『』『』『』『』『』
Karuizawa was freezing.
Being doused with water outdoors in the middle of winter four times was enough to leave anyone freezing. Her uniform was soaked through, and every inch of her body was wet. But what scared her wasn't the way her body trembled from the cold.
It was her heart.
Her heart was already frozen.
It was so brittle that one more push might really break it.
How did this happen? What did I do wrong?
"Come on. That's enough, Karuizawa. Make things easier on yourself. There's no need to suffer any further," Ryuen sneered.
Why am I being bullied? What did I do wrong?
"I know what you're thinking. If you give up X, you'll lose their protection. All hope will be lost and... what going to happened to you?"
I'm scared.
Was she really going back to those days? If that happened, she knew her heart couldn't take it. She couldn't endure it if the girls who were now kind to her, who were now her friends, started to change.
I'm scared. I'm scared.
Karuizawa's teeth chattered loudly from the cold, making her terror audible to everyone. She struggled desperately to keep herself from losing control, but her mind had already begun to slip.
I'm scared. I'm scared. I'm scared.
"If you won't cooperate, though, I have no choice but to destroy you."
Save me.
"I'm going to list everything there is to know about you, everything you pretend to be, and circulate it throughout the school. When that happens, will you be able to keep your position in your class? Will you still be a leader?"
Save me. Save me.
Her surroundings began to feel distant, as though she were slowly sinking beneath the surface of a deep lake. She could hear Ryuen's voice, but it no longer sounded like it was coming from right in front of her.
Save me. Save me. Save me.
Fear. Helplessness. Powerlessness. Uselessness. Frailty.
The feelings began to blur together, no longer separate emotions but one overwhelming mass twisting inside her. They tangled together like a whirlpool, dragging her deeper and deeper into a place where she couldn't think clearly anymore.
Save me. Save me. Save me. Save me.
"No. You'll just go back to what you were before. You'll become that pathetic girl who was always bullied."
Save me. I'm scared. Save me. I'm scared. Save me. I'm scared. Save me. I'm scared. Save me. I'm scared. Save me. I'm scared. Save me. I'm scared. Save me. I'm scared. Save me. I'm scared. Save me. I'm scared. Save me. Save me. Save me. I'm scared I'm scared. Save me. I'm scared.
For a moment, her mind went completely blank. All she saw was endless white. And then, immediately after, endless darkness. Repulsive memories thrashed around inside her head. Within those memories, the past and present began to overlap.
Karuizawa remembered.
She remembered junior high.
She remembered the hell she had created for herself.
The physical violence. The mental torture. The graffiti on her textbooks. The notebooks thrown into the trash. Water dumped over her while she was using the bathroom. Again. And again. It became a routine. Punches. Kicks. Laughter. The whispers. The stares. The humiliation. Things done where everyone could see. Things done where no one could. Her pride. Her confidence. Her sense of safety. Her trust. One thing after another, until she could no longer remember where one ended and the next began.
Everything she had endured.
She remembered all of it.
More importantly...
Those two monsters.
Kya ha ha ha. Shizue, Shizue. Where's next? Her head? Her neck? Her cheek?
That devilish laugh.
Shizuka, do it somewhere private. It's troublesome if it's on an exposed part of her skin. Try somewhere obstructed, like her belly? Try her left belly for example.
That monotonous voice.
She remembered that horrifying pain once again.
Yes, that was right.
She remembered.
Karuizawa looked up at the sky as tears ran down her face.
Why do I have to suffer like this?
She didn't want this.
—It
That feeling began to grow inside her.
—hate it
She didn't want to go back and experience that hell again.
I hate it.
She didn't want to be trapped in a hell of her own making again.
I hate it. I hate it.
Kiyotaka had promised her that, but he wasn't here. Even if she kept faith in him, that didn't change her current situation. He told her he'd protect her. Had she just imagined it? Had she been a fool to believe him?
I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it.
"You weren't saved. You were trapped. Pretty stupid, huh?" Ryuen sneered at her.
Had she been betrayed? Had he abandoned her?
"Look around you. Is X here right now? Is X saving you?"
Kiyotaka... had been deceiving her from the very start?
"Well, there's still one way for you to save yourself," Ryuen said.
A name.
Kiyotaka's name.
"That's right. It'll all be over." Ryuen laughed again, as if he could read her mind. "If you give me the name, I promise I'll never bother you again."
Liar.
Karuizawa could tell that he was lying.
I hate it.
It was nothing more than a lie.
I hate it. I hate it.
Despair and anger at being betrayed rose up to fill her heart. Despair and anger at being toyed with filled her heart. And despair and anger at being lied to filled her heart.
I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it.
She hated everything.
『』『』『』『』『』
Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap—
Ayanokouji climbed the stairs step by step.
A large shadow loomed over him as he followed Yamada Albert toward the rooftop. The entire journey was filled with silence until they finally reached the door leading to the rooftop.
Stopping by the door, Albert turned toward him for a moment, as if sizing him up. It was only for a moment before he reached for the door handle and slowly opened it.
What greeted him were gray clouds hanging in the sky, threatening rain.
He also saw Karuizawa near the fence, cowering away from the door with a listless gaze fixed on the floor.
Having noticed the door opening and closing, Ishizaki and Ibuki looked over at the newcomer, as did Ryuen. Ayanokouji's first instinct was to check the area for surveillance cameras. He found one, but noticed that the sole camera's lens had been painted black. It seemed Ryuen was the one who had spray-painted it.
Karuizawa noticed that Ayanokouji had come to the rooftop, but ultimately said nothing. With that empty gaze of hers, Ayanokouji couldn't tell what was on her mind.
Her eyes were dead.
"Sorry I'm late," Ayanokouji said, looking at her.
But as expected, he got no response. She simply kept staring blankly at him.
"R-Ryuen-san, does this mean Ayanokouji is really X?!" Ishizaki panicked.
"There's no way. It definitely can't be him," Ibuki denied before Ryuen could say anything. "X is just using Ayanokouji. Don't be fooled, Ryuen. X probably told Karuizawa in advance that he'd send someone to come and save her!"
"Shut up, Ibuki."
Ryuen laughed as he put some distance between himself and Karuizawa, then moved closer to Ayanokouji. He stopped about five meters away, clearly wary of him.
"Well, well. Who do we have here? It's that guy who's always clinging to Suzune. Ayanokouji, huh? What brings you all the way to the rooftop, all by yourself, on this fine first day of winter vacation?"
"I came to save Karuizawa."
Plain and simple.
"Do you really believe Ayanokouji is X?" Ibuki asked.
"Didn't we already establish that a while ago? Besides, I've had my eye on Ayanokouji from the start. He's always hanging around Horikita, who's reputed to be quite exceptional herself."
