After finishing my business in the staff room, I left the school to head back to the dormitory.
As I changed into my outdoor shoes at the shoe lockers, I glanced at the others. As expected, every locker still had a pair left inside.
By now, Class C's classroom was probably in the middle of an interrogation. Returning at this point would only disrupt things. There was no reason to go.
With nothing left to do, I passed through the main entrance and started walking toward the dorms.
Just as I took my first step, my phone vibrated in my bag with a notification.
I checked the sender. It was Sakayanagi from Class A. The message asked if we could meet after school today.
The concise text went on to mention consulting about the upcoming final exam and the future direction of Class A.
I felt a faint suspicion. It was unlike Sakayanagi to seek advice from anyone.
"Does it have to be me, specifically?"
She had no need to consult others. With that brilliant mind of hers, she could resolve almost anything on her own.
Several possibilities surfaced as I considered her motives.
Perhaps she simply wanted to speak with me. Perhaps she had an ulterior purpose beyond what was written in the message. Or perhaps she genuinely wanted my input on the stated topics.
With too little information, speculation was pointless.
To save time, I called her directly. The line connected almost instantly after a few seconds.
"Good afternoon, Izuru-kun. I was expecting your reply around now. What is your answer?"
"I'll hear you out."
"Fufu, thank you."
We quickly settled the details.
The meeting place would be a café in Keyaki Mall, and we would both arrive as soon as possible.
I ended the call and immediately headed out.
Considering her legs, I would reach the café before her.
It would be wise to secure a larger table in advance.
From the background noise during the call, I could tell several students were around her—four or five, by my estimate. I should prepare seats for that many.
Upon arrival, I reserved a spacious table as planned.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Izuru-kun. You're alone today, I see."
A few minutes later, a group entered the café.
The girl who stood out most among them—Sakayanagi—spoke to me first.
I counted three of her usual followers nearby.
There was the blond with slicked-back hair who had been present the first time I met her—a boy whose delinquent appearance somehow carried an intellectual edge.
And another, a stern-looking boy with long hair that covered one eye—long for a male student, though not quite as long as mine.
Both boys approached cautiously, on guard.
"I'm usually alone."
"You're joking. Don't you normally head home with Ibuki-san or Ryūen-kun?"
Now that she mentioned it, I realized she was right.
I was fully aware of my surroundings, yet I had grown so accustomed to company on the way home that I had stopped registering it as anything unusual.
"You're not wrong."
"Fufu, it seems I'm fortunate today to have caught you in an unguarded moment.
And you anticipated that I would bring friends and reserved a larger table. As expected, you never disappoint me."
She smiled faintly and took the seat beside me.
Evidently, she had predicted that I would predict the need for extra space.
Her foresight was impressive, I noted silently.
"So, who are the rest of you?"
As the three students sat across from us, I addressed the two boys whose names I didn't know while observing them.
"…Hayato Kitō."
"I'm Masayoshi Hashimoto. Nice to meet you. Oh, and you can skip your own introduction. You're famous enough as it is."
"Understood. Nice to meet you as well."
The stern-faced one was Hayato Kitō. The one with the casual tone was Masayoshi Hashimoto.
I committed Sakayanagi's two pawns firmly to memory.
"It's been a while since summer vacation, hasn't it, Kamuro-san? Have you been well?"
"…You're doing that on purpose, aren't you?"
Kamuro wore a thoroughly exasperated expression.
Once again, it seemed she had been dragged along against her will as Sakayanagi's companion.
"Masumi-san is quite fun to tease, isn't she?"
"She gives such honest reactions, so yes—I can affirm that."
At our words, Kamuro glared irritably at us.
Her responses were transparent, as always. For someone with Sakayanagi's sadistic streak, she made an excellent plaything.
To smooth things over, I handed Kamuro the menu.
We ordered drinks one by one. I chose coffee.
"So, it was about the final exam and the future of Class A, correct?"
The drinks arrived, and after a brief pause, we moved to the main topic.
Glancing at Sakayanagi's expression, I saw a delighted smile—as though she had been waiting for this exact moment.
"Yes. Let me start with the final exam.
First, you should know that this time, Class A intends to 'attack' Class D."
Her use of "attack" referred to forcing another class to solve the questions they had prepared.
Their target was Class D—the same as Class C's.
"Very much in Katsuragi-kun's style. With Class A so far ahead, the difference in outcome is negligible no matter which class they choose.
Their obvious plan is to take the easiest victory by directing their questions at Class D, the opponent they're most likely to beat."
