『』『』『』『』『』
"You were really fast! Is that your real ability?"
After the competition ended, Karuizawa approached Ayanokouji, her eyes shining brightly.
"Wasn't it just that my opponent was slow?"
"No, no. No way. In what world would you call the student council president slow? Did you even see how everyone reacted?"
Even with his usual half-hearted tone, Ayanokouji couldn't brush it off like before. Horikita's brother was fast, even by his standards. Someone who could keep up with him couldn't be called anything but fast.
"But jokes aside, I still didn't beat the student council president in the end, did I?"
"Well, there wasn't really anything you could've done. The runner in front of you fell, after all."
That was true. They had been closing in at an incredible pace, but the student in front of Ayanokouji panicked and fell, blocking his path. He managed to avoid crashing into him, but the slight delay was enough. Horikita's brother had already pulled ahead.
Still, that didn't really matter.
At the very least, Ayanokouji was sure he had drawn the attention of the entire school during that final race. Just by glancing around, he could see several students looking at him with puzzled expressions.
"Ayanokouji! You really are super fast, dude. Whoa! Have you been holding back until now?!" Sudou ran up and slapped Ayanokouji on the back with all his strength.
It wasn't just Sudou. A few other students, surprised by his performance, gathered around him and started talking.
Not just Sudou, but several other students who were surprised at my efforts came up to him to chat.
"Ow."
Then, suddenly, Horikita appeared and jabbed him in the abdomen.
"You all shouldn't treat someone like this after he gave it his all," she said. It reminded him of how she used to act when they first met. Though this time, she used her hand instead of that familiar compass.
Karuizawa quietly stepped aside, avoiding getting between them.
"If you had run like that from the beginning, things might've been different. So why try so hard now? You're going to attract a lot of attention," she said, looking at him with suspicion.
"Well..."
Unlike Hirata or Shibata, who had long been known for their speed, or Sudou, who had been serious from the start of the sports festival, Ayanokouji had been holding back the entire time.
Thankfully, before he had to answer, everyone's attention shifted elsewhere.
"Looks like they're about to announce the results. Let's go."
The results would be revealed during the closing ceremony. All the students turned toward the large electronic scoreboard.
"We will now announce the results of this year's sports festival!"
"Red Team" and "White Team" appeared on the board. The numbers began to rise, showing the total points each team had earned across all thirteen events.
The winning team was...
"Red Team Wins."
The result appeared clearly on the screen, along with their final score.
It had been a long and exhausting competition, but the Red Team D/A coalition had come out on top.
"Next, we will announce each class's overall points."
The board split into sections, displaying the scores of all twelve classes. Ayanokouji and the other first-years didn't pay much attention to the second- and third-years. Their focus was only on their own class.
Then, the large screen flickered and displayed the results for each year.
1st Place: First Year, Class A
2nd Place: First Year, Class B
3rd Place: First Year, Class C
4th Place: First Year, Class D
Just as expected, Class D ended up in last place.
Even though they felt some relief from the Red Team's victory, it was clear that the first years had dragged the team down. That was probably inevitable. One absentee and one barely active student had affected the results greatly for class D.
Ichinose's class had been impressive, especially in terms of individual ability and unity. However, Sakayanagi's class, which had already resolved its internal issues, combined with Ryuen's forceful leadership, made them a difficult opponent.
Even so, in terms of overall composition, Ichinose's class was more balanced. Compared to Sakayanagi's class, which excelled more in academic-related areas, Ichinose's class showed strength across the board. That was likely why they managed to take first place.
As for the second and third years, Class A took first place with overwhelming leads. Their Class Ds followed in second and third, showing a stable performance overall.
In the end, Class A gained fifty points for taking first place and being part of the Red Team. Class D, being last, lost one hundred points. Since the White Team had lost, Class B also lost fifty points. Class C, which placed third, lost one hundred points as well. Only Class A came out with a clear victory.
"Lastly, we will announce the MVP for each school year."
"Woah!" Sudou shouted, full of excitement.
Ayanokouji glanced at him, then turned to Horikita. "What got him so worked up?"
Horikita looked at Sudou with a tired expression before answering. "I promised him that if he became the first-year MVP, I would let him call me by my first name."
"I see..."
That explained his enthusiasm.
However, the words "First Year MVP: Shibata Sou" appeared on the screen.
"Gaaahh! I knew it!" Sudou cried out in frustration.
Shibata had consistently placed first or second in nearly every event. Sudou had taken first place in all his individual matches, but his absence must have affected his overall score. Losing a major event like the relay also played a big role.
Even after the closing ceremony ended, Sudou kept staring at the scoreboard, clearly disappointed.
"You didn't take first place for our year, Sudou-kun. You remember our promise, right?" Horikita said.
"Yeah," Sudou replied. "It's a shame. But a promise is a promise. I'll just keep calling you Horikita."
"Your honesty is admirable," Horikita said with a faint teasing smile. "But I forgot to mention something. You were the one who set those conditions, so they were rather one-sided. I never said I wouldn't have conditions of my own."
"What do you mean?"
