『』『』『』『』『』
It was 10:40 AM, and the Snake Group first discussion would begin in about 20 minutes.
Matsushita and Inogashira walked side by side, casually chatting as they made their way to their designated room on the second floor of the upper deck.
When they opened the door, they expected to be the first ones to arrive. But instead—
"Kumagawa-kun?"
Sitting in the middle of the room, completely relaxed as if he owned the place, was Kumagawa Misogi.
『Good morning, Matsushita-chan, Inogashira-chan.』
"...Chan?"
Both girls blinked, confused by the sudden unexpected suffix.
"Um, that's kind of sudden, don't you think?" Matsushita said with a small, awkward smile.
『What do you mean? It's a friendly way to address each other. Since we're going to be working together, wouldn't it be nice to feel a little closer?』
"I-I guess...?" Inogashira mumbled, her voice trailing off uncertainly.
『Think about it. If we use "chan," we immediately create a bond of trust and warmth. And in a test like this, isn't that the most important thing? 』
Matsushita gave him a suspicious look.
"I feel like you just made that up."
『Hahaha, I totally did. 』
"...Well, whatever. It's not like it's a big deal." Matsushita sighed
"I-I don't mind either..." Inogashira added shyly.
『By the way, did you two enjoy your lovely 24-hour vacation in the middle of nowhere out here in the ocean? 』
"It's been fine, I guess? But without the exam, I feel like I would've enjoyed it a lot more actually."
Inogashira nodded.
『Right? What a completely useless school. They can't even properly schedule a student's summer vacation correctly, and now they expect us to waste our time on this unreasonable and tyrannical exam. Who came up with this garbage? Is the principal just throwing darts at a board labeled 'How to ruin students' lives'? Honestly, I'd be more impressed if they actually tried to make this place enjoyable instead of coming up with new ways to remind us we're basically prisoners with extra steps. 』
"..."
"..."
Matsushita and Inogashira exchanged uneasy glances, both caught off guard by the sheer amount of slander Kumagawa just spouted. They began to wonder if the school was listening in, and if so, whether there would be consequences.
Of course, immediate expulsion was unlikely. That would only damage the school's reputation, and there was also the matter of free speech. But a class point deduction? That was entirely possible.
Matsushita hesitated for a moment before speaking up with cautious tone.
"Um... Kumagawa-kun, maybe you shouldn't say stuff like that so loudly. If the school hears you—"
『That wasn't my opinion at all. 』
"Huh?"
『In fact, that's just the general opinion of all the first-year students. My personal opinion is the complete opposite of what I just said. 』
"...That doesn't make any sense."
No matter how you looked at it, the slander Kumagawa just spouted was clearly his own personal opinion. There was no spinning it otherwise.
『But it's not my fault. I'm just a messenger of the weak, faithfully delivering their complaints and frustrations. If anything, I should be praised for giving a voice to the powerless.』
"I-I think the powerless are voiceless for a reason..." Inogashira whispered nervously.
Before anyone could respond, the door creaked open, and another pair of students walked into the room.
"Oh? If it isn't Kumagawa. Look, Kamuro, it's Kumagawa."
"Tsk."
Hashimoto and Kamuro from Class A entered the room together. Their arrival caught the attention of the others, though the audience was only three people.
Kumagawa tilted his head in genuine confusion before pointing at them.
『Hey. Uhmm... Who are you guys again? Maybe it's just my intuition, but have we met before?』
"..."
"..."
『Wait, wait. Don't say it. I'll try to remember myself.』
Kumagawa looked like he was trying really hard to recall their names.
Hashimoto and Kamuro exchanged glances, unsure of how to respond. His expression was too sincere for them to tell if he was messing with them or actually serious.
『Uhmm... Ah! Could it be that you guys are my childhood friends from kindergarten? If so, then you must be Hashimoto-kun and Masumi-chan, right? So-rry! I have a habit of forgetting about things I don't give a crap about. 』
Kamuro's eyebrow twitched at the sudden insult, while Hashimoto let out an awkward laugh.
"Man, the princess was right. You really are an unpleasant guy."
