"Let me think about it a little."
"Of course. There's no set deadline."
As I started walking, it felt like someone behind me was watching, and I turned around.
Kushida was holding the handrail and staring at me.
"I mean—albeit reluctantly—I do appreciate you, Ayanokouji-kun."
Before I could reply to her words, Kushida looked away.
"That's all. I just thought I should tell you that."
"Is that so? Well, see you later."
Her words carried meaning, but there was no need to dwell on them now.
It was now up to Kushida whether to prioritize her own convenience or the class's.
With that choice, you could say that there was one more thing to look forward to in the future.
Epilogue:
What Awaits Ahead
* * *
IT WAS THE afternoon of the day after my welcome party and after my meeting with Kushida.
There was a class-related issue I wanted to address soon, and I was planning to involve a certain person, but surprisingly, that person approached me first.
I received a fervent request to meet with them immediately, so I left the classroom to respond to them.
In the hallway, students who had finished getting ready to go home were beginning to appear one after the other.
My timing coincided with my former classmates Hondou and Okitani, but they inadvertently looked away. Their reaction seemed to reflect not only the transfer issue but also the results of the recent exam. Their impression of me seemed to be gradually changing.
Without paying much attention to those two, I headed to the exit and left the school.
Then, I headed straight back to the dorm.
"Ah—"
On the way there, I saw Utomiya and Tsubaki walking toward me.
"…Hello."
Utomiya, not bothering to hide his reluctance, gave a light nod.
"It feels like it's been a while since I've seen the two of you together."
"We're not together all the time."
Tsubaki answered indifferently.
Since there was nothing in particular to talk about, I tried to pass by rather than stopping.
"There's a rumor about you transferring classes."
Tsubaki seemed uninterested, but she mentioned the topic as a casual conversation starter.
"Going from Class A to C right after just reaching Class A, that certainly isn't normal."
"Well, it's because Senpai isn't normal, right?"
"Maybe so."
The last time I spoke with Tsubaki was early in the morning during the training camp, where we had a brief chat.
We talked about who they wanted to meet after graduation.
Eventually, Horikita and Ibuki woke up, interrupting our conversation, and although it seemed like we could've continued chatting, we hadn't had the chance to talk since then.
Even now, as we met, it didn't seem like they wanted to bring up anything important.
"We have somewhere to be, so excuse us."
"Sure."
I also had an appointment and couldn't afford to chat for long.
We started walking and passed each other.
At that moment, Tsubaki directed an intense stare toward me from the corner of her eye.
After passing by the seemingly eager Tsubaki, I felt a sense of nostalgia.
"Tsubaki Sakurako… huh?"
A forgotten memory.
Unnecessary memories.
Humans are such mysterious creatures.
Even if you thought you had forgotten something, it was surprising what you might've been able to find.
"What is it? It's creepy when you suddenly call me by my full name."
Having caught her voice, Tsubaki stopped and turned around, looking somewhat displeased.
Calling it creepy was probably too much, but indeed, somebody calling you by your full name could be jarring.
At first, Morishita's way of addressing me made me feel really uncomfortable, though, now I tried not to mind it.
"I remembered the time when we talked during the training camp."
"Huh? You remember what the conversation was about? That must've been trivial for you, Senpai."
"What did you talk to this person about?"
"Ah, it's nothing to do with you, Utomiya-kun."
Utomiya sharply interjected and averted his gaze uncomfortably.
"We were interrupted in the middle of our conversation back then."
"Well, yes, but it wasn't a big deal for you, Senpai, so it doesn't really matter—"
"Recently, I suddenly thought of someone other than my family that I'd like to meet. It's probably thanks to the story you told at the training camp, so I should at least thank you."
"…Someone other than your family? Who is it?"
I thought Tsubaki would've been troubled by such lengthy information, but for some reason, she asked me a question in response.
"How should I put this? If I had to put it in familiar terms, they would probably be a childhood friend… I guess."
Yes. I had remembered them again.
