.

However, that isn't the case for some academically competent students who came to this event and agreed to partner up with us for free. They have gave up on their advantage in order to get in our good side, since we are currently in a heavy lead against the other classes

So the choice remains for the adept first-years, either influence or money. Which seems that most of them went with the latter option

" I won't do anything and proceed as planned~ " Honami exclaimed determinedly, which made me feel a small smug creeping into my face.

Behind all of those layers of the grand-scheme, was a small tier list everyone from our class abide by. The top priority of this operation is not winning the exam, rather, it was saving the students who are strong in anything but academics

By saving those type of students on this exam, they would become our allies and come to save us on the future as well, earning us a small long term guarantee. Potential is also taken into account, so saving those students with a lot of potential is definitely beneficial for us if we compare them to the sacrifices

Sure, this would pummel our chances in winning this exam. However, the absolute worst we can get is 4th place which would earn us nothing compared to 50 Class points the first place gets. It is a small amount to us since we are in the lead by leaps and bounds

Honami prioritized getting strong allies instead of going for short term profit. Academics is also easier to improve on compared to other fields, since this school's nature forces the best out of you, not focusing during classes would just be idiotic and a waste of time.

" Wow " I couldn't help but utter under my breath when I learned of this, and witnessing it unfold in front of me was truly something to behold. This is something even I would struggle to successfully pull, since I do not quite own the unique sets of weapons she has. " Maybe it was a good idea to leave this exam to you "

" Hehe~ you say maybe~? " She bounced off from foot to foot, with an anticipating grin. Staring at me as if she is awaiting something.

" Sigh. " I moved my hand to the top of her head and started patting her, she immediately squealed and reciprocated it by closing her eyes and enjoying it like a cute kitty. Her broad smile plastered a small smile on my face too, as I scratched her strawberry colored bangs.

However, I instantly felt a shiver running down my spine as I removed my hand from her head. I faced off the countless laser-beams who were ready to rain me down with ammo if they were rifles. Fortunately, they were only the glares of the first-year boys who seemingly took a liking to Honami.

Ah shit, here we go again

KJ = Kiyotaka Johnson... anybody ?

Well there you got an idea for a story, Kiyotaka in GTA San Andreas, I think it would be somewhat fun to read.

If you are seriously going to adapt this idea then please message me so I can read it. Make sure to add a lot of lemons there too using the car tric-

Anyways, I just want to apologize for this delayed chapter, I considered extending it's length to satisfy how much I delayed it but I figured that cutting it here would be better.

I ran through what I call Grammar block and simply couldn't be satisfied with my writing, like I literally typed 60 words in an hour and was still contemplating the last 20, I tried to just go and write what's on my mind on the latter half, Tell me if you noticed any difference.

Sigh, old Gikara who used to update everyday is dead huh ? Well, I'll try to post as much as I can before I go to school again.

By the way, just a general question so far. What kind of nightmare is waking up with 16 mosquitoes on your room ?

Like god, what the hell ? I tried out this new window net that prevents anything from coming in/out of it except air and I woke up with fucking 16 on the room.

If there was 1 more, it would be my age in 2 days :))

Cya~

V1 Chap 4.5 : A Wild Appearance

Kiyo POV

Today is Tuesday April 9th. The second day of our two weeks of preparations for the Partnering special exam.

The meet and greet ended in a huge success for our class, covering more than half of the students in a single day. Honami would have loved to hold some more. However, the school didn't seem to be tolerative of such an idea , so our only option is to pick up the partners manually

While I have secured Amasawa as my own partner, we still haven't finalized our partnership yet, so I'm still technically in the unclaimed batch. I haven't found a suitable partner for Kouenji too, meaning that we are still on the hunt.

Honami doesn't really need a partner since she already has her protection point, meaning that if a white room student was dumb enough to partner up with her and flung the exam, they would be the only ones leaving the school. This also helps me focus more on finding them, rather than worrying about their attacks.

Hmm... This is quite... Trash

I thought to myself as I deleted one of the Mangas and added it to the list of no-purpose. It's pretty self-explanatory, they are basically Mangas who doesn't serve any purpose even the most essential one which is entertainment, they are simply just a waste of pages.

I mean who in their right mind would want to read about a man either raping or getting raped ? This is just absurd

I emitted a small reaction of disgust as I deleted it and went to search for more respectful stuff. Honami who seemingly noticed this gave me a small curious look with an amused smile plastered on her face, we are currently learning the conditional types which I have already covered with her, so her attention span seems to be extremely short.

You feel my pain now ?

I stared back at her with a challenging look as she slightly widened her eyes, with her mesmerizing blue pupils she stared back at my golden orbs for a while, ignoring Mashima-sensei's boring talks as we both drowned on each other's eyes. Just when I thought it was over, she immediately blinked

Ha ! not even close

I gave her a victorious look as she responded with a big cute pout, as she has just lost the staring contest. I immediately shifted my eyes back towards the podium, to not act conspicuous on our little antics, before dropping it back towards my tablet.

While our Class has made significant progress, Sakayanagi did pretty much the same if not better. She was seemingly uncontested in the money game and bought a lot of partners for her Class. However, what wonders me is Ryuuen, since he has only managed to attain 2 partners for his Class.

Ironically, Class 1-D has also managed to get only 2 of their students partnered up. However, I can assure you that it is not with Ryuuen, since our class was the one who scouted them.

" That's it for today's lesson. Refer to Page 28 for more details " Just when the bell rang, Mashima-sensei said his final words before taking his leave.

Crack

Instantly after he left, some of my Classmates stood up and pushed their tables against each other, while the rest crouched towards their bags and pulled out some boxes. Honami got up from her bag and handed me two bento boxes, with a small hint of displeasure on her face.

Currently, it was lunch break. Honami thought that dining with your partner would help bring us and the first-years closer. So that means...

" Senpaiiiiii~ " Sigh

Standing right beside the frame's doorway, was the scarlet haired devil known as Amasawa who was the first person to arrive in record time. With her trademark grin plastered broadly on her face, she immediately monopolized Kanzaki's seat in front of me and sat, facing me with her yellow gradient orbs.

" Hello Amasawa " I blandly greeted her, before starting to open my bento box.

" Is that a way to greet your partner Senpai~? Can't you gimme a smiiiiilee~ or at least show me that you're happy to see me~? "She put both fingers on the corners of her mouth and pulled them up, giving me a smile on top of her content expression.

" I'm happy to see you Amasawa "Her hands immediately flopped down on the desk as she gave me a tiny pout towards my deadpan. I promptly took off the lid of my box and started eating my food.

" Hehe~ " On my peripheral, I spotted Honami amusingly staring at Amasawa with a smugly expression plastered on her face. When I turned to look at her, her face instantly morphed into a bright and cheerful smile as she reciprocated my look

She would have definitely loved to sit with us and enjoy her lunch break to keep Amasawa in check. However, she has to play the organizer role since a lot of the first-years are coming.

Much like the first-years, our counterparts has also left the Class in order to join their partners somewhere else. Not everyone was comfortable with joining us here, so our Class had to stretch a little.

" Waw~ Thich ich cho gooood~ " Amasawa expressed her pleasure by slightly touching her cheek with her left hand, as she was munching down on a bento box similar to mine. " Honami-chan is so good at cooking~ do you eat like this everyday Senpai~? "

" I do. "

" Grrr~ Lucky you~ " Amasawa slightly growled with a hint of jealously in her eyes, before continuing on munching down her food.

Slowly, the class has been progressively filling with greetings as the first-years has arrived, Honami took it upon herself to organize their seating arrangements , I watched her as I was progressing on my own food as well.

I noticed Shiranami and Kobashi sitting alone at their tables, seemingly waiting for somebody. It seems that their partners haven't arrived yet..

" Anyways Senpai~ why don't we finalize our partnership already ? " When Amasawa gulped down her bite, she immediately blurted out drawing my attention back at her. " I've been receiving a lot of invites lately~ and it's getting pretty annoying, can't we quicken up the process already~? "

She grumbled about the random second-years who were pestering her, most probably Sakayanagi's henchmen. It was to be expected since she holds a pretty high academical rating, making her short in stock

In fact, I have been dealing with similar types of problems too, so I can clearly see where she's coming from. Finalizing our partnership does indeed sound like the best option, to resolve them. However..

" I cannot do that yet " I emitted before taking a bite off my sandwich.

" Senpai~ are you perhaps afraid that I might get injured ? " Right after the brief moment of silence, she immediately thought up, causing me to stop chewing and dart my eyes back at her. " I have thought about this for a while~ If you don't want your partner to get targeted, then you'd have to delay the partnership processes much as possible

" That way when you partner up, it would already be too late since you're already partaking the exam. The acting director cannot hurt the student to replace them during the exam time and you'll safely live for another day~

" Is that why you've been rejecting me Senpai~? "

I listened closely to her as she kept explaining her theory, when she was done I simply gave up and gave her a nod.

" Yes. That is exactly why I'm delaying it, in order to protect you and to protect myself " I decided to be honest, since I've been busted already.

" Fufu~ It seems that I have figured out Senpai's thoughts heh~? " She grinned mischievously with a small victorious hint, almost as if she has busted out my whole plan. " However, you don't have to worry about me Senpai~ "

" Hmm ? " I gave her a small confused hum.

" I am almost certain that they aren't aware of my motives of siding with you as of yet~ so be at ease " Amasawa happily obliged and started elaborating, talking her minds out right in front of me. " Even if they happen to be aware, I highly doubt that they can manage to hurt me. Even if it's the other white room student "

" I see... " I grabbed a handkerchief on the box and started wiping my lips off. " That means there is only one white room student ? "

" Yes~ As far as I'm aware of, there is only one more white room student aside from me Senpai~ "

This is a crucial piece of information that Amasawa has blurted out of her mouth, and she is completely aware of it. By the time she has revealed herself to me, I was already aware of the presence of more white room students, knowing that there is only one more puts a great amount of ease on my mind.

" I see " I muttered. " Do you mind telling me their identity ? "

" No~ I cannot do that Senpai~ " Amasawa gave me an apologetic look, after refusing to answer for probably the first time.

" Why ? " I tried to test the boundaries once again. However, it was through a subtle approach.

" I will simply be getting in their way~ " Amasawa sighed before continuing, while seemingly choosing her words carefully. " They have been eager to challenge you for a pretty long time now Senpai~ Now that they have gotten the chance, I refuse to interfere in your battle and be the reason of their loss. "

It seems that Amasawa wants to respect her white room companion's wishes by simply not interfering with their moves. By the looks of it, I have one shadow to purge who's lurking on the background.

" So that means you're only siding with me against Tsukishiro ? " I inquired.

" Yes~ I am only helping you with Tsukishiro's matter for you to focus more on your battle with the white room student~ On that regard, I'm neither with nor against you Senpai~ Completely neutral~ " She crossed both fingers of her hands, forming an X

In simpler terms, Amasawa wants to stay on the sidelines while watching the battle unfold between me and the white room student without siding with anyone whatsoever. It is also safe to assume that she would give them the same response, if they were going to ask her.

" So you want us to perform a match for you ? "

" Yes~ I want to see you guys spar off and provide me with some entertainment~ " She excitedly exclaimed, sipping down her juice.

" Does that mean you're manipulating the both of us ? " I added. To which she almost spat it off

" Fufufu~ I guess you could say that~ " Amasawa started giggling. However, she immediately stood still as she felt a shadow creep on her.

" Hey, what were you guys whispering about just now ? " Honami crept behind Amasawa and stood right behind her chair. She instantly put both of her hands on Amasawa's shoulders and bent down, putting her face close to hers and staring at her, with a smile that didn't hit the usual spot. She started massaging Amasawa's shoulders while anticipating a response from her, with an enormous ominous aura emitting out of her.

I won't lie if I said that she looked like a huge menace, with her ominous aura and a small smile hiding her ulterior motives. She looked ready to strangle her at any time.

Amasawa However...

" How scary~ are you perhaps that jealous Ichinose-senpai~? " She was completely unfazed.

Honami's eye irked in annoyance as she immediately twisted Amasawa's shoulders. However, she was completely unresponsive which caused Honami to slightly widen her eyes.

Amasawa taunted her with a wide mischievous grin before starting to tease her, Honami responded to her just like how she does to Amikura. However, Amasawa wasn't Amikura

While Amasawa was teasing the flustered Honami. My gaze subconsciously landed towards the front door, where an abnormal thing caught my attention.

" Chihiro-chan ? Are you okay ? " Shiranami who was content a moment ago suddenly morphed into fear as she kept staring in a direction of the hallway. Kobashi curiously walked towards her and checked, for her expression to fall as well.

" The fuck You lookin' at ?! "

The class instantly fell silent as they immediately hung up whatever they were doing and drew their attention towards the backdoor in a matter of an instant after the loud exclamation was heard, the sound of a loud angry man started reverberating through the empty hallways, repeating the content of the words multiple times.

The voice was unrecognizable for the most of us. However, some first-years's expressions turned dim and serious, seemingly as they recognized the owner of the voice.

Honami shortly after snapped out and looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and seriousness, before she started approaching the backdoor. I immediately stood up and followed behind her as well, to be greeted by a total of 4 Students standing in the hallway, as soon as I crossed the line of the door

2 of them were the missing partners of Kobashi and Shiranami who seemingly arrived late. However, the other two were the two missing students of Class 1-D

Hosen Kazuomi and Nanase Tsubasa

( Credits to whoever colored the Hosen and Nanase Illust. )

Since it was my bday, I was planning to extend this chapter and fuse it with the next chapter, it has been successful so far until I started getting tired, so I decided to cut it here.

I would have completed it by tomorrow. However, I decided to make a birthday upload ;)

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter ;=)

Cya in the next one !

V1 Chap 5 : Partnerships

Hosen marched on the second-year's hallway with small heavy steps, emitting a fierce intimidating aura with his giant frame, forcibly stealing glances from the passers by as they have assembled into a small audience. However, Hosen seemed uncaring, stuffing his hands in his pockets and approached our front door.

However, his movement had to be intercepted by two figures standing in front and blocking his path, which he had to respect and stood on the middle right between me and Honami, with a distance equivalent to his arm reach. Shortly afterward, Nanase maneuvered her way towards his Side and the other two students on the other.

" Hello, do you need something from us ? " Despite the intimidating atmosphere, Honami managed to keep her voice in check and spoke in a commanding tone, inquiring Hosen with a small serious look.

However, instead of replying, they both looked at me at the same time for a brief moment before gazing back at her.

" Who's this' ? " Hosen unsurprisingly the owner of the earlier shout spoke up, while gesturing with his chin towards Honami. Nanase promptly scrolled through her phone until she showed it to Hosen.

" It's Ichinose Honami of Class 2-A " She answered monotonously, just like a female search engine.

( A/N : Nanase Google no cap)

" Ichinose... A on Academics, not bad " Hosen gave his remarks with a completely uninterested look, before gazing towards me. " an' who's this' ? "

Just like how she did with Honami, Nanase scrolled through her phone and opened my OAA profile app and showed it to Hosen.

" Ayanoko'ji Kiyotaka'... A on pretty much everythin'... You look pretty scrawny for an A Mongrel " Hosen embodied his remarks about my physical stats in his offending way of speech. However, I stood calm and completely unaffected, while listening to the small devilish laughs behind me.

" Anyways. Who are you ? " Honami voiced out impatiently, slightly annoyed at the presence in front of her. However, it was the blonde haired girl who spoke up

" I'm Nanase Tsubasa, the second leader of Class 1-D. While he's- "

" Hosen... The name's Hosen " Both of them introduced themselves through different tones. Hosen who is seemingly the leader of the batch gestured with his head towards his two lackeys, without breaking eye contact. " I'm pretty sure you know those two. "

" Yes. They are the partners of two of my Classmates " Honami briefly glanced towards them before nodding. " Anyways, do you need something from us ? Hosen-kun and Nanase-san ? "

Honami addressed the elephant of the room with a question, cutting right through the chase and diving into the real matter. One of which Hosen seems content about

" I've came here to discuss the terms of the partnership' "

" Terms of the partnership ? " Honami parroted in small confusion.

" Those two partnered up with two from your Class, an' I'm here to discuss the terms. " Hosen lazily gestured with his head towards the two lackeys of his, before fixing it right up.

" Terms ? What terms ? " Honami was genuinely confused by Hosen's words. However, it seems that it already started getting on his nerves.

" We are here to discuss the details of our partnership Ichinose-senpai, two classmates of yours partnered up with two classmates of ours. We're here to discuss the terms and reach a consensus from both parties " Nanase took the baton off of Hosen's hands and continued his talks, furthering Honami's confusion even further.

" We haven't agreed to any terms ! We have partnered up on our own volitio- "

" An' we haven't agreed to partner up for free either' " Hosen interjected.

It seems that Hosen is the type of guy who works using his own logic and refuses anything else that comes out of your mouth that he deems as unsatisfactory, no matter how small. Judging from his fierce interjection, he seems to get impatient with every small obstacle that gets in his way and he's ready to snap at any given moment

Usually, those types of people are generally the worst to handle since it's pretty hard to reach a general consensus with them. However, with enough evidence, you could easily back them to a corner and force them to view things your way, becoming an easy target for manipulation.

" We have already finalized the partnerships, and we cannot change them according to the rules. So I don't have anything to discuss with you, Hosen-kun " Honami seemed ready to leave. However, she stood there and stared at Hosen, awaiting his next moves.

Once partnerships are finalized, you cannot switch partners unless for extreme reasons such as expulsion or serious illness. So if Hosen tried to trigger one of those it would pretty much work against him in either cases

Whether Honami is aware of this or not, she seems to have at least a subconscious realization that she doesn't have to obey Hosen and she can simply ignore him. His motives are pretty obvious, he is trying to milk some rewards from us using the two students. So unless he has something up his sleeve, his words can be considered pretty empty.

" I didn't come here to fuckin' cry about partners an' rules n' shit', I simply don't give a single fuck' " Hosen spat, his lips curling up in a creepy and toothy grin." If you don't fuckin' lay on your knees and beg, I'll fuck those two shitheads of yours ya'hear me bitch' ? "

Hosen's hands flew out of his pockets in a quick manner and pointed towards the distance between him and Honami with a cocky and sinister grin. His eyes lit up in a menacing gleam as the aura around him turned even more suffocating.

I let go of my phone and pulled out my arms too, with a small glare towards him, Hosen noticing this, widened his grin even further in amusement. Honami unconsciously took one step back, seemingly frightened about Hosen's drastic change towards a more aggressive behavior.

" You cannot do that " Suddenly, a voice chimed in, clearing the atmosphere with it's high and calm tone. Hosen's demeanor immediately halted as he turned around alongside Nanase and the rest to look at the abrupt interceptor " Using violence on the school's premises would only lead to your expulsion, especially against a large number of people. It may possibly lead to you getting imprisoned if you do enough damage "

" Kiriyama-senpai~! " Honami instantly blurted out his name as soon as he came in sight and started waving at him. The student council president whose known as Kiriyama Ikuto stood behind Hosen with a small smile as he replied with a small wave of his own.

" Oh' you're that guy who did that borin' ass speech last week " Hosen blurted out in recognition.

" The student council's speeches are present to put order and discipline into the students as they attend this prestigious school. In simpler terms, it is to put bandits back to their places and to make them realize that this isn't the slumps " Ikuto stated elegantly, as he stared back at Hosen with a sharp and Authoritative gaze, an expression mildly similar to Manabu's

" Blah' Blah' Order and discipline my ass' I just came here for a leader to a leader talk' "

" But you jus- "

" I don't think he meant that tho " Just as the situation started heating up, I immediately cut off and spoke up, garnering everybody's attention on me inside of this hallway. " He never stated that he'll ever use violence, and he only talked about two people. So I assume that he meant flinging the exam so both of our classmates would get expelled "

This situation has been pretty misinterpreted from the start, Hosen's goal here was not to stir up trouble, but it was to progressively manipulate us into submission after clouding our minds with false confidence.

" But Kiyotaka~ he cannot do that he'll- "

" Get expelled ? " Honami nodded. I shifted my eyes off her and landed them on Hosen " However, he'll only get expelled if the school figures out that he flung the exams

" But if you think about it, the school has no way of knowing whether a student deliberately marked questions incorrectly or not. There can basically be a typo or forgetting one number costing you the whole question. Their only way of knowing is by referring to the entrance exams and observing their reactions during the exam period.

" However, even that isn't enough. Hosen can simply just tell his classmates to answer questions they got correctly on the entrance exams while act like they are struggling on others, to fool the system and get away with the lowest possible marks.

" Isn't that right, Hosen Kazuomi ? " I stated out loudly, challenging Hosen with my gaze. However, he seems to have already accepted it

" Heh' it seems that you don't have A for show Scrawny-locks' I can see why you're the best in this goddamn institution' " Hosen spoke up, with an evident amused grin on his face. " Pretty much what you said' I'll tell them to score low marks and your classmates' would run back to their mama' kfkfkfkfkfkfkfkfkfkf "

Hosen started laughing at his own joke with a weird laughter, ones of the kinds of Ryuuen's. However, if I could laugh weirdly I would have too, because what I stated was nothing but bullshit

" Now now' it's not too late for you retards' You can simply start by prostratin' and beggin' me, then' we can talk' " Hosen boasted loudly with more weird laughs, laughing like a victor.

I have already consulted Chie-sensei about this topic, in the case of Tsukishiro trying to use normal students to get at me. At that time I was contemplating whether or not to ace all 5 of them and reveal the extent of my abilities, to which I came with the decision to

The school is pretty strict on the questions that you get wrong, not only they do refer the things I stated before, but they also refer to your tests during the 9 years of compulsory education. The judgments are made based on very strict measures, there is room for mistakes so you should be fine as long as you fail unintentionally.

Going by this, this reveals to me the holes on Hosen's logic. Additionally, by stating the flawed version out loud, this has also revealed to me that Hosen is nothing more than a stupid gorilla

I can definitely see Tsukishiro's strings wrapped up around his head, he has fed him false info in order to drop a suicidal bomb in our class and potentially get me. Whether the bomb would actually self-harm the carrier is simply a different story. For now, I'll have to reflec-

" Is that so~? Then there would be no need for us to do that " Honami suddenly spoke up, snapping me away from my thoughts and drawing my attention towards her. To which she already reciprocated and looked at me with a small but bright expression " If the school cannot make judgments because of that, then I'll have to simply provide them evidence that they have held back~ "

" Huh' What are you talkin' about ? " Hosen confusingly emitted, with a small smirk lingering on his face. Honami shifted her eyes off me towards him and grinned

" What if for example, I have recorded this conversation between us and sent it to the teachers~ wouldn't that be enough evidence to make the judgment~? " Honami spontaneously took out her phone from her pocket and displayed it to Hosen. However, with the screen facing behind her

" Hah' No way, you're trying to bluff your way out' " Hosen sneered, after his face cracked for a moment. " I can't believe I believed you for a moment' If you have the evidence then show it to me' "

Hosen decided to call a bluff and throw the ball back at Honami. However, her smile grew even more.

" Why would I show you the evidence~? " Honami pulled her phone in front of her and started tapping, before sliding it back. " I'm trying to build relationships based on trust Hosen-kun, so if you cannot trust me you can simply carry on with your threats.

" However, if you do betray us. I'll make sure to make you pay "

No way

I stared at Honami in disbelief while she has just killed Hosen with an innocent delighted smile, I wasn't sure yet if it was a bluff or not. However...

" You annoyin' bitch' "

" Senpai~!!! " I didn't have enough time to process since Hosen has already lost his cool and started throwing hands. I immediately tugged Honami's hand and pulled her behind me, swapping positions with her while simultaneously redirecting my free hand to slap Hosen's away, to which was successful.

" STOP ! " Ikuto shouted as he started moving forward. However, it fell on deaf ears as Hosen regained his composure and latched back. However...

" Don't hurt Senpai~!!!! "

Slap

Amasawa immediately landed in front of me, being on the receiving end of Hosen's vicious rush and slapped him on his cheek. To which instantly redirected his route towards the floor causing him to ram his head on the ground

" Arrghh' THE FUCK ?! " Hosen lifted his head from the ground using the help of his hands and looked at us, with an expression showing immense shock. His face was bruised from the landing with his biggest mark was Amasawa's slap on his left cheek. " W-Who... WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU ? "

" Batman " Amasawa mused with a wide devilish grin. Before stepping towards Hosen's body and grabbing his collar " Seems that you need to learn your place Gorilla-kun~ Nobody can hurt Senp- "

" Amasawa stop " I took a step forward and put my hand on her shoulder, ordering her to stop. She immediately obeyed and let go of Hosen's collar and stood up, brushing some dirt off her skirt, before looking towards the hallway

" Hosen-kun, please stop " Nanase's body moved forward to help Hosen standup. However, he instantly brushed her off and stood up on his own.

" This is not over' Ya hear me punks'? " Hosen turned his head to face us, while leaving some last threatening remarks. Amasawa stuck her tongue out mockingly to which he only grit his teeth and started walking away.

Nanase hurried towards his side like a small puppy and matched his pace. She momentarily turned around and glanced at me as she was walking away, before turning back and disappearing from our sights.

" Phew~ That was quite intense~ " Amasawa promptly puffed her chest and released some steam as she wiped off some invisible sweat on her forehead. She turned around to face us, with a smile plastered on her face. " Are you okay Ichinose-senpai~? "

" Mhm~ I'm fine " Honami nodded at her, before squeezing my hand even more. I simply turned around to look at her and she looked up to me with a warm smile and a small cute blush plastered on her face " Thank you for saving me, Kiyotaka~ "

She rose up on her toes and gave me a peck on my cheek, as a display of her gratitude. I simply smiled thinly at her, before my ears caught on small grumbles

" Meeeh~ I helped you too Honami-senpai~ Why don't you thank me as well " Amasawa frowned, seemingly longing for some attention.

" I don't thank my rivals " Honami latched into my arm and hugging it, while giving a mischievous grin towards Amasawa who frowned even more. However, I could tell that she indeed held a feeling of gratitude towards Amasawa.

Clap Clap

" That was a brilliant show... Amasawa-san " Our attention suddenly drown towards the source of the abrupt interjection, a boy with short blonde hair and silver eyes slowly took steps towards us, while clapping his hands off. Just when Amasawa spotted him, she immediately rolled her eyes

" What do you want now Takahashi-kun ? " Amasawa spoke with an annoyed tone, not pleased with his presence at all. However, I noticed the small commotions that broke off on the background, but they were muffled at best, so I kept my eyes in front.

" I thought that you did something amazing and I complimented you upon it, is that wrong Amasawa-san ? " Takahashi elaborated, with a small but genuine smile. However, Amasawa was completely uninterested and kept looking away and refusing to talk. Moments later he let a sigh, before turning towards me. " So you are the Ayanokouji Kiyotaka I assume ? "

" Yes ? " I replied. " And who might you be ? "

That question was completely unnecessary, since I already knew his name. He was Takahashi Usamu of Class 1-A, a boy who's popularity rivals even Yousuke's. His popularity bloomed even more, when he was revealed to be the person who has the highest OAA Rating between the first-years.

However, just as I emitted the question, the commotion on the background grew even more rampant, growing louder and louder until it became more audible

" What ? "

" He doesn't know him ? "

" How ? "

All of them murmured between themselves, throwing some surprised glances at me. My attention was drawn back towards the guy, as he emitted another sigh.

" Right, allow me to introduce myself. " He immediately blurted out and took a pose, with a thin amused smile on his face. " My name is Takahashi Usamu of Class 1-A, and I'm also a genius "

" a genius ? " I parroted, to which he nodded.

" Yes, I am considered to be a prodigy on pretty much every field, whether it's academics or sports, martial arts, chess you name them. I've became pretty famous worldwide when I participated on tournaments and won " He boasted joyfully, with a proud and dignified tone. I briefly glanced at Honami who gave me a nod, vouching for his words.

" That's... cool I guess ? " I didn't know how to respond so I tried my best. However, it seems that my answer only threw more wood in the fire as the audience got insane.

" Pffft hahahahaha " Takahashi started laughing amidst the chaos, to which automatically drew them quieter. " You are pretty funny aren't you Ayanokouji-senpai ? You're just like Amasawa-san for real "

" Amasawa ? " He nodded.

" Yep. You two gave me pretty much the same response Senpai, it's pretty interesting " Takahashi shifted his gaze briefly towards Amasawa, who now was capable to at least look him in the eye. " Anyways Senpai, now that we have met, do you mind being my partner ? "

His request shook the audience as they erupted in more murmurs. I guess it is understandable since he appears to be a very high ranked celebrity, in the eyes of the public this is equivalent to lowering yourself to reach someone below you.

He also has an A just like me in the academical rating section, so he isn't a bad partner by any means.

" I'm sorry, but I have already partnered up with Amasawa today. " However, I had to reject, to which somewhat silenced the audience.

" Oh, that's a shame then. I really hoped to secure the top spot reward " He gave me a small bitter smile, seemingly sad about not partnering with me. However, he immediately brushed it off before slowly shifting his gaze towards Honami. " How about Ichinose-senpai ? Have you found a partner already ? "

" No, I still haven't found a partner yet " Honami shook her head, a bright smile plastered on her face. To which Takahashi slightly smiled too

" That's great, do you mind being my partner then ? You have an A if I recall correctly. " Takahashi inquired, to which however, Honami gotten slightly reluctant

She seems to be contemplating whether to accept his offer or not, she can refuse him and partner up with one of those weak academically students according to her plan. However, Takahashi seems to be a great catch if brought towards our side, so she might be reluctant just because of his popularity.

As a last resort, she looked up to me searching for answers. I simply replied to her with a nod

" I think you should just do it. " I encouraged her, before glancing at Takahashi. " The both of you would have a great chance to make it in the top 5, so I reckon you should just accept it. "

Honami smiled broadly at me and cheerfully nodded, before taking out her phone and submitting a partnership request, to which Takahashi immediately accepted.

" Sweet ! " He blurted out in small celebrations as he slid his phone back towards his pockets. " I would love to talk more with you Senpais. However, it seems that Lunch break is almost at it's closure. So if you'll excuse me I'll be taking my leave "

" That's fine, it was nice talking with you Takahashi-kun ! " Honami waved him off goodbye alongside some of our classmates, he turned around and waved back as well, with a kind smile on his face.

Amasawa instantly left after him as well just when her usual boisterous demeanor gotten back and went through a separate way from Takahashi.

However, just when I was about to turn back I immediately caught of Takahashi's gaze as he turned around to look at my direction before disappearing from foresight. Following his line of sight I looked back towards my class where Kanzaki has recently arrived from the cafeteria and was currently talking with some of my classmates

Takahashi eyed him more thoroughly with a small amused smile before turning around and taking his leave. I immediately glanced back towards Kanzaki who wasn't aware of the gaze and kept silently listening in the middle of a group, before I glanced back towards the hall exit again

That was definitely weird...

Oh Mamamia writing at 1 AM with a headache is so fun... yay

I always get the ideas to extend chapters but always end up higher word count than expected.

Anyways, Takahashi is pretty much OOC, his name is in thatshittykinugasafanfic but I just made him more of a character.

I wrote the last part from 9 PM to 1 AM so sorry if the quality is lacking.

I'll see you in the next one, bye bye

V1 Chap 6 : Flaws of the Masterpiece

The TV screen abruptly went shut the very moment the video clip has ended, displaying a replay button alongside other video suggestions. With the remote in my hand, I immediately quit the app and put on a random show

26 wins in total huh ?

I laid down on my bed and stared at the ceiling, getting immersed in my thoughts as the noises started fading into the background. With 26 wins in total, Takahashi Usamu holds one of the highest rankings across the globe, with 2 of his wins being on the international level, while the rest was him dominating the nationals.

He might become a threat

I have spent the past hour doing some research about the guy and sizing him up, and now it was 6 PM in the afternoon, the same day as his appearance.

Today has been pretty wild, especially during lunch break. From Amasawa's talk to fighting Hosen, concluding with the strange occurrence of Takahashi. Currently, I was in my room basking in the calmness after the storm.

It feels pretty weird to be resting in this bed again, probably because of the heavier atmosphere. Since the day I brought those gym equipment I pretty much moved towards Honami's dorm and inhabited there, while using this room only for exercise purposes. You could say that I turned it into a small gymnasium

Honami decided to switch things up and hang out in my room, since we've been abusing her dorm so much. So I had to do some cleaning alongside air conditioning to lessen the claustrophobic smell. Now that club activities are off, she could be here any second now.

I'm not very upset with this arrangement, since the school prohibits the presence of boys in the girls's dorms during curfew, so I might get in trouble if I was caught sleeping over. On the other hand, I get to have my own gym while luxuriating myself with top-notch sleep beside my beloved on every night. So I would be happy to pay private points in the unlikely case that I get caught in order to continue this lifestyle

Besides, if we manage to get a hold of one of the special dorms's apartments, I will get all of those privileges without restrain alongside some extra space. Space was never an issue for us since we weren't uncomfortable with getting touchy, so it was pretty much nonexistent. In fact, it made it all the better

Hmm.. Wouldn't that make us like a married couple ?

Living under the same roof and house as a couple, with no outside interference on our home affairs. The only problems are the lack of documents and the rules against sexual interactions. The former is pretty trivial since it has no effect on a relationship, while the latter is pretty bypassable.

My mind was wandering off towards random grounds, discovering some random ideas while indulging in my self-serving monologues in order to cure my boredom, motionlessly waiting on top of the bed for a certain door crack.

I wonder what that man is doing

I felt the whole lightness of my body turn dim as soon as his name came across my mind, making me slightly exquisite in annoyance. I'm pretty sure that he's still alive and kicking, actively fighting against his confinement while Kouenji's father is the one in control

I could ask the Chairman about his progress but it seems pretty pointless since he hasn't contacted me yet. He's probably pretty busy so I'd rather save the call unless for something extremely important.

Bzzt

Hmm ?

My phone suddenly vibrated, abruptly snapping me out of my thoughts and drawing my attention towards it. I picked it up using my left hand and checked to find a newly received message from one of the contacts, it read-

Clark

I unconsciously descended the phone off my eyes to gaze directly towards the door ahead of me, where a small slender hand landed on the side and slowly pushed it open, revealing a beautiful teenage girl wearing a high school uniform, with a long and silky strawberry hair and mesmerizing blue eyes, combo'd with a beautiful and soothing smile as soon as her eyes landed on me.

" Hello Kiyo~! " Honami energetically greeted me with a warm bubbly aura around her. I replied by setting my phone aside and giving her a thin smile of my own.

" Welcome Honami " I immediately got off my bed and went to aid her while she was taking off her shoes in the meantime after setting some bags off. Arriving in front of her she handed me the said bags before giving me a quick kiss and hoping off my lips.

" So Kiyotaka~ what have you been up to ? " Honami decided to strike a conversation with me, while we were wandering off in our dorm.

" Nothing much, been waiting for you to start my afternoon off " I replied as I set the grocery on the kitchen.

" I see, now that I'm here we can have some fun~! " Honami spontaneously exclaimed before starting to take her uniform off and changing to the set of clothes I brought from her dorm earlier on. While doing that, she gazed around the room and offered her observations. " I never thought that you actually meant it when you said your room was pretty full~ it's literally the definition of cloistered ! "

She expressed her surprise about the lack of capacity in my room and the amount of gym material. After cleaning it up it looks more clean and inhabitable. However, it would be unfulfilling because of the limitations.

" You think I'm an exhibitionist ? " I stated off before joining her on the living room, where she was pretty much done changing.

" Well~ No, but I can see now why you asked me to move into my dorm " She finished tidying up her clothes and wandered around the room, inspecting the equipment. I simply sat on the bed and watched her as she started pulling some ropes and testing her strength, before musing out loud." Huh~ maybe I should come here and exercise too "

" You will ? " She nodded.

" Yep~ When I have time I'll make sure to wake up early as well so we can train together~! " She briefly looked at me with a joyful smile before continuing on with her inspections and mumbling. " Maybe I should order a gym uniform too.. Oh~ I got it ! I'll order a sexy one~! "

" Sexy ? Why would you order that ? " I emitted in small confusion, not comprehending the logic behind her words. However, she immediately stopped moving and tilted her head at me, with an expression brimming with mischief.

" You need every part of your body to be active when you exercise Kiyotaka~ " She immediately stated with a wide mischievous grin plastered broadly on her face, with a small and teasing wink.

" I wonder what you mean " I deadpanned. To which she chuckled

" Me too Kiyotaka~ Me too... "

Just when she finished with her inspections, she immediately joined me on the bed and sat slightly further away from me. Just when I gave the back of her head a questionable look, she started tilting towards me and leaned her head on top of my lap before lifting her legs off the ground and completely laying on the bed.

She cutely shifted her head to face me, with a warm and loving smile plastered on her face. I reciprocated her smile before instinctively moving my hand on top of her bangs and scratching them, she lightly squealed before tilting her head off towards the TV and watch, while I kept caressing her silky hair using both of my hands.

" I forgot to ask you about something " During the middle of the show, I suddenly spoke up, garnering her attention towards me after breaking the comfortable silence.

" Hmm~? " She shifted her head and looked at me, with a curious gleam on her eyes.

" Did you actually record Hosen when came and threatened us, earlier in the hallway " I inquired.

Honami has exclaimed loudly that she has recorded the conversation between us and Hosen in order to counter him. However, she never proved whether it was real or not, so I'm curious if this was just a bluff from her

" Yes~ I have recorded him " Honami answered. However, she had more to add. " But it was only from the middle part, pretty much right after Kiriyama-senpai appeared "

" I see... " I mumbled before continuing on stroking her hair. " Hosen was dumb enough to repeat his plan out loud, which allowed you to record it. Next time when something abnormal happens make sure to keep the recorder on for safety measures, his scream at the start was a dead giveaway "

" Hai~! " Honami beamed, seemingly registering info on her head. " But Kiyotaka~ He wasn't the one who repeated his plan, it was you who provoked him. Did you perhaps do it so I can get a recording of him ? "

" Maybe. " I answered vaguely, making her face morph into a small pout.

I shifted my eyes towards the TV, continuing with our small session as she did pretty much the same. However, shortly after that, she tilted her head back at me, seemingly having her own question to ask.

" Hey Kiyotaka " Her voice was somewhat serious, mixed in with the same lightheartedness earlier on.

" Hmm ? " I shifted my eyes back towards hers as I gave her extra more attention. Similarly, her face had a hint of seriousness too. I tried to get a full read of her face. However, she opened her mouth before I could so

" This question may seem random. But.. " She stopped a little, building up the suspense while narrowing her eyes at me. I slightly cocked my head at her in curiosity. However, she took it as a cue and started firing.

" Is Amasawa-san a white room student ? "

My hands immediately froze, ceasing the finger's movements and abruptly stopping caressing her hair, as my eyes slightly shot up momentarily, before furrowing in confusion.

" Huh ? " My response came in as if late, completely caught off guard by her question. However, when I saw her expression, I immediately knew that she was dead set on fishing an answer out of me.

" I have thought about this for a while, she has a strange interest in you that came out of nowhere and she seems a bit too unnormal compared to a normal student " Honami slightly trailed off while speaking out her analysis, her eyes strongly reconciled with mine before continuing. " And you seem to be both wary and interested in her, which is something I have never seen before. You rarely take interest in people, let alone be wary of them. "

She conveyed her thoughts out while keeping a close watch over my face. I have expected her to notice this, since Amasawa has made it quite obvious that there is a connection between us. However, I haven't expected her to figure it out at least until the result's day, since it would be easier to connect the dots.

I have clearly underestimated her skills and understanding over me, which caused me to be caught slightly off guard. I had to keep up a poker face for the first time in a pretty long while, in a private conversation between me and her.

Her eyes showed immense determination, while she seems pretty convinced that her theory is correct, which is. I loosened up a little and decided to be upfront, she was gonna figure it out sooner or later so I decided to not lie to her any further than I already have

" It seems that I can't hide anything from you huh ? " With a small exhale, I started stroking back her hair with a small but proud smile forming into my face. " For your question, yes, you have figured it out. I haven't expected you to, but good job.. "

I moved my hand and patted her, complimenting her with a small proud tone. I was simply impressed by the fact that she managed to see through a white room student. However, her expression remained unchanged.

" Kiyotaka, why is she here ? " I hoped that my flattery would help distracts her from inquiring further. However, she was completely unaffected by it and asked regardless.

" I don't know " I decided to feign ignorance and not completely lie to her, it is impossible to create a sufficient lie since she has enough information about the White room. And I'm still not sure whether Amasawa came to expel me or ally herself with me, so that works right ?

" Kiyotaka are you lying to me ? " Her expression slightly turned dim as she uttered those words, not buying my act.

" Honami, I'm not lying to you. I seriously am not sure why she is here. " I denied.

" Fine. Then what about the acting director ? Why is he here ? " She forcefully accepted my answer and immediately switched gears, attacking from a different angle . Tsukishiro ?

" The acting director ? You mean Tsukishiro ? " I asked, to which she sternly nodded. " What's up with him ? "

" Why is he here ? " She promptly inquired, with a stern and direct tone. " Do you know him ? "

" No, I don't " Just when I said that, I winced internally, as I have subconsciously uttered a lie. It would be alrigh-

" You're lying Kiyotaka, you do know the acting director ! " Honami uttered strongly, slightly shouting. A visible scowl plastered on her face, did she manage to see through me ? " I have witnessed your interaction with him after Kushida came to our Class and there is no way you guys don't know each other.

" I haven't seen you interact with him before that, and it was only a couple of days after he got elected. He also seems to know about your father since he almost managed to laugh like Chie-sensei and Kouenji-kun.

" So I'ma ask you this again Kiyotaka, do you know about the acting director ? "

Honami unleashed her load onto me after luring me into her trap, completely oblivious about my surroundings. She was aware from the start that I was trying to deceive her and simply trapped me. I felt a small bitter taste in my mouth, as I was stuck in a situation with no way out.

" Yes, I do know the acting director. " I sighed before confirming, admitting defeat.

" Is he here to expel you ? " She asked, to which I nodded. However, her face morphed from an upset expression into a frown, and her tone had a trace of sadness. " Why didn't you tell me ? "

" I'm sorry Honami- "

" Don't apologize Kiyotaka, just tell me the reason why " She immediately cut through me and started caressing my left cheek, with a thin smile seemingly not upset anymore. I felt my head getting clearer at the cause of her touch, allowing me to respond.

" I simply didn't want to drag you into this " I answered truthfully, or at least what I believed is the truth.

I didn't want to drag anybody to my mess, let alone someone like her. This is my problem to deal with, and I have to deal with it myself.

" No Kiyotaka, that's wrong~ " Huh ?

" What do you mean ? " I curiously stared at her back as she lifted herself off my lap and turned around, crossing both of her legs and putting her hands on top of her knees, with a small but wholesome smile.

