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The cruise ship exam had already reached its third day, and right now, the Snake Group's fifth discussion of the afternoon was underway.
"Kumagawa-kun, Kumagawa-kun."
『What is it, Matsushita-chan, Matsushita-chan? 』
Kumagawa, as always, was engrossed in his favorite pastime, reading Weekly Shounen Jump without the slightest care for the discussion happening around him. His expression was one of pure contentment.
"What are we going to do? No one's claiming to be the VIP, and tomorrow's the last day of the exam. If this keeps up, the VIP is going to walk away with 500,000 points all for themselves." Matsushita leaned in slightly and lowered her voice.
It wasn't exactly a secret, everyone in the group was probably thinking the same thing, but if students from other classes overheard them openly discussing it, things could get weird.
Kumagawa flipped a page without even looking up.
『First period, on Mondays, is Weekly Shounen Jump time. What could possibly be so important that you'd interrupt my sacred reading time of friendship, effort, and victory? 』
"....."
There was so much to nitpick in just that one sentence.
First of all, today wasn't even Monday. Second, even if it were Monday, there was absolutely no way Kumagawa could have gotten his hands on the latest issue of Weekly Shounen Jump while stuck on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean.
"Hey, what are you two whispering about over there!?"
A voice suddenly cut in, drawing their attention.
Nishino Takeko from Class C.
Throughout the past discussions, he had made a habit of stirring conflict, antagonizing others for no reason.
While someone like Yahiko from Class A could also come off as irritating, the difference was that Yahiko only acted that way when spoken to. Nishino, on the other hand, actively sought out trouble.
"It's nothing that concerns you." Matsushita turned to him with a polite yet firm smile.
"Oh? It sure didn't look like nothing. Or are you hiding something?"
"You're imagining things." Matsushita sighed.
"Tch. Sure, sure. Keep whispering like that and see what happens. For all we know, you're plotting something behind our backs."
"That's ridiculous, everyone here is trying to find a way to identify the VIP. Why would I be any different?" Matsushita shot back.
"Who knows? Maybe because you already know who the VIP is."
Nishino is trying to provoke a reaction from Matsushita.
Kumagawa, on the other hand, watched with mild interest. Based on what he had gathered from his dealings with Kushida, he had a rough understanding of how Ryuen operated, so it was probably him following Ryuen's order.
Before Matsuhita could retort, another voice cut in.
"Hah... you guys are so childish."
It was Yahiko from Class A.
"This isn't some game where you can just throw around baseless accusations. Unlike you lowly classes, Class A understands the importance of conducting discussions properly."
His condescending tone was grating, as if he were a teacher lecturing a group of misbehaving children.
『Eh? What are you talking about, Yahiko-kun? Of course, this is a game.』
"...What?"
It was the first time Kumagawa had spoken since the start of the fifth discussion. Naturally, all attention turned toward him—especially Yahiko. His expression is especially tensed.
『This exam is a game. In the end, we're just playing around. It's a magnificent farce, a show of make-believe. 』
With a casual motion, Kumagawa shut his magazine and placed it neatly in front of him.
『Also, what do you mean by "understanding the importance of conducting discussions properly?" Aren't you the one who completely misunderstands the concept of a discussion? In the first place, you're the least cooperative person in this entire group, which makes your little speech quite the contradiction. And speaking of contradictions...I hate when people steal my gimmick. My signature. My trademark. My specialty. My shtick. My role. My quirk. My persona. My identity. So, because of you, I'm going to make Katsuragi miserable. 』
Yahiko's expression twisted in anger.
"What did you say!?"
Matsushita looked at Yahiko in a slightly pitiful manner. He ignored every insult, every mocking remark Kumagawa had thrown at him, yet the moment Katsuragi was mentioned, his focus locked onto that one thing.
A dumb, loyal subordinate through and through.
Still, she couldn't help but wonder did Kumagawa really mean what he said? With his personality, it was nearly impossible to differentiate between truth and false.
Since from what she knew aabout Kumagawa, aside from his sharp unortohodox way of thiniking, Kumagawa seems hoplessely useless in basically everything else.
