"Is this because you've been secretly directing them to attack President Nagumo?"
Tsubasa Nanase said. "I've gathered considerable information about you these past few days and discovered you've consistently been uniting senior students. President Nagumo has been standing alone against the entire school."
Before April, the first-year was Kaoru's stronghold, the second-year raised banners of rebellion against Nagumo Miyabi, and the third-year had Horikita Manabu supporting Kaoru.
That Nagumo Miyabi managed to hold out this long was entirely due to his remarkable resilience, combined with Kaoru's lack of urgency to eliminate him immediately, allowing him to endure until now.
The more she learned about these circumstances, the more complex Tsubasa Nanase's gaze toward Kaoru became.
Kaoru simply smiled and changed the subject, "Can we have an honest conversation now?"
Tsubasa Nanase hesitated briefly before nodding.
Kaoru casually sat with her on the sofa, though Tsubasa Nanase chose the opposite seat, possibly maintaining vigilance.
"Yagami's expulsion was my doing."
Kaoru stated.
Tsubasa Nanase froze momentarily.
Only when Kaoru repeated it a second time did she fully comprehend the meaning behind those words.
"You made Yagami-kun withdraw from school?"
Tsubasa Nanase found it hard to believe. "Why? What did you do?"
Recently, Yagami Takuya's withdrawal had become the talk of their grade.
Since he left voluntarily without providing any reason, everyone became particularly curious about what caused his departure.
Even Tsubasa Nanase had her doubts, though she hadn't dwelled on them.
Who would have thought Kaoru would now openly admit to orchestrating the expulsion incident?
This truly shocked Tsubasa Nanase!
"He was from the White Room, sent here to expel Ayanokoji."
Kaoru paused briefly. "Of course, the reason he ultimately withdrew was because he did something I didn't appreciate."
"I... I find it hard to imagine that Yagami-kun was actually from the White Room."
Tsubasa Nanase appeared genuinely surprised.
"How much do you know about the White Room, Nagumo-san?"
Kaoru couldn't help but ask."I'm sorry, I know nothing about it."
Tsubasa Nanase shook her head, "I only know it's supposed to be a very mysterious place. Chairman Tsukishiro told me the White Room cultivates the most perfect humans."
Tsubasa Nanase wasn't originally from the White Room.
She appeared here because Tsukishiro Kazunari approached her and informed her about Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's existence.
Tsukishiro Kazunari revealed some information about the White Room, but only partially.
Tsubasa Nanase only knew that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka came from the White Room, and that the White Room was a secret institution responsible for cultivating perfect humans, with Ayanokoji Kiyotaka being its most perfect creation.
As for everything else, Tsubasa Nanase knew nothing.
Therefore, when Kaoru told her the truth about the White Room, the girl's pretty face showed a rare trace of anger.
"They actually use children as experimental subjects! Such a secret institution should be shut down forever!"
Tsubasa Nanase made no attempt to conceal her disgust toward the White Room and Ayanokoji Atsuomi, "Is no one stopping these bastards?"
"Ayanokoji Atsuomi is now a local council member. His White Room has taken in children of many politicians and wealthy families, who now serve as his protective umbrella and network."
Although Kaoru was stating facts, Tsubasa Nanase still felt deeply angry.
The White Room kept children in windowless rooms from birth until elimination - these children never had any personal freedom.
Any normal person would be moved by this, so it was no surprise Tsubasa Nanase felt this way.
"The White Room is his capital, while Koudo Ikusei is one of the current Prime Minister's assets."
Kaoru said, "If his White Room student demonstrates abilities surpassing Koudo Ikusei students here, who do you think would benefit more?"
Tsubasa Nanase calmed her emotions and thought for a while before saying, "The White Room student is the achievement he wants to showcase to everyone?"
"A secret institution can no longer satisfy Ayanokoji Atsuomi's appetite. He wants to replace Koudo Ikusei's position. If he can get official recognition for the White Room model, I think he'll gain more capital in the education field."
Though Kaoru spoke lightly, Tsubasa Nanase's mood grew increasingly pessimistic.
This topic completely exceeded the level of an ordinary high school student.
It was like facing the final boss right after leaving the beginner's village - even with full effort, victory would be impossible.
"Nanase-san."
Kaoru said softly, "Don't be nervous, we're just having a conversation."
"I know... but..."
A shadow fell over Tsubasa Nanase's eyes again, "Every time I remember Eiichiro's death, I find it hard to calm down."
"Were you two close?"
Kaoru recalled the male personality she had previously portrayed.
"Eiichiro... he was my childhood friend. From kindergarten until junior high graduation, I was always with him. No matter what we did, he was always better than me... I always admired Eiichiro and hoped to catch up to him..."
Through Tsubasa Nanase's explanation, Kaoru gradually understood what had happened.
Matsuo Eiichiro, her childhood friend, was also the son of the administrator who helped Ayanokoji Kiyotaka escape.
When Ayanokoji Atsuomi learned about Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's escape, he not only dismissed this administrator but also forced Matsuo Eiichiro to withdraw from school.
Under the coercion of Ayanokoji Atsuomi, no high school was willing to accept Matsuo Eiichiro
The administrator was forced to commit suicide as an apology, yet Ayanokoji Atsuomi still did not spare Matsuo Eiichiro.
"Even after Eiichiro was forced to leave home, he told me he would never give up until the very end. Then he started working part-time..."
Tsubasa Nanase clenched her fists, as if reliving a scene from that day. "When I visited his apartment again, Eiichiro had already..."
Hanged himself. The matter was too heavy, and the girl couldn't bring herself to say it aloud.
Two consecutive deaths?
Kaoru instinctively felt doubtful, but Tsubasa Nanase's expression left no room for falsehood. Her sorrow and heaviness were palpable to Kaoru.
"So, when the president said you could help me, I was genuinely moved at that time."
Tsubasa Nanase reined in her grief and looked back at Kaoru. "However, I still can't accept it."
"You still don't believe in my abilities?"
Kaoru asked reflexively.
"I do believe, but this kind of thing... I truly cannot accept it."
Perhaps thinking Kaoru was laying his cards on the table, Tsubasa Nanase was doing the same.
Only, Kaoru was even more confused.
"Wait, you can't even accept revenge?"
"Of course I want revenge, but I don't want to become the president's harem."
"I can help— Wait, what did you say?"
Kaoru thought he had misheard, but Tsubasa Nanase's expression was deadly serious.
"You just said Yagami-kun is from the White Room, and you were the one who made him drop out. Even without me, you and Ayanokoji-senpai could oppose the White Room."
"..."
"So, the benefit you actually want is me, right?"
Kaoru suddenly realized what Tsubasa Nanase meant when she said she had gathered a lot of information about him. What could be more talked about than his harem?
Even Nagumo Miyabi's childhood friend had been taken away.
It was a reasonable assumption for Tsubasa Nanase to suspect he had an interest in her.