"But that's so obvious... Isn't that way too out in the open for someone who's trying to hide their identity?" Muttered Ishizaki
"Certainly. I understand what you're trying to say, Ishizaki. That's why I made sure to carefully narrow down my list of suspects. Thanks to Kumagawa, we managed to narrow it down quite a bit, didn't we? It's either Hirata or Ayanokouji."
"But—!"
"I'm the person you've been searching for."
Ayanokouji decided to throw out a vague yet helpful statement to stir them up.
For some reason, Class C seemed divided over whether to believe he was the real mastermind or not. It was certainly a strange situation to witness.
"Hah! Isn't that suspicious?" Ibuki scoffed. "Would X really just come right out and say that?"
It was an understandable response. It made sense that they wouldn't simply believe him, considering how carefully X had kept his identity hidden until now.
"I think this is fishy, too. He might've been told to step forward and claim he's the mastermind as part of some kind of ploy," Ishizaki added.
"Yes, I certainly did," replied Ryuen. "This looks like a bad move on your part, Ayanokouji. Your best option would've been to abandon Karuizawa, not walk straight into an obvious trap. I suppose I understand why Ibuki and Ishizaki don't believe you. If you're really X, then tell me. How do you plan on getting out of this dilemma?"
"Am I in a dilemma?" Ayanokouji asked.
Ryuen and his lackeys looked completely unamused by his foolish question.
"I only came here because Karuizawa needed help. If you want proof that I'm X, you could just wait until the next exam and see what I do," Ayanokouji added.
"Man, oh man. I don't have a problem believing you, but it seems Ibuki and Ishizaki still aren't convinced that you're X." Ryuen smirked as he looked over at Ibuki and Ishizaki.
"I've already admitted to it. But if you still won't believe me, then allow me to explain, Ibuki." Ayanokouji turned toward Ibuki, the person who had been doubting him from the beginning. "The island exam. You were instructed to take pictures of our leader's keycard, but your digital camera went missing. Am I wrong?"
"What are you trying to say? It was Kumagawa who took the camera."
"It was me. I told Kumagawa about it. When I met you in the forest, Ibuki, your fingers were covered in dirt. There were signs that you had been digging nearby. I told Kumagawa about it, and we went to check the area together. We found a wireless transceiver. That was so you could communicate with Ryuen, right?"
Ayanokouji lied.
He honestly had nothing to do with Kumagawa during the island exam. He did, however, know about Ryuen and Ibuki's plan. It's just that by that point, Kumagawa had already made his move and taken the camera.
But without knowing the full circumstances, Ibuki couldn't help but take Ayanokouji's words as definite proof.
Right now, he needed to convince Ibuki, at least to some extent, since he planned to end things here and now.
"You have to admit it now, Ibuki," said Ryuen. "Ayanokouji is X."
"Wait—wait a second. He probably has some kind of trick up his sleeve."
"Trick?" Ayanokouji said. "There's no trick I can pull in a situation like this. You already know Karuizawa's big secret. I understand what'll happen if I get careless here. You took plenty of precautions to corner me, right?"
"Exactly. So, what're you gonna do about it? I can reveal your identity whenever I want. And I still have the threat of exposing Karuizawa's past to use against you. You're powerless."
Ryuen stared at Ayanokouji.
"Indeed. I can't exactly report what you just did to Karuizawa to the school, either..."
Instances of violence between students during exams were punished by expulsion, but the same wasn't necessarily true of conflicts that occurred at other times. Even if he could provide the school with real proof of what they had done, it was unlikely he would be able to deal Ryuen and Class C any real damage.
"And if you try to tell the school what we did up here, we'll leave Karuizawa high and dry in retaliation," Ryuen added.
So, they would both go down in flames if he tried anything, and Class D would probably be the one going down hardest. Ryuen had switched from using his knowledge of Karuizawa's past to attack her, to using it as a shield against Ayanokouji.
"No matter how you slice it, I win," he said.
"Okay. Well, are you satisfied? If so, I'll be taking Karuizawa back with me," Ayanokouji said.
"Come now, don't be so anticlimactic. You came all the way here. We might as well take our time." Ryuen grabbed Karuizawa's arm and pulled her to her feet.
Karuizawa made no effort to fight back.
Just like a doll.
She only stared blankly into empty space.
"You really have entertained me, Ayanokouji. You might be just another Class D defect, but you saw through my plans time and time again. More than that, you think like me. How could I not want to draw you out of hiding? I didn't think about what would come next. I figured I'd decide once I finally met you." His tone was almost drowned in pleasure. "Now I've decided."
Everyone present could feel in their bones what was about to happen. As the personification of violence within the first year, it was plainly obvious what he was about to do.
"First, I'm going to wipe that calm look off your face and replace it with fear. You're underestimating me, aren't you? You think I won't do it."
"Are you really going to resort to violence?"
"Violence is the most powerful force in the world. It doesn't matter how crafty you are, how calm you are, or how apathetic you are—Violence will bring you to heel."
Ryuen shoved Karuizawa away and looked at Ayanokouji with a predatory grin.
Even now, with a brawl moments away from breaking out, Ayanokouji briefly glanced at Ryuen, Ibuki, Ishizaki, and then Albert.
"Violence is a powerful tool. I can't argue with that. However, you have to be stronger than your opponent for it to work in your favor. Understand?"
"Huh?"
"The four of you won't be enough to stop me."
"Wha...?" Ibuki raised an incredulous eyebrow.
"Heh heh heh. Ha ha ha ha ha!" Ryuen clutched his sides, bursting into raucous laughter. "Oh? I think Ayanokouji's saying he's not going to yield to violence from the likes of us. Then show me what you've got, Ishizaki."
"A-are you sure?" Ishizaki hesitated.
It would have been one thing if his opponent were someone like Sudou, who was known for getting into fights. But Ayanokouji had always seemed like an ordinary student, at least judging from his demeanor. His hesitation was understandable.
"Don't hold back. Take him out."
"But..."
"If we give Ayanokouji a thorough beating, there won't be anything more to worry about. Didn't I tell you? Never admit your wrongdoings."
Seemingly with no other choice, since he couldn't openly disobey Ryuen's orders, Ishizaki walked toward Ayanokouji. "I'm not a bad guy, Ayanokouji. I'm just following Ryuen-san's orders."
"I don't really care."
This was all going according to plan.
Ishizaki casually threw a punch at Ayanokouji. No, it was more like the swat one might give a naughty child. A slow, careless motion that even a junior high or elementary school student could have avoided. His right fist came at Ayanokouji in a wide arc, but Ayanokouji caught it with his hand.
"Huh...?"
"If you're going to do this, you'd better take it seriously," Ayanokouji warned him.
Ishizaki didn't seem to take the hint, even though Ayanokouji had completely blocked his blow, perhaps because it had been such a lazy attack to begin with. So Ayanokouji squeezed his fist. With his right hand still clamped around Ishizaki's, he gradually applied more pressure.
"Huh? Ah...ugh...huh?!" Ishizaki's face tightened, and his knees began to tremble.
