"Kushida-san."
A voice calls my name.
It rings clear and beautiful, like the chime of a bell. A voice that's infuriatingly easy to hear.
"You could at least return a greeting, don't you think?"
It's the morning exactly one week before the exams.
I'd happened to wake up early today, so I left the dorm in high spirits, looking forward to arriving at school with plenty of time to spare.
Even on the chilly path through this cold season, the usual urge to turn right back to the dorm never surfaced.
Yet, as if she'd been lying in wait, that woman appears.
I quicken my pace to shake her off, but she keeps coming. She's unbelievably persistent.
I don't greet her. Whatever she has to say is always the same tired script. Listening would be a complete waste of time.
"I see. Then, just like before, all you have to do is listen. Kushida-san, it's still not too late. Please stop betraying the class during the special exams."
That self-important girl, Horikita, declares me a traitor with perfect certainty.
It's true—I did betray the class during both the cruise ship exam and the sports festival.
But the reason I betray the class is none other than her.
"I told you, didn't I, Horikita-san? Don't speak to me any more than absolutely necessary. How many times have we done this now?"
I stop walking and tell her in a sharp tone. Yet Horikita shows no sign of flinching and continues her one-sided lecture.
"This makes five. But I won't stop talking to you. I'll keep trying to persuade you, no matter how many times it takes."
"Persuade me? You only made that bet because you couldn't, right? And yet you keep nagging—it's exhausting."
My real feelings slip out before I can stop them. I notice the harshness of my tone only after the words leave my mouth, but luckily there's no one else around.
Even for an early morning, I'm fortunate.
"I'm doing it to win that bet as well. You, of all people, should understand how devastating it would be if a traitor emerged in the next special exam.
I can't simply overlook someone who might cooperate with Class C just to ensure my expulsion."
"So that's why you keep approaching me again and again? …You're really annoying."
If I stay standing here, more and more eyes will turn our way.
My mask isn't perfect right now; I don't want unnecessary complications, so I start walking again.
Of course, Horikita follows.
"…You're planning to keep this up ten times, twenty times, aren't you?
It's pointless. My goal isn't going to change. If you don't want me to betray the class, then the only option is for you to drop out."
"I'll continue indefinitely until you stop betraying us. And I have absolutely no intention of leaving this school."
"That's exactly why we made that compromise bet. It was supposed to be a single decisive showdown to avoid these pointless arguments—so please, stop interfering with my daily life!"
After snapping that out, I speed up even more.
The sound of pursuing footsteps gradually fades.
Maintaining that pace, I reach the school entrance earlier than usual.
I'd managed to give myself plenty of buffer time, yet my mood is ruined.
The hair I'd carefully arranged is now tousled by the wind, and my true expression has slipped through. If this weren't school grounds, I'd have lashed out at the nearest object.
"Good morning, Kushida-san."
Hearing my name, I reflexively turn toward the voice.
I couldn't fully fix my hair, but I plaster on my smile.
"Good morning, Hirata-kun! It's unusual to run into you on the way to school. Do you always arrive this early?"
"Yeah. I often have morning practice with the soccer club, so I've gotten into the habit of coming early."
Since exams are a week away, all club activities are banned. Hirata is no exception.
"You're so dedicated! I only managed to wake up early by chance today~"
We continue with light small talk.
While chatting, I casually tidy my hair, and with that, all my unease vanishes.
This is the life I've chosen for myself—to be liked by everyone, to be number one.
Once again today, I was smirking deep inside.
…
The afternoon after speaking with Ayanokōji-kun and his group at the café.
To carry out Ryūen-kun's instructions, I set to work immediately.
The tasks were to investigate X and to negotiate the possibility of obtaining Class D's final exam questions.
I'd focus on the former. The latter had a high degree of difficulty, so I planned to only probe lightly.
There was no need to devote excessive time to it, especially since Ryūen-kun was already approaching the prime suspect, Kushida-san, making the second task low priority.
"Shiina-san, Kaneda-kun—may I have a moment?"
I called out to the pair preparing for the study session. There were still about fifteen minutes until it began, so there was no issue.
"What is it, Kamukura-shi?"
Kaneda spoke first. I handed him a folder containing roughly a hundred printed sheets and continued.
"What's this?"
As he naturally wondered, Kaneda peered inside. I explained right away.
"Practice problems I created. Please distribute them to the students I'm responsible for and have them work on them after school today.
I made extra copies, so feel free to use them for your own students or even solve them yourselves. The answers are included at the front."
"Understood… Does this mean you have plans again after school today, Kamukura-shi?"
"Yes. Thanks to your report on my activities, some work came my way."