" You have given me a wrong answer, and I'm simply correcting you " She stated, before crossing her arms. " Since the moment you and I became one, I was bound to get dragged into this regardless. If you wanted to keep me out of it, I would be happy to tell you that you have failed Kiyotaka~ Because I was dragged into this the moment your father knew of my existence. "

What she said was definitely the truth, not only she but all the people who are close to me are targets for that man, since attacking them would probably force me to move, she only happens to be the one closest to me.

I'm pretty sure once he gets a hold of me, he won't care about what happens to the rest, because he is only fixated on me. He only cares about his masterpiece and retrieving it is the one above all, and the final objective.

Of course, if the masterpiece themselves object, then it's doomed to fail. Which makes them the only ones in control

Which means that I-

" I am the only one who can fight against that man " I muttered, while peering into her eyes, I felt the dimness of my eyes creeping up while staring up at her. However, she was completely unaffected, radiating a bright aura of her own while peering into my eyes, which were unlike mine, full of light.

" Yes, I know that. You are the only one who's capable into fighting him and defeating him. " Her hand crept closer, while keeping my gaze locked with hers. She inched closer and closer to me, and with the same delighted expression as always, she uttered. " But you aren't alone in this Kiyotaka~ "

Just as her hand came in contact with me, I felt my eyes slightly widen while staring directly at her. Her sweet and warm tone alongside the sincerity of her words reached deep into my brain, registering every small movement of hers.

" You aren't in the white room anymore Kiyotaka, you aren't alone anymore. You are here with me now, with us. Far away from that dreadful space " She kept reaching more and more, inching closer to my body. However, her eyes oceanic blue eyes brimmed like a crystal, as small droplets of tears starting taking shape.

" You have people that care about you, you have people that love you and won't judge you. You have your freedom that you longed for, and you're free to do whatever you want. " Her slender hand slightly squeezed mine, as she was sitting right in front of me now. With our eyes peering at each other, completely different color and illuminations. However, there was one thing mutual

" So forget about the white room Kiyotaka, forget about that place, you aren't a student there anymore. You are now a student at the advanced nurturing high school where you have a completely different life, so you don't have to remember it. I... " She slowly started losing her breath as her emotions starting taking over, it was obvious that was about to cry. However, she desperately held it in herself, trying to act like everything was normal while it wasn't, all for one reason.

" I'm here for you... Kiyotaka~ You aren't alone... I'm here " She gathered all of her courage for a reminder and a small head pat. Before seemingly not being able to take it anymore and starting to sob in front of me.

However, I immediately broke off from my motionless state and willingly pulled her towards my chest, even so, she refused to let herself breakdown in front of me. All for one reason

Which is for my sake

Before I even knew it, I laid down on the bed beside her while wrapping both of my arms and legs around her, and deepening our embrace as much as possible. She finally decided to breakdown and start bawling her tears, which I happily took on my shirt.

She has been doing this for my sake since the moment we have met, she has put her utmost attention into taking care of me when we got together, and now she's doing her best into changing me into the best, as best as she can. All for one purpose, which is for my sake

She never expected anything in return for this, except for seeing me turn into a better human. This selfless nature of her is the one charming me, because unlike me, I'm a pretty selfish person.

My sense of superiority clouded my sense of self-evaluation, making me oblivious to my flaws. I knew that I was flawed but it was a mere humble thought with little basis according to evaluation, deeming myself as a perfect human being. The white room staff treated me as a perfect being, which I felt nothing towards, but it helped deepening my perfection complex, on a subconscious level.

However, having someone pointing out your flaws and working hard to fix them is such an eye opening experience. I have only realized recently how arrogant I am and how truly far from perfection I truly am. I do consider myself now closer to perfection than ever. However, it is still off reach because no human can be perfect.

It's been a couple of minutes since the last word was uttered, and Honami seems to have fallen a sleep. I leaned my head against hers, trying to join in as well.

I wouldn't have achieved this much advancement towards the myth called perfection, without Honami on my side.

And without her... I won't be smiling as broadly

Yayyyy Kiyotaka Development !

Sorry for the delays of this chapter, I simply had a grammar block again, so if it's badly written I'm sorry.

Anyways, if you're reading this I'll upload the next chapter right away, I wanted to mix it with this and it ended up longer and more emotional than expected, so I just split it in half.

The next chapter is just a prelude to the next one, so it would be short.

Anyway, I just wanted to explain something real quick.

Kiyo had a lot of development on my book. However, he's still far from fully developed, he still possesses his white room traits while he pretty much appears perfect in his monologues.

Such as this chapter, where he doesn't cooperate unless it's necessary. He would be perfectly fine without Honami. But she is his ally in his fight but he chooses to fight alone, this is what I meant by ally unless necessary.

This is just him and his white room trait of working alone, which pretty much got developed in this chapter.

His weaknesses only appears when mentioned or pressed on which they come into play, just as Honami did.

Changing takes time, especially with someone like Kiyo who got raised like that. I saw Kinu's interview where he said that Kiyo's flaw is that he never changes, which is something I don't believe.

Anyways I have talked for long, Cya on the next one !

V1 Chap 6.5

Wednesday April 9th, 3rd day of the first preparation week for the special exam.

5:43 PM

It has been approximately 23 Hours and 30 Minutes since the moment I fell asleep yesterday, with Honami on top of my dorm's bed. It wasn't as bad as I expected, but we had to wake up pretty early due to us sleeping off our internal clock.

Currently, I was sitting inside of a Karaoke parlor, counting the clock while scrolling through some stuff on my Phone, indulging in my habit of wasting time while awaiting for a certain meeting to take place.

The person I have called out for should arrive around now. Considering their attitude, they are the type of person who refuses to be late to not hurt their pride, and refuse to show up early to not waste time. So they should be here just about... now

...

Hmm... Just about... now !

...

I curiously checked the clock on my phone to find it past the 45 dot, which is the scheduled time for our meeting. Meaning that they started to go in the negatives, in terms of being late

Huh... Wei-

Clark

The door suddenly cracked, revealing the figure of the person slowly pushing it open and coming into sight. I checked the phone again to find it past the 46, before looking back towards them.

" You're late, it's past 46 minutes now " I flipped my phone to show it to her. However, she momentarily looked at me before ignoring me with a dismissing hum and ruffling her long black hair.

" It's not my fault when your phone's clock is not set correctly. " As she took the seat furthest away from me, she pulled out her phone, showing a number of 5:44 on the top left corner, which is lesser by two minutes than mine.

" But I have my clock in sync with the scho- "

" Anyways, why did you call me here, Ayanokouji-kun ? " She decided to cut the banter and go straight towards the chase. To which I immediately followed.

" Right, sorry for abruptly calling you here all of the sudden, Horikita. " I addressed her with an apology in advance, one which she seems to not appreciate.

" Make it quick, I need to go study " She slightly ruffled her hair while staring at me with her usual stern gaze.

" Very well. " I immediately complied, finding proficiency in quickening up this meeting. " I want to have a duel with you Horikita ? "

" A Duel ? " She slightly cocked her head in surprise while ruffling her hair, curiously parroting after me.

" Yes. I want the both of us to compete on the next special exam, to see who score the highest on one of the subjects. It's pretty much like what you've proposed to me during the colossal exam. " I elaborated, further satisfying her curiosity and giving her an expectant look. She drifted off processing my words, before looking back up.

" No thanks. " She immediately stood up after the rejection. " If it's like the last time, then I wonder what you'l- "

" This is different from the last time " I immediately cut her off, garnering her whole attention towards me. " The difference is that I'll be putting myself at a massive disadvantage "

" Huh ? " She emitted a small reaction, before I gestured towards her seat for her to sit down. To which she ignored.

" I said that we will be competing on one subject. However, that subject is an information only available to you. " I started elaborating. " In simpler terms, I wouldn't get to know which subject we're competing on, even during the exam period. You'll only reveal it during the result's day so we can settle on our competition. "

This rule puts me at a heavy disadvantage, since I would have to prepare for all 5 different subjects. However, the real disadvantage comes from the secrecy of the subject.

Since only Horikita would be aware of it, she can basically cram one subject in order to boost her marks as much as possible, while I have to cram all 5. However, this also offers her the option of lying, in the case that I beat her on the subject she chose and losing on another. She can basically claim that she has chosen the subject she beat me in

For instance, if she crammed Math but as the main subject and ended up losing, but in the other hand she manages to beat me in English, she can basically claim that she has chosen English from the start and claim her victory. So the real nature of this challenge isn't competition on one subject, but it's me outperforming her on all 5.

" You do realize that I can simply lie about subject and choose the one I won at right ? " As expected from her, it seems that she has figured it out too

" I do. This is why I proposed this challenge, to give you as much of an advantage as I possibly can. " I answered.

" You seem to be awfully confident, even with those odds. " Horikita marked.

" Those odds are high enough, I'm simply that much better. " I arrogantly stated, to which she irked her eye on. " What do you say Horikita, do you accept my challenge ? "

This deal gives her every advantage she could have over me, putting me in a pretty hopeless situation. There would be no possible way for me to beat her on all 5 when she can only win in one, we'd have pretty much the same preparation time with me having it on a larger scale. So there is no way I can win... right ?

" There is no way someone in their right mind can propose a challenge like that, even for someone as good as you, Ayanokouji-kun. " Horikita gave me a piece of her mind, I simply closed my eyes and awaited her next words. " This is a no-brainer, I wholeheartedly accept your challenge Ayanokouji-kun, I would finally be able to put you back in your place. "

Final piece... done.

" Very well. " I stood up and approached her, while sticking my hand out. " The rewards are pretty much like last time, the winner gets to ask anything from the loser that isn't sexually related. "

We stood in front of each other as she extended her arm too, sealing off our deal with a handshake. Her expression was smugly, while mine was apathetic.

" I will turn you into my loyal and fateful dog when I win. Are you sure you want to accept that ? " Horikita smugly asked.

" I have agreed to do anything unless it's sexual, so that's allowed I guess. " Horikita sneered, before marching towards the door while tapping on her phone, saving the recording of our meeting. When she was about to step out she abruptly stopped and looked at me

" Aren't you coming out ? " She asked.

" No, you can go ahead. I have one more meeting to attend " I took back my seat and stared back at her, while she was observing me absentmindedly. Shortly after she snapped out and took her leave.

" Anyways, see you later Ayanokouji-kun " With a short wave and a small but sinister smile, Horikita left the room as it immediately plunged back into the silence.

Such a poor soul.

I lightly shook my head with a light amused chuckle, before pulling out my phone and going back towards my old state.

2 Minutes left from 24 hours.

I was immersed in my thoughts again, wasting time with whatever.

15 Minutes later, a similar crack echoed inside the room and displayed pretty much the same scene. However, with a different person.

" Good afternoon. " The person politely stepped inside the room, unlike Horikita. After they closed the door they immediately looked at me, with a small but calm smile.

" Good afternoon... Nanase Tsubasa "

V1 Chap 7 : Nanase Tsubasa

" Matsuo-san ? "

I looked up towards the middle aged man, who has recently strolled inside the kitchen while I was eating my breakfast. He had a ruffled long black hair and narrow dark brown eyes, wearing a formal black uniform with a joyful smile. It was none other than my personal caretaker Matsuo

" What happened ? You look happy today. "

" Aren't I always happy Kiyotaka-kun ? " Matsuo spread his arms while looking at me, with a bright and excited expression plastered on his face.

" That's not what I meant " I shook my head and replied monotonously. " I meant that you look extra elated today, did something happen ? "

" I just received the news about Eiichiro's admission to his favorite high school ! He's finally going to school ! Same as you Kiyotaka-kun "

" Oh.. "

It was around 1 month away from the entrance ceremony, when I woke up finding Matsuo-san to be brimming with joy. It wasn't going to be anything unusual. However, the only time I saw him like this was when my admission to the advanced nurturing high school got accepted, so something must have really happened for him to be this elated.

" Congratulations to both of you and your son Matsuo-san " Despite my monotonous voice, I tried my best to congratulate him with a small thin smile on my face, it wasn't forced, but not fully genuine either.

" Thank you Kiyotaka-kun, I hope the both of you would enjoy your high school lives to the fullest " Contrary to mine, Matsuo-san gave me a wide and genuine smile, before turning around to wash the dishes. " This calls for a small celebration don't you think ? "

" Hmm " It completely slipped my mind that humans tend to celebrate on every small occasion, whether it's publicly or not in order to boost their happiness and feel better about their achievement. This is some big news for Matsuo-san, so it's understandable why he wants to celebrate it. " I guess. "

" Since I cannot go and visit him because of my work, I'll probably have to send him a gift " Mused Matsuo, thinking loudly while washing the dishes. " He'll accept anything I give him because he is a good boy. But I want it to be something special, because he worked hard for this. "

Matsuo has been sharing with me some of his stories with his son since the moment I landed in this mansion. From what we have talked, he seems to be a pretty hard working individual with a lot of charisma and determination, pretty much like a mini version of Matsuo-san

Their bond as a family is pretty strong, since the both of them are the only ones left after Eiichiro's mother passed away, his love and respect for his father is unbeaten, which is also reciprocated by Matsuo-san. Unfortunately, the latter's work makes it hard for them to meet each other, unless for certain rare occasions.

" Say Kiyotaka-kun, what should I gift him ? "

" Hmm ? " I was snapped out of my thoughts by Matsuo-san who called out to me after he was done cleaning the dishes, and now staring at me while drying his hands.

" Think of something I should give to Eiichiro as a gift for this special occasion. Something he would appreciate " He elaborated, with a curious smile on his face.

Matsuo-san has been giving me a lot of questions like these during our time together as a quiz in order to merge me more into social life and give me a glimpse of what it looks like. So I immediately took up to his challenge and nodded

Something Eiichiro would appreciate ? Well, he is the type who's always grateful for what he has, so anything specific wouldn't matter. However, I think he'll specifically be grateful to-

" Condoms. "

" Eh ? " At my suggestion, Matsuo's hands promptly froze behind the towel and exclaimed, blinking his eyes at me seemingly flabbergasted by my answer . Was it wrong ? " Kiyotaka-kun, why did you suggest that ? "

" From what you have told me, Eiichiro seems to be specially horny towards his childho-"

" PfffftHahaha " Matsuo-san's amused smile grew rampant to the point where he couldn't contain it anymore, and started laughing. " Kiyotaka-kun that'-.. You know what ?.. That's a pretty good idea haha "

Matsuo-san stopped to catch his breath, before muffling his laughs with the towel while wiping his face off. Visible sweat was building on his forehead, from both his work and laughter. However, I didn't take any offense to this, because he laughed at many ridiculous things I stated before with my straight face.

" I'm pretty sure that he'll like it, him and his little girlfriend " Matsuo smirked widely, mischief leaking from his face.

" Girlfriend ? " I confusingly cocked my head and parroted.

" Oh, I meant Tsubasa-chan, his childhood friend. "

" I see. " Matsuo-san quickly elaborated to clear any confusions on my part. However, he left me with some more. " But if they aren't together then why are you calling her that ? "

I thought the term 'girlfriend' was used to refer to a person's regular female companion with whom they share a romantic or sexual relationship with or a woman's female friends, which none of these apply in Eiichiro's case. According to Matsuo, they both do hold feelings for each other. However, this still doesn't apply the meaning of the word.

" Oh, it was just a small tease on my part. " Matsuo-san explained, which instantly made some sense. " Besides, don't you think they would look cute together ? "

" Cute together ? " Matsuo nodded enthusiastically.

" Yes, they are pretty adorable, getting flustered whenever they talk to each other. " Matsuo-san reminisced, with a wholesome smile on his face. " Don't you think so too Kiyotaka-kun ? You've seen their picture, don't you think they suit each other ? "

...

...

...

Much like that moment, a picture of a boy and a girl flashed up on my head, they were standing closely to each other with broad smiles on their faces.

However, the only difference from that time, is that a figure resembling the blonde girl in the picture was standing right in front of the door, older in age with small differences, but with the same smile plastered on her face.

" Good afternoon Ayanokouji-senpai "

" Good afternoon Nanase. You may take a seat " I gestured for her around the table and she immediately complied and sat in the middle of the Sofa on my right, facing me with a gentle smile.

The description Matsuo gave me fits her perfectly, and she has the same given name. The picture was taken when they were young. However, there is some major resemblance between them. Everything is pointing towards her, but I still have to make sure in order to not allow any inconveniences.

" Before we start off our meeting, would you like to order something ? " I grabbed the small list on top of the table and handed it to her. " Feel free to order anything, my treat "

Nanase gracefully accepted the list off my hand and nodded, before opening it and scanning through the options. I patiently waited for her to choose an option, and moments later she looked up to me

" If it's not too much trouble, I'd like a cup of green tea please " She politely asked.

I nodded before I went to place down our orders, I ordered a banana smoothie alongside her cup of tea and closed down the phone. Moments later, the waitress showed with our orders and took off elsewhere.

" So, why did you call me here Ayanokouji-senpai ? " Nanase decided to start off with our meeting after taking a sip out of her green tea and facing towards me.

" How do you feel about this school's system Nanase ? " I took a sip out of my smoothie before voicing out, while leaning on the sofa. " The S System got explained to you on the first day right ? I want to know your thoughts about it "

This is the conclusion every class leader arrived to after monitoring the strange behavior of the first-years. After further inspections it appeared that it was the case. The school switched things up while handing this year, for some odd reason no one is aware of.

" I think this school's system is great ! It helps nurture the students based on real life circumstances and prepare them for the outside world, competition always brings the best out of people so this is a great place to hone your skills and abilities, as both a team player and individually. " After some brief thinking, Nanase answered flawlessly, without a single gap in her statement and topping it off with a bright smile.

Hmm... Scripted

" Going by what you said, it seems that you're already aware of the class rankings ? " At my question, Nanase nodded. " However, it doesn't seem that you're upset from being sorted in Class D, the worst class of your year. "

Nanase's OAA stats speaks for themselves, she is clearly not a student who belongs to the defective batch. She is both smart and athletic with good social standing and communication skills, she is a true reflection of a diligent honor student with no apparent personality flaws. So for her to be deemed fit for Class D is pretty weird.

I could tell that my question caused some slight anguish to her, as she briefly averted her eyes and spaced out, in a small panic. However, she quickly came back

" T-That's because I deserve to be in Class D " She voiced out, apprehensively. Her expression slowly showing cracks

" Hmm ? " I took a sip out of my smoothie and emitted. " But you seem to be perfect on the outside. You shouldn't be allotted in Class D "

" T-That's because... " She slightly trailed off, before suddenly glaring at me. " I-It's something I cannot tell you Senpai "

" I see. " I paused and took another sip. " Sorry for trying to pry. "

" N-No... I-It's fine.. " She murmured, while completely averting her gaze to the table and playing with her hair. I took another sip out of my drink before opening my mouth

" Anyways, so you came to this school to chase after the 100% employment rate ? " I tried to divert the awkwardness by changing topics, a move that she seems to appreciate.

" Yes, I think everyone here is after that employment rate no ? " She quickly gotten back to her cherry and animated self and answered, before adding a question with a curious expression.

" Yes. " I shortly answered, before pulling the straw out of my mouth, finishing my drink and putting the empty cup on the table. " But not you "

" Eh ? " Nanase exclaimed in shock, as both of her eyes met mine.

" No one here is buying your act Nanase, you're not here for the employment, you're here for another goal. "

" W-What do you m-mean Senpai ? " Nanase stammeringly spoke, forcing a smile on top of her distressed expression. I stood up while maintaining eye contact with her and slowly approached here.

" You're here to expel me aren't you ? " On each step I took, Nanase cowered back from fright, her hands were shacking, same as her whole body, as she looked back at me panic.

" N-No ! S-Senpai w-what- "

" I know everything about you Nanase, I know why you're here and what happened in you past. So why don't you just drop your act already and fess up ? " I stopped 2 feet away from her and leaned forward, peering deeply in her eyes. My gaze was underwhelming. However, it contained enough seriousness to reach out.

Suddenly, her body stopped shacking as both of her hands slowly and calmly clenched into fists. Her eyebrows slowly descended back on top of her eye forming a fierce glare, as her face morphed in a hostile and resentful expression.

" Heh, it seems that you already know about me. " Her voice was low, with small traces of annoyance lingering. At this display, I slowly rose my head, while maintaining my gaze over her.

" Of course I do, Matsuo has told me a lot about you. " At the the mention of Matsuo's name, her face contorted.

" Don't you dare speak about Matsuo's name ever again ! " She spat with venom. Imaginary fire leaking from her mouth. She immediately backed away and stood in front of me, facing me with her resentful look.

" Relax Nanase, I'm not an enemy- "

" Shut up ! " Nanase refuted my advances with a shout, her eyes turning even darker. " You're a snake who stabbed Matsuo-san in his back ! HOW DARE YOU ?! "

" So Tsukishiro told you how I'm responsible for Matsuo and his son's death ? " Nanase didn't give any response and only kept glaring at me, her guard was up and she was ready to pounce at any moment. " I wasn't the one who killed them Nanase, I'm framed- "

" Lies ! You only spit Lies ! " Nanase shouted accusingly. " Your filthy mouth only make up lies, your lies killed Eiichiro ! Your lies destroyed my family- "

" What if I can prove it ? " I immediately cut her off and grabbed her attention. " I already told you I wasn't the one who killed them. What if I do have proof to back it up ? "

" ... " My statement seems to have reached out to her as she tried to speak up but immediately cut herself off, she seems to be considering my words while observing my expression with her still hostile glare. Her head was jerking around, as a result of her trauma.

I immediately capitalized on this and pulled out my phone and started scrolling around, Nanase reluctantly stood silent, allowing me to make my next move while glaring at me with a hesitant look. When the file appeared on my screen I immediately tapped it and looked towards Nanase

' You know how Matsuo has been doing ? Yeah, The person who gave you the idea to enroll at this school '

Nanase immediately widened her eyes in shock, after listening in to that man's words . I kept my eyes on her as the audio file kept playing

' What about him ? '

' You see, He's no longer Alive, He committed Suicide after his life got Ruined, While begging me to spare his son who is in a pathetic state Right now '

' I hope he rests in peace. As for his son i hope he moves on and find happiness '

' That's not possible anymore. He went insane, You know why ? That's because of you '

I Tapped my phone again, but this time to cut the recording, and look back at Nanase's crestfallen face.

" No.. " She muttered.

" I never knew about their states until that time, when my father visited this school in order to pressure me into dropping out, this was the recording of the conversation that happened between us. " I calmly spoke up, snapping Nanase out of her thoughts and causing her to switch her gaze from my phone to me. " Matsuo-san was going to receive a form of punishment for disobeying that man, but it seems that he went and killed both of him and his son. I only received the news after I was already here "

In fact, I have only just learned about Eiichiro's fate, when Nanase blamed me for his death. He was already insane thanks to that man's continuous pressure, so it wasn't going to be that hard to guess what's next. However, I remained in denial and hoped for the best, a best that never came.

" B-But... " Nanase muttered, her eyes building up tears. " I-If you only have listened to him... and returned to the white room... N-None of this would have happened- "

" Didn't you listen to his first statement ? " I decided to ignore her words for a moment and speak up. " Matsuo-san was the one who gave me the idea to enroll at this school, he was the one who wanted me to be here. "

" M-Matsuo-san ?... " She parroted, her voice developing to be more shaky.

" It was his wish for me to experience a normal life and escape the place I came from, which you already know as the white room. " I continued. " I'm not sure how much you know, but I have been locked up there for my whole life. Matsuo sacrificed himself for me, in order to get my freedom and live a normal life.

" He desired for me to be happy, and find more people that care about me the same way he did, even at the cost of his life. He was a true hero, at least to me, because he saved me. "

I could never be ungrateful to such a man, especially now when I realized how big of a man is he. He always treated me with love and been the parental figure I've been missing for my whole life, if that life between the white bars was even a life.

" S-So... I've been deceived ?... "

Nanase mumbled, while standing in front of me. She covered her mouth as tears started streaming down her eyes. Seemingly realizing what's going on.

" Yes. All of those lies were told to you to divert your hatred towards me and allow them to use you in order to expel me. "

" Oh... my god " Nanase gasped, as more realizations kept hitting her. " I-I'm so sorry... "

Her words were mostly muffled by her hands. However, it was loud enough for me to hear.

" You don't need to apologize, you did nothing wrong. "

" B-But- "

" Just relax Nanase, you can't keep standing there. " I moved towards and patted her shoulder, before escorting her towards the sofa. She obediently followed and sat there. " Holding your tears won't help you get better, so let it all out. "

My words have broken off her limit as her face contorted even more and started bawling her tears out, having a full breakdown on top of the sofa.

This must have hurt her a lot, having the closest person to her die in a brutal manner. I don't know in what circumstances she found out about his death, but the thought of a beloved person dying is already awful enough to the human mind.

" I'm sorry *sniff* I'm sorry Ayanokouji-senpai *sniff* " She started blurting out apologizes, while sobbing on both of her sleeves.

" Shh It's okay, I forgive you. " I made sure to not pass any limits while comforting her, as I gently started patting her shoulders from an approximate distance.

She is definitely a strong girl, one that endured so much torture in order to pull off her wishes. I must have been the most despicable person on earth for her a moment ago, so by the fact that she managed to hold in her feelings while talking with me, shows a very strong desire.

Obviously, it was not the best act she could have pulled, but it would have fooled more people than not.

I would have tried to comfort her like how I usual do with Honami. However, it felt wrong for some reason, so I simply did my best to work around the borders and kept patting her shoulders, trying to not mentally break my limits.

" Are you alright ? " I asked after I brought her cup of green tea and she gulped all of it.

" Y-Yes.. I think I'm alright. " She put the cup back on top of the table and sighed. " Thank you for supporting me, Ayanokouji-senpai. "

" No worries. " Nanase beamed with a bright smile, to which I gave her a nod.

" I'm sorry again Senpai, for falsely accusing you. " Nanase apologized again, for the millionth time. " Is there anyway I can help you ? This is the least I could do. "

" Well there is. " As I said that, she immediately gave me her utmost attention. " Help me carry out Matsuo's wish "

" Matsuo-san's wish ? " I nodded.

" Yes, he wanted me to be happy and live freely, so as long as that man is alive, his wish would never come true. " I explained, while looking at her. " So would you help me stay at this school and fight for my freedom ? "

It would have sounded a little too suspicious if I used Matsuo's wish to persuade her again, while I doubt she would have rejected, there is a little chance that she might become suspicious of me as she believes I might have brainwashed her.

" Of course, I would help you Ayanokouji-senpai " Nanase beamed again, with probably the first genuine smile I've seen from her up to this point.

" Alright, now that this is out of the way, let's get to the second reason why I called you here. " Gaining Nanase's cooperation was essential for my next move, since she's probably the only one I can count on.

" The second reason ? " Nanase asked curiously.

" Yes. " I nodded at her. " I simply want you to partner up with Kouenji "

Finally.

I have finished this chapter

I went insane over this, rewriting it 3 times because I wanted everything to be perfect.

I'm sorry if the quality is off at the end, I got tired but wanted to push and publish it as much as possible.

Pray for me guys, I think I'm currently sick without knowing it.

Well I might just take a break, maybe for 1 day.

Anyways, thank you for reading guys. I'll see you later !

V1 Chap 8 : A Helping Hand.

??? POV

??? Time and Location.

" Eh ? " As soon as I heard the words come out, I instinctively shifted my head and exclaimed. Staring intensely at the man sitting at the desk, with shock written on top of my face. " Are you serious ? "

" Do I look like I'm joking to you ? " The acting director shifted his eyes off the screen and glared at me, with a serious and frightening gleam in his eyes. He didn't look joking at all

" No. But- " I was cut off.

" No buts, Takuya. I have already told you what I have. " The Acting director glanced at his watch, before looking back. " If you have any questions it's your job to figure it out, I'm only here to provide you information. Now leave before anybody sees you "

Just when he uttered that command, I took a moment to organize my thoughts before nodding and taking my leave. As soon as I closed the door I scanned my surroundings, before aimlessly strolling, pretending to be passing by.

What in the hell ?!

I felt my face slightly contort in confusion, as I was walking past the corridors. I immediately straightened it up while I was immersed deeply into my thoughts.

How did he trust her so easily ?!

Ayanokouji-senpai has just accepted Ichika's partnership request, confirming their pair for the upcoming special exam. Tsukishiro has just relayed this to me, and now I'm left flabbergasted by it.

How ? Did he go crazy ? Did he decide to trust her on a whim ?

It wasn't outside my realm of expectations that Ayanokouji-senpai would accept Ichika as his ally, since she is siding with neither of us. However, I didn't expect it to be this fast.

She must have told him that she is a white room student, that is sent to expel him. Yet he decided to put his faith in her hands anyway... Why ?

Did he actually go crazy ? He knows he shouldn't trust her, yet he did.

No, that doesn't sound right. He must have something, something lying underneath.

If he is the same person they talked about, then this must be the case, some type of insurance in case Ichika betrays him.

A Trap hidden behind what seems to be a foolish move, a clever trick that sounds exactly like how they have described him, and it's the most likely case.

I heaved a sigh as I drew towards a conclusion, getting more relaxed before joining in the populated areas. I'm still not sure on which type of insurance he has, but it is something I'll have to discover later on.

Hmm... What if he is manipulating me into thinking this way ?

I abruptly stopped and started considering the sudden idea crossing my mind. However, I immediately heaved another tiresome sigh

This is very troublesome

Kiyo POV

" Ayanokouji-kun~! "

Amidst the loud bustling of the cafeteria, a voice reached out to my ears and called, causing me to abruptly stop my search and look towards them, to find Matsushita sitting at a table and waving at me, trying to catch my attention. I immediately redirected my heels and started walking towards her, with a wrapped lunch box on top of my hands.

I woke up this morning to a small message from Matsushita, requesting a meeting for what seems to be an urgent matter. She didn't seem to be worried about secrecy, so the cafeteria was the option we agreed upon.

However, just as I started walking close by, I spotted two more figures sitting on each side of hers in a close approximation, seemingly her companions. They all looked at me with gentle bright smiles as I kept approaching their table.

" Good morning Matsushita. " I slid off the chair and sat down, while placing my lunch box on top of the table. Matsushita nodded brightly at my monotonous greeting, before I shifted my gaze towards both of her companions. " Good morning to you too, Karuizawa and Sato. "

Similarly, the chair beside me also slid as an identical lunch box was placed horizontally on the same line as mine, as the chair slowly got occupied. All gazes were directed towards her as she started speaking, while I was unwrapping my lunch.

" Good morning Matsushita-san ! Sato-san ! and Karuizawa-san ! " Honami with her usual cheerful tone greeted all three of them as she sat on my left, with a beaming smile plastered on her face.

" Good morning to you too as well Ichinose-san ! and Ayanokouji-kun too ! Thank you for accepting my invitation and coming here. " Matsushita bowed down her head in gratitude.

" No worries. " Just when I said that, Matsushita raised her head and looked back at us again, with a warm smile on her face. " Anyways, why did you call me here Matsushita ? "

I decided to take the initiative and talk since I am the one Matsushita called for. Honami is pretty much a bystander, one who decided to just tag along. She quietly sat on her seat, observing our interaction while munching on her food.

" Firstly, before we start, I would like to apologize to you Ayanokouji-kun " Matsushita's warm smile suddenly vanished, as it got replaced by a serious one, seemingly getting down to business. I slightly cocked my head, showing my confusion to her. " I know I said that this is urgent, but it's actually a pretty selfish request of mine that I hope you'll hear out, Ayanokouji-kun "

" Hmm ? " It seems that Matsushita had to lie in order to ensure my presence in this meeting, whether it's actually trivial or not, this seems to be pretty important to her. " Well I guess that happened. Go ahead, I'm all ears. "

Matsushita's eyes brimmed with joy as a small smile crept back into her face, when I agreed to hear her request. Both of her friends also smiled, before allowing Matsushita to take the lead again.

" Great~! Thank you Ayanokouji-kun ! " Matsushita bowed her head again, which both of her friends mimicked. Before looking up and glancing at both of her sides. " Right, if it's not too much trouble

" Can you help me provide a partner for both Kei-chan and Maya-chan ? "

" Hmm ? " I furrowed my eyebrows at her, displaying my slight skepticism towards her request, while chewing down my food. Honami stopped eating as well, and emitted a similar reaction.

" You see, there are only 5 days left for the exam and most of Class D still haven't found any good partners, nor do we have the money to pay for some, since we've been on 0 points for ages now. " Matsushita explained sternly, with an apathetic expression plastered on her face. Grimace flashed on both of her friend's faces, causing them to slightly hung their head low as they listened to her attempts to save them. " However, I thought that you may try and help me look for partners since all the first-years are attracted towards the three upper-classes. I know this is selfish of me, since I'm asking you to help an enemy class, but please Ayanokouji-kun, help me save Kei-chan and Maya-chan. "

Matsushita bowed again. However, it was more deeply. Karuizawa and Sato followed suit, bowing their heads in front of me, begging for my cooperation. Unlike last time, their heads remained in the same spot, waiting for my next words.

What Matsushita said was completely the truth, The first-years have fully abandoned Class D and went for the higher three classes since they offer a way better option, leaving Class D in the dust. It didn't help that they were thoroughly broke in a pay to win situation, while some exceptional few made it out, the rest weren't fortunate enough.

Matsushita, one of those exceptional few, tried to use her connections with me to secure partners for both of her friends. While I would have liked to think more about this, I simply didn't want 3 girls to be bowing down at me any longer, especially out in the open in front of everybody. So I immediately spoke up

" Alright... " At my small response, all three of them slightly raised their heads and looked at me, with anticipation in their eyes. I leaned more into my chair, while tracking every gaze of theirs. " Since our Class is already done with securing our own partners, I wouldn't mind helping you out. "

" Really ? " All three of them blurted out in unison, which rang differently in my ears. When I let out a confirming nod, all three of their faces quickly morphed, into a joyful and excited expression. " Thank you Ayanokouji-kun~!!!! "

Sato lively exclaimed her gratitude while looking at me with shining eyes and red tainted cheeks, seemingly happy about my cooperation. Karuizawa looked at Matsushita with a grateful look, before instantly dashing her arms at her and hugging her. " Thank you so much Chiaki-chan ! "

" Thank you Chiaki-chan ! " Sato snapped out before following Karuizawa and hugging Matsushita from the other side.

" Eh~ Ehheh~ " Matsushita started struggling against the sheer forces from both sides, as she desperately tried to balance herself out. However, Karuizawa and Sato only increased their grips further, causing her to falter even more.

While Matsushita did have a troubled smile, she didn't look displeased at all, in fact, she looked quite happy herself. The mood took a major swing compared to moments ago, unlike then, the atmosphere has gotten quite lively

While we still haven't figured out a way to solve the main issue yet, they were already celebrating like they have won the world cup. However, I didn't dare to be a killjoy and point it out, and simply turned towards the pair of eyes that have been examining me for a while.

" Kiyotaka~ why did you help them ? " With a calculative gaze in her eyes, Honami looked at me and asked, seemingly trying to decipher my face while I just looked back at her.

" What do you mean ? "

" Don't take it the wrong way, I'm just curious about the reason why you decided to help them out " Honami elaborated, before narrowing her eyes and examining my expression.

Moments later, the celebrations quieted down, as the three of them curiously looked towards us, while we were engaging in a staring contest. Honami deeply peered into my eyes, trying to win this little battle. However, seeing her space out while staring at me like I was an alien object was quite amusing. This amusement brought a sudden idea towards my head.

" A reason huh ? " I mumbled, with a small teasing grin forming into my face while peering back at her. Honami slightly cocked her brow at this small change of my expression, I threw a quick glance at three girls in front of me, before looking back at her. " I dunno, maybe it's because they are potential wives in the future. "

" Eh ? " At my small tease, Honami's concentrated expression crestfallen as a grim frown took over her face, staring at me with a shocked face that was a vessel for multiple emotions at once. However, when she noticed my small grin furthering up, her lips closed down as her eyebrows furrowed back on top of her eyes, glaring at me with an angry expression.

" I'm sorry, it was a joke. " With my amusement remaining intact, I patted her head, with my smug never leaving my face. Honami huffed exasperatedly under my hand, before looking off somewhere, with a small pout on her face.

I retracted my hand, feeling satisfied with the turmoil I set before looking back towards the girls, to find them in their own dilemmas too. Matsushita was blinking her eyes at me, while staring at me with a confused smile. Karuizawa and Sato were nervously looking at their food on top of the table, with flushed cheeks.

" Oh, I'm sorry if I disturbed you. " It seems that my joke went a little too far and caused them to be disturbed, to which I quickly realized and offered an apology. I thought it was fine, since I saw pretty much the same scene in one of the Mangas, where the ladies either had the same reaction as Matsushita or laughed at it. However, that doesn't seem to be the case.

" No, you didn't Ayanokouji-kun. I was simply stunned because I didn't expect you to say that. " Matsushita snapped out, alongside her friends before all of them shook their heads in denial, with some lingering aftereffects. Matsushita, noticing the small awkwardness in the air, tried to divert it by changing topics. " Anyways, What ar- "

" Excuse me Senpais, I heard that you're looking for partners ? " Before Matsushita could even delve in, a voice shimmed in and cut her off, causing her to instinctively look towards the source. Following her line of sight, a boy with brown hair and green eyes was sitting directly behind her alone, with a lunch tray on top of his table and looking at us with a gentle smile. " I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but hear your conversation earlier since I'm currently waiting for my friends. Are you looking for partners Senpai ? "

" Yes, I'm looking for a partner for both Kei-chan and Maya-chan so they won't fail the exam. " Matsushita spoke on behalf of our group to the boy, who gave off an understanding nod.

" I see. " The boy mumbled loudly, before taking a full swing. Facing us with his front while putting his back against his table. " Well I still haven't paired with somebody yet, so I might as well hear your offer. "

" Really ? " Matsushita exclaimed loudly, to which the boy gave a nod. " But both Kei-chan and Maya-chan have a low academic rating, are you sure you want to risk receiving a punishment ? "

" Oh ? Don't worry about that Senpai, I have an A in academical rating myself, so as long as they manage to score decen- "

" Don't worry, they both have a D so it should be fine. But I have been tutoring them hard and their level is definitely beyond that ! " Matsushita exclaimed optimistically, to which both of her friends backed up with cheerful nods. They looked pretty confident in their statement, which led both of me and the boy to believe that it's the case.

" I see. It would have been pretty disastrous if they were any lower than that. " The boy chuckled a little at his own words, to which the three girls smiled even more. " Well, I don't have any problems with cooperating with you Senpais. However, if I do that it'll ruin my chances of getting some rewards. "

" Huh ? " Both Karuizawa and Sato exclaimed in surprise, halting off their celebrations after getting caught off guard by the boy. " What do you mean ? "

" What I mean is, since I would be partnering up with one of you. My chances of receiving some private points from the exam would be very slim. I'm also risking my class's standing by allying with you, since all of our classes started with an equal amount of points, this exam pretty much determines the standings of our classes. " The boy explained, without a single stutter. Causing both Karuizawa and Sato to widen their eyes in realization, he shifted his posture before continuing. " So it would be nice if you guys offer me something in return, if not then I'll sadly have to decline. Of course I'm not gonna ask for something absurd, since my chances of getting in the top 5 spots are pretty low now. I'm asking for at least some compensation for the risks I'm taking. "

Since all of the high-rated students of our grade have already partnered up, the chances of him getting in the top 5 spots are already dead. With the people left he could still make it to the top 30%. However, it seems that he is looking for a better option by striking a deal with us.

He is currently our best shot in saving one of those two, he isn't willing to ask a lot for his cooperation unlike most of the first-years and he seems to be reliable enough to carry out the job. While they say that there is always a bigger fish, he is currently the biggest fish available.

" I see, we understand. " Matsushita nodded in comprehension, before taking out her phone. " I don't have a lot of private points currently, but please just state the price and I'll try to pay you. "

While Matsushita was opening the school app, I noticed how discreetly she did it while hiding the screen from all the prying eyes, and how she immediately faced it to the ground as soon as her balance came out. The boy stared at her momentarily, before opening his mouth.

" Well... How many points do you have.. Matsushita-senpai ? " He thought for a small moment, before striking a question to Matsushita, seemingly measuring her wealth.

" Well, I currently have 36.000 " She gave a short reply.

" I see.. " The boy mumbled, before trailing off. Brushing his chin with his right hand while immersed deeply in his thoughts. Moments later he looked up again. " I really wanted to ask for something around 40.000, but I can settle with 30 if you don't mind. "

" Well, I can pay for that. But... " Matsushita mumbled the last part under her breath before turning to glance at me, seeking guidance through her gaze. She has no problems paying for this. However, after she does, she would have no points left to pay for another student, and it'll be pretty much left for me to cover the expenses later on. I gave her a reassuring nod. " Great~! I'll transfer the points to you right away ! "

Matsushita energetically picked up her phone again, before starting to tap. The boy pulled out his phone as well and unlocked it, before handing it over to her. Matsushita started transforming the student's information towards her phone. However, just as she handed it back, I called out.

" Before you do that, may I have your name ? " My call abruptly interrupted the process, causing everyone to shift their gaze at me, including the boy, who I already know his name.

" Oh ! My name is Yagami Takuya. " Yagami quickly introduced himself, after his eyes slightly widened in realization. " I'm sorry I haven't introduced myself earlier. "

" That's no problem. " I shook my head, before facing him again. " Anyways Yagami, why would you want to ally yourself with us ? "

" Huh ? What do you mean Senpai ? " Yagami furrowed his eyebrows, looking at me with a curious gleam.

" The other two classes would have definitely offered a larger sum of points for your talents, since you're clearly valuable. However, you decided to settle with us, who won't pay you nearly as much.

" Do you have any other reason for allying with us ? "

I raised my eyebrow as I peered deeply into his eyes, examining his body from head to toes. If he wanted money then he could have gone to Sakayanagi and Ryuuen who would have paid him handsomely. However, he was fine with settling with us for a small amount of points, which was definitely odd.

All humans act according to their self-interest, and are pretty selfish by nature. There are way better options for him to take, if he wants the money route, yet he decided to settle with us. What else would he earn by partnering up with us ?

" Well... " Yagami scratched his head with a wide bitter smile while looking elsewhere, seemingly trying to think of some excuses. However, he quickly heaved a sigh, as if giving up, before facing me. " Well, yes I do have another one. I wanted to get on your good side, Ayanokouji-senpai. "

" My good side ? " I parroted, to which he nodded.

" Yes, you guys are currently the strongest class in the secon- No, you are the strongest in the whole school. So I wanted to get on your good side so we can become allies in the future. '' Yagami explained, with a hint of embarrassment in his voice.

By offering himself for a low price compared to the other first-years, he'll manage to make himself appear in a better light. More so, helping the chances of his main objective, which is allying himself with us.

