『』『』『』『』『』
『What did you want to talk about, Matsushita-chan? 』
It was already noon. Matsushita and Kumagawa sat across from each other in the restaurant, their drinks yet to be touched. Inogashira, who had been with them earlier, had excused herself to join Karuizawa and Hirata's group for lunch, leaving Matsushita behind.
Of course, she hadn't outright said she was avoiding Kumagawa. She simply claimed she had other plans. But in truth, it was obvious—Inogashira had wanted an excuse to steer clear of him.
Matsushita, of course, had no idea. She just assumed that, given Inogashira's personality, she wasn't good at socializing, especially with someone like Kumagawa.
"Kumagawa-kun, are you really the VIP?"
『Did you really not trust my word? 』
"Honestly? No."
『.... 』
It was a brutally straightforward answer.
Then again, nobody could blame Matsushita for doubting him. During the discussion earlier, he had contradicted himself repeatedly, that it was impossible to take anything he said at face value. His approach was so direct and casual that it was impossible to tell if he was lying or not.
『I don't blame you for not trusting me, but I do feel a little hurt. Even my own classmate doesn't believe me... Just like my parents.』
Matsushita hesitated.
For a moment, she felt a slight pang of guilt. Did she step on a landmine? She hadn't meant to bring up something personal.
『But that's just my imagination, so you don't have to feel bad for me. 』
Just like that, the weight of his words vanished into thin air.
Matsushita's shoulders relaxed, but she sighed.
"Now I know why Horikita-san's face turned scary when I mentioned your name."
『Horikita-chan? 』Kumagawa tilted his head.
"Yeah. Before the first discussion, Horikita-san and Ayanokouji-kun approached me out of nowhere. They asked about the students in our group, and when I mentioned your name, her face suddenly turned scary."
『Maybe she's just on her period. 』
That was a completely senseless remark, borderline rude. No, not even borderline. It was rude.
There were plenty of reasons why Horikita might dislike someone, and none of them had anything to do with that.
Any normal person would understand that attributing a girl's mood to something like that was an outdated and insensitive thing to say. Even if he meant no harm, it was the kind of statement that could easily offend someone.
"Kumagawa-kun, you can't just say things like that."
Matsushita wasn't particularly angry, but she did feel the need to at least correct him. There were some things you just didn't say, especially about girls.
『???』
She looked at Kumagawa, who seemed genuinely confused. He didn't protest or argue, he just stared at her with an innocent, questioning look.
That, more than anything, threw Matsushita off.
'Where is his common sense?'
Even if someone was tactless, they usually had at least some awareness of why certain things were inappropriate. But Kumagawa, he didn't even seem to understand why his words were an issue.
And that somehow made it even more confusing.
『Anyway, instead of talking about unimportant things like Horikita-chan, is that all you're really going to ask me about the exam? 』
"Ah."
Matsushita blinked, suddenly realizing how far off track they'd gone. Because of Kumagawa's absurd line of thinking and her unconscious urge to correct it, she had somehow forgotten why she was even here in the first place.
"Sorry about that."
『It's okay. 』
Matsushita frowned slightly. Something about the flow of the conversation didn't sit right with her. Somehow, she had ended up apologizing first, even though it was him who had derailed the discussion into nonsense.
But rather than dwell on it, she decided to move on.
"Alright, let's get back on track. Since you said that you're not the VIP Kumagawa-kun, did you know who is it?"
It was a broad question, and Matsushita was well aware of that.
Matsushita wasn't expecting a straightforward answer. It was impossible to determine the VIP in just the first discussion, especially without any real information. that much was practically impossible. But that wasn't the point.
『Hmm...Matsushita-chan, how important do you think the VIP is? 』
Rather than answering her question, he threw another one at her.
"Well, obviously, the VIP is the key to victory or loss in this exam. If their identity is revealed carelessly, it could spell trouble for their class."
『What a boring answer. But you're correct and wrong at the same time. 』
"What do you mean correct and wrong at the same time?" Matsushita asked. She ignored the boring part and focused on what he was saying. His words contradicted themselves.
『While the VIP is the most important role in this exam, it's also the most useless. 』
Matsushita furrowed her brows. That didn't make any sense.
