『』『』『』『』『』
"What's up with those guys?!"
As soon as Ayanokouji stepped through the classroom door at the back of the room, he was greeted by the sight of Sudou kicking his desk in frustration.
"Uh... what's the matter?" Ayanokouji couldn't help but ask.
Noticing Ayanokouji standing behind him with a confused look, Sudou immediately opened his mouth. "Those jerks from Class C! That Ryuen guy and his lackeys. They've been followin' me since this mornin', tryin' to pick a fight. They even blocked my way in the hall. They're seriously gettin' on my nerves!"
"You haven't shouted insults at them or taken a swing, have you, Sudou-kun?"
Hirata suddenly approached Sudou's desk after accidentally overhearing his complaint.
"I didn't. No way. I completely ignored 'em, just like you said."
Hearing that, Ayanokouji could only tilt his head in confusion as he looked between Hirata and Sudou.
"Hirata told me that whenever I run into something I can't deal with properly, I should just ignore it," Sudou explained as he looked at Ayanokouji.
That was certainly sound advice. If Sudou rebuked the students from Class C, it would probably only add fuel to the fire. It seemed Hirata had anticipated that possibility to some extent, especially since he had also been targeted.
"Well, I guess I did bump their shoulders a little when I forced my way through," Sudou added. "The students from the other classes saw that I was boxed in, so there shouldn't be anything to worry about, right?"
"So, what exactly did they say to you?"
"They called me a monkey, an idiot, stuff like that. Childish insults. They were obviously tryin' to start a fight." Sudou pounded his fist into his palm.
Well, of course. Insults like that were more than enough to provoke someone as temperamental and short-fused as Sudou. Thankfully, he had matured enough not to get baited by something so obvious.
Ayanokouji wondered what Class C was planning right now.
No, he wondered if this was simply a continuation of their previous plan.
He had even heard from Miyake that someone had been following him around during archery club activities. While it hadn't escalated to outright insults like Sudou's case, it had been enough to make him uncomfortable. Judging from that, Ayanokouji guessed that nearly everyone in the class had been targeted to some extent.
Thinking about it, Ayanokouji couldn't help but recall what had happened yesterday.
"Did they have something to do with it...?" he muttered to himself.
"Huh? What was that?" Sudou asked.
"It's nothing."
There was no point thinking too deeply about it right now. For the moment, he should wait and see how far Ryuen intended to take this.
"By the way, Ayanokouji..."
"Hm?"
"Do you know what's goin' on with Suzune?"
At that question, both their gazes shifted toward Horikita, who was sitting alone at her desk while Kushida was trying to strike up a conversation with her. From the outside, nothing seemed particularly wrong. However, considering everything that had happened between them recently, Ayanokouji was willing to bet that Horikita felt extremely uncomfortable right now.
Sudou continued. "While I don't really know what's goin' on, I feel like Suzune's been kinda down lately. Even Hirata noticed somethin' was wrong with her. Right, Hirata?"
"Yeah..." Hirata nodded. "While Horikita-san's personality can come across as a little cold, her behavior recently has been rather unusual, especially considering how much she's been leading the class lately."
He looked toward Horikita for a moment before turning back to Ayanokouji.
"Do you know something, Ayanokouji-kun?"
"Hmm..."
Come to think of it, while he had been turning the matter over in his mind, nobody really knew about the bet between Horikita and Kushida. Which, to be fair, wasn't something anyone could easily become privy to in the first place.
However, considering that Class D had won the last exam, Horikita's recent behavior would naturally seem strange from everyone else's perspective.
In the end, it was a simple question that was surprisingly difficult to answer.
Of course, he could tell Sudou and Hirata what they wanted to hear. They would definitely want to help Horikita if they knew the situation. However, he couldn't simply reveal everything. He was involved in the matter to some extent himself, and the last thing he wanted was to attract even more unnecessary attention after already drawing far more than he would have liked.
"Who knows..." Ayanokouji gave a small shrug. "Horikita isn't exactly the type of person who shares her worries, so even if you ask me, I wouldn't know what to tell you."
It seemed neither Hirata nor Sudou had really expected an answer from him. After talking for a short while longer, Hirata returned to chatting with the others, while Sudou casually started a conversation with Ike and Yamauchi.
Ayanokouji then made his way to his desk, which was directly beside Horikita's.
"Ah, Ayanokouji-kun's here." Kushida, who had been carrying on a one-sided conversation with Horikita for some time, stood up from her seat and smiled amiably at her. "Well then, Horikita-san, I hope you have a good day."
"....."
After watching Kushida leave, Ayanokouji sat down in his seat and glanced at Horikita. Her expression looked like that of someone trying her hardest to keep her emotions under control.
"Uh... what did she say to you?" Ayanokouji asked.
"Nothing important." Ayanokouji doubted that, but Horikita continued anyway. "She merely tormented me and verbally berated me with endless sarcasm."
"....."
How petty.