" I see, that makes sense. " I mumbled loudly, before looking at him and giving him a nod and taking out my phone. Both Yagami and Matsushita tilted their heads, staring curiously at me. Before Yagami's phone beeped, he immediately checked it out before slightly widening his eyes at the transaction I sent him. " 40.000 points should be sufficient, no ? "

" Ah. Yes, it's more than enough, thank you so much Senpai. " Yagami smiled, before shifting his towards Karuizawa at first, and darting it towards Sato. " So.. who should I partner up with ? "

" You can discuss that with them. " I took my last bite off my Bento box, before closing it down and starting to clean up. " I think we're done here. "

I glanced towards Honami who had finished her food a while ago, and she gave me a bright nod before standing up with me, and starting to take our leave.

" Have a good afternoon Ayanokouji-kun, thank you for helping us. " Matsushita smiled at me, while giving me her farewell.

" Thank you Ayanokouji-kuuuun~ " Both Karuizawa and Sato shouted, while waving at me.

" See you soon, Ayanokouji-senpai " Yagami also waved at me.

I received all of their farewell with a wave of my own, before finally disappearing into the hallways and walking back towards the class, with our empty lunch boxes.

" Hehe~ look at you go and make girls even more obsessed with you~ Honestly, what am I gonna do with you now ? " As soon as we entered the hallway, Honami, slightly lacking behind, started teasing me, with a big smug on her face.

" What are you on about ? You're the only girl obsessed with me as far as I know. " I looked back with a smug of my own, teasing her back.

" Heh~? Is that a bad thing ? " Honami pushed forward and latched at my arm, hugging it warmly while resting her head on it.

" I don't know, I'm the one to talk. " I reciprocated her embrace, as we kept nearing down the hallway.

" Kiyotaka, why did you help them ? "

" Hmm ? " Honami suddenly uttered a question, in the middle of the comfortable silence. I glanced at her to find the same expression as earlier. " Didn't I tell you ? It was- "

" Stop teasing me~! " Honami gripped my arm more tightly, with an angry but cute pout on her face. " Don't give me that. I'm simply curious about the reason, that's all. "

" Hmm, the reason ? " I mumbled, to which she nodded. I thought about it for a moment before answering. " To be honest I'm not sure. But Matsushita is my friend and I decided to help her out. "

" I see..." Honami shifted her eyes and stared at the ground, seemingly deep into her thoughts while we were marching down our class. However, her lips suddenly curled up, into what seemed to be a proud happy smile.

" Hmm ? Why are you smiling ? " I called her out, with a deadpan suspicious expression on my face.

" Hehe~ Who knows~? " She snapped back and grinned at me, while mimicking my words.

" I'm simply curious about the reason, that's all. " I mimicked her words earlier as a response, before we both engaged in a lighthearted banter.

I wasn't lying about the reason when I said I didn't know. However, I wasn't saying the whole truth either. I did want to help Matsushita since we are allies. However, there was another reason behind my assistance :

Karuizawa Kei, currently the most influential student in Class D. She doesn't hold that big of an influence outside. However, her connections within the class makes her the most influential in Class D. There may come a time where Class D's input would come in handy, so I'd like to preserve her as much as possible.

War time is coming pretty soon, and it seems that the white room student had no plans of attacking me during this exam. Since Tsukishiro steps down by the end of this term, it seems that they are both preserving their energy to make one big attack.

Whatever is coming next

It's gonna be brutal.

SORRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

I delayed this chapter way too much, I thought I'd take a break for a few days but ended up taking pretty much the whole week.

It didn't help that my stupid brain always hinders me from writing and trying to find the perfect wording each time, it's so annoying argh.

Anyways, I'm sorry for delaying this, you guys may give me a spankies for it~ But I don't mind, since I like pai-

Anyways, next chapter is gonna be the last, and it's probably gonna be a short one. If it's long know that there is LEMONZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Chao, sorry for delay again, cya in the next one :D

Bae~

Bish.

V1 Chap 9 : Results

Sunday 21st of April

7:42 PM

Kiyo POV

" Good~ that is correct ! "

Honami pressed on her pen and put a check mark next to the answer in the answer sheet, marking it as correct. Before shifting her gaze below and started examining the next answer.

" Is this even necessary ? " I grumbled, while observing her do the correction.

" Why yes ! We need you to be prepared for the exam Kiyo ! " Honami looked up from the answer sheet and grinned, causing me to roll my eyes with a small exasperated huff.

Today is the final day of the two weeks of preparation, the last day before the special exam. When me and Honami were having one of our usual study sessions during the dusk of the evening.

However, instead of me tutoring her. She was the one who was tutoring me

" Great~! You managed to solve the equation perfectly again ! " Honami announced excitedly, after finishing up her correction. She instantly picked up her phone again and started searching for more university level questions, with a big grin on her face.

" Honami, this is just a waste of time. " I grumbled again, trying to convince her. However..

" This isn't a waste of time Kiyotaka~ I'm simply preparing you so you can score 100s on each exam~! " Honami playfully threw my statements back at me, with an amused grin on her face.

" Honami, I don't need preparations to achieve that. " I reminded.

" Yes, but I simply want to make sure. " She replied. However, the lies on her statement were pretty evident, thanks to her amused grin. Under the guise of 'preparing' she is secretly tormenting me with studying over what happened 4 days ago.

This woman's jealousy knows no bounds, ever since the Matsushita meeting, she has been looking for chances to get back at me for what I said during the meeting, and also afterwards. She found her opportunity this time and proposed to tutor me, while I could have easily refused, I simply wanted her to feel the satisfaction she desired for the past couple of days.

" Right~ I found this question, now get to work ! "

" Hai "

It has been like this for a few hours now, ever since Honami came back from the student council room, she only focused on 'tutoring' me to the point where she even forgot to change from her school uniform. It was the weekend, but she had some stuff to get over with.

However, I wasn't as displeased as I appeared to be. In fact, I found it quite cute seeing her enjoy her first victory, for a pretty long while.

" I'm done, Honami-sensei. " Few seconds later, I finished with the solving and handed back my answer sheet.

" Hehe~ " She chuckled at the small nickname before starting to compare answers through her phone. " Damn~ you managed to solve it perfectly again. "

" Yeah ? What a surprise. " I deadpanned.

" What a surprise indeed~ " Honami deadpanned, staring at me with a small grin brimming with sarcasm. " It seems that you really are a genius Kiyotaka, one that can solve anything with no problems. Are you perhaps an omniscient being ? "

" Who knows. " I responded vaguely while staring back at her gaze with a challenging smug of my own. Pun intended, Honami.

" Hmm~ " Honami started tapping her lips using her pen and stared at the ceiling, seemingly deep in thought with an amused smile. Her gaze enthusiastically darted around the ceiling looking for ideas, before it finally landed back on me then the paper. " Right~ let's see if you can solve this one. "

With a swift motion, she briefly grinned at me before delving back at her paper, scribbling through the empty space and writing a question for me. It seemed to be a math issue, since I spotted some numbers mixed in some words.

After writing two sentences, her head looked up before folding the paper in half and sliding it to me, seemingly done with her question. I eyed the folded paper thoroughly before picking it up from her hand and slowly opened it, while keeping an eye on her expression.

I don't exactly know what's going through her head, but whatever question she gave me shouldn't be a difficult one. She didn't use her phone to pick it up and only based it on her own knowledge, which doesn't surpass high school. It could be something advanced she picked it up randomly, but as far as I'm concerned, even 6 years old me could answer thi-

'If James has 2 Apples and Maria has 3 bananas, what is the distance between Earth and Jupiter'

...

What ?

" Hehe~ " My attention was drawn back from the paper towards Honami, who was chuckling like a little devil in front of me. " What's wrong Mr. Genius~ are you perhaps Strugg~ling ? "

She poked fun at me for my reaction, with a grin from ear to ear. However, I immediately recomposed myself and fired back.

" No. I'm not struggling " I denied it, shaking my head with a small smug on my face as I evaded her little trap. " In fact, I already know that the distance between Jupiter and Earth is approximately 611.45 Mil- "

" No, that's not it dummy~ " Honami cut through me, with her amused smirk lingering on her face. " You have to calculate it based on the information I gave you~ "

" What ? " At this, I emitted at her. " That's not possible. "

" Well~ that just proves that you cannot solve 'all' questions as you claim no~? " Honami argued.

" It was more appropriate of me to say 'all questions except absurd' ones like this, but I thought it was obvious. " I fought back, trying to hold my ground.

" Aww~ look at you being a little sore loser~ " She snickered, seemingly enjoying this whole bickering.

" I haven't lost tho, this is simply absurd. " I refuted, with a small shrug.

" But you simply couldn't solve my question, just suck it up and accept that you lost already~! " She rolled her eyes and grumbled, as if getting tired from trying to convince a wall.

" But I never lose. " I blurted out instinctively, as if it was natural.

Looking at this from an authentic standpoint, this does indeed count as a loss since I was unable to solve this question. However, it seems that my inner pride cannot accept it , being branded a loser.

" Hehe~ I like how subtle you are about your arrogance Kiyotaka~ " Honami called me out, branding me as arrogant this time. She slowly stood up from her seat and pointed at me, with a cocky grin on her face, to which I slightly tilted my head. " But unfortunately for you, you have already lost once during our time together~ "

" Huh ? " I emitted in surprise as I furrowed my eyebrows at her, looking at her confusingly. " Lost ? When ? "

I quickly ran up a scan, checking my memories for any meaning for her words. So far, the only times I genuinely lost was in sly contests such as video games or even other party games. However, even that was arguably winnable if I tried my hardest.

Was she talking about my fight with Manabu at the scholar event ? I thought it was pretty obvious that I was holding back, yet the same thing happened earlier so I might have to state it loudl-

" It was when you lost your virginity to me~ hehe~ "

...

..

...

Bruh.

All of my previous thoughts came crashing down at me as I blankly stared at the flushed Honami with a dead expression. Her cheeks got warmer as she said that, seemingly getting flustered about it.

There was a moment of silence, where we both gazed at each other and remained in the same spots. I used this time to observe her as a whole and figure out the next move, her body language was screaming embarrassment and she seemed to be slightly shaking from. However, it was mostly overshadowed by her mischievous grin and her blushing cheeks.

" Didn't you lose yours as well ? " Deciding on the next approach, I immediately loaded my guns and started firing back at her, with a mischief of my own.

" Yep~ but that doesn't change that you lost. "

" Doesn't that render our match as a draw ? Since we both lost. " I argued back, starting to prepare a coffin for her. I immediately raised my eyebrows and added. " Besides, when it came to the actual battle I was clearly winning. You said it yourself, that I was holding back. "

" Yeah~ But that doesn't change the results does it ? You held back so it was a draw ! " Honami realized that going for the win was futile so she is trying to settle off with a stalemate. However, I wasn't ready to let go as of yet.

" Sure, it was a draw. " Honami heaved happily, her mischievous smile creeping back. " But we did have our rematches later where I clearly demolished you, just like last time . "

Just when I stressed the words, Honami's expression suddenly dropped and her smile formed a frown. I amusingly stared at her as she racked her brain for a response, while intensely staring back at me with wide eyes.

" T-Tha-... It was because it was the morning and I didn't have enough sleep ! "

" I didn't have enough sleep either. " I countered.

" That's different, because I was also sick that day. " Honami countered my counterattack, mischief reappearing in her face.

She was indeed sick that day, as I saw when I came back in the afternoon. However, I'm pretty sure that she caught it from the morning cold she let in the room that morning, so she technically wasn't sick.

However, I have no proof of that, she can easily claim that it was delayed symptoms and it'll become a back and forth between us, with no clear winner. Which is something I wouldn't agree to settle for

" Fine then. " I gave up on persuading her before choosing a different approach. " Do you want to have a rematch then ? "

I sent her a challenging look which took her out of surprise. However, she quickly furrowed back and threw a challenging look of her own, before emitting.

" Absolutely~ "

It has been two days since that time, and now it is April 23rd, the day of the results.

Yesterday, we took on 5 different subjects with 100 points each, in a total of 500 points.

Everyone seemed nervous at first, since the exams were proclaimed to be difficult, and they indeed were. However, it seems that everyone has worked their hardest, alongside each of their partners, and is currently waiting for this day to unfold.

The day of truth, to all students, including me. This day would reveal the outcome of my actions, and also reveal whether Amasawa betrayed me or not.

" Alright~ the results are out ! " Chie-sensei announced to the whole class, taking her eyes off her tablet after staring patiently at it for a while, with a bright smile she continued. " They have been uploaded to your tablets, as well as the OAA app for later access. So you don't need to take pictures and simply look at them right now~ "

As if on cue, every student picked up their tablets promptly after Chie-sensei's explanation, me included. A notification from the school popped up in my tablet to which I pressed, leading me to the results's page. The first thing I did was check the expulsion list of our class, to which I found-

" No expulsions... " Most of the class sighed in relief as they all shared the same thought, the list was empty with no pairs to be spotted which immediately shifted the atmosphere into a much more pleasant one.

Pheeeew.

I heard a long relieved sigh on the chair beside mine, to which I drew my attention. Honami heaved a long sigh of relief, before her shoulders eased up and her body relaxed. She turned towards me, catching my gaze with an extremely delighted expression and a stunning beaming smile.

Ever since Yesterday, she has been distressed about this moment, in fear that I'll get betrayed by Amasawa. However, these news came as a massive relief to her, which somewhat made me internally excited.

Smiling back at her, I dropped my gaze back towards the tablet and scrolled for the other parts. Both Sakayanagi and Ryuuen have also survived through this exam without a single casualty. Their classes managed to get the top 2 spots accordingly, while our class landed in third, which was something to be expected.

Class D wasn't as fortunate as us three, and not only did they land in last place again, they also managed to lose 2 of their classmates in the process. It was a common trend at this point so nobody cared.

However, just as I quit the class results and tapped on the individual results, I immediately noticed something.

" Sensei ? " Shibata slowly raised his arm, his eyes alternating between his tablet and the Teacher with confusion written in his face. " Where are our individual results ? "

" Huh ? " Some of the unaware clicked on the individual results, to find a blank page and join the others in their confused affairs.

" Oopsie~ Dupsie~ I forgot to tell you~ " Chie-sensei slapped her forehead, with a funny smile plastered on her face, realizing her mistake and getting amused at it, which caused the students to growl. " Maybe I should stop drinking too much beer~ "

" Maybe ? You definitely should ! " Screamed one of them.

" Well anyways~ as for your questions, the school decided to delay uploading your results until the top 5 pairs are announced, it should add a more dramatic effect no ? " She looked at the whole class, who had a mixture of reactions, before picking up her own tablet. " Even I don't know the results, we can get to see the commentator's expression on Live TV~! Isn't that exciting ? "

The class seems to share Chie's enthusiasm, at least to some extent, which was more than enough for her. She turned around to start announcing, before suddenly stopping midway and returning back.

" Also, before I forget. There is an announcement after that that I'd like to share with you all after this~ so make sure to stick by Kay~? " She eyed all of us again with an amused grin, before gripping her tablet more tightly " Aight~ The moment we have been waiting for, time for the results~! "

The screen suddenly flashed up behind her, while simultaneously commentating.

" The fifth place belongs to Katsuragi Kohei's pair with a total of 809 Points~! Lending them a grand prize of 100.000 Points~! " Chie-sensei started with the announcement, dramatically moving around seemingly enjoying her role.

The screen displayed the scores of both Katsuragi and his partner alongside some other information, they both had an A in academic rating and they barely managed a 400 each, lending them a respectable score.

" Now onto 4th place~ " The screen flashed again, displaying the next pair. Which contained a very recognizable face. " It's Shiina Hiyori's pair with a total of 822 Points~! The quiet girl managed to bring some more attention to herself eh~? "

It was pretty much the same story, both of her and her partner had an A and their results were pretty split between them. Gambare Hiyori

" 3rd place belongs to Sakayanagi-chan's pair with a very impressive 862 points~! She carried her partner and even was able to solve some of the university questions~! "

Most of the students were amazed at Sakayanagi's astonishing results, and displayed it in their own ways. She managed to score a low 90 on each of the subjects, carrying her partner to the third place who also had an A and managed a score similar to the past partners. However, the highlight was Sakayanagi, Gambare... loli.

" If that's third place then I wonder about the second and first place~ " Chie-sensei exclaimed, which pretty much stirred a small reaction from my classmates. She briefly glanced at me with an amused grin, as if aiming that statement towards me before looking back at her tablet. " Right~! For second place isss...

" Ah look~ It's you right there... Honami-chan~! " Chie-sensei looked at the back of the Class and waved at Honami. " You and your Partner managed a pretty impossible feat of 922 points~! That's exactly 100 points more than 4th place ! Congratulations~!!! "

While Chie-sensei was busy congratulating Honami, pretty much the whole class was staring at the screen behind her, with their jaws hung open.

" W-What... ? "

" A-A...

" 100... ? "

They all completed each other's words, under the stunt effect of the results, even Honami herself. She managed to score an average of 89 on each subject, which was definitely a significant improvement that I was pretty happy about. However, the real stunt comes from Takahashi's results.

Not only did he top Sakayanagi with an average of 95, he also managed to ace the English exam with a solid 100, lending him a total of almost 480 points, which was deemed impossible by the school's estimations. I guess he wasn't called a prodigy for nothing huh ?

Anyways...

Gambare Honami !

" Damn, 922 ? and second place ? Now I really wonder about first place~ " Chie-sensei silently licked her lips, seemingly getting more excited at the cause of her hormone rush, as she started visibly shaking.

My classmates snapped out of their stunt, before looking at each other with a fearful expression that contained no fear. They were all silent with intense wide eyes, seemingly awaiting for the predicted storm to befall them.

" Okay~ before I go with the top spot, how about we play a little game~? " Chie-sensei put both of her palms on top of the podium and leaned forward, peering at all of us with a predatory expression.

" A game ? " Somebody parroted.

" Yes~ A prediction game~? " Chie-sensei elaborated. " How about we try and predict who got the first spot ? "

Adding more fuel to the fire, Chie-sensei proposed a little game to all of us, which served to kill the situation through suspense. Everyone kept gazing at each other, while Chie-sensei briefly kept glancing at me, with a growing smug expression.

" I don't know. " Shibata emitted for the whole class, speaking in an as-a-matter-of-a-fact tone.

" I know you don't know~ but that's the fun of it is it not ? " Chie said. " Let's all try and guess who won the first place spot. "

In an ordinary case, this should be a pretty difficult bet since all top pairs would score similarly, making it difficult to predict. However, since this was clearly not ordinary, the difficulty of this process is kinda... lame

" I really don't know, maybe it's Ayanokouji-kun ? " Amikura mused, before shifting her gaze towards me and elaborating. " I mean I kinda expected you to appear in the top spots. "

" Yeah. "

" Me too ! "

Soon, everybody joined in gazing at me with their curious gleams, appraising me from head to toe. I glanced at Chie-sensei's amused grin who grew even wider. I sighed internally, before she clapped her hands, attracting everyone towards her.

" My money is also on Kiyotaka-kun~ but we won't be sure unless we see the results for ourselves, so shall we start ? " Effectively garnering all gazes towards her, she pulled up her tablet and exclaimed. I noticed Honami's lingering gaze at me, which had a smugly vibe around it. I simply ignored her and watched for the next announcements. " Right, for first place issssss ! A-

" ... "

...

..

...

Hmm, interesting.

Chie-sensei's cheerful and excited expression dropped, to the biggest shock I've ever seen plastered on her face, the change was so drastic that I slightly shifted my poster.

The screen morphed, and so was everyone's face, aside from the smirking strawberry haired devil who's gaze was peering at me during all of this change.

The class was so quiet, that it felt like eternity while it was a couple of seconds. It was even quieter than a library that gives off safe vibes to fall asleep. It was so deafening that I could hear my ears's beep.

" ...heh ? " That was the first thing uttered after a couple of long seconds of silence, and it was from Shiranami who's gaze dramatically shifted towards me, with her wide eyes.

" W-What ? " Slowly but surely, my gaze count started increasing, as people snapped out of their stunt and followed Shiranami, until pretty much the whole class was gazing at me. Chie-sensei finally looked up at her tablet and stared directly ahead like a robot, before shifting her gaze towards me too.

" Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha " A loud laughter suddenly reverberate in my ears, that came from the man sitting exactly behind me. " I know that my perfectness is so beautiful that you cannot pass on admiring, but I'm not the one who should be stared at right now. "

Kouenji, seemingly mistaking the direction of the gazes, boasted playfully and flipped his bangs. Before crossing her legs and looking towards the podium.

" What's wrong, drunk-sensei ? If you cannot continue with the announcement I can come and do it in your stead. "

" Hehe~ There is no need for that Playboy-kun, thank you for the offer. " Kouenji laughed at the little nickname Chie-sensei branded him, before dismissing it with a bang flip. " Sorry for this shortstop, there was a rather minor inconvenience. But anyways, we shall continue with the results. "

Chie-sensei pulled herself back together, getting released from the chain of stunt effect, which most of my classmates shortly followed up.

" For the first place~! Ayanokouji Kiyotaka from Class 2-A alongside his partner Amasawa Ichika from Class 1-A, with each scoring a total of 5 perfect scores, in total of... 1000 ... points. "

Chie-sensei finally managed to get it out of her mouth, which seemed to be already pretty difficult. The image of me and Amasawa remained alive on the screen, with 100s lined up below both of our names. Achieving the perfect score for total points... together

It seems that she didn't have any intentions on betraying me, or at least didn't take my bait.

My countermeasures were already set in place, in case she flung her exams. It wasn't a threat when I said she would be the only loser if she betrays me, it was simply a fact.

" I know that those results are outrageous~ but I was tasked to leave around this time so I'll get with the announcement really quickly~ " Chie-sensei recomposed herself, before looking towards the front door.

Knock Knock

Few moments later, gentle knocks echoed from the door. Everyone sheepishly followed Chie-sensei's gaze and waited for the door.

" Come in~ " Chie-sensei said before the door knob magically twisted itself and opened the door.

Everyone widened their eyes, as an elegant brown haired girl entered the classroom.

FINALLY, I'M DONE WITH THIS CHAPTER.

I KNOW I SAID IT'S A SHORT ONE BUT JESUS, I DIDN'T EXPECT IT TO BE THIS LONG.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN LONGER IF I DIDN'T RUSH THE LAST PART. WHICH I'M SORRY AND NOT SO SORRY ABOUT

This declares the end of Volume 1 hmm ? It took me way longer than expected to finish it

I can assure you that chapters would most likely become quick again, since I regained my lost confidence in writing. SS's would probably be tomorrow

Also, Sike, no lemons hehe~

I spent the whole day writing this, so sorry if the last part was

Amasawa Ichika SS - Union

The explanation of the special exam was in progress, and it didn't take long before it concluded. As soon as the teacher stepped out of the room, I excitedly got up from my chair and followed up as well.

" W-Wait Amasawa-san ! Where are you going ? "

" Leaving. "

Most of the class was already in turmoil at the cause of the announcement. However, it seems that my intentions to leave only added more wood to the fire as everyone turned to gaze at me with puzzlement in their eyes, some faces even morphed with slight hostility as they intensely glared at me.

Those reactions are kind of my fault, since I pretty much refused to cooperate ever since this school's system got explained to us and decided to handle my own business, making me an outcast . I came to grew on the nerves of the serious people who would give up their soul for Class A . However, It's not like I give a shit about their pathetic existence anyways

As a wise man once said : ' One good Senpai is better than 40 mobs '

I'm pretty sure nobody stated this before, and I just made it on the spot. However, it's not like it's wrong is it ? In fact, it's-

" Amasawa-san, please hold on a minute. "

" Huh ? " I felt a strong grip land on my shoulder just as I was about to leave, stopping my movements and interrupting my elated mood. With an exasperated grunt I turned my head to face an annoying gray-eyed blonde who was stopping me from moving forward. " What do you want ? "

" Don't you think you should stay for the exam discussion Amasawa-san ? I know you don't want to cooperate but please, just hea- "

" I already told you, didn't I ? I have no interest in this. " I effortlessly slapped his hand away after cutting through him with a blunt tone, feeling irate at his intervention.

I waited for whole long years for this, and when the opportunity came I had to sit for a whole week. The suspense is killing me and I cannot hold it in anymore~

" But I'm afraid that you'll hold back our Class Amasawa-san, this exam is pretty important to give us a head start and improve our morale. We have respected your decision during the past week, so we ask you to do the same. " The idiot, known as Takahashi, tried to guilt trip me into giving up. However...

" If you're worried about me not finding a partner, then I'll let you know that I was just heading out to meet a Senpai. "

" I see. " Takahashi donned his smile back, comprehending my words. " Are they someone you know from middle school ? "

" That is none of your business. " With one last glare, I pulled my legs out of the classroom and strolled towards the second-year department, leaving behind a bunch of glares and a smirking Takahashi.

He's so annoying, him and the lads and females in his mixed harem, all they talk about is his achievements and their infatuations. Ayanokouji-senpai was doing much better than that when he wasn't even half the age !

Hold on, why am I comparing Senpai with a mob ? The distinction is so great that putting them in the same sentence is an act of blasphemy and mad disrespect towards Senpai..

Ugh, I'm losing my cool.

I slapped my cheeks, getting my head straight, as I began to briskly approach the Class's front door I scouted a couple of days ago.

I have already witnessed what Senpai is capable of, from his performances during this school, and I can tell there is no way to match that no matter how much I train. So there is no need for me to doubt Senpai's abilities

Whether Takuya feels the same way or not, he is the one who is tasked to expel Ayanokouji-senpai and I'm only here to witness the battle, that was what we agreed on.

I stopped in front of a door frame and looked up, to find my desired Class's nameplate 'Class 2-A' Where Senpai belongs to. My gaze dropped towards the doorknob where I felt myself gulp and freezing momentarily, with a tingling nervousness running in my stomach.

I hope I will be able to earn his recognition.

Ichinose Honami SS - Longing

( This is pretty much fanservice ( not Ecchi ) but you can skip )

" Good bye Kiyotaka~ see you later "

" See you later, Honami. " He sounded different, Kiyotaka sounded different.

With a dazzling smile on his face, Kiyotaka waved me goodbye as I left his cloistered room early in the morning to head to my student council duties.

However, during the whole way, I was stunned. Absentmindedly following the regular path while my mind was wandering off, thinking about Kiyotaka.

I don't know what suddenly hit me, but I have just realized how different he sounds when talking to me compared to when we started going out, he sounds very different compared to that time.

It's not like I haven't realized it before, it's just that I didn't think about it. But now, it suddenly crossed my mind and occupied it for the whole morning.

From when we woke up and decided to work out, to taking a bath together and eating breakfast, and now. It never left my mind and actively occupied my thoughts.

He sounds more gentle and caring, loving which also made it even more charming and soothing to my heart. Hearing his voice feels like falling in love with him all over again, which was overwhelmingly pleasant for me.

Sigh, this is getting dangerous.

I quickly buried my face in the palm of my hands as I felt my heart flutter in my chest with my cheeks simultaneously heating up, causing me to slow down and lean against the wall.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah I'm going Crazy again~!!!!

I kept quivering against the wall, shaking from left to right trying to get rid of my overflowing emotions . However, they remained.

It took me a couple of minutes to calm down, taking deep elated breaths in order to relax my body. I opened a gap between my hands and checked my surroundings, luckily finding it empty. With a final sigh I stood up and took a 90 degree turn before continuing my walk.

I unconsciously gripped my skirt with both of my hands as I threw a downcast gaze towards the ground, walking towards my destination while trying to hide my beet red face.

Why does this always happen to me ?

Horikita Suzune SS - Dread

" What do you say Horikita ? Do you accept my challenge ? "

Ayanokouji-kun's words echoed through the room, drawing the final straw of our meeting for today.

" There is no way someone in their right mind can propose a challenge like that, even for someone as good as you, Ayanokouji-kun. " I spoke up confidently, throwing my remarks at his ridiculous proposal. He closed his eyes, listening to my words as I kept jabbing him with my words. " This is a no-brainer, I wholeheartedly accept your challenge Ayanokouji-kun, I would finally be able to put you back at your place. "

There is no way I'm losing this, this situation feels so surreal that the thought of me losing feels so ridiculous

I have control over the subject which gives me the edge over him in preparations, unless he gambles on the correct subject. However, this also opens up the option to lie successfully if things won't go my way.

Presuming that Ayanokouji-kun is slightly better than me in Academics, he cannot outperform me without prior preparations. He has to beat me on all 5 subjects while I have to only win 1, to claim my victory.

He is literally playing on my own territory with every disadvantage against unforeseen enemies, while I own every advantage.

Ayanokouji-kun's academic level doesn't surpass our year as many people tend to think, he's simply good at studying at home. I confirmed it using the results of the quiz at the beginning of our first-year where he scored an 80, missing the 3 higher level questions alongside a normal one, this proves that he isn't above us, in terms of academic knowledge

Of course, this might be false and Ayanokouji-kun can solve some random university questions. However, there is no telling that those questions he know would be on the exam, so this is a very safe bet.

We shared a handshake sealing off our deal, with me acting all smugly.

I know I should be careful around Ayanokouji-kun, since he was acknowledged by Nii-san. However, it seems that this boosted Ayanokouji-kun's pride to the point where he can arrogantly make losing bets and claim that he'll win them. It is foolish of him, but I'm not the one to not capitalize on this.

If winning this bet would mean that I will finally get Nii-san's acknowledgement...

Then Game on

Timeskip :

Thud

My tablet left my hand and fell on top of the table as I felt my stomach shooting up and freezing my whole body, as dread kept pouring in every part, paralyzing me.

W-What...

The whole class was silent, Chabashira-sensei was silent, even the screen that displayed the sources of my dread was silent, the birds were silent, the noisy idiots were silent, as we all looked at the screen, shocked.

I-Impossible...

I stared at the screen in disbelief, as my shock put me in a trance. However, I quickly snapped out of it

as I started dreading over my future

V2 Chap 1 : The Threat

Kiyo POV

The whole Class peered through the silence, still under the effects of the results earlier, as a refined young lady briskly walked her way through the door and stood in front of the podium, brilliantly smiling at us, not minding the scrutiny.

" Matsushita-san ? "

" Hmm~? "

Some of my classmates seemed confused as to who the brunette was. However, as soon as they heard Yousuke's confused mutter, they immediately recognized her and got even more confused.

" Wait Chiaki-chan, what are you doing here ? " Ando, one of Matsushita's close acquaintances, emitted out bewilderingly. However, Matsushita only spared her a brief glance, still smiling, before looking back at everyone again, seemingly ignoring her for the time being.

" Alright everyone calm down~ " Chie-sensei clapped her hands with a smile, trying to dissipate the bewilderment within the atmosphere and attract everyone's attention back at her. All of my classmates obeyed with small hesitations, still disturbed by the current chain of events. " Now you may introduce yourself, Chiaki-chan~ "

Chie-sensei, with a smile, turned towards Matsushita and gave her the green light, while calling her by her first name. Matsushita's smile widened as she reciprocated Chie with a nod, before turning to face all of us again.

" My name is Matsushita Chiaki, and starting from today, I'm gonna be your new classmate. It's a pleasure meeting you all~ " Matsushita elegantly introduced herself with an elated tone, holding both of her hands in front of her, posturing her dignity. " Some of you may know me when I used to be in Class D, but now that we are Classmates, I hope you take care of me~ "

With those final words, Matsushita dropped her head, bowing to everyone as a conclusion to her introduction. The Class enveloped in temporary silence, before everyone started emitting their own reactions.

Some looked happy and elated, joyfully staring at Matsushita with brimming eyes, while the others were still confused, failing to process what's going on. Some even looked at me with questioning gazes, seemingly trying to connect the dots. However...

" The pleasure goes both ways Chiaki-chan~ Welcome to the best Class in the world~! " Chie-sensei striked the air above her with a fist, excitedly celebrating with a joyful smile of her own. " The workers are gonna shortly set your desk right at the back of the Class, if you wish to switch seats please just talk to me~ "

" No no, I think it's perfect. " Chie-sensei pointed towards the empty space behind Honami, to which Matsushita followed up with her line of sight. However, her eyes briefly darted towards me before quickly looking back at Chie-sensei and agreeing, with a perfect smile on her face.

Perfect for spying on me hmm ?

" That's great then~! " Chie-sensei clasped her heads together with a satisfied smile, before checking her watch and looking back at us again. " The results should already be out by now and feel free to discuss them for the rest of the homeroom or do whatever you please~ But for now- " Chie-sensei glanced towards me.

" Do you mind coming with me for a moment, Kiyotaka-kun ? "

" Hmm ? " I hummed confusingly at Chie-sensei's sudden request. However, I also noticed how her tone and expression changed as she addressed me.

" The acting director would like to talk with you about the reward for securing first place, so he requested me to summon you. " She elaborated. " He said that it's imperative that you come, so please follow me. "

" I see. " I mumbled, before slowly rising up from my chair and approaching the front door. Getting scrutinized by my peers as I stuffed both of my hands in my pockets and passed through the rows. " Is it gonna take long ? "

" Err~ no, not really. But it'll probably take a while. " Arriving beside her in front of the door, we maintained eye contact for a short moment before she broke it off with a smile, taking this as a cue she turned around as we both stepped out of the room.

I felt so many gazes peering at the back of my head, almost as if forging a hole. However, I felt one particular gaze and turned around to catch it, seeing my gaze she brightly nodded with a smile, seemingly comprehending my message.

I'm glad she understood her role.

I nodded at her, before shifting my attention back towards Chie-sensei's figure and starting to follow her. Honami needs to stay here and handle things while I'm gone, which helps me concentrate more on what's coming next. I'm glad that I can rely on her

" Damn~ what a stunt you decided to pull~ " After the momentarily silence, Chie-sensei stopped on her tracks allowing me to catch up, while eyeing me with a mischievous grin on her face. " Now I can see why my other coworkers were acting all strange as of lately~ They were losing their focus more frequently than not~ "

It seems that the results had a much greater impact on the Teachers as they kept getting back at it, disturbing their attention at work with their lingering thought processes. This behavior seemed to stand out to the other Teachers, who were assigned to different grades at that point of time.

" Were there any talks of me cheating ? "

" No~ but I bet there were a lot of investigations about you and that Kouhai~ Since it isn't everyday someone aces a university level exam. " While walking side by side, Chie-sensei glanced towards, observing me with her calculative gaze before grinning. " It seems that you're much bigger than I thought~ I might have to set higher expectations over you in the future~ "

" Weren't you happy with my performances up until now ? " I raised my eyebrow as I remarked. However, Chie shook her head.

" No~ I meant your abilities, I'm sorry if the wording was wrong. " Chie-sensei apologized for the small misunderstanding, before looking back in front of her. " To be honest, I don't really care whether you hold back or not. I just don't wish for you to leave our Class and become our enemy, nor get expelled in that regard. "

Chie-sensei's beaming face slowly dropped, as well as her tone, as if indicating the seriousness of her words. I slowly observed her go though all of those changes, before shifting my gaze towards the route too.

She has displayed many signs of interest towards ascending to Class A from the very beginning, and she wasn't even discreet about it. From the time I've spent with her so far, she seems to be rather obsessed with it for some reason I am unaware of

Whether a teacher would get compensated if their Class manages to graduate as Class A is still a vague discoverability. However, based on the previous statement, it's pretty easy to notice the inconsistencies of her words.

" Are you perhaps worried about me ? " I joked it off, trying to bring back the lighthearted mood, which seemed to work.

" Hehe of course~ you're my son after all~ " A smile crept back to Chie's face as she looked up to me and responded to my teasing with a grin.

" Ah, mom. I kinda forgot about that. " I feigned ignorance which earned me a chuckle from Chie.

Whatever her motives may be, I simply wouldn't let her use me to fulfill her goals. Whether or not our objectives are in line, I will always move in accordance with my own personal objective, and if they want to make the most out of it, they must board my train.

" Senpaiii~! " Just as we walked across the corner, Amasawa who was standing in front of the director's office immediately noticed me and started waving, before slowly dragging her feet and approaching me.

" Amasawa ? " I curiously mumbled her name as I halted right in front of her, looking at her with my apathetic face. " Were you called to the Director's office too ? "

" Mhm~ I was called to claim my reward~ " She beamed happily with a wide smile, seemingly elated upon seeing me.

" I see. "

Chie-sensei briefly examined our contact with squinting interested eyes, before moving ahead of us just as it was about to end, to avoid being seen snooping around. She gently knocked on the door twice, earning her consent from the other side.

" Pardon me Tsukishiro-chan~ both the students you summoned are here~ " Chie-sensei put on her best facade and unlocked the door, greeting the acting director before informing him of our presence.

" Ah, yes. Tell them to come in. " The voice of the director came from the other side, which impelled Chie-sensei to step aside to allow us in. As soon as Amasawa and I stepped inside, we were greeted by the sight of Tsukishiro, The acting director, sitting at his bureau with a compelling smile over his face. " Thank you for coming here, Ayanokouji-kun and Amasawa-san. "

Chie-sensei gently closed the door behind us, granting us a moment of privacy as if it had been pre-arranged. Amasawa stuffed her hands behind her and flashed a sly smile as I continued to stare at Tsukishiro's face with my underwhelmed look. Tsukishiro met both of our eyes with a smile that never left his face as he slowly swiveled on his revolving chair, looking at us both while his chest was positioned in front of the monitor.

The three of us were engaged in a protracted stare-down, which continued to build the already present tension. With the imaginary shadow of a bad omen hanging over our heads, it appeared as though the room was slowly growing darker. The first to speak, though, was none other than Tsukishiro himself, who had given up trying to hold both of us.

" I suppose I shall congratulate the both of you on achieving the number one spot on- "

" Why don't we skip the pleasantries and get to the main point already ? I wanna go and try sleeping in my new dorm room~ " Amasawa abruptly cut through Tsukishiro, seemingly against the idea of prolonging this meeting, with her silliness still remaining on her face.

" Mhm. I presume that's what you want for your reward then ? " Amasawa nodded at Tsukishiro's question. Receiving her answer, he shifted his eyeballs to me. " What about you Ayanokouji-kun ? Are you asking for the same thing ? "

Similar to Amasawa I nodded, both agreeing to pick the same option. Tsukishiro promptly turned in his chair and opened the desk's drawer, pulling up two keycards and setting them on top of the table, a little farther away from him.

" Those are the keys to your new rooms, to complete the process of your residency you must present them to the receptionist and they'll immediately register you in the system. You could also ask them to forge a key for your roommate and they'll instantly comply. " Tsukishiro explained, simultaneously eyeing us as we both approached his table and grabbed a keycard each.

Their keycards weren't so different compared to the normal ones, they were composed of the same materials with the same characteristics. Aside from the slight change of color and addition of a small calligraphic design, they were pretty identical.

" So we get to choose who we share a room with~? " Amasawa asked, rather excitedly. When Tsukishiro nodded her lips immediately formed a wide devilish grin before looking at me. " Does that mean me and Senpai can sleep in the same room~? "

" Of course, as long as he agrees to it. " Tsukishiro replied positively, before shifting his gaze towards me as well. I slowly turned my head towards Amasawa's face and said

" No. " Amasawa pouted at my monotone rejection. However, Tsukishiro swiftly brought back our attention towards him by clapping his hands.

" Now that the trivial issues are out of the way, it's time to delve into the more pressing matters. " He made some sort of a cue-like motion with his hands, clasping them firmly as I felt a sudden disturbance in the atmosphere. The room abruptly became colder, thicker and more tense all at once. Tsukishiro's smile remained steady, but as the aura around him grew dimmer, it became more foreboding and ominous.

It wasn't something I wasn't used to, since all white room instructors possessed similar auras. However, Tsukishiro was different. His aura was much darker, colder and more frightening, so tense that Amasawa momentarily stiffened up, before quickly adapting to it.

" I have a question for you first, Ayanokouji-kun. " His cold gaze firstly met mine as I reciprocated it with my unchanging expression, completely unfazed. Tsukishiro took a moment to scrutinize me before opening his mouth " Have you managed to find out who the white room student is ? "

My eyes slowly furrowed at Tsukishiro, who kept smiling at me with the same innocent yet sinister smile . Almost as if he was mocking me

" Unfortunately, no. I still have no clue about their identity as of yet. " I offered up a response, which Tsukishiro listened closely with that damned smile on his face. I quickly threw my eyeballs towards Amasawa before drawing them back towards him. " But if Amasawa counts then I guess I know one of them ? "

" I see. " Tsukishiro mumbled loudly, enough for the both of us to hear. He closed his eyes as he leaned into his clasped hands on top of the bureau. " It seems that you went ahead and disclosed information from our ranks to our enemy. Why did you do that, Amasawa-san ? "

His eyes slowly shot open as he simultaneously drew his cold calculative glare towards Amasawa, while asking her with a tone demanding an Answer. Amasawa however, simply shrugged.

" Meh~ I don't care about your stupid operation. " Amasawa exclaimed, with a disinterested look on her face.

" So you're defying our orders then ? " Tsukishiro remarked, raising his eyebrows with a small tilt, almost as if daring Amasawa to say-

" Yes. " She shrugged again. " I have no interest in robbing Senpai from his life at this school~ so you can count me out. "

" I see. " Tsukishiro shifted his posture for the first time, leaning more on the chair while maintaining eye contact with her. " If you keep on going like this, then I would feel the need to issue your expulsion from the white room. "

Tsukishiro commenced with his threat, trying to shake Amasawa off her smugly attitude. However...

" Oh noo~ But hey guess what ? I frankly don't care~ " Amasawa snickered at Tsukishiro's miserable attempts to persuade her, jerking off her hands in the air with a taunting grin on her face.

Not gonna lie, she looked cool right there for a moment.

" Besides~ It's not like you guys have much time left anyways~ If I were you, I'll leave this post and look after my pathetic ass "

" That is very considerate of you. However, I don't feel like there is any need for that. " Hmm ? " That's all, if you don't have any more questions. You're free to step out. "

Tsukishiro waved his hand dismissively, seemingly giving us the consent to leave. Without further ado, I turned around my heels and decided to leave. However...

" I truly wonder what your next move will be, Ayanokouji-kun. " Just as I grabbed a hold of the door's handle, Tsukishiro emitted, halting my movements. With my back facing him, he continued. " You may be in a powerful position right now, with a powerful class to back you up. However, don't get fooled by such power.

" If the head falls, the rest would eventually follow. I wonder what you'll do about the weakness you created for yourself, masterpiece. " Tsukishiro emitted, while I kept carefully registering every single word. I simply offered no response and gripped the handle extra tightly before leaving the office.

" Are you okay Ayanokouji-senpai~? " Amasawa, who was lacking behind me, offered her concerns. However, I turned towards her and nodded.