『What's wrong with people in this school? They don't even arrive on time. Didn't the rules say you must be here on time for the exam? 』
Hashimoto blinked at the sudden shift in conversation. It caught him so off guard that he actually answered.
"Uh... it's not even 11 yet. There's still time before it starts."
Hashimoto glanced at Kumagawa, who was sitting leisurely on a chair with a manga in hand. Out of curiosity, he asked, "Then what time did you get here?"
『9 o'clock. 』
"...What?"
"The meeting starts at 11." Kamuro frowned
『Yeah. But if you're not early, you're late. Rules are rules. 』
"..."
"..."
Hashimoto and Kamuro exchanged glances before ultimately took their seats.
The room had the atmosphere of a formal conference hall, albeit with a slightly more luxurious touch fitting for a high-end cruise ship.
A large oval table sat in the center, surrounded by exactly thirteen chairs.
The chairs themselves were surprisingly comfortable—well-cushioned, with a sleek black leather finish and sturdy armrests. They weren't just for show; they were designed to keep someone seated for long discussions without feeling any discomfort.
It was almost disappointing. If they had been the stiff, back-breaking type of chairs, Kumagawa could've at least used them as an excuse to slack off.
After about fifteen minutes, students began trickling into the room one by one.
First were the three students from Class B.
Kumagawa didn't recognize any of them, but they seemed friendly enough, chatting amongst themselves and making small talk with the other group members. They were the type who naturally eased into conversations, blending in without much effort.
Then came Totsuka Yahiko from Class A—Katsuragi's loyal follower.
Without so much as a greeting, he silently walked to an empty chair and sat down, exuding an air of stiff, self-imposed discipline. Naturally, some of the students from Class B attempted to engage him in conversation.
They were brutally ignored.
The awkward silence that followed made it clear that Yahiko had no intention of socializing.
Lastly, the students from Class C arrived.
"Kumagawa-kun."
A soft, familiar voice called out to him.
Shiina Hiyori waved at him with a gentle smile.
Behind her, three other Class C students entered the room. However, the one who drew the most attention wasn't Hiyori.
Even though she was the first to speak, all eyes naturally drifted to the tall figure behind her. A male student, slightly above average height but built like a tank, stood behind Hiyori almost like a bodyguard. His presence alone made him stand out.
Hiyori, unfazed, took an empty seat right next to Kumagawa. Her expression was calm, her eyes carrying the same relaxed curiosity as always. And as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she immediately started talking about books.
"Kumagawa-kun, are you reading anything interesting today?"
Though Kumagawa rarely visited the library, he occasionally ran into Hiyori there. Each time, she would take the opportunity to start a conversation with him, regardless of his unpredictable responses.
While their tastes in literature couldn't be more different, with Hiyori preferring thoughtful novels and Kumagawa gravitating toward absurd, often unsettling stories, she always seemed relieved to have someone who would at least listen to her ramblings.
『I don't read books, Hiyori-chan. I watch manga.』
Hiyori blinked.
"...You watch manga?"
It was a phrase that didn't quite register. Manga was something you read, not watched. She wondered if she had misunderstood something. Was there a new type of manga she wasn't aware of? Did he mean an anime adaptation? But no, he specifically said manga.
The confusion was evident on her face, but she quickly recovered. It wasn't the first time Kumagawa had said something that didn't make sense. She had learned to accept that his words often required a moment of thought—though most of the time, the more she thought about them, the less they made sense.
"...Then, let me ask the obvious question."
『Go ahead. 』
"How do you watch a manga?"
Without missing a beat, Kumagawa responded as if he had been waiting for that exact question.
『It's simple. I stare at the page and let my imagination do all the work. 』
"..."
Hiyori's lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
He was technically not wrong, but he was also completely wrong.
『Hiyori-chan, it seems you've been missing out on something truly wonderful. Books are great and all, but manga? Manga is a masterpiece of human creativity. It's a perfect fusion of art and storytelling, where emotions aren't just described but seen—where a single panel can express more than ten pages of writing ever could. Do you understand?』
"Uh..."
『In books, you have to imagine what the characters look like, how they feel, what the world around them is like. But in manga, the artist does all that for you! It's like having a direct transmission of genius into your brain without all the extra work.』
"...But isn't the imagination part of the appeal of reading?"