"If you had won, you could have called me by my first name. So it's only fair that I ask something in return."
"Well, yeah. I guess so."
"Then here's your penalty for not reaching your goal. From now on, you are not allowed to use violence without a proper reason. Can you promise me that?" Horikita asked.
"It's my punishment, right? Then I promise," Sudou said without hesitation.
"Of course, you don't get to decide what counts as a 'proper reason.' That will be decided by me, or by someone else."
Sudou accepted that condition as well. Perhaps he had started to reflect on his own actions and was trying to change, even if just a little.
Horikita slowly turned and began to walk away, then suddenly stopped.
"Oh, that reminds me. During the festival, I wasn't able to meet everyone's expectations either."
"Huh? That's just because you were injured. There was nothing you could've done," Sudou replied.
"Even so, I can't forgive myself. I need to take responsibility as well." Horikita wore an expression she didn't usually show to anyone. "So, if you want to call me by my first name, I don't mind giving you permission."
"Huh? H-hey!"
"That's my punishment."
That was Horikita's compromise.
Watching their exchange, Ayanokouji felt a slight sense of relief.
Everything was going as planned. Well, aside from one part influenced by a certain person, things were mostly moving the way he expected.
Horikita was changing.
Sudou was changing as well.
In the future, with Horikita at the center and Sudou supporting her, Class D might be able to aim for Class A. Of course, it wouldn't be easy. With opponents like Ryuen, Ichinose, and Sakayanagi, and even unpredictable elements like Kouenji and Kumagawa, the path ahead would be long and difficult.
Still, it felt like a new beginning for Class D.
"Sorry for interrupting while you're celebrating, but do you have a moment?" the voice said, cutting into the moment between Sudou and Horikita. It wasn't completely monotone, but it lacked any clear emotion.
Turning toward the voice, Ayanokouji looked at a composed and calm girl He didn't know her name, but her face felt somewhat familiar.
"Would you mind coming with me after you finish changing?" she said, looking at Ayanokouji.
At first, he thought she was speaking to Horikita, but it was clear now that her attention was on him.
"...Why me?"
"I have something to discuss with you. Come to the front gate at five."
Without waiting for a reply, the girl turned and left.
"..."
"H-hey, Ayanokouji. W-what was that? What's going on? Did something finally happen for you?" Sudou looked between Ayanokouji and the girl's retreating figure.
"It didn't seem like that."
For a moment, Ayanokouji considered the possibility of a confession. However, he didn't get that impression from her at all. If anything, she seemed more like a messenger than someone about to confess her feelings.
"I mean, maybe she fell for you after seeing you run that last race."
"There's no way that would happen."
After the girl left, Ayanokouji changed into his uniform in the locker room and returned to the classroom.
About half of the students had already gone home, as they were dismissed after the closing ceremony. Horikita, now also in her uniform, entered a little later and took the seat next to him.
"This time, we lost completely," yet as Horikita said that, she didn't look discouraged. "But I feel like I've grown today. I never thought failure would affect me like this, and I certainly didn't expect that person to open my eyes, but... that's how I feel."
The person she was referring to was probably Kumagawa.
That moment, when he appeared out of nowhere and tore her down with his words, was likely something she wouldn't forget.
"I see. If you've grown from it, then that's a good thing, right?"
"This class will get stronger. And we'll climb our way to the top."
"Honestly, hearing you say that feels a bit strange. It doesn't sound like you."
"I suppose. But you don't know everything about me," she said, averting her gaze slightly, as if unsure herself. "We're facing many problems. There are things I need to deal with. But first... I think I need to get on my knees."
"On your knees?"
The words came out of nowhere, but judging from her expression, she had no intention of explaining.
"It doesn't concern you. Thank you for today."
Soon after, Horikita left the classroom.
Ayanokouji remained in his seat, quietly watching the sunset through the window.
『』『』『』『』『』
After the sports festival ended, Horikita stood still, quietly looking up at the almost spotless sky.
During the festival, she had been completely outplayed by Ryuen. By the time she realized what was happening, it was already too late. She had no countermeasures prepared. She couldn't even react. In the end, she had been rendered completely useless.
And yet, for some reason, Horikita felt a sense of lightness.
She had been forced to understand just how lacking she truly was, far more than she had ever imagined. In a way, she even felt like she should thank Ryuen for making that clear to her.
There was also Kumagawa, who had opened her eyes in his own way, but that was something to think about later.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Horikita-san. I got caught up talking with a friend." Kushida approached with a small apologetic gesture.
"It's fine. We still have some time before the appointment. Shall we go?"
"Sure!" Kushida replied brightly.
Following behind Kushida, they arrived at the promised meeting place.
It was Class B's classroom.
Of course, it was already empty. The sports festival had ended not long ago, so most students had likely returned to their dorms or were celebrating with their own groups.
"So, you didn't run away, Suzune. You came," Ryuen said with a mocking tone.
In an empty classroom, Ryuen was already sitting there, waiting for her.
"If I had run away, then I really would've been hopeless. I'm here to face my problems," Horikita replied.
"Do you remember our deal?"