"You? Make Katsuragi-san miserable? Don't make me laugh."
Kumagawa, picking up his weekly shounen jump in his hand just shrugged his shoulders.
Shibata stepped in, raising a hand in a placating gesture.
"Alright, alright, let's all calm down. There's no need to start a fight over this."
Out of everyone in this group, Class B was probably the most stable in terms of overall temperament. They weren't overly aggressive like Class C, nor were they as calculating as Class A.
But in situations like this, that level-headedness was more of a double-edged sword.
After all, it wasn't always the reasonable people who won in discussions like these.
Yahiko clicked his tongue but backed down, though not without sending a glare in Kumagawa's direction.
Matsushita, watching this unfold, let out a small sigh.
"You could at least pretend to take this seriously," she muttered under her breath.
『But I am taking it seriously, Matsushita-chan. I mean, look at me, I stopped reading just to talk to you guys. If that's not a display of my utmost dedication, then what is? 』
She didn't bother responding.
Meanwhile, Nishino, still annoyed from earlier, crossed his arms and spoke up.
"Since we're on the topic of the VIP, let's just get this over with. We're running out of time, and we still don't have any leads. At this rate, we might as well just take a random guess tomorrow."
Hashimoto, the smooth talker of class A, leaned back in his seat with an easygoing smile.
"Relax, jumping to conclusions won't do us any favors. If we make a random guess and get it wrong, we'll just be handing the advantage to another group."
Unlike Nishino, who was openly confrontational, Hashimoto had a way of keeping things light while still getting his point across.
"Besides," he continued, glancing around, "even if someone here knows who the VIP is, do you really think they'd just blurt it out? You're acting like we've been having these discussions for fun."
Nishino clicked his tongue but didn't argue.
Beside Matsushita, Inogashira Kokoro leaned in slightly, whispering in a timid voice.
"...T-this discussion is pointless."
Matsushita gave a small nod. Even Inogashira, who wasn't exactly the sharpest in the group, had managed to pick up on what was painfully obvious, nothing meaningful had ever come from these meetings. From the very first discussion, it had been nothing but useless back-and-forth arguments, with no real progress being made.
She let out a quiet sigh. Back when Kumagawa had asked for the names of the other group members, she'd been half-hoping that he might contribute something useful. But, as expected, that had been a waste of hope.
Even Inogashira who were slightly behind in term of intelligence still managed to pick ups cue in the discussions so far. It was panfully obvious how useless this discussion is. Ever since the first discussion, nothing ever get done except for bickereing.
When Kumagawa asked her with the other groups member name, she was half hoping that Kumagawa would at least contribute to something, but it was useless after all.
[The designated discussion period for the Snake group has now concluded. Students are permitted to exit the room.]
And just like that, the fifth discussion ended the same way the previous ones had—with nothing but bickering and wasted time.
One by one, the students began leaving the room.
Technically, they weren't required to leave. There were no rules preventing them from staying. But with nothing to gain from lingering, there was only one natural option—leaving.
As Matsushita stood up, Inogashira turned to her.
"Matsushita-chan, do you want to grab lunch together?"
She was about to respond when, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Kumagawa casually walking out of the room.
"Ah, sorry, Inogashira-san. I just remembered—I have something to take care of."
With a quick apology, Matsushita hurried after Kumagawa, slipping out of the room.
Matsushita quickened her pace, running through the hallway until she caught up to Kumagawa.
"Hey, Kumagawa-kun."
He walked at a leisurely pace, hands in his pockets, his usual carefree expression plastered on his face. Because of how leisure he is, it was rather easy to catch up with him.
At the sound of her voice, he turned his head slightly, his smile remaining unchanged.
『Hmm? What's up, Matsushita-chan? Did you need something? 』
"Do you want to have lunch together?"
For a moment, Kumagawa simply stared at her. Then, as if considering something deeply, he placed a hand on his chin and exaggeratedly tilted his head.
『Hmm... I don't mind, but still, that puts me in a tight spot. How troubling...』
"Why is that troubling?"
