Chapter 56: To Each Their Own
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"Aww, we lost. Completely," Ichinose said, sounding a little frustrated as she got out of the pool with everyone else.
Sure, it was just a game, and the bet had only been a small incentive to keep things exciting, but no one liked losing. Class D had taken the win after securing two consecutive sets.
"That's all thanks to Sudou-kun," Horikita said.
Sudou smiled smugly at the compliment. He was clearly happy that the girl he liked had praised him, especially since Horikita wasn't the type to hand out compliments easily. His reaction was honest and straightforward.
"You're in the basketball club, right? Some boys in our class play too, but I've heard about you, Sudou-kun. They say you're the best first-year physically," Ichinose said.
"Of course," he replied confidently.
Even though it was just a casual comment about Sudou's reputation, it showed that word had already spread to other classes about his athletic ability. Ayanokouji wondered if this match had been more than just a game. Sudou's athleticism rivaled even that of the upperclassmen. In any exam that relied on physical ability, he would be a huge advantage for Class D.
From Ichinose's point of view, Sudou had now become a potential threat.
"If you guys hadn't dragged us down so much, we could've had an overwhelming victory," Sudou said, turning his attention toward the weaker players from the earlier match.
"Damn it, Sudou's getting full of himself," Yamauchi muttered as he collapsed outside the pool. He glared at Sudou, who seemed to be enjoying his victory a little too much, especially after fulfilling his promise to dominate the match.
"Well, as long as we won, it's fine. That means we can eat whatever we want for lunch," Ayanokouji said, steering Sudou's focus away from his irritation and toward food.
"Yeah, guess so. We're broke anyway, so this works out,"
Even if Sudou was being a little arrogant, he had earned the right to be. He had practically carried the entire game by himself. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that without him, Class D would've lost 70% of its strength during the match.
Ichinose and the others then headed toward the food stands, chatting as they went. Horikita lingered behind, walking a short distance away from the group.
"Ayanokouji-kun, you're not actually bad at sports, are you? Even though you're new to volleyball, your movements were strange," she said quietly.
Ayanokouji looked at her. She was perceptive, as always. She had probably remembered how he'd moved when he fought her brother. If her personality matched her analytical ability, he could have said without hesitation that Horikita was truly talented, perhaps even more so than her brother.
"Ichinose was watching me closely," he said.
Horikita nodded.
"That's good. It's best not to reveal too much yet. The other classes are probably trying hard to analyze each other's abilities right now."
As they arrived at the food stands, Ichinose turned toward them.
"Just as we promised, you can have whatever you like, and as much as you want. Eat up," she said with a smile.
"All right! In that case, we're not holding back!"
The three idiots didn't hesitate for even a second. Their hunger, combined with the fact that they didn't have to pay, made them eat whatever they wanted without a trace of shame. Their appetites were on another level, rushing the food stands like a pack of starving wolves.
Horikita looked slightly concerned. Even though they'd won the bet and it was within their rights, seeing those three devour everything in sight made her uneasy about how Ichinose might view Class D.
It wasn't just her. Ayanokouji, Matsushita, and Miyake also seemed a little worried.
But Ichinose only stood there, smiling.
"Are you paying for all this yourself?" Horikita asked.
"Yeah. I was the one who suggested the bet, so it's only fair that I pay for it," Ichinose replied casually.
"But... isn't it going to be expensive?" Matsushita asked this time. Having recently experienced what it was like to run out of points, she couldn't help but feel concerned about Ichinose spending so freely.
"I'm pretty frugal, so it should be fine," Ichinose said with a light laugh.
"All right then, I won't hold back," Horikita said. She was normally a light eater, but being treated by Class A or rather, by Ichinose, seemed to loosen her restraint a little.
Ichinose smiled warmly. "Sure, that's fine. But it'd be a waste if there were leftovers, so make sure to finish everything."
Ayanokouji quietly picked out the food he wanted, more interested in trying some junk food he never had before.
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When it was almost closing time, Ichinose suggested they head back before the crowd got worse. Everyone agreed, so they returned to the changing rooms to get changed. Ayanokouji, however, quietly slipped away and waited by the pool for his visitor.
Before long, Karuizawa appeared, her expression was quite gloomy.
"How'd it go?" Ayanokouji asked.
Karuizawa looked at him for a moment before shaking her head.
"..."
Seeing her reaction, Ayanokouji felt slightly troubled. He hesitated for a second before speaking again.
"What happened?"
"I found the RC car in the vent just like you said. There was a camera attached to it, so I waited until the changing room was empty and tried to take the memory card out. But... there was nothing inside!"
"You mean, no memory card?"
"That's right. It was empty."
Karuizawa's voice trembled slightly, carrying a mix of fear and disgust. It wasn't surprising, especially given what the situation involved.
The whole "let's enjoy our youth at the pool" idea had been nothing more than a cover for a certain plan devised by the three idiots—Yamauchi, Ike, and Sudou.
For a normal person, it would be obvious that doing something so taboo and criminal was out of the question. But those three, particularly the two, lacked even a basic sense of restraint. To them, anything that promised immediate gratification was worth the risk.
They had called it "Operation Delta."
To put it simply, it was a plan to peep into the girls' changing room at the pool.
Even though the name sounded somewhat fancy, it was nothing more than a pathetic excuse for peeping.
Naturally, the one who came up with the idea was Ike, with Yamauchi enthusiastically backing him up. Among the three, those two were the ones who always acted based on their desires. Sudou wasn't much better, at first, he seemed hesitant, but the moment Horikita's name came up, he was already hooked.
Ayanokouji himself didn't particularly care if the two of them got into trouble. The problem was that they had planned the entire scheme in his room. If things went south and they were discovered, his name would be dragged into it too.
Even so, peeping into the girls' changing room was not easy. The boys' and girls' locker rooms were separated by a diverging corridor. If anyone took a single step toward the other side, they would be noticed at once. On top of that, since it was the last day of summer vacation, the place was crowded. Their chances of success were slim to none.
At first Ayanokouji assumed they might give up and just ogle the girls in the pool instead.
But he had underestimated their appetite for immediate gratification.
Ike somehow had learned the ventilation routes that ran along the floor. Those vents connected the men's and women's locker rooms. A vent was still just a vent, though. A person could not squeeze through, and even if they managed it, the noise risk alone would have been enough to drop the plan.
Unfortunately, Ike came up with another idea. He would send an RC car with a camera installed on top. The camera linked to a small display on the remote control. It was not high resolution, but it was enough to tell who was who and capture a lot of important details.
After recording, the video would automatically save to a memory card for viewing later.
Even without saying it, everyone know this was a criminal act, but their search for sexual gratification seemed to have won in the end.