" I'm perfectly fine. " I reassured her with my usual monotone voice, which seemed to ease her for a tiny bit. I waited for her to catch up before walking side by side. " You didn't have to say all of that earlier though. "

" Yeah~ but I was too caught up in the moment, by bad hehe~ " Amasawa held the back of her head and slipped her tongue playfully. " But regarding that, I don't know if I should tell you this Senpai. But he may have set Cameras inside your new dorm room. "

" Yeah I'm aware. " I replied. " I'll just have to check it later, thank you for your concerns Amasawa. "

" Fufu~ my pleasure Senpai~ "

Soon enough, we were led to a corner where we separated, to go for each of our respective classes. She kept pestering me for a quick peck on the cheek, which I refuted and allowed her to go with a head pat, which seemed to sate her for the time being.

She needed encouragement to deal with her classmates as of now, which is draining no matter how good you are. Attention is bound to be drawn towards her as of now, which is definitely a small change from her life routine.

At least I'm kind of used to this sort of thing, and my classmates are very friendly and understanding. However, I couldn't shake off this small feeling of nervousness, as I started walking closer.

I wonder if they'll judge me as well. Just like how they did..

As I thought about that, some traumatizing memories kept playing in my head. That belongs to when I used to be 8..

I hate my laziness, I despise it, but I simply cannot help it.

Idk what happens with me most of the time, sometimes I cannot write for shit but other times ( like now ) I pull an astounding amount of time and put it to writing ( Legit writing from 4PM to now, which is 12:30 midnight )

Idk what's happening with me, I need help ;-;

Also, School is starting in the 21th, IT GOT DELAYED YAYYYYYYYYYY

I will finish this Volume by that time and probably write Y2V3, and hopefully I can keep up the updates while studying for my college.

Anyways, thank you for reading ! Last part rushed ( as always ) but I hope you like it

Chao~!

V2 Chap 2 : The Reactions

3rd POV

The clock kept ticking between the 8 and 9 AM range, indicating that the morning shifts were already in action. It was working hours for the majority of the Japanese population.

Calls were placed as the automobiles beeped their horns. Children walked to school, and stores opened gradually. It was just another day. However, one particular school was surprisingly bustling with activity during those early morning hours.

It was the 23rd of April, the day of the announcement of the results for the partnering exam, when a tempest descended upon the advanced nurturing high school as a result of two certain individuals' test scores.

Every class belonging to the sophomore region and below actively discussed the results among each other, remaining flabbergasted and in disbelief. However, the most shocked were none other than the classmates of both perpetrators , whose names were broadly displayed on every screen.

Thud

Two of the staff members neatly set up a desk behind seat number 39 inside of Class 2-A, before quickly stepping out of the door and excusing themselves, filling the already silent room with more silence.

It has been this way since Ayanokouji and their homeroom instructor left the classroom and headed toward the director's office. They were unable to communicate because, immediately after, two staff members arrived to prepare the desk for the new student. Matsushita quietly made her way through the unsettling silence-the only one who appeared to be the most conscious of all of them-and then relaxed on her new desk as she waited for it to end.

" He's way bigger than I thought." Matsushita mused to herself as she gazed in awe at the results on the screen. Completely unaware of the fact that the strawberry-haired girl seated right in front of her could hear her low mumbling.

'Bigger ? In what context ?!!' Ichinose thought to herself, as her brain started overloading.

Even though Matsushita did seem to be the most conscious of all of them, she was nonetheless shocked by the results and was absentmindedly staring at the screen with amazement in her eyes. Everyone else also seemed to be zoning out, either lost in thought or unable to break the tense atmosphere.

"Those questions..." In the midst of the deafening silence, a male voice suddenly rang out. Collectively, the students broke from their trances and looked towards a blue-haired boy, whose gaze was fixed on his table. "Those questions in the exam, they weren't high school level, were they ?"

The first words to be emitted in a while belong to Hamaguchi Tetsuya, one of Class A's honor students. He raised his head and looked towards his classmates, peering through his glasses and seeking an answer from them.

"They weren't, Sensei said as much."

"Then how the- How did Ayanokouji-kun manage to solve them ?" Hamaguchi asked, seemingly getting slightly worked up as he posed the question, in an amplified tone.

His inquiry, however, bore no response, as everyone seemed to be as confused as he was. Not only did they have trouble with some of the more difficult ones, they didn't understand the others at all. An honorable mention is the fact that some people tried to solve them using their current knowledge, which inevitably resulted in failure.

Even teachers would have struggled with some of these questions, so the fact that Ayanokouji managed to solve everything flawlessly and without missing a beat is quite astonishing.

One of the most common thought processes is to assume that he cheated, which is something that most people did. However, they either dismissed the thought or forced themselves to think otherwise, so they won't harbor any negative thoughts about their friend.

They didn't really feel betrayed, nor were they dwelling on it too much. The majority of them just lacked the courage to speak because the announcement appeared to have momentarily taken away their ability to speak. Seven seconds of silence followed, and just as it was about to end, another interruption came. This time, it was from a purple-haired girl.

"Honami-chan, you don't look surprised at all" Amikura loudly threw her remarks as she gazed towards her best friend, who appeared to be completely unfazed with her usual smile plastered on her face, which seemed to weird Amikura out "In fact, you look pretty normal. Did you know that this was gonna happen ? "

Soon, this question attracted the attention of the class as they followed up with their gazes and stared at the perpetrator's girlfriend. Ichinose, promptly after being addressed, shifted her head towards Amikura and smiled even more brightly.

"Yes~ I was well aware." Ichinose answered shortly.

"So you must kno- "

"Yes, I know about everything there is to know, and how Kiyotaka managed to ace the exams~" Her words seemed to make everyone gush out any thoughts they had and focus solely on her. Ichinose, realizing she had her classmates's undivided attention, started supplying them with information. "I can assure you that he didn't cheat, and solved all the questions fairly"

"But-"

"I know, I know what I said. But please hear me out" Ichinose quickly cut off her classmates before anyone could voice any response, asking them to be patient, which everyone seemed to obey. Ichinose let out a sigh before looking back at her classmates with a bitter smile. "Kiyotaka has told some of you that he was home-schooled right ?"

"Yeah, I do recall him saying that." Kanzaki supported, which Honami nodded at.

"Yes, but the thing is, Kiyotaka did not have the best childhood as his father forced him to learn a lot of stuff at a very young age. Not only that, but he also trained his body so he would become very strong. He wanted his son to be perfect, so he imposed a rough training schedule on him." Ichinose explained to her classmates with a simple tone, avoiding her classmates' eyes while staring bitterly at the table. "Because of this, Kiyotaka doesn't like talking about his past. So please don't ask him about it when he returns, and also please don't judge him. He doesn't want his first friends to start avoiding him. Please don't force yourselves to talk to him or act sympathetic towards him; he doesn't want to be treated any differently from the rest of us."

Ichinose pleaded her classmates as she finally lifted her head to meet their eyes, revealing a spark in both of her eyes. Even while she was acting for a minor part of it and wasn't completely honest with her classmates, just half the truth was enough to make her depressed and detest that man for the rest of eternity.

Everyone's expressions quickly changed to one of realization as the intensity of their looks progressively waned, growing more sympathetic at the cause of her elaboration. Everyone's minds gradually arrived towards the same conclusion, and their respect for Ayanokouji started amplifying.

She could have definitely refused to elaborate and keep a part of his part under wraps, which is something that did indeed cross her mind. However, she feared that people would begin to turn away from her boyfriend as a result of their realization that he was distinctively superior to and different from them, the feeling that he was unapproachable. Which is something she didn't want to happen.

"I see.. Well... It's not like we were gonna do any of that"

"Eh ?" Ichinose lifted her head and gazed towards the source of the voice, with a hint of surprise in her eyes. The voice belonged to a boy with dirty-blonde hair, who was smiling brightly at her.

"Kiyotaka-kun has helped me so much in the past, so I'm not willing to avoid him just because of that. Well, I'm not speaking for everybody here, but I'm sure that most of you guys agree with me, right ?" Hirata, shifted his eyes from Ichinose and faced his classmates, as he proposed a question. Ichinose instinctively followed with her gaze, to find even a bigger surprise awaiting her.

"I definitely agree with you Hirata-kun~! Ayanokouji-kun is our friend, there is no way we're gonna abandon him !" Minamikata's voice rose up and echoed loudly, cheerfully supporting Hirata's words. Most of the Class nodded at his words, with smiles on their faces.

"We've spent a lot of time with Ayanokouji-kun during the past year and became close friends, we may have our differences but who cares ?" Shibata animatedly rotated his head around the Class, seeking approval, which he seemed to have earned.

"He may have lived differently than the rest of us, but we aren't the ones to dwell on that." Kanzaki also offered, with a thin smile.

"You guys..." Ichinose murmured to herself as she observed her animated class shrug off her comments with smiles on their faces as if it wasn't a concern at all. This was not what she was imagining at all; Instead, she imagined a more tight and seclusion-like atmosphere, with more tense stares. So this was a surprise for her, a pleasant one.

"Damn that bastard of a father, I wanna punch him so bad" Amikura clenched her first in front of her face and started cursing that man. Shibata instantly started calming her down, with a troubled but cheerful smile on his face.

( A/N: Idk why I thought Ayanopapa x Mako when I wrote this. Please forgive me~ )

Honami POV

Just why exactly was I worried ? Thinking that this would be hard..

I couldn't help but smile as the class immediately resumed its regular upbeat and humorous mood, as if nothing had happened. Everyone seemed to have accepted my explanation and already moved on, which is something I found great reassurance in.

Maybe, just maybe, someday they'll come to accept him as a whole as well. Hopefully-

"What about Amasawa-san ?"

...Ah

With seemingly harmless intentions, Yume-chan directed both of her gaze and question towards me after staring at the screen for long enough, snapping me out of my thoughts. The Class gradually became quieter as they recognized Yume-chan's question.

"Yeah ! They act like they know each other from before and she also scored high. Was she homeschooled with him ?"

"A-Ah.. About that. I don't-"

"That was indeed the case, Kobashi-girl." A new but familiar tone of voice echoed within the room, cutting through me as well as silencing the murmurs as everyone's attention was drawn to Kouenji-kun, who was sitting behind Kiyotaka's chair with his legs crossed and on top of each other on top of the table, with a smile on his face. "However, Kiyo-boy didn't get to learn about Ichika-girl's existence, while both of her and I did. "

"Hmm ? What do you mean Kouenji-kun ?" Sayo-chan curiously asked, seemingly not understanding Kouenji-kun's words.

Kouenji-kun finally opened his eyes as everyone's attention was on him, with his usual smirk remaining unfazed. When his eyes caught mine, he looked at me briefly, appearing to say, "I'll take it from here" before turning to face the other way, and shifting the positions of his legs.

"You see, the top executives of corporations not only strive to have the best sales, but they also have their own competition to create the best successor for their companies after they retire" Kouenji-kun once more closed his eyes and adjusted his head position as he began to deceive our classmates in a dignified and professional manner befitting a high level businessman. "which is why they prepare their children so they can take over and outperform the other heirs"

"Wait, you mean..." Collective mumbles could be from my classmates as they all spaced out and tried to connect the dots. My eyes slightly shot up at the realization that- " So Amasawa-san is also an heir to her father's business ?"

Our classmates gradually came to the same conclusion as they looked at one another, seeking confirmation from each other. After giving them the necessary utensils, Kouenji-kun stopped talking and let them come to their own conclusions, or more like manipulating them. He didn't even twitch or give off any indicators of doing so, and simply sat on his seat with a completely normal composure.

Damn... Strong people are scary...

I didn't know what to do with Amasawa-san so I was planning to feign ignorance and let Kiyotaka handle it in case they asked. Kiyotaka is the wiser so it's better to let him do it than to make up a falsehood out of thin air that would later come back to haunt us. However, that didn't happen since Kouenji-kun caught my back with a perfectly made up lie.

"Damn, I wanna punch them too." Mako-chan childishly clenched her fist again, seemingly adding more people to her list of targets. Which earned her a couple of laughs from my classmates.

The Class has already moved on again, as they all engaged in lighthearted chatter with businessmen as their main topic. It was certainly a marvelous turn of events, one that I couldn't ask for more.

I hope Kiyotaka will be happy with this..

This is the best I could do, and without Kouenji-kun's help it could have definitely been worse. However, I'm pretty content with how things turned out, I hope he shares the same sentiment too.

Speaking of Kiyotaka, according to my soulmate intuition, he should arrive just about no-

"Oh, welcome back Ayanokouji-kun !" Bingo..

The whole class, including me, turned to greet the newly arrived Ayanokouji Kiyotaka who stood in front of the newly opened door, with the same apathetic look as ever. His beautiful golden orbs scanned the whole class, meeting everyone's eyes as they all looked back at him with smiles.

"Hello guys." He greeted back with a small wave, as he stood in front of the door and scanned some more, he looked like he was waiting for questions. However, I could definitely tell that he was confused by all of this

"Congratulations on achieving the top spot, Kiyotaka-kun !" Hirata-kun walked up towards Kiyotaka and smiled, congratulating him on winning first-place.

"Congratulations, Ayanokouji-kun~!" The Class gradually congratulated Kiyotaka, whether it was from their seats or walking up to him. Kiyotaka simply stared at the group in front of him, still confused. Which honestly looked quite cute~

"Thanks guys." Kiyotaka thinly smiled as he collected everyone's regards, seemingly appreciating them. His eyes shortly afterwards met mine, as he slowly made his way towards my desk. "Just what exactly did you tell them ?"

"Is that a way to greet me after I've done so much work for you~?" My smile formed to a pout as I averted my gaze from Kiyotaka's apathetic face. I heard him lightly inhale, seemingly about to talk. However

"Is that a way to treat a new transfer student to your class~? I thought Class A was more welcoming than this~" From the corner of my eyes, Matsushita-san exclaimed before mimicking my movement and pouting, seemingly trying to tease us.

"Welcome to our Class, Matsushita." Kiyotaka looked towards her and spoke with a deadpan look, completely bored at her. However, this spectacle seemed to attract the rest of the Class.

"Oh, welcome to our Class~ Matsushita-san~!" The Class gradually turned around, with her friends approaching her table as they all started to offer their warm welcoming to Matsushita-san. Her pout instantly dissipated, as she was kept busy with all the greetings.

Kiyotaka explained that he had some cash left and decided to use it in order to attain more allies, which was a lie since I was already aware of how much money he has. He also noted that Matsushita-san would be the last student he transfers, at least for the time being.

There was still plenty of time left, so everyone started discussing the results. They seemed to be pretty satisfied with how much they scored, which was higher than what the school predicted them to. However, that seemed to be the case with every other Class.

Whether the school intentionally lowered the expectations or everyone improved would remain a mystery. However, it didn't affect the enthusiasm of the class, as everyone seemed happy with their results, regardless of what happened.

" Nene Ayanokouji-kun~ I forgot to ask~" Mako-chan suddenly lifted her head and spoke up, staring at Kiyotaka who was beside her with both of her lips pressed tightly against each other, stifling a grin while looking at him with expectant eyes."What did you choose as your first-place reward~?"

Mako-chan asked curiously, and in anticipation of Kiyotaka's words. Her question attracted the attention of my friends including mine, as I excitedly followed up my gaze towards him.

"Oh, I got the coed dormitory residency." Kiyotaka replied before taking out a golden colored keycard, which looked similar to the ones we had and displayed it to everyone."I'll just have to show it to the receptionist and-"

"Hehe~ what a good looking card~" Mako-chan swiftly snatched the card away from Kiyotaka's hand and inspected it closely, shifting it from one position to another and discerning it, with a wide grin on her face. "Congratulations on your new apartment Ayanokouji-kun."

Mako-chan handed back the card after feeling satisfied enough, which Kiyotaka accepted as he thanked her back. Instantly, her gaze landed at me which halted my excitement, before slowly leaning in to my ear and whispering

" Now that you have nothing in your way~ Make sure to use the 'things' I gave you" At the 'things' My heart skipped a beat and my face started heating up, as I realized what things she was talking about.

With a satisfied grin, Mako-chan lifted her head away and walked back, while tracking me with her gaze. I lightly gulped and tried to compose myself, while staring back at her.

But little did you know Mako-chan...

I already used them... hehe~

I guess it's common trend at this point, me apologizing for delaying the update again and explains how fucking lazy and unmotivated I am. Literally, I want to write but I cant... FUCK WHOEVER MADE THIS KIND OF CONTRADICTORY IN HUMANS-

Anyways, do you guys want Honami to get a 'reward' for handling the situations perfectly ? Yeah, you know what I'm talking about ( ͡ ͜ʖ ͡)

Thank you for reading

Cya.

V2 Chap 3 : 'This isn't over'

Kiyo POV

It's been a few hours since the announcement of the results, and now classes are back in session.

Following the announcement was Tsukishiro's call, which went pretty smoothly to say the least. Whether he bit into my fake displeasure would remain a mystery. However, it's always a good idea to concoct illusions to trick your opponent to take the wrong action.

I am well aware of my weaknesses and any exploitable blind spots, which makes it all the easier to defend against. If he believed he was able to get me by using such a mundane trick as provocation, he would be completely mistaken. But it'll remain a very conceivable option in his mind.

And as long as he has too many options, picking the right one would be the hardest course of action.

I tapped my tablet, scrolling through the next chapter as I raised my head and looked at my surroundings, mostly surveying Chabashira-sensei's movements before inconspicuously dropping my gaze back and picking up where I left off.

Of course, I was keeping up with my usual habit of Manga consumption since it was the most enjoyable method for me to spend time during those torturous classes. It's not like a teacher could hold me accountable for this, right? In fact, I somehow feel even more justified in doing so after the results this morning.

Speaking of the results, I was genuinely surprised at my classmates' reactions to them ever since I came back from Tsukishiro's office this morning. For a day that my life took a major turn, the class seemed to be pretty normal, and I wasn't subjected to as much scrutiny as I expected I would be. Of course, this obviously had to do with something Honami orchestrated.

I feel compelled to give her a reward for the amazing work she's done. I was certainly not expecting that outcome. She'll feed me the details later on to keep me updated. But for now, checking out our new dorm-room takes top priority.

The evening bell is slowly approaching, which is the time scheduled for us to check out our brand new room. Honami was so excited about it this morning, so we decided to do it as soon as possible. Our friends would also be accompanying us, which was something she welcomed with open arms

Personally, I didn't have any problems with this arrangement aside from the cheeky grins the girls gave one another. I have spent more than a year in this class and I am fully aware of what this indicates. Believe me, I learned it the hard wa-

Hmm ?

Instinctively, I abruptly cut through my reading session and lifted my head to meet Chabashira-sensei, who was momentarily staring at me from the top of the podium. Just as I caught it, she immediately averted her eyes towards her desk in a slightly awkward manner

When I said that the class was normal, I pretty much meant my classmates. I couldn't help but notice the teachers scrutinize me from time to time during the sessions. I was slowly getting agitated by it, but thankfully, the afternoon bell came to the rescue.

" Mmmmnyaaaaah~" As Chabashira-sensei left the classroom with her tail between her knees, Honami puffed up her chest and began to stretch her hands in the air while making some adorable noises. She let out a happy sigh, looked around, and then fixed her eyes on me while smiling brightly. "Ready for our little adventure~?"

I didn't vocally respond and simply nodded back at her with a smile of my own, which she seemed to reciprocate. She smiled even more widely before getting up on her feet and taking the lead, while simultaneously gripping her pockets and taking out the golden keycard while I was slowly trailing behind her.

I decided to let her hold onto the keycard since she already seemed to be in love with it and kept pressing me to keep it, just like a little child pressing their parents for some candy. She already installed the mini-version of me in it as if she was already claiming ownership, which was quite quick to say the least

However, I couldn't help but notice the doll becoming damp as if a faint shadow was being cast over it. It appeared a little darker since the colors were slightly washed away, which triggered my curiosity since its condition wasn't supposed to deteriorate this quickly..

"Hon-"

"Oh? Fancy bumping into you here, Ayanokouji-senpai ! " Just as I was about to ask her, a group of individuals appeared right by the entrance of the hallway and abruptly interrupted us. Leading me to pause and look towards the direction of the caller, to find a familiar white-haired boy with green eyes approaching us, with his group lacking behind as he smiled widely at us.

"Oh, Takahashi-kun ! Good afternoon " Honami greeted him back the instance she recognized him, with a smile of her own.

( A/N : Yep, I'm on drugs. I keep on changing his hair colors [Well this is the only time I did it] But this is the last time )

"Good afternoon to you too as well, Ichinose-senpai" Takahashi slightly bowed his head at Honami, who responded with the same. Before shifting his eyes towards me

"So, how may we help you today ?" Honami decided to take the initiative in the conversation and talk to Takahashi, who yet again, shifted his gaze from me towards her with his smile slightly extending.

"Oh, I came here to congratulate Ayanokouji-senpai on taking first place in the exam. I was certainly not expecting that." Takahashi expressed his motives through his words, before shifting his head towards me and grinning. "So congratulations, Ayanokouji-senpai."

It was by this time our friends finished packing and approached us as a group, casting curious glances at Takahashi and his group over our shoulders. Contrary to Takahashi's expression, everyone in his group gave me wary looks while displaying some small hints of hostility in their eyes. However, I couldn't focus much on that, since the person below me had a similar yet distinct expression of his own

Takahashi's smile wasn't his usual cozy one, it was an eerie expression hidden behind a calculative gaze in a halfhearted manner, seemingly not intending to hide it in the first place. Honami looked perplexed as she stared at him, her expression becoming solemn as the atmosphere descended into tense silence. However...

"Thanks" I replied monotonously, unfazed by this whole ordeal, which resulted in Takahashi cocking his brow. "You didn't do badly yourself. Congratulations on being second to me."

"...Thank you, Senpai" Takahashi's eyebrow twitched in annoyance at my words. However, he managed to keep his tone in check and continued speaking. "However, doesn't that bring us to our main question for the day ?

"How did you do it, Ayanokouji-senpai ?"

Takahashi's question echoed through the quiet hallways, as it traveled the distances. The class was quiet, the moment they noticed our contact they joined the audience and silently spectated. Takahashi's expression remained unchanging. However, his voice sounded persuasive and stern, as if commanding me to spill the answers for him.

"Do what ?" My answer However, was playing dumb

His group of admirers started getting frustrated at me as their rage slowly became more apparent. However, it quickly faded as Takahashi began speaking

"Don't take me for a fool, Ayanokouji-senpai. How did you manage to do it ?" Takahashi inquired sternly, not budging against my obvious ruse and strengthening his tone, seemingly having enough of it. "Did you perhaps cheat ? Or maybe you knew the exam questions in advance ? It wouldn't be farfetched, given that your partner also scored as high"

It wouldn't be farfetched to think that way since sharing the exam sheets with my partner is a pretty plausible thought. However, it's not foolproof either.

"If that's the case, wouldn't it be best if I shared the questions with my classmates and earned a better ranking ?"

"Yes, but you couldn't do that. Since you'll make it too obvious that you obtained the questions beforehand" Takahashi argued, trying to unravel the truth by throwing me to a corner.

"If you're insisting that I got the questions in advance. Then can you tell me how did I obtain them ?" I raised an eye, humoring his thoughts for the time being.

However

"Oh my, this is quite the commotion."

Takahashi's jaw hung open when a sudden voice interrupted the both of us, stopping him from speaking. His eyes immediately darted towards the end of the hallway in a slight fierce manner, where he was greeted by a smug from none other than the queen of Class B herself.

"Sakayanagi..." muttered one of Takahashi's henchmen. Sakayanagi appeared right before our eyes with her usual entourage, consisting of Hashimoto, Kito, and Kumoro. They were all standing firmly behind her with stern expressions, while Sakayanagi herself was staring smugly at the both of us.

A tense silence enveloped the hallway as the three parties engaged in a stare down, glaring at each other with solemn expressions. The audience slowly built up as most of my classmates stayed in the class, watching this exchange as soon as they caught wind of it. The bystanders stared at us with interest as they stayed motionless in their positions. When I realized this, I sighed internally.

Too much for a fun evening

"Is there anything you want from us, Sakayanagi-senpai ?" Takahashi opened his mouth first and asked, with a sweet smile, seemingly regaining his usual composure. This drew Sakayanagi's attention and fixed on him.

"Ah no, I just came here in hopes of catching Ayanokouji-kun so I could congratulate him on a very well-deserved victory" Sakayanagi slightly lifted her head as she spoke to Takahashi, showing a small glimmer of confidence as her smug widened, before bouncing it back towards me. "I must say, that was a very impressive display of skills, Ayanokouji-kun. It appears that I have lost this one."

At Sakayanagi's words, I gave her a nod, which sealed the deal for one unexpectedly long war. This goes back to paper shuffle, when I called Sakayanagi for a secret meeting to ignite the revolution in Ryuuen's class. We've been on this for months, and have finally managed to outscore her after so many ties.

"Impressive skills ? Well-deserved ? What are you on about ?" Takahashi exclaimed, confusingly narrowing his eyes at the both of us, seemingly not catching on our conversation.

"That should be my line Takahashi-kun, what are you on about ?" Sakayanagi stressed her words as she scowled at Takahashi questions, while glaring at him with a slightly annoyed expression.

"How is it impressive when the way it's achieved is by cheatin-

"You must be really stupid if you think that Ayanokouji-kun cheated on the exam."

"What ?" Takahashi exclaimed loudly, slightly glaring at Sakayanagi who let a sigh upon receiving his reaction.

"The way Ayanokouji-kun achieved perfect scores is purely by his own abilities, nothing more, nothing less."

"There is no way-"

"If you don't have any evidence to back up your claims then simply refrain from making any assertions. Considering it would be regarded as a defamatory act." Sakayanagi ignored Takahashi's protests and kept rebuking him, with her smug reappearing in her face. Takahashi's group glared at her. However, Takahashi himself started chuckling.

"I see, I see what this is all about" Takahashi smirked at Sakayanagi, who stared back at him with an unwavering smugness, anticipating his next words. He threw a quick glance at me before fixating his eyes on her and beginning his blabbering."If I recall correctly, isn't your father in charge of everything at this school, Sakayanagi-senpai ?"

Sakayanagi's smugness dissipated the instant her father's name was mentioned, as it was replaced by a frown. Seeing this, Takahashi smirked widely as everyone saw the direction this was going.

"Unfortunately, he is currently placed under house arrest, for some ' unknown' reasons, so he cannot carry on with his duties. But maybe, just maybe, he still has access to the school's private data, where all the exams are stored." Takahashi took multiple pauses during his accusation, allowing his words to slowly sink into our heads. With a taunting grin, he gazed at both of us while demonstrating with his hands. "It would also make sense why Sakayanagi-senpai is defending hi-"

"Oh just shut up will ya ?" Sakayanagi's blood was boiling, to the point it became more apparent as Takahashi kept ranting about her and her father. However, just as she was about to snap, a voice chimed in, which majorly disrupted the flow of the conversation, drawing everyone's gaze towards the other side of the hallway. "Take your bullshit somewhere else. No one here wants to hear any of your retarded statements."

The expressions of those around us shifted when a fourth party entered the rapidly growing commotion. Ryuuen approached us from the open side of the hallway with his own gang lacking behind him, grinning amusedly and looking as intimidating as ever. Just as he completed our circle, Takahashi looked at him with a glare.

"Now what do you want ?" Takahashi annoyingly asked.

"For you to fuck off." With his hands shoved deep in his pockets, Ryuuen stood in front of Takahashi and emitted, almost as if kicking him out by his gaze and words alone. Takahashi's group apprehensively retreated behind him, hiding behind Takahashi while fixating their glares on Ryuuen, who was unfazed by them all. "I have some important shit to get with those two, way more important than your asspulls"

"So you need both Ayanokouji-senpai and Sakayanagi-senpai ? Can't you talk with them while I'm here ?"

"No, because we're talking about things kids don't understand"

"Did you just call me a kid ?" Takahashi snapped.

"Kuku Yeah, what of it ?" Ryuuen nonchalantly taunted Takahashi with an unwavering smirk that got wider the more he talked. Takahashi seemingly getting infuriated, glared at Ryuuen intimidatingly, which seemed to shake off the audience. However, Ryuuen was unfazed and he seemed ready to butt heads with him any time now.

"Now now kids, please calm down and refrain from fighting inside the school's premises." Before things could escalate, a teacher appeared behind Sakayanagi with a wry smile and attempted to diffuse the situation. However, I couldn't help but pay them extra attention as I instantly recognized them. "You're making a big scene here, so I'ma have to have to ask you to stop it here and break up."

"Tsk." Takahashi clicked his tongue at the appearance of a staff member and felt compelled to leave. However, he shifted his glare at both me and Honami before he could do so. "Ayanokouji, this isn't over yet. I refuse to admit defeat to a liar like you. I'm going to flesh you out and bring the truth to light, that you're nothing but a fraud."

"Fufufufufuufufufufufufufu/Kukukukukukukukuku" Both of the lunatics laughing maniacally. Which caused Takahashi's brow to irk a little. However, his gaze remained latched at me.

"...Okay, good luck." I didn't know how to exactly respond so I simply wished him luck since it is always a pleasant thing to say. However, it seems to have enraged him even further.

With an annoyed huff, Takahashi brushed past the black haired instructor and walked away from the scene, with the two maniacs laughed hysterically behind his back. However, before he could walk past the corner, he gradually slowed down and scanned my Class, including my friends behind me, before slowly fading to the corner

His crew gradually followed behind him, not before sending us a mixture of glares varying from hostile to weird ones. Sakayanagi and Ryuuen slowly calmed down, as tears formed to both of their eyes.

"Kukuku Fraud he said, I can't." Ryuuen sneered, before laughing once more.

"Alright, you three should also-"

"Don't worry Shiba-sensei, we aren't going to cause any more problems." Sakayanagi cut through the black haired instructor apparently named Shiba and assured him. He gave her an indicative nod before turning around his heels and leaving the scene as well.

Shiba huh ? I wonder what's his relationship with Tsukishiro

I wondered while peering at the back of his head as he calmly walked straight ahead without taking any turns. He was the same person who was with Tsukishiro during spring break and caught both mine and Hashimoto's gaze at that time. He is a new staff member who is working as a teacher, which definitely calls for some concern.

"Alright, shall we go, Ayanokouji-kun ?" Sakayanagi called out to me after the situation quieted down, which snapped me out of my thoughts and caused me to look at her.

"Oh, right" I turned around to face my friends behind me, who all looked at me expectantly. "Can you guys wait outside the school for me ? I won't take too long."

"That's fine. See you there, Kiyotaka-kun !" Yousuke reassured me before walking off with my friends towards the entrance. Honami turned around and gave me a wave, which I reciprocated, before turning towards the smirking duo behind me and facing them apathetically.

"Let's go." With Sakayanagi in between, the three of us marched together in the hallway, keeping up with each other's paces as we walked past the bystanders into a more deserted place. Both of Ryuuen and Sakayanagi's entourages also spread out, leaving us to our own devices.

"Ryuuen-kun, why did you come here ?" When the space was deserted enough, Sakayanagi initiated the conversation with a small question, while glaring at Ryuuen with a glimmer of annoyance.

"Don't talk to me like that, Arisu. Because if I hadn't appeared, you would have lost it just because Papi was getting insulted Kukukukuku" Ryuuen poked fun at Sakayanagi with a snicker, which caused her to get more irate.

"So, what did you two want to talk to me about ?" I stopped walking and faced ahead, where the two of them took a sharp turn and parked right in front of me. With just myself and the two smirking figures in front of me, the corridor was essentially safe to hold a secret meeting.

Almost as if they were in sync, they both threw glances at each other before grinning even more smugly, seemingly understanding each other's intention by their mere gazes, which intrigued my curiosity and caused me to raise an eyebrow. They both landed their gazes on mine as Sakayanagi opened her mouth

"So Ayanokouji-kun, who is Amasawa-san ?" Sakayanagi posed the million dollar question with her usual smug tone of voice. However, her eyes were scrutinizing me, eyeing me closely for any slips ups in my body language.

"Kuku, you completely read my intentions." Ryuuen seemingly on the same page as Sakayanagi, snickered before eyeing me as well, adding more peer pressure on my shoulders.

I couldn't lie and pretend that I didn't know her since Ryuuen had clearly spotted me strolling the school with her back on the very first day of the exam. I also can't sell any half-baked lies because they already have a strong impression of our connection, especially Sakayanagi, who has probably figured out Amasawa Ichika's true identity.

Nevertheless, if anything Honami said during my absence would circulate around the school, the lie I came up with here would pretty much come back to bite me in the ass. Which would be a long-term inconvenience for me

"I don't have any obligations to answer that." I refrained from saying anything and rejected their question. However, they seem to have expected that.

"That's fine, I already thought you wouldn't give as much of a response" Sakayanagi mused. However, she slightly tilted her head and eyed me suspiciously again. "But Ayanokouji-kun, is she what I think she is ?"

"I'll leave that to your own imagination." As I expected from Sakayanagi, she seems to already have an idea about her true identity, which is most likely true. However, I refrained from confirming anything.

"Kuku 'What do you think she is ?' Loli you gotta tell me about that one later." Ryuuen snickered as he addressed Sakayanagi with her most dreadful nickname. However, she didn't seem to mind it since she had her full attention on me.

"Now that you asked one of your questions, I'll ask one of mine too." I spoke up, which snapped Sakayanagi out of her daze and she curiously looked at me as well as Ryuuen. Having both of their attention, I eyed both of them closely before continuing. "Are you two working together ?"

There weren't many signs indicating that Ryuuen and Sakayanagi were cooperating behind the scenes, since even their classmates seemed to be unaware of this. However, those small cues I picked up made me question it and inquire about it.

"Kuku, we don't have any obligation to answer that."

"Fair enough." I said, before turning around and preparing to leave. "This has been a very productive conversation, Ryuuen, Sakayanagi. If there is nothing else then I'll be taking my leave."

"No, that's all Ayanokouji-kun. Have a nice evening." Sakayanagi dismissed me with a small smug, which I nodded at before I turned to face Ryuuen.

"Kuku, yeah." Ryuuen emitted before waving me off.

"You too." With that, we bid our farewells as we each walked to our separate directions, each left with his space.

This conversation has been pretty productive indeed, since I have pretty much confirmed my suspicions. However, it seems that it went both ways, as Ryuuen and Sakayanagi has harvest something from this as well.

It seems that I have become a major incentive for these two to actually try in an environment they deemed as boring from the start. Sakayanagi was only interested in competing with me, while Ryuuen was only seeking his own satisfaction and wasn't taking the competition very seriously. There is no doubt that those two would have clashed together in a normal environment. However, it seems that my existence brought their similarities together and united them for one goal, which is to defeat me.

Even if I win countless times against them, it would be far from over since they'll be coming back at me with everything they've got, until I eventually crumble and fall. However, even when that happens, they'll come back and beat me until I have no life left within me, and they'll probably continue afterwards. That is how strong their fighting spirit truly is.

I wonder if the white room student possesses a similar kind of spirit too. However, my attention would always remain on those two since observing their growth is much more interesting.

Honami shouldn't be forgotten either, since she is my pride and joy. It's a shame I can't compete with her like those two, because her input would add a whole new level of ambiguity. However, this isn't too bad either...

I feel excited, somewhat impatient, to face the future. There are 2 years left in our high school life, which means a lot of challenges to come ahead. It's been quite a while since the last time I felt excited about a challenge, since they wer-

Vrrrt

Hmm ?

My train of thought was interrupted by a text message received on my phone, which I immediately picked up and opened. I was slowly getting over the contents, and as I was done, I lifted my head to look ahead.

An unknown number... huh ?

Oh god, this chapter was awfully hard to complete

even after I took a small hiatus, it was still hand. But thankfully, idk what happened and I manage to finish the last part quite easily, so Ws for that.

AND YES, I'M NOT DEAD, YOU'RE DEAD.

Jk, I'm losing my mind cuz it's midnight.

Well yeah, I made Takahashi a clown, I know, but I need more clowns

He has more to his character tho, I recommend you just read next

School started, which means I won't be able to upload frequently, so expect at max weekly updates.

Love you guys, my back hurts and I don't want to be here anymore

Love you

V2 Chap 4 : Relationships

K : [ So, what subject did you choose ? ]

H : [ I will not accept until your cheating suspicions are cleared ]

K : [ Come on, if I did cheat, I wouldn't be talking to you right now ]

H : [I decline]

K : [ Listen, I don't want to hear any objections. I have the recording of our deal and it's a simple one-click delivery ]

H : [ Alright stop. I'll hear you out. But I won't do it until all the suspicions are cleared ]

K : [ Fair enough.]

I sent one last text before shutting my phone off and stuffing it back into my pocket, as I calmly made my way through the serene hallways of the school's building, heading towards the entrance, where most of my friends were waiting for me.

My encounter with Ryuuen and Sakayanagi ended a few seconds before my talk with Horikita, which resulted in us stalling our deal for an indefinite amount of time. However, I highly doubt it'll take long given that the school is already on the move. Since they haven't contacted me, it's safe to assume they haven't found anything meaningful. which only works in my favor since this suspense would only help Horikita's dread grow even further.

"There you are, Ayanokouji-kun !" Shibata was the first person to see me approach the lobby among everyone else who was waiting there. His greeting prompted them to look in my direction and smile, including Shibata, as I landed in front of their faces.

"Sorry to keep you waiting guys"

"Nah it's coooool~ We didn't wait for long~" Amikura brushed off my apology with a dismissive wave before leaping forward, grabbing Shibata's hand, and strongly pulling him close towards her. "Now that you're here, let's get going~!"

Amikura enthusiastically announced and moved forward, taking the lead and only concentrating only on what's in front of her, not caring about the poor Shibata who's being forcefully taken away. My classmates shared wholesome chuckles before lagging behind her with similar spirits. Honami walked in front of me and extended her hand, which I gladly accepted, entwining both our fingers, as I smiled back at her.

With us side by side, we trotted forward and caught up with our classmates before joining them in their chat. Just when we arrived, Honami suddenly chuckled before meeting my eyes and squinting her blue orbs while smiling even more warmly.

"So, what are you planning to do with the dorm room, Honami-chan ?" Amikura suddenly posed a question and addressed it to Honami, while looking back expectantly at the both of us.

"Heh, they are going to sleep in it of course. What else would they- Oww"

"Shut up, I wasn't talking about that." She instantly looked at Shibata and punched him in the guts, causing him to choke on his words before looking back and sizing us again. I slightly huffed from the amount of strength she used as I paid my respects to Shibata. However, he looked like he slightly enjoyed it. "From the pictures Sensei showed us, the room looks pretty bland, devoid of any furniture. So I was thinking you might have some plans to furnish it"

The room was an open space, slightly smaller than the double size of the regular dorm rooms, according to the pictures. Nevertheless, it was spacious with a lot of customizable features. I could even move out my gym utensils there and still have a lot more space to work with. You would never get the sense of claustrophobia or any need to get rid of stuff to create space, since it was perfectly designed against it.

"I'm not sure yet~ but I have thought of some ideas and combos I'd like to try out." Honami replied to them in an honest and gentle tone, after breaking away from my gaze.

"If that's the case, then why don't you leave it to us Honami-chan~!"

"Eh~? You sure about that, Yume-chan~?" Honami looked at Kobashi with inquiring eyes, who responded with a beaming nod and a smile.

"Why not Honami-chan ? We have many talents over there~" Amikura circulated her hand, gesturing at our group, before briefly glancing specifically towards the female population, consisting of herself, Ando, Minamikata , Kobashi, Matsushita, and lastly, Shiranami. "Of course, let's not forget about Chihiro-chan's amazing sense of art and creativity, which even rivals Picasso and his almighty head. She is so great that she even thought once about a situation where a Yuri happened between a man and a woma-"

"Aaaaaaah ! Please stop~!!!!" Shiranami squealed embarrassingly, before digging her face deep into her hands and screamed to cut it off. Which made Amikura stop. However, it didn't stop her grin from curling up.

"What is Yuri ?" Out of nowhere, an innocent male voice echoed, which brought the flow to a halt and drew everyone's gaze towards the source. Yousuke, who was spectating the show with an elated smile, furrowed his eyebrows as soon as he heard an unfamiliar word and inquired about it.

Everyone was clueless about their next move, as they awkwardly glanced at each other, seemingly trying to figure it out. I simply remained calm and observed this spectacle unfold while stopping myself from grinning as hard as I could.

Unfortunately for them, I'm not as innocent as they think I am, not anymore. Due to me clicking on a certain manga during the past month, I have learned what 'Yuri' means alongside other similar terms. Which makes me even more cultured than the almighty Hirata Yousuke himself.

Now, I'm no longer inferior to those around me when it comes to anime knowledge. I have read hundreds of manga and light novels during the past month, from the very first day my tablet was handed over. Now, I'm no longer exposed to bullying in this part.

On a similar note, I have come to learn what 'harem' means during my journey. However, if I state that loudly Honami would probably murder me, so I'm keeping it hidden for now. Although, I do understand where her fears are coming from. However, even after delving deeper into it and seeing how nice it was, I'm simply not interested .

Moreover

"Matsushita, you came as well ?" Nobody had spoken in ages, and Yousuke was about to emit a second word. I shifted my gaze towards Matsushita and loudly addressed her with a question, curious about her appearance and also, shifting everyone's attention towards her. "I don't remember you being invited when we talked at the meeting."

"Ah~ about that. Yes, I wasn't originally invited" She snapped out of her daze and looked back at me before answering, with her voice drastically calming down. She glanced at Ando and Minamikata before continuing. "But when I was swapping my shoes, I bumped into them and they invited me. So, hehe~"

Confirmingly, both girls nodded eagerly, vouching for her words. I gave them a nod in return before turning my gaze back towards Matsushita, whose body language had slightly changed, causing me to sigh internally.

"The more the merrier" I emitted, with an eager smirk. "Welcome aboard, Matsushita."

"Thank youu~ Ayanokouji-kun !"

"No need to thank me." Matsushita beamed elatedly at my words, which I brushed off before focusing on the way ahead of us..

"Emm.. You still haven't told me what Yuri means." Yousuke awkwardly brought up the same question as earlier. However-

"I-It's quite complicated, Hirata-kun, so we'll tell you later." Minamikata prolonged his question until further notice, as the 8 of us stopped moving altogether. "But, we have arrived now~"

Standing in front of our destination, all of us looked up and peered at the huge building towering over us, dazzling us with the dawn lights on the frames as it shielded us from them and cast a smooth shade over us. Windows and balconies were spread neatly on each floor, complementing the white exterior with its dark color. The sense of familiarity hit me as I observed the resemblance between it and the normal dorms. However, this, on the other hand, was far more exciting.

Honami squeezed my hand even tighter as we made our way through the door, her endearing face beaming with joy and excitement. which, strangely enough, felt pretty soothing.

As soon as we approached the automatic entrance, it slid open, making a quiet sliding sound as our eager eyes met the building's inside. The lobby was a standard size, with a constant layer of dark, burned amber wood running from the floor to the walls and up to the roof. To finish it off, there were plants, carpet, and paintings to decorate. I was smacked with a little amount of air conditioning as soon as we stepped inside, as well as a small aroma of the spruce wood.