The VIP was the focal point of the exam. Protecting or exposing them would decide the outcome. So how could he say they were both important and useless?
『Do you play chess, Matsushita-chan? 』
"Chess...? At times, yes. Though I'm not particularly skilled at it."
『Then you know the role of the king in chess, right? 』
Matsushita nodded.
"The king is the most important piece. If you lose your king, you lose the game. But at the same time, it's also the weakest piece—it can only move one square at a time and is mostly just protected by other pieces."
She paused.
"...Wait, are you saying the VIP is like the king?"
『You catch on fast. It's pretty hard to believe you were in Class D. Did you like hiding your ability? Is that why the school assigned you to Class D? 』
"....."
Matsushita felt a strange, creeping sensation crawl under her skin.
It was unpleasant.
『But you're right. The VIP is like the king in chess.』
Deciding not to dwell on the disturbing feeling, Matsushita forced herself to focus.
"Even if the VIP is like the king, that doesn't make them useless. In chess, the king is weak, but the entire game revolves around protecting it. That's the same in this exam. The VIP's safety determines victory or loss."
『That's a nice thought. But tell me, what exactly can the VIP do in this exam? 』
"What do you mean by that?" She furrowed her brows, unsure where he was going with this.
『Do you remember the possible outcomes for this exam? 』
"Yes. I even wrote them down just in case."
Matsushita pulled out her phone and opened her notes app, scrolling through it before turning the screen toward him.
『How meticulous. 』
The general rules and outcomes of the exam were neatly written down in an easy-to-understand format. It was impressive, structured, concise, and leaving no important detail out.
Kumagawa's eyes scanned the screen, his expression unreadable. Then, with a casual flick of his wrist, he handed the phone back to her.
『Your notes are well-organized, Matsushita-chan. Really, I'm touched. You're much more competent than you let on.』
Matsushita didn't respond to the compliment and simply focused on listening to him.
『As you know, the VIP can't submit an answer themselves. They can't even reveal their identity after 9:30 PM on the last day, meaning any real influence they have ends before then. If they try to cooperate, they risk betrayal. If they stay silent, they gamble on their group making the right call at the last moment. Their options are severely limited. 』
Kumagawa spoke in his usual easygoing manner, but his words carried a certain weight.
『Unlike the other students, who can choose to betray or cooperate at any time, the VIP is stuck waiting, completely at the mercy of the others. Their only real power is deciding when or if they reveal themselves, but even that comes with enormous risk. 』
Matsushita frowned, thinking over his words.
It was a perspective she hadn't considered. The VIP was the focal point of the exam, yet their own ability to influence it was minimal.
『But of course, that's only one way to look at it. The VIP isn't completely powerless. In fact, if they play their cards right, they might just be in the best position of all. 』
"How so?" Matsushita was genuinely curious.
『First, no matter what happens, the VIP is guaranteed to gain something. If no one submits an answer by 10:00 PM on the final day, they walk away with a huge amount of private points. But that only applies to Outcome #1 and Outcome #2. If someone betrays them early and submits the correct answer, the only real losers are their classmates—their class will lose class points, while the VIP remains largely unaffected, aside from missing out on the private points. 』
Matsushita felt a little overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information Kumagawa had just shared. Still, she managed to grasp the gist of it.
『Second, because their role is secret, they can manipulate the situation however they want. They can spread misinformation, steer discussions, or even make their group too paranoid to act. If no one makes a move, they win by default.』
"But that comes with a huge risk, right?"
If the VIP pushed too hard, they might expose themselves, making them an easy target for betrayal. Too much misinformation could backfire, causing someone to panic and submit an early answer, leading to a loss of class points.
『Not necessarily. If they reveal themselves at the right time, they might convince their group to work together and secure Outcome #1. Or, they could throw suspicion elsewhere and make someone panic enough to trigger Outcome #4. Either way, they still benefit. 』
"..."
Matsushita stared at Kumagawa in complete bewilderment.
She hadn't expected such a thorough analysis from him. In fact, after their earlier group discussion, she had already lost all hope in him, preparing herself to tackle the exam alone with Inogashira. Maybe she would even ask Hirata for help, since he was one of the more competent people in the class.
