Season 3 Episode 4
Fortitude501: As predicted from Episode 3
CaeruleumRex07: Indeed. It's gonna take a lot of planning and writing so I better do my best!
In class, Ike, Sudou, Sotomura and Hondou are hanging around feeling sort of down for reason unknown while a bit further from them, Chiaki and Satou are chatting with each other and Akito is taking a nap while killing time before the first lesson. And then Ayanokouji entered in. "Ayanokouji!"
"What is it Sudou?"
"Did you get any chocolate?"
"Chocolate? Why are you asking me?" He asked.
"If I translate it literally, he's actually asking, "Did you get any chocolate from Horikita?" Ike translated.
"Baka! Suzune has nothing to do with this!" Sudou retorted.
"What about Onodera?" Hondou asked.
"She also has nothing to do with this you baka!" Sudou retorted him also as he turned his attention back to Ayanokouji. "So...did you get any?"
"No. I didn't get any." He answered. "There's also no way I would."
The 2 stared at each other for a second. "You serious?" Sudou asked.
"I am."
"I see. She wouldn't give it to you right?" A relaxed Sudou exclaimed and Ayanokouji just blinked once still not understanding what is going on.
"I'm not interested in such a mundane thing as chocolate, though." Sotomura stated.
"Quit being a tough guy, professor." said Ike and then, "Wait a second, what happened to your archaic dialect?!"
"So you noticed it? Well during the Mixed Training Camp, I've realized my true identity during the zen meditation and-"
"What about you Hondou?" Ike asked him as, "Hey listen to me!" Sotomura exclaimed as he stood up facing Ike who's talking with Hondou as he replied that he didn't get any chocolate.
"Aw man. I wish I got at least one chocolate." Ike wished.
"From Shinohara right?" Sudou teased him with a smirk.
"Eh?! W-What was t-that?!" Ike stammered up. "Why are you bringing up Shinohara?!"
"Because you're always getting along with her and she's being so sweet and nice to you." Hondou stated. "After all, ever since the Island Exam, you 2 warmed up and even started hanging out often."
"Point taken." Sotomura supported Hondou.
"Yeah I can see that. Your experience in camping marveled her to the point you taught her some of those skills during the exam Hondou mentioned." said Ayanokouji.
"N-No way! We don't get along! I'm not even...um...interested in her!" Ike replied while feeling a bit flustered.
"Come on dude. Just be honest with us. You like her do you?" Sudou joined in with some teasing as Ayanokouji made his way to his seat and Ike still keeps denying his interest over Shinohara.
"Wait I just thought of something! Maybe the girls are just too shy to give us the chocolate yet!" Hondou
"That's right!" said Ike.
"We still have a chance!" said Sudou with his fist clenched.
Just then, Yousuke arrived and he has 2 paper bags full of chocolate as he placed them on his desk. "Minna. Ohayo."
Everyone was amazed at the amount he received and this left Sudou, Ike, Sotomura and Hondou in a state of hopelessness.
"Sounds like the girls from all 4 classes in our batch gave him a lot of chocolate. Now I understand why Sudou asked me that question." Ayanokouji thought as he started a conversation with Horikita. "How are things with Kushida lately?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, are things going well?"
"Who knows? I'm giving my utmost effort to improve our relationship." Horikita answered as she faced him. "Are you considering assisting me?"
"I'm just asking. That is all." Ayanokouji replied.
"Figures. But so far...Kushida-san is changing herself little by little. We even planned to have tea later on at Keyaki Mall after school."
"Why am I not surprised..." Ayanokouji thought but also has some doubts about Kikyou.
"Normally, she would have turned me down without hesitation."
"Souka..."
"I think we can understand each other if we continue to improve on our communication with each other." Horikita added when Sudou approached her. "H-Hey...Suzune..."
"What is it Sudou-kun?"
"Erm...when will you help me in my studies again?"
"Huh...you're being quite proactive I see."
"Well...I guess...I wanna go the extra mile to take my studies more arduously so that I can prevent myself from expulsion." Sudou replied. "If possible...maybe we can start-"
"Not today. But it's really not too late to start even after your basketball club goes on break."