"...Of course I remember, that's why I'm here."
Back then, Ryuen had called it a deal. In reality, it was nothing like one. It was simply his way of humiliating her in the worst way possible. Even Chabashira-sensei, who had been there at the time, couldn't do anything to stop him, despite knowing he had gone too far.
"Good," Ryuen said. "So, which will it be? Should I report you to the school for what you did to Kinoshita? Or will you get on your knees and beg for forgiveness? Ah, and don't forget the one million points as compensation."
"....."
Hearing that, Horikita could only grit her teeth in frustration.
Back then, in the infirmary, Ryuen had given her an ultimatum.
He accused her of intentionally injuring Kinoshita. To keep the matter from reaching the school, he demanded one million points as compensation. Otherwise, he would report it, which would only worsen her class's situation.
Of course, Horikita could argue that it was a lie. But she had no evidence to prove it. To make matters worse, Kinoshita's injury had somehow been more serious than hers, even though they had simply tripped.
And that wasn't all.
Along with the one million points, Ryuen added another condition. He wanted her to get on her knees and beg for forgiveness.
In truth, there was no real choice here.
Ryuen only wanted to humiliate her while taking everything from her. Even if she couldn't pay the full amount now, he would likely turn it into a debt, dragging it out just to make her suffer even more.
"Before we continue, why don't we end this little act, Kushida-san?" Horikita turned her gaze toward Kushida.
"Huh? An act? What do you mean?" Kushida tilted her head, as if confused.
The setting sun dyed the school building in orange. Under that light, Horikita looked straight at her.
"If you want to keep pretending to be a good person, I don't mind. But that's not who you really are, is it? You were the one who leaked the information. That's how Class B managed to act. And that's why I'm here right now, standing in front of Ryuen-kun. Am I wrong?"
"Come on, now. Who did you hear that from?"
"These are just my thoughts. I couldn't ignore the feeling. Ryuuen-kun is already here, so isn't it about time we cut to the chase and confront each other?"
"Confront each other? I don't really understand what you're saying."
"At the start of the first semester, I saw you trying to make Kouenji-kun give up his seat on the bus. At the time, I didn't recognize you. But right after that, I remembered." Horikita kept her eyes on her. "Kushida Kikyou. You went to the same middle school as me."
Even after hearing that, Kushida's expression didn't change. Her smile remained the same as always.
"Ahaha, of course you remember. I guess I was a problem child back then."
"I wouldn't say that. You weren't a problem child. Everyone trusted you, just like they do now. But—"
"No. I was a problem child."
She cut Horikita off without hesitation.
"No matter how you explain it, that doesn't change the fact that I was somewhat of a problem child back then. No matter how much you try to justify it, it won't change the fact that I caused quite a ruckus back then, so you don't have to mind your words. Honestly, it changes nothing."
Seeing her reply, Horikita let out a quiet sigh.
"I see. Then there's no point in talking about the past."
Meanwhile, Ryuen stood there with a grin, listening to their exchange. He looked like someone enjoying a show. If he had popcorn in his hand, it would have completed the scene perfectly.
"Well then, you understand what I'm after, right? You know what I want to do?" Kushida asked, her expression unchanged.
"Yes. I understand. You want to drive me out of this school. But aren't you taking a big risk? If I reveal the truth, your popularity would collapse."
"Ahaha, what are you talking about, Horikita-san?" Kushida replied lightly. "You're thinking too far ahead. Even if you did try something like that, it would just be a hassle. When it comes to trust, our reputations aren't even close. Between you and me, who do you think people would believe? It's obvious which side the school would take."
"Even if they don't believe me, there will still be doubt. You can't deny that we went to the same middle school."
"That's true. I can't change that," Kushida admitted. "But doubt? I've already dealt with things like my association with Kumagawa-kun. So handling something like that isn't that difficult for me."
"..."
Just as expected.
Kushida wasn't an easy opponent.
Her reputation in the school was already firmly established. Even her association with someone like Kumagawa, whose image was the complete opposite and could easily damage someone's reputation and social standing, hadn't affected her standing at all.
If anything, that only proved how well she could control the situation.
"Ah, but it's not like I'm just going to take your threat lying down. If you do tell anyone about me, I will hunt you down. That is, I'll drag the brother you love and respect into this. I'll drag down the student council reputation he worked so hard to protect. And I'll make sure to drag his legacy through the mud."
Hearing that, Horikita stiffened.
That was the worst possible counter. She already knew Kushida Kikyou's past, but from that calm smile, she could tell Kushida was serious. If pushed, she would really drag her brother into this.
There wasn't a single opening she could use.
"Can't you just ignore me?" Horikita asked. "You know I don't get involved with others or interfere where I don't belong, right?"
"That may be true for now," Kushida replied. "But there's no guarantee for the future. You're a class leader. If a situation comes where you have to choose between me and the class, the answer is obvious." Her tone remained gentle. "That's why I want anyone who knows about my past to disappear. So I can keep being myself. Otherwise, it would be a problem."
"Is that so...?"