Ayanokouji was certain he could not let the plan succeed. If even the smallest mistake happened, not only them but he too could be faced with immediate expulsion, and that was something he would not allow at any cost.
That was why he had asked Karuizawa for a favor: to help sabotage Operation Delta. He had made some sort of deal with her, he would not go into the details, but given their current relationship, Karuizawa functioned as his partner to some extent.
Of course, there was also Horikita to consider, but using her wasn't the right choice for many reasons. Since Karuizawa was available and more suited for the task, it was better to rely on her instead.
"What do you think happened? What will you do now?" Karuizawa asked. Her tone carried a mix of fear, anxiety, and disgust. Knowing what the plan involved, she realized there was a chance that the memory card might have recorded her while she was changing.
As a girl, the thought alone was terrifying, especially if that memory card ended up in the boys' hands.
Ayanokouji paused to think before speaking. "Did you move right after the maintenance ended? Or did you wait for a bit afterward?"
He recalled that Karuizawa had to delay her actions earlier because of an unexpected maintenance check.
"I moved right away after it ended," Karuizawa replied slowly. "When the staff left, I figured there wouldn't be anyone inside the girls' locker room. It seemed safer to act immediately instead of waiting." She looked at him anxiously. "Do you have any idea what might've happened?"
"More or less. If nothing happens during the first two weeks after the new semester starts, you can relax," Ayanokouji said calmly.
"Huh? Why are you being vague all of a sudden? Explain it properly so I can understand!" Karuizawa sounded incredulous. Her disbelief was to be expected. Normally, the right move for Ayanokouji would have been to avoid explaining anything, but given the fragile state of their current relationship, he decided it was better to tell her.
"Remember the sudden maintenance that happened before you acted?" he asked.
Karuizawa nodded.
"If you had waited a bit after it ended, there's a good chance someone else might've entered the locker room. There are always girls going in and out to grab their things or change," he continued.
"That's true," she admitted. If she had waited, someone might have come in, making it harder for her to reach the RC car unnoticed.
"But since you acted right after the maintenance ended, and the memory card was already missing, there's only one likely explanation."
Karuizawa thought for a moment before her eyes widened slightly.
"You mean... the maintenance staff took the memory card?"
"That's probably the most plausible explanation," Ayanokouji replied.
"Isn't that bad news then? What if they link it to those three idiots, and then to you?"
"It's bad, but not as bad as you think," he answered.
"Are you sure...?" she asked, uncertain.
"Yeah. You don't have to worry too much. If it ends up in the school's hands, I have ways to keep myself safe."
Ayanokouji was confident he could protect himself, though not without making sacrifices. He couldn't promise the same for Ike, Yamauchi, or Sudou. The only thing that tied him to the scheme was the fact they had planned it in his room. He had no part on the RC car or handling the camera.
He felt a small relief that the staff had taken only the memory card, not the RC car itself. If they had taken the car too, an investigation could progress much faster. A physical device might carry identifying marks or serial numbers that could trace it back to the shop and whoever bought the toy.
By now, the idiot trio had most likely already retrieved the RC car from the vent, unaware that the memory card was missing. And with only the card gone, there was at least a small chance that the trail would go cold.
But that didn't mean it couldn't be traced, though. Sooner or later, the trail could still reach them.
If nothing happened within two weeks, the school had probably decided to bury the incident due to a lack of solid evidence. But if something did happen, he could always shift the blame onto the others and use Chabashira's influence to protect himself.
Given her ambition, she would most likely sacrifice the others rather than let Ayanokouji get expelled, she wouldn't let her dream of reaching Class A go down the drain.
Still, if it came to that, his reputation would likely hit rock bottom. It was better if things never reached that point.
"B-but what if the staff didn't hand the card over to the school?" Karuizawa asked cautiously.
All his earlier reasoning was based on the assumption that the maintenance staff had turned in the memory card. Her question was fair, since it was possible that the card had never reached the school at all.
Ayanokouji, however, could easily address that concern.
"When the maintenance happened, how many staff were in the girls' locker room?" he asked.
"I don't really know. Kushida-san was pulling me out of the locker room when that happened."
"Kushida?"
Ayanokouji hadn't expected her name. It could've been a coincidence, but it was worth confirming.
"Who got there first, you or Kushida?"
"What's that have to do with anything?" Karuizawa frowned but answered anyway. "It was me first. Then I ran into Kushida inside the locker room. She said she needed to grab something when the sudden maintenance started."
"So, you were already inside before running into Kushida?"
"Yeah. What's wrong with that?"
Ayanokouji went quiet. He briefly considered a possibility but dismissed it almost immediately, there wasn't enough information to connect the dots yet.
"Nothing," he said lightly, steering back to the main point. "Now, how many staff did you see? Even just an estimate."
"...Around three to five, maybe six I think? I'm not really sure, but there weren't that many."
Karuizawa looked slightly uneasy at his sudden focus on Kushida, but since he brushed it off, she decided not to press. She wasn't good with deductions anyway, better to leave that to him.
"In that case, you don't need to worry. The memory card definitely ended up with the school." Ayanokouji said calmly,
"Huh? Why?"
"Because it was an official maintenance," he explained. "And since it's the girls' locker room, even if there were male staff involved, they'd need a female supervisor present. The process would've been handled properly."
There was no way the school, strict as it was with its rules, would allow an unsupervised male staff member into the girls' locker room, even under the guise of maintenance. That alone could easily lead to misunderstandings.
And since a female supervisor would most likely be present, it was safe to assume that she also witnessed the discovery of the RC car inside the vent. As a woman, she would naturally report it and hand the memory card over to the school for proper judgment.
So, there was no need to worry about whether the memory card had reached the school or not—it definitely had.
Karuizawa seemed to understand that and let out a small sigh of relief.
If the card was in the school's possession, there was no need to fear the footage being leaked. The school would never allow such material to spread, not when its reputation was at stake.
"You really aren't normal," Karuizawa muttered.
"Hm?"
"You." She pointed a finger at his chest, lightly poking it. "You're not normal, like at all. Something definitely happened to you."
"Nothing really happened to me," Ayanokouji replied.
"That's a lie. Normally, anyone would panic or at least look uneasy when something like this happens, especially when their plan doesn't go as expected. But you..." She frowned. "You don't even flinch. It's like you don't feel anything at all. Did something really happen to you that made you so... I don't know how to say this correctly, emotionless?"
"I told you, nothing happened to me."
Nothing had ever happened to him. He had no experiences like Karuizawa's, or anyone else's for that matter. So, he could say with confidence that nothing had happened.
But emotionless? Ayanokouji was pretty sure he had adapted well to the school. Though he admitted that he sometimes came across as monotone, it probably wasn't to the extent of being emotionless. It was probably just Karuizawa exaggerating things.