『Maybe for weaklings. But true intellectuals like myself prefer efficiency. 』
She glanced at Kumagawa, who was flipping through the magazine in his hands with a relaxed smile on his face. He looked like he was genuinely enjoying himself. She had never been particularly interested in manga before, but seeing someone so entertained by it piqued her curiosity, if only a little.
"Maybe... I should try reading manga." Hiyori muttered softly to herself.
Before their conversation could continue, the speakers in the room crackled to life.
—"Attention all students. The first round of group discussions will now begin. Please proceed accordingly."
The announcement was short and to the point, likely to avoid wasting time so students could get started right away.
However, despite the clear directive, no one seemed eager to speak first. The room quickly fell into an awkward silence. A few students busied themselves with their own things—Kumagawa included.
He continued flipping through the pages of Weekly Shōnen Jump at a leisurely pace, completely unbothered by the atmosphere. Hiyori, on the other hand, had taken out a book of her own, treating the discussion period as little more than extra reading time.
Eventually, a student from Class B attempted to break the silence.
"Well, since we're all going to be working together, I'll start. I'm Shibata Shō from Class B. Nice to meet you all." The boy said with a friendly smile.
It was a simple, polite introduction. Nothing too formal.
However—
"Hah? Why bother with that?"
The voice that cut through the air was laced with arrogance. Yahiko, Katsuragi's ever-loyal underling from Class A, leaned back in his chair with a smug expression.
"This isn't some social event. There's no point in small talk. Let's just get on with the exam."
Shibata, however, wasn't the type to back down so easily. With his usual friendly energy, he let out a lighthearted chuckle and leaned forward slightly.
"Come on now, no need to be so stiff. We're all going to be working together for a while, so it wouldn't hurt to at least introduce ourselves first. I mean, wouldn't things go smoother if we at least got to know each other a little?"
"Tch. What a joke. What does knowing each other's names have to do with the exam? We're here to win, not to make friends." Yahiko scoffed, his expression one of clear annoyance.
"I mean, sure, I get what you're saying, but isn't teamwork important too?"
"I don't need teamwork with a bunch of defects. Besides, Class A is already in the lead. We don't need to play nice with the rest of you."
Yahiko's voice carried unmistakable arrogance, his words dripping with the entitlement that came with being part of Class A. But just as the conversation seemed to be settling, a student from Class C suddenly cut in.
"You mean like how Class A lost miserably in the last exam?"
The words were casual, almost lazy, but the effect was immediate. Yahiko's entire posture tensed as his head snapped toward the class C student.
"What the hell did you just say!?"
The Class C student, a guy with a laid-back expression, simply shrugged.
"I mean, it's just the truth, isn't it? For a class that's 'already in the lead,' you sure got your asses handed to you last time."
Yahiko shot up from his chair, his hands slamming against the table.
"You little—say that again!"
"What? You gonna hit me? Go ahead. Let's see how the school deals with someone who throws a punch during an official exam."
The conversation had escalated in seconds, and the air between them was thick with hostility. Some students exchanged wary glances, unsure of whether to step in. Others looked away entirely, wanting no part in the confrontation.
It was then that Hashimoto decided to intervene.
"Alright, alright, let's calm down a bit, yeah? Yahiko, there's no need to be so aggressive. We're all in the same group here, and besides, it wouldn't kill you to act a little more approachable, y'know?"
Yahiko's expression immediately darkened. He turned his sharp gaze toward Hashimoto, his lips curling into a sneer.
"And why the hell should I listen to you? I don't need to hear anything from Sakayanagi's dog."
The argument, which had started as a simple disagreement, had now turned into something much worse. In just a few seconds, the situation had spiraled into what felt like an all-out standoff, with different factions within the group already clashing before the discussion had even begun.
Matsushita, who had been quietly observing, let out a small sigh before pushing her chair slightly closer to Kumagawa, lowering her voice.
"Kumagawa-kun."
『Hmm? 』
"What should we do about this?" she asked in a hushed tone.
Kumagawa lazily flipped another page of his Shōnen Jump, showing no indication that he cared in the slightest.