But she really hadn't expected this from Kumagawa.
"Kumagawa-kun... Are you actually smart?"
『Ahaha, how rude. I don't know why everybody considers me stupid. Is there something wrong with the way I act? 』
Matsushita didn't even know where to begin with that statement.
"You say that, but... come on. Look at how you act."
『What do you mean? I'm always honest, serious, and hardworking.』
"That's a lie, right?"
『That's not true, Matsushita-chan. First and foremost, I am physically incapable of telling a lie. 』
"..."
Kumagawa stated it pretentiously, as if it were some sort of important piece of classified information. It was rare to see someone deliver a blatant lie with such confidence and complete lack of shame.
『But still, I'm a little hurt, Matsushita-chan. I pour my heart and soul into every little thing I do, yet people always look at me like I'm some kind of fool. 』
From the way he acted, Kumagawa should have been an idiot. And yet, he had just given one of the most insightful breakdowns of the exam she'd heard so far. If he was this perceptive, why had he wasted the entire first discussion making a mess of things?
She didn't understand.
『You're looking at me like I'm a bug you just found under a rock. That hurts, you know.』
"I mean... I just don't get you."
『Hmm? Did you say something, Matsushita-chan? 』
"Ah, no... or rather—Kumagawa-kun, what exactly are you planning to do during the exam? Do you need any help with something?"
It was only natural to wonder. Given how much insight he had shown earlier, it was hard to believe he was just going to sit back and do nothing. If he had a goal, she wanted to know what it was.
『Ah, now that you mention it, I do need a little help with something. 』
"What is it?!" Matsushita leaned in slightly, her curiosity piqued.
『...You seem pretty excited about the exam, aren't you? 』
"..."
Realizing how eager she looked, Matsushita quickly composed herself. She wasn't usually the type to get overly enthusiastic, but this exam had the potential to shift Class D's standings. Whether it was class points or private points, there was a lot to gain if things played out well.
"Ahem. So, what kind of help do you need, Kumagawa-kun?" She cleared her throat.
『I need you to tell me the names of the other groups' members. 』
"...Huh? That's it?"
It was such a simple request that Matsushita couldn't help but feel a little underwhelmed. If someone was determined enough, gathering the names of the other groups' members wouldn't take much time. Asking around should be enough.
『Well, you see, I have a terrible memory. I can only remember up to ten names per day. Any more than that, and my brain starts deleting old ones.』
"..."
『You don't believe me? Hmm... I guess that excuse alone isn't very convincing. Should I add another one? Luckily, I came prepared. 』
"Ah, you don't have—"
Before she could finish, Kumagawa continued as if he had rehearsed this response beforehand.
『I don't have any friends, so if I go around asking people left and right, they'll probably think I'm up to something shady and report me to the school. 』
It was such a bleak excuse that Matsushita almost felt bad for him. And yet, out of all the things he'd said so far, this was probably the most believable.
"...That's a pretty miserable way to live, you know," she said, unsure of how else to respond.
『Ahaha. I've never known the joys of living from the very beginning, after all.』
Again, Matsushita wasn't sure if he was joking or if that was just how he saw the world. Either way, she decided not to dig too deep.
『Anyway, I need the names after the second group discussion. 』
"Got it. I'll ask Inogashira-chan for help later," she said, nodding.
It wasn't a particularly heavy request, so there was no reason to refuse. She wasn't sure why he wanted the names or if this would actually be useful to him, but for now, she decided to go along with it.
After that, they continued talking for a few more minutes. Before she knew it, her drink had gone cold—she had been so engrossed in their conversation that she completely forgot about it.
Surprisingly, Kumagawa was a good conversation partner. If she ignored his... unconventional way of thinking, his words had a strange way of pulling people in. He spoke in a way that made you listen, even if you didn't always want to.
Matsushita had never bothered getting close to him before. All she ever heard were the bad rumors surrounding him, and that was enough to keep her away. But now that she was talking to him directly, she found herself enjoying it, if only a little.
"Matushita-san?"
"Kushida-san?"
Matsushita turned toward the approaching figure.