A very faint sound of musical instruments could be heard as we aimlessly marched inside, taking in our surroundings in slight awe. There were several cameras spanning the entire foyer, one in each corner. Structure-wise, it wasn't very different from the old one.

As we wandered deeper, the sounds of the instruments gradually grew louder as we walked closer to the front desk. My eyes landed there, where a lone boy was lying on his knees on top of the chair and resting on his elbows on top of the desk, engrossed in the phone in both his hands with a bubbly expression.

"Is that the receptionist ?" Minamikata whispered curiously to us, which we all responded to by cluelessly shrugging our shoulders. He appeared to be about our age and was relatively young for a receptionist. So we were all skeptical about his presence.

"Hooh? We have some more guests ?" The boy, noticing our presence, snapped out of his phone and gave us a curious glimmer before laying his phone down on the table, getting up from the chair, and standing amicably in front of the desk. "Hey guys, how may I help you today ?"

His gesture drew us more towards the desk as we stood in front of him, who was smiling warmly at us. Now that I've gotten a better look, he is indeed young, he is about 4.5 feet tall and moderately long wavy black hair, with lavenderish colored eyes, and a rather innocent-looking face. He had a white cap covering the top of his head and was dressed in a white outfit.

"You're the receptionist ?" Amikura asked out loud, which resulted in a nod from the boy.

"Yes, I'm the one responsible here. My name is Gabriel. It's a pleasure to meet you." The boy swiftly introduced himself before bowing lightly.

"Gabriel ? That's a pretty unusual name." Ando gave off her remarks, which was pretty much shared by everybody.

"Oh, that is just my work name. But you can call me that just fine." The boy, nicknamed Gabriel, answered reassuringly.

"Just, how old are you ?" Amikura suddenly blurted out, seemingly not able to contain her curiosity. which caused Gabriel to slightly furrow his brow in confusion.

"Actually, I just turned 22 last week. Why do you ask ?"

"... heh ?" Amikura's eyes widened as she received Gabriel's response. She adopted a robotic stance and gazed at us all with crazed eyes to see if we shared her surprise, which was partially shared. Gabriel cocked his head before Amikura turned to face him once more. "... happy birthday..."

Her voice came as a whisper. But audible enough for all of us

"Ooww~ Thank you !!" He beamed warmly at Amikura with an innocent smile, which captivated pretty much everyone in this room.

This guy is a menace.

A small alarm bell went off inside my head. However, it quickly calmed down when Gabriel began speaking again.

"So, what did you fellas come here for ? " He inquired curiously, which prompted everyone to look at us. As she moved nearer, Honami took the card out of her pocket and placed it on the desk. "Oooo~ the card huh ? So I presume you're Ayanokouji Kiyotaka ? "

He eyed me specifically, to which I responded with a silent nod. Seeing my reaction, he smiled satisfactorily before inserting the card into a device after jumping on top of his chair and starting to type on the computer.

"I haven't seen much of it, but I have to say, what you did was pretty amazing, Ayanokouji-kun" Gabriel made some small talk before taking out the card from the device and handing it back to us. "Would you like a card for the young lady too ?"

"Yes please." I answered briefly, to which Gabriel quickly complied and made a new card, for me.

"Great ! Your room number is 52 located on the seventh floor. Do you want me to accompany you there? " Gabriel offered his assistance, as he handed us two manuals that looked a lot like the ones we were given at the start of the previous year.

"No, we're good." I politely rejected his offer and accepted the two handbooks, before setting direction towards the elevator. "This works exactly like the normal ones correct ? "

"Mhm~ It should be no problem for you ! " He gave us a hearty nod before leading the way to the elevator and bidding us farewell. As soon as he hit the button, the lift descended from the upper floors and opened its doors. There wasn't enough space for all of us, so we decided to split into two groups of four. Both Shibata and Amikura decided to board with me and Honami first. As we settled in, Gabriel waited outside, grinning at us. "Anyhow, I hope you enjoy your accommodation ! But just a friendly reminder though: don't engage in any illicit affairs, because the laws at this institution are pretty strict hehe~"

With those final words, the door closed as the elevator ascended towards the upper floors, leaving the four of us in silence.

"Hehe~ you heard what he said, Honami-chan~" Amikura grinned at Honami.

"You too Mako-chan~ you heard him as well" Honami teased back, with a smug.

"Heh~? But you're the one who's going to live in a double dorm~"

"That's true~ but you're the ones who are new in a relationship."

"But he was specifically talking to you guys~" Amikura winked. However-

Not anymore

I discreetly stuffed my phone back into my pocket as Shibata simultaneously pulled out his and checked it out, only to find his eyes widen in great surprise. He immediately looked up towards me, where I gave him a discreet thumbs-up, hidden from both the girls who were focused on fighting each other.

His eyes glowed with gratitude before he nodded delightfully, overjoyed at the small gift I had sent him. I have a lot more points to spare thanks to Kouenji. So this was pretty much trivial.

Ting

The elevator set sail after dropping us on the desired floor, back towards the main level. After landing, we scanned our surroundings in search of our room. Similarly, the floors didn't have any significant changes compared to the normal dorms, aside from the lesser number of rooms.

"Room 49...50... and that should be our new room." We arrived at our final destination after following the dorm order. A door made out of thick dark oak presented itself, carrying a sign with the number '52' on top of the peephole in the center of it. However, all four of us turned our attention to the electric lock, which had a rectangular pocket in which you would most likely place your card. "Right, are you guys ready~?"

Honami, with the card in her hand, stared back at us and sought our confirmation, to which the three of us enthusiastically nodded. There was a brief pause in the movement of the elevator, which had probably reached the bottom floor. Honami heaved during this momentary quietness and then walked back to the door. But this time, I made the decision to move forward and stand behind her, holding the card next to her. She was surprised by this and turned to check behind her. However,

"Together." I whispered soothingly, with a smile. Her cheeks slightly flushed as she accepted, before turning back with a small smile of her own.

" Together~" With a newfound determination, she slowly put the card inside the electric lock as I helped her, uniting our hands and heads and unlocking a new stage in our relationship.

One that is much more advanced

Where there would be no turning back

It's been a couple of hours since we checked our co-ed property, and now everyone is back at their own dorms.

Nothing significant occurred during our checkup. After we unlocked the door, our friends soon arrived and we started running through the features. As expected, it was plain empty, so as soon as we were done wandering, we departed back towards our dorms.

I used this opportunity to look for any cameras planted inside the walls or any audio bugs in that regard. I'm planning to bring a metal detector next time I go there for any audio bugs I failed to sense. But for now, it looks pretty safe from any privacy breaches.

One significant event could be Shibata's attaining permanent residency. However, what was surprising was the way he acted. After we were done checking up, he asked Honami to lend him a small portion of the bank so he could fill in the missing points to reach one million and simply transfer back my points. This behavior did honestly confuse me, but I was happy nevertheless.

He promised that he'd work hard to pay his debt, and since he's currently on zero points, Amikura naturally offered to help him out. They are currently on a limited number of points. However, they refused to ask for some and simply decided to live with this deficit alone. This in and of itself isn't a bad thing, since those hard times are what make people come closer and help relationships grow stronger than ever.

"We can't catch a break, can we~? "

"Hmm ? "

I shifted my head from staring at the ceiling towards my left, where Honami was laying close to me in her pyjamas, staring through the dark at the ceiling.

"I'm just getting tired of thinking of this day's events alone. Can't people just leave you the heck alone ?! Ugh, so annoying. " She shifted on the bed towards the other side, away from me, after she was done grumbling.

"Is that so ? Then just don't think about it. " I deadpanned, which only caused her to huff exasperatedly. Having enough fun pushing her buttons, I gently held her armpits as I brought her closer to me, cuddling in bed as I started whispering. "You know, you don't have to worry too much about it right now and focus on sleeping in a good mood. As they say, 'if you sleep through a bad thought, it'll carry on to the morning' "

"You're right." Honami sighed deeply before admitting it. I lifted my hand that was wrapping around her and started soothingly caressing her beautiful hair and continued.

"So, why not try to think of a more positive thing ?" I suggested, "For example, did you enjoy seeing our new dorm ? "

"Yes I did. I was feeling extremely excited. It felt great ! " Honami started sharing her feelings of content as her mood took a major swing. Suddenly, she slightly tilted her head, as if trying to catch a small part of me. "Thank you for this wonderful gift, Kiyotaka. I really loved it. It's a wonderful gift for our first anniversary."

"No problems, Honami." I replied. "Also, our first anniversary ? "

"Hehe~ have you forgotten ?" She giggled amusingly, before turning all the way around and shifting her head to face me, with a beautiful grin on her face. "Exactly 10 days from now, it'll be the same day I confessed to you last year~ which makes it a year of us being a couple~! "

Honami cheerfully exclaimed as she tapped my nose, blushing cutely as she began remembering the memories.

Right now, it's April 24th, which makes the 4th of May the day Honami confessed to me. I didn't really keep track of the days. But now that she mentioned it, it slowly started registering in my head.

"So couples celebrate their first year anniversary ?"

"Of course, it goes to show that they do care about their relationship and value it pretty highly~" Honami kept answering me, before adding. "Also, since most couples break up during their first year, it goes to show that we are a strong couple~! "

Honami kept earnestly talking about our relationship, with such a passion I hadn't seen in her before. It was clear as day that she valued our relationship very highly. which is something that strangely makes me extremely elated to see.

I still haven't understood the source of those feelings or how I caught them. However, I do know for a fact that I do love Ichinose Honami, and being with her makes me feel less reserved and more outgoing as a person, to try and just be myself.

I do know for a fact that I value her more than anybody else in this world, more than my friends, more than my family members, and more than even the white room, which is the reason why I'm trying to destroy it, so I can be free alongside her.

My decision is extremely selfish because I have only considered myself and my own benefits.I haven't thought about the children of the white room who'll suffer the consequences of my decisions, whether it's an orphanage or they'll be weaponized by the government. I haven't thought about them, or anyone else in that regard, and simply thought only about myself.

Because, I, to be frank, don't care.

I only care about my own benefits.

Because for once, I-

"Kiyotaka~ are you even listening ?" Honami frowned her face at me. which snapped me out of my trance and drew my attention back to her.

"Oh yeah, people ? They are humans too."

"W-What ? " Honami instinctively exclaimed, in confusion, as she started smirking broadly. Before- "What did you- pffft~"

She started off by lightly chuckling, before laughing hysterically as my words sank in. They were random words that randomly crossed my head, and I decided to shoot them, even I was surprised by what I said.

Well, as long as she keeps laughing like that, I guess there isn't anything worth worrying about.

Lmfao, I said that weekly max, and it took me exactly a week to finish a chapter. It seems like my brain is automatically procrastinating to the maximum time I set for myself

Well, time to publish daily x) (Joke, I'll die)

Gabriel's appearance for reference

( Inspired by Kokichi from Danganronpa [ Design ] )

There is slight differences, but identical. I didn't want to include it mid chap and ruin the experience

Also, he should be the last OC I'm adding. I know that the story would get ruined with a lot of OCs but he's the last one, whether he's relevant you shall see for yourselves

Also, the last joke isn't mine, I just saw an MBTI memes video where it had it, it was a blonde guy who looks Irish or something idk. Credits to him

Also, I feel like laughing, for no reason, so next words are just gonna be me laughing.

Cya..pfft-

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAKKKYKYKUKUKKUKUKUKUKUKUKUKUKUKUKKUKUKUKUKUKUKUKUKUKUKUFUFUFUFUFUFUFUFUFUFUFUFUFUFUUFUFUFUFKFUFKFUFKFUFKFUFKFUFKFUFKFUKFUFKFUFKFUFKFUFKFUFKFUFKUFKFFKUFKFUFKFKJFJFJJFKGKJJHAJJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLULULULULULUKEKWKEKWHAHA

Phew, that felt good.

If you read that weird shit then props to you, I dropped a 100 dollar code there, congratz who got it !

Anyways, Sayonara !

V2 Chap 5 : The Deciding Battle

"Hey, hey, wanna hear something funny ? "

That was the first thing I heard when I entered the class this morning. Shibata trotted quickly over to a gathering of classmates and showed them an interesting thing on his phone. He burst into hysterical laughter just as I placed my luggage on the chair, and the other people just exchanged confused looks.

"What ? You guys don't get it too ?! " They all shook their heads, resulting in Shibata heaving a deep sigh before pulling everyone and quickly explaining his joke. On my periphery, I caught glimpses of Amikura facepalming while chuckling amusingly to herself.

"You won't join them Kiyo-boy ? " Momentarily after I settled down on my desk, Kouenji asked from behind. "Or perhaps you want to freshen yourself by sitting near the perfect existence himself."

"No, I simply don't feel like talking at the moment." I nonchalantly replied as I powered up my tablet and started loading my reading list. "Moreover, why don't you get out and socialize as well ? You can't always just sit there maintaining that posture and wait for people to approach you."

Turning around, I was met with Kouenji's feet as he had his legs crossed on top of the table, with a carefree smile on his face. Sensing my gaze, he positioned his legs on the other side of the table, out of my line of sight with a small hum as he did so.

"I have more than enough people appreciating my perfection Kiyo-boy. I'd say that's plenty. "With a soft laugh, Kouenji beautifully flipped his bangs. He then crossed his arms again and raised his crimson eyes to face me. "Anyhow, do you have any significant information to share with me hmm ? "

"Not really, but I have this" I placed my phone on top of his table, which prompted Kouenji to turn the screen around and check its components, with a curious look on his face. "Lemme know what you think."

There was a brief moment of silence, where Kouenji carefully read through the ambiguous message as I blankly stared at him. Soon enough, he started speaking

"Hah! This might be a trap" He laughed as he handed my phone back and expressed his initial impressions. "To be honest with you Kiyo-boy, I'm not sure how I feel. It looks plain obvious. But why do I think you'll look it up based on this ? "

Kouenji's feelings weren't off the mark. But it seems that he overlooked something.

"I cannot really ignore this can I ? " I emitted, staring at him while gently tapping the screen using my knuckles. "This isn't a normal message. It obviously came from a staff member's email address. I have checked it with Chie-sensei and she practically confirmed it. "

The address had a different format compared to what students usually use, so it couldn't have come from a student. The perpetrator used an external website to send the message through the school's database and towards my phone, which is something only a staff employee is capable of. However, it seems that they have covered their tracks well since Chie-sensei wasn't able to track them.

Needless to say, this whole ordeal is as suspicious as it gets. If this meeting was legit, none of that would be necessary. Therefore, it's best to proceed with extreme caution.

Who knows ? This might be a ploy made by Tsukishiro, and the White Room student.

"Hmm I see." Kouenji smirked, before dipping his head and closing his eyes, reverting back to his Zen state. "I might be mistaken, Kiyo-boy, but I have the impression that something is strange about the whole situation."

Just as he said that, Kanzaki walked past our desks, which prompted me to look back and avert my attention from Kouenji. I stood up from my chair and greeted Kanzaki again, before joining the little gathering at the front.

Something's amiss huh ? How wonderful

The rest of the time was spent like usual, cozying around with my buddies and running through various things together. Honami joined us midway through and decided to play a quick round of Tic-tac-toe after returning from her Student Council's morning duties. Which was prior to the beginning of classes..

"Good morning, students." Right after the homeroom bell rang, Chie-sensei waltzed inside the class with a thin smile. which prompted everyone to straighten their backs and become serious as she stood proudly in front of the podium. However, there were some horrified expressions in the mix. "Ara~ Shibata-kun, why do you look so shocked ?"

"Sensei ! Isn't this way too much ?!" Shibata voiced out loudly, in a slightly amplified tone, suggesting some panic. Chie-sensei tilted her head, looking genuinely confused at the source of his complaints. "It was just yesterday when we finished a special exam ! Isn't it too early to have another ?! "

His concerns seemed to be shared by most of the class, and to be honest, I kind of felt the same way too. We've seen how ruthless the school can be, but they've never gone as far as to interfere with our break. They were at least gracious enough to allow us a short time interval before the Zodiac exam.

"Oh, so you're worried about that huh ?" Contrary to their restless faces, Chie-sensei flashed a warm smile before proceeding to clasp her hands together. "Your next exam won't happen until the end of the term, so be assured."

Her words soothed out the atmosphere, as many decided to let the air carry their stress through a long relieved sigh, which enveloped a content smile on their faces.

There is a considerably long period of time before the next exam occurs-3 months to be exact-which is pretty calming to think about. By this time, our preparations will be done, and we'll be ready to tackle any obstacle head-on.

"But~! It would be the longest and toughest exam you've ever faced so far ! "

"...huh ?" The short-lived coziness abruptly halted after her words came out, as the small bustle quickly faded in the background, ushering in a tense atmosphere yet again. Chie-sensei amusedly chuckled as he seemed to enjoy playing with our reactions.

"I'll be explaining in a short moment. But first, I want to get something out of the way." Chie-sensei cleared her throat, requesting everyone's attention. Being as obedient as they are, the class brushed aside her earlier statement and turned their focus back to her.

Seeing that she had everyone's attention, she flashed a smirk before setting her luggage on top of the desk-Which was only a tablet-Before leaning on both her palms on each side of her desk and scrutinizing us with an unreadable grin on her face.

Numerous boys immediately blushed, as her curves were more prominent, especially her cleavage, reminding them of what a stunning woman their homeroom teacher really is. Not that she needed it, since she was already popular.

They immediately tried to avert their gazes by staring elsewhere, which was blatantly obvious to Chie, causing her to grin even wider. As for myself, I failed to witness any of that since Kouenji, behind me, was blindfolding me using his hands. which earned him a hum of approval from Honami.

...heh ?

"Ayanokouji Kiyotaka-kun " The moment my name was mentioned, my eyes were unveiled and I met Chie-sensei's, who was looking at me with a smug smile. "Following the investigative team's reports, the teachers' testimonies, and a careful examination of the available evidence, your cheating suspicion is ultimately dispelled. Congratulations on obtaining the best score in such a breathtaking and flabbergasting way."

She announced it with a proud smile on her face, completely different from the promiscuous one she previously had. I gave her a nod of acknowledgment, which resulted in her sending a smirk my way.

It seems that the school has failed to collect any proof holding us accountable for cheating, which automatically refutes Takahashi's assertions and any accusations he leveled at me and proves them as false. It must have hurt a lot, because he had just taken a strong jab at his credibility as well as his reputation.

However, I'm pretty sure there is someone else who would appreciate this news just as much.

"Now onto the main meal ! " The screen behind Chie-sensei lit up as a result of her tapping on her tablet. A new notification popped up on our tablets, causing a couple of us to dreadfully gulp before opening it. As we were doing so, Chie-sensei smashed her fist against the screen, drawing everyone's attention back and grinning. "As I have already mentioned, your exam is going to be very hard and lengthy, I wouldn't be kidding when I say that this is the most difficult exam that came across the school's history. Therefore, we split the explanation into two parts in order to give you as much time as possible to get ready. All the information required for your initial explanation is currently available on your tablets. If you have any questions, make sure to ask out."

Her talk only served to increase the anxiety among our peers. However, we all gave her an affirmed look before looking at our tablets. Nonetheless

Uninhabited Island Exam

The Uninhabited Island Exam is an exam that requires 'all types of abilities'. Students will be tested on their academic ability, physical ability, mental ability and communication ability. It is a group based exam where all the students from all the school years compete against each other.

The duration of the exam on the island is two weeks i.e From July 20 to August 3. The area of the uninhabited island used for the exam is larger than the exam that was undertaken the previous year.

Schedule

July 19: Assemble at the sports field, take the bus to the port, and board the ship.

July 20 Special Exam starts; the exam will be explained.

August 3: Special Exam ends; Results will be announced on the ship, and rewards will be paid out accordingly.

Private points for August will be awarded after the uninhabited island exam.

August 4: On the cruise, free to do anything the whole day.

August 11: Arrive at the port, return to school and be dismissed.

From August 4 to August 11, Students were allowed to enjoy their summer vacation on the luxury cruise for a total of eight days and seven nights. No Special exam would take place during this period.

Groups

Students are allowed to form a big group of a maximum of 6 people with the students of the same year irrespective of class standings.

For approximately three months until July 16, students can select up to two students of their choice to form a small group of a maximum of 3 people.

The small groups form the basis of the big groups. Students can only group up with students from the same grade.

A maximum of four can be in a small group created by the 1st years, and 3rd years could have up to three people in a group. The same rules apply to the 2nd years.

In cases when boys and girls form a mixed group, the ratio of girls to boys must be at least 2 to 3.

The possible combinations for the small groups:

[1 boy] [2 boys] [3 boys]

[1 girl] [2 girls] [3 girls]

[1 boy, 2 girls]

Once you've established a group, you can't switch to another group whatever the reason may be. Apart from the advantages of having more people, special privileges are also afforded to groups with more people.

No matter how many people drop out in the middle of the exam, the group can continue to function without any issues until the last person drops out.

After the special exam starts, the small groups will be allowed to come together and form a big group after meeting a special requirement. Forming a big group is only possible during the fourth day and onwards, that is if all groups wish to. i.e. 2 groups of 3 people or 3 groups of 2 people or even 6 Solo participants could form one big group. In a big group of more than 4 people, the percentage of girls in the group must be at least be 50%

[End of First explanation]

(Source : Youzitsu Wiki)

"I-Island exam ?" At first, there were many startled cries heard across the classroom. However, everyone swallowed it up and went back to reading.

"Yes, your next exam is going to take place on an island. That is way, way, way way Way~ bigger than the one you took last year. Hehe~ " Chie-sensei commented from time to time on the questions before answering them. However, I kept my head from her as I started running through the material yet again.

In simple words, the exam will take place three months from now on, on a significantly larger, uninhabited island than the previous one. Furthermore, this exam is built on a systematic group setting where you can work in a group or go solo, with the former being considered to be more advantageous.

"Sensei ? What advantages does forming a big group have over a small group ? " Yousuke asked out, which drew my attention back.

"That's a good question Yousuke-kun, so basically, you won't be able to fully see the benefits of a big group until you personally partake in the exam. But it's all based on the number. " The screen behind her lit up with numerous prototypes as she used them to elaborate further. "One advantage a big group has is that it offers more leeway to potential dropouts. For instance, if a student from a group of 3 falls ill and retires, the group would function normally until all members are out. On the other hand, if a student from a solo group retires, the group will be instantly disqualified and will be subject to the proper punishment."

This rule simply gives the larger groups greater flexibility and the capacity to take damage if necessary. The complete opposite of a single group whose lifeline rests solely on their shoulders.

The class listened closely to her explanation, before giving her nods of comprehension. Honami took out a small notebook and started writing down the important details, while keeping up with her words.

"As I previously stated, this would not make much sense until you take the exam. But it's generally advised to form as big a group as possible unless you're too sure of your skills to be able to carry it out. Keep in mind that this exam requires all sorts of abilities, so the more skillful you are, the higher your chances will be."

This test, like all others, relies on the skills and abilities of the student. The larger your arsenal is, the better. However, it seems that it doesn't rely on as much teamwork given how individually-oriented Chie-sensei's explanation is.

There are many vague elements to this explanation that cannot be understood with this information alone, so I wasn't going to base anything as of yet. I have a lot more questions running around my mind, but I decided to not push them off and wait until the bigger picture gets revealed.

"Aight, that seems to be all ! " Chie briskly trotted towards the front door and stared back at us. "You know the drill; all the information is available on your tablets and is accessible at any time through your phones. If you have any further inquiries in the future, I'm always available to answer any questions you have. But for now, chao~! "

Chie-sensei animatedly leaned to give us a last peek before disappearing in front of the door with a warm smile and a wave. Instantly, Honami pushed herself against her desk and dragged her chair. However, she remained still as everyone turned their attention towards her.

"Actually, do you guys want to discuss the exam now ?" Honami inquired, remaining positioned in her seat as she met everyone's gaze with a curious look. "We have been given a lot of time to prepare, so I reckon we should rest first before making any decision."

"I agree." Honami's suggestion was immediately supported by Kanzaki, who voiced it sternly. "The exam isn't very clear yet, but we don't have any option but to work with what we have. So I think we should take some time to rest off and fully understand the information given to us before coming up with ideas and deciding anything. "

It's a pretty healthy way of going about this. Most of us are still torn out by the previous exam, so rushing through any decisions wouldn't be very beneficial. The class seemed to be on the same page, as they slowly voiced their agreement.

"But what if we fall behind the other classes ?" Amikura suggested, in protest.

"I doubt that there would be anyone willing to cooperate with us, Mako-chan. So even if we fall behind, it won't be a problem." Honami answered her tenderly. before cupping her own cheek with her hand and leaning on the table, staring aimlessly around the class. "Remember, we are everyone's enemy here. It's likely our class will get targeted in this exam since we are at the top. So we only have ourselves to work with. "

Honami's cheerful demeanor came to a halt for a moment, before it regained right up just as everyone was trying to lift each other's spirits. This is a strong point of our class; a negative thought can never circulate for too long.

Moreover, it seems that Honami is in a daze about the future and the complications it may bring. Now that she's aware of everything about Tsukishiro, which includes that as well, she must realize that the stage has already been set for the final and deciding battle, which is the inhabitant island exam.

Not only her, but even I, would be tested in this exam. Sakayanagi must have also informed Ryuuen about this, which adds significantly more firepower to this temporary coalition the three of us formed.

Even after this, my days of peace would finally be over. Both of them have been sheathing their scythes for a pretty long time now. At Sakayanagi especially, we never had any real competition aside from chess, which isn't really a factor in determining who is superior.

The battle of superiority also extends to the white room student, who has been pretty passive so far. Their skill level is unknown, as is their identity. They have proven to not be underestimated since they perfectly blend in.

Everything is going to crumble down and build back up again during the next couple of months, and everything is dependent on the types of decisions I'm going to make.

The pressure should be building up on top of me, but it appears that it's on Honami instead. The girl was trying too hard to make me feel better by sharing my troubles, but she ended up taking everything instead. So it's my job to take the load off her and relieve her stress.

Or else, she might develop some wrinkles on her cute face.

Yowww new chap ! Can you believe it ?!

I'm trying to develop a schedule, which includes me waking up around 5 and write until the morning, before going to classes. Coming back and studies, before writing a little more or watching Anime before sleeping

Idk if this is healthy, or it makes me focus less on Classes, but I'll pull this off. I have some college entrance so what ? It's overrated, it won't be that hard

Anyways I hope you enjoyed this chap :3 Kouji has been having it easy so far, but I assure you.

The exam is gonna be a blast

There is a couple of chapters left for this volume, at least 2, before the island arc

So repeat with me, who is excited ?

V2 Chap 6 : Broken

3rd person POV

Students emerged from their classrooms, stretching their arms out after a long exhausting day of classes.

The aftermath of the most recent announcement was clearly shown on their faces; the exam had put a strain on their mental states. However, it actually differed depending on how each person handled it. But overall, it was a very problematic announcement.

These past two days have been pretty hectic for the students of the advanced nurturing high school. They couldn't seem to get a break, with announcement after announcement, revelations and trending topics on social media, and then even more surprising revelations. Especially for the newcomers, those were the most frenetic days of their lives, at least for the majority of them.

Luckily, things were starting to quiet down. As the afternoon bell rang, everyone resumed their normal daily activities. The majority of them grouped up to walk back towards the dorms with their friends, discussing various topics, or just walked alone. The club members went to partake in their club activities, and a few tripped towards the mall, whether for karaoke or a shopping spree. There were even some unnamed individuals up to their own things.

"You're not coming today, Ayanokouji-kun ?" Amikura, the sweet purple-haired beauty, stopped dead in her tracks and turned around to look at her friend, who was standing still in front of the class's door, farther away from them, with a blank expression on his face.

"No, there is something I'd like to take care of first." Kiyotaka answered convolutedly.

"Ah, I see." Amikura grinned, before turning to her classmates. "If that's the case, then why don't we utilize this opportunity to go on a shopping trip ? so that we can present brand-new furniture as a surprise for our little married couple's new room~ "

Mako suggestively asked, with a small teasing smirk on her face. Everyone in the group nodded, before adapting similar smiles.

"No, we have a special exam to prepare for. We should rest and get back to our dorms so we can think more clearly. "

"Come onnnnnn Kanzaki-kunnnn~ It'll be fuuuun." Kanzaki, seemingly the only one opposing the idea, started getting dragged down by the girls in an effort to win him over. Eventually, he gave up after some persuasion.

"Oy, I heard that." Kiyotaka deadpanned at the now-not-so-secret anymore surprise, which wasn't even a secret in the first place. Mako cutely bonked her head in jest. "Sure, go ahead, but just remember to email me the bill when you're finished."

"Sure will do !" Mako beamed, before encircled each of her arms around Matsushita and Kobashi's necks and leading them out."Anyways, see ya later Ayanokouji-kun ! "

Kiyotaka watched as his friends turned around the corner, belovingly waving at him before disappearing from his view. He put his hand back to rest after waving back at them, before strolling in the opposite direction.

He lifted his phone out of his pocket as he began his search for the specified location. With the help of a map, he slowly approached the red dot located around the school's campus. Similar to a small resemblance of a treasure hunting game.

But this treasure could very well be a chest full of venomous snakes. That's at least what Kiyotaka thought.

A few minutes later, he stood in front of a door in what seemed to be his desired location. Kiyotaka lifted his head and inspected the sign's components.

Faculty office... huh ?

Kiyotaka stood wondering about the odd location he had been led to. He had never gone inside the faculty office and had only occasionally gone near it with his girlfriend to submit some student council paperwork at the end of her shift. Aside from that, it would be the first time he visited it, alone.

The red dot on Kiyotaka's GPS had already disappeared when he checked his phone again. At this rate, his notion that a staff member was involved in this was practically confirmed. The culprit wanted this meeting to be as covert as possible since they had completely covered their traces. Although it is unknown if they are the same person, it shouldn't be ruled out that there could be more than one person responsible.

Kiyotaka inaudibly sighed before stuffing his phone back into his pocket and slightly releasing the tie around his neck. His eyes reopened to the world around him, which was devoid of any form of life, except for his - and the door in front of him.

Knock Knock

He gently knocked on the door twice, releasing two soft knocks before retracting his hand. There was a momentary pause where he stood silently peering at the door in anticipation of a result. It was a pretty motionless moment where the time was mistakenly presumed to have stopped. But ultimately, Kiyotaka received his response..

Clark

The door released a loud crack, indicating its lock had been switched off, before it creaked open. Kiyotaka moved his eyes from the peephole towards the side of the door, where he was greeted by an expectantly familiar gaze, peering down at him as they hid most of their face cautiously behind the frame of the door.

"Did you bring anyone with you ?"

"No, I came alone, just as you've requested."

The perpetrator eyed Kiyotaka once more before stepping back and allowing him to enter. Kiyotaka mindlessly stepped in, not even bothering to give them a look as his eyes latched at his surroundings. The person closed the door shortly after before turning to face Kiyotaka.

"Please take a seat." As the perpetrator started moving, Kiyotaka's eyes landed on two seats staring down at each other with a fair distance between them, likely the intended seats. He proceeded towards them and obediently sat down. The perpetrator promptly followed up and took their seat ahead, while combing their facial hair away. "Took you long enough to get here."

The person started off the meeting with a sharp remark, as they briefly glanced towards the office's watch, as if indicating their words. Kiyotaka, finally satiated with his surroundings, finally fixed his eyes on the said person as they crossed both of their arms and legs altogether.

"You think I'm at fault? I had some things to clear up because I was about to attend a dubious meeting at a dubious location like this, one that had been arranged by a dubious individual as well." Kiyotaka mouthed off, which resulted in a profound staredown between the two.

"You're awfully mouthy today." the person remarked, donning a stern expression.

"Oh, I'm simply just wondering why the homeroom teacher of Class D, Chabashira Sae-sensei, chose to summon me in such a crafty and sneaky manner." At the mention of her name, Chabashira Sae, the homeroom teacher of Class D, released a confident smirk at Kiyotaka, whose face was as apathetic as ever.

"Don't be like that, Ayanokouji-kun. I don't mean any harm by calling you this way." Chabashira smiled. "In fact, you can think of me as your ally."

"My ally ?" Kiyotaka parroted confusingly.

"Yes, I am your ally. I didn't summon you here with any malice or intent to cause you harm. I was just looking to speak with you." Chabashira continued to smile as she spoke in a tone that was far more friendly than the one she used when teaching. She relaxed in her seat, her legs pulling towards the bureau as she reembraced herself, finding some solace, as her form grew noticeably larger. She was indeed a very beautiful woman. However, Kiyotaka didn't think so.

"Sorry, but I find it pretty hard to believe." Kiyotaka expressed his doubt. "The way you lured me in and meticulously concealed your tracks was very suspicious. You even went as far as to detach the cameras installed in this room to hold this meeting. Why would you do all of that if you didn't plan anything malicious ?"

To add more to his words, Kiyotaka gazed at a corner where a camera was supposedly installed, but it was missing. There was many places like that. However, Kiyotaka's eyes quickly returned back to Chabashira.

"You have excellent perception; I wouldn't have expected anything less from you." Chabashira stood from her seat, which instantly raised Kiyotaka's alarm. However, she turned and made her way towards the desk, donning a thinly animated smile as she opened the drawer. "I'm aware you have a lot of doubts right now, but trust me, all of them will be cleared later. However, I want you to do something first."

As she said that, she pulled a bundle of papers from the drawer and set it on the table. She looked at Kiyotaka and motioned for him to take the seat in front of her, which he immediately followed as she sat on the opposite one.

She briefly fiddled with the papers before pulling one out and placing it in front of Kiyotaka, who suspiciously went over it while silently peering at her.

"What is this ? " Kiyotaka asked, shortly after reading some parts of the document.

"It's a small questionnaire I prepared with a number of questions that are at least third-year high school level. I want you to solve it right in front of me." Chabashira explained, her smile lingering on her face.

"Wasn't my suspicions already dispelled this morning ?"

"Yes, but this is a precautionary measure. You'll understand why this is necessary later when I explain. " Kiyotaka didn't really understand her words. However, he found no harm in accepting her request since he would have appeared suspicious if he had declined.

He was given a pen by Chabashira, who then leaned back in her chair and kept an eye on him as he went over the material.

Kiyotaka answered all of the questions perfectly with ease. He did, however, pick up the pen with a handkerchief that had an unprofessionally knitted, sloppy, but cute heart on it, which, unexpectedly, had no impact on his lovely handwriting whatsoever. It was a preemptive measure to not leave any fingerprints behind, as they could potentially be of use against him.

Who knows ? He might get rape accused by sticking a pen inside someone's a-

"I've finished." Barely bypassing the minute mark, Kiyotaka dropped the pen, completing the survey and looking at Chabashira.

"Y-You sure you don't want to check your answers ?" Chabashira was slightly shaken at his speed. but received a nod from him at her exclamation, which prompted her to retrieve his paper and start comparing answers. "It's all correct..."

She rechecked the answers again, to find the same results as before. Everything was perfectly done with no faults whatsoever. At that moment, it became clear to Chabashira that...

The student in front of her... was the real deal.

"So... ready to tell me what this is all about ?" Kiyotaka snapped her out of her trance with a sudden address. which she quickly cleared her throat and recomposed herself, both mentally and physically.

"Ahem.. Yes, you have passed my test. So I'll explain, just as I promised. " Chabashira's unwonted vibrant aura quickly faded, returning to its usual dull, melancholy state. She used a serious tone of voice, something Kiyotaka was much more accustomed to. "So, have you heard of the teachers' testimonies about your case ? Your cheating suspicions, I mean."

"Yes, I do recall Chie-sensei mentioning something like that this morning." Kiyotaka mused. Chabashira nodded.

"In essence, your professors and the guarding teachers were asked to provide testimony about you and whether they believed you had cheated. Naturally, everyone said no, myself included. " Chabashira informed while carefully observing Kiyotaka's expression as he listened with a blank look. "However, even after your suspicions are allayed, you're not out of the water yet. "

"What do you mean ?" Kiyotaka inquired, cocking his brow. However, it was essentially brushed off by Chabashira.

"You said that this meeting was suspicious, right ?" She suddenly switched topics, which struck Kiyotaka as odd.

"Yes, and it still is." Kiyotaka briefly answered.

"So, it's only natural to assume that you have your recorder on right now, right ?" Chabashira convoluted, maintaining her stern look as she scrutinized Kiyotaka and loudly deduced.

"Yes? Is there something wrong with it ? " Kiyotaka figured out that trying to conceal it would be futile, so he decided to directly reason back.

"Then, I must request that you turn off your recorder."

"Why ? " Kiyotaka asked, seemingly not budging. Chabashira sighed before leaning on her chair.

"I went so far to make this meeting as covert as possible so we could safely have our talk. This also includes measures to prevent any leakage, I don't want any part of this to be leaked." Chabashira spouted.

"I wouldn't be leaking any of this, if you truly are my ally that is." Kiyotaka refuted.

"Please Ayanokouji-kun, I'm taking way too many chances." A small amount of discomfort finally caused Chabashira's countenance to crack, and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Her tiny sense of vulnerability and insecurity was noticed by Kiyotaka, who groaned and took out his phone.

"Fine." With a sigh containing the tiniest bits of exasperation, Kiyotaka deleted the recording, while making sure that Chabashira could see everything clearly before returning his phone back to his pocket. "So what's all this hubbub about? "

Kiyotaka addressed the elephant of the room with a slightly hasty manner, blooming from his minor indignation that was bursting fourth. However, he was confused when Chabashira began to chuckle.

"You still have another recorder with you right ? "

"No." Kiyotaka sharply denied. However, it was pointless.

"Come on, Ayanokouji-kun, I know what you did with Kushida." Kiyotaka was greatly astonished by that. However, it didn't show on his face, as he remained as apathetic as ever. Instead, he sighed internally before drawing out at least three recorders and placing them on the table. "Is that all ?"

"Yes." Kiyotaka admitted, which was pretty much an admission of defeat. He theorized that Chabashira must have looked into his purchasing history and is currently aware of the number of recorders he possesses. He brought them all, since more protective layers don't hurt, and buying them again wasn't an issue for him.

"Alright, I'll believe you." Chabashira smiled kindly, which essentially confirmed his theory. She contentedly retrieved the recorders from the table- leaving out his phone- and placed them inside her drawer.

Kiyotaka silently observed her do all of that, with his head slightly hung low. His gaze slightly shifted to a hostile one, as he met Chabashira's eyes back, which was essentially the result of him being backed into a corner.

"Now that the minorities are out of the way, I'll explain." Chabashira cleared her throat as she reapplied her serious demeanor. Her fingers intertwined with each other, and she rested her elbows on the table, staring at Kiyotaka with a concentrated expression. "The reason why you're not safe yet is because the acting director is planning to fabricate false evidence to back up the assertions of your cheating and expel you from the school."

"Tsukishiro ? " Kiyotaka curiously uttered, which received a nod from Chabashira.

"Yes, I've known about your skirmish with the acting director for a while now." Chabashira claimed, before resting on her seat. "Which is why I went to such lengths to bring you here in the most covert manner imaginable. I'd be in big trouble if the acting director found out about this."

"I see." Kiyotaka's hostile look gradually faded as he listened to Chabashira's words, which more or less, made sense to him.

"You see now ? I am your ally. I never intended to harm you in the first place." Chabashira smiled warmly before bending on her seat to look closely at Kiyotaka's eyes. "I will side with you against the acting director, not like Mashima or Hoshinomiya, but even more. With those papers on my hands, it would nullify any evidence he comes up with, since you're truly a real genius. "

"I see... That is certainly very kind of you, Chabashira-sensei. I'm grateful. " Kiyotaka smiled happily, followed up by bowing his head in gratitude. Chabashira observed all of that, and leaned back on her chair with a small smug on her face. "But Sensei, are you sure you want to do this ? I'm a student from an enemy class, and this is a prime chance for you to get rid of me. "

"I have to set aside my bias as a homeroom teacher to fulfill my duties as a real teacher. You're being oppressed, and it's my responsibility to stand up for you." Chabashira spoke proudly.

"...so cool." Kiyotaka mused in admiration, which made her feel a small sense of confidence. However, she was currently having a small conundrum in her head. Just as she was about to speak, Kiyotaka cut her off. "Is there anything I can do to repay you, Sensei ? "

"Hmm ?" She instinctively hummed, raising a brow, curiously inquiring about Kiyotaka's sudden utter.

"You've been such a big help, way more than Chie-sensei and Mashima-sensei combined ! Is there anything you want me to do ? Consider it a way to thank you for all the risks you took for me.." Kiyotaka smiled again, but this time it was a brighter, more joyful smile.

"A-Ah.. t-then if you insist..." Chabashira felt her perception get a little fuzzy. Her cheeks increasingly heated up as she staggeringly tried to scurry her vision away, as a result of the sincere and lovely smile Kiyotaka gave her.

"What is it ? I'll do anything ! " Kiyotaka eagerly asked, standing from his seat and leaning closer to Chabashira, who got flustered even more.

At this rate, it shouldn't be a problem to ask Kiyotaka what has been lingering in her mind this whole meeting. Clearly, Kiyotaka is head over heels for her and he'll do anything she asks since he is so very thankful for saving him, and his gratitude is nearly flowing out to devour her. Clearly, this was a lot easier than she originally anticipated.

"If that's the case, then.." She composed herself and exhaled. "I want you to transfer to my class."

"..." Just as the situation reached its climax, it all came crumbling down to a surprised Chabashira's face and a frozen Kiyotaka.

"W-What ? "You said you'd do anything, so w-why are you hesitating?"Chabashira exclaimed, feeling nervous, upon seeing Kiyotaka's face.

"Umm..." Kiyotaka sat back in his seat, feeling nervous too. His gaze was mindlessly running around the ground, trying to look for an answer with an uncomfortable smile on his face. "I'm sorry, Chabashira-sensei, but I can't do that."

Kiyotaka's discomfort reached Chabashira, but instead of putting it to rest, this seemingly amplified her flames as they came roaring out.

"Why ? Why can't you do that ?!" Chabashira inquired loudly and angrily, her tone amplifying to the point where she started yelling. "Are you afraid that you'll be branded a traitor ? Or that you won't be accepted to our class ? We'll accept someone like you with open arms. Almost every girl likes you there, so it shouldn't be a problem to settle in. The only problem is the boys, but I'll handle that for you !"

"Chabashira-sensei, pleas-"

"Perhaps you're worried that your abilities wouldn't be able to carry the class ? Don't worry, if every mindless fool there listens to you, it shouldn't be a problem to win exams !" Chabashira kept ranting at Kiyotaka, trying as hard as she could to convince him. Her desperation was coming out, which reflected how much she wanted this to happen. "Are you worried about your friends hating you ? Don't worry ! As you've seen, they are all kind and nice people. I'm sure they'll understand once you explain it! Even if they didn't, you most likely won't meet them again, so it's fine !"