『Well, you see, if a cute girl like you asks me to lunch, people might start spreading rumors. And rumors have a way of evolving into even bigger rumors. And the next thing you know, that rumor will inconvenience the rumored person. I absolutely hate the idea of becoming some kind of inconvenience in someone's life, even if that inconvenience is as little as someone's appendix. 』
".....?"
What was he even talking about?
In the first place, wasn't he already the biggest nuisance in the Snake Group?
Since the start of the exam, all he did was sit back, make snide comments, and stir up unnecessary trouble. If there was anyone in this group who could be considered an inconvenience, it was undeniably him.
And yet, here he was, acting like he was the most considerate person in the world.
Also, that was a pretty disgusting comparison.
『But if it's Matsushita-chan, then I have no need to hold back. In advance, thank you for treating me, I'd be more than happy to join you. 』
Matsushita sighed.
So, in other words, if it was her, then Kumagawa didn't care about rumors at all?
How incredibly inconsiderate.
Matsushita let out a small sigh.
"Well, in that case, let's meet in the lobby around one o'clock. I know a good restaurant on the lower deck. It was an unexpected find, but the food there is actually really good."
Kumagawa tilted his head slightly, as if pondering something deeply.
『Judging by the direction this conversation is going, is it safe to assume that this is a date? Or at the very least, something resembling the definition of a meeting between a boy and a girl? In that case, is it also safe to assume that you like me?』
"You're free to assume whatever you want, but it's definitely not a date, and I definitely don't like you." Matsushita didn't even hesitate.
『Then it can't be helped. I'll assume this as you harassing me instead.』
"...What?"
How did he even come to that conclusion?
Matsushita frowned slightly, troubled by how Kumagawa's mind worked—or rather, concerned. His reasoning was all over the place, which made it very much something he would say.
『In that case, I will see you later. 』
With that, Kumagawa began to walk down the hallway.
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"Kumagawa-kun, Kumagawa-kun."
Matsushita gently shook Kumagawa, who was lying on the sofa in the lobby with a Weekly Shounen Jump magazine covering his face.
『Hmm? Matsushita-chan, you're early today. 』
"You're pretty early, too, Kumagawa-kun, I thought you would be late, considering your lack of awareness."
Kumagawa sat up slightly, tilting his head as if confused.
『Am I that early? I feel like I'm always on time, though. 』
"Is that so? Let's go eat then."
Kumagawa hopped off the sofa and casually followed Matsushita toward the restaurant. It didn't take long for them to arrive at her chosen spot, but to Kumagawa, the place was all too familiar.
As they stepped inside, the restaurant was relatively quiet, with only a few other guests scattered around. Finding an empty seat wasn't difficult, so they settled in without much fuss.
Soon after, a staff member approached them with a polite smile.
"What would you like to order?"
Matsushita was about to suggest something, considering she had been here a few times before with her friends. But before she could speak—
『Ramen. Extra rich broth, firm noodles, soft-boiled egg, and plenty of green onions. Oh, and make it spicy. 』
Matsushita blinked, slightly caught off guard by how specific he was. For someone who usually acted like he didn't care about anything, he sure seemed particular about his ramen.
She let out a small sigh before placing her own order.
Once their orders were confirmed, the staff took their menus and left.
As Matsushita leaned back in her chair, she glanced at Kumagawa.
"Did you like ramen, Kumagawa-kun?"
『Hmm? Not really? I don't particularly like ramen the way other people do, but I do like it in a certain way, and I eat it in a certain way. If I don't eat it in that certain way, I might throw a tantrum and beat up some random person to vent out my disappointment. You get me, right, Matsushita-chan? 』
"No, I don't..."
How did he manage to butcher such a simple yes-or-no question into something so unnecessarily complicated and vaguely disturbing?
All she asked was whether he liked ramen or not. A normal person would've just said 'yes' or 'no.' Maybe, if they wanted to elaborate, they would've said something about their favorite type of ramen or how often they ate it. That would have been a reasonable response.