"The situation isn't looking good. If this keeps up, the group discussion will be completely ruined before it even starts"
Kumagawa finally lifted his eyes from his magazine and scanned the room. Without his knowing, the discussion had turned into an all-out battle. Yahiko was still glaring at the Class C student, who seemed perfectly content with fanning the flames, while Hashimoto's attempt at mediation had only worsened things. The other students remained tense, unsure of how to proceed.
With a sigh, Kumagawa casually closed his magazine with a snap, the sound cutting through the tense air.
『Okay, everyone. As the VIP of this group, I order you to calm down. 』
"..."
"Hah?"
"...VIP?"
Even Hiyori tilted her head slightly in confusion.
『Yep, VIP. Very Important Person. That's me. And as a Very Important Person, I must say, watching you all fight is really disappointing. Can't we just get along? 』
"W-What are you talking about, Kumagawa-kun?!"
Matsushita was the first to panic, her expression filled with shock. Inogashira, though also visibly uneasy, only stared at Kumagawa with an unsure and timid expression. She clearly wanted to say something but, true to her nature, couldn't find the words.
It wasn't just them. The entire Snake group turned their attention toward Kumagawa, looking at him with disbelief. Some of them widened their eyes in shock, while others immediately grew wary. The VIP was the central figure in this exam, and revealing one's identity so carelessly was beyond reckless—it was outright absurd.
『Ahaha, how many of you actually believed that? What an idiot.』
Kumagawa quickly contradicted himself.
A short silence followed before—
"...So you just lied?" Hiyori asked, tilting her head slightly.
『Yep, I lied. 』
"Is that so?" Hiyori murmured, staring at him with an intent gaze.
Kumagawa simply smiled.
"Tch, what a pathetic bluff,. There's no way you're the VIP." Yahiko scoffed.
『Of course not. I literally just said I lied. Are you having trouble remembering things, Yahiko-kun? 』
"...Hah?" Yahiko frowned, clearly irritated.
『No, really. This is actually a bit concerning. If your memory is this bad, no wonder Class A didn't do so well in the last special exam. Maybe the stress is finally catching up to you? 』
"You—!"
Yahiko shot up from his chair, his face turning red with anger.
"Alright, alright, calm down, Yahiko."
Hashimoto let out a tired sigh and placed a hand on Yahiko's shoulder, subtly pushing him back down into his seat. Though Yahiko was still visibly frustrated, he reluctantly sat back down, clicking his tongue in irritation.
Then, Hashimoto turned to Kumagawa.
"You sure love stirring the pot, huh, Kumagawa?"
『Eh? Me? Stirring the pot? That's a terrible accusation, Hashimoto-kun. All I did was make an innocent observation. If someone got upset over it, that's not really my fault, right? 』
Hashimoto leaned forward slightly, resting his elbow on the table.
"So, just to be sure... you're not actually the VIP, right?"
Kumagawa blinked at him.
『Huh? What's with you guys? Why doesn't anybody believe me?』
This time, a girl from Class B let out an awkward laugh.
"Ehh... well, I mean... Kumagawa-kun, you're kind of famous for being a compulsive liar, right? No one really takes what you say seriously."
Kumagawa's eyes widened in shock.
『Wait... seriously? That's news to me.』
"You really didn't know?"
『Of course I knew. 』
"..."
Everyone in the room exchanged glances. That was the fastest self-contradiction they had ever witnessed. It was one thing to lie—it was another to immediately disprove yourself in real-time.
Before anyone could question him, Kumagawa smoothly shifted the topic.
『Anyway, let's start with introductions. 』
Yahiko, like a mad dog ready to bite, immediately growled at him.
"And why the hell should we do what you say?"
Kumagawa cast a pitying look at him, as if he had just seen a lost cause.
It was honestly tragic. Katsuragi, the most collected and borderline paranoid person in Class A, had somehow ended up with the most short-fused, arrogant, and self-centered individual as his most trusted subordinate. That alone must've been a nightmare to deal with.
『Because I'm the VIP. 』
"...."
No one even reacted this time. They had all collectively decided to ignore that particular claim.