"Chaba-"

"Oh, I know, I know what the problem is." Chabashira suddenly calmed down, relaxing back on her seat as she looked at the distance. "You're worried about your girlfriend keeping her distance from you, or perhaps even hating you too, am I right ?"

Chabashira landed her gaze on Kiyotaka, who had gotten pretty silent. His gaze was turned away from the ground. The moment that his girlfriend was mentioned, his face got stiff, which she didn't fail to notice.

"I know. In fact, I can clearly see where you're coming from. Ichinose-san is quite the big catch, huh ? " Chabashira said, trying to slowly dig inside Kiyotaka's walls. "Practically, no girl can ever hold a candle to her, only an exceptional few. She has it all: looks, personality, body. She's perfect in every way, so I can understand why you're so afraid to risk losing her."

Her words seemed to have an impact, as Kiyotaka slowly lifted his head from the ground and spared her a look. Chabashira smiled warmly, victorious on the inside.

"However, she's the same case as your classmates, and probably even better. She loves you back, so I doubt that she'll hate you once you explain. You're even allowed to keep dating her when you're a member of my class. " Chabashira reassured. However, her smile ominously morphed into a bitter one as she uttered the next words. "However, if she does end up hating you, Then I'm sorry to say this, but she isn't worthy of you. A girlfriend is supposed to support her boyfriend all the way. If she cannot do that then-"

" Hoh. Then what ?"

The room turned to ice. That was the first thing Chabashira thought about. However, she discovered that it wasn't the case, since she was inside the faculty office. Although, it didn't explain why her body was relentlessly shivering, like she took a plunge inside the antarctic sea fully naked. Similarly, she discovered that also wasn't the case.

Ah, so it must be-

She thought that the AC was running just too high, but as soon as she lifted her eyes, her soul left her body. Similarly, she also discovered that wasn't the case and she was still alive. However, she did really feel like she was dead, since she was in front of a resemblance of a scary soul reaper.

Kiyotaka's final straw was pulled out, which was enough to make him upset. His glare pierced through the thick intimidating air and through Chabashira's skin, scaring her soul away with simple a peer. Chabashira started sweating profusely, feeling like the life was flashing before her eyes. However...

"You've done well, Chabashira-sensei." Kiyotaka uttered, using his normal tone, which sent another shiver to Chabashira, as she apprehensively latched onto her chair. "For a teacher of a defective class, you have managed to surpass my expectations and put up a better fight than I thought. Your acting skills must be commended."

He started clapping, seemingly impressed at the defective teacher's results. The atmosphere gradually quieted down. However, Chabashira was as tense as ever.

"I'll be looking forward to what you'll do next, Chabashira-sensei." Kiyotaka picked up his phone and checked the time before wiping the screen off using his blazer and stuffing it inside. " You won't be much of a threat in a special exam, since you're a teacher, but I always appreciate any attempt, from no matter who, to challenge me and take me down."

He approached the exit door and used his handkerchief again to unlock it. However, just as he was about to leave, he looked back at the scared mess he had left behind, with a cold glare.

"I suppose I should say some parting words before I go." Kiyotaka exhaled.

"You'll never be able to win any fight in the future, no matter what it is. You'll always be the loser. Don't feel too unfortunate, Chabashira-sensei, because it has always been the case. "

Kiyotaka closed the door, leaving behind an elegant woman broken down, before turning around. However, his gaze drew towards the left, where he sensed a presence.

Weekly updates ? Pffft who am I kidding

I'm just a loser who keeps making promises and never fulfilling them

I mean, I just said I'll finish this chap in Wednesday/Thursday. Well, It is thursday rn but it's literally almost midnight.

Anyways, do you like this chapter ? Was Kouji too edgy ? I think he wasn't, he was just upset (kinda)

It's difficult to explain without spoilers, so we'll see how the chapter goes

Sorry for the delays ! (again)

cya ;)

V2 Chap 6.5 : Frustration... Evil

"...That's all for the exam's explanation. Do you have any further questions ?" After completing the lengthy explanation, I looked up from the paper and fixed my eyes on my counterpart. The moment he shook his head, I tossed the documents on top of my desk, concluding the meeting. "Alright, that wraps up everything. You're dismissed."

Takuya politely bowed his head before obeying and attempting to leave. I leaned back and reclined on top of my chair as I stared at the back of his head, feeling relaxed after sitting straight during this whole prolonged meeting. However, I sat right back up and interrupted Takuya as he was about to depart.

"Takuya." I called, seriously. As a result, he paused and turned back, his hand on top of the handle as his gaze met mine. My fingers entwined as I inquired. "I don't have much time left, as you know. Our only opportunity to complete it is now. Hence, I'm going to ask you this: Are you going to take action in this exam ?"

The weight of the question fell on the room as we stared at each other through the deafening silence, for a prolonged period of time.

"You have more than three months to prepare, and unlike your opponent, you are well informed about the exam. Someone like you shouldn't have any trouble coming up with a plan and finishing things once and for all."

I added, while maintaining my gaze on Takuya's, who remained apathetic during this whole time. Another prolonged silence erupted, until eventually, he responded.

"Maybe I will. Maybe I won't. " Takuya indifferently shrugged and prepared to leave. "But if you're wondering, I do have some sort of contingency plan. Don't count on it, though. And don't count on my assistance when you need it. "

Takuya promptly left afterwards, leaving small words of advice as he quietly stepped out of the room, leaving me alone in the room. Once again, I relaxed in my chair, basking in the silence, with a small amusement on my face.

He wants to take the glory of beating him all for himself.

I thought amusedly, while playing around with my chair. Suddenly, I came to a halt and reached over my drawer, pulling out a small photo frame I had kept and staring at it.

I really hope, from the bottom of my heart, that everything goes well for you.

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka POV

"So, how was your talk with Sae-chan~?! "

A sly-appearing Chie-sensei came out of the left hallway's corner moments after I left the faculty office, with a mischievous grin on her face, seemingly been waiting around for me to leave the faculty's office.

"I suppose it went perfectly fine." I fully turned around and moved away from the faculty office, standing beside her as her smirk expanded.

"It didn't seem that way, Mr.'I suppose' " Chie-sensei playfully commented, before moving her hands out of her back and putting them in front of her. "If that's the case, then how do you explain this~?"

Using her hands, she pulled up her skirt, exposing her slightly trembling leg before looking up at me again. I gave it a quick glance before meeting her eyes once more.

"I bet you were looking for something else~"

"No." I sharply denied, which resulted in her slightly pouting. "That wouldn't have happened if you hadn't followed me like an obsessive stalker."

"What do you meaaaan~ I'm just a sweet good mother that was worried about her son from carnivore women ! " Chie-sensei frowned, dramatically.

"Wouldn't you call yourself a 'carnivore woman' as well ?" I quipped. which made her look shocked.

"You meaaaaaaaan~!" She playfully pushed me away from her and looked in the opposite direction, most likely with a pout. I found her reactions strangely amusing, so I let out a small smug smile. However, Chie-sensei looked back, gradually closing to the normal distance.

"I'm now genuinely curious as to what transpired during your meeting with Sae-chan."

She met my eyes with hope and eyes, practically begging me to spill the beans and sate their intense curiosity. I gave her a long, thoughtful look before eventually, I sighed, and stuffed my hand inside my blazer.

"You wouldn't want anyone to hear us."

"Yayyyy~!" She celebrated like a small child, briskly looking around and checking our surroundings, ensuring we were safe, before leading me towards an emergency exit and closing the door. "Nobody should be able to hear us, as long as we aren't too loud."

This reminds me of a situation I read about where the exact same thing happened. I cannot say that what followed was a good thing. But I hope nothing too crazy happens here.

"Alright." I nodded, brushing off my previous thoughts and sitting down in front of the stairs to fiddle around with my pockets. Chie-sensei quietly approached me and stood on my side, looking at me with a patient, inquisitive look. I picked up the intended object and passed it on to her.

"What is this ?" Chie-sensei carefully accepted and studied the object, unable to recognize it at first due to the dark interior of this space. However, she ultimately figured it and blurted it out promptly after. "Wait, is this a... recorder ?"

I nodded.

"Hmm, give it a listen yourself." Chie turned back to the recorder and hit play before bringing it up to her ear and listening intently. Meanwhile, I took out my phone and silently immersed myself in it while intermittently listening to her crazily humorous comments. "Hehehehe~... Sae-voice chan's is so Kawaiii~... Hehehe Kiyotaka-kun~ that's a very impolite thing to say to your Sensei... pfttt..."

I really hope she is okay.

"Oh Sae-chan~ How the tables have turned. You're the one who is in hot water right now." As soon as the recording was complete, Chie-sensei withdrew and heaved, exhausted from all the fun he had been holding in. The remote location made it difficult for her to contain her laughter, but she did a good job of it. "Ne Kiyotaka-kun~ How did you manage to get your hands on this recording ? Sae-chan did catch you carrying lots of them, and knowing her, she is very cautious. How did you manage to sneak one past her ? "

Promptly after she had calmed down, she asked me while looking up at me with a smile that was stuffed full of sinister and crazed amusement.I couldn't help but distinguish the difference between her behavior with everyone during class or work and when it comes down to her coworker, Chabashira.

It seems that there is more to their relationship than simple homeroom teacher rivalry.

"I'll tell you." I emitted shortly and paused, looking at Chie and anticipating a response. She wrinkled her brows at my heightened tone, which was suggesting an exchange. "But in return, I want you to tell me why you particularly despise Chabashira. No mincing words. I want a straight answer."

As I vocalized my request, Chie-sensei's contemptuous look steadily morphed towards an unreadable stern expression in a major behavior shift, which essentially validated my assumptions about their connection. Nevertheless, I silently stared at her as she contemplated a response while mindlessly staring back at me.

Whatever details she is going to provide are pretty insignificant. In fact, I do not really care about the type of connection these two have. I'm simply determining whether their quarrel is serious enough for Chie-sensei to consider including me, or whether she is probably already using me unknowingly.

I wouldn't object to any sort of goal she has. In fact, she has been such a big help that I wouldn't mind aiding her. However, I wasn't willing to ignorantly allow myself to be exploited for someone else's benefit. As long as both of our goals are aligned, anything secondary is unimportant.

"Hehe~ yes. Of course ! I'll tell you. " Chie-sensei eventually broke out of her trance and smiled. However, it was bitter. "But it won't be now, Kiyotaka-kun. Today is not the right time. We'll be discovered if we stay here any longer. "

She spoke apologetically and checked her wristwatch as a means to support her words, before looking back at me with her usual contented smile.

She isn't ready to share her past yet.

As I watched, I came to one final conclusion. Moreover, we had spent more than half an hour in this isolated location, so her words did contain some truth in them. I recognized her and stood up from the stairs, wiping off some dust before reaching out to grab the recorder. Chie-sensei, however, appeared to be attempting to defend it by bringing it closer to her chest and rotating her hips.

"Actually Kiyotaka-kun~ if you're not going to tell me how you got it, could you at least let me keep it?"

"Hmm?" I confusingly hummed and cocked an inquiring brow.

"As you know, I'm pretty good at keeping stuff, and I really want this recording~! So let your mother handle it for you~! Please Kiyotaka-kun~ pretty pweaaaaaase~"

Turning around, she clutched the recording device with both her hands and weakly extended it to my face, concealing behind it, a sad scowl and practically beseeching gentle purple eyes. The recorder was right in front of me for the taking. However, my hands were strangely empty of vitality and scarcely able to move. Seeing this, I sent a frown her way, which resulted in her grinning slyly.

What's up with those puppy eyes? First Honami and now her? Well, on the positive side, this outcome isn't too bad.

"You can keep it. However, you're not allowed to do anything with it."

"Whaaat? Whyyy~?" Chie-sensei's lips parted widely as she grumbled and pouted.

"Simply put, I don't want you to do anything rash." I directly abolished her, her pout remained evident. "I'm not aware of your relationship with Chabashira, so I cannot really understand your feelings. That's why I'm not permitting you to use it. Who knows? If we get her expelled, another person of my father's henchmen could replace her and make it harder for us. "

"Ooooooh~" Her lips instantly parted and she vocalized comprehensively, seemingly realizing my idea. "I didn't think of that."

I regarded her with a nod before giving her a small pat on the head as I walked past her. She reacted by slightly widening her eyes and taking a small step backwards, seemingly catching a small shiver. I peered through the small crack I created after unlocking the door, securing our surroundings before slinking out.

The sudden gauge of light inside the dark interior snapped Chie-sensei out of her trance as she hurriedly left and shut the door behind her. She scanned her surroundings until her eyes met mine, before smiling and briskly joining my side as we both took off somewhere else.

"Hehe~ I forgot to say: thank you for letting me keep it, Kiyotaka-kun." She grinned at me in appreciation before putting the recorder in her pocket and outstretched her arm. "Although, it is really too bad that you'll let her go unpunished for what she's done, she both tried to manipulate you and insult Honami-chan~ literally unforgivable."

She stretched her other arm, seemingly getting tired from all the work, as she grumbled with her usual tone. Unbeknownst to her, she vocalized exactly what I was feeling.

"Who said that I'll let her go unpunished?"

"Eh?" She reacted rather fiercely to my interjection, stopping her stretches and gazing at me with shock. "What are you saying?"

She inquired. However, I remained silent. Instead, I changed my direction and went towards a vending machine.

"I was planning to give you a call after the meeting to ask about something. But that seems irrelevant now, since you followed me around." I lifted my ID card and pressed it against the scanner before pushing the button for the blueberry canned juice. I was intrigued to try it, given that the blueberry ice-cream was pretty tasty.

"You wanted to ask me about something? Go ahead." She donned her teacher persona and crossed her arms, eyeing me with a cognitive gaze. However, I broke it by simply tossing her a drink, which she hurriedly caught.

"Hoshinomiya-sensei." I addressed her and she looked up. I came to a halt, keeping my gaze fixed on her as I maneuvered the can. The moment it popped, I felt it, and I inquired. "What would happen to a class if the total of its students hit zero?"

I felt it, I really did. The mild frustration and anger as I asked, I really did feel it.

The meeting with Chabashira left me upset, not only about what she said, but also about the fact that I got upset over it.

Upset about the fact that... I've become weak.

I wasn't trained to control my emotions because I simply abandoned them.

I had nothing to control... It was pointless.

But now that I do...

It is really infuriating that I cannot do it perfectly.

Chie-sensei, evidently noticing my frustrations, widened her eyes and nervously gulped. before promptly answering my question.

"T-Then. The said class would lose its right to participate in the exams and be p-permanently wiped out from the competition. " Her lips were slightly shivering as an aftereffect. However, she quickly heaved a long sigh, calming down. Just as her bubbly aura came back, she lifted her head and grinned. "Are you planning to use this information in some way, Kiyotaka-kun?"

At her inquiry, I simply averted my gaze and took a sip of my drink. However, it only resulted in her grinning further.

"You're so evil... Kiyotaka-kun~"

Chapter split into 2 parts. I feel it's better like this.

Also, no comments about newest volume...

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

V2 Chap 7 : One step closer..

Separating from Chie, I picked up the pace towards my next and final appointment of the day. The clock is a couple of short minutes away from passing six, and the meeting is slated for 30 minutes after that point.

It's a good thing that I foresaw the possibility of Chie-sensei following me around and freed a lot of time before the schedule. It seems that even turning off the GPS function doesn't really hide your whereabouts from the staff. With over 30 minutes left, I decided to stop by the Western cafe, a well-known and typically calm cafe to relax.

As I expected, it was stacked with students across all year levels, making use of this place's excellent amenities. Fortunately, I managed to secure a lone table shortly after I arrived and got my orders. A single cup of coffee and a book, and a soak in the silence.

Despite the vast number of people present, everyone at least made an attempt to preserve each other's tranquility—save for some unavoidable noises—and enjoy the mood together. However, that didn't stop people from continuously staring at me though, the moment I set my feet inside.

I wasn't particularly surprised by this. In fact, I was prepared. I figured that nobody would dare to approach me in a place like this, since doing so would violate the moral code and taboo of this place.

Or so, that's what I thought

"Oh. Good afternoon, Ayanokouji-senpai !" Rudely violating the stigma, moral codes, taboos, laws of physics, and my expectations, someone had actually marched up and called out to me. I lifted my eyes off the book to meet their gaze, only for my small annoyance to quickly diminish.

"Oh. Hello Yagami." Standing beside my table was Yagami Takuya, carrying a small tray of food in his hands and donning a lively smile that grew a little wider in surprise when I welcomed him.

"Ooh? It actually made me quite happy that you remembered my name, Senpai. I was worried for a second here. "

"Don't worry, you're a particularly hard guy to forget." I shut off my book and gave him my undivided attention. "Is there something you want from me?"

I set my book on the table and addressed him with a question, closely peering back at his eyes. However, he ended up facing me with a small bitter smile.

"Do you mind if I sit with you, Senpai?" Yagami requested before looking around. "There aren't any open tables around, and I'm not acquainted with anyone here aside from you. Of course, if it's not okay, I could-"

"No, that's fine." I cut through him.

"Thank you, senpai !" Yagami smiled happily before setting his tray on the table and getting seated right in front of me. While reopening my book, I took a quick glance at the contents of his plate. He had a slice of pumpkin pie and a cup of apple juice. "I should have asked this, senpai. Are you perhaps waiting to meet someone? "

He asked out of courtesy and drew a concerned gaze towards me. Maybe he thought I was meeting Honami?

"No I'm alone." I quickly shut down his worries.

"That's a rare one." Yagami remarked, his smile returning back. "Senpai is like a celebrity right now. I never imagined I could meet you alone."

"I had something important to do, now I'm relaxing."

"Ooooo~ Does it perhaps include having a secret affair with another woman?" I looked up from my book and gave him a dead expression as he donned a mischievous smug. That only intensified once he noticed my look.

"No." I frowned and took a sip of my coffee as a small idea crossed my head. "However, suppose I did have one."

"Hmm?" Yagami hummed perplexedly. "Suppose you had one?"

"Yes. Supposedly, you discovered that I was seeing someone else in secret. What would you do? " I gave further details before asking my query.

"What would I do... huh." Yagami mumbled to himself, seemingly finding this question interesting enough to give it a serious thought. "Uhh..."

He was lost in contemplation, instinctively adopting a thinking posture as his eyes darted around in search of an explanation, and his line of sight steadily dipped towards the floor. I took a drink of my coffee and watched him the whole time. His struggles were visible in his erratic staring at the sky and frequent hand wriggling. Just as I was about to stop him, he emerged with an answer.

"I... am not sure..?" He replied questioningly, genuinely unsure about his answer. "I... won't tell anyone about you... But I will absolutely keep my distance from you. Because if I have to be blunt, you would be completely repulsive senpai."

Even as he provided an answer, he still kept his unsure tone and thought more about it. However, I raised my hand, ordering him to stop.

"That's understandable. I agree. " I nodded in comprehension before setting my hand down. "Anyways, what are you doing here, Yagami?"

Leading the conversation back to the main flow, I inquired as I stuffed my book inside my blazer pocket.

"You could say that I'm pretty much the same as you, senpai." Yagami took hold of his fork and began cutting into his pie. He grabbed the tiny piece and began to chew it. "I had just completed my student council application and decided to take a break. That's how I came across you."

He explained before enjoying another bite of his pie. Due to the special exam, the club affair was postponed to this date, necessitating more work on the part of the club representatives. Honami, as a student council vice president, is currently in charge of processing applications from the eager first-years. This would also explain why Yagami is still in his school uniform at such a late hour of the day.

Additionally, this also provided me with time to move forward with my ideas, without being overly watched.

"I see." I mumbled in acknowledgment. "How did the exam go? It seems that you guys have managed to keep your class ranking."

"Ahaha! Yeah, we did indeed. " Yagami replied in affirmation. "It was a really close battle, but the rankings didn't change at the end. My classmates really wanted to overtake Class A and gain an early lead, but we didn't let the results affect our morale at all. "

For the grade-level that had the s-system explained to them and started at an equal number of class points, the first special exam was the ultimate battleground to establish the differentiation and increase the gap at a very early stage. Naturally, everyone was salivating for the top spot.

There might have been a case of Class D ascending to Class A before the first month even ended, which would be a permanently unbreakable achievement as long as the school rules resumed their normal course. However, that didn't happen and the standing remained the same.

"On the other hand, it seems that it went extremely well on your part, senpai."

"What do you mean? We ended up getting third place. " I remarked. However, Yagami shook his head.

"That may be so. But from my perspective, you guys have undoubtedly emerged as the biggest winners among your adversaries." He perceived.

It seems that Yagami was able to infer Honami's strategy and come to understand the full meaning behind it, which is what allowed him to deduce so confidently. This small show of perceptiveness actually managed to slightly change my impression of him. He may have approached us to get on our good side. However, he wasn't entirely good or naive pushover. Rather, he is quite tactful in his approaches.

In other words, there is much more to Yagami than meets the eye, and he's quite skilled at hiding it..

Moreover, he was one of the key factors in our connections with the first-years. He played a significant role in bringing both our classes together, which allowed us to achieve this much success. So it wasn't all for naught.

Our subsequent conversation was brief because my coffee cup was almost finished.
I picked up my empty cup and my phone so I could pay and bid some farewell words.

"Thank you for the talk, senpai ! and for the table in that regard. I'll see you later!" Yagami warmly waved at me as I moved towards the counter, and I waved back before turning around.

Was he a white room student? Possibly, he is one of my numerous suspects after all. However... if all of that was acting... then I'm honestly amazed.

Paying the receipt, I stepped out of the cafe, leaving several stares in my wake as I headed towards my final destination. There were still a few minutes until the scheduled time. However, I wanted to arrive early to start my preparations.

With a new goal in mind, I opened the door to the special annex and started walking up the stairs. Each floor had some security lines due to the sole existence of the chemical labs and equipment rooms located there, except the third floor, which was my destination.

The club affair was creating a big enough distraction for the first-years, while the other grade levels should be preoccupied with their regular daily lives, so there weren't any huge risks of being followed around. Moreover, it seems that one person was already there.

"Hoh?" As soon as they noticed my presence, they let out a surprised exclamation before lifting their backs off the wall and turning to face me. I didn't say anything, and kept walking toward them with my hands in my pockets. Their grin became larger the closer I got. "You came early."

"I could say the same thing to you, unexpectedly." I countered their remark before standing still, giving their outer appearance an overview. "Moreover, you're looking pretty rearranged. What happened, Ryuuen?"

Ryuuen was wearing a simple plain shirt, and was rather hanging pretty loosely. His hair was disheveled, and he looked quite drowsy. I tilted my head as I inquired about his appearance.

"I was taking a nap." Ryuuen scratched the back of his neck as he rested against the wall. But a new question resurfaced in my head.

"Nap... at 6?" I tilted my head even more.

"Yeah, so what?" Ryuuen reopened his eyes and glared at me, to which I slowly readjusted my head. "You fucker woke me up just to give me a lecture? Just say what you want."

"No, I didn't do that." I cleared up, before saying. "Actually, we're waiting for someone else now."

"Someone... ?" Ryuuen curiously parroted as he adopted a stern expression. However, I decided to remain silent.

Eventually, footsteps started reverberating behind me as I looked at Ryuuen's face once more. His gaze was already drawn to the end of the hallway, so I shifted my focus and followed him as the slow, nervous footsteps drew closer.

However, they abruptly came to a stop when the figure came around the corner. Both of their eyes, as well as Ryuuen's, widen in recognition and shock as soon as they come into contact.

"W-What?/What?" Both of them blurted out their thoughts simultaneously, shocked by each other's presence, which was a promising sign of coordination. The newly arrived person instantly shifted gears and glared at me. "What is this, Ayanokouji-kun?"

"Oh, Horikita, you're here." I swiftly acknowledged Horikita's presence with a nod and greeted her back; she was surprisingly still in her school uniform. "I believe we should begin the meeting now that the final participant has arrived."

Horikita, the third person in this group, merely stood still and didn't move an inch while she listened to what I had to say. Her face was filled with uneasy discomfort. She must have kept in mind the power I wield over her and forcefully restrained herself from grumbling.

"Ayanokouji, why is she here?" Ryuuen, however, asked me straight ahead with a calm look.

"Simply put, I want you two to make a baby."

"Huh?" Both of their expressions broke as they simultaneously exclaimed again, looking pretty dumbfounded by what I said. It took them a couple of seconds to fully comprehend what I said, which caused a huge lash from Horikita.

"D-Despicable ! Absolutely deplorable ! I absolutely refuse to-"

"But can you stop it from happening?" I cut through Horikita monotonously, peering at her with my eyes as I condemned her, to which she looked shocked. "Do you trust your abilities to be able to beat both me and Ryuuen in a fight?"

She took a step back out of fear as her gaze remained locked on mine. Her legs were trembling and she gulped nervously, remaining silent.

"Nothing prevents us from moving forward with it. You are helpless; in this unprecedented situation, you are unable to defend yourself or even flee in that regard. You are just that pitiful." I persisted in berating her with harsh words with the full intentions of shattering her. She made another step back, and this time I responded by taking a similar step. "Horikita, let's not forget the leach I have on you. You started using your own legs to get to this scenario out of your own foolishness as soon as you agreed to my bet. You are now wholly under my thumb, and I have complete authority over you. You can object, but you can't stop me from making decisions. You became my slave."

"B-But-"

"Do you believe that recording this conversation will help you? The damage would already be done. Besides, I could just take your phone and throw it in the water, or if that doesn't work, smash it with my hands until it's dust. You surely don't believe that I can do that, do you?"

I stopped in my tracks, which was received by Horikita's legs giving up and falling on her knees. She kept her head hung low and desperately pushed the ground to stand up. However, it was futile, and she was hopeless.

Every since the bet, I made sure to meticulously build Horikita's arrogance by offering her every possible advantage during our deal, as if I were handing her a win on a silver platter. As formerly known, she took the bait and got knocked her off her high horse.

And higher the person goes , the harder they will fall.

Her case, though, was an extreme one. Manabu tried to change her attitude over the course of many years and failed, so I wasn't willing to take it lightly. I went out of my way and drew attention to myself all for the sole reason of making her realize how great the distinction between us is and then proceeding to help her grow immensely.

"Grow up, Horikita. You won't survive for much longer if you keep that attitude. If you want to see a different face of your brother, then better understand what I'm telling you."

With those final words, I turned around and attempted to leave. However, Horikita extended her arm and grabbed my ankle, which immediately put me on a halt.

"... I won't give up..." She mumbled. I turned my gaze toward the ground to find her looking at me with crystal tears in her eyes. "I won't give up Ayanokouji-kun, I don't want to. I-I don't want him to look at me like that again... I understand... please... help me, Ayanokouji-kun."

Her grip on my calf grew tighter as the tears she was trying to hold back began to flow. Considering how desperate and out of place she is at the moment, it was very shocking. But it was precisely this desperation that was required for a change.

"Good. Hold onto this feeling right now, and remember it well, Horikita. because you will need it later." As I emitted them, she tearfully flashed me a warm and genuine smile, seemingly satisfied with my answer and slowly letting my leg loose.

I walked away, letting her reconcile with herself on her own, as I joined Ryuuen, who'd been spectating with evident amusement in his face.

"Kuku, nice flirting skills, monster." Ryuuen quipped while grinning at me. However, I simply ignored him and looked over at the newfound Horikita, who stood on her legs with such determination in her eyes.

"You're fine now?" I asked.

"Yes. I'm alright." She proceeded by brushing her hair off her face and nodding. I expected it to take quite a while for her to recover. However, she has already adapted.

"Good. I still need you for one more thing, though." I announced. which drew Horikita's curious glance and cocked a brow. I proceeded to pull out my phone. "It's about the one thing you'll do, according to the deal."

"O-Oh..." Horikita muttered before she slightly hung her head low, seemingly in shame.

"Yo Ayanokouji, you still haven't told me why I'm here." As I was tapping on my phone, Ryuuen inquired, becoming curious enough to see why he was summoned in the first place.

"You'll figure it out eventually." I brushed it off before looking at Horikita. "Check your phone."

As I said that, a loud notification came buzzing out of her phone at the same time I stuffed mine back into my pocket. Horikita glanced at her pocket before picking her phone up and opening it.

"What is this, Ayanokouji-kun? What did yo-" Suddenly, her hands frozen as her eyes expanded, abruptly cutting her own sentence at the cause of her own shock and leaving her lips hung open.

"Yo Suzune, what's wrong?" Ryuuen tried to call her out. However, she was pretty unresponsive. Sighing in frustration, he approached her frozen figure and stood beside her as he looked over her phone. "..."

Meeting the same fate as Horikita, Ryuuen's lips parted apart as he stared at the screen with an expression containing both seriousness and shock. I cleared my throat, which ended up snapping both of them out of their trances.

"Now, for the order I'm going to give you, Horikita." Both Ryuuen and Horikita directed their gazes toward me. Their shock lingered in their eyes as they anticipated my next command.

This was originally what I had prepared for her, the moment that Manabu left this school. I simply had no interest in her beforehand. However, this encounter is what suggested this idea.

Conveniently, this idea also aligns perfectly with my intentions and the goal of my small retribution. This is essentially my first real step towards the full annihilation of Class D and one step closer to my end goal..

"Team up with Ryuuen and work your way into defeating me."

Yo ! I bet you didn't expect a chapter this soon have you?

Well, I'm on holidays rn so I had a lot of time. Hopefully you enjoyed it !

Ngl, I'm not pretty happy with those 2 recent chapters, it's basically not hitting off as much as I wanted to. So I'll really love it if you tell me whether you liked it

and yeah, latest part is rushed without proof reading. Just thrusted it into docs and publish ! Yay ! Best Author ever !

(I'm losing my mind as you can see, gimme a break ;-;)

There is 2 chapters left for this Volume, to which we start with the island exam !

Finally, the next chapter is where the fluff starts, hopefully I'll feel better by then !

Anyways, Chao !

V2 Chap 8 : Moving out... (Gone Wrong)

Kiyotaka POV

It's been a couple of days since my meeting with Horikita, and now, things have noticeably quieted down in comparison to the afore two days.

The attention has temporarily shifted from me to the aforementioned person, as they are currently standing in the epicenter beside me. The news of her transfer to Ryuuen's class and the announcement of her cooperation with him spread like wildfire, slowly eating my fame while massively contributing to hers. It was a very beneficial exchange since the number of people talking about me measly decreased.

However, that didn't stop the forums from throwing conjectural theories around and somehow linking me to her in entirely absurd ways that were far from my true purpose. Luckily, no one seems to be genuinely convinced of my involvement. Save for a few exceptional people who are especially close to me.

A new month has wrapped up in the calendar, which hopefully means a start to a relatively peaceful and conflict-free May. This month couldn't help but contain a "calm before the storm" vibe, so everyone sincerely wishes for a soothing calm to take place, to prepare for the next month's colossal.

The school has handsomely rewarded us for our patience and for surviving another month here, most of which was already deposited in the class's bank. The class points have already been reflected in the results of our most recent special exam.

Class A : 1974 C.P (10)

Class B : 1404 C.P (75)

Class C : 385 C.P (50)

Class D : 0 C.P (0)

Our third-place placement only managed to award us 10 class points. However, it was far better than earning nothing and letting the competition close down even more. There was still a massive gap between our class and Sakayanagi's, so nobody dwelled on that.

Currently, Honami and I are moving baggage out of her room as we prepare to evacuate and move out.

A couple of short days ago, I received a notice from Amikura informing me of the completion of our new room's furnishing and sending me the receipt. My face paled slightly at the hefty sum of hundreds of thousands of points. But on the contrary, she didn't hold back and brought everything needed for a complete room, all of high quality. So I didn't mind the cost and paid her extra for the hard work, as well as her comrades.

And today, we were supposed to check it out and move in. But along the way, we met a surprising yet solicitous helping hand.

"You know, you didn't have to come all the way here to help us, Nanase-san," Honami stated her concerns as she folded the shirt and neatly placed it inside the bag. "There won't be much more luggage than this, and we're capable of lugging it on our own. So there is no need for you to trouble yourself."

"Oh, that's fine. It's no trouble if it's for Senpai. I want to be of help." Nanase responded kindly, following up with Honami and placing another folded shirt.

"You don't have to force yourself if you don't want to be here, Nanase-san. We understand if you have some more important stuff to do." Honami persisted.

"If I had something I needed to get done, I wouldn't have offered to help, Ichinose-senpai. It's alright! I'm free at the moment." Nanase explained with the same tender tone, effectively shutting down Honami's protests for the time being. They both teamed up to vacate the locker and all drawers across the room.

As for myself, I silently emptied the fridge while listening to their occasional bickering, which mild amusement spread across my face. Honami has been continuously trying to push Nanase out as subtly as possible ever since she sprouted into our flow, which didn't make her happy at all. She was rather in a chipper mood this morning, and she didn't want to deal with someone like Nanase, who could potentially ruin this great day.

For someone who isn't aware of what transpired between me and Nanase, her behavior was completely understandable. Nanase did indeed try to threaten her to take advantage of her, so for her to act friendly all of a sudden was incredibly strange. Honami made a reasonable call for caution around her.

Moreover, it seems that Nanase is especially dense towards Honami's attempts, or she's pretending to be so. Either way, it would be great if they get along pretty well.

"You're done over there, Ayanokouji-senpai?" Nanase's head peeked from the kitchen door frame, twinkling her blue orbs enquiringly at me. I stood up from my position and faced her.

"Yeah, I'm done. I'll need to unplug the fridge." Nanase smiled happily before moving in to pick up the sacks full of kitchenware and food. I was concerned for a second that she wouldn't be able to lift them, but it didn't seem to be a problem. "Is everything done on your part?"

"Mhm~ everything is set and ready to go!" Honami cheered from the other side of the wall. "It would be pretty wasteful if we let anything run; make sure to shut everything down, okay~?"

"Yes~!" Nanase exclaimed affirmatively.

Finishing up with the closing procedures, we all stood in front of the exit with our backs to the door and our bags in our hands as we took one last look at Honami's vacant room—except the original furniture—before moving out and abandoning it.

"Heh~ it looks exactly like how I've seen it for the first time." Honami reminisced, a nostalgic smile on her face as she returned to the bedroom, which had reverted to its original state and resembled something pretty bland and basic. She put the luggage down and sat on the mattress, running her hand gently over its surface. "I've created many special memories in this particular space that I won't forget for the rest of my life, even if I have only lived here for a year. To leave it and move out, makes me feel pretty sad.."

Honami expressed her feelings with a soft tone, as she looked around and took in her surroundings with the same nostalgic look on her face. I glanced at Nanase, which she immediately understood, and bowed down before excusing us for a short moment and taking her leave.

I dropped my luggage beside hers as I approached the figure of the wandering Honami on the bed with slow, steady steps as I regarded her with my eyes. Her beautiful blue eyes wandered towards mine as she smiled stunningly at me with such warmth that it could melt the iciest of hearts.

"Do you feel it too, Kiyotaka? Do you feel like you're leaving something important behind?" Honami regarded me inquiringly as I moved over and seated myself on the bed beside her. I took her hand into mine as I peered back into her eyes.

"Yes, I feel that." Honami's eyes softened as she received my response, and a broader smile appeared on her face.

"Really? You're not lying?" She beamed, her eyes glowing with hope.

"No, I'm not." I shook my head, before lying on the bed while holding onto her hand. Honami eagerly dragged her legs up and hopped on the bed, eyeing me curiously as I stared at the ceiling. "I'm not sure what I should be feeling right now, but I do feel a little discouraged at the thought of abandoning this place. That's what I can tell you right now."

I heaved a sigh before tilting my head and locking my eyes into hers, as I expressed my sincere opinion.

Even though it's just a room—ground, roof, and four bland walls—this is where the happiest moments of my life have occurred. Even if the cause was different, I cannot help but find this space a place to look back into.

"That's fine; as long as you can feel it, it's more than enough," Honami spoke warmly before snuggling up against my side and holding my arm. "We won't be abandoning it; we can always return and spend as much time as we want~"

"I guess you're right," I replied.

'Abandoning' was a bit of a stretch, given that it's accessible at all times. Furthermore, if things have proven unsafe at the new one, we could always return for some temporary use.

Honami and I took a blissful short rest on the bed, before heading out and joining Nanase to avoid keeping her waiting for too long.

Just as we unlocked the door, we immediately spotted her figure in front of us, standing sideways as her hands were raised defensively. Concurrently, she instantly looked back at us as soon as we opened the door, with a troubled look on her face.

Honami initially furrowed her eyebrows in perplexity at her. However, it didn't take her long to become aware of the other presence next to Nanase.

"Oh? Kiyotaka-kun! Oh, and Honami-san too!" A loud but familiar voice rang within our vicinity as we both turned to look at it. The person in question eyed us with a hint of surprise before gently approaching us and donning their usual angelic smile.

"Oh, Hiyori-san!" Hiyori, Honami's next-door inmate, flashed a bright smile at Honami's recognition and politely bowed at us, we reciprocated with a bow of our own before Honami commenced inquiring. "What are you doing here Hiyori-san? Is there something wrong between you and Nanase-san?"

Honami observed Nanase as the latter leisurely retreated to a corner, before regarding Hiyori once more.

"Uh? oh... well..." Hiyori fiddled nervously as she averted her gaze, contemplating an answer. She scratched her cheek as she glanced in Nanase's direction, with a self-deprecating smile. "When I came out of my room to head to the library today, I saw Nanase-san sneaking baggage out of your dorm. I thought she was a thief and decided to confront her..."

"Oh!" Honami exclaimed in realization before a smirk slipped out of her lips at the cause of this ridiculous misunderstanding. "No, no, that was not it, Hiyori-san; Nanase-san was only helping us."

"Yeah... I realized." Hiyori murmured despondently before turning to face Nanase, who just gave her a blank stare. "Nanase-san, I'm very sorry; I was so wrong!"

Hiyori bowed deeply as she shouted her apology, which caught Nanase off guard and caused her to get flustered.

"N-No! Please lift your head Senpai!" Nanase panicky raised her hands, motioning for Hiyori to stop. "It's my fault for not clarifying enough, so please, don't apologize!"

Nanase, much like Hiyori, followed up and bowed her head apologetically, which resulted in her hair slightly brushing against Hiyori's. Honami stifled a laugh, as she observed this amusing scenario.

"Both of you, please raise your heads." Honami decided to interject and lift their heads as they slowly regarded her. "You don't have to apologize for one simple misunderstanding excessively; nothing escalated, so it's all behind now. Moreover, you two have had a rather humorous encounter."

Honami smiled as the two of them listened to her before turning to face each other.

"Now that you mention it, we did!" Hiyori's eyes sparkled again as she ascended from her bow and stood comfortably. A smile reappeared on Nanase's face as she did the same. "This sort of first encounter only happens so much; it is typically the start of a fun and pretty lasting friendship! At least according to fiction... Oh, I still haven't introduced myself. I'm Shiina Hiyori; it's nice meeting you, Nanase-san!"

Hiyori enthused enthusiastically before introducing herself and raising her hand; Nanase replied with a formal introduction of her own before accepting the handshake.

"So..." concluding with Nanase. Hiyori drew her gaze towards us, her eyes wide with curiosity. "You guys are moving out?"

Her tone has gone substantially quieter as she presumably reached her conclusions based on what she observed so far.

"Mhm~ the furnishing of our room is complete, and we're planning to head out right now." Honami lifted the bag slightly off the ground for a gesture.

"I see..." She mumbled, appearing to be a little discouraged. "It's gonna feel a little more lonely from now on..."

"Hey..." Honami dropped the bags on the floor before stepping forward and hugging her. "It's also going to feel lonely without you, Hiyori-san. Living without you next door is never going to be the same."

Honami stroked her long silver hair as she comforted her with an incredibly loving and compassionate tone. Hiyori was more or less astonished by Honami's sudden advance and had her startled gaze unwittingly land on me. When I gave her a tiny nod, her brows momentarily expanded, but then her eyes softened up, and she smiled joyously.

"Besides, Hiyori-san, being friends doesn't require that we live close by. We could see each other at almost any place and whenever we wanted! Please come by and visit us from time to time; I'll make sure to buy a small library specifically for the three of us."

"Yes. I will!" Hiyori exclaimed, before reciprocating Honami's embrace and putting her hands behind her back. Honami smiled warmly, enclosing her eyes, before pulling away. "It's also a good thing that you guys are moving out since I won't be hearing the noises of your massages."

"Eh? Massages?" Honami confusedly retorted. However, she was met with a deadpan Hiyori, who was smugly mischievous.

"Yes, massages. It's what you guys do after dark." Honami was genuinely confused by Hiyori's words... initially. Just as she slowly started catching on, Hiyori continued. "You know, if I have to be bold, I know that your breasts produce a lot of counterweights, Honami-san, so your shoulders must be rigid at all times. However, that doesn't give you the excuse to-"

"A-Ap-paaa~!!!!!!" Hiyori was taken off-guard by Honami's sudden eruption, she squealed and instantly put some distance between herself and Hiyori, while burying her face in the palms of her hands. "Y-You heard...?"

Honami shockingly murmured, to which Hiyori nodded.

"Yes, I heard," Hiyori responded, still oblivious to the extent of her words. "But since it appeared to be only a one-time incident, I didn't take it up to you... Are you okay, Honami-san?"

Honami didn't respond and simply engulfed her face as she buried it deeper, out of humiliation. I glanced at Nanase to find her looking the other way with a small tint of red on her cheeks.

"Wait, Honami-san! Why are you blushing? Was it because I talked about your breasts?" Hiyori yelled as she got alarmed over the wrong reason. Seeing the unresponsive Honami, she gasped. "Oh my god! I didn't mean to make you flustered Honami-san! I'm... I'm so sorry!!"

Hiyori panicked before bowing profusely and repeatedly as she stood alone in the open. Honami moved towards a wall and leaned against it, emitting faint cries that indicated her profound embarrassment. Nanase kept staring stagnantly at the wall located at the end of the hall.

After observing each of their miserable states for a predetermined period, I sighed in severe tiredness. I leaned against the wall and felt my hand crawl up and rest its palm on my forehead, obscuring half of my vision as I tried to think of a way out of this ludicrous situation.

~ ~

"Hmph~" After Nanase delivered the luggage and excused herself, Honami slapped her cheeks a couple of times, just as we remained to ourselves, and grumbled. "Oh my god, I really did feel like I wanted to die right there and then."

We were next to the doorstep of our new room, inside the co-ed building, with no one around. Honami held her face as she sat on the stairs.

"Were you that embarrassed?" I posed.

"Yeah! Who wouldn't?! When someone hears you doing that..." Honami rationalized. However, something quickly crossed her mind, which resulted in her taking her hands off her face and glaring at me. "Oh yeah, you didn't. You just stood there looking at us with that grating smugness of yours."

As soon as she said that, I mimicked my earlier delighted smugness, which further aggravated her.

"Honestly, don't you have any shame? Aren't you at least concerned that this might get out?"