But instead, Kumagawa turned it into some bizarre statement about needing to eat ramen in a specific way or else resorting to random acts of violence. He said it so casually too, like it was a completely rational way of thinking.
Matsushita wasn't sure if he was joking or if she should be genuinely concerned.
"I thought you don't like to be incovenice to someone else?"
She distinctly remembered him saying something along those lines just a few hours ago.
『To be completely accurate, I cannot overlook evil. I cannot forgive it. It does not matter if I know the person who commits evil or not. So, in this example, I'm justice, and that random passerby is evil by outcome. Since I was in a bad mood, it was that person's fault for passing by me at the wrong time. Therefore, it's their fault, not mine. 』
"...That's really concerning in a lot of ways. Is that your life compass?"
It sounded like it.
『No, these are my feelings. 』
Isn't that way worse?
He was basically saying that his violent actions were purely dictated by his emotions or rather, his mood. If he felt something was evil, then it was evil. If he felt something was justice, then it was justice.
That was an incredibly destructive way of thinking.
Matsushita stared at him, wondering if he even realized how insane he sounded.
She had never thought of Kumagawa as physically violent. Spiritually unpleasant, sure—his mere presence was enough to drain the energy from any room—but not outright destructive. And yet, he spoke as if the idea of randomly beating someone up wasn't out of the question.
Did he mean it? Was he joking?
Matsushita wasn't sure she wanted to find out.
"Here's your orders, dear guests."
The sudden arrival of the server snapped her out of her thoughts.
Plates were placed in front of them, the steam rising from the bowls of ramen. The aroma alone was enough to momentarily push aside her unease.
Maybe it was for the best to just drop the subject.
She was curious about what kind of person Kumagawa really was, but something deep in her gut warned her that prying any further wouldn't be in her best interest, not for the safety of her body, her mind, or her spirit.
Kumagawa slurped his noodles loudly, seemingly enjoying his meal without a care in the world. Then, without looking up, he casually asked,
『So, Matsushita-chan, why did you invite me? 』
Matsushita, who had just taken a small sip of her soup, blinked at his question.
"Why do you sound like there's some kind of ulterior motive behind it? Is it so wrong to invite a friend to lunch?" she asked, setting her spoon down.
『Although I'm flattered by your attempt to seduce me... 』
"It's not."
『I'm not exactly the kind of guy people just invite out of goodwill, you know? The only times I ever get invited somewhere are either to be betrayed, to be toyed with, to be pranked, to be physically assaulted, or to be framed for something. So, naturally, I have to assume there's some motive behind your invitation. 』
Why did he make it sound so depressing?
Of course, she had her reasons for inviting him, but the way he framed it made her feel like some heartless opportunist taking advantage of him. She didn't want to admit it, but based on her two days and a few hours of experience with him on this ship, she could confidently say that no sane person would actively seek Kumagawa out unless there was something they wanted.
It was a short amount of time, but it spoke for itself about Kumagawa unpleasantness.
He was the type of person people naturally avoided.
"Don't phrase it like that, Kumagawa-kun... You're going to make me feel bad."
『Ah, I'm sorry about that. But even so, since the kind-hearted Matsushita-chan went out of her way to set up this little appointment for me, I can't just quit now, can I?』
"....."
『So, Matsushita-chan. What can I do for you? 』
What an unpleasent and difficult person.
If she asked him for what she wanted, it would confirm his reasoning. But if she didn't ask, then this entire lunch would be meaningless. Either way, she would be both the one proving his point and the one left empty-handed.
A lose-lose scenario.
Of course, it wasn't truly a lose-lose in the strictest sense. That only applied if one had a sense of conscience or empathy, things she assumed Kumagawa completely lacked.
"Well, there were a lot of things, but it's mostly related to the exam. Outside of that, I don't really have anything to say to you, Kumagawa-kun."
Matsushita's tone was cool and blunt. Maybe a little too blunt, but still cool.
It was the appropriate response, considering his complete lack of shame and conscience. If she wasn't direct, she had a feeling he'd just keep playing around with her.