Albert was the first to realize that something was wrong. Without waiting for Ryuen's order, he swung his thick arm at Ayanokouji. It was about as wide as an electrical pole. Ayanokouji released Ishizaki and raised his left arm to block the incoming punch.
Smack!
An almost electric jolt traveled from his elbow all the way to his shoulder.
"Just as I thought. That hurts," Ayanokouji muttered.
"No way. Y-you're not messing around, are you? Albert? Ishizaki?" Ibuki asked incredulously.
Maybe she couldn't believe that Albert had really thrown that punch with all his strength, or that Ishizaki was actually in pain. Perhaps she simply didn't want to believe what she was seeing.
"Do it, Albert," Ryuen ordered.
Albert charged at Ayanokouji again, swinging his powerful fists. Ayanokouji had intentionally allowed the first attack to land, but he couldn't afford to take many more blows like that. He slipped underneath Albert's next swing and stepped forward, driving his fist straight into his stomach.
He didn't hold back.
He put all his strength into the blow, intending to finish Albert in a single attack.
"Ghh!" Albert let out a strained groan, his body folding slightly from the impact.
"Ayanokouji!" Ishizaki shouted as he charged at him.
"If you're going to come at me, don't shout," Ayanokouji said, sounding almost exasperated.
At least Ishizaki had saved him some trouble.
Ayanokouji kicked Ishizaki's left knee, sending him down. His movements were so easy to read that Ayanokouji followed up without hesitation, spinning into a kick that caught him in the face before using the momentum to strike him in the jaw on the return.
Ishizaki collapsed.
Silence fell over the rooftop.
Albert and Ishizaki were both out cold.
Ryuen and Ibuki stared at them, burning the unbelievable sight into their minds.
"Well, I guess we underestimated him. He acted so confident because he was sure of his own abilities, huh? I didn't expect this," Ryuen said.
"S-so you're saying Ayanokouji just turned the tables on you?" Ibuki stammered.
"Are you serious, Ibuki?" Ayanokouji asked.
"Huh?"
"Ryuen has always been the type to use violence. Do you really think I'd voluntarily let him create a situation where he could rampage without consequence?"
"Hmm?" Ibuki tilted her head in confusion.
Ryuen seemed to have doubts as well. "Wait a minute, Ayanokouji. Even I'm not following you anymore. I was the one who set up this meeting."
"You still don't get it, do you?" Ayanokouji sighed deeply. "Our confrontation here was decided long before we ever arrived. I knew that when faced with a stalemate, Ryuen would eventually resort to violence to settle things."
Ryuen had thought that everything that had happened so far was his doing.
He couldn't have been more wrong.
"If I had never intended to reveal my identity, I wouldn't have used Manabe during the sports festival. I knew you'd identify her as the obvious culprit once you heard that recording. That's what led you here, right? I anticipated that you'd question her and eventually learn that I was blackmailing her and her friends over what they did to Karuizawa," Ayanokouji explained.
Naturally, Ryuen couldn't deny a single thing he'd said so far.
"Heh. Now you're saying some pretty interesting things. So, you purposefully made it look like I had you in the palm of my hand?"
"To be more precise, you were dancing in mine," Ayanokouji replied.
"Allow me to apologize, Ayanokouji. You really are clever. The advantage I thought I had is gone, and now I'm the one in trouble." Ryuen smiled happily. "So, what should we do, Ibuki?"
"Seriously, what is wrong with you two?!" Ibuki seethed in anger.
Something seemed to snap inside her, and all the frustration she had been holding back came spilling out. She suddenly launched a kick at Ayanokouji, apparently unconcerned about how much of her underwear might be visible. In her current state, she probably hadn't even thought about it.
Ayanokouji calmly stepped back, evading one kick after another.
"Seriously, what are you...?"
"You really don't know?" Ayanokouji replied.
"You seriously make me mad. I don't even know why, but you just piss me off!"
Honestly, Ayanokouji wanted to see more of her skills, but he didn't have time to waste. Just like with Ishizaki and Albert, he decided not to hold back.
Ibuki leapt at him once more.
This time, rather than dodge, Ayanokouji immediately closed the distance between them.
"...?!"
He wasn't opposed to testing Ibuki's abilities, but he didn't want to drag this out any further. He caught her before she could react and brought her down, leaving her no chance to counter or defend herself.
Ibuki too was knocked out cold.
"Violence isn't a tool that only you and your goons possess," Ayanokouji said to Ryuen.
Ibuki, Ishizaki, and Albert, all of Ryuen's right-hand men, lay scattered across the rooftop.
"You really don't hold back, do you?"
"I'm not in a position to hold back right now. Someone just gave me some rather horrifying news, so I'd like to settle this as quickly as possible."
"Kuku. I don't know what you're talking about, but do you really think you can defeat me just because you're stronger? Physical strength alone doesn't determine victory or defeat. You've gotta be tough on the inside, too."
He lowered his stance before suddenly lunging forward, thrusting his left fist toward Ayanokouji's abdomen. Ayanokouji stepped back to evade it, but Ryuen immediately followed up with a jab from his right.
"Sorry, but I won't let you hit me."
Ayanokouji avoided the attack again and reached for Ryuen's hair with his left hand. Ryuen reacted immediately, knocking his arm aside. The moment his attention shifted, Ayanokouji drove a kick into his side.
"Gah!"
Ryuen staggered back before quickly putting some distance between them.
"Not bad, Ryuen."
"This is so much fun!" Ryuen laughed louder than before, seemingly enjoying himself more with every passing moment. "Turning the tables even after being pushed into a corner like this... This still isn't enough for me. I need more, Ayanokouji."
He charged again, throwing everything he had into his attacks. His movements weren't those of a trained martial artist. They were rough and self-taught, shaped by countless fights. Yet there was a certain unpredictability to them.
Ayanokouji couldn't evade every attack forever.
"Aren't you afraid of losing?" Ayanokouji asked.
"I don't get afraid. Never felt fear once in my life."
"No fear, huh?"
"You'll understand once you know pain," Ryuen said. "Pain gives way to fear for ordinary people."
"Then teach me about pain."
"With pleasure!"
Ryuen closed the distance and swung at him. Ayanokouji raised his left arm to guard, but Ryuen immediately followed with a knee. It was his strongest attack yet. The impact forced Ayanokouji backward, a sharp pain spreading through his body.
"How about it? You get it now?"
"Unfortunately, I don't 'get' anything," Ayanokouji replied. "This is just pain."
"Are you trying to say you're the same as me? That you don't feel fear?"
"That's not it, Ryuen. That's not what I'm saying."
Ayanokouji knew what fear born from pain felt like. He knew the terror and misery of being powerless. He had seen people broken by it before, time and time again. But eventually, he had stopped feeling that fear. Instead, there was only a cold emptiness.
He had learned that as long as he had the means to protect himself, nothing else mattered. If he could keep himself safe from harm, then he would always win.