『...Anyway, introducing ourselves isn't a bad idea, right? Since we're stuck in this room together, it'd make things a little less awkward. Besides, Look how cute Hiyori-chan is. You wouldn't want to disappoint her, would you?』
"Huh?"
Hiyori tilted her head in confusion. She was completely unsure how her appearance had anything to do with the conversation.
A student from Class B chuckled. "Well... I guess he's not wrong. It wouldn't hurt to introduce ourselves."
With at least one person backing him up, the rest of the room started to consider it as well.
『I guess I'll go first since I'm the one who suggested it. 』
Kumagawa stood from his seat. That alone wasn't particularly strange. What was strange, however, was what he did next.
Without hesitation, he stepped onto his chair and then climbed up onto the table itself.
"?????"
The students around him visibly confused. Some of them exchanged glances, silently asking what is actually happening.
Even Hiyori, who was used to his odd behavior, tilted her head slightly in curiosity.
"What is he doing...?" Matsushita muttered under her breath, staring at Kumagawa as if trying to make sense of the situation.
Completely unbothered by the stares, Kumagawa took a deep breath and dramatically spread his arms.
『I'm Kumagawa Misogi. I just transferred here from another world to graduate from this esteemed institution. I like girls to dress in my specific and mood-based fetishes. I also like manga and not anime. Seriously, Jump nowadays puts too much effort into transmedia. I don't think anime is a good thing since it takes away all the imagination and creativity, but that doesn't mean I hate anime. In fact, I love it so much. But I'm an adult now, so I don't watch anime anymore. They should just put more effort into the manga. Oh, I'm sorry! I just let my thoughts slip again! This is why people call me a strange person. I just can't become like the majority. I know what it feels like to lose something. This is who I am. Please treat me well. 』
"...."
"...."
"Wha—?"
All the other students couldn't react properly to Kumagawa's unusual way of introducing himself.
It wasn't just weird, it was completely absurd. Normally, introductions were simple: name, class, maybe a short comment about oneself. But Kumagawa had managed to turn what should have been a straightforward process into something utterly incomprehensible.
Not only had he climbed onto the table for no reason, but the content of his introduction was all over the place.
And then, as if to clear up any confusion, Kumagawa casually added:
『Ah, sorry about that. I have a pretty slow brain, you see. I can only remember one short sentence every second, so to make sure I didn't forget my introduction, I just said whatever came to mind at the moment. 』
"...Huh?"
That explanation didn't clarify anything.
If anything, it made even less sense than his introduction itself.
Not only did his reasoning lack logic, but it didn't even have the slightest correlation with the situation at hand. It was just a completely random excuse that somehow managed to sound both absurd and completely meaningless at the same time.
A heavy silence followed.
Nobody knew how to respond.
Thankfully, a girl from Class B managed to gather her thoughts and excitedly raised her hand.
"I guess I'll go next!"
Her voice was bright and energetic, a welcome contrast to the overwhelming confusion left in the wake of Kumagawa's introduction.
"I'm Amikura Mako from Class B! Nice to meet you all!" She gave a cheerful smile and a small wave, her enthusiasm mirroring that of Shibata, who had previously attempted to introduce himself.
With the tension somewhat lifted, she nudged the girl sitting beside her.
"Come on, Himeno-chan, your turn!"
The girl next to her, however, did not share the same enthusiasm.
"...Tch."
With a reluctant sigh, she crossed her arms and shot an annoyed glance at Amikura before finally speaking in a quiet, almost indifferent tone.
"Himeno Yuki. Class B."
That was it. No extra words, no greetings—just her name and class. The sheer contrast between her and her classmates was obvious. Where Amikura and Shibata were lively and sociable, Himeno carried an air of detachment, as if she wanted nothing more than to be anywhere else but here.
Despite her obvious unwillingness, Amikura still clapped her hands together with a grin. "See? That wasn't so hard!"
Himeno merely clicked her tongue and averted her gaze, clearly uninterested in any further interaction.
After that, one by one, the rest of the students began introducing themselves.
At this point, Kumagawa wasn't particularly paying attention to what they were saying. Instead, he simply focused on matching faces to names, connecting the dots in his mind.