"Oh...right..." Sudou felt embarrassed and behind, Ike, Sotomura and Hondou sighed at his attempt. Then, they saw Haruka enter the classroom and approach Akito. He woke up from his nap and saw her place a box of chocolates on his desk. He smiled from it as, "Since when is Hasabe interested in Miyake?" Sotomura wondered as Ike, Hondou and Sudou blinked in confusion over the new interaction they're witnessing.
And then, "Hey." They looked to their right to see Shinohara as, "Sh-Shinohara? What brings you here?" Ike approached her while asking her. "Isn't it obvious? Here." To his amazement, she handed him chocolate.
"You can be an idiot sometimes but you're the kind of idiot that has potential to contribute for this class." Shinohara told him with a smile.
"That was a bit insulting..." Ike thought. "But on the bright side, my wish has come true!"
Not just him because after Shinohara went back to her seat, Kayano is the next and she approached Sudou. "For me?" He asked. She nodded and handed him the chocolate. "Score!" Sudou thought in his mind and Hondou and Sotomura sighed that they still didn't get any chocolate.
After school...
Ayanokouji is walking by the boulevard and reading a text message from Karuizawa. Keeping his phone, "This morning, Karuizawa texted me that Honami was absent again today. So far, she's been updating on Honami's condition ever since the rumour about her began. And we also planned to meet up after school for something important."
As he continued walking, someone is spying on him and it's none other than Hashimoto who's hiding behind a tree with a serious expression.
A flashback played inside his mind and it cuts to the area from the mixed training camp where Manabu and Nagumo met up with him and Ryuuen who rudely brushed off Nagumo and left. The two students then talked and Nagumo mentioned Ayanokouji's name that intrigued him especially when he added that he's the person Manabu has a high opinion on his abilities and stuff.
Now back to the present, "The man highly valued by the former SCP, if Ayanokouji is really involved in the case where Ryuuen lost his position...am I overthinking things? He doesn't seem like a man with a dark side." Hashimoto then left his hiding place to tail him some more.
Around 5pm, Ayanokouji is waiting by a random school facility when Karuizawa arrived shivering from the cold wind even complaining about the designated meeting place for them to meet up for a discussion.
Nearby, Hashimoto caught sight of them as he continued observation.
"We can't meet in the lobby, can we? Even though you and Hirata broke up, strange rumours will spread." Ayanokouji spoke to Karuizawa. "And that would be bad for you, right?"
"Well yeah...but isn't it suspicious if we meet it secret like this?" She asked with her arms crossed. "If anyone sees us, there will definitely be all kinds of rumours popping up."
"No need to worry."
"Really? I don't know if you're being cautious or not. But that's fine I guess." Karuizawa then shivered again. "Still, it's way too cold out here! I wish summer would hurry up and come here already to warm my skin!"
"And when summer comes, you just end up wishing for winter, don't you?" Ayanokouji asked and from a distance, "What are they talking about?" Hashimoto wondered and is hiding from plain sight. "And was it Karuizawa that was secretly in contact with Ayanokouji?"
Back to them, "So what do you want from messaging me on a day like this?" Karuizawa asked.
"It didn't have to be today though." Ayanokouji began and that surprised her as he spoke on. "I just had something that I want to confirm." He then took his phone out and showed her the unknown number that he got 2 days ago. "Any idea whose number this might belong to?"
"Wow...this is new to me...and the registrant's name doesn't show up for this number." Karuizawa analyzed. "Why not just try calling the number back directly?"
"I've tried that several times but no response. It's like the phone seems off." He answered her.
"Do you remember the voice of the unknown caller?" She asked.
"Yeah. The way it sounds, I've made a new, unknown enemy." He replied.
"Seems important...I guess you want me to look into it for you right?" She asked.
"Yes. That's why I messaged you out here today." He replied. "However, don't do anything careless."
"Sure thing! Is this all you need?" She asked as she continued analyzing his phone.