Her reply was enough for Horikita to conclude that there was no changing her mind. Kushida would do whatever it took to have her expelled from the school.
"Then what about Ryuen-kun?" Horikita asked, pointing at him. "He's seen your true self too. Does that make him your target as well?"
"Hmm... it depends on the situation. But if I had to say, he's closer to being a target," Kushida said lightly. "I mean, I can't stand that kind of person. Someone who can force a girl onto her knees and make her beg... even for me, that's too much. There's no way I could do something like that."
It was a bold thing to say, especially with Ryuen standing right there.
"Then... can't you do something about this?" Horikita asked, testing her.
"Ahaha, that's impossible," Kushida replied with a soft laugh. "Just because I can't do it myself doesn't mean I can't watch. There's a clear difference between doing something and simply watching it."
"Kukuku. What a shrewd woman. Is this why that cockroach likes to stick around you? You're completely rotten, aren't you, Kikyou?"
"What are you saying, Ryuen-kun? I don't know what you're talking about," Kushida replied as usual, despite the obvious insult.
"Kukuku, In any case, I guess that's exactly why I chose to work with you. I like that side of you." He then turned his gaze to Horikita "That's really a shame, Suzune, betrayed by such a trustworthy ally."
"I wouldn't really consider Kushida-san an ally at this point. But I admit, you were one step ahead of me, Ryuen-kun."
"Then let's stop wasting time. You can choose, pay the compensation and get on your knees, or I report you for intentionally injuring my classmate." Ryuen said, his smile widening, "I'll say this, though. Kinoshita running into you earlier was just an accident. She didn't have any ulterior motive or ill intent. That's just how things go. You know, like how accidents get settled outside of court."
"Perhaps. There's no evidence, so it's only natural I'd be seen as the one at fault."
To prove innocence, one needed both preparation and power. This time, she had neither. In the end, intent meant nothing compared to evidence.
"But let me say this," she continued. "You were behind that incident. You ordered Kinoshita-san to make sure I fell. I'm certain of it."
"You're delusional," he answered. "That's your persecution complex talking."
"I don't care if I am. But I want to ask you about the trap you set during the sports festival. Why did you do it?"
"It took quite a bit of work just to get you on your knees. If I had to guess the kind of nonsense you'd come up with, this would be it," Ryuuen said with a laugh, clearly enjoying himself. "Before the festival, I had Kushida gather Class D's full participation list. I placed the right people in the right events and secured the wins. Of course, that wasn't all. I also investigated Class A and passed that information to Class C, so I could focus entirely on crushing your class."
So that was how it was.
It seemed Ryuuen and Sakayanagi had reached some kind of understanding for this event. With Sakayangi's class already stabilizing, Ryuen must have made a deal with them to target Class A, allowing him to focus on destroying Class D.
"But couldn't you have done it more efficiently?" Horikita asked. "To crush me, you used two of your strongest members against me, and even had one withdraw after getting injured. That doesn't make sense."
"Heh. I just wanted to crush you. That's reason enough. I wasn't interested in winning the sports festival."
Ryuen didn't sound like he was lying. If anything, that answer fit him perfectly. Still, it felt like there was more behind it.
"By the way, about Kinoshita's injury," Ryuuen continued. "Do you really think it was an accident?"
"Huh?"
"Let's say I told her to practice bumping into someone and making it look natural. She fell just like I expected. But injuries that serious don't happen that easily. So I had her act like she was in pain and withdraw. Then, before she got treated, I made sure she was actually injured. Like this."
He stomped on the floor with all his strength.
BAM!
The sound echoed unnervingly through the room.
"You... injured her?" Horikita asked, unable to hide her disbelief.
"She agreed after I offered her 500,000 points. Money really is scary, isn't it?"
"..."
So from the very beginning, he had planned for Kinoshita to be seriously injured. His methods, and his willingness to carry them out, were beyond anything she had expected. Even knowing what kind of person he was, this was still shocking. More than that, it was the way he spoke about it so casually.
"...What would you do if I recorded that just now?"
Horikita took out her phone.
"Did you come up with that bluff on the spot?"
"I bet everything on it. Still, I'm surprised you told me so much." She pressed a button and played the recording from a certain point.
'Before the sports festival, I had Kushida get her hands on Class D's complete—'
"Wha—?!" Ryuen's smile disappeared for the first time. His words failed him. "Suzune...you..."
"I don't want to cause any panic. That's why I'd like to settle things."
With this, Horikita believed she could handle the situation on her own.
She had outplayed Ryuen.
She did it.
But—
"Heh heh! Ha ha ha ha!"
He laughed.
Ryuen burst into laughter.
"You really are entertaining, Suzune. I told you from the start, didn't I? This whole conversation is nothing more than fiction. I was just playing along with your delusion. I simply followed the story you created in your own head."
"I could remove the part where you called it a delusion and edit the recording," Horikita said, refusing to back down.
"In that case, I'd just submit the original. Then there wouldn't be any problem." Then there would be no problem at all." Ryuen, smiling boldly, took his own phone from his pocket. "Do you know what this is? A full recording, from start to finish. Not just audio. I recorded video too."