Kushida stood there, a drink in hand, her usual bright smile on her face. She then approached them with her usual cheerful expression, her eyes flicking between Matsushita and Kumagawa with curiosity.
"Wow, what a rare sight! What are you two doing here together?"
"We were just talking about the exam."
"Hmmm..."
For some reason, Matushita noticed that Kushida attention were slightly focused on Kumagawa. Well, she did heard that Kushida were pretty close lately with Kumagawa for some reason, but that's probably her try to befriend him.
"What about you Kushida-san? What are you doing here alone?"
"...."
Kushida didn't answer.
"Kushida-san?" Matsushita frowned slightly.
"Eh...? Ah, what did you say, Matsushita-san?"
For a moment, it seemed like Kushida had spaced out. That in itself was unusual.
Maybe she was just tired? The back-to-back special exams had been exhausting. Kushida had worked hard during the last few days of the island exam, taking on a lot of responsibility for the class. It wouldn't be surprising if she was feeling the stress.
"What are you doing here alone?" Matsushita repeated.
Before Kushida could answer, it was Kumagawa who spoke up instead.
『Kushida-chan's Dragon Group will be starting their first discussion. In precisely 20 minutes, 17 seconds, and 342 milliseconds. 』
"How do you even know that?" Matsushita asked, looking at him with slight disbelief.
More importantly, how was he so precise down to the millisecond?
『I checked the schedule, obviously. Though it's not like I was specifically keeping track of Kushida-chan's movements or anything creepy like that. 』
"You really say some weird things, Kumagawa-kun," Kushida said with a small laugh. "But it's true, though. My Dragon Group discussion starts in about 20 minutes, so I figured I'd grab a drink before heading back. You know what they say—if you're not early, then you're already late."
『See!? Even Kushida-chan agrees with me!』
"Huh? What are you even talking about Kumagawa-kun?"
Kushida tilted her head, puzzled, before glancing at Matsushita for an explanation.
Matsushita, however, was momentarily stunned. It was almost impressive that Kushida had effortlessly repeated the same absurd logic that Kumagawa had thrown out during the discussion, as if it were completely natural.
Taking a brief moment to collect herself, Matsushita carefully explained what Kumagawa had actually meant.
"...."
Kushida blinked, her smile stiffening just a little. Then, as if brushing it off, she let out a awkward laugh
"Ahaha... really?"
Then, with a polite laugh, she took a step back.
"Well, I should get going. I'll see you both later."
And just like that, she was gone.
Matsushita silently watched her go.
She didn't think too deeply about it, but she could understand why Kushida had left so quickly. If she had found herself sharing the same thought process as Kumagawa, she probably would've wanted to leave just as fast.
Even Kushida, of all people, seemed a little creeped out by it.
Shaking off the thought, Matsushita turned back to Kumagawa. "You and Kushida-san... are you two close?"
『We're soulmates. 』
"...Right."
Deciding it was futile to expect a serious answer, she let out a small sigh and got up from her seat.
"I'll send the information by mail later." She took a step away, only to pause.
"...Ah, I just realized—I don't have your number."
『Oh? What a bold move, Matsushita-chan. Are you trying to get my contact information?』
"Just give it to me already."
With an amused chuckle, Kumagawa rattled off his number, and Matsushita quickly saved it in her phone.
"Well then, I'll see you later."
This time, her voice carried a slight, almost cheerful lilt as she turned and walked away.
Kumagawa watched her go, a faint smile on his face.
『If Saki-chan saw this, she probably wouldn't believe how popular I am with girls. 』
...Somewhere along the way, Kumagawa had apparently developed a bit of narcissism.
『』『』『』『』『』
The second discussion ended much like the first—without any meaningful progress.
Once again, the conversation had been filled with vague speculations, half-hearted suggestions, and an overwhelming reluctance to take any decisive action.
There were a few attempts to push the discussion forward. Some students from Class B tried bringing up possible strategies, but each time, someone would quickly shoot the idea down, either by pointing out the risks or by steering the conversation in a completely different direction.
It was an endless loop. No one wanted to be the first to act, yet no one wanted to be left behind either. And so, the group discussions continued to drag on, accomplishing little more than wasting time.
Of course, Kumagawa played a big role in most of it.