"It's a strategy that lacks excitement, but it's rational enough that his faction fully supports it."
"And since your faction is still at a disadvantage in numbers, you lack the influence to override their approval."
The sports festival had shifted the balance slightly, but the Katsuragi faction still dominated Class A.
"Exactly. So, to change the current situation, my goal is to further erode the Katsuragi faction's support during this exam."
The picture was becoming clear.
Still, agreeing immediately would be reckless.
My negotiation partner was Sakayanagi, after all. I listened for the rest.
"There is only one thing I want your cooperation with: please help arrange for Class A to become the opponent that Class C 'defends' against."
She stared at me as if trying to peer straight through.
Her lips curved gently, her gaze challenging.
She was clearly enjoying the negotiation while treating it with complete seriousness.
"That's your angle, then. Even knowing my abilities, you still choose to test me… You have quite the combative personality."
I met her gaze with my own analytically sharpened eyes and laid out my deductions, intending to unsettle her.
Yet she remained unfazed, answering only with a charming smile.
"…Fufufu. Do you dislike combative members of the opposite sex?"
"Not limited to the opposite sex—I don't mind people with a strong core."
She laughed with evident satisfaction.
Her earlier request for cooperation had been phrased to gauge my negotiating skill—how many questions it would provoke, how I would respond.
In any negotiation, securing the superior position is essential. Assessing the opponent's strength is the natural first step.
"…Could you two please speak so the rest of us can understand? I have no idea what you're talking about."
Kamuro glared at us, demanding clarification.
The other two didn't glare, but they were clearly thinking the same thing.
"She stated that her objective is the downfall of the Katsuragi faction, and that the Katsuragi faction supports Class A attacking Class D.
If one aims to undermine their authority under these conditions, the standard move is to frustrate them from the outset. So, first create a situation where they cannot select Class D as their attack target, letting their dissatisfaction build.
To do that, the desired targets must overlap. Since she asked for my cooperation, it's clear she intends to involve Class C.
In other words, have Class C also select Class D as their attack target to force the overlap. Normally, negotiation would begin there."
I checked the three followers' reactions—they were following perfectly. Worthy of Class A students.
"Yet she did not do that. There are several possible reasons, but taking her challenging gaze as one indicator, the strongest possibility is that she already knew Class C would target Class D.
In short, she knew, so there was no need to ask.
And by how the request was worded, she could measure my negotiating ability. That was her benchmark.
Her eyes implicitly conveyed that she assumed I would see through her thinking—and that she had anticipated that assumption… No, she had likely prepared answers in advance and intended to guide my very thought process."
I paused briefly to let the three process, then continued.
"Furthermore, once the desired targets overlap, the Katsuragi faction's next logical choice would be the class with academic ability closest to Class D—inevitably Class C.
Foreseeing this, and anticipating that I would foresee it, she asked me to arrange for Class A to become Class C's defensive opponent. This exam favors the academically superior Class A, giving it a lower chance of loss than the others—but it is not guaranteed.
Regardless of class, if someone commits betrayal and hands the prepared questions and answers to the opponent in advance, probabilities become meaningless.
That is why she is negotiating with Class C—the class most capable of executing betrayal effectively and with flexibility.
If my reasoning thus far is correct, the approach feels unnecessarily roundabout. She could have explained everything directly, yet she courteously stated only the essentials.
Therefore, the indirectness, the provocative gaze, and the deliberate omissions all indicate that Sakayanagi was testing me.
That is why I responded with words meant to unsettle her."
I finished the explanation and soothed my slightly dry throat with the coffee.
The refined aroma and subtle bitterness were pleasant.
"Perfect answer. Judging from Ryūen-kun's usual thinking, he would naturally want to target Class D."
She clapped lightly, her face lit with a broad, satisfied smile.
"That's creepy. Why do you have to read so many layers into a simple conversation?"
"This isn't a simple conversation—it's a negotiation. Gauging the opponent's strength is fundamental."
Sakayanagi continued happily, while Kamuro looked thoroughly unnerved.
As always, the two of them appeared surprisingly friendly from an outsider's perspective.
"Still, whether to accept this proposal is not a decision I can make alone.
Even if you leaked Class A's questions and answers to Class C, there remains the possibility that you would swap the answers at the last moment to inflict damage on Class C instead.
And in any case—nine times out of ten, Class D will attack Class C. You're not the type to overlook that."
For Class D, facing Class A or Class B academically would be a poor strategy. Like Class C, they would prefer the class with the closest academic level.
Thus, Class D's choice could be predicted with near certainty: Class C.