I had forgotten most of their names already, but there were children my age who studied together with me in the White Room.
Among them was a girl.
Her name was Yuki.
That was her name. I couldn't be sure I was right, but I might've been able to recall because the name Yuki reminded me of the camellia, Yuki-Tsubaki[1], and somehow the impression I got from Tsubaki seemed to remind me of Yuki.
That must've been the accidental trigger that evoked this faint memory.
No—was it really just a coincidence?
'Senpai, do you like snow[2]?'
This was a question Tsubaki asked during the training camp. At that time, it felt normal, but now it felt different.
"…What will you do when you meet them?"
Tsubaki shouldn't have been interested in this anymore, but she continued.
"I'm not actually going to meet them. It's just that I suddenly felt nostalgic, so I thought I'd like to."
The past and present. If we had met again, things might have seemed different than before.
But it'd be better not to meet.
I merely felt like things might've been different, nothing more.
The reality probably hadn't changed.
The new emotions that might've risen… would probably be nothing.
Whether there really was a connection between that girl and Tsubaki, it was still a meaningless, pointless matter.
* * *
[1]: "Yuki-Tsubaki" is the Japanese name for the snow camellia, otherwise known as Camellia japonica subsp. rusticana.
[2]: "Snow" in Japanese is "Yuki," with the same exact kanji character (雪).
Part 1
* * *
THE PLACE A certain individual called me to was near the garbage disposal area behind the dormitory.
Since it was still early after school, this spot was one of the less frequented areas.
By the time I arrived, that person had already blended into the shadows, waiting for me.
"Sorry, did I keep you waiting?"
When I quietly called out to them, a figure had stepped forward from the darkness.
"Good, you didn't run away."
The one who was muttering was a student from Class C, Kitou Hayato.
Since I transferred, I hadn't had a single conversation with Kitou.
"If a classmate calls, it's my duty to respond."
"…Already acting like the class leader?"
"I believe I'm not mistaken in my perception. I think it's acceptable to let me take the helm to some extent. Though, you seem to think otherwise."
I didn't think I had a particularly good relationship with Kitou, but I didn't think it was bad either.
At least before my transfer, I thought we were on terms where we could at least exchange greetings without any problems.
"I don't recognize you as a leader."
"Well, considering we haven't even had a proper conversation or made eye contact until now, I assumed that'd be the case. You can't bring yourself to recognize anyone other than Sakayanagi, can you?"
"No… It doesn't matter to me whether it's Sakayanagi."
"That's strange. Then why did you obediently follow Sakayanagi?"
"As long as I'm not the person leading the class, someone needs to step forward. When asked to choose between Katsuragi or Sakayanagi, I simply chose the one with a higher chance of winning… because I thought that was the best way to graduate from Class A."
As he spoke, Kitou's face grew increasingly irritated.
"But… Sakayanagi only thought about her own convenience in the end. She essentially didn't care about Class A at all, she just did whatever she wanted as long as she was enjoying herself. Still, I thought it was okay as long as she produced results…"
For the quiet Kitou, whether it was Sakayanagi or Katsuragi, or even a third party, it didn't matter who someone was as long as they could lead everyone to Class A; he had simply bet on Sakayanagi because he saw a higher possibility in her.
It didn't matter whether he liked or disliked someone—that was what he wanted to express. He just made his judgment in a purely detached, matter-of-fact manner based solely on the advantages and disadvantages someone could bring to the class.
"This was what happened after I entrusted things to someone else."
"I'm not in a position to talk about other people, but because of somebody's selfish actions, the class had gone down two ranks. We're almost at the bottom. It's natural for you to feel dissatisfied."
"You're the same as Sakayanagi. You don't really care about graduating from Class A."
"Indeed, I also intend to do as I please. It must be troublesome for you, Kitou. However, I at least plan to raise our current class to a point where we can seize the chance to move up to Class A. Isn't that enough?"
"I don't trust you."
'That's exactly why, this time, instead of making crude judgments based solely on advantages and disadvantages, I decided to take a step forward and get involved myself'—that was what he seemed to think.
