『』『』『』『』『』
After hanging up the phone, Kushida took a deep breath and relaxed her expression, ensuring her smile looked as natural as possible.
She had called Kumagawa outside the Dragon Room, away from prying ears. There was always a slight chance that she wouldn't be able to suppress her emotions completely. If she slipped up, and a fraction of her real feelings showed because of Kumagawa, it could lead to unnecessary suspicion.
After taking a moment to fully compose herself, Kushida pushed open the door and stepped back inside.
"So? Did your boyfriend agree to come?"
The mocking voice came from Ryuen, who sat lazily in his chair, watching her with an amused smirk.
"Ahaha, what are you talking about, Ryuen-kun? Kumagawa isn't my boyfriend. He's just a completely... normal friend." Kushida let out a light, airy laugh.
Ryuen's smirk widened, but he didn't press further. He only scoffed in response, as if already entertained by her reaction.
Kushida maintained her usual pleasant smile. She had expected these kinds of comments, especially from him.
"I don't see why we need Kumagawa here." Horikita spoke, from across the table.
"I have to agree. What exactly do you expect to gain by calling him, Ryuen?" Katsuragi also joined in.
Kushida glanced at Ryuen, but even she had no idea what he was thinking.
Why would he need that chaotic idiot?
Kumagawa was a burden—no, worse than that. He was a liability in any situation that required careful planning. Conversation wasn't his strong suit either, unless you counted the nonsense he spewed just to mess with people. Sure, he had his moments of sharp insight, but that didn't change the fact that he was completely unpredictable and, frankly, annoying.
And yet, Ryuen had gone out of his way to ask him to come here.
A low chuckle escaped Ryuen's lips.
"Man, you guys are slow on the uptake I thought you were supposed to be the smart ones."
He then casually gestured toward Horikita, Hirata, and Kushida.
"Well, not counting your class, of course. You're from Class D, after all."
Typical. Even while addressing Katsuragi, Ryuen couldn't resist slipping in a jab at Class D.
As expected from Class C's tyrant, he was a completely different kind of annoying from Kumagawa.
"I don't recall asking for your opinion on my class. Then again, I suppose you would need to compensate for your lack of proper arguments with pointless provocations."
"Ooh, scary." Ryuen grinned.
Hirata quickly stepped in, raising his hands slightly in a calming gesture.
"Let's not turn this into a fight. We're here to have a discussion, not throw insults at each other."
"Ahaha, exactly! There's no reason for us to argue. Can we just move on?" Kushida chimed in with her usual cheerful tone.
Annoying.
She stole a glance at both Horikita and Hirata. Her opinion of them couldn't get any lower. Hirata was as useless as a washed-up sea urchin, only good for making meaningless peacekeeping gestures. And Horikita... she was as detestable as ever.
Kushida couldn't understand how anyone could admire her, praise her, or even consider her a leader.
How irritating.
Katsuragi let out a sigh, clearly uninterested in wasting any more time, before standing up and heading for the door. Three of his classmates silently followed him out.
"Tch. And here I thought he'd stick around a little longer. Guess he doesn't have the guts to play with us." As the door clicked shut, Ryuen clicked his tongue.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he turned his gaze back to Kushida, a smirk playing on his lips.
"So? What's taking your boyfriend so long?"
"I already told you, Ryuen-kun. He's not my boyfriend."
"Really? Well, if he's not, then I guess that means he just doesn't give a damn about you. Maybe he's out messing around with another girl. Kinda sad, don't you think?"
Kanzaki, who had been quiet up until now, finally spoke up.
"Enough, Ryuen. Do you ever stop stirring up trouble?"
Class B had been carefully avoiding any involvement in the ongoing conflicts. They had no reason to interfere in disputes between Class D, Class C, or Class A. But Ryuen had specifically told them to stick around even after their designated discussion time had ended. Kanzaki couldn't just let that slide—not when it was clear that Ryuen had ulterior motives.
"Why exactly did you tell us to stay here?" Kanzaki continued. "And while we're at it, why do we need Kumagawa here in the first place?"
He didn't bother hiding his suspicion. Ryuen alone was already someone worth keeping an eye on, but now he was calling for another untrustworthy person—Kumagawa. That was a red flag if there ever was one.
As the vice leader of Class B, Kanzaki felt responsible for understanding the situation. He couldn't afford to ignore whatever scheming was happening right in front of him.
Ryuen, of course, didn't seem the least bit bothered. If anything, he looked amused.
"Man, you Class B guys sure are impatient, relax a little, Kanzaki. We'll get to all that soon enough. No need to rush, right?" Ryuen chuckled, leaning back lazily in his chair.
His tone was dripping with condescension, as if he were humoring a child who was asking too many questions.
His tone was dripping with condescension, as if he were humoring a child asking too many questions. Kanzaki, however, didn't react, merely watching him in silence.
Kushida, standing nearby, took this as her cue to step in.
"Anyway, if his presence is really necessary, maybe we should just wait for Kumagawa—"
『Hello to all minor characters, and Kushida-chan. Did you become a main character yet?』
"!!!"
At the exact moment his name left her lips, Kumagawa stepped into the room. His timing was so perfect that it almost made her wonder if he'd just been standing outside the door, eavesdropping on their conversation.