Kushida had definitely been enjoying Horikita's recent predicament, which was why she was doing her best to torment her mentally with an angelic smile and a pleasant expression that was nothing short of demonic.
As cold as Horikita could be and as little regard as she often showed for others, even someone like her, whose social sensibilities were somewhat lacking due to her personality, would probably answer "no" if asked whether she was okay.
Though if he actually brought it up, she'd probably kill him.
"Anyway, have you finally come to your senses?"
"'Come to my senses' is a rather harsh way of putting it, Ayanokouji-kun," Horikita replied with a slightly displeased look. "But I think I've managed to reach a certain understanding on my own."
Ayanokouji nodded slightly.
In the end, all he had done was offer a little advice. It was closer to a suggestion than anything else. Regardless, it seemed to have achieved its intended effect.
"So, what do you plan to do next?"
"Next? Honestly, with the current situation, I don't really know what to do. But..." Horikita opened her notebook and scribbled something down before closing it again, "...that depends on his next move. It looks like it's time for him to take the next step"
"What are you talking about?"
Ayanokouji didn't know what she meant, and honestly, he didn't care. Lately, Horikita had been thinking and acting independently of him more and more often. She had also gotten better at communicating with Sudou, Hirata, and the others.
"At any rate, Ryuen-kun has been quite busy lately. We only just finished the Paper Shuffle," she continued. "I wonder what he's plotting now?"
"There aren't any exams coming up anytime soon, so maybe he has some objective other than attacking the other classes?"
Horikita shot him a withering look. "Don't you already know?"
Ayanokouji pretended not to notice and casually shrugged it off.
"Do you really not know? Or are you just pretending?"
"What do you mean?"
"He's looking for the person controlling Class D from behind the scenes."
"In other words, he's looking for you?"
Horikita fixed him with an intense glare on top of her usual withering stare. "You can't use me to hide from Ryuen anymore."
"What makes you say that?"
"If he truly believed I was the puppet master, so to speak, he would have approached me directly. But he hasn't done anything of the sort."
"...."
Looking at it from that perspective, she had a point.
Still, there were too many variables involved for Ayanokouji to feel comfortable accepting that conclusion. For all he knew, this could simply be another one of Ryuen's schemes.
"So, what's your plan?" Horikita asked.
"For what?"
"Do you have a strategy to counter Ryuen-kun's hunt for the mastermind?"
"Nope."
"There you go again." Horikita let out an irritated sigh. "Let's change the topic. Are you still participating in those meetings?"
"Meetings? You mean with Keisei and the others? Is there some kind of problem?"
"I can't imagine there's much benefit in remaining part of that group. That study group was formed specifically to help Hasebe-san and Miyake-kun improve in certain subjects, correct? Now that the exam is over, there's no longer any need for it."
"It's not about necessity. I just feel at ease when I'm with them."
Horikita's life revolved around her pursuit of Class A. It was practically all she ever talked about. Since he didn't share her enthusiasm, he had little reason to spend time with her the same way he did with Keisei and the others.
If Horikita ever came to him to talk about something unrelated to class issues, then perhaps he could interact with her the same way.
"Then... will you help me once again?"
Seeing her like that, Ayanokouji couldn't help but remember that despite her rough exterior, the current Horikita was still someone whose confidence had been thoroughly shaken.
It was a strange sight.
He had grown so accustomed to the cold and uncompromising Horikita from the beginning of the school year that seeing her like this still felt somewhat unnatural.
Fortunately, it seemed she was gradually recovering as they continued talking.
"I will. As much as I can."
『』『』『』『』『』
Soon enough, the final morning lesson came to an end, and it was lunchtime.
As Ayanokouji considered meeting up with Akito and Keisei, he couldn't help but notice that the girl beside him wasn't even trying to hide the fact that she was staring at him.
"What? Did you want to continue our conversation from this morning?" Ayanokouji asked.
"No. I have a request."
"If it's a hassle, I'm going to pass."
"It shouldn't take much time." Horikita reached into her bag and pulled out a library book. "Didn't you say last week that you wanted to read this?"
"...?"
Ayanokouji wasn't sure.
He probably had said something like that, but it was most likely just for the sake of conversation. There weren't many topics he could discuss with Horikita in the first place, so he had probably brought it up simply to keep the conversation going.
"Are you offering to lend it to me?" Ayanokouji took the book from her hand.
Farewell, My Lovely.
A masterpiece by Raymond Chandler.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't interested. Even if he had only brought it up to keep a conversation alive, the book itself had caught his attention. It seemed strangely popular too, considering it was almost always checked out.
"If you'd like. It's also due back today. I was hoping you could return it to the library for me and then borrow it yourself," said Horikita.
"Is this because you don't want to go through the trouble of returning it?"
"Even if I returned it myself, you'd still need to go to the library to borrow it. From a purely efficiency standpoint, this is the correct course of action."
『Eh... I didn't know about a viewpoint like that. 』
"....."