"I'll see for myself whether you're trustworthy or not…"
As he spoke, he pulled up his black leather gloves and clenched both fists tightly.
"You're strong, I already know that… Show me that you can suppress my dissatisfaction with your strength."
Kitou didn't care about what strategies I could come up with for special exams, or how well I'd be able to read the opponent's thoughts. No matter what accomplishments I achieved, his doubts would still remain.
From what it seemed, if I could demonstrate the pure difference in strength between us, he would suppress his dissatisfaction and comply.
"This idea's similar to Ryuuen's—it's simple, but it's not bad. If you want to test me that way, I'm willing to go along with it. However, before that, I have a warning for you."
Kitou, feeling ready for battle, probably had no idea what I was about to discuss.
"Warning…? What do you mean?"
"Even if you're not good at talking, I understand that you have confidence in your physical strength. At least when Ryuuen stormed into the classroom, you should've been the first to act."
"You wanted me to punch Ryuuen?"
"No. I'm saying that if you had acted fast enough, you could've prevented Sawada from getting into danger. She could've had a serious injury there."
Kitou, who was sitting near Sawada, deliberately waited rather than moved.
"Don't make me laugh. I don't recognize you as—"
"You not recognizing me as the class leader is too childish a reason. Even Koenji, at times, will move to protect a classmate if they're in danger. I'm not trying to impose some old-fashioned values where men would protect women, but if we're classmates, the strong wouldn't need a reason for them to protect the weak."
"Classmates…? If I don't think of them like that, it wouldn't be a problem, right?"
"If you truly think of them that way, then yes, there wouldn't be a problem. But if that's the case, then 'Kitou Hayato's' existence is unnecessary in Class C."
Classmates who tried to make one-sided demands without working with the class—such nonsense would only be tolerated if they possessed a certain level of strength. Otherwise, there was no other option but to make them disappear.
"Fine… If you win, I'll follow you from now on… only if you win, that is—"
Kitou cut off his words and reached out his long arm toward me.
Before his arm could reach my chest, I grabbed and stopped it.
But he didn't panic. Instead, he tried to pull me toward him with the arm that I grabbed. I could tell before he could even move that he intended to land a hit regardless of the situation and break my will to fight.
Most people would've shut their mouths with that one intimidating blow.
"Mu…!?"
However, when he realized he couldn't easily pull me in, he immediately brushed off my arm.
Instead of recklessly diving in for a follow-up attack, Kitou observed the situation.
He seemed used to fighting, capable of instinctively sensing danger.
He took a pause, then he gave a provocative yet light tap on the ground with his feet.
"When I glare at people, most of them would feel somewhat disgusted and scared at the same time."
That wasn't just because he was strong.
He also implied he had an appearance people would fear—it was a self-mockery
"Unfortunately, I'm not interested in such superficial things."
He fixed me with a sharp gaze, perhaps feeling uncomfortable that I seemed indifferent. Then, he took a powerful step forward and swung his right fist forward.
It was a straight punch with no wasted motion; the sound of it slicing through the air echoed in my ear.
Without panicking, I stepped back and dodged his fist.
I dodged similar attacks two, three times. Then, Kitou stopped, looking dissatisfied.
"…Why won't you attack back…?"
"I wonder why."
When I evaded the question, Kitou softly clicked his tongue and swung his fist again.
This time, he focused on using his left arm, but that fist didn't reach me either.
Typically, when facing an opponent with long reach like Kitou, the strategy was to use footwork to close the gap and bring the fight into close quarters.
However, Kitou knew of this. That was why he wouldn't take a step in so easily.
Kitou grew increasingly irritated by my unexpected movements, and there was no sign of me returning his attacks.
This time, he seemed intent on using his legs, launching a kick.
When the tip of his foot was about to hit my abdomen, I dodged it just like his fists, creating a large opening. I didn't miss that opportunity and brushed Kitou's body back with the palm of my hand.