As he spoke, he aimed the camera at her.
It was a far more reliable safeguard than audio alone. Ryuen had already assumed she might gamble everything on a final move. That meant she had no way out.
If she submitted an edited recording, the school would investigate. Ryuen and the others might come under suspicion, but there would be no proof. On the other hand, if his claim of her "delusion" was accepted, then she would be the one questioned.
And not only that—
Horikita glanced at Kushida, who had been quietly watching the entire time with a faint smile.
It wasn't just that she was afraid of what Kushida might do if she got implicated. The fact that Kushida was close to Kumagawa, the vice president, was a problem in itself. If things came to that, and Kushida used her position within the student council, there would be no need to imagine what might happen to her.
"So, do you admit it, Suzune? The reality of your defeat, I mean."
He looked at her.
From beginning to end.
She had been completely played.
There's not a single time that she isnt being played by Ryuen.
Only now did she fully understand how foolish she had been. Ryuen was not an opponent she could overcome with simple strategy.
Her final move had failed.
"Give up your pride and get on your knees, Suzune."
"..."
Without a word, Horikita slowly began to bend her knees.
But then—
Ding!
A strange sound came from Ryuen which was right in front of her. At first, it seemed unimportant. But for some reason, he glanced at the screen.
Then, his expression froze.
He started tapping on his phone without even looking at Horikita. Mixed in with faint noise, a recording began to play.
"Listen up, you guys. We're going to set a trap for Horikita Suzune. I don't care what it takes to completely crush her. I have a plan in mind. I'll show you something interesting—"
It was Ryuen's voice.
The recording continued, going over the same details he had just explained to her moments ago.
"Run against Suzune during the obstacle course, and collide with her. Do whatever it takes to knock her over. Afterward, I'll injure you myself and get you some money from her—"
Ryuen could only stare at his phone in silence.
Then—
"Kuku... Kuhahahahahaha."
Ryuen suddenly burst into laughter again.
He turned his gaze toward Kushida. Her expression hadn't changed. If anything, it looked calmer than before.
"What do you think, Kikyou? Looks like it's not just you. There's a rat in my class too. Someone managed to play not only you and Suzune, but me as well. Are you sure it wasn't Kumagawa who stabbed you in the back?"
"It's not Kumagawa-kun," Kushida replied simply, without adding anything more.
Well, it wouldn't be accurate to say that she trusted Kumagawa. After all, with someone like him, it was easier to distrust him even without ever meeting or knowing him.
That's just how untrustworthy he is.
But still, she believed in one thing. His so-called "Minus" nature. That alone made her certain he wouldn't betray her.
"Kuku... if you're that sure, then whoever did this saw everything coming. Your betrayal, Suzune's fall... all of it. Ha ha ha! Interesting. This is getting really interesting. Whoever's pulling the strings is impressive. Truly impressive."
Laughing from the bottom of his stomach, Ryuen ran a hand through his hair.
"You were used, Kikyou. They knew you'd betray your class and leak the participation list. We were all read perfectly," he said. "So, anyone in Class D come to mind?"
"Hmm... it's hard to tell. There are people like Kouenji-kun, but he doesn't seem interested in class matters. Then there's Ayanokouji-kun... after seeing how he ran against Horikita-senpai, it does seem like he might be hiding his true abilities. Do you think someone like him could be the one?"
Kushida kept her words as vague as possible.
"He's one of the candidates, but I won't jump to conclusions yet," Ryuen replied. "Whoever got that recording did it without leaving a trace. Suzune, Ayanokouji... even Hirata, depending on the situation, might've been moved into place by someone else. I'll dig into this properly. I failed to get your points or make you kneel, Suzune, but I still gained something valuable."
"..."
Kushida remained silent.
She had little doubt that Ayanokouji was involved in helping Horikita.
But saying it out loud would be a mistake.
It was better to let Ryuen investigate on his own. If he kept digging, there was a chance he would clash with Ayanokouji. If things went far enough, one of them might even be expelled, though that was probably too much to hope for. Still, it would be enough if either of them suffered along the way.
As for how Ayanokouji obtained that recording, she had a few guesses. But once again, it was better to leave it to Ryuen to figure it out himself.
"Kuku... you're a strange one, Kikyou," Ryuen said. "You were completely played, your plan failed, and you got used like a tool. Yet you don't look frustrated at all."
Both Ryuen and Horikita turned their attention to her.
Despite everything, Kushida showed almost no reaction.
"What are you saying, Ryuen-kun? Of course I'm frustrated. But there's nothing I can do about it, right?"
She said that, but her expression didn't match her words. If anything, it felt as if she had expected this outcome from the beginning.
"Besides, I didn't put much expectation into this plan, especially since you made it this detailed, Ryuen-kun. Though if it had worked, I probably would have gotten a bit excited."
"Watch your mouth, Kikyou." Ryuen narrowed his eyes, sensing the sarcasm in her words.
"Ahaha, don't make that kind of face, Ryuen-kun. It's scary."
"You? Scared?"