Even though Horikita had been doing her best to ignore his existence lately, Kumagawa could enter almost any conversation as naturally as breathing, even with someone who probably disliked him.
『Ahaha, don't look at me like that, Horikita-chan. I mean—Horikita-tan. 』
"I've been meaning to say this for a while, but don't call me 'Horikita-chan', let alone 'tan'. It's degrading."
『Huh? 』 He seemed puzzled, like he hadn't expected to hear that. 『Why? I call you Horikita-chan because you're my friend Horikita-chan. I can't imagine calling Horikita-chan anything other than Horikita-chan. 』
He had somehow doubled the number of "Horikita-chans" despite being specifically asked not to use it.
"Well, there are plenty of other things you could call me."
『Like 'Tsukiji-chan'? 』
"Don't change my name."
『Setting that aside, Tsukiji-chan. I mean, Horikita-chan... 』
"....."
『Even if you call it efficiency, aren't you really just too lazy to return the book yourself? Even if Ayanokouji wanted to borrow it, you're still using him because returning it is a bother, aren't you? 』
True enough.
This arrangement saved Horikita the time and effort of returning the book herself. A student ID was required to check out a book, so borrowing one on someone else's behalf was impossible. Returning a book, however, didn't require any identification.
In other words, just as Kumagawa pointed out, Horikita simply didn't want to make the trip herself because it was a hassle. It felt a little out of character for her, but Ayanokouji supposed everyone had a lazy side from time to time.
『Oh well, I guess it can't be helped, 』 said Kumagawa. 『I'd like to offer my congratulations from the bottom of my heart for your growth. Going from a stiff and overly formal person to someone who's too lazy to return a borrowed book is quite the achievement. 』
Horikita narrowed her eyes in displeasure.
『In any case, it seems you really don't like having me around. But I enjoy talking with you, Tsukiji-chan, even if you clearly don't feel the same way. Ahahaha. Bye-bye! 』
And just like that, Kumagawa left the classroom.
Horikita watched him go with an expression that suggested she had just swallowed a mosquito.
What a difficult person.
Though, considering Kumagawa, there was a good chance he would take that as a compliment.
Ayanokouji turned to Horikita. "So... do you want me to return that book for you, or are you going to do it yourself?"
There was no way he was going to bring up the fact that she was being lazy after Kumagawa had already pointed it out. Unless he wanted to get stabbed by her compass, which fortunately hadn't seen the light of day in quite some time, it was best to keep his tone as neutral as possible.
"If you refuse, I'll just head over to the library myself. Though I don't know when you'll get another chance to borrow such a popular book that's always in short supply." She said this with a slight frown.
Ayanokouji wasn't sure whether this was Horikita's own awkward way of showing consideration or simply laziness disguised as generosity, accompanied by a subtle threat.
He briefly wondered what would happen if he refused.
Still, he was somewhat interested in the book.
"Fine. I'll take it." Ayanokouji answered.
"Thank you. I don't care when you return it, as long as it's sometime today. If I hear it's overdue, I'll be coming for you."
"I know."
Ayanokouji had never borrowed a book from the library before, but he understood how the system worked. If a book became overdue, private points would be deducted from the borrower's account.
Since there was no reason to put it off, Ayanokouji decided to head to the library right away.
There was no time like the present.
『』『』『』『』『』
The library was surprisingly empty during lunch, almost like a cozy little hideaway.
Since students weren't allowed to eat in here, only a handful of people could be seen, making the process of returning a book relatively smooth.
"Since I'm already here, I might as well check out another book," Ayanokouji muttered to himself.
With Farewell, My Lovely in one hand, he headed toward the mystery section, hoping to find another work by Raymond Chandler. As he arrived, he noticed a lone female student struggling to reach a book on one of the higher shelves.
It was The Picture of Dorian Gray, a masterpiece by Oscar Wilde which, from what Ayanokouji knew, had been quite controversial when it was first published.
The book was lodged at an awkward angle, just barely within reach. That was probably why the girl wasn't using the nearby stepstool. Ayanokouji stepped forward and easily pulled the book free.
"Sorry, I don't mean to butt in, but..." As he handed over the book and got a better look at her face, he stopped. "Wait a minute. You're from Class C. You're..."
Shiina Hiyori.
He had seen her with Ryuuen some time ago, and judging by her expression, she seemed to recognize him as well.
"You're Ayanokouji-kun, right?" she asked.
"Yeah. Uh, here you go." Ayanokouji handed her the book.
"Thank you very much." Hiyori bowed her head slightly.
"So, uh... you recognize me?
Ayanokouji would admit that he might come across as somewhat monotone to other people, but he wasn't so introverted that nobody knew who he was. More importantly, he had never actually spoken with Hiyori before. The last time they met, she had only given him a small nod when Ryuen showed up at the study group. That was why it surprised him that she remembered him at all.
"Ah, I often hear about you from Kumagawa-kun," she said. "He told me you have dead fish eyes that look like they've already given up on life.... also like that of a plain white rice."