Some were more memorable than others.
Totsuka Yahiko, of course, had already made himself stand out by being as difficult as possible.
From Class C, Shiina Hiyori was the only one he already knew. Yamada Albert, the large, muscular guy standing behind her was harder to ignore, though Kumagawa still didn't bother committing the two others to memory unless it became necessary.
Hashimoto Masayoshi from Class A was someone he had heard of before but never cared enough to remember until now. Then there was Kamuro Masumi, who clearly wasn't happy about being here.
And that was it.
With everyone now introduced, the room fell into a brief silence, as if waiting for someone to take the next step.
Naturally, all eyes turned to Kumagawa.
After all, he was the one who had suggested the introductions in the first place, so it was only natural that they expected him to continue leading the discussion.
『Eh? What are you looking at me for? 』
Matsushita leaned in slightly and whispered, explaining that since he was the one who started it, he was supposed to take responsibility and move the conversation forward.
『Hmm...』
Kumagawa tapped his chin in thought, then shifted his gaze back to the group.
『You guys must be pretty stupid to not know how to continue a discussion without someone holding your hands. 』
"Tch, you—!"
Yahiko immediately bristled, but before he could say anything further, Kumagawa clapped his hands together, cutting him off entirely.
『Well, since you're all so useless, I guess I'll start with something. 』
He then took a deep breath, placed a hand on his chest, and with a completely serious expression, declared:
『To be sincerely honest, I have absolutely nothing to say.』
Pak!
A loud smack echoed through the room as Yahiko slammed his palm against the table in frustration.
"You...! You're just wasting our time!" He gritted his teeth in anger
Kumagawa simply shrugged.
『Even if you asked me to start, I have no idea what to say. 』
He shamelessly admitted.
『Besides, aren't you the one who said that this exam is a waste of time? It's not a good habit to contradict yourself every now and then.』
"Tch—!"
"At this rate, we won't get anywhere. We should at least try to have a productive discussion." Matsushita let out a small sigh.
The conversation quickly became scattered and disorganized, lacking any real direction. Though the Class B students made an effort to steer the discussion toward something meaningful, their attempts ultimately ended in vain.
And just like that, the first discussion session came to an end.
An hour had passed.
Nothing was accomplished.
『Finally, it's over. 』
Crackle
Kumagawa stretched widely as he stood from his chair, his body twisting in a way that seemed unnaturally flexible. The sound of his joints cracking loudly caught the attention of everyone in the room.
"...Are you okay?" Inogashira hesitantly asked.
Matsushita also gave him a concerned look.
Even Hiyori, usually unfazed by most things, tilted her head curiously.
After all, everyone knew that Kumagawa had suffered severe injuries in the last exam due to an accident. Just a few days ago, he had been wrapped in bandages from head to toe. But now, without a single bandage in sight, it seemed almost unnatural.
『Oh, yeah. I guess I should explain...』
Kumagawa then proceeded to describe his condition in gruesome detail—how every stretch felt like his muscles were tearing apart, how each movement sent sharp pain shooting through his body, and how he had to forcefully dislocate and reset his joints just to move properly.
His words painted such a vivid picture that everyone grimaced on instinct.
Even without experiencing it themselves, the way he described it was enough to make them imagine the pain.
『Alright then, goodbye everyone. I sincerely hope the second discussion is just as productive as this one. 』
Kumagawa's parting words dripped with sarcasm, but he spoke with such an innocent tone that it was hard to tell if he was being serious or not. Without waiting for a response, he turned and casually strolled out of the room.
Matsushita and Inogashira followed closely behind.
As they walked through the lobby, Matsushita glanced at Kumagawa.
"Let's go to the restaurant. We should discuss the exam."
Kumagawa tilted his head in confusion.
『Huh? Why? 』
"You seriously don't remember? Didn't we agree to talk about the exam after the first discussion."
『Oh, right. I just didn't expect you to remember it.』
"What's that supposed to mean?"
『Nothing, nothing. Just thinking out loud. Anyway, lead the way, Matsushita-chan I trust your judgment. 』
『』『』『』『』『』
The back of the ship was a quiet. Unlike the bustling upper decks and common areas, this section was rarely walked through by students. It was an isolated corridor near the stern, where the sound of the ship's engines was faintly audible beneath the distant sound of waves.
