Chapter 044 Ayanokouji: Yagami is Seeking a Beating/ Go Hang Out with Chiaki
Kushida Kikyo left shortly after.
Seven o'clock was the group's mandatory check-in time. After saying goodbye to Suzune and Kei, Shimizu Akira set off for the nearest designated spot. He had arranged to meet Ayanokouji Kiyotaka today.
However, there was little time during the day as their routes were completely different. It wasn't until after 4:00 PM that he contacted him via transceiver and met up in area F7.
"Shimizu, good afternoon," Ayanokouji greeted plainly.
"Yeah, afternoon." Shimizu had long since grown used to his friend's poker face. "What exactly happened yesterday?"
Ayanokouji briefly recounted the events. Only then did Shimizu understand the full story.
"Amasawa Ichika has no malice toward you? And Housen Kazuomi was just... flattened by you?"
"Mhm. Housen has lost his eligibility for the exam and has returned to the luxury cruise ship."
"He didn't take the chance to bite back at you?"
"He has no evidence. Logically, he should have accused me of being the aggressor, but the school hasn't come to investigate me. He likely said nothing."
I see. Housen Kazuomi didn't even mention Ayanokouji was the one who did it. That guy might look like a simple-minded brute, but he's a man who values his pride; admitting he was outmatched would be too humiliating.
But then again, that was Housen's whole plan? Did he really do justice to Nanase Tsubasa's series of "sacrifices"? Seriously.
Speaking of Nanase, the two stood waiting for about five minutes before they saw her jogging toward them.
"Akira-senpai! Ayanokouji... senpai!" She called out to Shimizu first—using his given name directly this time—but when facing Ayanokouji, her tone still carried a hint of unease and hostility. She then took her place by Shimizu's side.
Shimizu rubbed his temples. "This is Nanase Tsubasa, Matsuo Eiichiro's childhood friend. You get what I mean now, right?"
Ayanokouji's mind moved fast; hearing those two pieces of information, he understood instantly. No wonder she had been so hostile. He gave Shimizu a rare look for help, as he truly didn't know how to handle this kind of emotional baggage.
Shimizu's lip twitched. "Just explain briefly: did you intentionally use the Matsuo family back then? And tell her your thoughts on the matter. Just the truth."
Ayanokouji began to speak slowly. "I didn't intentionally use them. It was Butler Matsuo who saw I was all alone and took the initiative to help me contact Advanced Nurturing High School. I only learned of the tragedy that befell the Matsuo family last year from Ayanokouji Atsuomi. Butler Matsuo took great care of me since I was a child. His son... your childhood friend... I barely spoke a few words to him. But the butler often spoke of him, saying he was a bright, lively, and kind person."
"So, what was your reaction at the time?"
"At that time, I didn't feel a strong sense of sorrow."
"Why?" Nanase stared at him intensely. "Uncle Matsuo did so much for you, and you can't even give him a shred of grief?"
Ayanokouji's lips twitched as he tried to form an expression, but it remained a poker face. "I'm sorry. Having spent too long in the White Room, I've completely forgotten what sorrow feels like. And... growing up, I saw Ayanokouji Atsuomi use all sorts of methods to deal with those who opposed him. To be honest, I became somewhat accustomed to it."
"Were there others?" Nanase asked, her voice tight.
"Many, many people." Ayanokouji's tone was as flat as if he were narrating someone else's story. "Ayanokouji Atsuomi has many enemies in politics, and they were all driven to ruin by the same methods. Before I entered the White Room, when I was very young, he would force me to be present to watch the fates of those people."
Nanase was speechless.
Not just her—even Shimizu was stunned.
Before entering the White Room? How old was he then? Three or four at most. Forcing a three or four-year-old child to watch such scenes... is Ayanokouji Atsuomi even human? No wonder Ayanokouji Kiyotaka seemed so cold at the start of school. Anyone would be.
"Did... did your mother just stand by and watch?" Nanase couldn't help but ask.
"Mother..." The word felt foreign to Ayanokouji. "I have never met her. That man said she was a hostess named Mika, and Ayanokouji Atsuomi paid a large sum of money to buy me from her."