Even if we successfully overlapped the first-round nominations on Class D, Class D would nominate Class C in the first round, leaving Class A's second nomination no choice but the remaining Class B.
"You've seen through me completely. You're right—if Class D doesn't nominate anyone but Class C, Class A won't be able to attack Class C.
In that case, the solution is simple. We just have Class D nominate Class A instead."
Let me organize the first-round nominations.
Class A → Class D
Class B → ?
Class C → Class D
Class D → Class C
That's the current known setup.
Sakayanagi's proposal changes it to this:
Class A → Class D
Class B → ?
Class C → Class D
Class D → Class A
If Class B's unknown choice turns out to be Class A, two classes will overlap on the same target, triggering a lottery.
If everything goes smoothly:
Class A → Class D → lottery failure
Class B → Class A → lottery success
Class C → Class D → lottery success
Class D → Class A → lottery failure
Then, in the second round:
Class A → Class C
Class B → Class A
Class C → Class D
Class D → Class B
The ideal matchup would be complete.
"I'll handle the negotiations with Class D myself and get them to select Class A. It won't be difficult—I can offer them the test answers in exchange for their cooperation.
Class B will definitely nominate Class A to close the point gap. That creates the overlap and forces a second round on purpose. Class D won't be expecting an overlap at all, so they won't see this coming.
It should be easy to make it happen."
Sakayanagi rattled off the plan without pause.
The theory held together, certainly. But—it was full of holes, the kind of overconfident plan someone assumes can't fail simply because they're the one negotiating.
She wouldn't come up with something this careless. I couldn't shake the feeling that she had another goal.
"What is your real objective?"
I asked her directly.
Sakayanagi answered with her usual mask-like smile.
"My, even you can't understand the explanation I just gave?"
"I'll answer a question with a question: would someone like you really carry out such an imperfect plan?
It's true that Class D's negotiation skills are weak. With your abilities, you could probably force this through against someone like Hirata-kun or Kushida-san.
But Horikita-san is there. This plan will fail without question."
"Horikita-san is certainly excellent. But I'm more excellent than she is. Do you think I'd lose to her in a battle of words?"
"If having your strategy seen through counts as losing, then you will definitely lose. Doesn't your superhuman analytical ability reach that far?"
Sakayanagi took a calm sip of her coffee.
Her refined manners betrayed complete composure. This wasn't a bluff.
With her pride, she wasn't factoring in the possibility of defeat. No—she almost seemed to think losing would be fine.
There was definitely another purpose, I concluded.
"You show no signs of urgency. You don't mind if you lose—if this plan is exposed.
The fundamental premise is that Class A can win against any class as long as no betrayal occurs.
Conversely, if betrayal succeeds, Class A will lose.
I had assumed you were already preparing sabotage no matter which class you faced, in order to elevate your own faction."
"Yes. Whether this plan succeeds or fails, it costs me nothing.
But I'd naturally prefer to handle things more efficiently, wouldn't I? That's why I'm negotiating with you in Class C—the class with the highest chance of successful betrayal."
She dodged the question skillfully.
I still couldn't grasp Sakayanagi's true aim.
It was unknown. I accelerated my thinking, assembling every available piece to unravel the mystery and diving into deeper speculation.
"Fufu, even you can't guess what I'm thinking.
After all, guessing it would mean seeing through my entire heart."
"Are you saying I can't?"
"Yes. You're the most intelligent person in my eyes, but even you aren't omniscient or omnipotent."
Our superhuman analytical abilities clashed head-on.
But only for an instant—because Sakayanagi returned her piercing, murderous glare to its usual gentle state.
"Still, you truly are impressive. To sense my real objective from just this conversation."
"What is that objective?"
"Fufu, well… if I had to say, it's a provocation toward my childhood friend. I want to see how far he can read my intentions with this plan.
It serves well enough for that purpose, don't you think?"
Childhood friend—no doubt she meant Ayanokōji-kun.
Putting the information together, her true goal was to test how much of her plan he could discern.
In other words, she had devised the entire strategy for personal reasons.
Success or failure didn't matter to her. That was why she felt no urgency.
It was all nothing more than a challenge to Ayanokōji-kun.
"I'll admit—I couldn't read that emotion."
"Fufu. It depends on my negotiations with Horikita-san, but if the plan succeeds, I'll ask for your smooth cooperation then.
We can discuss the details by email."
She concluded with those words.
That effectively ended the topic of the final exam.
"Now, I'd love to move on to the next matter… but let's take a short break first.