Hashimoto leaned against the metal railing, his phone in hand, tapping the screen as he pressed one of his contacts.
Kamuro stood nearby, arms crossed, looking disinterested as usual. She wasn't the type to ask questions, nor did she particularly care about whatever Hashimoto was up to.
After a few rings, the call connected.
A soft, amused voice came from the other end.
"Fufu... What is it, Hashimoto-kun?"
"Nothing much, Princess. Just thought I'd check in."
Sakayanagi's soft chuckle echoed through the speaker.
"Now, now, Hashimoto-kun. Don't lie to me. You know I dislike liars."
"Is that because of Kumagawa?" Hashimoto let out a small laugh.
"I'll leave that to your imagination."
Hashimoto had asked the question in passing, partly to test her reaction. But judging by her tone, it seemed Kumagawa had somehow managed to make Sakayanagi hate him. He wasn't sure if that made Kumagawa lucky or unlucky, but now that he was in her sights, she wasn't going to let him off easily.
In that regard, he felt a slight tinge of pity for the guy.
"Ah, speaking of Kumagawa, I ended up in the same group as him. And just like you said, he's an unpleasant person to be around."
"Oh my. That bad?"
"Well, not really. At least for me, he's interesting. But I can see why you've developed a strong dislike for him."
"Did he do something during the first discussion?" Sakayanagi asked, her voice carrying mild curiosity.
"He revealed himself as the VIP."
"...VIP?"
"Yeah. Honestly, I don't know whether I should believe him or not. What do you think, princess?"
Hashimoto had already sent Sakayanagi the details of the exam beforehand. Even if she wasn't physically present, her sharp mind could still prove useful.
"Don't trust him so easily, Hashimoto-kun. Didn't I tell you? Kumagawa-kun lies as easily as he breathes. If anything, I suggest you assume that every word he says is false. Even if he somehow tells the truth, it's still a lie."
"..."
Hashimoto hadn't expected such an immediate and absolute response.
Sakayanagi wasn't the type to make exaggerated statements without reason. She always left room for possibilities, always weighed the value of her words. And yet, for her to outright declare that nothing Kumagawa said could be trusted, even if it was the truth, it meant she had already made up her mind about him.
She dismissed the idea of trusting him entirely.
It was complete rejection.
"That's pretty rare, Princess. You're usually the type to toy with people first before deciding if they're worth keeping or discarding. It feels like you've already thrown him into the trash"
"Fufu, how cruel, Hashimoto-kun. I don't hate him enough to call him trash."
"Oh? Then what would you call him?"
"A bug"
Hashimoto fell silent for a moment, processing her words.
'Isn't that worse than trash?'
Trash could still have value. Even garbage could be repurposed or recycled. She had basically declared that Kumagawa was something to be crushed on sight.
"Hah... you really don't like him, huh?"
"Fufu. I wonder about that, he's simply the first person I've met who I find truly irritating."
"Then....what should I do about him?" Hashimoto asked.
"For now, don't associate with him too much," Sakayanagi advised. "Of course, it's your choice whether you strike up a conversation with him or not, but don't take his words at face value. He has a knack for playing the fool."
"Roger that, princess."
With that, the call ended, and he pocketed his phone.
"...You sure are enjoying yourself,"
Masumi Kamuro muttered from beside him, leaning against the railing with her arms crossed.
"What, jealous?"
"Hmph, as if. Just wondering why, you bother humoring her so much." Kamuro scoffed.
"Well, I'd be a fool not to."
Kamuro eyed him with narrowed eyes. She knew what kind of person Hashimoto was—always playing both sides, never fully committing to anyone. To be honest, she didn't care. It wasn't her problem.
Her misfortune was getting caught up in Sakayanagi's tyrannical group in the first place. And she only had herself to blame for it.
Hashimoto stretched his arms and let out a small sigh.
"Anyway, let's grab some lunch first. No point standing around here all day."
Kamuro clicked her tongue but followed along without protest. Whether she liked it or not, she was stuck with him for now.
『END』
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