"Actually...for the end-of-year exam, will you be alright?" He asked. "It'll probably be pretty difficult."
"Huh? Really? Oh no! I'm so dead!" Karuizawa exclaimed as she looked left and right. "Okay, do you think you can help me on my studies?"
There was nothing but silence for 5 seconds. "Will you?" She asked while feeling shy.
"I can't let you join my group. But I will still help you but it'll be in the middle of the night. Is that okay for you?" Ayanokouji asked.
"I don't mind burning the midnight oil and it's way better than getting expelled." said Karuizawa.
"That's right. I'll arrange the schedule then." He concluded and she appreciates it. "If nothing else, see you."
"Ch-Chotte matte! Can I ask you a question?" Karuizawa asked.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Do you know what today is?"
"The answer's so obvious, I'm now wondering if it's a trick question."
"Don't overthink it and just give me a straight answer."
"Valentine's Day." He gave her the answer and with that, "Yup! Here you go." Karuizawa took out a bag of chocolate to give it to him.
"You're giving it to me?" He asked.
"I already gave chocolate to Yousuke and it's best for you to receive one also." She replied and waited for him to take it. "What? You don't like it?"
"No." He answered and took the chocolate. "I was just thinking you must have prepared this quite a while ago for today."
"W-Well I prepare for things very thoroughly and it might come in handy."
"Is that so?"
"Well, you've never been in a relationship despite your closeness with Ichinose-san so you won't understand."
"I guess you're right." said Ayanokouji as, "By the way, did you get any chocolate from the other girls?" Karuizawa asked.
"No not at all." He replied.
"Zero? Ha! I guess that suits you perfectly. You can also say that it's salvation from me." She replied as they talked some more and after that, they decided to head back to the dorms when, "Hey, the both of you!" Leaning by the brick pillar, Hashimoto has made his move.
"Um...who is he?"
"Hashimoto from Class 1-A. We're in the same group during the Mixed Training Camp."
"You got that right. And having a secret meeting in a place like this? You're quite the smooth operator Ayanokouji." Hashimoto spoke up as he walked towards them.
"It's not like we're having a secret-"
"Ah don't try to hide it you cute girl. After all, today is Valentine's Day and I just got chocolate from a couple of girls in my class." Hashimoto stated to Karuizawa as she felt flustered.
"Oh yeah...he's no.1 in the ikemen list." Ayanokouji thought as he spoke up. "We didn't meet because it's Valentine's Day."
"Is that so? Then why did you accept the chocolate from her?" Hashimoto asked.
"I was on my way to the library and then, Karuizawa called me."
"Well, it's all the same in any case." Hashimoto stated.
"I don't really get it...is there some kind of problem?"
"I mean it's strange isn't it? Karuizawa's ex is that Hirata dude." Hashimoto stated as he looked at her. "I was simply curious because you 2 broke up over reasons unknown to me and you went to choose Ayanokouji."
"Ah gome. But I think there's been a kind of misunderstanding here." Karuizawa replied to him and he was surprised. "That's right. Yousuke and I broke up but I still gave him chocolate. For Ayanokouji-kun's case, he's never received any chocolate so I thought I could cheer him up by giving him one. Plus, he's interested in another girl from another class."
"You hand over an intimate gift like chocolate randomly?" Hashimoto asked. "But sorry to say this but it doesn't look that way for me."
"Huh? What is it with you showing up out of the blue and spouting off your own nonsense at us like that?!" A slightly annoyed Karuizawa asked.
"I just wanted to know the truth. That's all." He replied.
"Very well. Karuizawa, better to be honest with him. Otherwise, it'll be more troublesome for us later if we keep it hidden."
"Alright then. But you better keep it to yourself." Karuizawa told him with a warning.
"Of course." And she told him everything. "So you're telling me you gave the chocolate to him because some girl that liked him asked you to give it to him for her?"
"Exactly. You get it right?"
"I do. So...which girl is the chocolate meant for?"
"Huh? There's no way I would tell you, you idiot. I was also told to keep a low profile for her."