It wasn't that he actively sabotaged the discussion—if anything, he participated more than most.
He didn't openly reject ideas or argue with anyone. But his sheer nonsense chipped away at any semblance of meaningful conversation, making it impossible for anything productive to form.
By the time the discussion ended, most of the students looked exhausted.
Of course, the culprit himself acts as if none of it had anything to do with him because of his lack of a conscience.
—Ding!
Leaning against the railing on the upper deck of the cruise ship, Kumagawa lazily reached for his phone at the sound of a notification.
『She sure is competent. 』
Just a few hours after the Snake group's second discussion ended, Matsushita had already sent a detailed list of four groups and their members.
Rabbit, Tiger, Monkey, and Ox.
Kumagawa scrolled through the names without much care. He just needed to confirm something about each group—nothing more, nothing less. Once he was satisfied, he slipped his phone back into his pocket and leaned against the railing, his gaze drifting toward the dark sea below.
The gentle waves shimmered under the moonlight, the ocean stretching endlessly into the night.
It was boring.
Not all the time, of course. But most of the time, he felt bored. His only source of entertainment was the Shounen Jump magazine tucked under his arm, and even that could only hold his interest for so long.
Of course, he would never betray his one and only friend. But Anshin'in-san could be pretty cruel sometimes.
Well, she did lack the feeling of conscience in the first place...
Just like a mother trying to pick out "cool" clothes for her child to impress the other kids, to her, it didn't matter if something actually fit or not. The act of dressing people up was all that mattered. Whether they suffocated under layers of mismatched fabric, struggled with oversized sleeves, or walked around looking like a fashion disaster was completely irrelevant.
That was the kind of person Anshin'in-san was.
『She could at least give me a hint or something. Even Naruto didn't chase after Sasuke without some kind of clue. She really needs to update her knowledge on modern Shounen Jump storytelling. 』
"Who are you talking about?"
Hearing a voice from behind him, Kumagawa turned his head.
Ayanokouji stood there, looking at him with his usual expressionless face, a slight tilt of his head showing his mild curiosity.
『Yo, Ayanokouji-kun. Out for a night stroll? 』
Ayanokouji didn't immediately respond. His gaze shifted briefly to the Shounen Jump magazine under Kumagawa's arm, then back to his face.
"...Something like that," he said. "More importantly, you were talking about someone just now."
『Ah, you mean that? I was just monologuing. It's a habit of mine. It's a bad habit, I know. But hey, at least I won't get lung cancer from it. 』
Ayanokouji was not sure what is the correlation between monologue and cancer, but he didnt comment on that, instead, he leaned against the railing next to Kumagawa, his gaze following the dark, endless sea.
"Did you get anything useful from today's discussion?"
『Nope. Not a single thing. 』
"...I see."
Ayanokouji didn't seem particularly surprised by that answer. It was an expected outcome, after all. And not just for Kumagawa's group—most other groups didn't seem to have gained anything useful either.
His own group was the same.
"The discussions aren't leading anywhere. Even though the exam is designed to encourage cooperation, no one is actually working toward a clear answer." Ayanokouji said.
『Well, it seems different classes have different strategies for this exam. I don't know what their plans are, but I surprisingly have a knack for acting shady and figuring out the weaknesses in their strategies. 』
Kumagawa spoke like he was some kind of expert in deception, as if it were something to be proud of. But maybe only someone completely lacking in conscience and shame could announce something like that so confidently.
"Well... You sound like you'll end up getting reported for suspicious behavior. And then you'll meet a tragic end."
『What kind of follow-up is that? 』
Kumagawa seemed amazed.
However, rather than being offended, he actually looked a little pleased by Ayanokouji's remark. It was as if "you'll be reported" was something he took as a badge of honor.
What a difficult person.
『So, Ayanokouji-kun. Any ideas?』
"Huh?"
『I'm asking if you have any ideas regarding the 'VIP'. 』
"Of course I don't. Did you actually think I had any?" Ayanokouji replied without hesitation.
『I mean, you're smart. You probably have one or two ace cards hidden up behind your ribcage or something. Just like what you did on the island.』
"I think you're overestimating me."
Ayanokouji rejected the sentiment outright.