"....."
What kind of comparison was that?
While it was admittedly a pleasant surprise that someone from another class knew who he was, suggesting that his social presence had grown at least a little, he couldn't feel particularly happy knowing the source was Kumagawa.
For the moment, Ayanokouji was curious about exactly what Kumagawa had been saying about him. Before he could ask, however, Hiyori's gaze shifted toward the book in his hand.
"By the way, that's Farewell, My Lovely, isn't it? It's a wonderful book." As she spoke, her eyes seemed to sparkle.
"I managed to borrow it from a friend today."
"Wow, that's lucky. Raymond Chandler seems to be quite popular among the second-year students. I've been wanting to reread it myself, but I couldn't find a copy today."
"I guess it was bad timing for me to borrow it, then."
"It's all right. I've already read it before. Besides, I was fortunate enough to find another good book while looking for that one. The school library is quite large. If I tried to read every book here, I'd probably graduate before I finished." Hiyori hugged Oscar Wilde's novel against her chest as a small smile appeared on her face.
"If you're only here to return Farewell, My Lovely and borrow it again under your own name, you can do that at the service desk. Would you like me to show you?"
From her demeanor alone, Ayanokouji quickly realized that Hiyori was probably someone who spent a considerable amount of time in the library.
"If you're okay with it."
"Great!"
Ayanokouji had briefly wondered if he might be interrupting her lunch break. After all, she was spending her free time in the library instead of eating. Still, his curiosity got the better of him, and he accepted her offer without much thought.
"By the way, Ayanokouji-kun, besides returning that book, are you looking for another one to borrow?"
"I thought I'd take a look around and maybe come back another time, so—"
"Then have you read Dorothy L. Sayers?"
She cut him off before he could finish.
"No. I've read Christie, but not Sayers."
"In that case, I'd definitely recommend Whose Body? It's the first novel featuring Lord Peter. Once you read it, you'll probably want to continue the series. There's also The Nine Tailors. It's not the first book, but many readers consider it her finest work. And if you'd like another recommendation..."
"Uh..."
After that, Hiyori proceeded to recommend several more books that were available in the library.
Her demeanor had changed completely, as the seemingly quiet and reserved girl from a moment ago was nowhere to be seen. In her place was someone enthusiastically discussing books without pause, leaving Ayanokouji unsure how he was supposed to respond.
"Ah! I'm sorry. I was rambling. Am I bothering you?"
"Not exactly." Ayanokouji glanced around the library. "I just didn't expect the school library to have so many classic novels. I thought it would mostly be filled with educational books and reference materials."
"Hahaha, that's true," Hiyori replied with a small laugther.
Putting her behavior aside, Ayanokouji really hadn't expected an elite institution like this to have such an extensive collection of literature.
Then again, perhaps that was precisely because it was an elite institution.
The school's entire system was already unusual enough. Compared to that, having a library filled with classic novels probably wasn't all that surprising.
Anyway. After listening to Hiyori's recommendations for a while longer, Ayanokouji eventually made his way to the service desk.
Originally, he had intended to borrow Farewell, My Lovely for himself after returning it. However, one of the books Hiyori had recommended had managed to catch his interest. It wasn't that his curiosity about Chandler's work had disappeared. If anything, it had only grown stronger after hearing Hiyori speak so enthusiastically about books. Still, there was no need to rush.
For now, he decided to return Farewell, My Lovely and borrow the other book instead.
The due date for Horikita's copy was today, after all. He didn't want Horikita tracking him down over an overdue library book.
After completing the return process, Ayanokouji borrowed the book Hiyori had recommended and tucked it under his arm.
For now, he decided to address one of the things he was most curious about. "By the way, are you close with Kumagawa by any chance?"
"Kumagawa-kun?" Hiyori tilted her head slightly.
To be honest, whenever something involved Kumagawa, Ayanokouji would rather keep his distance from it entirely. Unfortunately, that wasn't always possible. Ignoring Kumagawa's existence rarely made things simpler. If anything, it usually had the opposite effect. Ayanokouji had already learned that much.
That was why he felt the need to dig a little deeper whenever Kumagawa's name came up. It wasn't out of curiosity alone—rather, it was a matter of self-preservation.
The moment Kumagawa became involved in something, Ayanokouji found it difficult to feel completely at ease. There was always the lingering feeling that if he ignored it, it would eventually come back to cause trouble later.
"I'm not sure if we're close or not, but I like to think that we are."
"What do you mean?"
"A-ah, I know that sounds a little confusing, but that's honestly how I feel." Hiyori gave a small, embarrassed smile before continuing. "No one in Class C really likes reading, so I don't have many people to talk to about books. Kumagawa-kun is the only person I'm close to who enjoys reading as much as I do. Though... his tastes are a little different from mine."
That much, Ayanokouji could somehow imagine.