We're in a popular café, after all. Let's order something delicious, chat a little, and deepen our acquaintance."
"No need. Let's finish our business quickly."
I had nothing else planned afterward, but I preferred to wrap up obligations as soon as possible.
I proposed it to her in a slightly firmer tone.
"…Is that so? Actually, this café is offering limited-time mugwort mochi right now."
"No helping it, then. Let's deepen our acquaintance a little."
If mugwort mochi was available, that changed things.
On second thought, opportunities to talk with others were valuable chances to study the human heart. There was no reason to refuse outright.
"…There's a paper-thin line between idiot and genius."
Kamuro muttered in a dry voice while looking at me.
...
After finishing one matter of discussion, we fully enjoyed the café.
This café, prominently located even within Keyaki Mall, was a favorite spot among students.
Its dessert menu was extensive, offering everything from Japanese to Western sweets.
Since mugwort mochi was currently available for a limited time, I was naturally partaking in it.
Coffee paired with mugwort mochi—the contrast of bitter and sweet was not unpleasant. Still, as I ate, I found myself vaguely craving warm tea as well.
Was this what they called the Japanese spirit? The thought crossed my mind, but it was merely a matter of personal preference, so I dismissed it as pointless.
"That was quite delicious."
Sitting across from me, Sakayanagi elegantly wiped her mouth and set her dishes down on the table.
The graceful sequence of movements as she lifted her cup to moisten her lips suited her perfectly.
As for why she was now seated directly in front of me—it was because she had sent her three followers home, freeing up their seats.
There had been no real need to move, but she had done so of her own accord, so I said nothing.
"I'd heard you were fond of mugwort mochi, but how did this one compare?"
"It wasn't bad. It's perfectly adequate for times when I don't wish to go through the effort of making my own."
"…Homemade. So you possess the talents of a pâtissier as well."
"I don't make anything extravagant. Gathering the necessary equipment is simply too much trouble."
Though I possess every conceivable talent, none of them are always in peak condition.
For instance, exercising my hacking talent requires a high-performance computer. Building that computer requires the talent of an inventor, which in turn demands materials and a workshop.
Environment is everything. Without a foundation, true potential cannot be realized.
Of course, given enough time, I could deploy such a foundation anywhere—this is simply the nature of my tiresome abilities.
"The café is getting crowded. Shall we move on to the main topic?"
Sakayanagi set down her cup and began the second discussion.
"About the future of Class A. May I first ask why you're consulting me—an outsider—on an internal matter?"
"Fufu, it isn't consultation."
"Then what do you intend to discuss?"
She briefly averted her gaze from me and turned toward the window.
"Izuru-kun, what did you think of the three I brought today?"
"Ordinary students."
"Fufu, that's only from your perspective. I couldn't show you everyone, but every student in Class A has something they excel at."
There were indeed hidden strengths.
Take Hashimoto-kun, for example. He had skillfully kept the atmosphere light while making clever remarks.
It was clear he possessed high communication ability.
"My faction is small for now, but it will grow, and excellent students like them will only increase."
"And?"
I had assumed she was simply introducing her pawns, yet she continued with seemingly unrelated talk.
It was unusually inefficient for Sakayanagi.
"I'm lightly advertising the value of the destination before extending the invitation."
"Advertising?"
"Don't you understand? This is the appeal before recruitment."
Recruitment. The moment I heard the word, my thoughts accelerated.
Her words held no deception—she was completely serious.
"Izuru-kun, why not transfer to my class?"
She stated it with a faint smile.
Her voice carried a trace of unusual gentleness, yet it overflowed with confidence.
I composed myself to listen.
"In the future, I will stand at the top of Class A. Admittedly, it will take a little more time to reach that point.
But if you joined Class A, that troublesome process would be resolved. Don't you agree?"
"It would indeed be resolved. However… that isn't like you. Don't you want to face me in earnest competition?"
"…Fufu, that desire is certainly strong. But another wish has emerged during this school life."
Sakayanagi lowered her gaze to her empty cup.
Her expression gradually filled with joy, as though a vessel once ruled by boredom was finally being satisfied.
"I want to watch the collision between the 'fake' and the 'real' from the very best seat.
I want to witness what arises from that clash—the outcome, and perhaps even the spark that births an even greater talent."
Her eyes held a mad glint, fixed on something distant. Her smile was enchantingly maiden-like.
I didn't know her exact purpose, but it was clear this atmosphere was no act.
"That demeanor and manner of speech…"
"…I'm sorry. I showed you an unsightly side of myself."