He was certain that Kumagawa, to some extent, had a grasp of his true capabilities—especially on the last day of the island exam.
But this was troubling.
It was one thing if someone discovered his skills; there were plenty of ways to handle that. But Kumagawa was unnecessarily perceptive—so much so that it was outright annoying.
And worse, Ayanokouji didn't know anything about Kumagawa. His erratic and contradictory behavior was confusing to the point where it was hard to make sense of him at all.
『Is that so? Then that's fine, too.』
Kumagawa abruptly pulled back.
Had he been asking a leading question?
If so, it was far too broad. The identity of the VIP wasn't something that could be discovered through a simple deduction—it was a problem designed to have multiple layers of deception. Even if someone suspected the truth, there were ways to mislead and manipulate others into believing otherwise. Asking someone directly if they had any "ideas" about the VIP was almost meaningless.
『Then, where should we start looking...? This cruise is surprisingly large, after all. There must be some kind of hint hidden somewhere. Maybe under a bed, inside a closet... under a girl's skirt...』
Kumagawa's voice took on an ominous tone, as if he were listing off places a murder weapon could be hidden after stumbling upon a dead body.
"So you're saying we should be thorough?"
Ayanokouji chose to reinterpret his words into something more productive. If he applied the right formula, it became easier to make sense of what Kumagawa was saying.
But Kumagawa simply looked at him like he was some kind of idiot.
『Well, that goes without saying, right? But, as expected of Ayanokouji-kun, your lack of heart is truly admirable. Depending on how this exam plays out, someone's social life might as well be murdered by the end of it. 』
"....."
Ayanokouji felt a familiar sense of irritation. Not because of the words themselves, he had long since outgrown reacting to childish remarks—but because of who was saying them.
Kumagawa, of all people, was implying that he lacked a heart.
That was like being called a terrible cook by someone who burned water.
He ignored the thought. There was no point in wasting energy on something so trivial. He had long since mastered the art of discarding unnecessary emotions.
Instead, his attention shifted elsewhere.
"Hmm?"
Far in the distance, he spotted Kushida walking side by side with someone. The silhouette wasn't entirely clear from where he was standing, but there was no mistaking that it was a male.
"Isn't that Kushida?"
『Where!? Where?! Is she wearing a bikini? I coincidentally have an apron in my pocket.』
Kumagawa suddenly pulled out an apron from his pocket.
Ayanokouji looked at him absentmindedly. He was still thinking of doing that? He had to admire his dedication, at least.
But deciding it wasn't worth responding to, he simply gestured toward them.
Kumagawa followed his gaze.
『Isn't that Ryūen? 』
"Ryūen?"
Ayanokouji was momentarily surprised. His eyesight was sharp.
Now that he thought about it, during the island exam, Kumagawa had been the one to spot the terminal from the treetops almost instantly. He had dismissed it at the time, but perhaps Kumagawa's perceptiveness extended beyond just his words.
"Are you okay with that?" Ayanokouji asked.
『Okay with what? 』
Kumagawa tilted his head, looking genuinely confused.
Ayanokouji glanced at him before shifting his gaze back toward where Kushida and Ryūen have been earlier.
"Kushida. Alone with a boy. In the middle of the night."
He kept his words concise, leaving just enough room for interpretation.
『Oh? So that's how it is. Ayanokouji-kun, you're the jealous type. 』
"...That's not what I meant."
『Ah! So what you meant is what do I think about Kushida alone with a boy in the middle of the night? Why didn't you just say so. I think you should've been a litte more direct next time ayanokouji-kun. 』
Ayanokouji did not know how much more direct he need to become. Even from his concise word, it should be obvious what he meant. Even a child would understand better what he meant by it.
『Well, I think it's great that Kushida-chan's connections are evolving. Growth is important, after all. But I'm sure there's some guy out there, someone just like me, misunderstanding something in a very miserable way. 』
"..."
So in the end, he just handwaved it, huh.
Lately, Kumagawa and Kushida had been unusually close. At first, Ayanokouji assumed it was just Kushida trying to befriend him, something she did with most people. But recently, something felt off.
That was why he had asked.