It was no secret that Kumagawa's go-to reading material was Shounen Jump. He practically carried a copy with him everywhere, even to class, to the point that everyone already knew about it as if it was a common knowledge.
"But Kumagawa-kun often spends time with me here in the library. We talk about books, recommend things to each other, and sometimes just read quietly. That's why I'd like to think we're close."
"Is that so?"
Ayanokouji found the answer somewhat unexpected.
To him, Kumagawa didn't seem like the type of person who would quietly spend his free time reading in a library. Then again, Kumagawa rarely fit the image people had of him in the first place.
"Then what else has he said about me besides the part about my face looking like plain rice?" Even saying it himself made Ayanokouji feel a little uncomfortable.
"U-umm, he talks about you quite a lot. Other people too, actually. S-so why don't you ask him yourself?"
Ayanokouji was a little confused by her sudden flustered reaction. However, for some reason, he found her answer strangely ominous. Following her line of sight, he turned around.
Immediately, he saw the one person he least wanted to encounter at the moment.
『Oyaa, if it isn't Ayanokouji-kun. Besides being Horikita-chan's errand boy, are you here to borrow some dirty books? 』 Kumagawa greeted him with his usual manga in his hands.
"...No, I'm not. Why would you even think that?"
『Then you've already borrowed one? Ah, you're hopeless. 』
"....."
『Hahaha, don't look at me like that. I'm joking, of course. I looked into your tastes a long time ago, back when I was stalking you. I know every dirty book you've borrowed recently. 』
"Now that's just slander."
Ayanokouji couldn't help but wonder why Kumagawa seemed so determined to drag his reputation through the mud whenever the opportunity presented itself.
While he didn't particularly doubt the stalking part, which was troubling enough on its own, there wasn't much he could do about it if it were true. For whatever reason, Ayanokouji had never been able to sense Kumagawa's presence properly.
However, the part about dirty books was almost certainly an exaggeration. He had never borrowed anything of the sort.
At least, not that he could remember.
Still, he would prefer not to have his reputation ruined for no reason.
Especially when Hiyori, who was standing right beside him, had started looking at him with a slightly strange expression.
"...Shiina-san, don't believe him."
"Ah."
Hiyori blinked.
"I wasn't really sure whether he was joking or not, so don't worry Ayanokouji-kun."
With such an innocent answer, that somehow made it even worse.
"Anyway, won't this cause you any problems?" Ayanokouji looked toward Hiyori, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere. "Class C is currently hunting someone from Class D, right? Won't it be bad for you if you're seen talking to people from Class D? Especially Kumagawa or me. I feel like I'm already on the list of suspects."
Hiyori had probably heard the rumors by now. Based on what Kushida had said, Ryuen had likely already narrowed his search down to several candidates, including Keisei and himself.
"Please don't worry, I only play along so that Ryuen-san doesn't bother me. I've never been interested in conflicts between classes in the first place. Or do you think talking with me would be a problem?"
"...No, not really. I don't have any personal issues with it."
"I'm glad. I wouldn't want our classes to clash over something so trivial. I'd prefer if everyone could just get along."
"'Clash,' huh...?"
Considering the school's entire system was built around competition, that wish was unlikely to come true. Still, most students behaved as though they were attending an ordinary high school. Hirata and Kushida, for example, were popular precisely because they treated everyone equally regardless of class.
『Don't be so boring, Ayanokouji-kun. Even if this school encourages psychological torture, it's not as though people can't become friends. Don't crush Hiyori-chan's already low opinion of you. 』
"I-I don't look down on anyone, Kumagawa-kun. My conscience is clean!"
Ayanokouji look at Kumagawa "What exactly have you been telling her about me? Just how much are you planning to destroy my social image?"
『Ahaha, I misspoke. Hiyori-chan doesn't look down on you or anything. 』 Kumagawa closed the manga in his hands. 『Rather, she doesn't really see anyone as a proper human being. 』
"....?"
Ayanokouji looked toward Hiyori.
For a moment, silence settled between the three of them.
"Uh... What does tha—"
"D-don't make it like I'm some kind of weirdo, Kumagawa-kun!"
Hiyori hurriedly interrupted him before he could finish.
"It's just a difference in p-perspective. In the first place, it's easier for me to look at things that way. That doesn't mean I don't see people as proper h-human beings."
『Ahaha. But it's true, isn't it?』
"T-that's not the point!"
『Then what is the point? 』
"Auuuu..."
Hiyori lowered her head slightly, unable to find a response.
It was a surprisingly cute reaction.
Still, Ayanokouji was honestly a little lost by the sudden turn the conversation had taken.
A moment ago, he had been trying to find out how much Kumagawa had told Hiyori about him. Somehow, the discussion had shifted entirely toward Hiyori herself. Not that Kumagawa seemed bothered by that. If anything, he appeared to be enjoying watching Hiyori struggle to defend herself.
"What exactly are you two talking about?" Ayanokouji decided to just ask.