"This..." Even Nanase was momentarily silenced.
Ayanokouji continued indifferently. "In the White Room, the peers I was close with would also slowly leave me. Being alone has long been a habit for me. But regardless, I cannot escape the fact that my actions caused trouble for others. Akira said that in such cases, one should apologize and make amends."
He looked at Nanase and sincerely lowered his head. "So, I am sorry, Nanase. It was because of me that Uncle Matsuo's family suffered such a tragic end. If there is anything I can do, I will try my best to accomplish it. You don't have to accept my apology; you can continue to hate
Perhaps in your eyes, I'm just doing this to make myself feel better. But I want to tell you, I am sincere. Because I don't actually have the emotion of 'feeling better.' To put it bluntly, my heart is mostly numb and cold."
Nanase stood there, listening to Ayanokouji's words in silence for a long time. Shimizu stood between them, not rushing her. This was a decision only Nanase could make.
After a while, she spoke. "I want you to promise me three things."
Ayanokouji paused slightly and nodded slowly. "Name them."
"The first thing," Nanase looked up, speaking seriously. "Ayanokouji Atsuomi is still out there, and the White Room still exists. I want you to continue to oppose them in the future."
Ayanokouji hardly hesitated. "That is what I have been doing all along. I promise you."
Nanase thought for a moment and continued. "The second thing. The tombstones for Uncle Matsuo and Eiichiro have been built. I want you to visit their graves every year after graduation. They died indirectly because of you; I want you to remember that clearly."
Ayanokouji nodded immediately. "I promise. After graduating high school, I will visit the graves regularly every year."
Nanase thought again. "The third thing. Ayanokouji-senpai, to be honest, your past is indeed tragic. Being treated like that since childhood makes it hard to empathize, and you're a White Room graduate with such a cold personality. With your father being who he is, I've always felt you could easily become someone harmful to society and the country in the future."
The next second, she turned her gaze toward Shimizu Akira.
"But seeing you now, you're slowly learning emotions. Akira-senpai has taught you a lot. So, I want you to stay by his side from now on. Learn how to live from him while protecting him—because he's also targeted by your father and is always in danger. This is very important. Can you promise me?"
This time, Ayanokouji heavy-heartedly nodded without a second's delay. "I can. In fact, that's what I've been doing since the start of school. I plan to do the same after graduation."
"Uh..." Shimizu rubbed his forehead. "So you two aren't even going to ask for my opinion?"
Nanase looked at him with total seriousness. "Is Akira-senpai's opinion important?"
Shimizu was nearly choked by her bluntness. "Of course it's important! This concerns my—"
"Concerns what?" Nanase asked curiously. "Concerns Senpai's personal safety? Or concerns whether Senpai will continue to build his harem? It shouldn't affect that! After all, Ayanokouji-senpai is a man!"
Shimizu: "..."
Ayanokouji stood by, watching the two of them. His lip seemed to twitch slightly—it was hard to tell if he was suppressing a laugh or if it was just a facial muscle spasm.
"This is a great thing," Nanase said as if it were fact. "Senpai is best to his friends. And with Ayanokouji-senpai protecting you, I can feel a bit more at ease."
Shimizu looked at her, speechless. "Since when did you start worrying about my safety?"
"...Since Senpai lent me private points?" Nanase thought about it. "No, since Senpai played ball with me. No, since Senpai helped me apply sunscreen. Since..."
She began counting on her fingers, and Shimizu's expression grew more awkward by the second.
"Alright, alright, stop counting," he interrupted her quickly. "I agree, okay?"
Nanase looked up. "Really?"
"Really." Shimizu sighed helplessly. "What else can I say when you two are treating me this well?"
Nanase smiled happily and instinctively leaned closer to him. Ayanokouji watched them and suddenly spoke.
"Nanase."
"Yes?"
"I've promised your three things. But I have one condition."
Nanase blinked. "What condition?"
Ayanokouji glanced at Shimizu. "Don't call him 'Akira-senpai'."
Nanase frowned. "Why?"