If there was anything between them, then surely, Kumagawa would have reacted in some way to seeing Kushida alone with another boy this late at night.
But instead, he treated it like a joke.
It was hard to tell if his unexpected answer was, in itself, the expected response—or if his expected reaction was the truly unexpected one.
『Well, I do care about Kushida-chan, you know. 』
Ayanokouji glanced at him.
"You? Care?"
『Of course. I care about a lot of things. Like, how warm my bed is when I wake up in the morning, or how nice it feels to take off wet socks after stepping in a puddle. Kushida-chan is somewhere around that level. 』
"I see... I think I understand."
Ayanakouji did not understand.
Kumagawa's words sounded logical, but they lacked any real weight. His priorities were all over the place that it was difficult to tell what he truly valued and what he didn't.
Even if he did care, it was impossible to gauge the depth of that care. But maybe, for someone like him, this was what "caring" looked like. If that were the case, then it made sense.
Ayanokouji shifted the conversation.
"Is it even possible for Kushida to grow more?"
『Why not? People grow all the time. Even you think she's talented, don't you? 』
That much was true. Despite her flaws, Kushida was undeniably skilled.
『I mean, even someone like me managed to graduate and achieve growth in my life at some point. 』
Ayanokouji barely stopped himself from scoffing.
That was impossible.
There was a zero percent chance that Kumagawa had ever achieved personal growth. The likelihood of the moon suddenly colliding with the sun was greater than the idea of Kumagawa evolving in any meaningful way.
But if, by some miracle, he did? Would that be a good thing? Or a bad thing?
Growth implied development. An increase in something. If Kumagawa somehow developed further, was it possible for him to become even worse?
That was a troubling thought.
But realistically, that kind of internal development was impossible for him. Someone as fundamentally broken as Kumagawa couldn't change without an external force—a person strong enough to influence his absurd way of thinking.
If someone like that existed...
Ayanokouji wondered what kind of person they would be.
『Well, I should get going. My girlfriend's waiting for me.』
"...Girlfriend?"
Ayanokouji wasn't sure if he had misheard.
The idea of Kumagawa having something as normal as a romantic relationship didn't sit right with him. The very idea felt... fundamentally wrong.
『Yup. My girlfriend from middle school. In my dreams.』
"..."
How pitiful.
To only have a girlfriend in his dreams... No, if it were just that, it wouldn't be so bad. What was truly miserable was how casually he said it—like it was nothing, like he had fully accepted that his love life would never exist beyond the boundaries of sleep.
『Alright then, see ya later, Ayanokouji-kun. 』
Without waiting for a response, Kumagawa waved lazily and walked off, leaving Ayanokouji behind with an indescribable feeling.
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Left with nothing else to do, Ayanokouji decided to head back to his quarters and sleep.
His conversation with Kumagawa had soured his mood for a midnight stroll.
On his way back, he passed by the bar. Just as he was about to walk past, something inside caught his attention. He slowed his pace and subtly moved closer.
Of course, students weren't allowed to buy alcohol, and the cruise staff would never serve them. But that wasn't what interested him.
Inside, seated together at a table, were Chabashira, Hoshinomiya, and Mashima.
What an unusual trio.
While it wasn't strange for teachers to drink together, these three weren't exactly known for their camaraderie. Chabashira-sensei was a strict and no-nonsense teacher, Mashima-sensei was disciplined and professional, and Hoshinomiya-sensei was a little too cheerful.
Although eavesdropping on his own teachers was somewhat despicable, Ayanokouji's curiosity won out in the end.
He crept over to a shadowy corner, just close enough to hear their conversation.
"Hehehe, it's been ages since the three of us sat down like this," Hoshinomiya said, her words slightly slurred from alcohol. Among the three, she was clearly the most intoxicated. The evidence was in the number of empty glasses stacked beside her.
Mashima, appearing far more composed, nodded in agreement.
"Since we all chose to become teachers, it was bound to happen sooner or later."
Chabashira, unlike the other two, remained silent. She simply took a quiet sip of her drink.
Ayanokouji noted their casual familiarity. Their interactions didn't seem strictly professional—rather, they had the ease of people who had known each other for a long time.
Had they all been classmates once? Or maybe they attended ANHS together.