"Don't worry, it's all according to plan."

"Plan? What are you? Christopher Colombus?"

"How is that related?" I deadpanned. Honami snickered at the playful banter, before beautifully tossing her hair in the air and fixing it.

"No, but seriously. What if Nanase-san leaks it?" She donned a more serious demeanor as she fretted.

"She won't, I'm positive of it." I patted her head as I replied with conviction. "If anything, she won't have any proof to support her assertions. We already warned Hiyori to not tell anyone. As long as we do our share, I doubt it will go any other way."

I highly doubt the threat of Nanase would live out long enough in her head, so there isn't any need for me to tell her what happened. As both the leader of the class and someone involved in my mess, Honami has much more to worry about than one particular uncertainty. Nanase would have a lot of chances in the future to redeem herself in her eyes.

As for Nanase, I am currently almost convinced of her dependability. I had someone personally tasked to observe her for a set period after our contact, which was more or less reported with the all-clear sign. The girl seems to be deeply wounded and regretful by what has transpired in her life so far and looks up to me as her lone ally.

Yet again, my life has brought more misfortune...

"Alright..." In a brisk motion, Honami gently picked up my hand that was on top of her as she stood up, snapping me out of my thoughts, before starting to navigate her way toward the door. "The room will not inhabit itself if we keep dwelling here. Get a move on, Kiyotaka..."

She tugged on my finger as she bent down and swiftly picked up the luggage off the ground with her free hand while towing me with the other. As soon as I shifted my focus toward the floor, I made up my mind and firmly clung to her hand and picked up my luggage.

"Hai."

Having a set of bags in each hand, we advanced toward the wooden door holding the number 52, which would now serve as our home.

Honami eagerly pulled out the golden key card and calmly tucked it inside the electric pocket. The door's lock has been released, as evidenced by the noise it made, and Honami twisted the handle.

We both stepped inside, and the door behind us closed, leaving us both to ponder the alterations that had occurred at the entryway. We took off our shoes and put them in the drawer, making sure to be particularly quiet for some unknown reason.

"Wow..." As we finally turned and faced the interior of the chamber, Honami let out a sound of astonishment.

The first thing that caught my eye was the glassy doors that led to the small balcony and exhibited a lovely display of the school grounds as well as a small extent beyond the waters.

The morning rays shone brightly as they touched the extraordinarily large bed that was placed between two modest nightstands and faced a large wardrobe with two mirrors on either side and a large TV centered in the middle.

Its layout was identical to that of the previous room. The restroom was right next to the entrance. It had a glass shower and a bathtub, as well as enough space to move around, from what I can see through the door.

All of the necessary appliances, including a stove, fridge, and additional items like a dishwashing machine, were present in the kitchen and appeared to be constructively modern. In addition to some inviting-looking seats and couches, the living area included a table.

Specifically for health reasons, an air conditioner was positioned directly on top of the front door, far from the bed or any couches.

In terms of decor, it was neat, with many options and room to add to your preferences. It appears like Amikura placed a higher priority on necessities and life-convenient gadgets than decorations, which is a very smart choice.

Arguably, the only thing that could be regarded as decoration is the spike-looking squares placed on top of the bed, which are fortunately made of sponge. I'm unsure of their purpose, but I'll reserve judgment till then.

"It's so lovely!" Honami exclaimed enthusiastically as she walked around the room, looking in every crevice, before sitting down on the bed. "Everything is so fantastic! The bed is spacious and comfy too Kyaa~"

Honami slid onto the bed and began rolling over it, savoring its comfort and displaying a blissful expression on her face. I curiously stepped over and ran my finger over it, then sat down.

Without a doubt, it was cozy and soft. I could already make the distinction between it and the mattress the school provides; it stood no chance. Considering the price difference, it was reasonable.

"Look, Kiyotaka~ It's so big I can roll four times!" Honami started rolling over in the opposite corner of the bed and eventually reached my side after exactly four rotations. She lay on her stomach, adorably resting her cheek on her forearm, and grinned.

"You seem to be greatly enjoying yourself," I remarked.

"Oh, yes, I am; this is the best!"Honami expressed, before rolling back and squealing.

The atmosphere was incredible, and Honami seems to approve of this room. As for myself, I wasn't far off; it was very fulfilling. Overall, I'm pleased...

"Wait a second." Honami, who was hugging a pillow, suddenly lifted her head and exclaimed before sitting up. She appeared to have realized something. "You do realize Mako-chan did all of this?"

Honami questioned me while displaying an oddly alert appearance. As soon as I nodded to her, she leaped up, tossed the pillow away, then dropped to the floor and quickly glanced under the bed.

"What are you doing?" I asked her.

"I know Mako-chan better than anyone else, Kiyotaka. I'm telling you, that woman is crazy." Honami got to her feet and trotted up to the closet, where she began to look it over. "She could have hidden a tape recorder or a dispenser full of aphrodisiacs, or even both."

She looked inside and outside each drawer, as well as behind the closet. I sighed at the spectacle and then got to my feet to decide to follow her.

It might prove useful and eliminate anything that I could have potentially overlooked, and I'd get used to having those expensive-looking gadgets around. After all, this is our home.

We spent a couple of minutes searching for any strange items that might be lying around while also exploring our dorm. It was a gratifying and fun activity, and we eventually returned empty-handed.

"A Mako-chan-orchestrated ploy without anything suspicious? Impossible." Honami quipped.

"Maybe Shibata is doing an excellent job of seizing her," I optimistically suggested.

"If so, that's really impressive, haha. because I just witnessed her strangling him yesterday." She narrated indifferently. "Anyways, let's forget about everyone and everything else now... and only think about ourselves~"

Her tone softened as she cutely squinted her eyes, and she pulled her body closer to mine and our faces closer before leaning hard against my arm and pulling me flat on the bed.

"I hope you didn't forget what today is~" Honami remade, with a noticeable blush on her face and an extremely warm smile.

"No, I didn't." I turned over and rested my palm on the back of her neck; her eyes sparkled at my response. Unconsciously, I returned the smile.

"Today is our first anniversary."

AYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

FINALLY, I COMPLETED THIS.

I legit had a loud pop in my chest as I finished it, I stood still for 5 hours with intense hyperfocus I forgot about my body.

Anyways, I'm sorry for this so so so sosososososo late chap.

For those who weren't aware, I got hit by a car. Then my back ached for weeks (because the medicine intoxicated my stomach and then switched from muscle injury to stomach pain. Yeah, it was dreadful)

Luckily, I'm well and strong again!

Thanks to everyone who wished for my recovery, and those who didn't, I also must thank you (because you just proved that Karma isn't in your side WHAHAHAHAHA-)

jk :)

I doubt someone could be cruel enough to wish for someone's death...

right?

Anyways, talk to ya later guys, I hope you really loved this chap. (Please tell me if you do, I think I'm going crazy.)

love you all 3

V2 Chap 8.5: The First Anniversary

Honami POV

Ham

Ham

Just as I made an advance, a prompt reply immediately followed before the stillness erupted once more.

Ham

Deeming it safe to break through, I leaped ahead and secured a lot of territory. My opponent reacted similarly, and eventually, we both came to blows.

...

There was nothing but quiet when we intensely stared into one another's eyes with the final one-piece smothered just in between us. I firmly gripped his ferocious arms while he held onto mine as we both searched for a chance to strike.

Our heated breaths tickled each other's faces as our lips were delicately pressed against one another. However, I didn't allow that to deter me, instead focusing intently on the objective at hand- beating Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.

I reapplied pressure to his arms to try to distract him, but as expected, it was futile. Instead, I immediately capitalized on my failure and blew a large air stream through my nose.

Kiyotaka's eyes squinted slightly in response. As soon as I noticed this, I sprung forward, reached for the final piece of victory, wrapped it up, and then quickly retreated for what appeared to be a successful sneak attack.

Wow! I can't believe my attempt to surprise him actually paid off!

Just as I thought that, and started grinning triumphantly. My heart skipped a beat, as a deadly resistance arose, and victory slid from right beneath my tongue.

"Nice try."

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO." I clamored on the bed as I tumbled, raking my hair distressingly. "How did I manage to throw so badly?!"

No, that's not it...

"You! How did you get so good so fast?" I screeched at the head of the problem beseechingly, as he raised his brows and continued to nimble on a brand-new poky stick, meanwhile gazing at me.

"This makes it three to two. So I win." He dodged the question.

"Tsk, whatever." I clicked my tongue and crossed my arms as I pivoted to face the other direction. I wasn't really frustrated, but it was fun to pretend so.

Coincidentally, my eyes landed on the clock, which read 8:46 PM.

It was already the afternoon of the same day; the sun had set a long time ago, and now it was dark outside. Kiyotaka and I were inside our brand-new dorm, relishing our anniversary date to the fullest.

Our date started this morning when we arrived here, unloaded our bags, and then went on a quick shopping trip for final-touch items. When we came back, that was when our date truly began.

Playing games, even sneaky ones like hide and seek and catch, was a lot of fun. They were sly because the reduced space was expected to have terrible effects. And right now, we've just concluded a round of the poky game, which I, unfortunately, lost 3-2.

Yes, I had a 2-0 lead. Kiyotaka was so horrendous! He never ate a pocky stick in his entire life! Yet, it took him just two shots to pull the rug from under me. Honestly, what am I going to do with him?

...

No, I refuse to lose like this.

I swiveled back to look at Kiyotaka just as he was about to start speaking. He still hasn't gulped down the piece from earlier, so I still have my chance.

I rested my palm on his thigh as I slowly inched closer to his body. He frowned slightly as he observed my hand before keeping eye contact until we were face to face.

I gently cupped his face with both of my hands and beamed lovingly at him. Kiyotaka sat immobile and frowned even more.

His saliva has most likely soaked it completely... But personally, I don't mind it at all~

"Mmgh~"

"?!"

I smashed my lips against his and forcefully shoved my tongue inside his mouth. Kiyotaka recoilingly emitted a grumble and seized my shoulders to pin me down and stop me from propelling, as another fight for dominance initiated.

My tongue swirled against his, attempting to locate the piece of the pocky stick as Kiyotaka resisted ferociously. The fight was so fierce that we were tipped off balance and plunged onto the mattress.

Found it!

The sudden fall resulted in the piece getting out of its hiding spot and coming into contact, and fortunately, it went precisely toward the tip of my tongue! I wrung my face as I pushed it harder against Kiyotaka's and successfully grabbed it.

Like last time, Kiyotaka attempted to snatch it away using the same method. However, my prediction from earlier has proven to be correct. Additionally, the piece's durability had greatly diminished, so I squished it between my tongue as I escaped Kiyotaka's grasp and pulled away triumphantly.

"Yessssss!" I eagerly got to my feet and gloriously stood on top of the mattress, grinning widely and looking down at Kiyotaka.

"That was illegal. I had already won." He said that after following me up and sitting with his legs crossed underneath me. He then turned to face me while wiping his mouth with a tissue.

"The rules state that you win when you gulp the piece, and it is currently digesting in my belly, soo~" I rubbed my stomach as I displayed a cocky smug. "You lose, as simple as that. Hehe~"

"That's wrong." Kiyotaka gave me a lifeless stare. "You said that you win when you catch the final piece."

"Oh well, hidden rules." I chuckled as Kiyotaka sighed wearily. I'm having way too much fun teasing him with the "secret terms and conditions" joke and seeing his response.

It's one benefit to having a kuudere boyfriend; you get to see what exciting reactions they'll emit when being treated unfairly. Kiyotaka is apathetic and mature always, which I find especially cute when put in a childish scenario.

"I see. Okay, then." When he uttered it, my view immediately overlapped, and I noticed myself gazing up at the ceiling promptly later. I wasn't aware of what was happening until I felt Kiyotaka rising on top of me and the lingering effects of touch behind both of my legs. "If those are your regulations, then allow me to violate them."

"What? No-" Kiyotaka grasped my waist with his hand just as I was about to object, and I quickly halted my words with a squeal. When I looked back, I was met with an utterly apathetic look. "K-Kiyotaka s-stop... You know how ticklish I am."

I pleaded with an uncomfortable look as I arched my back; his mere touch was more than enough to make me feel tense.

"No, Honami, it won't do. You can't spit it out on your own after all." My eyes expanded when he stated that, and I immediately began panicking.

"No! Kiyotakaaaaaaaaah~" I moaned loudly when he roughly squeezed my waist from both sides, which soon transformed into hysterical laughter as he continued pinching me."No! No! Staph~! Yamete... Yamete... Please stop~! Yametekudasai~!!!!!"

I pleaded desperately between breaths as I burst uncontrollably. My eyes shut down as my legs fluttered around, trying to budge. However, Kiyotaka's weight was perfectly holding my body from moving.

"Kiyotakah~! Please stop... I can't... I'm crying... Please, I can't... I caaaannttt~!" Tears started welling in my eyes from the hysteria. However, Kiyotaka was relentless; he ignored all my pleas and took his sweet time with his retribution.

I made an effort to open my eyes to locate his arms and try to push them away, but it was futile; they didn't budge. During that, I briefly spotted Kiyotaka's face, which had an amused smile while watching my reactions.

However, my vision was immediately taken away, and I continued to laugh helplessly.

Fuck, I brought this on myself.

Realizing every escape was closed, I resigned myself as I helplessly endured Kiyotaka's pinches while resisting only natural bodily retaliations. My mind went blank several times, and I thought I would pass out.

Suddenly, Kiyotaka stopped and retracted his hands, and I immediately collapsed on the bed. Breathing deeply, with no energy felt in my body at all.

Please, no more.

Thankfully, the tickling stopped. My face was buried in the mattress while my body lay motionless on its stomach, savoring the incredibly satisfying healing sensation.

Honestly, future Honami should learn never to poke the beast. But even after this, I have no doubt that she will repeat it again... Mattaku.

I heard some ruffling behind me on the front of the bed, but I didn't dare to move an inch and check it out. In all honesty, I was feeling pretty lazy. However...

"Honami, how are you doing?" When Kiyotaka returned, he checked on me, but I kept my face hidden and purposefully didn't respond. I heard him move closer and turn me around, then lift my legs and shoulders

"Eh?" I opened my eyes to find myself resting in his arms, with his face directly above me, in a princess carry.

"Let me carry you; you're tired." He looked down and thinly smiled, immediately sending a blush to my cheeks, and I nodded mindlessly.

Well, at least he's still a gentleman.

I holed up and brought myself closer to his sturdy chest as I closed my eyes and endeavored to nap soundly. The warmth generated by my body helped put my mind at ease and stabilize my heartbeats.

This feeling... is priceless.

I wallowed profoundly in the incredibly soothing sensation, not giving a single thought to Kiyotaka's movements.

Hold on, where is he planning to take me?

When I opened my eyes, Kiyotaka was standing next to me while I was lying on the floor right in front of the bed, which was covered in a blanket. He must have set it earlier when I was engulfed.

"Kiyo, what are you doing?" I furrowed my brows curiously as I observed his blank visage. He didn't vocally respond but instead lowered his face and crouched while slowly seizing the short end of the blanket—exactly below my left arm.

He then smiled.

"EEEEEEP~!"

I didn't squeal out of embarrassment, not at all. Rather, it was because Kiyotaka promptly flipped me over and wrapped me with the blanket as he started rolling it around me.

I had no chance to resist; the foil was tightly confining my movement while his palm was rubbing strongly against my rear as he swiftly flipped me around, which slightly boosted the feeling of my dizziness. I couldn't even scream because the blanket was muffling my mouth.

When the bowling calmed down, I felt myself getting levitated off the floor and being put straight up. This improved my mobility, and I crawled straight up, liberating my head from the clasps of the warm blanket.

Snap

I heard the camera snap as soon as my head popped out of the blanket and I opened my eyes. Kiyotaka stood right ahead, carrying a phone that was aimed at me in his right hand while his eyes were glued to the screen.

"Not too shabby," Kiyotaka commented while taking another picture of me and then fixing his phone to his face.

"Grr, delete that!" I growled at him and sheathed my teeth.

"Nope, this is going to the home screen." Kiyotaka lightheartedly disputed it and then turned his phone to show it to me, where a picture of me stuck in a blanket was displayed as the wallpaper. "I have been looking to change it for a long time; the default one was getting boring. I considered altering it to a photo of the two of us, but this is way better."

"Hmph~" I ignored his rambling and puffed my cheeks out, to which Kiyotaka looked greatly amused as he donned a thin smug.

"Here, here." He reached for a tissue and began gently wiping my face—especially my mouth— which I didn't realize was so wet from all the pandemonium. I begrudgingly allowed him to dry me—not that I had a choice.

Kiyotaka pulled away and threw the tissue in the bin before resting his amused eyes on me. I squinted my eyes and kept my pout as if commanding him to free me with my vexed visage. But Kiyotaka didn't budge as he kept looking back with his lustrous golden orbs.

*Ding dong*

However, we immediately awoke from our reveries and turned our focus to the front door, where the doorbell's abrupt ringing echoed.

Kiyotaka POV

The doorbell rang, and we both turned our attention toward it with curious eyes.

Who could it be?

I asked myself as I glimpsed at the clock, which had just hit nine p.m. It is already past curfew for most students, so roaming around the dorms is strictly limited. I am well aware that this dorm is an exception since the curfew for this building is extended to 11 p.m. But still, it is already considered too late for a visit.

"Did you invite someone over?" I asked what seemed to be a pretty obvious question. that I already knew the answer to.

"No, I didn't." Honami calmly denied it; she was just as perplexed as I was. "Nobody sent me a message that they were coming either..."

"Wait here for a moment."

"Hey~! I can't move!"

I ignored Honami's grumbles about her mobility and made my way toward the front door, all the while formulating my assumptions about the unexpected visitor. However, they were all shattered just when I peeked through the peephole.

"Senpai~"

The fluttering red hair and the golden orbs peering through the door were the first things I saw. Just then, her eyes rested on the peephole as her lips formed a cheeky grin, sensing my gaze and deciding to call me out in a very sweet voice.

"Kiyotaka, who is it?" Honami inquired the moment I pulled away. However, the devil stuck closer to the door and chanted an endearing melody.

"Open~up. Senpai~ It's me. Your favorite Kouhai~" Needless to say, Amasawa's lovely voice reached Honami's ears and caused her to pale.

I turned my attention back and unlocked the door. However, a delicate hand quickly pushed the door open and intruded inside as it positioned itself at the frame. Luckily, the U-lock initially provided with the door was working, quickly stopping the door's movement.

"Please remove this for me~"Amasawa popped her head through the door, prodding the iron lock with her finger.

"What do you want?" I blurted it out.

"Ara~ there is no need to be so cold, Senpai. Especially given everything we've done together~" Amasawa retracted her finger and grinned widely at my cold response, seemingly enjoying stirring misunderstandings in this interaction. "I just came here to pay a small visit."

"Knowing you, I highly doubt you came just for a 'small' visit." I mused loudly. "So, what is your purpose?"

I took a long look at her face, with deciphering eyes. However, her expression remained unperturbed, and her devilish grin imposed out more menacingly.

"Do I need a reason to visit my other home?"

"What?" I exclaimed. Amasawa followed up shortly after.

"Remember, Senpai, you only got this accommodation due to the joint effort you and I made. You wouldn't have gotten an inch if it weren't for me." Amasawa reasoned. "It follows that I naturally consider this to be my second home."

"But you've already received your share of the prize." I countered with a frown, ignoring some parts of her reasoning. "I don't remember them talking about triple occupancy of a room."

"But I also don't remember them talking about three people living in the same dorm~" Amasawa added.

"Your point?" I raised my brow.

"Hu hu hu." Amasawa hummed elatedly as her mischievous grin became a little less chaste. She carefully maneuvered her hand to the U-lock and took it out before going inside and taking off her shoes. "You wouldn't want anyone to see me outdoors and get some funny ideas, wouldn't you?"

"Just get this over with." I rolled my eyes and went back to the living room, as Amasawa followed closely behind me. We stopped at the entrance, where she commented.

"Ara~ I didn't know that I came at such bad timing."

She chuckled as she observed Honami struggle to free herself from the blanket, and when we entered, Honami immediately noticed us and began floundering more hurriedly.

"So you were doing lewd things to Ichinose-senpai while cladding her. Senpai, you're so kinky~ " She put on a thoughtful expression as she teasingly guessed, making Honami's cheeks flush with shame.

"That's just your fantasy," I enunciated.

"Is that so?" Amasawa retorted, her loud voice indicating that she didn't believe me. She also turned her attention right away to the bin at the other end of the room. "Then, Ayanokouji-senpai, how do you explain the existence of two damp tissues in your trash? From here, they appear moderately wet. Something is fishy."

I followed her stare to confirm that this was the case. The two tissues that I used to wipe both of my and Honami's mouths respectfully clean of saliva were disposed of in the trash.

It would have been nearly impossible for a normal person to spot them from this distance, let alone determine the degree of their wetness. However, that seemed like child's play for Amasawa.

"E-Eh? We used it to wipe off our mouths when we kissed!" Honami was initially taken aback by Amasawa's perceptiveness. Before she quickly blurted out the reason for it—while still being stuck inside the blanket.

"Hmm~ kiss?" Amasawa parroted, furrowing her brows, seemingly unconvinced. "So you guys clean your mouths after you kiss?"

"Ah!" Honami finally understood the flaw in her argument.

"In addition, I find it too weird that you guys produced so much saliva... Are you sure what you did was just 'kissing' Ichinose-senpai?"

Amasawa kept relentlessly prodding Honami, as the latter's blush intensified while fighting against her with all her might. There was no good excuse to begin with, as Amasawa would see right through it. Even if we tell her the real reason, we'll end up looking weird no matter what.

Honami managed to pull herself out of the blanket, at last, standing up with a flushed face and her head partially hanging down. Amasawa turned to face me while still looking very amused by the mess she made.

"Ne ne~ I didn't mean to interrupt you while you were plowin' Senpai. So~" Amasawa's eyes suddenly took on a different hue, she reached out and began to stroke her hair as her cheeky smile turned into a deeply lustful one.

"As compensation, wanna have a threesome, Ayanokouji-senpai~? "

How would Ayanokouji Kiyotaka and Ichinose Honami deal with the embodiment of the devil, named Amasawa Ichika, and her irresistible offer—irresistible for most of us—at the end?

Is Ayanokouji Kiyotaka one of 'us' ? Perverted degenerates

Is the next chapter going to be a continuation with a major plot point? Or will it gonna have an amazing 'plot' if ykwim

Find out in the next ep of Kiyotaka of Class Z (Kill me pls)

Vol 2 Chap 8.75: Ichika vs Honami

Amasawa ichika's POV

If I may, I would like to pose an interesting question:

What would you do if your rival seized your prey like a hostage within a castle?

Imagine with me the following scenario: You're standing far away from an enemy castle, on your base. There is a considerable distance between you two, and you're exchanging glares with their leader.

You cannot come any closer since constant surveillance surrounds you. You also cannot flee, since you must retrieve the hostage they've taken.

So what would you do?

Raid it?

The first thing that comes to mind is this relatively simple and direct strategy. It heavily depends on your manpower and whether you can beat your opponent despite the strategic disadvantage, so you'd need magical work with your timing.

It works pretty fine. However, it is out of the question, as your strength is insufficient to overpower the gate's security. That calls for a different strategy, therefore.

Negotiate with the opponent?

Certainly! There is a motive behind their leader's continual surveillance of you; he or she is upset that you are here! As a result, many negotiation options are now available, including potential psychological assaults.

Additionally, they have been trying to be friendly toward you, so you know they'd get persuaded easily.

However, it isn't that simple.

That person is latching onto your prey like a magnum, clinging to him as if their lives depended on it, and remaining close by at all times, just like an overprotective girlfriend.

In which case, it is very true hehe~

"You're really planning on staying here, aren't you?" That sweet, serious, and antagonistic voice came from the strawberry woman situated right at the end of the bed, with her arms crossed and scrutinizing me with a glare while sitting on top of a certain somebody's lap, seizing his control and obscuring his attention.

Please don't be ridiculous; she thinks she is doing something, but I can tell. That jerk is more than happy; he actually likes all of this.

As if unironically supporting my notion, Ayanokouji-senpai's head poked through Ichinose-senpai's shoulder as he sneakily observed this contact unfold with discerning amusement on his apathetic face.

He is really very annoying; He has never spoken a single word ever since I offered him a threesome, and left me to duke it out with his angry girlfriend, all while spectating with novelty in his eyes. Who taught him to ghost a woman's feelings in such a way?!

"So are you gonna talk or not?"

Here she goes.

"Wellllll..." I rolled on top of the bed and trailed off pensively, and Ichinose-senpai's brows rose optimistically, to which I quickly donned a smirk. "Nope."

Her face was momentarily crestfallen before she adopted an even angrier expression, which spilled a glee within me.

"Alright, both of you, calm down." Before she could do anything, Ayanokouji-senpai finally intervened and patted her head, resulting in her pivoting back at him with a curious look. He calmly moved out from below her lap and exclaimed while looking at her. "I never knew you could treat a guest this horribly."

"Wha–?! Kiyotaka! She came here meaning harm! How do you expect me to keep my cool?!" Ichinose-senpai yelled out defensively, with a betrayed look on her face. Ayanokouji-senpai however, smiled thinly.

"Don't jump to conclusions too quickly; maybe she's just joking." He stared at me with his golden orbs for confirmation.

"I was completely serious." I grinned.

"You homewrecker!" Ichinose-senpai's fuse snapped again, then proceeded to grab a pillow next to her and throw it at me. I dodged it by rolling out of bed and falling to the floor. The pad was on its way to hitting the TV, but Senpai quickly caught it.

"O-Oh my god, I'm sorry!" Ichinose-senpai quickly got shaken up and apologized for almost breaking the plasma, which Senpai dismissed. He tidied the pillow in his hand and gave me a blank stare in the meantime; a message I understood the whole meaning of.

"Okay! I was just kiddin' please relax!" I decided to come out clean with it and raise my hands in the sky like surrendering. Ichinose-senpai scrutinized me with a hurt look before pivoting her gaze with a pout.

Although I really hated to admit it, it was probably for the best this way.

"Hey, Senpai." I turned my gaze to look at Senpai as he moved to return the pillow and then gave me his attention. "There is something I wanted to discuss with you in private, so do you mind if we step out for a little bit?"

"Can't you delay it for later?" He quickly retorts with an inquisition. "As you can see, I'm quite occupied now."

"No, I believe this is the perfect opportunity." I grinned as I strongly asserted my conviction of this idea, which he didn't fail to see. He quickly glances around the room and then returns to my gaze again.

"We still haven't had dinner, so how about we discuss it while I fetch some ingredients?" He suggests.

"B-Wait Kiyotaka! We already have ingre-"

"Sounds good! As long as you'll prepare the meal~" I seductively propose.

"Okay, but don't expect too much." A tasty meal made by the hands of Senpai? That's something I'll die for!

"Alright bet!" I give him a thumbs-up as my grin widens.

"I'll be back shortly, Honami," Ayanokouji-senpai says as he picks up his jacket.

I expected Ichinose-senpai at least to say something in the form of an objection, but she just sat there on the bed with a mixed expression.

"B-Be safe..." She wishes that, although a little forcefully. Hesitancy and uncertainty were written all over her face.

What a weird woman...

I thought that as I observed the girl combat all of her nerves to stay silent on top of the bed as she watched us leave the room. Her expression had complex emotions that even I had difficulty discerning.

"Did I push things too far?" When we exited, I posed that question to Senpai.

"A little bit." He replies briefly, with an apathetic expression.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be; you managed to trigger a new side of her that even I didn't know existed." He jokes with a slight chuckle while pressing the button to call for the elevator.

"Is she usually like this? If so, then what a character she is!" I inquired, then exclaimed in awe, which Senpai quickly silenced.

"No, she isn't; she was just agitated by your shenanigans and didn't know what to do," Senpai explained, and then proceeded to eye me and speak with reassurance. "Don't take her actions the wrong way; she doesn't hate you; she is a woman with a big heart."

"Wait, are you for real?... She doesn't hate me?" I exclaimed, surprisingly, and he responded by shaking his head. "Why?"

Was she just too nice of a woman that she couldn't bring herself to hate me?

"You'll figure it out eventually." He vaguely emitted, answering my internal pondering about my failing observations and increasingly raising my curiosity. "So what's this thing you wanted to discuss with me?"

The elevator arrived, and Senpai snapped me out of my notion.

"I think you already know it; it's the favor we already discussed." We both hop into the elevator and press for the bottom floor.

"I know, but wasn't the favor about annoying Honami until she went mad?"

"No! That wasn't it, Senpai!" I instantly retorted.

"It looked like it to me." He deadpanned.

We were standing too close inside the elevator, with our shoulders nearly brushing each other. I have never been this intimately close to him, and those tingling feelings made me a little frisky.

"You know~ this won't cause harm to you in any way, Senpai; I can assure you of that." I disgorged my full honesty with a stifled grin, as he stared at me. "So would you let me have this one? Pretty pweaaaase~"

The elevator was still moving when silence erupted between us until the door opened for the bottom floor, where Senpai moved out and released his response.

"You already had fun a little while ago; don't expect I'll let you go for free." He calmly responded, and I gave him a wholehearted nod. "So what is it that you want from me?"

Hearing Senpai's agreement, I let out a satisfied smirk.

"If it is fine with you, Senpai, I want you to..."

———————————————————

"Wait... so you wished to speak with me instead?" A bewildered look appeared on Ichinose-senpai's face when she listened intently to my reason.

"Mhm~ that's right!"

"O-Oh, okay..." She fidgeted her legs on the bed and then crossed them. "So... what did you want to talk with me about?"

She cast me a downward, curious look as she mumbled her question loudly.

"Anything really; I just want to get to know you!" I crossed my legs and struck a pose similar to hers, a bright smile.

Senpai has agreed to let me talk with his girlfriend privately for a couple of short minutes, I cannot let this time go to waste.

Now, it is essential to mimic the other party's behavior to some extent to get them to like you since people tend to be drawn toward similar people.

Although I would have doubted that any sweet notions would remain on Ichinose-senpai's mind after seeing me, I'll trust Senpai's word on this one.

"You want to know me...? Okay, what do you want to know about me?" She inquires calmly.

"As I said, it can be anything: whether it's your favorite food, songs, places you like to go... And even the reason why you have low self-esteem..."

"Hey! I don't have low self-esteem!" Ichinose-senpai fires up in rebuttal to my statement, purging any somber vibe around her and regaining what I assumed was her usual spirit.

"...Or if you're comfortable with more: we can discuss the random thoughts you have during or at the shower~" I chuckled at her reaction which was a confused face before I faked a sudden realization. " Gasp. Don't tell me you're the girl who always has showers with her boyfriend?! I'm sorry for being so insensitive!"

"That's it..."

Ichinose-senpai mutters loathingly before she draws her right hand and extends it toward my face.

However, instead of dodging, I remained motionless in my place and closed my eyes, allowing her to push me onto the bed and get between my legs, pulling the ends of my cheeks extensively.

"You think you're slick, huh?" Despite her ruthless voice, when I opened my eyes, I saw a clear streak of a smug smile on her face.

"So, did I nail it?"

"Even if you did, what does it have to do with you?" She inquired.

"Oh... plenty."

In response to her cocky attitude, she attempted to grip my cheeks even more apart, but that's when I put my hands on her wrist.

"Careful' with what you play with, Ichi-Senpai~"

"HuhEeeeep~!"

With a professionally executed wrestling move—that cannot even be seen in WWE—I entangled my legs with hers as I freed my face from her hands and then held them. I then lifted her legs while rolling backward, successfully slamming her on the mattress and emerging on top of her.

Ichinose-senpai looked like she had seen a ghost, but I snapped her out when I grabbed her cheeks.

"Not so pompy now, heh?" I pulled and played with her face as it contorted magnifyingly, and she groaned.

"Letch go!" She tried to command me, but her voice was muffled.

"Hmm... what did you say, Senpai? 'Let's go?'... so you're absolutely loving it~!"

"Nooooo! Let go of me~!" She held my wrists and began resisting while speaking more clearly. I simply remained still while snickering at her reactions.

"Ooooh, so you wanted me to let go of you, huh?" She nodded vigorously while continuing to pull my arms. "But I don't wanna~!"

"Gaaah!" I stretched her shocked face far and wide, all the while giggling amusingly to my heart's content.

It's been far too long since I've had this much fun. Somehow, I have been able to find myself around Ichinose-senpai.

"What are you two doing?" Ayanokouji-senpai finally returned and stopped near the entrance, staring at us grappling on the bed.

"Welcome back, Senpai." I looked back to greet him with a grin while keeping my hands on Ichi-senpai's face. He briefly examined her, then traced his gaze to my eyes with an expression conveying, 'You seriously wanted to do this?' I grinned. "Where is the food, Senpai?"

I looked at his hands; he came empty-handed.

"I ate it." He deadpanned, seemingly as if he prepared the excuse beforehand.

"You ate raw shrimp'? Ew, that's disgusting."

"There's already plenty of stock; buying more would be a waste." He reasoned.

"Thank you... Senpai." He may not have said it out loud, but I was grateful for him fulfilling my wish, and I thanked him in a tender tone. He simply dodged it by subsequently shifting his gaze away and heading toward the kitchen. "No, Senpai, it's fine; you don't have to cook."

"Are you sure?" He promptly stopped right before the door and looked back. I mounted off Ichinose-senpai's and walked past him while rolling my shirt sleeves up and entering the kitchen.

It's been a while since I last utilized my culinary skills...

"Paisen, wanna join me?"

"Eh~? Me?" She somehow understood my address and blurted confusingly.

"Yeah, who else?" I turned my head and looked at her. "Who else is gonna help me prepare a delicious meal for Senpai?"

"...a meal?" Ichinose-senpai remained in her position with the same perplexed expression, trying to process the situation. Meanwhile, Ayanokouji-senpai was close by the door with the same apathetic expression.

"If you don't want to cook, that's fine. You can sit and wait, while Senpai and I will—"

"No, I'll cook." Without even letting me finish, she declared, then stood. "But only on one condition: that you remain by my side and never leave the kitchen. Am I understood?"

"Roger that!" I voiced my agreement. "Let's have a competition on who cooks a more delicious meal for Senpai~!"

Even though I'm undertaking a challenge where I'm at a disadvantage, it is more fun this way.

"Doing this won't bail you out of your troubles, you know?" Ayanokouji-Senpai commented softly, and I gave him a cheeky grin.

"Yea I know~" I picked up the apron and put it on myself. "Say, how do I loo-"

"Alright, Kiyotaka, you stay out." The cockblock Ichinose pushed Senpai out of the way and then locked the door behind her. "It's just you and me, with no way to go."

Ichinose-senpai had a devious grin on her face as she took the key out of the handle and thrust it into her pockets.

"Fufu, I reckon you are the one who is stuck with me here, Ichi-paisen~"

I can list many reasons why such...

"Hah! Such a bold claim, Ichi-san. Especially when you realize I have been Kiyotaka's chef for a disproportionate period, I know what he likes and doesn't." ...But I guess she was speaking about food.

Well, if I attempted something, Senpai would most likely murder me. The glass around the doorframe isn't exactly see-through, but if someone is sharp enough, they'll be able to dissect what's going on. That is excluding easier methods, like sounds and bloodlust...

Although I wouldn't mind getting strangled to death by Senpai, I want to keep living for a while longer.

Putting those fantasies aside, I'll have to respond to Ichinose to keep my dignity.

"There is a simple solution to that; I'll just copy whatever dish you're making!"

"Huh? No, that's cheating!"

"Fufu, everything is fair in love and war." I quoted, and her demeanor quickly took a dip.

"Okay fine." She immediately reconciled with the idea and partially reclaimed her demeanor. "Do whatever you want."

She donned a kind smile as she opened the fridge and began taking out the ingredients.

I am aware of what she is doing; she thinks she has the necessary knowledge to prepare Senpai's ideal supper. She is confident and indifferent because of this.

She was unfortunate because I intended to replicate everything she does, not just the food.

After all, how could you tell one meal from another that was prepared in the same way? Senpai would only have a 50% probability—which is far higher than if I went by myself.

"Let's do our best, Amasawa-san." She spoke with the same kindred tone that masked a vicious challenge.

"You too, Senpai," I replied with a cheeky grin, and thus, a cooking challenge was issued between us.

Ichinose-senpai opted for green tea noodles with sweet chili salmon, a simple, easy-to-make, and nutritious meal from what I assume is a hybrid dish from different Asian countries. It was so simple that it was obvious what Ichinose-senpai's strategy was:

The salmon.

It was easy to boil the noodles and keep them from getting soggy, but the secret lies within the salmon: how long does it need to marinate, and with what spices? At what heat you should open the stove, and at what points you should flip it...

All that was irrelevant.

because I have her beside me.

She started by preparing her piece of salmon in a bowl and accumulating all the necessary spices. Meanwhile, I pretended to fill the large pot with lukewarm water for the noodles while intently focusing on her in my peripheral. I had confidence I could remember the ingredients used and their exact quantities. Falling behind schedule wasn't a problem.

However, Ichinose-senpai quickly stopped moving her hand and looked in my direction, suspecting my watch. I haven't taken my eyeballs off the sink, but her gaze remained on me for a while. She was a lot sharper than I expected.

"Hey, Amasawa-san." Suddenly, she calls out to me. "Do you really like Kiyotaka?"

"Huh? Of course, I like Ayanokouji-senpai." She caught me a little off-guard with that question; I thought that much was obvious.

"I see..." She mumbled before going back and starting to chop some vegetables. "What appeals to you most about him?"

I wasn't sure what was up with her all of a sudden, but her equable demeanor was at least comforting.

"Well, he is handsome and cool, smart, and also very strong." I listed some reasons.

"I see... that's all?" She looks at me with furrowed brows.

"Yeah, that's pretty much it." She kept looking at me with the same confused face, but then she smiled softly and went back to the cutting board.

That genuine smile... I somehow felt that she didn't believe me.

"Why did you ask?" I inquired.

"Nothing..." A short period of silence enveloped us promptly. I used that time to set the water to boiling. "Hey, Amasawa-san, what do you think of our relationship?"

"Where did that come from...?" I reacted.

"Nothing, I just wanted to hear your opinion." She kept the same smile while putting the salmon inside the

I essentially asked Senpai to let me talk with Ichinose so I could figure out what kind of person she is, but apparently, I am the one who is getting tested.

"What do I think of you two, huh?" I took my time to provide an answer. "I haven't been observing you for a long enough period, so don't take it too literally. But I think Senpai is exposed to way too many women."

"Exposed to way too many women? How so?" She asked for elaboration with genuinely curious eyes.

"What I mean is: almost everyone at this school looks like a supermodel, and he is interacting with a lot of females. He is also popular, so those said females already have their sights on him. He is innocent and clueless most of the time. So you gotta protect him from those lecherous nymphos!"

I instructed."I was also able to easily invade your privacy and settle in, so you have a lot of things to work on!"

As I advised her, I started to feel more like a dating coach.

Ichinose-senpai fell silent on my words, slowly cutting on the cutting board with a downcast, absentminded, somber expression as if my words were heavily weighing on her.

In all honesty, she looked pathetic. But it was this strange, pitiful feeling that I felt compelled me to help her.

"Honestly, I said I hadn't made a complete analysis, so why are you getting all gloomy?" I muttered, which regained her attention. "Don't worry, Ichinose-paisen. I will help you overcome your love-life problems."

"You will...!" Her mood immediately skyrocketed, and her eyes began shining.

"Yep! As long as it keeps Senpai's innocence intact, I will help you." I grinned.

And as long as it makes him happy... I suppose.

I really wished, since I was little, that I could spend some time with him. But it was fine if it was going to be this way.

After all, I'm just an outsider who belonged to the same place he came from. Being with me would constantly remind him of who he is, thus, remembering his past.

Still, I'm pretty sure I already fucked him in another dimension, so what's there to complain about?

"Thank you, Amasawa-san!" Ichinose was extremely joyful and wanted to embrace me.

"Not so fast." She halted on the spot at my remarks with a puzzled look. "Not before you serve me some conditions."

"...Conditions?" She parroted, and I nodded.

"Mhm, conditions." I held my finger up. "First, whenever you're seeking advice, you should refer to me as Master. Master Ichika or Master Amasawa would do, preferably Master Ichika."

Ichinose-senpai didn't seem particularly mindful of this condition; her expression didn't shift, so I continued listing off.

"Second: You'll allow me to call you by your first name because I find it way more amusing teasing people that way." She nodded in agreement, and then I raised my third finger. "And lastly, you'll let me go on a date with Ayanokouji-senpai."

"...wait what?" All her reactions had been feeble until that one. "Go on a date with Kiyotaka?"

"Mhm, don't worry though, it'll just be a friend-"

"I refuse!" She rejected hands down with an obstinate expression.

"Well, I expected that much..." I shrugged. "I'll still go through fufufu~"

"You!"

The rest of the cooking session was spent rather peacefully with my new disciple, Honami-chan, as we both finished and perfected our plates separately.

Unbeknownst to her, the plan sailed smoothly, and I created a perfect copycat dish using Honami-chan's measurements to the tee.

Undoubtedly, she was a great person, and I could see why Senpai decided to remain by her side. She wasn't someone who would rely on him all the time, but someone who could complete his flaws.

She wasn't the type to judge; therefore, she is comfortable to be around. I wouldn't be surprised if he already told her about the white room, no matter how risky that is.

Time went by, and it was time for the presentation.

"How about we hold our dishes together so he won't know which is which?" She suggested.

"Ara, are you sure you aren't pulling some trick to steal my dish?" I teased her, which she ignored with a big smile and proceeded to take the lead.

Her long, strawberry-colored hair was swaying as she bounced on her feet while humming a happy tone, an indication of her content and bubbly mood.

However, it was then that something struck my mind like a storm.

Did she distract me with all the sweet talks and pitiful acts to mask her attempt to alter the fridge settings and ruin my salmon?

I took a long look at her back as it maneuvered itself out of the kitchen with complete reassurance.

I'm gonna fucking murder her.

Honami POV

Hehe~ all according to Keikaku!

———————————————————

Yo, it's been a while huh?

There is a chapter worth all your wait, thank you, guys.

Bro this is cringe, I'm so trash at this *missing* and *meeting* talk. Save me the crap pls.

Chads dive straight for the cake anyway.

Partially, the delay was the cause of my laziness. But mostly due to me being busy with school, there are some days where I'm out there for 13 hours, come back home to just head to sleep.

You won't believe how many things I went through these past three months, the 13 hours of study is nothing because I'm used to it. But those months impacted me greatly (dunno if this is a word.)

I took this break to reflect on myself and my writing, so I hoped you enjoyed this chapter.

I've also been reading some 'how to get like Ayanokouji frfr books' by that I mean some stuff about psychology, mainly to just use in this book to at least make it worthwhile.

Anyway, I hope you're all doing well.