"Because it's too sappy."
Shimizu almost burst out laughing. Nanase's face turned red, and she muttered defiantly. "Then... what should I call him?"
"Just Shimizu-senpai is fine," Ayanokouji said expressionlessly. "Or just senpai. Either works."
Nanase pursed her lips, looking at Shimizu and then at Ayanokouji. "But... Kushida-senpai calls him Aki-kun, and Kei-senpai calls him Aki-kun. Why can't I?"
Ayanokouji was silent for a second. "Because you aren't his girlfriend."
Nanase's face turned completely red. She opened her mouth to argue but couldn't find the words. Shimizu was struggling to hold back his laughter but stepped in to play peacemaker.
"Alright, alright, call me whatever you want. Stop arguing."
Nanase then said goodbye to the two of them, her expression complex. Today was another day of massive information overload for her. Notably, because of Ayanokouji's "change the name" comment, she pointedly hugged Shimizu for five or six seconds before reluctantly leaving.
Shimizu stood there and couldn't help asking: "How did you know Nanase isn't my girlfriend yet?"
Ayanokouji didn't even have to think: "Because you still call her Nanase. You always use given names for your girlfriends."
Shimizu was speechless. "Your observation skills are strong... but can you not use them on such boring things? Anyway, what about Yagami Takuya?"
Ayanokouji's expression returned to its usual flatness. "No progress."
Shimizu frowned. "None at all?"
"His counter-surveillance awareness is very high. Since the watch was destroyed, he leaves almost no trace on the GPS. I tried tracking him a few times, but he shook me off."
"Even you couldn't catch him?"
"In a head-on chase, yes. But he stays in the dark." Ayanokouji looked at the distant trees. "I have to participate in tasks and save energy for tomorrow. Alone, I lose a lot of points if I miss a single check-in. However, he should show himself soon."
"Why?"
"Because he's getting impatient." Ayanokouji glanced at him. "The incident with Kushida Kikyo cost him a pawn. Housen is also out of the picture. He doesn't have many people left to use."
Shimizu nodded. "So he'll act personally?"
"Highly likely," Ayanokouji said. "And the target is likely you."
"Why not you?"
"Because he's already tried." Ayanokouji's tone was flat. "He sent Housen to test me and knows my strength. But your strength is still an unknown to him."
Shimizu leaned against a tree and thought. "So he wants to test me himself?"
"Mhm. People from the White Room have an obsession with the strong." Ayanokouji paused. "And you are more attractive to him than he imagined."
Shimizu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "That sounds a bit weird."
Ayanokouji didn't take the bait.
After a moment of silence, Shimizu said: "Actually, Yagami went to see Kikyo yesterday and threatened her. I've been annoyed with that guy for a long time. For the next few days, after 5:00 PM, do you want to spend two or three hours tracking him together?"
Ayanokouji agreed almost instantly. "Okay."
"You could at least hesitate for a few seconds."
"White Room people are dangerous. Besides, Nanase told me to listen to you."
"Fine, let's head out then!"
Since it was summer, it was still quite bright at 5:00 PM. The two began wandering the forest. Shimizu didn't know much about tracking, but Ayanokouji was carefully observing marks on the ground and footprints, seemingly drawing conclusions. Shimizu just followed behind without asking much.
After half an hour, Ayanokouji stopped by a fruit tree. "So? Find something?"
"I'm wondering how Yagami is handling food and water." Ayanokouji knelt down. "He's been on the island for seven or eight days; the items he bought with points should be gone. He can't participate in tasks openly or he'd be seen. So he has to find food in the forest. Fruits can satisfy hunger and thirst. But in this area, there are no footprints at all. Yet, quite a few fruits are missing."
"Exactly. If a normal student came, they would leave marks, but there are none here, which is why it's strange."
"You mean he came here to pick fruit?"
"Not necessarily. Yesterday's rain might have washed away the traces. I can only say there's a possibility. Let's check the situation again tomorrow."
Later, they walked to an open clearing. "We're both wearing watches," Ayanokouji suddenly said. "If Yagami just checks the GPS, he'll know we're tracking him, right?"