"I can tell just by looking at your eyes. You look like someone who could kill without hesitation."
"Nothing that dramatic ever happened in my past,"
Karuizawa stared into his eyes, perhaps wondering what kind of person he truly was, or what kind of future she had gotten herself involved with. Holding onto that unease might prove useful to him later.
"Let's head back," Ayanokouji said.
"H-hey!"
As the pool closed, students began to fill the locker rooms. When you went back seemed to depend on your group. Some, like Ichinose and her group, left early when the announcement came. Others stayed behind, swimming until the last possible moment.
Anyone who returned right at closing time would see how crowded the locker rooms became. Ichinose's group was lucky to leave early, but afterward, the place was packed. Some students realized that and decided to stay at the pool until the very end before heading back.
Ayanokouji and Karuizawa were among them.
Of course, there was a special reason for that.
"You're still not heading back?" Ayanokouji asked.
"You already know why, so why bother asking?" Karuizawa muttered, patting the side of her rash guard near her left waist. She looked uneasy. That spot hid her darkest secret she didn't want anyone to see.
She had to wait until everyone else was gone before she could change.
"It'd be fine if you just wore one of the school swimsuits, wouldn't it?"
"Ugh, swim in one of those? No way. They're so lame. I already hate having to wear them during lessons."
Apparently, the world of girls was harsher than Ayanokouji thought. Even an unfashionable swimsuit could affect their social standing.
"Do you like swimming then?"
"Huh? Well, I don't hate it," she said after a short pause.
"How about taking a quick swim now? There aren't many students around, and the only ones left are the lifeguards. They look busy cleaning."
Karuizawa thought about it for a moment. Though it was tempting, she eventually shook her head.
"I'm fine," she said quietly.
"Come on."
"No, I said I don't want to."
Since she was being stubborn, Ayanokouji decided to try a slightly aggresive approach.
"That's an order."
Karuizawa glared at him.
"You really are the worst. I absolutely hate you," she scowled.
"You can decide whether to obey me or not. So, what will it be?"
"...Fine, I get it."
Karuizawa reluctantly gave in, pouting in dissatisfaction. That was the kind of relationship they had now. It wasn't exactly healthy, but it worked—a symbiotic relationship built on mutual need rather than trust.
She took off her rash guard and placed it neatly on a nearby chair.
"Maybe this is the only thing I'll ever be able to wear when swimming," she muttered quietly.
Without warning, Ayanokouji stepped closer and suddenly grabbed her arm.
"W-what are you—!?"
Before she could finish, he pushed her straight into the pool.
Splash.
The water rippled loudly, catching the attention of one of the lifeguards, who immediately shouted through a megaphone.
"We're closed! Please leave right now!"
"Pwah! What was that for!?" Karuizawa shouted, glaring at him from the water.
"Did you have fun?" Ayanokouji asked, holding out his hand to her.
"Being pushed in isn't exactly fun, you know."
Still, Karuizawa took his outstretched hand. Then, with a mischievous grin, she suddenly yanked him into the water. Ayanokouji didn't resist, making sure not to crash into her as he fell. The resulting splash was even louder than before, sure to anger the lifeguards even more.
Karuizawa laughed as they rushed toward them, her laughter echoing lightly across the pool.
When Ayanokouji tried to resurface, she playfully pressed his head down, forcing him underwater again. It was childish, but seeing her genuinely enjoying herself made it feel strangely worthwhile.
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While Ayanokouji and Karuizawa, with their peculiar relationship, were spending time together at the pool, elsewhere, two other people with a similarly complicated relationship met with each other.
Their relationship wasn't as unusual as Ayanokouji and Karuizawa's, but in its own way, it could still be considered strange.
"You're late," Kushida said as she watched Kumagawa slowly approach her.
A faint sense of déjà vu ran through her. She quickly realized why.
Lately, whenever the two of them arranged to meet, she would always arrive early, and Kumagawa would always be late. And every time he showed up, the first thing out of her mouth was the same line—"You're late."
That was probably the déjà vu she was feeling right now.
『Hello, Kushida-chan. You're pretty early today. Did something good happen? 』
"Of course nothing good happened, especially after knowing what happened today. And for the record, I'm not early, you're the ons who's late. Let's get that straight first."
『Hmm, I get it. Anyway, did you manage to get the thing? 』
Kushida's expression immediately twisted into a scowl at the mention of "the thing." The memory alone made her stomach churn. She didn't bother replying and simply nodded before tossing the item toward Kumagawa.
It was a small black square, no larger than the size of a palm—a memory card.
Even without Kumagawa-kun saying anything, Kushida already knew what kind of footage was stored inside. Just thinking that her bare figure might be recorded in that tiny device made her stomach tighten.
"What are you planning to do with that memory card?"
It wasn't that she didn't trust Kumagawa-kun. In fact, out of everyone in Class D, she probably trusted him the most. But with his unpredictable nature, even trust had its limits. So before he did anything questionable, she wanted to make sure he wouldn't. Especially since there was a chance that her body could be in that footage.
『Huhuhu, I can see you don't trust me much, Kushida-chan, but for now, how about we check the footage first? I already called Tachibana-senpai to meet us in the student council room, so you don't have to worry too much.』
At the mention of Tachibana, Kushida let out a small sigh of relief. With her present, she could ensure that Kumagawa-kun wouldn't do anything strange with the memory card. And since they'd be in the student council room, it added another layer of safety.
"Anyway, Kumagawa-kun, didn't you promise me a reward if I finished the job? What's the reward?" Kushida asked, sounding a little excited. Even if it turned out to be just points, she'd accept it gladly. After all, she knew Kumagawa had quite a lot of points to spare right now.
『!?』
Kumagawa's expression froze in surprise.
Um, he don't have to be that surprised...
『Good grief... reward, reward, reward... You people are always like that! Is that the only thing on your mind?! Reward, reward, reward! 』
"...? Why are you getting mad all of a sudden? Didn't you promise to give me a reward if I did the job perfectly?"
『Is that so? Understood then, I'll keep that promise. 』
"..."
Kushida didn't really understand the pattern behind Kumagawa's sudden mood swings. Maybe she should study that a little more closely. Since she'd already come this far with him, it would be troublesome if she didn't at least have some sort of manual for dealing with him.
Right now, she really wanted to meet that person named Medaka. If she was the one who managed to reform Kumagawa into his current state, then maybe she had a manual for handling him—or something close to it.
Kushida could only hope something that convenient actually existed.
『Since I'll keep the promise, I'd like to ask you something first. 』 Kumagawa locked eyes with her. 『If you were suddenly given a secret, how confident are you in keeping it? 』
"Hmm?"