『It seems you're under the misconception that I spend my time talking about you behind your back.』
"Isn't that what happened?"
『Well, I won't deny it... 』
So he wasn't denying it.
『But I think you're making it sound as though everything Hiyori-chan told you about yourself came from me. 』
"So you're saying you didn't drag my name through the mud?"
『Well, I won't deny that either. 』
"....."
It would be a lie to say he wasn't frustrated.
Every answer Kumagawa gave somehow managed to answer the question while avoiding it at the same time. It felt as though he was being led around in circles. The worst part was that Ayanokouji couldn't even tell whether Kumagawa was being truthful or simply entertaining himself.
『For example, the thing about your dead fish eyes was definitely me. 』
"That's not something to be proud of."
『But the plain rice comparison was Hiyori-chan's contribution. 』
"Huh?"
Ayanokouji immediately looked toward Hiyori, who somehow look away in guilt.
『Well, if I had to explain it properly, Hiyori-chan tends to look at people the same way she looks at books. 』
"Books?"
『Yup. 』
Kumagawa nodded.
That was certainly an interesting way to look at things.
Books?
While Ayanokouji still didn't understand how someone could view another person in that way, he decided to remain silent since Kumagawa looked like he wasn't finished yet.
『To Hiyori-chan, people are closer to books than they are to people. The way she judges others, the way she forms her first impressions, is fundamentally different from most people. That's why, despite being an airhead sometimes, she can have surprisingly sharp instincts. 』
"I'm not an airhead Kumagawa-kun...." Hiyori protested weakly. "I-I just couldn't help it. The cover was really plain, so it reminded me of plain rice."
『See? 』
"Are we still talking about me?" Ayanokouji asked.
"Yes."
"....."
Apparently, she was.
"What exactly did you see?"
While it certainly felt a little uncomfortable to be viewed in such a way, Ayanokouji found himself growing increasingly interested.
How should he put it?
It felt like he was learning something new.
It certainly wasn't the kind of situation he could encountered back in that place.
"Uhh... do you know the saying, 'Don't judge a book by its cover,' Ayanokouji-kun?"
Ayanokouji nodded.
It was a common saying.
The idea behind it was simple. Appearances could be deceiving, and judging something solely by its exterior often led to misunderstandings.
"But isn't that a rather narrow way of looking at people?" Ayanokouji asked. "It's one thing to judge someone by their appearance, but it's another to assume that first impression defines who they are."
"Well, I'm not saying it's the correct way of looking at things," Hiyori said, tightening her grip on the book she was holding. "But contrary to that saying, I think people can also be judged by their covers."
"Really...?"
Hiyori nodded, "Even if the cover and the contents are distinct, they're still parts of the same whole. In that sense, they can't truly be separated. Just like people. Even when someone's outward appearance seems different from who they are on the inside... how should I say this... it's just like the relationship between truth and lies. A lie only has meaning because there is such a thing as truth. In the same way, a person's appearance and their inner self don't exist independently. One tells you something about the other."
"So you're saying that you saw people just like how you would see a book cover?"
"Well, it's more like I see a floating book cover behind each person when I first meet them. That's simply how first impressions appear to me. And when I first saw you, I thought you looked plain. Like plain white rice." She said.
"So my cover is plain white rice, huh..." Ayanokouji muttered. "Then what does a plain white rice cover say about me? Since that was your first impression, I'm a little curious."
Setting aside how degrading it sounded, Ayanokouji couldn't deny that he wasn't the type of person who left a strong first impression. Considering how he had been raised, that wasn't particularly surprising.
"Uhh... I thought you were someone ordinary. Someone who didn't want to stand out."
"Ordinary?"
"Yes. I've met people whose covers felt ordinary before, people who didn't want to be the center of attention. But yours stood out in a different way, Ayanokouji-kun. It was just... plain. Like plain white rice. Very simple and very clean. It almost felt like you were seeing the world for the first time."
"...."
Ayanokouji was silent for a moment.
It was definitely a new way of looking at things—or rather, people. To him, it was one of a kind, and more importantly, something worth keeping in mind. But whether her impressions were accurate was another matter entirely, at the very least. it was a perspective Ayanokouji had never encountered before. At the very least, it wasn't the sort of thing he could have learned from textbooks or experienced back in that place.
Because of that, Ayanokouji couldn't help but become a little more wary of Hiyori.
"What's wrong Ayanokouji-kun?"
"It's nothing... Anyway, thank you for your honesty."
"A-ah, I don't mean that in a bad way."
Hiyori hurriedly shook her head.
"Even if someone looks like plain rice at first, the cover can change as I get to know them better." Raising both hands to her chest as though trying to encourage him, Hiyori continued, "After all, it's only a first impression. People don't have just one cover. The more I learn about someone, the more that cover changes. So your plain rice cover can change too, Ayanokouji-kun. So... don't give up."
"....."