『What's wrong, Kushida-chan? What's gotten you all hot and bothered? Ever since you found out I like girls who get all hot and bothered, you've been getting hot and bothered way more often. It's really cute. 』
Lately, he'd been throwing that phrase around so much that Kushida had grown almost desensitized to it. The best course of action was to ignore it entirely. Besides, she couldn't afford to show even a hint of irritation in front of everyone here.
"Ahaha, looks like things are as lively as ever! Sorry for the wait, everyone."
Ichinose peeked her head in from behind the door, offering a casual wave before stepping inside.
Right behind her was Ayanokouji, who entered the room without a word. Followed by Matsushita who's looking slightly nervous for some reason.
『So, what's this about? You all went out of your way to make a popular girl like Kushida-chan call for a popular guy like me. What could you, useless high school students, possibly want? 』
Kumagawa offered a friendly smile to everyone.
『』『』『』『』『』
Kumagawa and Matsushita, after leaving the restaurant, headed straight for the second floor of the upper deck.
If they had taken the stairs, it would have been a long and tedious climb. But fortunately, they lived in an age where human ingenuity had made life far more convenient. So, naturally, they opted for the elevator instead.
As they stepped into the elevator, Matsushita casually glanced at Kumagawa.
"So, do you have any idea why they called you?" she asked, mostly just to fill the silence.
Truthfully, if you ignored his broken mind, Kumagawa was a great conversationalist. That is, if you ignored his broken mind.
『I don't know, and to be honest, I'm not all that interested either. If I had a choice, I'd rather be spending my time with a beautiful girl instead of being ordered around. But, well... that wouldn't really suit my nature, so I decided to go along with it anyway.』
"Ahaha... surely you jest, Kumagawa-kun."
The compliment made her blush a little, but it also felt somewhat hollow. No, not hollow, maybe... genuinely ungenuine? It was so ambiguous she didn't know how to respond.
After a brief pause, she decided to focus on something else.
"By the way, what do you mean by 'not suited for your nature'?"
『Isn't it obvious? I was born to be ruled, Matsushita-san. 』
"Huh?"
Ding!
The soft chime of the elevator signaled their arrival. As the doors slid open, Kumagawa stepped out first, with Matsushita following a moment later.
『My nature is more like that of an underling, don't you think? If anything, I was made to take orders. That said, I do think it'd be pretty fun to lie back and act cocky like a king. Maybe I should try it sometime. 』
"Is that so...?"
『Yup. I don't really get the whole concept of ruling. So instead, I decided to be ruled. But of course, I have my preferences. If someone doesn't meet my criteria, I'd rather just laze around and do nothing. That seems like the more productive choice for everyone involved.』
Matsushita gave him a skeptical look.
"Uh-huh... And what kind of criteria are we talking about here?"
『First and foremost, she must be a girl, a woman, a female, a young lady, a high schoolgirl, a girlfriend, a girlfriend, a girlfriend, a girlfriend, a girlfriend... and most importantly, a girl. 』
"...And? "
『Hmm... yeah, that should cover it. 』
"....."
He didn't even bother to hide his perverted desires.
His so-called criteria were so broad that they somehow looped back into being oddly specific. At the end of the day, it seemed like he just wanted to be ruled by the opposite gender.
Ugh...
When she framed it like that in her head, it made him sound like a massive pervert. Without realizing it, Matsushita slowed her pace, subtly putting some distance between them.
『Hmm? What's wrong, Matsushita-chan?』Kumagawa, noticing this, tilted his head.
"It's nothing...."
『Oh, I see. Do you want me to slow down?』
"N-No! You don't need to!"
She fumbled out, a bit too quickly. His absolute lack of shame made her uncomfortable, to the point where she instinctively didn't want to be too close to him. Panicking, she scrambled for an excuse.
"I-It's just… since I don't really understand ruling either, it's better if I follow from behind! You know, symbolically…! I-I mean, maybe it's better if I get ruled too…."
She instantly regretted that sentence.
Crap.
Why did that come out like she was into it?!
She wanted to sink into the floor. Her words had unintentionally made her sound like some closet masochist.
Kumagawa smile widened.
『I see, I didn't know that you were a masochist, Matsushita-chan.』
Matsushita felt her entire face heat up.
"T-That's not what I meant! I was just—! Ugh, just forget I said anything!"
『Ahaha, don't worry, don't worry. I already forgot.』
"Grrr...."
Yeah, there was no way he forgot. Not with that amused look on his face.
How did things even end up like this? She was just trying to make conversation, and now she had somehow made it sound like she had... those kinds of preferences.
This was beyond humiliating.
『Hmm? Isn't that Ayanokouji-kun with Ichinose-chan? 』
At the far end of the hallway, near the Dragon Group's discussion room, Ayanokouji stood beside Ichinose, who was speaking with Katsuragi from Class A.
Feeling curious, Kumagawa casually made his way toward them, fully intending to intrude on their discussion. Of course, in his mind, this wasn't anything unusual, if people were talking in a public space, then it was fair game for anyone to join. After all, it wasn't as if they had put up a sign that said, Private Conversation: Do Not Disturb.
In that sense, stepping in was polite. And it would be rude to act as if he didn't hear them at all, right?
『Yo~! Katsuragi-kun, Ichinose-chan, Ayanokouji-kun. Fancy meeting you here. 』
Ichinose blinked, momentarily surprised by his sudden appearance, but smiled politely.