"Right. But checking costs points. If he checks too often, his group score will drop significantly. His teammates will surely be dissatisfied. We can look for clues there in a few days; Yagami might have left them a way to contact him."
Ayanokouji nodded thoughtfully. "Shimizu, you actually have a talent for tracking. It's just that you don't observe the jungle; you track through human nature. I didn't learn that in the White Room."
Shimizu laughed. "I can't compare to you. At most, it's just a possibility. And to force him to check his GPS more, we need to be more active these next few days. One, it forces him to check; two, it's a patrol. At least it'll make him sleep less soundly, always worrying he'll be caught by us."
Ayanokouji seemed to remember something. "By the way, Shimizu, are you interested in White Room curriculum? Since we're going to be active for several hours a day in this uninhabited island environment, I can teach you a few moves."
Shimizu was stunned, then immediately interested. "White Room curriculum? You're willing to teach?"
"There's nothing I can't teach. Just some basic tracking and counter-tracking techniques. They're useful in the forest."
"Sure!" Shimizu agreed readily. "I wanted to learn how you see so much in those footprints anyway."
Ayanokouji nodded and chose a clearing. "Let's start with the simplest thing. When tracking someone in the forest, the most important thing isn't looking at footprints."
"Then what is it?"
"Looking at environmental changes." Ayanokouji pointed to a nearby bush. "For example, here."
Shimizu leaned in but didn't see anything special.
"The orientation of the leaves in this bush is slightly different from the surrounding ones." Ayanokouji knelt down and gently brushed aside a few leaves. "Someone passed through here and pushed the branches aside. It takes time for leaves to return to their original state, but the orientation has already changed."
Shimizu looked closely; indeed, the orientation of a few leaves was slightly tilted. It would be impossible to notice if one wasn't paying attention.
"I see..."
"And the fallen leaves on the ground." Ayanokouji pointed to another spot. "Naturally fallen leaves stack randomly. If someone steps on them, the leaves are pressed into the mud and the edges will curl up." He stood up and brushed the dirt off his hands. "These are the basics. Yagami knows these better than I do, so he'll intentionally avoid places where it's easy to leave marks. But the more he tries to avoid them, the more he leaves a different kind of trace."
"What kind of trace?"
"Unnatural blanks," Ayanokouji said. "For example, an area that should have many footprints but has none—that itself is a trace."
Shimizu nodded thoughtfully. Ayanokouji glanced at him. "Want to learn how to hide your own traces?"
"Yes!"
For the next hour, Ayanokouji seemed like a different person, speaking much more than usual. He taught Shimizu how to walk on the outer edges of his feet to reduce footprint depth, how to use branches and bushes to hide his silhouette, and how to avoid letting his clothes snag on branches while moving.
Shimizu learned quickly. After a few practice runs, his walking posture had visibly changed.
"You learn faster than I expected," Ayanokouji gave a rare compliment.
"It's because you're a good teacher." Shimizu wiped the sweat from his forehead. "But is this stuff actually useful in daily life?"
"It's best if it's never useful."
"True."
They practiced for a while longer as the sky gradually darkened. Shimizu checked his watch; it was almost 7:00 PM. "That's enough for today. Continue tomorrow?"
"Mhm."
The two walked back side-by-side. Near the fork in the road, Ayanokouji stopped.
"Shimizu."
"Yeah?"
"Don't worry too much about Yagami." Shimizu turned to look at him. Ayanokouji looked back, very serious. "I'm here."
Shimizu was stunned for a second, then smiled. He patted Ayanokouji's shoulder. "I know. Even though you're the one who attracted the trouble in the first place. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
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By the time Ayanokouji returned to his tent, it was completely dark. He sat on his makeshift bed, but for once didn't lie down immediately. He stared at the starlight outside for a while. He remembered what Shimizu said as they parted: Even though you're the one who attracted the trouble.