"Ugh…!?"
Kitou lost his balance and took a step back, his footing slightly unstable
In comparison, Ryuuen used both his hands and feet equally, and he was skilled in attacking using unconventional methods. On the other hand, Kitou wasn't as proficient with his legs, but his upper body movements were more refined than Ryuuen's, and he understood how having long arm reach gave him advantages in a fight.
The moment he tried to regain his composure, focusing on his footing—
I twisted my left fist into Kitou's abdomen.
Agony. Speechlessness.
It was a careless complacency born from the assumption that I wouldn't attack yet.
Kitou intended to use his arms to go for a counterattack, but out of a defensive reflex, they moved toward his own abdomen.
Since I hadn't planned on attacking him repeatedly, I intended to end it with this one strike.
I didn't use my dominant arm, but I thought that was enough.
However, Kitou bent his knees and quickly resumed a fighting stance.
Perhaps it was his tenacity that prevented him from being easily defeated.
Even after a brief exchange of blows, the difference in strength should've been clear, but his resolve wasn't broken. Before his brain could realize he was in an impossible situation, Kitou kicked the ground, stretched out both his hands, and closed the distance once again.
It would've been easy to deflect his hands, but I chose to challenge it.
Using both his hands, he caught my neck and pushed my back against the wall with the momentum. Normally, people would try to escape the pressure by grabbing the opponent's arms.
However, that was a mistake. It wouldn't be easy to pry the opponent's arms away.
Having quickly spread my hands, I slapped both of Kitou's ears with my palm.
Unexpected and vulnerable to such an attack, Kitou's face contorted, his arms released me, and he quickly retreated back.
At that moment, I delivered a front kick, forcing Kitou to bend his knees again.
"Ugh…!"
Despite showing a pained expression from the intense blow, Kitou immediately dropped to one knee.
He didn't completely fall, firmly displaying his determination that he had yet to be defeated.
"You're strong… Is there this much of a difference…?"
"You're strong enough, but that's why you should use your strength properly. In a normal school life, violence isn't necessary. However, there are times when students find themselves in danger due to forces beyond their control. I want you to protect those students. In return, though it may sound odd, I promise to take Class C to a position where we can aim for Class A."
"I won't believe that so easily."
"That's fine. The results will show shortly with the flow of time."
I extended my hand to Kitou, who looked at me with a strong gaze, unafraid.
"Aren't you worried that I might grab that hand someday and drag you down by force?"
"I'll look forward to that."
Having heard my response, Kitou gave a small nod and took my hand.
With my start in Class C, having this rough side to things wasn't necessarily bad.
A conversation for those who sought it.
A show of strength for those who sought it.
I had to close the distance with each student in their most suitable way.
For that, I was willing to engage in anything.
Part 2
* * *
AFTER SCHOOL, AYANOKOUJI quickly left the classroom. Having seen him off, Morishita immediately stood up and, with a pen in her hand, forcefully jabbed Hashimoto's left shoulder, who'd been looking down at his phone as he sat at his desk. It was more of a stab than a jab. Hashimoto, grimacing in pain, turned around. Morishita signaled with her eyes to follow her, and they headed to the hallway alone.
A little while later, Hashimoto came out of the classroom, holding his left shoulder with his right hand.
"Hey, that hurts, Morishita. Don't call me out so violently—"
"I'll get straight to the point. Please go out with me."
"…What?"
He was so shocked that he momentarily forgot the pain.
"Hey, you're pretty bold… But, no way, I never thought you liked me…"
"Huh? What are you misunderstanding? I need you to go out and accompany me to the student council room right after this—that's what I meant."
"You're completely missing the subject matter here… That's definitely on purpose."
"In case you were imagining me as your girlfriend, even picturing me in my underwear or less, and even fantasizing about touching me or doing this and that, I thought this would be a good opportunity to maintain a proper distance between us as classmates."
"What the hell are you even saying so fast? Well, don't worry, you're not my type."