"Ah! Kumagawa-kun, you startled me a little. Hello."
Ayanokouji gave a slight nod. That was all.
『Quite the suspicious gathering we've got here, huh? So, What are you guys doing here? 』
Katsuragi, who had remained silent so far, narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Shouldn't we be asking you that question? What business do you have here?"
It wasn't an overreaction given the history between them.
Katsuragi hadn't forgotten what Kumagawa did during the last exam. While the exact details weren't public, those within Class A knew enough—especially his followers. Thanks to that, Class A had ended up with nothing but the short end of the stick.
Kumagawa had targeted them, squeezing them for private points under the guise of "negotiation." It hadn't just hurt morale, effectively undermining his influence within his own class.
So of course, Katsuragi had every reason to be wary. In fact, his current wariness surpassed even what he felt toward Ryuen.
Kumagawa seemed to stop to think.
He was probably ruminating over his question.
『Hmm... I got a calling from a close friend of mine. Normally, I'd completely ignore something like that. But we've forged such a close bond, y'know? Such deep mutual trust. It would've been rude not to show up.』
"Is that so?" Katsuragi replied, raising an eyebrow. He clearly had no idea what Kumagawa was going on about.
Not that it mattered.
『So then, what are you guys doing out here? 』
This time, Ichinose answered with a cheerful laugh.
"Ahaha, nothing like that! I just happened to run into Katsuragi-kun by chance. Though, to be honest... I was planning to meet him eventually, so it worked out pretty well."
In other words, the coincidence was convenient, but not entirely accidental.
"I'm just trying to get Katsuragi-kun to reconsider his approach for the exam," she added, smiling.
"And as I already told you Ichinose, you're wasting your time," Katsuragi said curtly. His arms were crossed, his expression firm. Clearly, whatever she said hadn't swayed him in the slightest.
Despite his bluntness, Ichinose didn't back down.
"I have my own situation to deal with. Katsuragi-kun. I don't think forcing people to be quiet is a good strategy. Would you reconsider?"
Katsuragi, clearly having answered this same argument more than once already, got right to the point.
"The answer will always be the same. I developed that strategy to win. My reasons are good. You think this test requires communication. That's why you don't agree with me, but you're wrong. This test is about thinking. If you miss that, it's a big problem. So, in keeping with the theme of the test, I've decided to stifle discussion."
Kumagawa, who had been listening half-heartedly with his usual vacant smile, seemed to piece things together little by little. Based on the conversation so far, it wasn't hard for him to guess what was going on.
But the girl beside him—Matsushita—though quietly observing the interaction between the two class leaders, clearly lacked the context to follow along.
Unsure, she gently tugged on Kumagawa's sleeve to get his attention.
"Hey, Kumagawa-kun. What are they talking about?"
『Hmm? Ah... Ichinose-chan is probably discussing Class A's strategy from their past discussions. You noticed how Yahiko barely talks during any of the meetings, right? That's not just him being useless, well... not entirely, but to put it simply, Katsuragi-kun isn't particularly interested in the four outcomes of this exam. His only concern is keeping Class A in the lead. That's all there is to it. 』
"Oh... I see. So he's... intentionally not cooperating to avoid tipping his hand?"
『Exactly. He's trying to keep his cards close, even if it means isolating his group. Not a bad move if your class is already on top. 』
He shrugged.
『Though honestly, it's kind of boring. 』
That one line didn't go unnoticed.
Ichinose blinked and glanced over, clearly surprised he said that out loud, and Ayanokouji's eyes shifted to him briefly, without a change in expression.
And Katsuragi... didn't even try to hide it.
"...You certainly talk a lot for someone who contributes so little."
The sharpness in his voice cut through the quiet hallway, making Matsushita flinch slightly beside Kumagawa.
Even though he kept a calm face, Katsuragi was clearly irritated. The memory of how Kumagawa had played him during the last exam still lingered. Katsuragi might've accepted the result, but that didn't make it easier to interact with the guy who humiliated him. Especially not one as casual and grating as Kumagawa.
Ichinose looked a little flustered and stepped in, trying to keep things calm.
"Ahaha... let's not start a fight, okay? We're all here to talk things out peacefully."
But she was outright ignored.
Ayanokouji, meanwhile, remained silent, his eyes flicking between them without saying a word.
"You speak as if you understand everything. But you misunderstand one thing, Kumagawa. I don't make decisions to entertain you. I make them to protect my class's position. If you find that boring, then feel free to amuse yourself elsewhere."
『... 』
Kumagawa said nothing. His face didn't change. Whether he was annoyed, amused, or completely indifferent—it was hard to tell.
Katsuragi turned away, addressing Ichinose again with a composed tone.
"Any further discussion is meaningless, Ichinose. You can't change my mind," he said.
"So... like the old saying goes, an immovable object meets an irresistible force?" Ichinose smiled wryly, lightly rubbing the back of her neck. Her expression was calm, but it wasn't hard to tell she was giving up. She understood Katsuragi wouldn't budge.
"If you were standing in my shoes, you'd have made the same decision. If it's for the sake of my class, I don't mind being criticized."
Katsuragi let out a short breath before looking back at Kumagawa, locking eyes with him.
Kumagawa tilted his head slightly.