"All right, whatever!" Ryuen shouted. "I don't care! I'll just keep pounding you until you finally feel fear!"
Ayanokouji had enough.
As Ryuen shifted his weight, preparing another attack, Ayanokouji seized his arm and pulled him in. Then, without hesitation, he struck him across the face.
"Gah!"
The blow would have rendered another person unconscious, but Ryuen was sent flying backward instead. Ayanokouji had no intention of knocking him out with a single blow anyway.
Ryuen hit the concrete, and Ayanokouji was on top of him a moment later, striking his unprotected torso.
"You said you've never felt fear, didn't you, Ryuen?"
"Ah... ah... heh. That's right. I don't know fear. I've never known it."
His face was bruised, his eyes nearly swollen shut, yet Ryuen still fought back. But most of his strength was gone, and all he could do was swing weakly at the air.
Ayanokouji responded with a powerful but precise blow to his solar plexus, causing Ryuen's expression to stiffen.
"Ugh...ugh! I'm a confident fighter, but it's not like I've never lost before. No, it's precisely because I've been beaten more times than other people that... gah!"
Ayanokouji punched him again and again, alternating between his left and right fists in quick succession. Blood trickled from the corner of Ryuen's mouth.
"Ow... that hurts. But that's all... just pain," he taunted. "No matter where you are in this school, I'll find an opening and attack. And eventually, I'll win."
"Do you want to win? Do you want to lose? What are you feeling, Ayanokouji?"
Did he want to win?
Did he want to lose?
"Are you laughing at me now that you're on top? Are you angry? Excited? Overjoyed? Maybe frustrated? Tell me!"
Ayanokouji had no idea what he was talking about. He couldn't see his own face or read his own expression, but he was certain of one thing.
Something this insignificant would never shake him.
There had only been a few times in his life when he had felt something that might have been fear. Even then, he wasn't sure whether it was actually fear or simply an uncomfortable feeling.
But at the very least, Ryuen didn't give him that feeling.
He didn't feel fear.
Ayanokouji hit Ryuen in the face again. He had already lost count of how many times he'd struck him, but he kept going, punching him over and over as Ryuen's face twisted in pain. Perhaps Ryuen had finally begun to understand that the feeling known as fear certainly existed within him.
Ayanokouji landed one last blow, harder than any of the previous ones, and Ryuen finally lost consciousness.
He had wanted to toy with Ayanokouji's emotions.
Unfortunately for him, there was nothing there.
There was no heart for him to manipulate.
『』『』『』『』『』
Ryuen and his lackeys were rendered unconscious.
Ignoring everything they had talked about, the whole confrontation had ended in less than ten minutes.
Ayanokouji slowly got off Ryuen's limp body and stood up. He couldn't afford to leave Karuizawa out here any longer.
As he slowly walked toward her, Karuizawa remained unresponsive. Even after Ryuen had shoved her aside, or throughout the entire fight, she had done nothing but stare blankly ahead. Her eyes were completely lifeless.
Ayanokouji couldn't tell whether her mind had simply gone blank or if she had stopped caring about what was happening around her, but whatever Ryuen had done to her had clearly broken something inside her.
"Karuizawa, are you okay?" Ayanokouji asked.
There was no response.
Feeling somewhat troubled, Ayanokouji slowly reached out to her. He wanted to get her out of this place first. They were already racing against time.
"I'm sorry about this, but we didn't have much time, so—"
『Hmm? What happened here? 』
"...?!"
Someone new had entered the rooftop.
『Oh? Ayanokouji-kun? What a coincidence. 』
"Is that you, Kumagawa?"
『Yep, it sure is. 』 He said while giving his usual smile. 『Long time no see. 』
The worst-case scenario had just happened.
Ayanokouji had already heard from Horikita's older brother earlier that Kumagawa was supposed to return today. That was precisely why he had intended to finish everything as quickly as possible. He didn't know how deeply Kumagawa was involved in this situation, or what he might do if he arrived before everything was settled.
And now, he was standing right in front of him.
『It looks like I arrived at a rather interesting time. 』
Kumagawa slowly looked around the rooftop. His eyes passed over Ryuen, Ishizaki, Albert, and Ibuki, all of whom were lying unconscious on the ground, before finally settling on Karuizawa.
『I leave for a couple of weeks, come back to school, and the first thing I find is four unconscious students. I suppose I should ask what happened here. 』
"It's not particularly important."
『Not important? 』
Kumagawa tilted his head.
『There are four people lying unconscious on the floor, Karuizawa-san looks like she's barely aware of what's happening around her, and you're the only person still standing. From where I'm standing, it looks pretty important. 』
Ayanokouji didn't answer immediately.
『Since when did you resort to violence, Ayanokouji-kun? Do you want to get expelled? 』
Kumagawa immediately accused him.
"The reason isn't really that important, but this is a misunderstanding. I just defended myself. You arrived after everything had already happened. Karuizawa was a victim, and I was only trying to help her. Still, given the situation, it's reasonable for you to assume I was responsible. But the fact that I defeated them doesn't mean I was the one who started this in the first place. It was simply self-defense."
While friction between students that resulted in violence usually ended with expulsion, self-defense was another matter entirely. Besides, there was no evidence since Ryuen had already painted over the surveillance camera with spray paint.
Kumagawa also noticed this as he glanced at the surveillance camera.
『So you're saying you were simply dragged into it? 』
"That's right."
『Eh...? That's weird. I just received some news from a mysterious pretty lady that something fishy was going on up here. She also said that whoever was still standing was probably the main suspect. 』
"I don't know who is this mysterious pretty lady you're talking about, but if you're asking whether I was involved, then yes. I was here, and I fought them. But that's different from saying I started it. You have no evidence of that."
『So you really have no intention of admitting that you did anything wrong. 』
"I don't have anything to admit."
『And you're confident that your explanation is enough to clear you of suspicion? 』
"My reasoning is clear. I was attacked first, I defended myself, and the others are the ones who started the violence. Whether you believe me or not doesn't change what happened. If you have evidence that contradicts my explanation, then present it. Otherwise, there isn't much more to discuss."
Kumagawa was silent for a moment.
Then, suddenly, he let out a light, almost harmless laugh.
『Ahaha! That's right! You're absolutely right! Your reasoning was perfect! But remember this, Ayanokouji-kun! When people are confronted with a flawless argument, they're prone to lashing out... 』
Suddenly, Ayanokouji noticed Kumagawa's stance change.
Before he could react, Kumagawa was already right in front of him.
『Like this! 』
Swoosh!
"...!?"
Ayanokouji barely dodged the attack by a hair's breadth. If he hadn't been anticipating something like this, he would have taken the hit. Even so, Kumagawa's speed had caught him off guard.
Without wasting a moment, Ayanokouji immediately counterattacked with a series of kicks.
Pak! Pak! Pak!
All of them were blocked.
Using that brief opening, Ayanokouji created some distance between them.