Ayanokouji let out a soft breath and lay down. Outside the tent, the night breeze blew gently and leaves rustled. He closed his eyes, but what surfaced in his mind wasn't Yagami's trail or tomorrow's tracking plan. It was the fragments of the past year spent with Shimizu Akira. Meals together in the cafeteria, occasional chats, and the unspoken coordination during special exams.
He suddenly realized this was the first time since leaving the White Room that he had spent such a long time with one person. It wasn't a mission, not for utility—just simply being together.
This feeling...
He thought for a long time before finding a barely suitable word.
'Not bad.'
At least, it wasn't bad. Ayanokouji suddenly felt that Yagami coming out to stir up trouble wasn't entirely a bad thing; at least the time he spent with Shimizu Akira every day had increased. Even so, he could not tolerate Yagami moving directly against Shimizu. Simply getting the man expelled seemed too light. It was far from enough.
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Island Day 9
Shimizu Akira ate his meal while scrolling through messages on his tablet, discovering he had missed an important notification from two days ago.
Due to poor weather, basic movement and task rewards for Day 7 were only 1/4th of the usual. Therefore, the school has decided that arrival bonus points, arrival order rewards, and task rewards for the final day will all be doubled.
Actually, his Daily Intelligence System had already reminded him of this. So it was because of the rain that the final day would double.
"When I went back to the tent yesterday, I saw Koenji alone in the heavy rain taking on quite a few tasks," Suzune mentioned casually.
"So that's why Koenji is in first place now," Kei said bluntly before she had even finished swallowing.
Shimizu checked the current rankings, looking only at the top three:
2nd Year Koenji Group - 180 points 3rd Year Nagumo Group - 172 points 2nd Year Sakayanagi Group - 163 points
Looking at it, Koenji indeed overtook Nagumo during the rain. Nagumo Miyabi probably didn't expect anyone to run around taking tasks in such a downpour. But Sakayanagi managed to catch up too? It seemed Masumi and the others were quite capable; that girl definitely hadn't listened to him and had been working hard on tasks.
As for the bottom three, it was the same as usual: all 3rd Year students.
"Um... I don't get it." Kei put down her chopsticks. "Wasn't it said the 3rd Years have the highest overall ability? Why is it Day 9 and the senpais are still at the bottom?"
Suzune thought for a bit and explained: "President Nagumo is securing first place by using his cohorts—having his own year occupy the bottom nine spots so he can secure first. That's why some 3rd Year groups are ranked so low."
"Eh? How do you know?"
"During a task a few days ago, I met a group entirely made of 3rd Year senpais. They were just waiting for Nagumo Miyabi to arrive. Because of his position in the Student Council, he even said hello to me."
Shimizu had actually noticed this when he met Kiriyama a few days ago. It seemed Suzune had noticed too. Nagumo Miyabi had the nerve to come and say hello; he's got guts.
"I see..." Kei nodded, though she only half-understood. "But is it really okay for President Nagumo to use his own year as stepping stones just so he can take first?"
"For him, it's likely the optimal solution," Suzune said calmly. "The Student Council President seat, class points, personal rankings—he wants too many things, so naturally, people will be sacrificed."
"As for our group, since Akira has been working hard these last few days, we've moved up to 12th place," Suzune's tone softened slightly. "You've done well lately."
Shimizu was actually sweating a bit—it was mostly because Kamuro Masumi had warned him.
"Oh, right, Aki." Kei seemed to remember something. "If you have time over the next two days, go hang out with Chiaki. She's your new girlfriend, after all—don't neglect her."
Shimizu instinctively glanced at Horikita Suzune. Suzune rolled her eyes at him. "What are you looking at me for? Since she's already your girlfriend, go see her if you have time. You two barely talk normally."
She wasn't the jealous type. Besides, she and Kei were only in Shimizu's group for this exam because they were the ones with the least "progress" with him.
"Alright, I'll find some time to see her." Shimizu nodded. They really didn't communicate much.
"Oh, wait!" Kei remembered one more thing. "When you go see her, make sure to hide from Maya."
"Why?"
"No 'why,' just listen to me." Kei thought to herself: 'If Maya finds out we're both dating Akira, she'd probably want to tear us both apart.'
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