『I'm sorry if that somehow hurt your feelings. But I've made a commitment to Yahiko-kun earlier. The innate feeling of fulfilling my promise is stronger than you think... so maybe keep an eye on me. Just in case. 』
Kumagawa offered him a harmless smile. It was strangely genuine, which made it harder for Katsuragi to figure out what to make of it.
Katsuragi didn't respond. He simply nodded once, turned around, and walked away without another word. It was clear he didn't want to stay in the same space as Kumagawa any longer than necessary.
The rest watched as his back disappeared down the corridor.
"Kumagawa-kun... maybe next time, go a little easier on people, okay?"
『Ehh, was I being mean? That wasn't my intention at all, Ichinose-chan.』
She laughed awkwardly, not quite convinced, but she didn't press the issue.
Ayanokouji stayed silent, but his thoughts wandered. Ichinose had a point—Kumagawa's way of speaking rubbed people the wrong way. But at the same time, he couldn't really fault him either.
In truth, Kumagawa wasn't wrong.
Class A was already in the lead. From a strategic point of view, Katsuragi's approach made sense. If the rewards weren't shared equally, there was no real benefit in cooperating. In that sense, Kumagawa's words might've sounded like provocation, but they weren't baseless.
Still, he had a way of stirring people up, without even trying.
As the tension faded, Ichinose's attention shifted slightly. Her expression brightened when she noticed the girl standing quietly behind Kumagawa.
"Ah, Matsushita-san. I didn't see you there," Ichinose greeted with a smile.
Matsushita stepped forward a bit and returned the smile.
"Hello, Ichinose-san. Ayanokouji-kun."
Ayanokouji gave her a polite nod in response.
Ichinose looked between her and Kumagawa for a moment, then tilted her head curiously.
"So, what are you doing with Kumagawa-kun?"
Matsushita let out a small, awkward laugh.
"Ahaha... it's not really anything special. We just happened to be together at the same time. I'm kind of just tagging along now."
It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the full truth either. For some reason, even she couldn't explain it well.
"Hmm...."
Ichinose nodded along, her smile still present, though it looked like she was trying to read between the lines. She glanced briefly at Kumagawa, then back at Matsushita. Her mind wandered—maybe imagining a few odd scenarios—but she kept those thoughts to herself.
Then, Ayanokouji finally spoke up.
"Kumagawa. What are you doing here?"
『Ah, right. I'm heading to the Dragon Group room.』
"Eh? You too?" Ichinose blinked in surprise.
『Yeah, I was called there. I'm just here to fulfill my obligation.』
"Obligation? What do you mean?" Ichinose tilted her head.
Ayanokouji also looked mildly puzzled, though he stayed quiet.
Matsushita, on the other hand, had already accepted that whatever came out of Kumagawa's mouth was likely nonsense
『What, you've never heard of it? 』
"No, I mean..."
It wasn't that they didn't know what the word meant. It was just out of place. Strange wording in a strange situation. It made it sound like he was fulfilling some kind of important mission, not just showing up to a discussion.
『Well, you don't have to read into everything I say. But yeah, I think I get it now. I think I understand why I was called. 』
"You do?" Ayanokouji asked.
『More or less. I have a weird talent for noticing things people overlook. Or rather I just don't care about things most people find important.』
He laughed lightly, hands in his pockets as he continued walking ahead.
Before long, they reached the Dragon Group's designated discussion room. The hallway was quiet, with most students already having come and gone.
"Is it okay to just go in? It's already past the required hour, right?" Ichinose glanced at the door
Ayanokouji looked at the sign on the door, then at the clock nearby.
"It's 14:02. Technically, the discussion period is over, but there's no rule saying we can't enter afterward."
『Then let's not waste time. 』
Kumagawa casually reached for the door and opened it.
『Hello to all minor characters, and Kushida-chan. Did you become a main character yet?』
『』『』『』『』『』
"Though there are a few who don't belong here... now that everyone's gathered, shall we begin?"
Ryuen's gaze swept the room, clearly unimpressed by some of the attendees. In his eyes, a few didn't deserve to be present. But it was too late to care about that now.
The students were loosely divided by class.
From Class D, there was Ayanokouji, Kushida, Matsushita, Hirata, and Kumagawa.
Class C was represented solely by Ryuen himself.
And from Class B, it was represented by Ichinose and Kanzaki
The three classes sat apart from one another, leaving a noticeable space between them, creating an atmosphere of mutual distrust. Among the students, Ryuen, Horikita, and Ichinose stood out the most. Each of them carried a natural air of leadership.
Kumagawa had a presence too. Just... not the good kind.
"This is a rather interesting group. I want to know what you've all been talking about, especially since the required hour is already over." Ichinose said lightly
"Heh. Of course you do. Originally, I thought you'd be in Kanzaki's seat. But instead, you got tossed into another group, one full of weaklings. Maybe that suits you, though. Maybe you're just the weak type yourself."
Ryuen was talking about Ichinose's placement in the Rabbit group instead of the Dragon group. Considering the Dragon group was packed with representative of each class her absence here was strange. You'd think someone like Ichinose would be a given. That was exactly why Ryuen pointed it out.
"Hmm. So, it wasn't random? They deliberately chose how to split us up? I noticed your group is full of exceptionally gifted people, Ryuen, but I suppose the other groups were all made for a reason too. Thank you for the helpful advice. But... should you really be giving me so much information?" Ichinose asked.