Even though those attacks had been thrown out on instinct, he hadn't expected Kumagawa to block every single one so easily. Rather than looking at Ayanokouji, Kumagawa simply glanced at the arm he had used to defend himself.
『Huh, you're pretty good. What kind of martial art did you learn? Savate? You remind me of Zenkichi-chan with the way you use your legs. Maybe we can become best friends because of that. 』
"Sorry, I don't know who this Zenkichi person is, but the idea of being your best friend isn't very appealing to me," Ayanokouji said. "Besides, why are you even attacking me in the first place?"
『Don't worry. It's just me lashing out after being confronted with your flawless logic. 』
What madness.
Ayanokouji knew how unreasonable Kumagawa could be, but this was clearly over the line. Rather than simply lashing out, it felt more like he was looking for a justification to attack him.
"Is that really how you want to make friends?"
『Then you shouldn't have confronted me with a flawless argument. I don't like it when things are my fault. I prefer the kind of friendship where it's your fault instead. 』
"..."
What kind of friendship was that?
He isn't even engaging the 'friend' in friendship
『Ah, but don't misunderstand. I'm not here to fight you. I came here to fulfill my student council duties. No matter how you look at it, this is an illegal fight, and in order to stop this kind of violence, I need to counter violence with violence. Isn't that right, Karuizawa-san? 』
"..."
She offered no response.
After being tormented by Ryuen, her mental state was already crumbling. Right now, she had barely any strength left in her body, let alone her mind.
"Then can we stop here?" Ayanokouji interjected, trying to keep Kumagawa focused on him instead. "I don't want to get involved in any kind of violence with you, either."
『Haha, no way. Why should I do that?』 Kumagawa replied bluntly. 『Besides, why are you trying to back down now? Aren't you the one who created this situation in the first place? Violence is the only way to end this, so don't go getting boring on me now. 』
"Boring...."
Ayanokouji couldn't help but think about Horikita's older brother and Chabashira-sensei.
But as if he had read his mind, Kumagawa continued.
『Ah, you can't depend on them to stop this, either. They have even less justification in this situation. I mean, what kind of teacher lets her student get reduced to this state? And Manabu-senpai isn't in the student council anymore, so my opinion carries more weight than his in this situation. 』
"Hmm..."
It was certainly true.
If this were reported, Chabashira would probably be blamed regardless of the circumstances. Even though teachers generally couldn't interfere in disputes between students, what Ryuen had done to Karuizawa was plain and simple bullying. Chabashira should have intervened much earlier, but Ayanokouji had specifically asked her not to interfere. That could easily be held against her.
And Horikita's older brother, while technically a neutral party in this situation, was at a disadvantage compared to Kumagawa. Kumagawa was the current vice president, while Manabu was only a former, or rather, resigned student council president.
Did Kumagawa perhaps meet them downstairs?
Did he hit them with the same logic, which was why they didn't interfere?
But that wasn't important right now.
Ayanokouji immediately shifted into a fighting stance.
There was no point in talking anymore. No matter what he said, Kumagawa seemed more than willing to resort to violence.
At least, that was how Ayanokouji saw it.
『Then, let's begin, Ayanokouji-kun. You really find me repulsive, right? Then this is your chance. Let's not waste any more time. 』
"Wait. Before we do that, let's go over the conditions," I said to Kumagawa, who had begun loosening his arms, rotating them around and around. "We need to be on the same page."
『Hmm? What kind of advantage do you want? 』
"It's not an advantage. Rather, if I win, how about you treat this whole situation as if it never happened?"
『As if it never happened.... 』
He seemed to be mulling it over.
Will he really treat this whole thing as if it never happened?
If there's one thing Ayanokouji can hope for, it's Kumagawa's illogical decision-making. If he counts on that, maybe there's a chance that he'll be illogical enough to treat this whole thing as if it never happened.
『Well, okay. Only if you face an appropriate punishment if I win. 』
"Fine by me."
『Then it's fine with me, too. 』
"——!!!"
Suddenly, without a word or warning, Kumagawa launched himself toward Ayanokouji and struck at him.
The sheer speed of it surprised Ayanokouji, his fist barreling toward him with his whole weight behind it like a professional boxer's punch.
He could see it.
He could see it with his eyes.
But—even if he could see it, there was nothing he could do about it.
All Ayanokouji could do at that moment was trust his body.
Reflexively─reflexively, and instinctively─
A moment later, his forearm met Kumagawa's fist. It hadn't broken his muscles or his bones, but it felt like it had. It felt as though his forearm had been struck by a moving car. The throbbing pain was difficult to ignore.
Was it because he was uninjured?
The first time they fought, Kumagawa's condition had been far from ideal, but even then, he had been far more troublesome than anyone Ayanokouji had ever experienced in that sterile, cold place. But now that Kumagawa was in perfect health, Ayanokouji couldn't help but feel that if he didn't take this seriously, he would be the one in danger.
Despite his build, he was more of a monster than even Albert.
Yes, indeed.
His opponent was a monster─but he too was a monster─a man made monster.
From then on, it was pretty much a fistfight.
『How impressive. Not only Savate, Taekwondo, Kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, and even Sambo. You really know an array of martial arts.』Without wiping the smile off his face, he continued talking while evading most of Ayanokouji's attacks.
"Are you really taking any of this seriously?"
There were times when Ayanokouji managed to land a hit, but it really didn't do much. Just like in the past, Kumagawa's durability was truly off the charts.
『Ahaha. Isn't that supposed to be my line? Why don't you get more serious, Ayanokouji-kun? 』
"I am taking this seriously, though. It's just that I don't want to take responsibility for whatever happens."
As Ayanokouji said this, he began to think.
Kumagawa Misogi.
In terms of raw ability alone, he far surpassed his own. Strength, speed, durability. Ayanokouji would never have guessed that there was someone in the world who could outperform him physically after everything he had been through in the White Room.
But the evidence spoke for itself.
In front of him, a human who surpassed him in raw ability was fighting him one-on-one, hand-to-hand.
But that was as far as it went.
In terms of technique, he had absolutely no technique.
He was moving for the sake of moving, punching for the sake of punching. There wasn't even any intent behind what he was about to do. While in some ways it was troublesome to fight an opponent like this, there was also an advantage when it came to predicting his movements.
And once again, Ayanokouji saw Kumagawa striking at him with a punch.
But Ayanokouji had had enough.
No matter how fast his fists were, that didn't mean he could move his entire body at the same speed. Well, he did move fast, faster than most people Ayanokouji had ever encountered, but punching was a matter of shifting your body weight perfectly.
Now that he had somehow adapted to Kumagawa's attack patterns and timing, Ayanokouji could finally manage a counterattack of his own.
Forward.
Ayanokouji stepped forward to slip past his fist. Then, almost like a barrel roll, he flowed around the punch, borrowing its momentum. In one seamless motion, he planted his foot and drove a kick straight into Kumagawa's liver.