"That's harsh. Well, you might be speaking the truth." He admitted.
"Yeah. Give us a break already okay?" Karuizawa demanded. Hashimoto thought a bit. "Okay. It seems like I really did misunderstood things here. I thought you 2 had a special relationship."
"And why are you sticking your nose in something that has nothing to do with you?" She asked. He smiled for a second. "Well...you can't really say that it's got nothing to do with me." He then walked in front of her and leaned near and beside her with a crafty smile. "I've been thinking about this for quite a while. Go out with me Karuizawa." She gasped as he spoke on. "I don't know who your next boyfriend might be, but you haven't expressed your feelings, right?"
"What the heck are you talking about?! Do you think I'll just easily say, "OK" to you?!"
"Love is an interesting thing because you never know what's going to happen."
"Then I'll just go my way then." Ayanokouji told them and that surprised him as Karuizawa pushed him aside lightly and left hastily. Watching her leave, "Man that was cold." Hashimoto described.
"He's the worst!" Karuizawa mumbled while leaving. Only the 2 boys are alone as, "Sorry about that Ayanokouji."
"It's fine."
"I also have many questions to ask you so let's exchange our contact information. I've already done that with Sumida, Moriyama, Ishizaki, Albert and Yukimura ever since the training camp. For Totsuka and Kouenji, I already did the exchange with them before."
"Wakata." Ayanokouji replied and the exchange took place.
"Thanks. See you around." said Hashimoto and he took his leave
"Sure thing." Ayanokouji then took his leave.
That night...
In his dorm, Ayanokouji is cooking porridge as he set his sight at the table. He received 4 more chocolates from other girls consisting of Satou, Hiyori, Haruka and Sakura.
A while later, he's outside Honami's dorm room as he rang the doorbell and some intercom became online.
"Y-Yes?"
"Honami. It's me, Ayanokouji."
"K-Kiyotaka? W-Why-" Coughing can be heard from the intercom as, "It sounds like you're sick." He stated. "Is it a cold?"
"Y-Yes. Th-That's why I can't see you and anyone today..."
"I thought maybe you're not eating properly or you lost your appetite or something." Ayanokouji stated. "Anyway, can you eat porridge? I cooked some for you and that's the first dish you taught me to cook during one of those weekends last term."
"Well done...but-"
"I know. It'll be troublesome if someone saw us." Ayanokouji knew what's expected. "Just take it as a get-well present."
This was enough for Honami to answer the door. Upon opening it, she's in her PJs and wearing a face mask. "You sure are pushy Kiyotaka."
"Sorry." He replied as he handed the stuff to her. She went to take it but was feeling the illness effect as he caught her carefully from stumbling. "Daijobu?"
"W-Well...if you don't mind, would you like to come in?"
Inside, "This is my first time stepping into her room. Good thing she passed me a face mask so that I won't get infected from her illness." Ayanokouji thought as he looked at Honami's sitting up on bed while he sat on a chair. "Have you calmed down?"
"Thank you. I'm fine now and you should have called me before coming to my dorm."
"I just want to talk to you in person and I apologize for visiting you at a bad timing." Ayanokouji replied. "Anyway, have you been to the hospital?"
"I sure did! They told me I had a cold." She replied
"Souka."
"Now I'm already feeling better but also pretty beat from oversleeping and hunger. It's also been a while since I've seen someone face-to-face." Honami revealed to him.
"Is that so?"
"Yeah...I turned away everyone who came to visit me. After that, they all thought I was depressed so they stayed away." Honami told him with a bit of sadness in her eyes. "You came to see me face-to-face to see if I was avoiding school because of those rumours, right? Arigato." He said nothing as she continued on. "I'm not going to take a day off just because of those rumours."
She's strong but I wonder if her immune system is considerably weakened due to psychological damage
Coughing some more, "You'll catch my sickness if you stay too long."
"Then I shall head back to my dorm and leave you be." said Ayanokouji as he stood up to leave.
"Thank you for visiting me Kiyotaka."