『.... 』
Kumagawa was staring at her.
Ichinose blinked. She looked slightly uncomfortable, unsure what to make of his silent gaze.
"Um... do you need something from me, Kumagawa-kun?"
『Nothing. I just thought that you might have grown a little. 』
"...?"
Her confusion deepened. She had no idea what he meant.
Before she could follow up, Ryuen leaned forward, his voice shifting to a more serious tone.
"Alright, enough playing around. I've got a proposal for all of you."
"A proposal? I suppose I'll hear you out. What is it?" Horikita said. Though her tone suggested otherwise.
His gaze swept across the room before stopping on Kumagawa.
『???』
"Let's form an alliance. Class B, Class D, and Class C. We'll share VIP information between us. That way, we can bypass the school's restrictions and isolate Class A."
The room quieted slightly.
So, he wanted the three class to join force, and attack class A.
"It's completely stupid. Listening to him would just be a waste of time," Horikita shot down the idea without hesitation. "Also, it's a boring proposal coming from you. Do you think anyone would trust you when you talk about cooperation?"
It was a fair point. Ryuen's reputation as a manipulative tyrant wasn't something people could just overlook. No one here believed he'd stick to any promise unless it benefited him directly.
"Ryuen-kun. If you're suggesting such a deal... does that mean you already know all the VIPs from your class?"
The fact that Ichinose hadn't rejected him completely, that alone was surprising.
Ichinose wasn't exactly being friendly, but she wasn't hostile either. That alone was enough to raise eyebrows. Horikita looked over at her, clearly puzzled by her lack of rejection. Even Kanzaki was surprised.
Out of everyone in the room, the last person you'd expect to even consider Ryuen's proposal was Ichinose. Their personalities couldn't be more different. If anyone could be called incompatible, it was those two.
Even Ryuen raised an eyebrow.
"Hoh? Didn't expect you to be the first to bite. Aren't you supposed to be the kind, honest type who hates guys like me?"
"I don't remember ever saying that." Ichinose smiled softly.
She didn't answer directly, but it wasn't a denial either. Her expression stayed calm, though it was clear she wasn't letting her guard down. After all, she'd already had a taste of what it felt like to be deceived by a certain someone. Maybe Ichinose was starting to grow, even if just a little.
Ryuen let out a short laugh.
He clearly didn't expect her to be the one keeping the door open. But if even Ichinose was listening, the situation had become a bit more flexible than he anticipated.
"Of course I already have the VIPs from my class," he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
It wasn't exactly shocking. If there was one advantage to ruling a class through fear and intimidation, it was control. In a setup like that, it was easier to organize through violence. Even something as delicate as VIP information could be gathered quickly just with fear.
『Let me guess, you told them you'd crush anyone who didn't confess, right? You really know how to inspire cooperation, Ryuen-chan. 』
Ryuen smirked at that, clearly not denying it.
Horikita, meanwhile, was far from convinced.
"You say that, but it doesn't prove anything. For all we know, you could be lying about the VIPs identity. You expect us to just take your word for it?" she said.
"It's natural that you wouldn't trust me. In that case, why don't we make a contract? We'll pledge to share the identities of our three VIPs and go after Class A. That way, our three classes will benefit, but Class A won't." He made it sound so easy, like they were just trading favors.
"A contract is meaningless, since we won't know who might betray whom. If Class C betrays us, it'll all be over," replied Horikita.
Her flat rejection was no surprise. Given Ryuen's track record of double-crosses, it was hardly surprising. That reputation alone was enough to discredit anything he said. So, that didn't exactly make him a trustworthy business partner.
"You really don't trust me, huh? Can't say I blame you. But like I said—three classes working together means Class A gets crushed. The math is simple." he said, glancing between the group.
If you oversimplify it like that, anyone could look like a genius. And frankly, his strategy wasn't necessarily a bad one. But Ryuen himself was the issue.
No matter how logical his plan sounded, no one could ignore who was saying it. His reputation, his methods, his personality—they all worked against him. Even if the plan made sense on paper, trusting someone like him to follow through was a whole different matter.
"It sounds like a pretty bold idea, but I don't think it's realistic. In the first place, why would you target Class A? Shouldn't you target us instead? Is there a catch?" Ichinose asked.
That question cut straight to the heart of the matter.
Because if you really looked at the current class rankings, Class B was far closer to Class A than either Class C or D. The difference between Class A and B was less than a hundred points. Dragging down Class B would be the smarter move—it would widen the gap and make it harder for them to catch up. From a purely strategic standpoint, that was the better choice.
And given ryuen devious nature, there's no way he would overlook something so obvious.
"Heh. I know you don't trust me," Ryuen said with a shrug, clearly unfazed. "Even if I brought a written contract, you'd probably still tear it up. And that's exactly why I called that guy over."
He pointed toward Kumagawa, who smiled back like a kid caught mid-prank.
『Me? 』
"What are you even talking about? Are you an idiot? Why would you bring Kumagawa into something like this?" Horikita snapped immediately. "
"See? That's why you're stuck in Class D, you're too slow, Horikita. Use your head." Ryuen said in a mocking tone.
"I don't really understand either..." Ichinose looked just as lost.
"Think about it, if we pick him as the representative, no one would back out easily."
"And why's that supposed to convince anyone?" Horikita narrowed her eyes.