『Guhk...! 』
Counter from Step One!
① Slip past the attack. ② Use your opponent's momentum. ③ Strike before they can recover!
Going back over the words, they sounded almost absurdly simple for explaining a technique to a beginner.
But it worked.
It should've worked.
But... did it really work?
Kumagawa, who had been charging toward him like a freight train, crouched over on the spot. He might have abnormal durability, like that of a monster, but his internal organs should still function like normal human organs.
If he was kicked that hard, right in the liver, even he should have a hard time breathing.
『H-hahaha... You really don't hold back, do you, Ayanokouji-kun? Are you really that desperate to win? Ow... Is my right lung okay? I wonder if this is going to leave any permanent damage... 』
"What are you, really...?"
The lungs were essential for breathing, so it was only natural for them to be affected by an injury. A hard blow to the liver could shock the diaphragm and make it difficult to breathe, since the impact could cause the muscles around it to tighten.
Yet Kumagawa didn't even look hurt. Even though he had crouched down on the spot, he didn't seem to have any trouble breathing. Even Ayanokouji would have difficulty breathing after taking a hit in that area.
Especially from a kick that should have generated more force than the punch he had landed on Albert earlier.
『Now, now, don't look so troubled. This kind of violence is already a common occurrence in my daily life. 』
"....."
『But... You seem to be a man who's too clever by half and completely unremarkable at the same time. I mean, who would've thought to use a counterattack like that? You really are a weird person, Ayanokouji-kun. 』
Look who's talking... was what Ayanokouji wanted to retort, but he refrained from doing so. He really shouldn't lower his guard, let alone get dragged into Kumagawa's pace.
Kumagawa stood up while Ayanokouji remained ready, keeping his guard up. Once again, Kumagawa began running toward him.
『But that, too, will only work once! 』
".....!?"
Kumagawa and he were now thirty yards away from each other, or thereabouts. Considering his gait... he'd reach him in about three seconds.
But he had already adapted to Kumagawa's movements, so Ayanokouji just needed to do the same. Judging by the angle and movement, it should be a right hook or uppercu—
"Ughk....!"
A throbbing pain suddenly shot through his lower left side.
It was his left thigh.
『Ayanokouji-kun, you're the type who tends to overanalyze things, aren't you? 』 Kumagawa said ominously. 『By adapting to me, you calculate how I'll move, what kind of attack I'll use, and from nothing more than my timing, you can predict almost everything. 』
That was incredibly accurate.
But Ayanokouji didn't know what that had to do with anything.
He didn't have time to think about it, either. Ignoring the throbbing pain in his thigh, he noticed that Kumagawa was about to launch another attack.
It was his right... no, left, toward his face.
But before he could even finish that thought, he felt another throbbing pain, this time right in his liver.
"Kgkh....!"
What power!
It was a direct hit.
Ayanokouji immediately crouched on the floor and covered his mouth with one hand. Thankfully, he wasn't having any trouble breathing, but right now, he could already feel blood inside his mouth.
The blow was even heavier and more powerful than Albert's.
"C-cough, cough... Despite your appearance, you're surprisingly strong." Even speaking hurt a little right now.
If this really was Kumagawa's full strength while uninjured, Ayanokouji couldn't help but acknowledge how strong he was. Even by his standards, he didn't know anyone stronger than Kumagawa that he had ever encountered, not even in that place.
But Kumagawa simply said—
『No, I am weak. I'm the weakest living being on this planet. 』
"Weak? After that punch, I find that hard to believe."
The force really felt like being struck by solid concrete. In what way did he consider this weak?
『No, I was weak. Which is why I know everything about weakness. That's why... your weak points, blind spots, and so on... the points I should punch or kick. I know them well. 』
"...Is that the secret behind the feint attacks?" he asked.
『"He'll attack from the right," or "He'll go for my face." If your mind starts thinking like that, then from my point of view, your mind itself becomes a weak point. One I don't even need to confirm, let alone overanalyze. 』 He said. 『And a feint? That's nothing more than a party trick. Anyone could pull one off at a moment's notice. So don't overanalyze everything, Ayanokouji-kun. 』
"...Weakness?"
This was the first time he had heard of that.
It was true that he often overanalyzed things, but it wasn't as if he hadn't relied on his reflexes and instincts this entire time. He knew how dangerous it was to lean too heavily on one side without considering the other. That was why, even while analyzing his opponent, he had also been relying on his instincts.
But a weakness?
He wasn't lying when he said he had already given it his all. His counterattack earlier had been intended to incapacitate him. He knew how durable the monster in front of him was, which was why he had put everything into that kick earlier, just to make sure.
『You're being awfully timid, aren't you? What happened to the cold and calculating Ayanokouji-kun that I used to love? 』 Kumagawa said, closing one eye.
Maybe he was winking.
"....."
Ayanokouji slowly rose from his crouched position. His lungs really did hurt right now, but it was somewhat manageable. He even wondered how Kumagawa didn't seem to feel any pain after taking that kick to the liver.
Was it really because of the difference in their physical abilities?
But Ayanokouji didn't dwell on that thought for long before returning to his stance.
『Well, putting your usual demeanor aside, I should probably thank you instead. 』
"Thanks...?"
『Thanks for committing a crime. 』
"..."
『If you hadn't committed a crime, I wouldn't have anything to do as the student council vice president. In other words, you're making my position pretty useful right now. So, as thanks, I'll give you a special treat. 』
"...What kind of special treat?" He couldn't help but ask.
『I'll defeat you without doing any permanent damage. 』
Saying this, he went for the kill.
There was no doubt in Ayanokouji's mind that he would win. He had never seriously questioned the outcome of a fight before. Not against Ryuen, not against Horikita Manabu, and certainly not during his years in the White Room.
But what is this feeling...?
Ayanokouji didn't have any time to ponder those feelings.
He needed to deal with the monster in front of him first.
"That's enough!"
But before Kumagawa could even land a punch, someone's voice suddenly came from the rooftop.
『Eh, what are you doing here—Ughk!!』
A foot slammed right into Kumagawa's face.
Ayanokouji's entire attention had been focused on Kumagawa. The moment Kumagawa's attention was distracted by the sudden voice, Ayanokouji's body reacted and immediately followed through with the counterattack.
The impact sent him flying backward. His body hit the ground and sprawled across the rooftop, sliding several feet before finally coming to a stop.
Only after seeing Kumagawa sprawled across the ground did Ayanokouji finally realize that someone else had entered the rooftop.
He turned his head toward the door.
Standing in front of the rooftop door was Horikita Manabu, more commonly known as the former student council president.
For a moment, Kumagawa remained sprawled on the ground.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he slowly sat up.
There wasn't even a hint of pain on his face.
『Oh, Manabu-senpai. 』 Kumagawa was the first to speak, his usual smile returning to his face as if having a foot slammed into it moments ago was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. 『You came at a pretty bad time. Do you need anything? 』
"That's enough, Kumagawa." Manabu repeated.