Kaneda, who had been examining the problems, stiffened for an instant.
Originally, the reason this task had been assigned to me was because Kaneda had reported my status to Ryūen.
I'd finished creating the exam questions early and asked the two of them to review them; Kaneda had then passed that information along.
As a result, my availability became known, leading to the current situation. I wasn't particularly offended, but I decided to tease him a little in return.
"…Uh, well, I—"
"Just kidding. I'm not going to punish you or anything. You simply fulfilled your role."
At that, Kaneda exhaled in visible relief.
It wasn't an especially amusing reaction, but seeing panic on his face was rare enough to be noteworthy.
"…Punishment. Somehow, Kamukura-shi, you give off a completely different kind of scariness from Ryūen-shi."
"True. Ryūen-kun's intimidation comes from violence—the fear of knowing exactly what will happen.
Kamukura-kun, on the other hand, is frightening because you never know what he'll do."
Shiina calmly delivered her analysis.
Kaneda nodded vigorously twice, clearly in full agreement.
"I've never once been angry with either of you or tried to frighten you."
"That's not true, Kamukura-shi. That pep talk right before the sports festival honestly sent chills down my spine."
"Yes—it felt like an icy breeze running down my back. Precisely because we'd worked so hard, the fear of being abandoned spurred us on."
"Exactly. With Ryūen-shi, failure means a clear fist to the face. Not knowing is far scarier."
This time Shiina agreed, and Kaneda eagerly joined in.
The pep talk before the sports festival—the day Ryūen-kun laid out his plan to crush Horikita-san.
I'd chosen slightly menacing wording to match Ryūen's preferences, but it should have been only to that degree.
"Also, have you forgotten, Kamukura-kun? You threatened me during the cruise ship exam. It was genuinely frightening."
"…When was that?"
During the cruise ship exam—had I done something to her? I searched my memory, but nothing surfaced.
"After I submitted the preferred candidate for the Rat group, while you were speaking with Ryūen-kun."
Her words finally jogged my memory.
The incident she meant occurred after the first group discussion in the cruise ship exam.
At that time, after I'd cornered Kushida-san, I received contact from Hajime Hinata, so I directed all my cognitive resources toward this world.
I needed to determine whether the people here were aware of the existence of Ultimate Hope and Ultimate Despair.
I casually surveyed two individuals with comparatively strong wills.
That information was the priority; everything else I ignored entirely.
"I'll concede the point. I apologize for that occasion."
"It's fine—as long as you cook dinner for me next time."
Shiina smiled brightly, clearly enjoying herself.
She wouldn't let it go for free. Her attitude of taking whatever she can get is quite bold.
But since the fault was mine this time, I had little choice but to accept.
"I'll agree to those terms."
Shiina gave a small, triumphant fist pump.
For her, that was a remarkably visible display of emotion. Of course, the prospect of eating a meal prepared by an Ultimate Chef would elicit exactly that reaction.
"…You really are busy, Kamukura-kun. What's on the schedule today, if I may ask?"
Shiina cleared her throat lightly and shifted the topic.
"Investigating X, and negotiating to see if we can acquire Class D's final exam questions."
"I see. Not only setting up a study environment, but also exploring the theft of the opponent's finals…
Ryūen-kun has changed quite a bit since enrollment. It somehow reminds me of his birthday party."
"That party was impromptu, but he seemed quite pleased."
Shiina smiled with refined grace. The birthday party, naturally, referred to the celebration of Ryūen's birthday.
I'll save the full details for another time, but on October 20—Ryūen's birthday—Ishizaki-kun orchestrated some lighthearted fun.
"Oh, and X is the one who orchestrated Manabe-san and the others' betrayal, correct?"
"From your tone, you don't seem particularly interested."
"Well, no. Since I'm not deeply involved in the exam itself, I'm something of an outsider.
I only hear things secondhand, and apparently Horikita-san is the central figure in Class D."
"Ryūen-kun believes otherwise and is searching for X, but the truth doesn't concern you, does it?"
"That's right. I'm restraining myself from reading during exam period, so right now I'm far more worried about my books."
"That sounds exactly like you."
After wrapping up the casual conversation, I glanced at the classroom clock.
The hands had barely moved; there was still ample time, but finishing work early is always preferable.
"I'll return within an hour at the latest. Please handle the study session until then."
"Good luck. We'll put these practice problems to good use."
With that, I stepped out of the classroom.
I felt eyes on my back. After walking a short distance, I looked over my shoulder—the two were seeing me off.
Shiina-san was even giving a small wave.
There was no hostility. The sensation still felt unfamiliar.
Though I thought it absurd, I returned a slight nod nonetheless.