Ryuen snorted.
"Because, who the hell wants to be insulted by him?"
Everyone paused.
It was stupid.
Really, stupid.
"That guy's annoying He'll tear into you with a smile on his face and say things you didn't even know you were insecure about. If anyone tries to screw over the agreement, he won't just expose it—he'll humiliate them. do you really want that to happen?"
Kumagawa's reputation wasn't just bad. It was infamous. If it had been anyone else, this strategy wouldn't even be on the table. But because it was Kumagawa, it somehow became impossibly probable.
Let's put it this way.
It was like a blind person yelling at someone with perfect vision for taking the wrong path—even while being the one led. Insult after insult, directions from someone who couldn't even see. No matter how logical or patient you were, eventually it'd get on your nerves. Eventually, you'd want to leave them behind.
But in this case, there was no walking away.
If you joined the deal, you had to see it through. Because if you didn't, you'd be stuck with a nonstop barrage of venom from the school's most irritating person.
Even someone with zero pride would think twice about stepping into that territory.
It was a completely backward strategy.
Horikita frowned, her eyes narrowing as she tried to put it into clearer terms.
"...So you're saying, by having Kumagawa involved, the pressure to follow through with the agreement increases. Not because of trust, but because of fear of being humiliated by him?"
Ryuen grinned.
"Exactly. I don't need anyone here to like me. I just need them to hate the idea of being on his bad side more."
Everyone looked at the person in question.
Even after being insulted like that—openly called annoying, someone everyone would hate to deal with, Kumagawa was still smiling, like it didn't bother him in the slightest. If anything, he looked proud.
『That's rude. I was completely clueless regarding everyone's view of me, but if we turn a blind eye to the fact that your opinion is entirely wrong, you're quite right. But it is still wrong to simply assume you are wrong. 』
Kumagawa's words didn't help. They somehow made it worse.
Ichinose tilted her head slightly, puzzled.
"Um... Kumagawa-kun, are you not offended by that?"
『Offended? Why? 』
"Why, you ask..."
『That was pretty tame, honestly. I've heard worse. I've been told so many awful things throughout my life that there's probably not one negative comment I haven't had thrown at me. I think even my parents were part of that list. My crush too. So being insulted by a friend? That's nothing.』
Uwaa...
The mood in the room dropped slightly.
Everyone felt a bit uncomfortable. It was hard to tell whether it was a joke or not. He said it so casually that it almost didn't feel real, but maybe that was exactly why it was.
Even if he was lying, it was the kind of lie that didn't feel worth laughing at.
Ryuen, on the other hand, didn't seem bothered at all.
"See? I told you. If someone betrays the deal, he'll probably just laugh and start listing off every reason why you were never trustworthy in the first place. And let's be honest—do you really want to be called a traitor, a liar, and a backstabber by him of all people?"
Ryuen leaned back with a smug look.
"I know none of you trust me. That's fine. But if we're all worried about someone breaking the deal, then having the most annoying guy in the school breathing down our necks isn't the worst insurance, is it?"
It was a ridiculous reason.
Absurd, even.
And yet, it might have been the most unorthodox plan anyone could've come up with.
Ryuen scanned the room, lips curling into a smirk.
"So? What do you all think?"
The silence didn't last long.
"I reject it," Horikita said firmly. "No matter how you dress it up, it's still coming from you. I don't trust you, and I don't trust anything you're involved in."
It seems Horikita already made up her mind from the beginning. Seeing how fast she rejected Ryuen's proposal, that meant she really wasn't even considering it. The fact that Ryuen was the one suggesting it automatically disqualified it in her eyes.
To her, trusting Ryuen was probably the same as walking off a cliff and expecting to land on a mattress.
Ichinose followed soon after with a troubled look.
"It's definitely an unorthodox, borderline absurd plan. Involving Kumagawa as some sort of psychological insurance is bizarre enough on its own. And even if that part somehow works, your proposal is high risk, low return. I can't agree to it."
"Being cautious is prudent, but sometimes you need to act."
"Maybe from your perspective. You're casting a wide net right now and gathering information. Haven't you ever dreamed of rising up to Class B?" Kanzaki asked, stepping in with a composed, skeptical voice. "Besides, involving Kumagawa, who's from Class D, is stupid. That alone makes the idea flawed."
It was a fair concern.
Kanzaki wasn't wrong. From a Class B student's point of view, dragging in a wild card from Class D only complicated things. Even if Kumagawa's presence did add a strange, unique pressure to the arrangement, he was still an outsider. A liability. And more importantly, a competitor.
"Horikita-san rejected your proposal. Therefore, this plan is off to a bad start," added Ichinose.
"Well, there's no denying that. Even if Suzune wanted to agree, there's a reason why she can't," said Ryuen.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Horikita.
"You already know what I'm getting at, don't you? Let's ignore the addition of Kumagawa for a second. At its core, for this strategy to work, you need to understand your own class perfectly. For Class D, which lacks any spirit of teamwork, this is an impossible undertaking. Right? It's also impossible for Class A, since they're split into two factions."
That last comment stuck.
It provided a pretty solid justification for targeting Class A specifically. They may have been at the top, but they weren't unified.