It seemed that, knowing Kumagawa was on the rooftop and Ayanokouji had taken quite a while, Manabu had decided to go to the rooftop as well.
Ayanokouji honestly felt relieved.
If he hadn't come, this really could have spelled trouble in a lot of ways.
『Now, that's just impossible, Senpai. This clearly goes against the rules. Not only did Ayanokouji just go on a rampage, resulting in four casualties, but he even attacked me just to get rid of the evidence. 』
"You were the one who attacked me," Ayanokouji retorted.
『Ahaha, what are you talking about, Ayanokouji-kun? This is self-defense. Because you attacked me without any warning, I was forced to defend myself from your violence. Of course, if you have any evidence, feel free to tell me. 』
"..."
Ayanokouji couldn't offer a retort.
Aside from the fact that Kumagawa had simply turned his own words against him, Kumagawa also held a higher position as a member of the student council.
Now, he was in a dilemma.
"Don't worry, Kumagawa. I'm a witness. Ayanokouji was not the perpetrator."
『Oh? So you're a witness? Then that's convenient. But wasn't that witness waiting one floor below with a teacher? He already knew there was someone being bullied on the rooftop, yet neither of them came up to stop it or even reported it. And there was a teacher standing right beside him, too. 』
Manabu remained silent.
『Besides, Ayanokouji-kun also attacked me, so there's that. 』
There was nothing he could say to that.
Aside from Kumagawa's false accusation against Ayanokouji, even if Manabu's testimony was truthful, it could still be challenged by the simple fact that he had failed to intervene when he supposedly knew what was happening.
And Chabashira's presence made the situation even worse.
Manabu let out a heavy sigh.
"...What do you want, Kumagawa?"
『Hey, hey, no matter how you look at it, I'm still the vice president. Also, I'm pretty serious about my job. My job is to keep the school a peaceful place. So peaceful that students wouldn't want to go back to the dorms and would rather just live in their classrooms. 』 He said, looking around at his surroundings. 『Someone needs to be punished for all of this. 』
In other words, he wanted to keep this going and, ultimately, punish someone.
"Can't you just treat this whole situation as if it never happened?"
『Well, that's physically impossible now. There are five victims, including me, who is also a victim of Ayanokouji-kun's violence. 』 With that logic, he continued. 『Also, my job as a member of the student council requires me to do so. You understand, right, Manabu-senpai? 』
"..."
As a former member of the student council, Manabu couldn't compromise his principles, especially as someone who took great pride in his position at this school. Kumagawa's words were like poison.
He couldn't deny it.
"Fine, then. All of it."
He suddenly said.
『Hmm? 』
"Everyone, including my class. And not just half, but all of it," he said. "It would take some time, but I'll manage it just before I graduate. But only if you let this thing stay under the rug and treat it as if it never happened."
It was a conversation that only Kumagawa and Manabu understood.
Ayanokouji didn't have the slightest clue what they were talking about, but it seemed to be working. Kumagawa appeared to be mulling it over, resting his chin on his hand as he thought.
『Hmm...』
Then, a smile slowly returned to his face.
『Okay. I'll accept it. 』
"...Good."
Ayanokouji still didn't understand what they had agreed on, but at least the tension in the air seemed to ease.
However, Kumagawa suddenly looked back at him.
『But before that, I still need someone to lash out at. 』
"—!!?"
Ayanokouji barely had time to react.
Kumagawa immediately launched himself toward him. But before he could reach him, Kumagawa suddenly stopped. Karuizawa, who had been sitting listlessly on the ground this entire time, was quietly holding onto the hem of Kumagawa's pants.
『Hmm? 』
Kumagawa looked down at her.
"Stop it."
『.... 』
Her voice was weak.
"I hate it. I hate all of it. So please... just stop."
It was so weak that it was barely a mumble.
It was a pathetic side of her.
A pitiful sight.
A weak sight.
Seeing her like that, Kumagawa stopped and finally looked her in the eyes.
『I was deceived. 』
Letting out a rueful smile, Kumagawa turned to Ayanokouji.
『Excellent Ayanokouji-kun. It's my loss. 』
"What are you..."
『To make a pitiful girl do something like this... For a man, even if it was to get his way, that would be inhuman, let alone minus. 』Kumagawa looked at Karuizawa once again.『She was armed with weak points. This is the most effective force against me, a Minus. 』
Turning around, Kumagawa walked away from the rooftop.
『Ah, still, damn it. 』
Kumagawa walked away, ignoring the incredulous stares he received from Ayanokouji and Manabu.
『Again. I couldn't win. Why can't I win. 』
And he disappeared from the rooftop as suddenly as he had arrived.
For a while, neither Ayanokouji nor Manabu said anything.
The rooftop had finally fallen silent.
Manabu glanced at Karuizawa, then at the unconscious Ryuen and the others scattered across the ground. After making sure there was nothing more he could do here, he eventually turned and left the rooftop.
Ayanokouji remained where he was.
Karuizawa was still sitting on the ground.
She looked completely exhausted, her body barely responding even after everything that had happened. Her eyes remained empty, and she showed no interest in the unconscious students around her or the fact that the others had already left.
For the moment, she simply sat there.
Eventually, the rooftop was left with only two people.
Ayanokouji and Karuizawa.
"I hate you," she stated.
With heartfelt contempt that surpassed her exhaustion, she spat out the words.
"I hate that attitude of yours. You always leave things so vague, like you don't want to give me a definite answer. You tell me to trust you, but you never really tell me what you're going to do. How am I supposed to trust you when you always leave yourself a way out? Just like back then, when—" she said before gulping down the rest of her words.
No, it seemed more like they had simply gotten stuck in her throat. This girl, who hadn't done much speaking in a while, had apparently strained her throat by suddenly taking such a furious tone.
In fact, she soon fell into a mild coughing fit.
Ayanokouji approached her, but—
"Don't touch me," she rejected him.
This was what it meant for someone to be brusque.
"I don't want someone like you worrying about me. What good could possibly come out of that?"
"Is that so."
Ayanokouji stepped away, as she requested.
"I-I hate you. I hate you. I hate you, okay?" she went on, like some firebrand trying to win over a crowd, like a dam had burst and all the words were spilling out. Her own words seemed to light a flame inside her, driving her further into a frenzy.
"I don't even want to see your face. The fact that you exist in this world at all is disgusting."
"That bad..."
"I hate it, hate it, hate it, hate it, hate it. I ha-ha... hate it. I hate everything. I hate it, no exceptions. I hate it, no takebacks. I hate it, I hate it... I hate the hate of hate that hates hate because hating hate hates hate."
"..."
Karuizawa's eyes glowed.
Like they were aflame─like they were inflamed.