"You're welcome Honami. Don't be too hard on yourself and get well soon." She smiled under her face mask from his words as he left her room.
The next day...
"What is going on?!"
"Where did all this come from?!"
"Who did all of this?!"
In class, a large set of rumours have popped up in social media. Here are some examples.
Shinohara was a prostitute in junior high
Hondou likes chubby girls
Ayanokouji had sex with Ichinose
Satou hates Onodera and Ibuki
Ishizaki committed 3 murders in junior high
Watanabe wet his pants in elementary school
Ijuin hates Sudou and Kanzaki
Yamashita made out with homeless man
Kobashi vandalized school property last month
Miyake cheated in exams in elementary school
Okay there's way too many of them as everyone felt disheartened about those rumours.
"Is this all true? Or they're just made up?" Sotomura asked while browsing through.
"Oh man, this is way too amazing!" Only Yamauchi felt entertained as, "Unforgivable!" Shinohara described in anger as Satou trembled when, "Hey Satou! You really hate Onodera is it?" Yamauchi asked proudly.
"That's not true!" Satou replied.
"This is obviously a hoax!" Chiaki added and defended her friend.
"Then I should ask Onodera if it's true!" Yamauchi suggested excitedly.
"You can't do that!" Satou replied back.
"Oh I can! Because if it's not true, then what is wrong with asking, right?" He replied.
"Sheesh! You're so mean in enjoying those rumours Yamauchi-kun!" Mii-chan stated.
"Shut up!" He shouted as, "Dude! Stop it already!" Ike ordered.
"I'm just making sure if it's a hoax or not. I'm not even doing anything wrong at this time." Yamauchi replied as he went to Hondou. "Hey Hondou! Are you seriously into fat girls?"
"N-No! There aren't any in this school at all!" He replied.
"Huh...that is absolutely true..." Chiaki thought when Ayanokouji showed as, "Oh! The man of the hour is here!" Yamauchi cheered as he called him out. "I heard you had some sexy time with Ichinose-san to the point that you're no longer a virgin! Is it true?!"
"What the heck?! That rumour is the most shocking among them all!" Mii-chan noticed since she read carefully and likewise, the others when they heard Yamauchi mention this. Satou had wide eyes from reading it and Horikita was too dumbfounded from reading it.
"That's not true." Ayanokouji replied.
"What? Man you're so boring." Yamauchi replied as Ayanokuji reached his seat.
"There are terrible rumours spreading across the message board on social media. It targeted not only our class but Class B and D as well." Horikita explained to him and maintained herself after reading that rumour related to him.
And continuing on, "Hey Shi-no-ha-ra! You used to be a prostitute?!"
"I was not!" She replied as, "Enough of this Yamauchi! You're pissing off all the girls in our class!" Ike demanded him but was ignored as, "Don't hide it you stupid girl! How many boys did you sleep with? Hundred?" Yamauchi asked deviously.
"Are you an idiot?! I can't believe you're getting carried away by those rumours!" Shinohara exclaimed in anger and also stated this. "Or could it be that you're the one who wrote those rumours?! Look at how you behave! You're the only one amused by all of them!"
"Ha? It wasn't me!" Yamauchi defended himself while gloating in amusement.
"I've had enough of this! Who wrote those lies?!" Shinohara then started to cry as, "When there's smoke, there's fire, you know?" Yamauchi stated.
"Shut the hell up!" Ike demanded but was ignored again as, "I mean, who has a problem with rumours like this?" He asked as he became more excited and devious. "No seriously Shinohara. Stop crying like a baby and just tell us the truth."
"YAMAUCHI!" Ike threw a straight punch aimed at him but Sudou restrained him as, "Dude you should stop your jokes and gloating already!"
"What's wrong with you two? This is my chance to get back at Shinohara for always acting so high and for badmouthing me for no reason! She's nothing but a pathetic prostitute!"
"So you want payback?! Those rumours are nothing but lies! Lies!" Ike shouted back.
"Oh Ike. How do you know that? I mean, a plain girl like that can get up to some surprisingly and things, you know?" Yamauchi replied with a smug look.