"Of course, in the end, I'm first and foremost a delicate flower after all."
"Kukuku... is that really how you're playing it? Don't you feel frustrated at all deep down? Or is this just another pathetic act? Tell me, Kikyou—are you really not frustrated in the slightest?"
Seeing her unusual behavior, Ryuen grew curious.
"Well, between being frustrated or not, I am leaning toward frustrated. No matter how you look at it, this is my loss," she said. "But someone once told me there's no point in being frustrated over a loss. So there's no need to dwell on it. After all, you can't have a win without a loss."
"What are you trying to say?" Ryuen asked.
Kushida smiled in response.
"It's just that today wasn't my day. That's all."
She was simply unlucky.
Even so, it was still a shame.
Maybe things would have turned out differently if she had involved Kumagawa. But that might have been asking too much. More likely, things would have gone too far and ended up in a worse situation.
Since it had already happened, there was no point dwelling on it.
Aaaahhhh...
It seemed today simply wasn't her day.
『』『』『』『』『』
After Ayanokouji changed into his uniform, he went to the front gate as promised. Just as she had said, the girl was waiting for him.
Seeing that she was alone, Ayanokouji briefly thought Sudou might have been right. Maybe she simply struggled to show emotion, and this was actually a confession.
"Follow me," she said.
But that thought faded quickly when she said those word, leaving behind a slight sense of disappointment.
"...Follow you where?" Ayanokouji asked.
"The special building."
She didn't explain further. She kept walking, and before he realized it, they had already reached the bizzare building. It was the same place where Kumagawa had once been accused, a building without surveillance cameras.
Ayanokouji continued to follow her before arriving on the third floor of the building.
Ayanokouji followed her inside and up to the third floor.
"What exactly—"
The girl raised her hand, stopping him.
"Wait here."
She left him and walked around the corner, whispering something out of sight. Just as he expected, she was only a messenger.
After a moment, another voice responded.
"Yes. Excellent work, Masumi-san. I'll be counting on you again."
"Yes..." The girl, Masumi, nodded quietly and left.
Soon, the owner of the voice stepped into view. Holding a cane in one hand, she looked at Ayanokouji with a calm smile.
First-year Class C, Sakayanagi.
"You wanted to see me?"
Sakayanagi didn't answer right away. For a moment, they simply looked at each other. The sky outside slowly darkened, the orange light fading into night.
"You drew quite a bit of attention in that final relay, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka-kun," she said.
"Oh, sorry. Can I send one message? Someone's waiting for me."
"Go ahead," Sakayanagi replied with a faint smile, not appearing displeased at all.
Ayanokouji tapped his phone a few times and sent a prepared message. With that, things on the other side should be fine.
"So, can I assume you're the one who called me here?"
"Yes."
Her answer came without hesitation.
"So, what do you want? I'd like to wrap this up quickly, if possible."
"After seeing you run, I remembered something. I called you here because I wanted to share that feeling with you. It almost feels like the setup for a confession, don't you think?"
She said it lightly, but Ayanokouji didn't feel any hint of sincerity in her words—or rather, he did feel her sincerity, just not the romantic kind.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Clack.
Clack.
Sakayanagi stepped closer, her cane tapping softly against the floor, until she stood right in front of him.
"It's been quite a while, Ayanokouji-kun. Eight years and 243 days, to be exact."
"You're joking. I don't even know who you are."
"Heh. Of course you don't. I'm the only one who knows you."
Clack.
Clack.
Her cane's tapping gradually grew quieter. Ayanokouji frowned slightly. He couldn't make sense of the situation. With nothing more to gain here, he decided it's best to just turn and leave.
"White Room."
He stopped.
That was not a word he expected to hear here.
More than that, it was a word that made him lose his composure, even if only for a moment.
"It's unpleasant, isn't it? When someone else knows your secrets."
"You..."
"This is a reunion. I simply came to greet you properly."
A reunion?
Ayanokouji tried to keep walking, but in the end, he turned his head back toward her. He had never seen her before. He was certain of that. There was no missing piece in his memory. He had met Sakayanagi for the first time at this school, there was no arguing with that fact.
"Oh, it's fine if you don't remember me," she continued. "But I know you. You could say we share a strange connection. Meeting you again like this... I never expected it. It was unfortunate that I couldn't see your true ability during the two previous special exam due to unexpected someone. But this time, Class D managed to escape their situation because you were the one pulling the strings."
"What are you talking about? There are plenty of uniquely capable people in my class," Ayanokouji replied.
He needed to stay calm.
There was still time to think about this later.
"When you say 'unique people,' do you mean the 'capable ones' like Horikita Suzune and Hirata Yosuke? Or the 'problematic ones' like Kumagawa Misogi? Either way, now that I know who you are, it doesn't really matter," she replied.
So she wasn't lying. She really did know him.
And the White Room.
"Please, relax," she added. "I have no intention of exposing you right now."
"Wouldn't it be easier if you did?"
"I don't want anything getting in my way. I'm the one who will bury false genius."
Clack.
Her cane tapped lightly against the floor.
"This school life has been rather dull."