"Why aren't you talking? Don't tell me you're feeling sympathetic, Kiyotaka. You, feeling sympathy for me? Your sympathy isn't worth a cent to me. I hate it, your sympathy. I hate it, I don't need it. I hate it. I hate you."
She had lost any sense of equilibrium.
She seemed to be reaching her breaking point.
"I hate everything. I hate hate and hate, and I hate the hate of hate of hate at the hate in hate. I hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate hate!"
Now this was going too far.
He needed to find some way to calm her down.
The thought drove him to hold her shoulders, as if he were supporting her.
"I told you, don't touch me!"
She sounded like a child.
And acted in the thoughtless manner of one.
"Calm down, Karuizawa."
"No! I hate you. Why would you even bother coming here? I hate it when you come. What's the point when I already hate everything? So don't take pity on me. It makes me feel like I'm falling apart when someone I hate as much as you takes pity on me. Someone I needed to save me pitied me. Someone I needed the most let this happen. I hate you, I hate myself, I hate the fact that someone gets to experience happiness. I hate happiness. I hate the world. I hate everything in it. I hate everything. I hate it!"
"I'm sorry. I was late."
"What, are you trying to act cool or something? Do you think you're being gallant with that attitude? You're a decent human being? Is that supposed to be manly?"
"Yeah. It was my fault. So don't hate happiness like that. Don't hate the world, don't hate everything around you. Don't hate yourself. All of that hate inside you, give it to me. I'll accept it. So, you need to start loving yourself more."
Karuizawa began to tremble.
"You can hate me as much as you want. So just love yourself."
"Why..."
Tears began to fall from her eyes.
"Why only now...?"
Just like a dam, her tears continued to fall.
"Why didn't you come earlier? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why were you so late? I hate it. I hate that you were late. I hate that you didn't come to me sooner. I hate when they bully me. I hate how scared I was."
"It's okay," Ayanokouji reassured her.
"I'm scared, Kiyotaka."
With trembling hands, she cried as Ayanokouji embraced her.
She cried with all her might.
"..."
Ayanokouji wondered what would have happened if he had shown up to save her earlier. For one, he hadn't expected Karuizawa to be broken quite like this. He hadn't expected her reaction to be this strong.
But she was also comical in a way. She hated him to this extent, yet depended on him to this extent as well. It was possible to see her as foolish, but Ayanokouji couldn't laugh at her so easily.
Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing remained to be seen.
What mattered most was ensuring Karuizawa stayed the way she was. He needed to fix their relationship back to what it had been, not just for her, but for himself as well.
With this, it was done.
Yeah.
It was his win.
Maybe he should ascertain the deal between Kumagawa and Manabu later on, but for now, Kumagawa had willingly surrendered. It was his loss, so he shouldn't report this incident to the school. Otherwise, all of this would be meaningless.
So it should count as his win.
But maybe it was because of the blood in his mouth.
"It's bitter."
He didn't know that victory could taste this bitter.
『』『』『』『』『』
As Kumagawa walked out of the building, the area was empty. It had been two weeks since he'd returned, and being back gave him a strangely refreshing feeling.
Not that it was on the level of Hakoniwa Academy, but this place had its own charm.
"Took you long enough. What happened up there?"
From the opposite direction, Kushida was walking toward him. She had been waiting outside all this time, so when she saw Kumagawa walking out of the building, she immediately approached him.
『Oh, if it isn't the mysterious pretty lady. Did you wait long?』
"Who the hell are you calling a mysterious pretty lady? Though I don't mind the 'pretty lady' part. Next time, remove the 'mysterious' part."
『Hahaha. 』
He laughed.
"So? What happened?
『I lost. 』
Plain and simple.
Kushida stared at him.
『Thoroughly. Completely. There was no chance for me to win. I thought I could win this time. I really did. But I couldn't. Not even close. I simply lost again.』
"Just like usual, then?"
『Yep. I lost like usual.』
She really didn't know what to say.
In the first place, she didn't even know what constituted a loss for Kumagawa, especially since it could be rather vague and, most of the time, complete nonsense. But since he had declared that he had lost, then he simply lost.
There was no need to overthink it.
"So, you failed and accomplished nothing. What are you going to do now?"
『As your childhood friend, I might swoon at your astounding lack of femininity. 』
After saying such a rude line, Kumagawa continued.
『But now that you mention it, I'm kind of craving some katsudon right now. 』
"Katsudon? That's rather sudden."
『I heard there's an urban legend—in other words, a belief that if you eat katsudon after losing, you'll be able to win the next time. Or maybe it's the other way around? Either way, the important part is that katsudon is supposed to bring good luck. So if I eat some now, perhaps I'll finally be able to win next time. It's not exactly a complicated theory, but considering my track record, I think I'm willing to test it. 』
"....."
An urban legend.
Was he really going to believe something like that?
Even if there really was an urban legend about katsudon bringing good luck, it was nothing more than a rumor. The supposed connection was based on the word katsu, which could mean "to win." But that was just a play on words. Turning a coincidence like that into a reason to believe that eating katsudon would actually help him win was quite a stretch.
Yet Kumagawa seemed perfectly serious about it.
"You actually believe that?"
『Of course. Why wouldn't I? 』He even added 『I would even add Kit-Kat just to make sure of it. 』
"Why would you even add Chocolate in a katsudon....?" Kushida looked at her partned increduosly.
The name itself was famously used in Japan as a good-luck charm before exams and competitions because it sounded like kitto katsu, meaning "you'll surely win."
So he wanted to double the effect?
Just to make sure?
『Good grief, stop nitpicking me. Why can't you just agree with my words for once? Besides, haven't you heard the saying that a loss is supposed to be accompanied by something sweet? 』
"That's the first time I've heard of it."
Isn't it supposed to be a sweet victory and a bitter loss instead?
『Of course, if you got bitter lost insted of sweet lost, there's no point in having a lost. 』
A lost after all need to be sweet.
Before Kushida could protest any further, Kumagawa grabbed her by the arm and started dragging her along.
"Hey! Wait! I can walk by myself!"
『Hurry up, mysterious pretty lady. A loss is waiting to become a sweet loss. 』
"Stop calling me that! At least remove the 'mysterious' part!"
And thus, the two of them departed.
In pursuit of a sweet loss.
『VOLUME 7』
『END』
『』『』『』『』『』
Heya.
I guess this marks the end of Volume 7.
This was supposed to be one chapter, but I didn't expect this part to get this long, lol. If I hadn't split it, it would've been a chapter of almost 20k words. I don't have a problem with that, but I don't think that format works very well for Wattpad/Webnovel. At the very least, I don't really like reading chapters that long, so there's that.
Anyway, the next part is Volume 7.5.
I don't know if I want to write it or skip it and just move on to Volume 8. If I do decide to write it, though, it'll probably be a short one, maybe 3–4 chapters. Maybe even less if I don't have enough to write about.
Anyway, that's it for today's chapter.
Hope you enjoyed it.
[Thanks for reading!]