『Don't worry too much about it, Ayanokouji-kun. 』 Kumagawa suddenly joined in. 『Even if both your appearance and your personality are as plain as white rice, a cover is still just a cover. You can always change it however you like. 』
"And how am I supposed to do that...?"
『Simple. Just like people put a different cover on a dirty magazine to hide what it really is, you can cover your plain personality with a dirty magazine too. Then your cover will change from "plain" to "pervert." You're already halfway there with the book in your hand. All you need now is the dirty magazine. 』
"...."
『Hmm? What's wrong? 』
"Nothing.... but can you stop bringing up dirty magazines already? I'd rather not have my reputation dragged through the mud over something I've never even touched."
Probably not yet, anyway.
No matter how well Ayanokouji could suppress his biological impulses, he was still a healthy teenage boy. There were instincts that couldn't simply be erased. Though, if he was being honest, there was also a small amount of curiosity mixed in with them. That, however, was another matter entirely.
『Ahaha, you sound just like a virgin trying to hide the fact that he went to the bookstore to buy dirty magazines. 』 Kumagawa shrugged. 『Well, it's your prerogative, I guess. But just like Hiyori-chan said, your plain white rice cover will naturally change as you experience more of life. So don't give up, Ayanokouji-kun! 』
"....."
Rather than encouraging him, it sounded as though both of them had already concluded that his current value as a human being was equivalent to a bowl of rice.
But still, it reminded him of 'synesthesia,' a concept he had once read about.
A phenomenon where stimulation of one sense involuntarily triggered another. Some people reportedly saw colors when they heard sounds, associated numbers with personalities, or perceived words and emotions as shapes.
Hiyori probably wasn't literally seeing book covers. It was simply the way she categorized people. Considering how much time she spent reading, maybe it wasn't that strange. Some people compared everything to sports. Others compared everything to business. Hiyori compared everything to books.
If he had to describe it, it was less a sensory phenomenon and more a habit of association.
In some ways, Hiyori was maybe even creepier than Ryuen. She was a completely unknown quantity. He could try to dig a little deeper into her, but the fact that she seemed to possess something akin to synesthesia was a surprise in itself. Depending on how accurate and reliable it was, it could become an unknown variable.
Should he use Karuizawa to get close to Hiyori?
But that was too risky since Ryuen was already targeting Karuizawa. Miyake, Hasebe, Yukimura, and Horikita were also out of the question. None of them were particularly suited for that kind of role.
He could try his luck with Hirata if it came down to it, but Hirata was fundamentally a neutral person.
No good. There was no one reliable he could think of.
"What about Kumagawa?" Ayanokouji decided to change the topic for now, not wanting to dwell on something he had no answer to.
Hiyori tilted her head.
"What about Kumagawa-kun?"
"Since you have such a unique way of seeing people, what kind of cover does Kumagawa have?"
His own opinion aside, Hiyori was someone with a unique way of looking at people, so she must have had some kind of impression of Kumagawa. Earlier, Ayanokouji had thought her way of perceiving people was somewhat akin to synesthesia. Whether that was actually the case or not was another matter entirely, but it was still something extremely rare. That alone made him curious about what kind of "cover" she saw when she looked at Kumagawa.
However, Hiyori's expression suggested she wasn't quite sure how to answer.
"...What's wrong?" Ayanokouji asked.
"Well... I'm not really sure how to describe Kumagawa-kun." Hiyori lowered her gaze slightly. "His first impression was... rather unique. I think it's the kind of cover I'd never forget. It's really one of a kind."
Ayanokouji glanced at Kumagawa, who seemed completely uninterested in their conversation despite the fact that they were openly talking about him right in front of him.
"What do you mean?"
"Like I said, a cover is only a cover. It doesn't mean I know what kind of person someone is just by looking at it. It's only my first impression."
Ayanokouji nodded.
"But Kumagawa-kun's cover... how should I put it...? It's always fluctuating. No... 'blurry' is probably a better word."
"Blurry?"
Hiyori nodded.
"It looks as though it doesn't have any fixed form. Or maybe... that's just the feeling it gives me. I'm not really sure. Everything about Kumagawa-kun feels a little ambiguous. Even his personality and the things he says or does often contradict each other. That's why... I think the blurry cover suits him. I also think that's what makes Kumagawa-kun interesting."
"In other words, he's full of contradictions?"
Hiyori nodded once again.
Ayanokouji couldn't tell whether Hiyori's impression was correct or not. Personally, his instincts leaned more toward the idea that Kumagawa simply didn't have a genuine self, as though everything about him was wrapped in lies. Yet, at the same time, describing him as someone full of contradictions wasn't necessarily wrong either.
Ayanokouji glanced at Kumagawa.
『What is it? Do you want to be my best friend, Ayanokouji-kun? 』
"..."
『I'm joking. Boy, you really are a boring guy. 』
"Well, Hiyori just described you as the contrarian type, so... what do you think?"