『So, Matsushita-chan. Are you going to ask whether I plan to do something on the last day of the exam? Since I asked you to gather the names of the other group members, you're assuming I have a purpose for them, right? After all, I wouldn't ask for something so specific and just waste that information and do nothing with it. correct? 』
"....."
Did he already know?
About the question she was about to ask?
If that was the case, it was a little creepy.
"Ah, that's... Um, I guess it was somewhat along those lines...but, just as you expected, I think there's no way you would throw away the information I pain stakingly gathered for you."
It wasn't really that hard to gather, but still, it was her effort in the end.
『I see. Then it's a good thing I asked you. 』
Did this guy truly have no shame? He made it sound like he was being considerate when he was the one who asked for the information in the first place. It was like thanking someone for cleaning up a mess you made.
"So? Are you going to tell me what you plan to do with that information?"
『Before that, I have a question for you, Matsushita-chan.』
"A question?" She raised an eyebrow.
『Yeah. What outcome do you want from this exam?』
"Outcome?"
"Well... if I had to choose..."
It wasn't something she had given much thought. She had been playing it safe, handling things as they came, but now that he asked...
"I think outcome #1 would be the best."
『Outcome #1, huh? So you're after private points.』
"Is that weird?"
『Not at all. I just figured you'd be the type to think long-term and prioritize class points instead. 』
Matsushita frowned slightly.
"Kumagawa-kun, it's not good to assume things about a girl, you know? It's a little crude."
『Oh, you mean that thing about 'not judging a book by its cover'?' Luckily, I don't believe in that kind of nonsense. Actually, to be completely honest, I don't think it's true at all. 』
He leaned forward slightly, looking Matsushita directly in the eyes. It was unsettling how easily he could shift from casual to eerie in a matter of seconds. Thankfully, there was a table between them. Even though he only leaned slightly, the barrier between them made a difference. Without it, she might have instinctively pulled back.
『A book's cover isn't something separate from its contents. It's designed to sell the book. It's meant to attract readers, to give an impression, even if it's misleading. And humans are the same. 』
Matsushita didn't say anything as she let him continue.
『Losers pretend to be winners. The weak pretend to be strong. The ugly put on makeup and the beautiful pretend to be modest. It's all deception. But at the end of the day, no matter how much they pretend, reality doesn't change. A loser is a loser. A weak person is a weak person. And a book, no matter how pretty its cover is, can still be absolute garbage inside. So why would I ever trust an analogy like that? 』
There was something disturbingly matter-of-fact about the way he spoke.
In no uncertain terms, it was a reckless way of looking at human nature. The way he phrased it was almost deceptively simple, as if he were merely stating an undeniable truth rather than expressing an extreme belief. If someone wasn't paying close attention, they might even mistake it for a harmless observation.
Just from that, it almost sounded like it wasn't all that risky, as if it were just another perspective on the world. But when he interpreted things that way—when he reduced everything to a predetermined outcome—then the risk level went far beyond what anyone would expect.
Because if nothing could change, then what was stopping him from doing whatever he wanted? If a loser would always lose, then why not trample them? If the weak would always be weak, then why show mercy?
"...You really do have a warped way of thinking."
『Warped? Hmm, I wonder about that. 』
Kumagawa swirled his chopsticks in his broth, tilting his head slightly as if pondering something deep.
『I don't think I'm as rigid as you make me out to be. I don't completely deny the idea that people can change. But, at the same time, I don't think they really do. People change, but they don't fundamentally become something they're not. A coward can act brave, but that doesn't mean he isn't still a coward deep down. A kind person can act cruel, but that doesn't mean the kindness disappears. And a loser will always be loser, no matter how hard they try to win. 』
"That's just contradicting yourself."
『Ahaha, deep down, I'm a rather whimsical and contrarian kind of person. So Its your fault for discussing thins like this with me. It's your fault, not my fault. 』Kumagawa smiled.
Matsushita was quiet for a moment. It was amazing how he somehow managed to twist his words in a way that both contradicted and supported his earlier statement.
Just as she was about to say something, a sudden vibration interrupted the conversation.