That was a strange question, especially coming from Kumagawa. For someone who almost never told the truth, why would he suddenly ask about keeping a secret?
"Does this have anything to do with the reward?" Kushida asked, just to be sure.
『That's right. Though depending on your answer, I might take back my promise. So if your answer doesn't satisfy me, you'll end up with no reward. 』
"What happens if my answer satisfies you, but I decide not to keep it a secret?"
『Hmm.... You're going to regret it? 』
"...Eh?"
He said it so casually, with such an unsure tone, that it sounded harmless at first glance. But once she remembered that her conversation partner was Kumagawa, those harmless words sounded nothing short of terrifying to her ears.
Kushida took a slow breath and looked at Kumagawa.
"Fine. I won't spread the secret. I'm good at keeping one anyway, so you don't need to worry about that."
It wasn't like she intended to go against him or anything. Even if she somehow had the chance to go against him without facing any consequences, she probably still wouldn't. After all, due to a series of unfortunate circumstances, she and Kumagawa were essentially tied together now, working side by side.
If Kumagawa were ever expelled, she would lose her precious meat shield, and at this point, she couldn't imagine managing without him. So going against him was the last thing she wanted to do.
She had only been curious about what he'd say, but she didn't expect that kind of response.
『Ahaha, don't get mad at me. If you do, it feels like it's ruining something. 』
"Hmph, well, it's true that you ruined my mood."
『It was definitely worth it though, so here you go. 』
Kumagawa, who had been holding his phone for a while, tapped it several times. A moment later, a notification sound came from Kushida's phone.
"???"
『That's your reward. It's all according to procedure, so go ahead and check it. 』
Kushida pulled out her phone from her pocket, confused. Since it wasn't a point transfer notification, it had to be something else. After a few taps, she finally saw what Kumagawa had sent her.
It was a video file.
"This is...?"
『Something interesting I came across during our time on the cruise exam. Well, things just ended up that way. You can watch it safely and without interruption while we make our way to our beloved student council room.』
Kumagawa recalled that day clearly, the day he stumbled upon something truly interesting.
It really was interesting.
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[Flashback]
It was during the cruise zodiac exam, around 7 PM, when Kumagawa had just finished making a deal with Sakayanagi and Hashimoto on the third floor of the lower deck, near the power distribution area one floor below.
After wrapping up the deal, Kumagawa decided to spend the rest of his time by the pool, so he headed toward the upper deck where it was located. As he turned to head upstairs, he happened to spot Ayanokouji walking down from the upper floors toward the fourth floor, where the power distribution room was located.
『Hmm... 』
Kumagawa, who happened to see that by coincidence, first considered just ignoring it and continuing his way to the upper floors. However, he remembered that the power distribution area was off-limits to students. Seeing Ayanokouji heading down there could only mean that something was going on.
With that in mind, Kumagawa decided to follow him.
He waited a few moments before moving, keeping enough distance between them. It was better that way.
Ayanokouji, on the other hand, didn't realize that he was being followed.
If it had been anyone else, he would have noticed immediately, or at least sensed the presence behind him. But unfortunately, the one following him was Kumagawa.
For some reason, Ayanokouji couldn't clearly sense Kumagawa's presence. That had already been proven back on the uninhabited island, where Kumagawa could suddenly appear beside him without a single sound or sign.
Normally, someone like Kumagawa, with such a distinct and unpleasant aura, should have stood out easily in Ayanokouji's perception. Yet, with him, it was different. Ayanokouji couldn't tell if something was fundamentally off about Kumagawa himself, or if his own senses subconsciously filtered the boy existence out.
Either way, because of that, Ayanokouji never noticed when Kumagawa was watching him—or, like now, quietly following from behind.
The reason Ayanokouji came down here was simple. He was meeting Karuizawa.
Karuizawa held a fairly high position in Class D's social hierarchy and was publicly dating one of the most popular boys among the first years, Hirata Yosuke.
Of course, meeting a girl who already had a boyfriend in a secluded and off-limits area behind said boyfriend's back wasn't exactly moral. But Ayanokouji knew a certain fact about the so-called "couple" that made things different. Their relationship was nothing but fictitious.
Both of them had their own reasons for maintaining such a relationship, but for Karuizawa, it all came down to one thing: bullying.
To Ayanokouji, Karuizawa was like a parasite. Someone who couldn't live without having someone to protect her. She used Hirata as her host to raise her social standing. The stronger her image, the harder it would be for anyone to bully her again. That relationship was her shield.
After piecing everything together, Ayanokouji confronted Hirata and managed to learn about Karuizawa's past. Because of that, he was able to get close to Hirata, and in return, Hirata asked him to help Karuizawa.
And now, Karuizawa was in trouble.
Due to the nature of the cruise exam, she ended up in a different group from Hirata, while Ayanokouji was placed in the same one as her.
After a series of small incidents, Karuizawa's impulsive nature led her into conflict with Manabe and the girls from Class C. Naturally, she thought Hirata would step in to help her, but to her surprise, he refused. He told her he wouldn't hurt others for any reason, even for her sake.
Angered by his words, Karuizawa lost her support. And without Hirata to rely on, Manabe and her friends cornered her again, awakening the trauma she had buried deep inside.
Because of that, Hirata turned to Ayanokouji for help, admitting there were things he wasn't willing to do himself.
Ayanokouji agreed without hesitation. After all, he already had his own plans for Karuizawa. That was why he was now heading to meet her in the power distribution area on the fourth floor of the lower deck.
After arriving at the location, he heard a sharp sound of flesh hitting flesh.
Whap.
The sound echoed through the quiet room. Inside, Karuizawa was surrounded by Manabe and her friends. She looked like she was in pain after being slapped by a girl with brightly colored hair, who Ayanokouji assumed to be Shiho Manabe.
"Come on, Rika, you give it a try too,"Urged Manabe.
"N-no, I'm okay." Answered Rika.
From what Ayanokouji could gather, Morofuji Rika was the girl Karuizawa had clashed with earlier in the cafeteria. Karuizawa had shoved her during an argument, and when Rika's friends demanded an apology, Karuizawa ignored them. That small incident had eventually led to this situation.
"We're doing this for your sake, right? There's no one around anyway," Manabe continued.
Rika had a timid air about her, and clearly wanted to refuse, but she couldn't. If she disobeyed, Manabe's anger might turn toward her next.
"O-okay, I'll try," Rika said softly.
Then came another sound.
Whap.
"L-like that?"
"No, no, that's not good enough. You need to put more force into it, like this."
Another slap followed.
Whap.
The sound echoed once more. Karuizawa flinched, her face turning red from the repeated blows. Manabe hit her again, followed by Rika, who hesitantly copied her. But the more she struck, the more forceful her hits became, as if she was slowly losing herself in the moment.