Before I could finish, she apologized.
In an instant, her expression and aura had returned to normal.
That demeanor and speech—they truly resembled Nagito Komaeda.
He was incomparably more deranged, but the absolutism toward talent and the choice of words were strikingly similar.
The students of Class A must live in constant dread. I felt a measure of sympathy for them.
"I don't mind. However, I must decline your proposal.
I decided from the very beginning to remain in Class C and observe Ryūen-kun's path.
Until I deem him uninteresting, I will not transfer to your class."
At my words, she closed her eyelids for a moment.
Brief contemplation. Her refined features remained composed—no furrowed brow, no crease between her eyebrows.
Quiet thoughts were surely circulating within her mind.
"…I see. That is truly unfortunate."
In her opened blue eyes lingered a faint trace of loneliness.
Yet my emotions remained unmoved. No sympathy arose.
"You're giving up rather easily."
"I was aware it was a long shot. Besides, if I consider that I can still compete against you as an enemy in the exams, that in itself is satisfying.
And even without the best seat, I should still be able to watch the showdown."
She faced me directly as she spoke.
These words, too, showed no sign of falsehood.
"Even so, you show absolutely no interest in an invitation that would grant you the privileges of Class A.
Well… that is very much like you."
Sakayanagi readjusted her posture with a light smile and shifted the topic.
"I have no need for the reward granted upon graduating from Class A—the right to advance to any school or secure employment anywhere."
"Because your talents can achieve anything. …Fufu, my curiosity about what profession you'll choose in the future is truly endless."
"A future profession… I've never given it any thought."
With my talents, any career is possible.
Obtaining impressive qualifications or academic credentials is trivial compared to discovering new laws of physics.
It isn't worth exerting serious effort.
"Then how about becoming a doctor? I think it would suit you."
"A doctor."
I possess more than enough talent and knowledge. Yet that profession requires far more than those alone.
The overwhelming responsibility of holding lives in one's hands, the immense authority to choose between life and death.
One must continually hone experience and mental fortitude while bearing those burdens.
And that is only one example—many more qualities are required.
Though, in a sense, it might suit me precisely because I feel nothing for human lives.
"If you became a doctor, would you be able to cure my condition?"
"A congenital disease. For a complete cure, even I cannot use the word 'absolutely.'"
"Fufu, I apologize for your serious answer—it was only a joke.
No matter how great a genius you are, I'm not brazen enough to ask a classmate to cure my chronic illness."
She gently stroked her own legs, yet no sadness was visible.
She had accepted it. She had surely resisted countless times against the chains she was born with.
"I've already come to terms with it. It's far more enjoyable to think about what I can accomplish with what I have than to dwell on what I cannot obtain."
A powerful will.
I analyzed this forward-thinking attitude as one of the components that made her a genius.
"More people are gathering. We've overstayed, and it would be inconsiderate to the shop, so let's call it a day."
A short line had formed at the café entrance.
Indeed, lingering longer would inconvenience both the waiting customers and the establishment.
We split the bill separately and quickly left, moving to a quieter nearby area.
"Thank you for today. Let's speak again sometime."
"Yes. I'll be waiting anytime."
"And not just waiting—next time, I'd like an invitation from you as well, Izuru-kun."
"I'll consider it positively."
Sakayanagi flashed a slightly mischievous smile, gave a small bow, and walked away toward Keyaki Mall.
I watched the delicate, small back of the graceful girl disappear.
She seemed fragile enough to break at a touch, yet her presence conveyed no weakness.
On the contrary, it exuded the aura of an absolute ruler.
She hardly appeared to be someone burdened with a congenital disease.
"If the completed Neo World Program existed, I could let her experience a body free of illness."
Uncharacteristically, I voiced the thought aloud.
Yet what might seem a kind offer from an outsider's view could, for her, become a tour through living hell.
Experiencing a hope she had completely abandoned would indeed be filled with light. But afterward, it could plunge her into severe self-loathing.
Why don't I have it? Even if she had resolved never to covet what was absent, once she knew it, the possibility was high that a dark, addictive emotion would resurface like a relapse.
"There are truly troublesome contradictions where the solution is not the correct answer."
Sometimes it is better not to know.
They say ignorance is a sin, yet if remaining ignorant spares suffering and leads to happiness, then perhaps ignorance is the righteous path.
Still, some would call that indulgence. They would harshly declare that humans who abandon doubt hold no value and seek a "perfect" answer.
The contradiction of righteousness.
I turned these thoughts over in my mind as I began the walk home.
***
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