"But I can make this strategy work, since I rule my class. And it's smart for Ichinose, since she's incredibly popular within her class. I originally pitched the idea of a three-class alliance, but it's also possible with just two classes. The chances of a perfect outcome might be lowered, but since it's me we're talking about, I can see it through. If we pull this off, Classes A and D will be stripped bare and left with nothing," Ryuen said.
He made no attempt to hide it, he was openly willing to sacrifice Class D without hesitation.
"You really overestimate me."
The fact that Ryuen had openly shared his idea and asked Class B to double-cross Class D right in front of Horikita and the rest of Class D was pretty unsettling in its own right.
The proposal to Class B made complete sense from Ryuen's perspective. With their help, he could box out Class A and widen the lead over D. Even if the alliance wasn't clean, even if there was no trust involved, the numbers spoke for themselves. A two-class team-up could still bring in more class points than going it alone.
And if Ichinose bit the bait, it would've been bad for Class D.
"..."
And the worst part was that Ichinose looked like she was genuinely considering it. Normally, she would have laughed it off or rejected it on principle. But now, her expression held something different.
Kanzaki noticed it too. He didn't say a word, but he was staring at Ichinose quietly.
There were probably less than five people in this room who understood the reason behind Ichinose's hesitation. Less than five who could see the shift in her mindset.
And Ichinose herself... turned her gaze toward the source.
Kumagawa was standing near the railing, staring absentmindedly out at the sea.
The possibility of Ichinose and Ryuen teaming up was extremely dangerous, and no longer just a what-if.
And that's why Ayanokouji, who had been silent the whole time, finally decided to speak.
"Even if that's the case... suppose Class B and C did become allies. Wouldn't that mean that Class A and D would become allies as well?"
Ryuen clicked his tongue.
"Do you understand the situation, tagalong?" Ryuen mocked him, but Ayanokouji didn't fall for his cheap tricks. Instead, he offered his honest opinion.
"I admit that Class D is fractured, but if faced with certain defeat, I think we'd come together. I believe Class A would do the same."
"Honami and I haven't entered into an alliance yet, so you have no way of knowing. Are you sure Katsuragi will cooperate with you?" asked Ryuen.
It was a sharp jab aimed at Ayanokouji's earlier remark.
Katsuragi was, without a doubt, cautious. He was someone who tread carefully and rarely made bold, emotional choices. But even a cautious person could be forced to choose the lesser evil. And if Ryuen and Ichinose were to cooporate, Class A would find itself boxed in alongside Class D. At that point, Katsuragi wouldn't have the luxury of sitting back. He'd have to take action to minimize the damage.
Even someone like him would likely choose a controlled response over a total collapse.
Ayanokouji's warning had been subtle, thankfully Horikita picked up on it, and she had reached the same conclusion.
They couldn't let this alliance happen.
"There's no point continuing this discussion any further. In the end, both parties would just crush each other," said Horikita.
"What do you mean, Suzune?" asked Ryuen.
"I mean exactly what Ayanokouji said earlier. If you insist on continuing to act as if this were a strategy meeting, we'll just have to assume that this is your intent and respond accordingly."
Horikita's words didn't leave any room for misinterpretation.
She was drawing a clear line. Class D wouldn't stay passive. If Class B and Class C formed an alliance and tried to shut them out, they would fight back, regardless of how fractured they were internally.
That show of resolve wasn't just for Ryuen—it was for Ichinose, too.
Even if the alliance between Ichinose and Class D was vague, a loose bond, it was enough to act as a deterrent, to make her hesitate and make her think twice before lending her hand to Ryuen.
So, naturally, all eyes turned to her.
If she chose to support Ryuen now, in front of everyone, it would change how people saw her. Even if her intent was to protect her class, the way she went about it would leave a stain. She would be branded as someone who could betray others for personal gain.
And that kind of label was hard to shake off, especially for someone like her.
That was exactly what Ayanokouji had calculated.
If Class B and Class C formed an alliance, then Class A and Class D would respond.
By keeping it hypothetical, he avoided pushing Ichinose into a corner.
And Ayanokouji knew. As far as he could tell, Ichinose was a good person—too morally upright to willingly take part in something underhanded, no matter how much it benefited her class.
But contrary to his expectation, Ichinose didn't speak out against Ryuen.
Instead, she turned to someone he hadn't accounted for in this moment.
"...Kumagawa-kun. What do you think?" she asked softly.
That simple question drew everyone's attention.
『Hmm? What do I think about what, exactly?』Kumagawa tilted his head, as if genuinely confused.
Ichinose didn't answer immediately. Her gaze dropped for a second, as if searching for the right words.
"That friend of yours... from the past. If she were in this situation, what would she do?"
『Her, huh...』
Ichinose didn't mention her name, but she didn't need to. Kumagawa already knew exactly who she was talking about.
Kurokami Medaka.
His gaze lingered on Ichinose for a moment, his usual smile fading just a little. Not that he pitied her in the usual sense. It was more like he pitied the fact that she was trying to follow the path of someone who wasn't even remotely human.
Ichinose had developed a quiet admiration for Medaka-chan based on the short descriptions he had given her. As expected from Medaka-chan. Even without meeting her directly, she had managed to influence someone from a completely different world.
『Ichinose-chan.』
His voice was a little different this time—less playful, more genuine. That alone was enough to draw everyone's attention.