"S-s-s-stop it." Pleaded Karuizawa.
"Hahaha, this is fun!" Rika laughed.
"Please... forgive me!" Karuizawa cried out again.
Seeing her beg like that must have felt euphoric to them. Manabe and her friends laughed louder, and even Rika began to hit and kick her. She aimed for places hidden under Karuizawa's uniform or beneath her hair, where the marks wouldn't easily show.
Karuizawa eventually collapsed, trembling in fear as tears streamed down her face.
Ayanokouji quietly moved to a corner where they couldn't see him. He didn't intervene. Not yet. He simply waited, watching in silence. It was better to let them exhaust their anger first. Everything was still within the bounds of the plan he had in mind.
While Ayanokouji waited in the shadows, Kumagawa was also hiding a short distance away, observing the same scene.
He hadn't expected to stumble upon something like this.
From the situation alone, he could more or less guess what had happened and what led to it, but he didn't know the details, so he couldn't say much about it.
He didn't know the person named Karuizawa Kei personally, and he didn't think much of her either. He had a general idea of the kind of person she was when he first met her. Beneath her façade of strength, she was fragile, desperately trying to appear confident.
To Kumagawa, that kind of imitation wasn't very appealing.
It was a direct contrast to the person she took an interest to, Kushida Kikyou.
Though the two were quite different, in some ways, they were also very similar deep down. But compared to Karuizawa, Kushida was a hundred times more interesting, which made his interest in Karuizawa fade even further.
If it were someone else, he might've stepped in just for the fun of it. After all, helping girls in trouble was something he could do to appear cool. But this time, he didn't feel any urge or motivation to act.
While both Ayanokouji and Kumagawa waited for Manabe and her friends to leave, Ayanokouji eventually entered the room where Karuizawa had been bullied and stood before the trembling girl on the ground.
Even when he approached her, Karuizawa didn't notice. Her mind was still consumed by fear.
To Ayanokouji, it was almost strange to see the self-proclaimed leader of Class D's girls reduced to such a pitiful state. The same girl who always acted arrogant and headstrong was now barely holding herself together.
While bullying itself wasn't unusual, their school's system for handling such cases was stricter than most. Because of that, Manabe and her friends had been careful. They struck only in places that couldn't be seen easily, and Karuizawa's clothes remained untouched. If they had torn them, that would have caused far bigger problems.
If anything, the only concern was her cheek, reddened from being slapped over and over. The marks would usually fade by tomorrow, though.
"Karuizawa."
When Ayanokōji called out to her, she finally noticed him standing in front of her, his gaze was utterly emotionless.
"Wh-why are..." she stammered.
To Karuizawa, Ayanokouji wasn't supposed to be here. Seeing him now, in this moment of weakness, made her tears flow again. She couldn't pretend nothing had happened.
Ayanokouji didn't say anything more. He simply watched her cry in silence, waiting for her to calm down. Sooner or later, she would stop.
Normally, when someone saw a girl crying, they would try to comfort her or just leave. But if he left now, the situation he wanted to create wouldn't happen. And after a while, Karuizawa's sobs finally began to fade.
"Have you calmed down a bit?" he asked.
"A little,"
She didn't stand up. She just wiped her tears with her sleeves, her shoulders still trembling slightly. Ayanokouji held out his hand, offering to help her up, but she didn't take it.
"Where's Hirata-kun?" she asked quietly.
"Sounds like he was supposed to meet you here, but I think a teacher called him away. I just happened to be with him when he mentioned you, so I came here in his place."
That explanation should have been enough. It saved Ayanokouji the trouble of answering any more questions, and there was no need to tell her the truth yet. What he needed to do now was simple, calm her down, ease her heart, and slowly fill the cracks that had opened inside her.
"You have to keep this a secret. If anyone finds out, I'll never forgive you," Karuizawa warned him.
Karuizawa's weakness was that she absolutely could not be seen as a victim by the rest of the school. If people found out that Manabe and her friends had used violence against her, the school would inevitably expose the details of what had happened and why. To protect her social standing, she couldn't let that happen. That was why she had planned to rely on Hirata to deal with Manabe and her group.
But that didn't happen. Instead, Manabe and her friends had resorted to violence.
"You know, you could get back at Manabe and the others. Since they're girls, even someone like you could win," she suggested to Ayanokouji.
"That's an insane request."
"What, are you scared of getting even with Manabe and her friends? And you're supposed to be a guy," she chided.
"If you attack them, it'll all be over for me. You should know from what happened with Kumagawa that this isn't a simple case. In his situation, it was much worse, but even then, without evidence you can't really do anything. Don't you get it? An eye for an eye doesn't solve anything for you either. The school will investigate, conduct interviews... You don't want that to happen, do you, Karuizawa?"
It wasn't a matter of whether she could win or not. What Karuizawa truly wanted was to keep the fact that she had been bullied from spreading. That core problem was what made her unable to act.
"B-but... if that's the case, they'll keep doing awful things to me..." she muttered.
She started shaking again. Even if Karuizawa could find a way to escape for now, she couldn't keep playing hide-and-seek with Manabe and her friends forever. Eventually, her own friends would notice the change in her behavior.
Karuizawa was desperate to fix her situation, and that desperation was exactly what Ayanokouji needed.
"It would be terrible if things went back to how they were in the past. I understand you want to prevent that."
"Huh, what are you talking about?"
Karuizawa frowned, her voice trembling slightly. She should be piecing it together by now. Even if it was obvious that Ayanokouji knew about the bullying from Manabe and her group, she must have been wondering how he knew about her past.
"I meant exactly what I said. You managed to escape by getting into this school, climbing up the ranks, and acting like the queen of Class D. But in the end, you haven't changed at all. You're still that same bullied little girl."
"Wh-who are you talking about!?" she shouted, her voice cracking.
"You, Karuizawa."
Ayanakouji grabbed her arm and forced her up.
"H-hey, what are you doing!?"
Then he proceeded to pin her against the wall, forcing her to look him straight in the eyes.
"You were bullied ever since you were little. You were a victim throughout elementary and junior high. You wanted to act tough so you could stop being bullied. Am I right?"
"D-did you hear this... from Hirata-kun?"
"Hirata is everyone's ally, for better or worse. He'll help anyone who needs it. Even though you secured your position in Class D by pretending to be Hirata's girlfriend, he won't be of any use in a situation like this. He isn't a good enough host for a parasite like you."
Ayanokōji cemented that truth into her mind. Karuizawa was smarter than most people thought, so she probably understood what Ayanokōji was implying about Hirata's neutral stance.
"W-what are you... why are you doing this, huh!?"