Chabashira had once told him that she was a former Class D student. If the three of them really did go to this school, then their history might be more intertwined than it seemed.
"You're as stiff as ever, Sae-chan, Come on, loosen up a little. We're off duty." Hoshinomiya teased, swirling the remnants of her drink in her glass.
"I'm just listening."
You're the one who invited us, yet you're barely saying a word." Mashima let out a small sigh.
"I don't remember inviting anyone, You two just happened to sit here." Chabashira countered, taking another slow sip.
Ayanokouji continued listening. No matter how he looked at it, this was just a casual chat between old colleagues—nothing particularly interesting. He was just about to leave when Mashima brought up a topic that caught his attention.
"Still, it was surprising to see Class A get the short end of the stick in the last exam. It seems that Kumagawa really threw a wrench into their plans."
Hoshinomiya nodded, setting her empty glass down with a soft clink.
"Ichinose-chan said the same thing. Even Class B got caught up in his nonsense. He's really something, huh?"
"Can we please not bring him up? I'd rather not get a headache."Bottom of Form
Ayanokouji, still hidden in the shadows, considered their words. It wasn't just students—Kumagawa had managed to leave an impression on the teachers as well.
"It's hard not to, though. He practically dragged down every class's score in the process. Ichinose explained the gist of it to me the other day."
"How did a guy like him even get accepted into this school?" Mashima folded his arms.
'Hmm?'
Ayanokouji found that choice of words strange. Was Kumagawa not supposed to be accepted in the first place?
Chabashira finally spoke, setting her glass down.
"It was the chairman's decision. It's not like we had a say in it."
Ayanokouji narrowed his eyes slightly. He had come here with half-hearted intentions, never expecting to find any real information. But things were taking a different turn than he anticipated.
"He's never interfered with the selection process like that before, has he?" Hoshinomiya asked.
"I don't think so." Mashima shook his head. "The school has a pretty specific set of criteria when selecting students. Once a student is chosen, there's no turning back. But this time, someone was crossed off the list... and replaced."
"Eh? Seriously? Who was the unfortunate one?"
Chabashira was the one who answered.
"Okitani Kyōsuke. A student from my class."
Ayanokouji took in the name. It meant nothing to him. But the implications were clear—Kumagawa's existence at this school was an anomaly.
"Do you know anything about it, Sae-chan?" Hoshinomiya pressed.
"I don't. I asked the chairman once, but his answer was too ambiguous. I didn't understand what he meant, so I just accepted it and moved on."
"Sae-chan, you're so cold."
Chabashira ignored her remark and took another sip of her drink.
After that, their conversation shifted to more mundane topics. It was clear that none of them particularly cared about the student who had been replaced by Kumagawa.
Deciding he had heard enough, Ayanokouji quietly slipped away, heading in the opposite direction.
As he walked through the cruise lobby, he processed the information carefully.
A student had been outright removed from the list and replaced. That alone was unusual. But what made it even stranger was who had been chosen as the replacement.
Kumagawa Misogi.
A student with no academic potential. Someone who, if placed in a fair selection process, wouldn't have even made it past the first screening.
Yet, not only was he accepted, but the chairman himself had intervened to make it happen.
That was no small thing. This school was backed by the government, carefully selecting students based on strict criteria. A single person shouldn't have had the power to override that process so easily—unless they had substantial influence.
Which meant there was someone with enough power to influence both the government and the chairman.
Ayanokouji's footsteps slowed.
A single person with that much authority... The list of possible candidates wasn't long. It had to be someone deeply connected to the school, the government, or both.
For a brief moment, Ayanokouji considered the possibility that Kumagawa had ties to 'that place'. But as far as he knew, 'that man' wasn't powerful enough to interfere with this school's selection process.
At least, not to this extent.
But he couldn't be one hundred percent sure.
And more importantly, he was dealing with Kumagawa of all people. One small mistake could cost him his freedom.
Ayanokouji had always been careful. He had learned long ago that carelessness led to destruction.
If there was even the slightest possibility that Kumagawa was connected to 'that place', then he needed to proceed with caution.
For now, he would observe.
He would keep an eye on Kumagawa.
『END』
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