『I think you're so fixated on her that you've forgotten something important. Medaka-chan isn't someone you can imitate. She's not a leader in the way you think. She's just Medaka-chan. No more, no less. She always wins because she is Medaka-chan, not the other way around. The world moves around her because she is Medaka-chan, not the other way around. She doesn't succeed because she tries hard. She succeeds because she is Medaka-chan. She doesn't inspire others because she's meant to lead. People follow her simply because she is Medaka-chan. No matter how much you analyze or break her down, you'll never find a 'method' to what she is. Because at the end of the day, she isn't someone you could truly understood. She's just Medaka-chan. 』
No one in the room quite understood what Kumagawa was going on about. It was the first time any of them had heard him speak so highly of someone. But rather than genuine praise, it sounded more like he believed she was perfect in every conceivable and inconceivable way.
To Ayanokouji, it only made Kumagawa seem even more mysterious.
He had already know there was something strange behind Kumagawa's enrollment at this school. But now, after hearing that speech, his curiosity was piqued more than ever.
Just who exactly was this Medaka?
Ichinose's fingers tightened slightly, gripping the fabric of her uniform.
『So, let's not waste time on "what Medaka-chan would do," okay? You're not her. You never will be. I think it would be best if you think what you want to do instead what would she do. 』
"...And if I don't know?" she asked quietly.
『Then I'll act accordingly. 』
"What does that mean?" She looked up, confused.
Kumagawa smiled.
『It means, whatever choice you make, I'll make sure you get a little taste of what it's like to face a Minus. 』
Ichinose furrowed her brows. "A Minus...?"
『Yup. It's one thing to hear about it, and another to experience it firsthand. So let's make a deal. You make your choice, and I'll show you what it really means to reach the end of a path shaped by a Minus. But don't worry—』
Kumagawa held up a finger, smiling.
『I won't go over the top. That'd just be overkill, right? I'll keep it around the level of when I was... hmm, maybe six or seven? Back when I still had a shred of restraint. I'll make sure not to destroy you completely. Just enough to make you a little uncomfortable, without leaving a mark. That way, your spirit won't be affected at all. Who knows? Maybe then you'll start to understand how Medaka-chan used to deal with me... just a little bit better. 』
Ichinose stared at him for a long moment. She didn't respond right away.
There was something deeply unsettling about Kumagawa's words and the way he smiled so casually. The way he framed everything as harmless, only made it worse.
Still, Ichinose didn't flinch.
She finally let out a small breath and turned back to Ryuen.
"...I'm sorry. I can't accept your offer. Even if it's possible for us to get more points, I can't ally with you on that reason alone," said Ichinose.
Ryuen clicked his tongue.
"You're really turning this down? This is a one-time offer, Honami."
"I know. But right now, it's not possible to ally with Class D, even if we're on a somewhat friendly basis," she added, glancing briefly at Class D students.
"..."
Horikita remained silent, eyes fixed forward.
"What do you mean by that?" Ryuen frowned.
This time, the answer didn't come from Ichinose, It came from Ayanokouji.
"Yesterday. You're already aware of what happened with the Monkey group," he said calmly, despite Horikita's subtle attempt to stop him. "It may have been an individual decision, but someone from our class submitted the name of Class B's VIP. That much is undeniable."
There was no arguing against it, a betrayal had already occurred.
Ichinose quietly followed up.
"In other words, someone from Class D has already made a hostile move against Class B. That alone proves your proposal was unrealistic from the start."
"I see... if it's from the Monkey group, then..."
Ryuen paused for a moment, deep in thought. Based on the group placement intel he'd gathered from his own classmates, there was only one student in that group who stood out as problematic.
『It's Kouenji-kun. 』
"Well, that's unfortunate," Ryuen said, brushing it off as if it were inevitable.
He didn't look the least bit disappointed, but rather like he'd guessed that his plan wouldn't fly from the get-go. Ryuen got up and left the room, passing them by. As he left, Ryuuen glanced at Ayanokouji and Kumagawa one more time.
Ayanokouji and ryuen eyes happened to meet.
"It can't be," he muttered.
Ryuen left the room.
"...So? Kumagawa-kun, where are you going next?" Matsushita asked, turning to him.
She was in a strangely good mood. At first, she hadn't expected anything out of the meeting, just something to pass the time. But seeing representatives from three classes clash so openly had stirred her curiosity, and now that it had been satisfied, she felt oddly content.
And since she came here with Kumagawa, it only made sense to ask where he'd head next.
『Where should I go next? Hmm, I haven't really decided. Things wrapped up nicely here, but I can't just stand around doing nothing. I think it's time I get back to work. 』
"Work?"
Kumagawa didn't answer her. Instead, he turned toward Ichinose.
『You've already chosen your poison, haven't you? Then let's continue playing our roles, just like always. 』
"...What do you mean by that, Kumagawa-kun?"
Kumagawa just gave her a genuine, half-hearted smile before turning away and quietly leaving the room.
Ichinose felt a subtle chill run down her spine as she watched him leave.
"Ah, I should be going. My friends are calling me," said Kushida cheerfully, following after Kumagawa without missing a beat.
And just like that, the meeting ended.
With Kumagawa gone, a strange silence settled over the room. No one said it aloud, but the same question echoed in everyone's mind.
What happens now?
Seriously... what's going to happen after this?
『END』
『』『』『』『』『』
P.S. If I don't update for the next three four, five, six, or seven days, I might upload the rest of the volume all at once.