"Even so, they say all men are beasts. Aren't you planning to apply old-fashioned proverbs like 'A man's shame is to refuse a prepared meal set before him[1]' to modern times?"
"I'm not planning to do anything… But if you want me to accompany you, why don't you just act like you want me to accompany you? Wait, why me specifically anyway? I have nothing to do with the student council."
It was clear to Hashimoto that Morishita was wary of him, or rather disliked him.
"If you're feeling lonely, you should ask Ayanokouji instead."
"I think he was holding it in before he could go to the bathroom today or something, so he quickly left."
"Really? Then maybe tomorrow or—"
"It's an urgent matter. I want to check on Horikita Suzune's condition."
"…Horikita's? Why her?"
For the first time, Hashimoto was slightly interested in Morishita's plans.
The pain finally subsided, so he lowered his right hand from his shoulder.
"She was defeated by Ichinose Honami's class in yesterday's special exam, and I want to check on how she's feeling. If I drag Ayanokouji Kiyotaka here, it'll complicate things. I'm not interested in seeing her when she's distressed."
"Well, if you bring Ayanokouji along, the conversation would definitely be dominated by talk about his transfer. That's a problem that goes beyond just the results of the special exam."
"In that case, you have some connections with Horikita Suzune, and you seem capable of extracting information with your eloquence."
"Should I take that as a compliment?"
"Yes, of course. It's your specialty as a traitor."
"Again with that… Well, I don't have any plans after this, so I might as well keep you company."
"Even if this opportunity deepens our friendship, don't misunderstand. It won't raise your favorability parameter by even a millimeter."
"That's not going to happen…"
Just as Morishita was about to start walking, a voice reached their ears from behind.
"May I join you?"
The one who spoke with narrowed eyes and apparent interest was Shiraishi.
"Shiraishi!? When did you…?"
"When I saw you two sneaking out, it piqued my curiosity."
"Unfortunately, you're not invited, Shiraishi Asuka."
"It's fine to have secrets, but we're classmates. We're allies, right?"
Despite Morishita's dismissive words, Shiraishi responded with a gentle demeanor.
"I'd rather not bring someone I'm not close to."
"Oh, then is Hashimoto-kun someone you're close with?"
"Of course not, but it's about to what extent—like the front and back of a toilet seat."
"I'm the front in that analogy, right? Though, I'd hate being the front too."
"Morishita-san, both of us had been leaving everything to Sakayanagi-san; we've only been quietly observing things these past two years. It wouldn't be strange for us to want to act for the class now, would it?"
Despite being compared to the back of a toilet seat, Shiraishi didn't seem to mind and shared her thoughts.
"You look displeased. You're quite cheeky."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Fine. It'll be troublesome if we encounter Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. Come along quickly."
With Shiraishi coming along as an uninvited guest, Morishita led the way as they started moving. "By the way, Shiraishi, I heard you took Yoshida and Nishikawa to karaoke with Ayanokouji?"
"Yes. I thought it'd be meaningful for deepening the friendships in our class."
"I'm not surprised you're inviting boys now, but you're not planning on making a move on him, are you?"
"Am I not allowed to get along with Ayanokouji-kun?"
"I'm not saying it's bad, but you should stop. You'll only get hurt."
"I don't mind getting hurt. It seems fun."
After voicing her sincere response, Shiraishi continued.
"Nevertheless, he truly achieved a magnificent first victory."
"Well, it's certainly a great start. He didn't just win a safe victory, he also used Ryuuen to establish his position in the class in one fell swoop. He's truly the best help we can receive."
Hashimoto smiled happily, but Morishita started murmuring as he turned around.
"I'm a little scared, Hashimoto Masayoshi."
"Huh? Scared? Of what?"
"Of Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. Even when he acts with us, he always watches his words and picks up on any enemies around, and he uses us when we're not in the know. He also gave Ichinose Honami advice and made sure Horikita Suzune's class didn't win. He showed no mercy even to old friends."
"That's quite something. It would be troublesome if he shows mercy and holds back, though."