Brrr. Brrr. Brrr. Brrr
『Hmm? 』
Kumagawa glanced at his phone, which was lying on the table, and saw an incoming call. That was unusual. The person calling him right now wasn't someone who typically contacted him at this time of the day.
Curious, he picked up.
『Hello, who am I speaking to? 』
— "...It's me, Kumagawa-kun."
『Kushida-chan? It's not like you to call me at this hour. Do you need something? 』
— "Don't make it sound like I call you every day. But... yeah, I need you for something."
『Oh? If you phrase it like that, with my personality, I'd take your words at face value and assume you're interested in me. Maybe even trying to seduce me. 』
— "It's not"
She shut him down instantly.
— "Anyway... I need you to come to the Dragon Group's discussion room. Someone's being rather pushy about wanting you here."
『Someone? Well, if it's Kushida-chan's request, I'll be there in ten minutes. I'm a little busy with something right now.』
— "You? Busy with something?"
She sounded unconvinced.
『Yup. But do not fret. Even if this ship were to sink to the bottom of the ocean, I would still come to meet you, because you asked.』
— "I told you, it's not my request."
Her voice was flat.
— "Also, hurry up. He's an unpleasant person to deal with. We're waiting."
And just like that, she hung up.
『We? 』
Kumagawa muttered, staring at his phone for a second before placing it back on the table.
From the way she said it, it sounded like there were multiple people present. He could more or less guess who they were.
"Was that Kushida-san just now?"
Matsushita, who had been casually eavesdropping on the conversation, asked with a hint of curiosity.
『Yeah. Apparently, I'm needed elsewhere.』
She tapped her fingers against the table, her interest piqued.
"Are you close with Kushida-san?"
『Close? What do you mean by that?』
"Well, you know... There's a rumor going around that you and Kushida-san have been pretty close lately. So, most people assume that you two are... dating."
Of course, most people didn't actually believe the rumor. At its core, it was too ridiculous to take seriously. But the frequency of their interactions had been enough to spark some speculation, even if most dismissed it as a coincidence.
『Oh? Is that what people are saying? How interesting. 』
Kumagawa rested his chin on his hand, smiling in a way that revealed absolutely nothing.
『Well, well... If that's the story everyone wants to believe, then who am I to deny it? Or confirm it, for that matter. After all, reality is only as real as people make it out to be. If not, in the end, it's just all fiction.』
What an annoyingly ambiguous answer. But for someone like Kumagawa, it made perfect sense.
"Are you heading over now?"
『Yeah. Hey, want to come along?』
Matsushita raised a brow. "Can I?"
『Of course. It's not like it's against the rules. Or, if you'd rather, you can just invite yourself along and come anyway. 』
Isn't that the same thing?
"...Fine, I'll go."
It wasn't like she had anything better to do. More importantly, she was curious. Kumagawa wasn't the type to be "needed" for anything, yet someone had specifically requested him. Whatever was happening in that discussion room, she had a feeling it was going to be worth seeing.
They finished their food before standing up from their seats. At the counter, a brief argument broke out over who should pay. Somehow, Kumagawa managed to convince Matsushita to cover his meal as well.
In the end, because of his unearthly amount of nonsencial knowledge, Kumagawa somehow ended up being the one who's pay for both of them.
Yet, by some incomprehensible turn of events, he ended up being the one paying for both of them. She wasn't sure how it happened. Somewhere along the way, he had twisted her words, contradicted her logic, then contradicted himself, until, in the end, he was the one handing over the money.
As they left the restaurant, Matsushita glanced at Kumagawa and asked,
"So, do you already have an idea of who wanted to see you?"
『More or less. But I guess we'll find out soon enough, though. 』
Kumagawa made an exaggerated show of shrugging his shoulders, as if the answer was both obvious and completely unimportant.
『Still, it's quite a hassle being this popular. Truly, my popularity knows no bounds. 』
Matsushita gave him a look of quiet pity. She wasn't sure what kind of fantasy he was living in, but...
Truly, his unpopular unpopularity knew no bounds.
『END』
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