...
After leaving the classroom, I head to the library.
My targets, Satō-san and Matsushita-san, are apparently holding a study session there.
Around fifteen students in total are working together, preparing for the final exams.
According to Ryūen-kun, the group includes not only the two of them but also prominent members like Hirata-kun, Horikita-san, Kushida-san, and Karuizawa-san.
In other words, the library currently houses what could be called Class D's main base for this special exam.
On top of that, Class D occasionally holds joint study sessions with Class B.
I'm heading there to assess those two, but if Class B students are present, unnecessary complications might arise.
Well, luck is on my side, so nothing extra should happen.
"I've arrived."
I step through the larger-than-usual doors and enter the library.
I scan for my targets, but don't spot them immediately.
Rows of the latest paperback releases line the shelves like merchandise displays, alongside the librarian's recommendations. There are mystery novels, near-philosophical explanatory collections—everything clearly carefully curated.
Shiina-san would have pounced on them, but I still feel no interest. More importantly, I move deeper inside to accomplish my objective.
Books to the right, books to the left—books everywhere. The sight grows tiresome, yet the space somehow feels calming, likely because of the silence.
The distinctive scent of paper tickles my nostrils as I finally catch sight of the group teaching one another.
From what I can tell, no Class B students are present.
Even with only Class D, though, I can't yet distinguish which is Satō-san and which is Matsushita-san.
"The fastest way is to ask directly."
I slowly approach the group.
At the end of a table, a red-haired student wrestles with a math problem, twisting his head in concentration.
When his pen moves, a black-haired beauty smiles gently, as if satisfied. That is Horikita Suzune—the student now widely regarded as Class D's leader.
"Horikita-san."
Without waiting for a reaction, Horikita whips around toward me.
The others, noticing her movement, all turn to look at me at once.
I hadn't been concealing my presence, so their delayed response simply means they were deeply focused.
I see. The Class D that was once mocked as the bottom of the barrel no longer exists.
"…Kamukura-kun. What do you want?"
Horikita's sharp gaze probes my intentions.
But she isn't my objective today. I state my purpose concisely.
"Apologies for the sudden visit. I'm looking for two students from Class D—Satō-san and Matsushita-san. Are they here?"
Mid-question, I briefly shift my eyes from Horikita to survey the other students eavesdropping on the conversation.
Two people react—both showing surprise.
One is a cheerful-looking girl with slightly reddish-brown hair that sways as she moves.
The other is a calm girl with soft, chestnut-colored long hair.
These two are undoubtedly my targets, but Ryūen-kun said the academically stronger one is Matsushita-san; appearance alone makes it hard to judge.
I'll need to speak with them after all.
"Assuming they're here, what exactly is your reason for approaching them?"
"I could answer that, but the matter involves some private details."
Suggesting it isn't a topic for public discussion usually makes most people pause.
Horikita is no exception; she thinks for a moment before continuing.
"…Then tell me whatever you can. No matter how private it is, when a student from the opposing class for the final exams makes contact at this stage, it's naturally suspicious. You understand that, don't you?"
"Yes. Then—are you familiar with the term 'X'?"
"The hidden strategist in Class D that Ryūen-kun keeps mentioning."
"My purpose is to investigate whether these two are that X."
"If you're the one who showed up, you must have some degree of certainty. And that certainty ties into the private matter you mentioned?"
"You catch on quickly—it helps."
Horikita swiftly grasps my intent.
She remains calm in the face of this sudden development, showing no sign of panic.
Her classmates direct relieved expressions toward her. Her growing influence and development are evident.
"Well, the decision isn't mine alone. If they agree, you're free to investigate however you like.
But let me say this first: there is no X. I'm the one who saw through Class C's strategies during both the cruise ship exam and the sports festival."
Horikita puts on a bold front.
Her defiant smile and bravado are, to me, almost endearing.
She's working hard to keep up appearances.
"Yet Ryūen-kun refuses to accept that. Which is why he's saddled me with this task. It's nothing but trouble."
I complain without directly responding to her attitude.
I could have denied it, but I judged that this approach would lower her guard faster.
"…Does that mean you hold a different view from Ryūen-kun? That you believe there is no X?"
"Who knows."
"Evading the question suggests you might agree with Ryūen-kun.
And since those who share Ryūen-kun's views tend to employ similar methods, I don't want you anywhere near Satō-san or Matsushita-san.
Putting two vulnerable girls together with someone possessing superhuman athletic ability like you would be dangerous."
In other words, unless I reveal my own stance, she won't let me achieve my goal.
That's what she's saying.
"Answer me. What do you actually think?"
A fierce glare. But this back-and-forth is tedious.