"That's true. But don't you think he's too ruthless? Even if he wants to do as he pleases in Class C, it's like he doesn't have a heart."
"He's not a robot. You're thinking too much. He does have emotions, even if there isn't much."
"Isn't that just on the surface?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"I don't care what happens to you, but still, I'll offer you some advice. He's merely an ally of convenience, a helper pulled in by an unavoidable strategy. We're also just tools for him."
Morishita's serious expression and opinion, or rather her analysis of Ayanokouji, made Hashimoto clear his throat.
Despite Shiraishi not joining in the conversation, she had been keenly listening in.
"I understand. That's how I've been interacting with everyone, and that won't change."
"That's good then. But I recommend not getting too involved."
"Can you even say that about someone else? You've always liked being alone, but you seem quite taken with Ayanokouji."
With a smirk, Hashimoto teased Morishita, but she moved toward the window with her eyes slightly opened.
"Could it be… perhaps… this is… a koi[2]?"
"Indeed, those in the pond are the koi fish the vice chairman often feeds."
Morishita looked down from the window, and Shiraishi calmly interjected.
"Huh, well done, Shiraishi Asuka. To follow along with my double-entendre comedy routine."
"Not bad, Shiraishi."
"No, it's not much."
"Come on, let's not do anything silly and head to the student council room."
Morishita muttered as if nothing had happened and started walking, followed by Hashimoto and Shiraishi.
"By the way, Shiraishi Asuka, you really seem to have taken an interest in Ayanokouji Kiyotaka."
"Wouldn't it be strange if I didn't? He's an oddball who moved to a lower class. Despite that, his abilities are unquestionable. Above all, his voice is wonderful."
"Voice? Well, whatever, but like I said, he's a dangerous person. You'll get burned."
"That's why it's fine."
"…That's why it's fine?"
Despite usually being aloof, Morishita was completely puzzled.
"There's no need to worry. Though, why exactly are we heading to the student council?"
"By process of elimination. If we invade her class, we'll stand out, and it's the same at a café or on the way to the dorms. If we push into her room in the dorm, she'll naturally be on guard. However, there aren't a lot of people entering the area during student council activities, and we can observe her natural behavior."
Eventually, the three approached the floor where the student council room was.
"Are you going to visit her directly, Morishita?"
"That depends on the situation, but—"
"Oops—"
When they arrived at the student council room, the door happened to open, and Morishita, Hashimoto, and Shiraishi reflexively hid around the corner.
They didn't know whether there was a need to hide. The subconscious psychology of people engaged in guilty behavior—that was what led to their actions.
"You really are a hard worker, Nanase-san."
While hiding, they silently watched the student council president Horikita and the second-year secretary Nanase.
"It's not like that. It's all thanks to your precise instructions, President Horikita."
While being modest, she voiced her appreciation for Horikita.
If it were just superficial, it might've sounded somewhat sarcastic, but Horikita didn't take it that way.
Her pure gaze and actions were genuinely commendable.
Having been assigned to Class D upon enrollment, Nanase had remained in Class D even after fighting through her first year.
Fortunately, the gap in points with the higher classes wasn't that bad.
However, with Housen as the leader, Horikita thought that Nanase's strengths couldn't be utilized. She felt that if Nanase had taken the lead, they could've aimed higher.
However, it would be somewhat problematic for a third-year like Horikita to say that.
Still, it was inevitable that she felt like taking her side, which wouldn't be a very fair perspective.
"Are you also aiming for Class A, Nanase-san?"
"Yes, I definitely want to graduate from Class A. However, as long as I can finish my school life safely, that would be the best outcome for me."
"Because you can succeed in further studies or employment on your own?"
Nanase's grades, as far as the OAA could show, were excellent. Her conduct was impeccable.
Unless she had very high aspirations, it seemed she could easily do anything.
"It's not like that, but… may I ask you a little about Ayanokouji-senpai?"
There was no particular surprise in her words.