『What do I think? 』 Kumagawa tilted his head slightly as he closed the book in his hands. 『Well... I'd say I'm more of an "incomplete" type of guy. Besides, I don't deserve that kind of high opinion. While it's true that I'm a contrarian by nature, the word "interesting" doesn't really suit me. Rather, I don't like being called interesting. 』
"You don't?"
『Well, it makes it sound like I'm some kind of boy toy, right? It'd be one thing if a girl were manhandling me, but being called "interesting" makes me sound like some kind of toy. Though, now that I think about it, I do love being manhandled by a girl. I'm hopelessly weak when it comes to girls. 』
"K-Kumagawa-kun..." Hiyori muttered weakly, clearly feeling a little uncomfortable with where the conversation had gone.
That reaction wasn't surprising. Even if Kumagawa had only been talking about himself, it was still the kind of thing that would make someone like Hiyori feel awkward.
『But Hiyori-chan really is perceptive. In the end, I'm just stupid, foolish, and nothing more than a clown.』
"...Are you sure?"
『I am. Oh, and I'm a coward too. 』
A liar and a coward.
Who was Ayanokouji to criticize someone for calling himself that?
Still, whether Kumagawa was truly stupid, foolish, a clown, or even a coward was something Ayanokouji couldn't simply take at face value. If anything, after hearing Hiyori's impression of him, Ayanokouji found it even harder to trust anything Kumagawa said.
In the end, considering how unreliable everything that came out of Kumagawa's mouth was, those words could just as easily be another lie, or merely another contradiction.
As Ayanokouji was lost in thought, the bell suddenly rang, signalling the end of lunch break.
『Oh. It's already that time. 』 Kumagawa glanced toward the clock.
"...Looks like it."
Only then did Ayanokouji realize that they had spent almost the entire lunch break talking in the library.
"Ayanokouji-kun," Hiyori called.
"Hm?"
"I hope you'll enjoy that book. If you happen to like it... I'd be happy to recommend another one sometime."
"I'll keep that in mind. Though if your recommendations are all this thick, I might not be able to keep up."
Hiyori looked down at the book in his hands and smiled faintly. "That's... true. I may have gotten a little carried away."
『Don't worry, Hiyori-chan. Ayanokouji-kun has plenty of free time. Other than being an errand boy, he spends most of his day staring into space anyway. Just like that of a plain rice. 』
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that." Ayanokouji said simply.
"I-I think... plain white rice isn't so bad." Hiyori said that suddenly, catching Ayanokouji a little off guard.
"Huh?"
"It goes well with almost anything."
"...I'm not sure whether that's a compliment."
『See? Hiyori-chan even found a way to praise your plainness. You're blessed, Ayanokouji-kun. 』
"I'd rather not be praised for being rice."
『The way I see it, that's because you're still immature. Rice has supported Japan for thousands of years. Being compared to it is practically an honor. 』
"That's a strange way to encourage someone."
Whether this was a joke or not, Ayanokouji couldn't tell. Following up on the seemingly sincere remark, Kumagawa added, 『Though if you stay plain forever, that's pretty boring too. Maybe you should become fried rice instead. There are plenty of ways for plain white rice to change. Even porridge is still a kind of rice. 』
"That's becoming less encouraging."
For some reason, Kumagawa seemed unusually fixated on the whole plain white rice comparison. Ayanokouji couldn't help but wonder if he was going to keep harassing him with that nickname from now on.
"That's right, Ayanokouji-kun!" Hiyori nodded with surprising enthusiasm. "Rice can change in many ways. So... I think your cover can change too."
"Uh..."
It would be a lie if Ayanokouji didn't feel a little betrayed. However, Hiyori had already said that her "covers" were nothing more than first impressions. Since his first impression had apparently been plain white rice, she probably couldn't help seeing him that way for now.
Hopefully, that would change someday.
After all, that was one of the reasons he had chosen to come to this school in the first place. To experience new things, meet new people, and perhaps, little by little, become someone whose cover looked different from the one Hiyori had first seen.
"Anyway, I think I should get going now. It would be bad if I were late for class," Hiyori said as she prepared to leave.
『Bye-bye, Hiyori-chan. 』 Kumagawa lazily waved his hand from where he was sitting.
Hiyori smiled and gave a small nod before leaving the library.
Not long after, Kumagawa stood up as well.
『Well then, shall we go, Ayanokouji-kun? 』
Without waiting for an answer, he casually walked toward the exit. Left with little choice, Ayanokouji followed behind, the borrowed book still tucked under his arm. Only then did he realize something.
He had gotten so caught up in the conversation that he hadn't even eaten lunch.
Looking down at the book in his hand, Ayanokouji let out a small sigh.
He had come here simply to return a borrowed novel and borrow another while he was at it. Instead, he had learned something unexpected about both Hiyori and Kumagawa.
Who could've predicted this would all result from a simple library visit?
『END』
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Here you go peasants, another chapter.
Anyway, that's it for today's chapter.
Hope you enjoyed it.
[Thanks for reading!]