I'll try my best to squeeze as many chapters during the free time I have, no specific dates, but I can guarantee it's not another 3 months.

for those who are unaware, my laptop broke for almost the entirety of January (Thanks to some ungrateful idiots and parents, it's fixed rn.)

I missed u all, cya in the next episode!

Vol 2 Chapter 9: The Meeting

3rd person POV

At the beginning of July, a much-anticipated and important meeting occurred between the members of Class A.

"Okay, thank you for coming, everyone." The strawberry blonde looked around to find all the seats in the class occupied; everyone was present. "As you already know, the next special exam is well on its way, so I've gathered you here to devise a suitable strategy to win. In case you didn't know, the contents are still obscure, but we already have a silver lining to work with."

This meeting took place during the morning homeroom period of the day; their teacher wasn't present for some sobering issues. During this period, Ichinose Honami, their class leader, thought it best to hold the strategy meeting since everyone would be in a refreshed and transparent state in the mornings.

"We are required to form groups according to a pattern proposed by the school, and those group members would share the same fate as they tackle the obstacles together. It is worth mentioning that the more flexible the group is, the better its chances of winning since our silver lining is the accumulation of skill and talent: the larger the circle of your expertise, the better. No matter how trivial or petty, you can expect to be compensated for it in this exam."

Despite the large number of people gathered inside, Ichinose's voice could ring clearly and broadly, reaching everyone as they intently listened to her in complete silence.

"That's why it's important to form well-balanced groups across each fundamental field: academic and physical. We've come so far together, and I believe everyone here can carry himself academically, so that shouldn't be of concern. What matters is the distribution of the physically adept students."

Some people already had reservations about teaming up with someone they were closely familiar with, and Ichinose was aware of this. However, they had to heed the class's ideology: to battle it as a class. So they held off on sealing their party and waited for this meeting.

"So, what are you guys suggesting?" She sat back in her seat and allowed everyone to voice their opinions or ideas they had during the preliminary period of this meeting.

The first one to stand up and speak was the known co-leader of the class, and everyone was happy to temporarily set aside their ideas and let him speak first.

"I reckon we should form groups within our class and avoid outside partnerships." Kanzaki voiced his idea sharply, with a penetrating look on his face. "I doubt anybody would be willing to cooperate with us, except if we're talking about the defects; they'll only drag us down."

He presented his sound line of argument broadly, and everyone seemed to find no fault in it.

"Shh, don't refer to them like that, Kanzaki-kun." Ichinose hushed Kanzaki with a soft smile as she spoke calmly. "They may be defective, but they had powerful people among their ranks, like Kouenji-kun. Plus, if you refer to them like that, those who belonged there may not take it very well-"

"No, that's fine, Ichinose-san." She was cut short by Hirata, who spoke calmly. "Don't scold Kanzaki-kun for sizing them up for what they are; they were truly worthless defects. Don't worry about us, because we don't care."

He was smiling gleefully while uttering his ruthless words. Matsushita had a brilliant smile and didn't seem affected by the remarks. Kouenji, on the other hand, wasn't even listening to the conversation.

"Oh, okay." Ichinose decided to quickly back off and drop the topic. "Anyway, regarding Kanzaki-kun's suggestion, I was thinking about forming a supergroup that would lead our class to the top ranks."

Everyone listened intently as Ichinose explained her idea.

"This exam is going to involve all grade levels, which means that a lot of powerful people will participate, way more than what we're used to handling. So I thought about forming a three-person group who are competent in all frontiers to battle as our class's powerhouse." Her eloquent and confident speech shows that she has pondered this issue deeply. "You could look at this exam as a three-way battle between the three grades since we're allowed to team up with other classes within our grade and consequently split the rewards. However, I agree with Kanzaki-kun's suggestion: we should stick to our guns and not allow any outside interference."

Everyone seemed zealous about the idea as they silently approved of it. Ichinose waited briefly for any objections to arise-there were none; everyone was on board.

"Alright, we will commence with the selection process."

Almost instantly, a horde of students raised their hands, wanting to get picked off so they could select who they wanted to team up with. Ichinose set them one by one and judged their groups based on the prior standard, either approving or disapproving. At first, everything was going smoothly, but they soon encountered some expected problems.

"No, Shibata-kun. You cannot team up with Mako-chan."

"Huh? Why?!" The blue-haired soccer boy screamed, almost in dejection, but then he quickly reconciled.

"Honami-chan, why?" Consequently, her purple-haired best friend asked her the same question, being equally shocked and confused.

"I know you two want to team up so badly. But that simply has to wait for now." Both of them raised an eyebrow. "Our priority in this exam is to come out without losing anybody. Our second priority is forming a formidable group that can stand toe-to-toe with our foes."

"So...?" Amikura mumbled.

"So..." Ichinose promptly answered her question with a cordial smile. "I've come up with a list of fourteen students that aren't allowed to form groups until the end; those students I have judged to have the ability to empower their groups with their merit. Thus, we can distribute them accordingly among the groups and shift the balance."

This didn't make sense at first for most students, but it was okay. Ichinose climbed the podium and used her teacher's tablet to draw circles representing her class's groups and the number of students on the electric board-to help them visualize.

"There are forty-three members in our class, so that means we can form, at best, fourteen three-man groups with one person going solo. However, this proves impossible to apply since we must follow strict gender rules, so naturally, the order and number of groups will change." She jotted down the gender limitations that were presented by the distribution rules on the board, alongside the rest of the notes. "There is currently only one full three-man group, and that's fine. So if we exclude fourteen members from the rest, there would be room for exactly thirteen two-man groups. But we know that getting a perfectly suitable distribution is impossible, so we'll have to figure it out through a discussion."

The nature of the exam favored large groups; that much was told to the students. It wasn't specified to which advantage it correlates, so they had to work with a vague idea and endeavor to achieve the best equilibrium.

The students of the same party shared the same fate, whether they triumphed or succumbed; they did it together. Of course, there are expensive ways around this, but it was more than enough to deliver the idea: they were each other's backbone.

"Yeah, Honami-chan, all that is clear, but..." Amikura raised her voice questioningly, and it drew Ichinose's attention. "Who are these 'fourteen elite students' you excluded? And can I presume that Sou-kun is one of them?"

Rather impatient coming from the Mako-chan. Nonetheless, it was a well-placed question.

"Mhm, your assumption is right," Ichinose confirmed and then confronted the board. "I will now cite the names of those critical students I banned earlier."

Using the tablet in her hands, she drew a list aside from the student count and wrote down the names of exactly fourteen people.

"Oh! That's my name!" Much to Amikura's curiosity, Shibata Sou was one of them, alongside Ichinose herself, Hirata, Matsushita, Kanzaki, Beppu, and other key players on Class A's roster.

Many people mentioned in the list felt delighted to be considered one of the top dogs. However, at the same time, the weight of the potential responsibility they would carry fell on them. Nevertheless, the list bolstered their confidence.

"Our class is in a particularly lucky stance; we don't need most of them to fill the gaps." She leaned on the podium and kindly smiled. "Anyhow, we still need to discuss optimizing. I hope nobody minds."

Everyone expressed their approval with some cheers for their leader, on what seemed to be a typical day at work for the class A students.

Hamaguchi, however, noticed something odd with the list and decided to point it out.

"Wait, but I see neither Ayanokouji-kun nor Kouenji-kun on the list." His statement made everyone halt and realize that same fact as they scoured the list again.

"You need not worry about them." Ichinose quickly intervened before any chaos could ensue and elaborated calmly. "They chose to go solo."

As she declared, she rested her cheek on her palm and gazed toward the back of the class, next to her seat, where her boyfriend was motionlessly seated.

He had an unchanged look of apathy on his face during the whole meeting and quietly remained conscious of his surroundings. It was only then, after a prolonged period of discussion, that their eyes met for the first time.

Something about his unchanged apathy appealed to Honami and made her let out a sweet huff and a warm smile; looking at his face was like staring at cotton candy-very fluffy and yummy.

"Damn it..." Some people expressed their disappointment-mainly boys-since they wanted to be with Kiyotaka or either Kouenji in that regard.

But sadly, they both chose their paths: being straight, and alone in tackling the exam.

"Right, now I can team up with Mak-"

"Not so fast again, Shibata-kun."

"Haah?!" The cheerful boy crumbled a second time as a result of the strawberry blonde's interjection. "Why, Ichinose-san? I thought you said you wouldn't need a lot of people to cover the gaps! So there shouldn't be a problem if I--"

"I know what I said, Shibata-kun." She lifted her palm, commanding him to halt and let her talk. "We still haven't decided on the elite group, so that should be the priority talk right now."

The elite group, suggested by Ichinose herself, is a group housing Class A's powerhouses with the intent of combating for the top spot with the best possible chances.

"Yea, I know..." Shibata expressed his comprehension. "But you're being too perfectionistic, Ichinose-san. How would it help to keep me available when there are people who are way fitter for the job than me? Take Kanzaki-kun for example or Yousuke-kun. I'm not as good as them overall."

Shibata threw a fit about why he should collaborate with his girlfriend, presenting convincing arguments.

The class's opinion wasn't far from his points; the existence of far more capable people made for much better options, so keeping Shibata wasn't crucial. Ichinose was being absurdly stubborn.

"It seems you see half the picture, Shibata-kun. However, not the other half." Ichinose declared boldly and calmly, which raised the boy's eyebrows confusingly, as well as some other peeps.

However, before she could explain further. A tarzan'ic-like laugh suddenly echoed and interrupted the conversation.

"Hahaha! Souy-boy, you really don't get it?" Kouenji burst out laughing and addressed Shibata, who jerked at him with a puzzled "What?" Kouenji snickered. "You can sit and let me have this one, Ichinose-girl. For I shall take responsibility for a pal."

Kouenji cracked his fingers violently as he observed the Sou-y-boy.

"What Ichinose-girl has been trying to tell you is that if you form a group with Shark-girl over there, it would create imbalance," Kouenji explained briefly and clearly, despite the difficult pronouns. "Because Shark-tan accepted Midget-girl as a member of her group. So if Souy-boy were to join, all of you would struggle."

Midget-girl-Shiranami Chihiro-was part of Amikura's two-woman group. There was certainly a golden seat for Shibata to sit on as the third member. But none of them is outstanding academically, and they would fall behind.

Sure, there was the option of swapping Chihiro for someone else, but a consensus on the two-person groups has already been reached. Even if someone was willing to take her into their group, it would cause the same problem all over again.

"Mhm, exactly." Ichinose bolstered Kouenji's explanation with her sweet voice. "This is why someone else should take your place. For Mako-chan and Chihiro-chan's safety."

Shibata's expression was crestfallen-similar to Amikura's, who had a sad look-beaten by both logic and emotions. His mind was forced to let go of the idea of romantic survival.

"Don't worry, Shibata-kun. I'll personally make sure that you two get to meet while on the island. If not, then your next date's dinner is on me; does that sound fair?"

Ichinose's proposal was playful and sly, and she knew it. Because Shibata was ready to become a man and accept, a few nights off without his partner wasn't something he couldn't endure, far from it. Especially when you realize he endured way worse when he was with her in bed.

"Okay, now that's over. any volunteers from the people on this list to join the main group?" She pointed toward the fourteen-member list for reference.

Nobody raised their hands, but each person of interest had distinct light-hearted looks, and they didn't seem particularly mindful of getting picked up.

However, one particular hand rose, and it instantly attracted Ichinose's attention.

"It would be my honor if I was featured in your group."

"I was already thinking of including you, Matsushita-san." A humble voice came out of Matsushita from the back ranks, which Ichinose recognized and smiled upon. "You're very smart and gifted in many fields. But, just for the record, how would you describe your physical abilities?"

Matsushita was a mysterious student, and Ichinose knew that. It was part of the reason she included her in the group-to gauge her true capabilities.

"Well... if I had to compare myself with someone, I'd say I'm slightly weaker than Horikita Suzune."

"That's already pretty good." Many were amazed at how genuine her conviction about the comparison was. Moreover, they were surprised at how physically strong she was; it was a level that outclassed more than two-thirds of the class. "Since Matsushita-san is joining, it is mandatory now to include at least one more girl."

Ichinose took a quick breath and then looked up.

"I would be taking that position if nobody minds."

Nobody could think of a better way to put themselves in a position to object.

"That leaves one more." Hirata talked, realizing the last seat was open for debate, and he slowly raised his hand. "In that case, I don't mind if I-"

"No, Yousuke-kun. Wait..." Hirata was quickly interrupted before he could finish his sentence by Shibata. "I think I should be the one to take the position..."

Hirata gradually unlifted his hand back as he more or less followed the rest of his peers by staring astonishingly at Shibata.

"I mean... d'you think it makes more sense this way?" He began panicking under the silent peer pressure of his classmates. "If Ichinose-san wanted the groups to be balanced, then t-this is the best approach. She and Matsushita-san are academic standouts, and I am a standout in sports. If I join their group, I can bring up their physical level without hindering our academic level..."

Shibata spoke until he fell silent in front of his peers' scrutinizing gazes, beads of cold sweat forming on his brow from the tense silence. Even his closest buddies were silent, which made him increasingly nervous.

Until someone eventually spoke.

"Finally, you've got something right..." He snapped out of his trance and turned around to find Ichinose smiling brilliantly at him from the podium. "That was exactly what I had in mind, Shibata-kun. You being with us is the best approach, so good job at figuring it out!"

"Way to go, Souu!"

The pressure was elevated and instantly replaced by cheers for the blue-haired boy from his stupefied classmates.

He omitted way too many stupid comments for his own good and asked his teacher too many dumb questions. He is definitely not the smartest tool in the shed. However, he's still loved and respected by his peers.

Which contributed more to their astonishment-that he's capable of some degree of logical reasoning.

"Finally, you've done something not idiotic, for once." Amikura shed a tear with a wide, wholesome smile, feeling elated at seeing her little boy grow up. Even Kouenji had a proud smirk with his eyes shut.

"Thank you... guys..." Shibata felt a heartwarming happiness envelope his heart from seeing his classmates feel happy toward him, and it almost made him cry. "I told you... didn't I? That I'm Kenya's next rising superstar."

"Kenya?" Someone retorted in confusion.

"Kenya fit deez nuts in yo' mouth, pfft..."

...

...

Insert sleeping owl sound.

...

"C'mon, why did you have to go silent? It's such a legendary joke, haha!"

Insert even more owl noises...

Ayanokouji couldn't help but raise his hand and massage his temples.

"Somethings just never change..." Amikura muttered while shaking her head regretfully.

"Well... let's just get back to the meeting, shall we?" Ichinose noticed the time running out and decided to jump back on track as soon as possible.

Everyone soon decided to follow, but the meeting was never the same again.

Shibata was still wondering why nobody laughed at his joke.

During the limited meeting time, some extra arrangements were made, including the distribution of the elite students. Hirata agreed to attend to Amikura and Shiranami's needs by joining their group, and the allotments were looking pretty solid.

Kanzaki and Beppu were left alone, and they didn't mind going solo; both of them had the confidence to fend for themselves.

By the end of the homeroom session, the formations were done, as were the preparations for Class A, until further notice. The next session's teacher arrived, and classes resumed as usual.

However, during the lunch break, Ichinose called out for Ayanokouji, and they both took a stroll together in the hallway.

"Ah, that meeting was quite tiring." She held her hands high and stretched them from the tire while letting off some cute moans. "I talked a lot, didn't I?"

"I was wondering when your throat would get dry." Kiyotaka quipped. "So, anything of importance you wish to tell me?"

"Not really, I just wanted a change of scenery. Of course, I wanted it to be with you~" She smiled authentically with a big hum as they set out for the park and prepared their lunch boxes.

The cold breeze blew by their hair as they sat below the cloudy sky of an unusual spring day. It was usually sunny, but this gloomy weather was relaxing to look at.

They spent their little lunch date in silence, soothing their surroundings and enjoying the fresh air together. Until Honami decided to shatter the peaceful silence.

"So, what did you think about the meeting?" She inquired, with her sweet and loving tone remaining unchanged. "Did I do well~?"

"Too much for wanting a change of scenery."

"Don't be mean~! I only wanted to strike up a conversation." She pouted, then fell silently back into her box.

"About whether you did well, that depends on what happens next." She bit off the piece of chocolate while gazing at him. "You executed your plan flawlessly and achieved the results you wanted. "However, whether it was worthwhile would be revealed later."

"Uhuh, yeah, I was legit inwardly shaking from both excitement and terror when talking." She huffed a large amount of air into the sky and smiled. "I was especially horrified when Kouenji-kun started speaking; I thought he was about to ruin everything I laid out."

In the preliminary stages before the meeting, Honami had already mapped out the general formations of the groups and endeavored at the meeting to achieve the same outcome as planned.

"I doubted he'd do such a thing; he even threw you an assist there."

"Haha, yeah." She chuckled briefly before resting her back on the bench and smiling gleefully at the sky. "Hey... Kiyo, are you going to be alright?"

She decided to address the elephant in the room-one of her most feared topics.

"No amount of force can be applied to kidnap me, so yes, I'll be alright," Kiyotaka stated, then turned his attention to her. "You should be more concerned about yourself because you could get hurt."

"No." She shook her head and smiled. "No amount of pain can be applied to make me back off. We're in this together!"

She leaned toward him and held his hand while resting her head on his shoulder. Kiyotaka promptly leaned his head on top of hers and started brushing her arm.

"Alright." He whispered. "I'll trust you."

His words caused her to glow with warmth.

"I trust you too~"

--

This chapter is presented to you by:

Ramadan at 1AM: Heart attack edition

Just kidding with the heart attack, the first days just feel a little weird.

Tell me the truth: you did feel the chapter was rushed at the end no? (Drop of quality)

Yeah, I just couldn't generate any good shit. My bad.

Anyway, this is the final chap of V2 (excluding ss)!!

Damn this volume took a whole year (fax)

About SS, I only have one at the moment. I'll have to reread the volume cuz I remember having 3 ideas that I forgot.

After the SS, I'll most likely announce a temporary hiatus.

My finals are coming in roughy two months, and I have a bunch of crap to memorize.

I already feel lazy in normal days to write, especially the latest ones, I encountered some problems.

So with time running out, I'll eventually stop writing at some point.

Obviously, this isn't forever.

Despite my lack of enthusiasm most of the time, I still want to keep writing and upload.

It just feels like smoking lol.

But ofc, it's far from it. Writing is a passion that should be enjoyed, doing it forcefully or addictively is obviously negative, so you should be smart about it..

I really shouldn't be talking abut intelligence when I'm almost falling asleep.

Anyway, leave a comment and like if you enjoyed.

Remember, Honami's thighs save lives.

Cya!

Karuizawa Kei Soliloquy

Hopelessness. Suffering. Despair.

If my life were ever to be aired in a movie, those would be the main genres defining it.

Since the day I was born, there hasn't been a single instance when I felt truly happy.

It's like my soul was cursed with a dreadful omen from birth.

Nothing could ever go right for me.

My drunken father abused us daily in many ways, just so he could continue living in luxury. My mother, who had lost her mind, started working us off to earn the bucket.

There was nothing I and my sisters could do at such a young age; there was nobody we could turn to for help.

We lived in a notoriously poor hood—a spider den—full of crimes and immortality; the average day walking there was like passing through a pound of rotten flesh during an apocalypse due to the atrocious smell from the empty beer bottles and pollution lying leisurely on the street.

The police found it a tall task to aid us in how dangerous it is; it was like jumping off into a lava pit.

It was truly miserable, so it got deserted at the hands of whoever was running this shithole.

We were always the odd ones out when we stepped outside. The people gave us disdainful stares as though we were less than human.

It was the reality of the situation. We lived and grew up in a place full of ruthless animals, and I understand their look.

There were schools built there, and I went to study there. It wasn't any better. One would think the education system would at least be somewhat honest since it belongs to the government. But it felt like it belonged to a whole other nation.

There, I was maltreated and used for all sorts of things; the bullying at home even seemed to have followed me there. Boys and girls were equally ruthless. As soon as they laid their eyes on me, they knew I was easy prey.

They were truly the depiction of their parents.

Needless to say, my hopes of grasping at least some bits of normalcy were crushed.

Why am I always like this? I haven't asked for any of this!

Why do I always act the opposite of how I feel? Why do I always concede to their atrocious demands without putting up a fight?

Why can't nobody understand how I feel?

Why can't anybody sweep me off my feet and save me?

Every day, these questions would repeat in my head, whether I was walking or crying silently in bed. They were associated with how often I was abused or forced to do things I did not enjoy.

All I wanted was for this to be over.

"...Do you know? The Advanced Nurturing High School has opened up its website for admission." One day I was sitting alone in my seat when I happened to overhear the bunch near me talking about something.

Usually, I would rest my head on the table and try to sleep off since they'd usually be boasting about their wicked shit. But this time it looked like a normal conversation, so I listened in.

"Yeah, and I was the first one to sign up." The guy, surrounded by the group of girls, announced proudly.

"Really? You did, Kazuomi-san? That's amazing!" Cheered one of the girls around him.

Hosen Kazuomi is very popular due to his being the son of one of the 'top dogs' in the city. He is rumored to be the strongest minor and has been that way ever since he was so young, and he always boasts about the fights he won and the handful of murders he committed.

Truly a repulsive human being. Unfortunately, such an individual was my classmate.

"I have no doubts you'll be accepted! After all, you're very powerful and smart; your academic record speaks for you. And more importantly, you're so handsome! I can't believe they won't accept such eye candy in their establishment!"

"Shut your traps, bitch! You're talking about so many true things!"

"Haha!..."

The girls snickered around him while he just kept his toothy grin on his face. They were all 'ah so in lovingly' with him.

To be honest, I don't even know what they are competing for, but it has been like this for so long that I lost interest in knowing it.

They were all spouting absurdities anyway.

"There is one problem, though." One girl spouted, and everyone turned to her. "Kazuomi-kun, you have repeated a year, haven't you? I heard they only accept eli-"

"No, that shouldn't be a problem." The girl was dismissed. "My friend's friend's friend got accepted just fine while being a year older; it doesn't make much of a difference anyway. Right now, we should be focusing on how to celebrate his admission to High school!"

"Congratulations! Kazuomi-san!"

They all grouped 'happily' together and jointly hugged him, making sure to get all 'touchy' with their good stuff with him.

At this point, I had already set my head down on the table and tried to sleep it off. Honestly, they are so delusional...

"We're really gonna miss you, Kazuomi-san. Make sure to bring us some souvenirs."

"Don'tcha worry' I'll bring you some nice stuff."

"Me too, Kazuomi-kun! Me too!"

"You're all just pathetic; if you want to stay with him, you can first and foremost start working so you get accepted alongside him."

"Is that what you're aiming for, Amiya-san?"

"Yep! Although I hate that I won't be able to talk to my parents when I'm there."

"Yeah! I did consider going there, but the no-outside contact rule makes it feel like a rigorous prison!"

"I'm pretty sure it's all worth it, tho; The 100% admission rate to any college you want, and I bet there would be all sorts of juicy stuff in there."

"Yeah! I saw a theme park in the picture overview!

"...It's really not that bad..."

"You ought to take your chances, Nakazawa-san, Imai-san..."

"...I heard that there aren't any real standards to get in..."

"...As long as you have completed middle school, everyone has an equal chance..."

"Yeah, no thanks. I want to stay with Papa and Mama."

"Oww~ you're such a baby."

"Shut up!"

"Lmao."

A loud screech echoed in the room, and it came from my chair.

"What is wrong with you?"

"Dunno probably pissed her cat."

"Lol. What a loser."

I paid no heed to their words as I continued heading to the exit until I was far enough in the hallway to hear them.

Frankly, I couldn't focus on them or anyone else, even if I wished to, since a single thought was consuming my entire mind.

I must enroll in the advanced nurturing high school.

I secretly filed my application at an Internet cafe far away in the city and waited for days at the front door for the mail to come.

There was no chance I could let anyone know about this, not even my sisters, who are sharing the same plight as me.

It is a cruel world; if any of us were given a chance to flee it, we would take it in a heartbeat.

Fortunately, I was given this opportunity; therefore, it's only fair that I run away.

I'm sure they would understand; after all, it happened so much that I lost count when we wished to die in a hole rather than continue living.

I wasn't going to abandon them; I planned to graduate and find a work enough to provide for all of us, enough to live blissfully and carefree.

The school promised such a concept, so when I got the admissions letter, I felt as though my dreams were already coming true.

But, yet again, reality was cruel to me.

"You're allotted to Class D."

"You'd have to battle the other classes and get to Class A to win."

"The school promises no such luxuries for anything below that."

"Because frankly, you worthless disgrace shouldn't have set foot here."

"Welcome to the class of Defects. The absolute worst of the worst."

Class D, also known as the defective class, was at the bottom of the barrel. It contained all the people who hadn't reached the standards set by society, were lumped together, and were ordered to fight the superior classes.

It was a tall—if not nigh-impossible—order; there is no way a bunch of buffoons could win against the unparalleled talent of the brightest in the country. The difference was like white and black...

...yet, I wasn't going to just accept it as it is...

My chance was presented to me, and there is no way in hell I'll let it slip away. No matter how rocky and tall the mountain I needed to climb, I was ready to go beyond with any means necessary to do it.

I quickly set up my undercover system by getting close to the most influential people. Kushida has captivated everybody with her charm since day one, and she was extremely easy to befriend.

Hirata-kun is known for his general kindness to everyone without exception, so he was a popular figure everyone adored. He looked to me like he was ready to go far to help a friend in need. So I used my experience of bullying to garner his sympathy and, therefore, control him.

My system looked great at first, and both of them became the faces of the class and its recognized leaders. I gained influence along the way of using Hirata-kun's name. I blended in with the surroundings, joined Shinohara's group, and participated in their antics.

No one would suspect a foolish girl who goes around picking fights randomly or an arrogant gyaru who only talks big with backup.

Yet somehow, some prominent individuals already saw through my facade.

However, they haven't done anything to stop me, so it was a relief.

..But it didn't take long before things started going downhill.

Hirata-kun left the class, Kushida got expelled, and we hit rock bottom with a lid.

We took major losses on every exam, and most people dropped out or got expelled.

The class was a ghost of its lively past; the only remnants were a bunch of hopeless individuals hoping to cling by until graduation.

...And I eventually turned out to be one of them.

'So this is where my story ends...'

I have no hopes of reviving it; I have exhausted my whole brain for ways to bring us back to competition, but I have none.

It really stings... to have hope and lose it completely... It hurt more than anything I felt.

I hate my life.

I hate it so much.

The consequences of hanging with Shinohara also brought themselves upon me; I've been continuously bullied over the past few months, and just like always, I conceded without much effort...

...Actually, that would be false. I did flirt with another man to get his protection. But it failed horrendously.

He had a girlfriend... What was I even thinking?

Just like my despicable mother, I had started to lose my mind.

But then, and only then, at my lowest point, had I found my light back.

"...Argh! You...! You call yourself a man and you're hitting some girls?!" One of my bullies, Manabe Shiho, spat angrily.

"Sorry, I'm a believer in gender equality," Kanzaki-kun replied coolly. Manabe bit her tongue and swung at him with a plank; he tiptoed behind her and held her in a deadlock. "I should have warned you that I'm not very good at dealing with perpetrators who assail me first, so you must scram before I actually start using my fists."

He then released her.

"Ugh, let's go!" She regrouped with her other two friends before running away.

I was flabbergasted; he dodged and parried their attacks so effortlessly and made sure to leave them unharmed.

"...T-Thank you." It was what I could muster up while drying up my tears.

"If you want someone to thank, thank Ayanokouji. He sent me here." He responded with the same cool tone while tidying his blazer and then taking off.

"A-Ayanokouji-kun did?..." My words definitely reached him, but he had no interest in this whole ordeal, so he didn't even look my way.

It left me speechless; however, at the same time, I had found my luminosity.

Ayanokouji-kun noticed my suffering and aided me.

Why did he do this?

I...

He always displays a distinct indifference to his surroundings, as if there is no real danger that could faze him.

Yet he notices every nook and cranny; that's what I figured out at this very moment.

He is a very enigmatic individual.

So his help was a real shocker...

...

Could he be the prince that I have been waiting for this entire time?

I was moved by this act of kindness.

No one has ever been this kind to me.

I was really...

...

But there was a real problem.

Ichinose has already taken him, and they are well off together.

I have no place in there...

I got demotivated, and the light greatly diminished. But it remained there as a small outlet that illuminated my dark abyss.

I couldn't have him, so I looked up to him. I appreciated him more when he helped me survive the partnering exam, an appreciation that made me feel more sorrowful.

I looked up to him more than anyone else; he was my hero, and I was going to keep that image for the rest of my life...

...But boy, I was wrong...

He was using me as a means to achieve his objective, and he discarded me once that was over.

I've never felt so betrayed in my life...

...But in contrast, I've never felt so great in my life.

In return, I received a light that illuminated my whole cave.

A light that illuminated my hopes and dreams.

A light that would never lead me in the wrong direction or deceive me.

A devious light that I can trust.

A great light that illuminated far more than Ayanokouji's.

And a light that illuminates my future...

——————————————————

I was about to write a pathetic ba ckstory that suits Kei (probably close to the canon thing.) But then I thought:

Am I really going to make a character I write pathetic?

So I gave her a decent backstory.

No hate for any character.

The next chapter is a recap.

Now before u go, I recommend you actually read it. I'm going to cook.

Trust me.

It'll also have the opening for volume 3

For those who aren't following me and wondering where tf did I disappear.

Maybe it's time u drop a follow eh?

But for now, this explanation will suffice:

*cough* *cough*

Wait for the next chap ;)

Vol 3 Chap 0: Recap

Hello! And welcome to another episode of Kiyotaka of Class B!

I'm the narrator! And I would be your narrator for today's recap.

Can you try to guess my identity? I'll give you three seconds.

One. Two. Three.

I'm kgdqojgjdqfq

You really thought?

You read that in, like, 0.3 Seconds.

I told you I'd take 3 seconds from your time.

Of course, I'm the Author. Bruh.

(Don't mind me; I'm writing this after waking up from a nap at 6 PM.)

Anyway, this recap will pretty much summarize everything that happened up to this point, including all the excellent plots and moments, so everyone can catch up and move forward.

A quick jog to your memories

I essentially decided to write a recap because I was too lazy- busy with very important exams, and went on a very long hiatus. I figured that everyone has forgotten some critical moments that play an important role in the future, and when that happens, they fail to get the point and then ask me what the hell, and then I have to explain it in very long paragraphs, which is practically me reminding them of the past. Just to realize they mixed it with other fanfics. (Rats)

So to avoid all of that, I wrote this recap.

If you are a recent reader and just reached this point, you can skip to the end, or if you've been rereading (my heroes), there is no need for you to read this.

I made this mostly for the lols and information, and I'll keep it brief but enlightening.

Now, hold start to start:

——START——

Den Den Den Den

There once was a boy who went to the bus

He has brown hair and was a little sus

He climbed up, took a seat, and looked out the window (Huh!)

Soon may Kushida cum

With pleas about priority and stuff

But Chad Kouenji disagrees

and doesn't give a fuuuck

...

I should stop doing this and make an actual recap.

——RESUME——

Ayanokouji goes to class and meets Kanzaki Ryuuji, who sits right in front of him.

Ayanokouji thinks about going to the toilets with him.

He is the second friend he ever made, after all.

Kanzaki shares the sentiment and asks him to take care of his back.

And the fanbase loses its mind in the comments. (I'm traumatized)

Ichinose comes in and sits next to Ayanokouji, and all three introduce themselves.

Everyone gathers up, and the teacher enters and explains the S-system.

She is an inebriated woman, but also a deceitful one...

But not for Daddy Ayano; he claps both ways.

intellectually and in combat.

She recognizes that.

Ayanokouji actually gave an average introduction.

——Fast forward——

After the entrance ceremony, Ayanokouji meets Hiyori at the supermarket.

Blah blah, the usual thing happens, but with Shiina, they pet a dog.

Ayanokouji is excited and happy that he has made some friends.

——Fast forward to May 1st——

Needless to say, Ayanokouji was the man on top.

Class B is promoted to Class A in the first month.

Everyone is shocked. It all seemed too easy.

But there were some nuisances for Ayano.

Some blonde guy tried to steal his girl.

He had some beef with him after some swimming lessons.

So Nagumo became Nagugone.

And bestgirlnose became officially Kiyotaka's girlfriend.

She admitted her past mistakes to him, and Kiyotaka built her back up.

Her father passed away in a car accident, resulting in them becoming poor.

So her mother had to work overtime and then fell ill. She was unable to buy the birthday gift her youngest child greatly desired.

So Honami stole it, got caught, and was humbled.

Ayanokouji is wondering about the tingling he felt in his stomach.

——Timeskip-chan——

Would you look at that? Class D has 85 Class points after the midterms.

Definitely not the last time they'll ever see a class point.

It was all due to the Class A and D coalitions.

How did that happen? Well...

Ichinose got the idea and went to speak with Class D.

Ayanokouji roasted Horikita.

Kiryuuin overheard them and as a good and respectful Senpai-

She roasted Horikita.

That's how classes A and D became friends.

And that's how he and Kiryuuin became friends.

Oh, Ayanokouji took Horikita's compass and gave it to the elder Horikita.

That's how they became friends.

Ichinose has been accepted into the student council.

——Fast forward——

Ayanokouji meets Kouenji while doing a morning jog.

He was waiting for him.

They exchange some 'perfect-to-perfect' talks.

Kouenji knows about Ayanokouji.

Ayanokouji wonders who else

Bam

A smug loli.

'Seriously?' Leaked footage of Ayanokouji's unconscious mind

She wants to bury him and has even counted the days since they met. It was 8 years and 69 days, for those wondering.

'Great. Who else is here to ruin my life?' Ayanokouji ponders.

Bam.

Dragon-boy.

(With fire~~)

He kills snakes.

Hashimoto: ...

...

'Peace was never an option.'

——Timeskip-chan——

After some exams and events, summer vacation rolls around. And some notable things to mention:

Kiyotaka is branded as T-REX-kun.

He is the true man on top—the king.

Class A manages to win the island exam and come out in a four-way draw in the Zodiac exam.

It was the result of Kushida's betrayal.

But mainly because Ayanokouji promised Ichinose not to intervene.

Everyone's a newbie, and he is slowly training them to become powerful foes.

...

Kiyotaka and Honami visit a fortune teller known for accurate predictions.

Just like the rumors said, the fortune teller gives a vague but precise reading of their relationship, personalities, and pasts.

She predicts that their plight will befall them sooner than expected.

And predicts that if Ayanokouji returned to the white room,

He would die.

This makes Ichinose sick and worried.

After leaving, Ayanokouji receives a call from the chairman.

The first hurdle is here.

His father is there, and he wants to retrieve him.

Kiyotaka and Honami go together and send him off.

Ayanopapa thinks nothing of Ichinose, but Kiyotaka holds her in high regard.

He expressed some development that she instigated.

Ayanopapa gets mad that his property isn't listening to him, so he threatens to kill Honami's family.

But he doesn't know her name for now, so she is safe. (I admit, I'm dumb; this is plot armor.)

When they go back, Kiyotaka explains to Honami about the white room and his past.

She is now completely aware of his circumstances and the potential dangers surrounding them.

And decides to support him every step of the way.

They go back to enjoying their summer vacation.

And eventually, have an intimate moment.

——Seggs inter(course)mission——

...

No bitches?

...

——End of intermission——

The sports festival has been announced.

Kiyotaka meets Kiriyama through Manabu. Kiriyama is grateful to Kiyotaka for expelling Nagumo.

Kiriyama is the next student council president after Manabu steps down.

They are both in Class A and on the same team for the sports festival.

Back to the first years: Class A and D are doing joint prep.

Ichinose can't participate because she can't walk.

...

The sports festival starts and Kushida is acting sus.

Ayanokouji doesn't enjoy her behavior.

So he expelled her five Volumes later.

...Oops...

The sports festival is over, and Class D starts fighting among themselves.

They finished last.

Hirata is having none of it.

He starts humbling everyone.

Punches Yamauchi.

Refuses to elaborate.

And leaves.

At the same time. Ryuuen publishes an image of Horikita kneeling before him.

'One down, two to go'

...

Kiriyama is elected as the student council president after Manabu's term ends.

Honami and Asahina are the vice presidents.

Oh, did I tell you that Asahina hates Ayanokouji?

I totally forgot about her. I can't believe I forgot such an influential antagonist!

Anyway...

The next special exam is paper shuffle, where they are faced off against Sakayanagi's class.

Ayanokouji and Sakayanagi hold a meeting where he asks for a favor from her.

She agrees...

...

Honami is thinking about cutting relations with Class D; they became Ryuuen's puppets and will attack her sooner or later.

Meanwhile, Ayanokouji and Kouenji are toying with Ryuuen by encrypting some hidden messages in his test questions.

...

Ayanokouji thinks of ways to make money, so he runs a legitimate scam operation where he scams everybody by just challenging them for cash.

He called it the 'stonks club'

I'm not gonna lie; even the author is confused about where he got that name.

Sadly, the Stonks Club was taken down by Tsukishiro.

Chairman Sakayanagi got suspended and is now under house arrest.

Tsukishiro is his replacement.

Ayanokouji doesn't care and just beats Ike and Yamauchi because they tried to harass his girlfriend, then expels them and sends them to minors' prison for setting cameras inside women's changing rooms.

On the way back, Ayanokouji meets a broken Hirata and builds him back up.

But he suspended his construction work until later.

...

Winter break arrives:

Soon, Ayanokouji confronts the Chairman about his situation.

House arrest, zero influence, just him and his wife alone and isolated.

He can't help Ayanokouji with Honami's family; even with his normal position, Atsuomi's influence is too great to overcome.

However, he knows someone who could help. So Ayanokouji entrusted him with a file.

Now that his girlfriend's family is safe at the moment, he goes on a date with Honami that lasts three chapters and nearly gets expelled by unzipping a stuck bra.

Now that she's done it, he goes to punish her by carrying out a second spanking session.

——Inter(course)mission #2——

...

This is a quick reminder that you still have no bitches.

...

Ooooh, you got one?

Niceeeee.

Can she beat Goku, tho?

Yes?

Prove it.

Goku solos ficti-

The author got cut off before he said anything that made the masses angry.

"But wait. Who is-"

——End of Intermission——

All first-year students are escorted to a large amphitheater, which is pretty similar to a college auditorium with tables and lines.

They were required to take classes in this room for a whole week, partaking in an exam called the colossal.

It's just like a normal day at school; everyone must behave, and any misconduct leads to a loss of points.

Doesn't sound too bad.

If not for the fact that seating was prearranged and everyone is sitting next to their sworn enemies.

And they'd have to pass an assessment on the final day, which determines how well they understood the lessons provided this week.

Ayanokouji was seated between Horikita and Karuizawa. Both of them didn't like it, but it was more doable than other seating arrangements.

The days go by, and it seems the rift in Ryuuen's class is becoming more and more notable.

The revolution led by Tokito dethroned Ryuuen and isolated him; now they are in charge of leading the class.

Sakayanagi was silently chuckling at Dragonboy's state; it appears to be her doing.

She controls Tokito, who is seeking help from her, making Class C her puppet.

But it appears Ayanokouji also has a hand in this.

...

Speaking of Ayanokouji, he gets challenged by Horikita in an academic exam...

...

Yeah, she lost.

Nobody was able to win the colossal exam because Tsukishiro poisoned the cafeteria food, resulting in a major drop in the assessment scores.

...

Nobody expected an exam like the class poll to take place, where they had to vote for someone to be expelled.

Even the teachers were upset about it.

This exam was created to target Ayanokouji.

...Allegedly...

Class A had been financially stable for decades; they had enough private points to nullify an expulsion.

The real target was Kouenji, who's been colluding with Ayanokouji as far as the sports festival.

But they did expect something like this to happen.

Meanwhile, the content of Ayanokouji's favor from Sakayanagi is revealed. He asked her to create a rift in Ryuuen's class by using Tokito in anticipation of this exam, so he could snag Ryuuen's private points.

Now that he had it, it was enough to perform the transfers.

Kouenji left Class D, as well as Hirata, and joined Class A.

Ryuuen regained his leadership at the expense of Tokito's expulsion.

Sakayanagi sadistically expelled Yahiko. Which was a great loss for Class B since he possessed unusual worldly wisdom.

Such an unfortunate loss...

Why was he Class A again?

Class D, being the usual MVPs of every exam, managed to lose two people in an exam where they were supposed to lose one.

That's why they're goats.

The two people were Kushida and some fodder.

Kushida was last seen with Tsukishiro, plotting to manipulate Atsuomi.

Her location? Status?: Unknown.

Nobody cares anyway.

...

Volume 10 is filler.

...

It was approaching the end of the first year, and so was the rumored final exam.

The event selection is announced, and everyone starts preparing strategies.

Even Honami, who is a good girl, started blackmailing Manabe.

She's still a lovely girl.

Their opponent is Class C, which has a unique difficulty of its own.

Class A still won by a large margin, though.

Ryuuen attempted to weaken the class, but he got clapped by Kiyotaka both ways.

intellectually and in a fight.

This defeat did not affect Class C in the slightest.

Especially Ryuuen, who is now more eager than ever to beat the insurmountable being known as Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.

But right now, he has an obstacle he must get rid of.

The acting director

...

Sakayanagi won a flawless victory and managed to close the gap between her class and Class A.

But Ryuuen needs to work harder.

...

Spring break comes around, as does an official end to the academic season.

The third-year students are finally graduating and spending their final days in school.

Kouenji utilizes this opportunity to flex his money by trading real cash with private points, with the help of Ayanokouji.

Ayanokouji uses this opportunity to acquire a mother to slay his motherless behavior.

Hoshinomiya Chie was the best available candidate for this.

Honami can't do that because she is Mommy.

There is a difference.

Chabashira? In Canon, yeah, but not here.

Manabu? He just graduated.

Chairman Sakayanagi? Well...

...Actually...

Okay, hear me out—

...

Before Manabu left, he entrusted Suzune to Kiyotaka.

She is the biggest regret in his life.

Ayanokouji had an idea, and he immediately began working on it.

He heads back home and

——inter(course)mission #3——

There are sure a lot of these intermissions.

Don't worry, I won't remind you that you've got no bitches.

Remember to stay hydrated.

——End of intermission——

...

What? You expected me to do a summary of the second year?

Are you crazy? I don't remember it myself.

There's way too much content to be summarized, so I recommend you read it yourself.

I'm also suffering from a huge chest ache due to the AC. This is as far as I can go.

Thank you so much for reading and sticking by!

Sorry for the delay (again!). These past weeks were full of BS. I couldn't even keep up with my life.

I passed my finals! and I was swept up in the buzz.

There shouldn't be any more delays at the moment.

I'll try to write consistently while enjoying my summer vacation. So expect weekly updates (At least).

Thank you again for reading up to this point.

I'm dip.