Ayanokouji's class transfer was a concern for anyone who knew him, even for a kouhai.
"That's fine, but I don't have much to tell you. He changed classes without telling anyone."
"Without telling you, Horikita-senpai? That must've been very hard."
"I can't just say I'm fine, but what's done is done. We just have to look forward a little at a time from now on."
Ayanokouji transferred, and they had recently faced defeat in a special exam. However, Horikita's expression was surprisingly bright.
"Would you like to have tea at Keyaki Mall afterward?"
"Are you fine with that, Horikita-senpai?"
"Of course."
"Can I join you later? I want to make a phone call to tell a friend something."
"Sure. Is it okay if I go ahead? If it's going to be quick, I can wait here."
"The cafe might be crowded right now, so it might be better if you go ahead."
"That makes sense. Then I'll head there first."
"Yes, Horikita-senpai. See you later."
Three people holding their breaths had eavesdropped on the exchange.
Fortunately, Horikita was descending the opposite staircase, so she didn't walk toward Hashimoto and the others, allowing them to breathe a sigh of relief.
While seeing off Horikita, Nanase took out her phone from her pocket.
"Hello."
It seemed the phone had already been ringing, and Nanase continued the call.
"We agreed not to make any unnecessary calls, didn't we, Tsukishiro-san?"
The three, who had no interest in Nanase's phone call, exchanged glances upon hearing the familiar name.
"I understand. I'll continue to monitor Ayanokouji-senpai for another year. However, I'm still concerned about Ishigami Kyou. As initially expected, he seems to have an intellectual curiosity and a role similar to mine. Also… a student who caught my attention has enrolled in the first year. I wouldn't think this is the case, but… you're not involved in that, are you?"
The conversation was unlike what a typical student would discuss, and it kept going.
"That's right. If it becomes necessary—"
Nanase took out another phone from her pocket with her free hand.
"Sorry, I have to excuse myself due to an urgent matter."
Just as the conversation seemed to continue, Nanase abruptly ended the call.
"Horikita-senpai, what's the matter…? Ah, I see. Understood. I'll head there in ten minutes. Yes, yes. Excuse me."
Nanase had a phone in both her left and right hands.
In this school, there was a rule stating that students could only possess one mobile phone at a time.
Realizing they'd seen something they shouldn't have, the three stopped peeping and withdrew.
However, that slight movement made a little noise.
The corridor was silent.
Were they noticed?
In that delicate situation, the three of them couldn't move at all.
If only she would walk on the opposite side like Horikita, there wouldn't be a problem.
That was what they had hoped for, and just a few seconds later—
"Senpai, what might you guys be doing in a place like this?"
Without a sound, Nanase suddenly appeared before the three of them as they were hiding around the corner, and spoke up.
"Uh!? No, we just needed to see Horikita, you know?"
"Yes, we just arrived. Is there a problem?"
"Is that so? Horikita-senpai went down the opposite side about a minute ago. You might still be able to catch up with her, Hashimoto-senpai, Morishita-senpai. You too, Shiraishi-senpai."
Nanase smiled, having confidently named the three there.
"You know about me, huh?"
"Yes, Shiraishi-senpai. I'm part of the student council, so I have a general grasp of all the senpai."
Nanase appraised Shiraishi for a moment without making it seem unnatural, then looked away.
"Well then, senpai, I'll take my leave now."
Nanase spoke, bowing deeply and descending the stairs.
"Man, that really scared me. I broke out in a cold sweat."
"I hope we weren't noticed. And not only that, she had two phones, right?"
"Plus, Tsukishiro? The Tsukishiro? What's up with that second year?"
"Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's name came up too. It smells fishy. The blood I inherited from my master detective grandpa is starting to stir."
"That's definitely a lie. So, what do we do? Should we follow Nanase now?"
"I think it's better if we don't, Hashimoto-kun. Seems like she's quite sensitive to people's presence."
Shiraishi muttered in response to Hashimoto's suggestion, staring down the stairs where Nanase had disappeared.