"It's boring."
When I say that, her wariness intensifies.
I didn't come here today to fight. I need to finish this quickly and return to the study session.
"From my perspective, it doesn't matter who Class D's leader is or who the strategist might be. Whoever it is, they're only at that level."
I'm not lying.
Class D does have intriguing students like Ayanokōji-kun and Horikita-san.
But whether someone is leader or strategist—it's irrelevant.
After all, none of them can beat me. That's the truth, and a fact I'd prefer remained unchanged.
"…I see. It's infuriating, but a convincing reason."
Horikita shows a faint trace of frustration before taking a breath to compose herself.
I'd essentially told her to her face that she wasn't a threat.
The fact that she didn't narrow-mindedly lash out in anger is commendable.
"Now then, may I proceed?"
With the conversation with Horikita concluded, I make eye contact with the two who reacted earlier. Both look surprised again.
"You already knew who we were—why go through this roundabout way to meet us?"
"No. When I mentioned your names earlier, the two of you reacted, and several others were glancing toward you, so identifying you was simple."
"…Honestly, you notice things like that?"
Horikita sighs and urges everyone else to resume studying.
As I wait for the two's response, Hirata-kun reacts next.
"Kamukura-kun, may I join the conversation? I think I know what the private matter you mentioned might be."
Hirata-kun is correct.
After all, he knows that following the cruise ship exam, Manabe-san and her group harassed Karuizawa-san.
Moreover, he is Karuizawa-san's boyfriend.
If Satō-san and Matsushita-san were summoned by Class C's leaders, it must relate to the events of the cruise ship exam.
He likely concluded that it involves Karuizawa-san as well.
"That's fine with me."
When I agree, Hirata-kun offers a quick word of thanks. Matsushita-san speaks next.
"I'm okay with talking."
"Th-then me too."
Thanks to Hirata-kun stepping in as a sort of bodyguard, things proceed smoothly.
It works in everyone's favor.
"Let's change locations."
I tell Hirata-kun, and he relays it to the girls.
We move to a quieter spot away from prying eyes, leaving the library behind.
...
We relocate from the library and enter an empty classroom.
It's a spot with few passersby and the shortest distance from the library—an ideal location.
"We don't have unlimited time, so let's make this quick."
I open the conversation and begin asking questions.
"Yeah. You two are okay with that, right?"
Hirata-kun checks with Satō-san and Matsushita-san, and they both nod.
One still shows traces of unease on her face; the other remains composed.
"I'm Kamukura Izuru. Today, I've come to determine whether you two are Class D's hidden strategist."
I offer an introduction to ease into the discussion.
I soften my tone and eliminate any hint of intimidation. It seems to work—they respond in kind.
"…I'm Satō Maya."
The gal-type girl who'd seemed anxious about facing me speaks slowly.
"I'm Matsushita Chiaki. Nice to meet you, Kamukura-kun."
The calmer one follows, stating her name.
But that name catches my attention.
"…Chiaki?"
"Yes. The 'chi' from thousand and the 'aki' from autumn—Chiaki. …Is something wrong?"
As memories linked to Matsushita-san's name resurface, she tilts her head at my reaction.
"My apologies. There was once someone with the exact same name—and even the same kanji—so I was briefly reminiscing."
"Ah, I see… Was she someone important? You looked pretty serious for a moment."
"…I suppose she was."
Now, at least, I vaguely understand.
It wasn't just Hinata Hajime's feelings—part of me must have found her endearing as well.
Her resolve, her final moments—whatever could be called my "emotions" stirred not only because of Hinata Hajime's positive attachment, but because something in her drew me in too.
Back then, I believed I had no emotions of my own. That the tears were solely Hinata Hajime's feelings.
But now… No, let's stop speculating further.
The more I dwell on those memories, the more my focus slips. My chest tightens. I should finish what I came here to do.
"Let's get to the main topic. After the cruise ship exam ended, do you know why Manabe Shiho and her group confronted Karuizawa Kei?"
At my question, the two exchange a glance before Matsushita-san answers.
She listens attentively, then offers a gentle smile.
"Manabe-san called Karuizawa-san out to get revenge for a fight with Morofuji-san and the others. Is that right?"
I nod and continue.
"Next question. How did you two end up at that scene?"
"…That day, we were all hanging out—me, Matsushita, Hirata-kun, Ayanokōji-kun, and Karuizawa-san. Then, partway through, Karuizawa-san suddenly disappeared…"
This time Satō-san answers.
Her tone isn't exactly fearful, but it carries the careful cadence someone uses when dealing with a person they're uncomfortable around.