Ayanokōji knew everything Karuizawa wanted to hide.
He had her completely in his grasp. Right now, he could decide the very trajectory of her future in this school.
"If you don't do as I say, I can expose you."
Karuizawa understood better than anyone how terrifying that was. "D-don't screw with me! Who the hell do you think you are?!" She shouted.
"Someone who knows the truth. Nothing more, nothing less."
Ayanokouji closed the distance between them until his face was only inches away from hers. Karuizawa instinctively turned her head to avoid his gaze, but Ayanokouji reached out and firmly grasped her chin, forcing her to look at him.
"What, what do you want with me?! You're just after my body aren't you?!" She screamed.
"Your body, huh? You know, that doesn't sound too bad."
Ayanokōji then slowly ran his fingers across her thigh. Her skin was so soft that, for a fleeting moment, he found it hard to believe she was just another person like him.
"Eeeek!"
She tried to escape, but what Ayanokōji said next shattered any thought of running away. "Don't run. If you try again, I'll tell everyone at school what I know about you."
Those words worked like a curse.
Rage, panic, despair, Karuizawa was overwhelmed by a storm of emotions. In that moment, she realized Ayanokōji was nothing like the quiet, unassuming boy she thought she knew. The person standing before her was someone entirely different and terrifying.
"Spread you legs."
Hearing his command, Karuizawa slowly opened her legs, tears streaming down her face as she did so. Even if she knew that she was about to be violated. She still wanted to protect her position.
There was no doubt in Ayanokouji mind, that Karuizawa Kei had become a perfect tool for him.
Karuizawa, as if accepting it at all, lifted her skirt and touched her panties. But before that could happen, Ayanokouji once again grabbed her slender arm and pushed her up againts the wall.
"What else have you suffered?"
"Huh?"
"Have you told the whole truth?"
Ayanokouji studied her quietly. From her reaction, he could tell that she still hadn't revealed everything. The Karuizawa in front of him wasn't thinking clearly anymore, in fact it was rather abnormal. There had to be something more she was hiding, something that had broken her so completely that she would rather offer her body than let it be exposed.
"What are you hiding?"
"Wh-what?"
Karuizawa turned her face away and looked down at her left side. Ayanokouji noticed the small, involuntary motion and reached toward that part of her body, placing his hand over her uniform.
"S-stop!" she shouted.
Her voice echoed through the empty room, but Ayanokouji didn't care in the slightest. He simply grabbed her uniform and pulled it up. Beneath it, on her pale skin, was an ugly scar, a deep, jagged mark carved by a sharp blade.
"This is it? This is your darkness?"
"U-ugh..."
This wasn't the result of simple bullying. A scar like that could only have come from a life-threatening attack.
"Despair comes in many forms. And you've experienced it, haven't you?"
"W-what are you talking about..."
Their eyes met. Hers were hollow, filled with fear and confusion. People who carried darkness in their hearts were drawn to one another, slowly eroding each other as they connected. But even so, there were deeper, far more profound kinds of darkness in this world depths that Karuizawa hadn't yet seen.
"I'll promise you one thing," Ayanokouji said. "From now on, I'll protect you from bullying. I'll be far more reliable than Hirata in that regard."
"Wait... You mean you can really stop Manabe and her friends?"
"Right now, you should understand that nothing in this world is free," he replied. "You help me, and I'll help you. Kindness has nothing to do with it. Do you have a problem with that arrangement?"
Karuizawa didn't answer.
"First things first, I'll get rid of your anxieties," he said, taking out his phone.
He looked down at the screen and showed it to her.
"I have a way to stop Manabe and her friends."
On the screen was a video of Manabe and her friends physically attacking Karuizawa earlier. Since they were from Class C, this kind of evidence could easily be used against them. If they acted against Karuizawa again, Ayanokouji could threaten them with this recording. Considering how Ryuen ruled Class C with an iron fist, none of them would dare to cause unnecessary trouble that might drag him into conflict.
"All I want is cooperation. I want you to assist me in the future, doing whatever I ask." Ayanokouji said.
"What? Assist you? What do you want me to do?"
"If things continue as they are, Class D will never overtake Class A. The students in our class aren't incapable, but we lack unity. Our class is divided. However, if you control the girls for me, the situation will gradually improve."
That was the true value Ayanokouji saw in Karuizawa Kei. Her influence among the girls of Class D was stronger than Horikita's, making her far more useful to him.
If he had tried to coerce her through ordinary means, it wouldn't have worked. Revealing his true nature to her was certainly a risk, but not a major one. After all, the fear of losing her current status and having her past exposed far outweighed any desire she had to report him.
She would do anything to protect her secret.
However, what Ayanokouji didn't know was that someone else had been watching the entire scene from start to finish.
From another corner of the room where neither of them could see, Kumagawa had witnessed everything.
He had heard about Karuizawa's past, seen Ayanokouji's every move, and naturally, recorded it all.
After capturing the most interesting parts, Kumagawa decided to leave quietly. He could already guess what kind of role Karuizawa would play from now on and how Ayanokouji planned to use her.
It didn't interest him that much, but just like Kushida's recording, he decided to keep this one as a trophy.
For now, he intended to relax by the pool for a while before meeting Kushida at their usual spot.
As for whatever had happened here, Kumagawa decided he simply didn't care anymore.
[End of Flashback]
『』『』『』『』『』
"Uwaaaah..."
While Kumagawa and Kushida were walking toward the student council room together, Kushida was watching the video Kumagawa had sent her. As the footage played, Kumagawa casually explained his thoughts about the whole thing.
"How should I put this... Ayanokouji-kun is kind of a scum."
Kushida let out a faint sigh as she continued watching. She had some sympathy for what Karuizawa had gone through in her life, it was pitiful yes, but that was about it. However, as a girl, what Ayanokouji had done to her... there was really no better word for it.
『It can't be helped. Ayanokouji has that kind of personality after all.』
"Are you really that close to Ayanokouji-kun that you know what kind of person he is?" Kushida asked.
While she was watching the video, Kumagawa explained Ayanokouji's line of thought as if he were giving live commentary. At first, Kushida didn't take it seriously, but the more she listened, the more believable and logical Ayanokouji's actions sounded.
『Not really. Even though I thought he was kind of interesting at first, he doesn't seem all that interesting compared to you. 』
"...I didn't know you take that much interest in me.... Kumagawa-kun." Kushida sound a little worried
Kushida didn't like the sound of that at all. It felt like she was about to be dragged into something troublesome just because he happened to be interested in her. She was fairly sure it wasn't in a romantic sense, Kumagawa didn't seem like the type capable of that sort of emotion toward her. Even if he were, it would probably be half-hearted at best.