"Dull? So being dropped to Class C is just 'dull' to you?" Ayanokouji asked.
"Rather than dull, it's more accurate to say annoying. Though Kumagawa-kun's existence was unexpected, I don't think he'll be much of a threat to you, Ayanokouji-kun."
He wasn't so sure about that.
Right now, Kumagawa's existence felt like a bigger threat than Sakayanagi knowing about the White Room.
If anything, it was a relief that it was Sakayanagi who knew, not Kumagawa.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Please, go ahead. I'm honored to have you ask me a question. If you'd like to know, I'm even happy to tell you how I know about you."
"No, I'm not interested in that. There's only one thing I want to know."
Their eyes met.
"...Can you bury me?"
"Hee hee," Sakayanagi laughed softly. "Sorry. I didn't mean to mock you. I know very well how extraordinary you are. I've been looking forward to this. I want to fulfill my wish by destroying the greatest masterpiece your father ever created."
That was something he wanted as well.
If he were defeated, it would mean his old man had lost.
The contradiction he carried within himself... he wanted it to end.
But—
A different face appeared in his mind.
And when he thought of that person—
『Wow, what is this? Is this one of those boy meet girl type of situatation? How envious Ayanokouji-kun. Even in my wildest dream I can't imagine such situation happened to me. It's making me want to punch the first sucker who crosses my path later. 』
Both Sakayanagi and Ayanokouji turned toward the quiet corner.
There, Kumagawa sat casually on a chair, flipping through his Shounen Jump magazine.
Ayanokouji thought he was hallucinating, seeing the phantom of someone he had just been thinking about. Yet Sakayanagi was also looking in the same direction, her expression filled with shock, so it couldn't be a convenient illusion.
"K-Kumagawa-kun? What are you doing here...?" Sakayanagi asked.
『Hello, Sakayanagi-chan, 』he waved lightly with one hand, the other still holding the magazine. 『What a coincidence. To think you'd come here for something like a confession, in a place without surveillance cameras. 』
"Coincidence...?"
Sakayanagi didn't believe that for a second.
Still, she took a small breath and forced herself to calm down.
"Kumagawa-kun... don't you think it's inappropriate to listen in on a private conversation?" she said, trying to keep her tone normal, though the surprise hadn't left her face.
Ayanokouji, on the other hand, remained silent.
He was just as surprised, but for a different reason.
It wasn't just that Kumagawa was here, casually reading as if nothing mattered. It was the fact that Ayanokouji hadn't noticed him at all. Even if he knew Kumagawa had a somewhat weak presence, this was different from before, like during the island exam where there were many different stimuli. In this small room, with nothing unnecessary to draw attention his away, he still hadn't sensed him at all.
It felt as if he had been an object from the start.
From the beginning, Ayanokouji had only been aware of himself and Sakayanagi.
『What are you saying, Sakayanagi-chan? I was here first, you know? If anything, you two interrupted my reading time. Didn't you know reading during sunset is the best way to enjoy Shounen Jump? 』
"You were here... from the beginning?" Sakayanagi asked, unable to hide her disbelief.
『Well, I do have a weak presence. It's not strange that you didn't notice me. 』
He casually turned another page.
"...How much did you hear?"
This time, Ayanokouji spoke.
If what Kumagawa said was true, then this was a serious problem.
Pak.
Closing the magazine, Kumagawa slowly stood up.
『Not much, really. But what's this "White Room" Sakayanagi-chan was talking about? And this "masterpiece" she wants to destroy... is that the name of a pet or something?』
"....."
'Not much', he said.
It was obvious that he had heard everything.
This was the worst possible situation.
At this point, even Ayanokouji didn't know how to deal with Kumagawa. This was the first time he had felt this kind of confusion, even compared to that cold, sterile place.
『Good grief... I was told something would happen around this time. I guess that's one of her abilities. But what is this? Another one of her careless plans? She really likes pushing her problems onto others, huh... as expected of my former vice president. 』
"...."
There were too many implications in that sentence that Ayanokouji didn't know where to even begin.
Sakayanagi, on the other hand, glanced between him and Kumagawa. She clearly hadn't expected things to turn out like this.
Neither had Ayanokouji.
But more than that, something else bothered him.
"Someone... told you?"
『Yeah. 』
"....."
That answer alone was troubling.
If what he said was true, then Kumagawa might be connected to that side. Leaving aside his unnatural lack of presence, the fact that he knew about the White Room made things worse and unnesecarily complicated
.
For the first time, Ayanokouji felt fear for his own future.
"Who told you that?" he asked.
At this point, there was no reason to hold back. It would be better to know who was behind him, even if he didn't expect an answer.
But—
『Of course, it was Anshin'in-san. 』
He blurted out the name without hesitation.
But that name.
Anshin'in-san?
It was the second time he heard the name.
At first he felt familiar with the name, but decide it's probably just his feeling, after all human mind can be rather fickle at times making it rather common to hear something for the first time and felt familiar with it.
But now hear the name for the second time, he now felt sure that he had heard that name somehwere.