It's a stark contrast to Matsushita-san, who keeps her eyes fixed on me. For a split second, the corners of Matsushita-san's mouth lift, and she widens her round eyes as far as they'll go.
"So you happened to witness Manabe-san and the others harassing her."
I don't know the precise details of how Manabe-san bullied Karuizawa-san—only the broad outline.
Even comparing it to that information, though, I see no contradictions. Nor do I sense that they're lying.
"I understand. Satō-san, it seems you're not X."
"…Huh? W-well, yeah. I mean, I don't even really get what this 'X' thing is."
I reach that conclusion after observing her demeanor, words, and gestures with my superhuman analytical ability.
Her delayed reactions alone tell me she has almost no interest in me. Even if I hadn't suspected her as X, this response would have cleared her immediately.
If anything feels off, it's Matsushita-san.
Unlike Satō-san, who seemed flustered about how to respond, Matsushita-san has been carefully watching my movements and weighing my words.
She isn't X. Yet she's listening intently, gathering information—and seemingly enjoying the situation.
I can tell she's approaching this with a certain thrill, trying to extract whatever she can from me.
So Class D has hidden talent after all.
"The way you said 'you'… does that mean you still suspect me?"
She keeps the conversation flowing with an affable smile.
But to me, that smile—and the expression clinging beneath it—feels like the same breed as Sakayanagi-san's.
The technique she uses to make it seem she's listening earnestly while locking eyes is polished enough to hold its own against Kushida-san.
She waits for my next words as if testing me.
"Yes. You seem a little different from the rest of Class D."
"That's… kind of embarrassing, actually."
When I offer that assessment, she brings a hand to her neck, rubbing it a few times. Her cheeks don't flush, but she wears a smile that suggests she's far from displeased.
"I'm happy to be complimented, but I'm not the X you're talking about, Kamukura-kun. After all, we have Horikita-san in Class D…"
"I think so too, but I have to go through the motions or he'll make things difficult."
"He meaning Ryūen-kun. You need to report back to him?"
"Yes. I could lie, but he's capable enough at verifying information that a half-hearted fabrication would eventually be exposed."
As I grumble through the confirmation, she responds with a polite smile.
"I see. Then, since we're already talking—how about we exchange contact info? If Ryūen-kun says anything later, we can show proof that we actually spoke."
Above-average communication skills and considerable nerve.
Her response is textbook perfect, yet it still reveals the extent of her ability.
"That's fine with me. Though it seems Hirata-kun wants to object to your suggestion."
At those words, Hirata-kun shifts slightly.
From his expression, it was clear he'd been watching the exchange, waiting for the right moment to step in.
"Hirata-kun, is something wrong?"
"No, nothing's wrong. I'm just being a little cautious."
He probably worried that a connection between Matsushita-san and me could be exploited during the special exam.
That's one of the uglier sides of this school—simply trying to exchange contacts with someone from another class leads to this.
Even ordinary daily interactions can sometimes carry a tense edge.
But—in this particular case, his caution is justified.
Beyond investigating X, I was also tasked with negotiating whether we could obtain Class D's final exam questions.
The girl in front of me has already shown herself to be impressive after only a brief exchange. If I built rapport and approached her later—or created a weakness to leverage through intimidation—this troublesome request might actually succeed.
Yet Ryūen Shō has nearly completed his exam preparations already. There's no need to force a risky move here.
In fact, simply making her acquaintance is reward enough.
"I get it. Class C is our opponent for the finals, after all. There's plenty of chance I could betray you if we exchanged numbers now."
"Yeah. I think Matsushita-san would be fine, but the other side is… well, who it is."
Matsushita-san, quick on the uptake, agrees with Hirata-kun—and remains wary of me, the troublesome element from Class C.
"On the flip side, depending on her negotiation skills, there's also a chance I could betray Class C."
"That's definitely not happening. I never fight a battle I can't win."
As expected, she's sharp.
She possesses the observational acuity to accurately gauge an opponent's strength.
Not arrogant, exactly—but she has a measure of pride, and the rationality to keep it in check. I respect that.
She's impressive. Which makes her… boring.
"Then how about we exchange contacts after the special exam, if the opportunity arises? It would be dull to outright reject a good proposal."
At that, Hirata-kun nods in acceptance.
"That works. It's not right to interfere in other people's friendships."
Matsushita-san is boring. But because she's capable, she has her uses.
Securing a way to contact her isn't a bad option. I can decide later whether to actually use it.
"Then let's exchange numbers after the exams are over."
"Yes."
Having lost interest, I reply curtly.
After that, we part ways. We all still have study sessions to return to.
We exchange brief farewells and I leave the empty classroom behind.
***
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