Either way, she didn't like how it sounded.
『How couldn't I? You're Kushida-chan. There's no way I wouldn't be interested. If I had to describe it, you're probably the most interesting girl right now. 』
Right now?
So if someone more interesting appeared, his attention would shift to that person instead?
Hearing that, Kushida felt a little conflicted. While she liked the fact that Kumagawa could take interest in someone other than her, at the same time, she also didn't like it at all. Still, she pushed the thought aside, she realized she had derailed quite a bit from her original question.
"Anyway, Kumagawa-kun, if you're not that close with Ayanokouji-kun, how do you know what he's thinking so well?"
『Ahaha, it seems you forgot what kind of person I am, Kushida-chan. 』
"???"
『The fact that I'm the weakest person in the world. 』
"And what does that have to do with how you know what Ayanokouji-kun is thinking?"
Kushida tilted her head slightly. She knew that Kumagawa often called himself "the weakest person in the world." He had mentioned it several times before, though she never really understood what he meant by it, even after he had already explained it to her.
But now, she was even more lost about how that had anything to do with Ayanokouji's thoughts.
『Tsk tsk tsk, since I'm the weakest person in the whole world, it's only natural that I know everything about the weaknesses of the human body. 』
Hearing that, Kushida frowned.
"But doesn't that only apply to the physical body?" she asked. Naturally, when he said human body, she thought he was referring to physical weaknesses, but apparently, that wasn't the case.
『While it's true it includes the physical body, the body I mean is the body as a whole, not just the physical, but also the mind and the soul. There isn't anyone as incomplete as me in this world, so the weaknesses I talk about include everything—body, thoughts, intellect, even personality. 』Kumagawa replied casually.
『As for Ayanokōji, the way he thinks is somewhat different, almost devoid of emotion at times. His mind operates in a way detached from the hearts of most people. From my point of view, that kind of mind is already a weak point. And once you can see a weakness, you can understand how it thinks. 』
"..."
『Your habit of staying silent is admirable, Kushida-chan. 』
"H-huh? N-no, it's just that it's... hmm..."
Kushida trailed off, unsure of what to say.
From what she understood, because Kumagawa saw himself as the very embodiment of weakness, it was only natural for him to recognize weak points in others. In the end, it all came down to self-perception.
She already knew that Kumagawa didn't view himself as a particularly positive human being and that his outlook on life leaned heavily toward nihilism, though he rarely showed it openly. She had only caught glimpses of it a few times, but now, she realized how deeply self-destructive that perception truly was.
If Kumagawa was really what he claimed to be, then the title "Minus among Minus" suited him more than she had ever thought.
"Ehem, anyway, what are you planning by giving me this kind of reward, Kumagawa-kun?" Kushida asked. She wasn't sure what his real motive was, and knowing Kumagawa, it was better to ask him directly.
『Well honestly, since Ayanokouji-kun take a hold at your weakness, then it's only fair that you take a hold at his weakness to right? 』
What Kumagawa implied was simple enough for her to understand. Ayanokouji knew about her true nature, and possibly even her strained relationship with Horikita.
『Now that you know what kind of person Ayanokouji-kun really is, it's better to be prepared. Sooner or later, he's going to take advantage of the fact that he knows your secret, maybe even exploit the bad blood between you and Horikita. 』
"...That's true," Kushida admitted quietly.
『But if you ever decide to threaten Ayanokouji, make sure to tell me first, okay? Countering blackmail with blackmail is such a cheap move. Don't do anything underhanded like that. 』
"Hmph, speak for yourself," Kushida muttered with a small, dry laugh. Hearing Kumagawa of all people talk about not doing anything underhanded was probably the funniest thing she'd heard all week.
『Ah also, don't forget your promise either. 』
"Yeah, yeah. Don't worry about it."
After a short walk, the two finally arrived at the student council room. Without hesitation, Kumagawa reached for the door and opened it wide without even knocking.
"Kyaaa!"
Tachibana, who had been waiting inside, let out a startled scream at his sudden entrance. Kushida peeked inside and sighed in relief when she saw that Tachibana was alone. Thankfully, she got along well with Tachibana-senpai, so she could relax a little despite Kumagawa's thoughtless behavior.
"Would it kill you to knock first!?" Tachibana snapped, clearly angry at Kumagawa's sudden intrusion.
Watching her reprimand him, Kushida could only think it was a wasted effort. The person she was scolding wasn't someone with a loose screw, he was someone completely missing one.
『Let's set aside your useless nagging for now, Tachibana-senpai, and talk about our marvelous harvest today. 』 Kumagawa spoke with his usual carefree tone, clearly unbothered by her anger.
Tachibana wanted to scold him again for speaking so rudely to his senior, but she stopped when he handed her a small memory card. Her irritation faded, replaced by a sudden curiosity.
Although she had been loosely involved in Kumagawa's plan earlier at the pool, she didn't know the full details. Her part had only been minor, managing the maintenance schedule and quietly unlocking the back door of the girls' locker room so Kushida could slip in unnoticed.
Kushida's task was simple, enter through the back, walk toward the vent, and retrieve the memory card from the small camera attached to the RC car inside the vent. As for whether any maintenance staff had noticed her, that wasn't much of a concern. Most of the staff worked in the front area of the locker room, not in the deeper corner where the vent was located and where most of the girls changed.
Tachibana had helped with that part too, subtly arranging things so the staff would check the front first before heading deeper inside. That small adjustment gave Kushida the short window she needed to complete her task without being seen.
Taking the memory card from his hand, Tachibana turned to look at Kushida for confirmation.
Kushida simply shook her head, wordlessly warning her that whatever was inside wasn't something good.
Seeing her reaction, Tachibana could already make a rough guess. As expected from a third-year in Class A, she quickly pieced together what had probably happened from the series of events earlier.
『Hey, what are you waiting for? Hurry up! 』
Kushida and Tachibana both looked at Kumagawa with clear suspicion. Since they now had a general idea of what kind of content was inside the memory card, neither of them seemed eager to play it in front of him.
『Aha! Why are you two looking at me like that? Are you upset? Suspicious? Oh no! I'll warn you, if you deprive me of my right to see something that's technically mine, I'll have no choice but to take it back by force. 』
"What do you mean by 'technically yours'?" Tachibana asked, frowning.
『It's simple, Tachibana-senpai. I'm the one who found it, and I'm also the one who helped you retrieve it. Without me, that memory card would've been used for something much worse. So, technically speaking, I have the right to see what's inside, don't I? 』
He was using some twisted logic to justify watching the content, but his intentions were transparent, he clearly just wanted to see whatever was recorded.
Tachibana and Kushida exchanged glances before letting out small, resigned sighs. It seemed there was no other choice but to let him watch it, if only to stop him from doing something troublesome to take the memory card back by force.