『Ah, even though I was here first, it seems like I ended up interrupting Sakayanagi-chan's confession. In that case, as a gentleman, I should probably take my leave, even if it's not my fault. 』He said, 『Good, good—I can leave with my mind at ease. 』
With that, Kumagawa headed for the door, walking past the two of them without the slightest concern.
Neither Ayanokouji nor Sakayanagi tried to stop him. The situation had changed too suddenly for either of them to react.
Only after Kumagawa disappeared did Sakayanagi finally speak.
"Ayanokouji-kun... I'm sorry it turned out like th—"
"It's fine."
Ayanokouji raised his hand, stopping her.
"...What do you mean?" Sakayanagi asked, clearly unsure.
As far as she understood, Ayanokouji would want to keep the White Room a secret at all costs. His reaction didn't match that expectation.
"The fact that someone behind Kumagawa knows about the White Room means he would've learned about it sooner or later. This just sped things up. There's no need for you to feel responsible."
"Is that so...."
"In that case Sakayanagi—"
This time, Sakayanagi raised her hand to stop him.
"I understand, Ayanokouji-kun. It's unfortunate that our meeting was interrupted, but I'm glad I was able to speak with you, even for a short while."
Ayanokouji gave a small nod.
Then he turned and walked toward the door, leaving Sakayanagi alone in the quiet building.
After walking at a quick pace for a while, he spotted Kumagawa ahead. He immediately moved to catch up, trying to stop him before he got any farther.
"Wait, Kumaga—"
Swoosh!
A fist came straight at his face without warning. Ayanokouji barely managed to dodge it.
"...What are you doing?"
『Sorry. You were the first person I ran into after leaving the building. I was planning to punch the first person I encounter anyway, so it can't be helped.』
So he was serious.
In that case, Ayanokouji might have just saved someone unfortunate from that punch.
『So, what do you need, Ayanokouji-kun? 』
"....."
He didn't seem to care at all about what he had just done, or what could have happened.
Still, there was no time to dwell on that.
Ayanokouji focused on what mattered.
"That person you mentioned earlier... what exactly is their intention?" If Kumagawa had said the name so easily, then maybe he would say more.
『I have no idea. I don't know anything about this "White Room" or whatever. It's just that do have some knowledge of Anshin'in-san, so I can more or less read her habits. 』
"Habits?"
『Yep. She has a way of doing things that tends to annoy people. Though personally, I like that about her.』Kumagawa said breezily, 『She also has a habit of making things unnecessarily complicated just for fun. But this time, it's different. She probably made it easier on purpose, so I could follow along. If she didn't, her little games would go on forever without me ever figuring them out, hahaha. 』
"Games...?"
Even in this situation, Kumagawa didn't seem bothered at all. If anything, he looked amused.
『She probably sees me as one of her toys. But I have no intention of ending up as a simple toy—and I plan on making sure that she knows that. After all, toys can sometimes bite the hand that plays with them. 』
That seemed to be all he was willing to say.
From the way he spoke, even Kumagawa didn't fully understand her full intentions either, especially when it came to Ayanokouji and his presence in this school.
Kumagawa then started walking away.
Ayanokouji didn't stop him.
There was nothing more to ask.
Or rather, there was one last thing.
"Kumagawa."
『What is it, Ayanokouji-kun? 』
He didn't stop or turn around as he replied.
"Is this Anshin'in person... in this school?"
For now, Ayanokouji could only assume that Kumagawa wasn't directly connected to that place. More likely, he was someone brought in by this Anshin'in. If that was the case, then she might be the one with ties to that side. Either that Anshin'in contacting him from the outside, or that Anshin'in is somewhere within the school.
Kumagawa stopped.
"...That's not good, Ayanokouji-kun."
He slowly turned around.
"....."
"Even for someone like you, that won't do. You should say her name properly, with all the love and affection she likes. It's Anshin'in-san"
His smile didn't change.
But the feeling and demeanor he gave off was completely different.
『Unless you want her to loom over you in your dreams, though. In that case, go ahead. 』
Then, just as suddenly, his demeanor shifted back. Unlike Kushida, who masks her entire personality, neither side of Kumagawa could be called real or fake. Both were real, and at the same time, both were fake.
It's really uncanny when one see it up close.
『But to answer your question, Anshin'in-san isn't in this school. She's not exactly outside either. It's hard to place her anywhere. Even I don't know where she is. Though she does like talking to me in my dreams. 』
"....What are you talking about?"
He didn't make a lick of sense.
『Besides, where she is doesn't matter. She knows everything, so her location isn't important. You don't need to worry about it, Ayanokouji-kun. 』
Knows everything.
That was a bold claim.
『More importantly, you shouldn't concern yourself with her. You should enjoy your youth as a high school student. That matters more than anything. 』
With that, Kumagawa walked away.
Before long, he disappeared from sight.
And just like that, the sports festival came to an end.
A festival full of mistakes.
Class A : 783 ▲ (+50)
Class B : 583 ▼ (–50)
Class C : 474 ▼ (–100)
Class D : 148 ▼ (–100)
『VOLUME 5』
『END』
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