"THAT'S NOT TRUE!" Ike shouted back. "And look, you're making Shinohara cry!" It cuts to her on her desk sobbing hard now as Kokoro and Mori tried to comfort her.
"Yamauchi this is going too far! You've pissed off too many girls and I'm saying this now, stop it already!" Sudou ordered.
"You guys are no fun..." Yamauchi replied in disappointment when Miyamoto brought up something. "I hate to bring this up but it's true that Satou doesn't like Onodera very much, isn't it?"
"Wh-What? Miyamoto-kun what are you talking?!" Satou asked when, "Ah yes! I don't see the 2 of you hanging out together!" Yamauchi added and this made her worried.
"This is the worst. The class unity is being destroyed piece by piece." said Horikita. "But also..."
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"Who started all these rumours?" Ayanokouji can only remain silent.
I feel bad for some boys that didn't get chocolate. So I've added Shinohara giving chocolate to Ike and Kayano giving chocolate to Sudou. And I edited out Kikyou's name from the chocolate giving, due to her villainy in this story. But there's a minor twist regarding it in the next chapter.
For the scene between Ayanokouji and Honami, there's some quotes edited and phased out.
In addition, I've added a lot more rumours and specialized a few of them that not only affected Class C but also Class D and the remaining Class B students. Yeah I got something big and it's gonna impact Class A and Sakayanagi. You'll see...
Private Points List
Class 1-A
1. Arisu Sakayanagi-1,020,317
2. Kohei Katsuragi-1,400,180
3. Yahiko Totsuka-881,432
4. Masumi Kamuro-891,894
5. Masayoshi Hashimoto-880,145
6. Hayato Kito-871,379
7. Takuro Morishige-1,397,386
8. Koji Machida-1,410,372
9. Shigeru Takomoto-1,404,769
10. Miki Yamamura-900,021
Class 1-B
1. Honami Ichinose-3,470,000
2. Ryuji Kanzaki-1,092,980
3. Chihiro Shiranami-610,916
4. Yume Kobashi-1,007,960
5. Mako Amikura-578,601
6. Sou Shibata-626,403
7. Tetsuya Hamaguchi-1,065,197
8. Ryouta Beppu-1,075,798
9. Sayo Andou-1,030,222
10. Norihito Watanabe-558,911
11. Makoto Sumida-657,198
12. Susumu Moriyama-687,254
Class 1-C
1. Soshi Miyamoto-234,889
2. Satsuki Shinohara-235,259
3. Kokoro Inogashira-216,032
4. Nene Mori-244,976
5. Teruhiko Yukimura-700,125
6. Yosuke Hirata-667,920
7. Kei Karuizawa-613,308
8. Kayano Onodera-257,297
9. Kikyou Kushida-701,940
10. Ryotarou Hondou-222,736
11. Hideo Sotomura-501,589
12. Chiaki Matsushita-242,965
13. Rokusuke Kouenji-418,730
14. Haruka Hasabe-215,026
15. Haruki Yamauchi-188,750
16. Akito Miyake-203,234
17. Wang Mei Yu-217,093
18. Kyousuke Okitani-190,020
19. Maya Satou-155,097
20. Kanji Ike-223,580
21. Kiyotaka Ayanokouji-700,756
22. Suzune Horikita-702,537
23. Wataru Ijuin-261,463
24. Airi Sakura-175,108
25. Ken Sudou-215,215
Class 1-D
1. Kakeru Ryuuen-836,411
2. Mio Ibuki-829,874
3. Hiyori Shiina-400,258
4. Albert Yamada-245,245
5. Daichi Ishizaki-284,7848
6. Kyogo Komiya-306,834
7. Reo Kondou-319,353
8. Satoru Kaneda-344,109
9. Shiho Manabe-822,222
10. Nanami Yabu-824,798
11. Saki Yamashita-820,165
12. Rika Morofuji-304,756
13. Minori Kinoshita-300,883
Class Points
A-974
B-753
C-395
D-342
The next episode will be the continuation from this one. See ya!