All they could do now was minimize how much he could actually see. While Tachibana prepared to insert the memory card into the computer, Kushida stood directly behind Kumagawa, who leaned forward toward the monitor with obvious excitement.
The moment the video started playing, Kushida would immediately covered Kumagawa's eyes with both hands, while Tachibana swiftly turned off the monitor for good measure. Since they already knew what kind of content was recorded, this was probably the safest way to handle it.
When everything was ready, Tachibana looked at Kushida and gave a small nod before pressing play.
『!!!』
Kumagawa only managed to catch a glimpse of the video before everything went black.
Creak!
Before he lost consciousness, he heard a rather unpleasant sound coming from his neck.
The cause was none other than Kushida. In her panic to cover his eyes, she had used too much force and accidentally twisted his neck. Instead of covering his view, she ended up knocking him out cold.
"....."
"....."
Both Kushida and Tachibana stood frozen, staring down at the unconscious Kumagawa on the floor.
Then, after a few seconds of silence—
"W-what should we do?!"
"I-I don't know! You're the one who twisted his neck!"
"I thought we agreed to stop him!"
"But I didn't mean for you to kill him!"
The two of them started panicking, flailing helplessly around the fallen Kumagawa. After a few seconds of confusion and guilt, they both knelt beside him, hoping he was still alive.
"...He's breathing," Tachibana said with a sigh of relief.
"Ah, thank god..."
Both of them were still shaken. It was their first time in a situation like this, especially for Kushida, who couldn't believe she had just twisted someone's neck. For a brief moment, she was convinced she had killed Kumagawa. That was how it usually went in action movies, after all. But luckily, this wasn't one of those cases. He was only unconscious.
The two of them carefully lifted him and placed him onto the nearby sofa, adjusting his position so he looked at least somewhat comfortable. Once he was settled, they turned back to the computer to continue watching the footage.
About ten seconds passed before Tachibana shut it off, pressing her temple as if the short clip had given her a headache. She opened her mouth to say something, but then—
『Ugh... Wow, I didn't know Kushida-chan was that strong. You almost made me see the afterlife for a second there. 』
"Eh!? You're already awake!?"
Kushida nearly jumped in surprise, while Tachibana turned sharply toward the sofa, staring at Kumagawa, who was already sitting up, rubbing the back of his neck with a grin that didn't look even slightly pained.
『How long did I pass out for? 』 Kumagawa asked.
"U-umm, around a minute or so," Kushida answered with a slightly guilty tone.
『Eh? Does that mean you've already watched and confirmed the footage?』 Kumagawa asked while still sitting on the sofa.
Hearing that, Tachibana's expression darkened. This kind of case usually led to immediate expulsion for anyone involved.
"We did. And we've already confirmed what's inside. Normally, I would hand this over to the school so they could investigate it properly. But for now, I want to ask you, Kumagawa-kun. What do you plan to do with this footage?"
She would usually report this kind of thing right away, but since Kumagawa was the reason they even got the evidence, she decided to hear his side first.
『What if I—』
"You can forget about keeping the footage yourself. There's no way I'll let you take the memory card," Tachibana cut him off before he could finish.
『.... 』
Kumagawa let out a small sigh of disappointment, then stood and walked over to where Tachibana sat at the computer.
『So you've come to the same conclusion, Tachibana-senpai. I do hate liars, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted to keep it for myself. Still, since there's no way to convince you, how about we make a deal instead?』
"A deal? Even if you try to frame it as one, I'm not handing this to you," Tachibana said firmly. She sounded rather resolute.
『Don't worry. I have no intention of threatening you. It's a fair and honest deal between you and me, Tachibana-senpai. 』
It was the first time she felt that the words "fair" and "honest" sounded so suspicious, but she let it slide for now.
"What kind of deal?" she asked.
『Since you'll probably hand the evidence to the school, and I don't want them to take it, how about you hold onto it instead? Don't alert the school. In exchange, I'll transfer some points to you.』
"So this is hush money to keep me quiet? Are you really trying to bribe a student council member?" Tachibana narrowed her eyes.
『Unfortunately, no. It's not a bribe or hush money. Didn't I say it's a fair deal?』
Tachibana let out a small sigh. She understood that Kumagawa wasn't the type to do something like this without a reason. "Do you have a plan for the footage?"
『That's the gist of it. 』 Kumagawa nodded lightly.
"Can you explain it more clearly?" Tachibana pressed, sounding a little irritated.
Kumagawa's answer was far too vague for such a straightforward question. Still, Tachibana's curiosity got the better of her, and as a precaution, she wanted to make sure Kumagawa wasn't planning to use it for anything malicious. So, she urged him to elaborate.
Kumagawa thought for a moment before finally relenting to his senior's persistent urging.
『Fine, since you're such a curious creature, I'll explain it to you, 』 Kumagawa continued. 『Basically, it's something that'll serve as my backup and my lifeline in this school. 』
"Lifeline?" Tachibana repeated.
『That's right. With how this school works, my expulsion isn't a matter of if, but when, you know? That little footage might just buy me a bit of time when everything inevitably goes downhill. Sooner or later, there'll be a moment where it turns out useful. That's why I want you, Tachibana-senpai, to hold onto it for me. Better in your hands than the school's, right? 』
Tachibana stared at him silently. His logic made a certain amount of sense, but it also sounded risky. After thinking for a moment, she decided to reject his offer, but before she could say anything—
『Ow, ow, ow, my neck! Man, I really hope this doesn't leave me with some kind of permanent damage later in life. 』
"..."
"..."
Tachibana glanced at Kushida, who looked a little awkward. After a brief pause, Tachibana let out a resigned sigh. "Fine. How many points are you planning to transfer to me?"
『Eh? You're still charging me points, even though there's a chance my neck might be permanently injured? 』
"Grr.....Fine then damn it! I'll do it for free then!"
In the end, Tachibana ended up making a deal with Kumagawa without receiving anything in return, essentially doing him a favor for free.
『Thank you, Tachibana-senpai, 』 Kumagawa said cheerfully, standing up straight as if the pain had never existed. 『Kushida-chan, it's getting pretty late, so let's head back for today. Thanks to you, my head's in such a dizzy state I can barely tell where anything is in this school, honestly, I don't even know my left from my right. 』
The two of them walked toward the door. Just before leaving, both turned back toward Tachibana in perfect sync.
"Goodbye, Tachibana-senpai."
『Bye-bye, Tachibana-senpai~』 Kumagawa added with a bright smile.
『』『』『』『』『』
『END』
Another Chapter today.
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That's it for this chapter. hope you guys enjoyed it!
[Thanks for reading!]
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