* * *
[1]: If it isn't clear, this Japanese proverb "据え膳食わぬは男の恥" means that it's shameful to reject a woman's advances.
[2]: This is wordplay on "koi" as in the Japanese word for romantic love and "koi" as in the fish.
Author's Afterword
* * *
HELLO! KINUGASA HERE. How are you? I look forward to your continued support in 2025 as well.
My recent concern is definitely pillows. Considering the strain on my neck and back, I've been wanting the ideal pillow, but it's hard to find. I've probably been continuously buying new ones for the past year or two.
When I spent a lot of money on a custom pillow, I thought it was perfect, but after using it for a while, it just didn't feel right…
It's not only the height, but recently I've realized that pillows that are too firm or have too much rebound just don't suit me.
And if they're too soft or sink too much, that doesn't feel right either…
I think my quest for the perfect pillow will continue.
I desperately want the ideal pillow…
Let's keep the chit-chat to this for now, and talk a bit about "Classroom of the Elite."
We're finally entering the last year of high school in the story.
Although only two years have passed in the story, we've almost hit a ten-year milestone in the real world. I feel like I've aged quite a bit along with the readers.
The third-year arc should have around the same length as the first- and second-year arcs, but take that with a grain of salt.
And finally, my goal for this year—
I've thought about it a lot, but…
I'll work harder at my job.
I want to try new things too.
I hope the day when I can talk about these things comes soon.
See you in the next volume!
Y2V12.75 - Ibuki Mio Short Story:
Behind the Scenes
* * *
(Original translation provided by Drago, edited by LegacyEMTLs)
MARCH 30TH.
Ibuki was irritated.
Needless to say, the cause was unmistakably the not-so-entertaining movie and the idiotic couple—in other words, Ayanokouji and Karuizawa, seated next to her.
Quickly leaving behind the theater that had served to pile up her frustration, Ibuki let out a sigh.
She then took out her phone and checked her Private Points balance.
"…There's barely any left."
The monthly Private Points allowance was more than sufficient as pocket money for a second-year high school student. Because of this, normally, saving money shouldn't be difficult.
However, Ibuki had a tendency to spend everything she got without thinking of the consequences, and as a result, she was always tight on finances. That was precisely why, recalling how the time she'd been looking forward to was ruined, her irritation began to build up again.
While Private Points would be replenished with each new month, naturally, it was always a struggle when she got to the end of each month.
How would I get through today, how would I get through tomorrow—she was forced to confront this sort of battle.
If only the movie had been satisfying—
The emotions she tried to suppress started bubbling up.
"Ahh, this is so annoying."
How should I alleviate my annoyance?
Harboring this sentiment, what Ibuki found was a certain object.
That being, a trash can placed in Keyaki Mall.
She approached it without concern for the people around and kicked it.
She thought kicking it would make her feel a little better after all.
However…
Though it wobbled, since it contained more trash than she'd expected, it didn't fall over.
It was also because it was somewhat of a half-hearted kick; it wasn't weak, but it wasn't strong either.
"…Are you trying to irritate me too?"
As if mocking her, the trash can only slightly shifted in position, standing there with a faux innocent look.
The action Ibuki thought would help her vent actually had the opposite effect.
What started as just wanting to kick it shifted to wanting to knock it over.
If she could dramatically spill its contents, she'd surely feel better.
"You little—!"
This time, stronger, faster than before.
She imagined the trash can as someone she disliked.
She was about to deliver a kick with enough force such that Ayanokouji would definitely be knocked over… or rather, knock the trash can over.
"What are you doing, Ibuki?"
"…!?"
Just before she completed the motion, a somewhat angry male voice reached her.
Her body froze, and she turned toward the voice.
There stood Katsuragi with his arms crossed, frowning with a puzzled expression.
"Why are you here…?"
"What do you mean, 'why'? There's nothing strange about me walking around Keyaki Mall on my day off, is there?"
"Well, that's true, but…"
"You seem pretty irritated from what I can see, but I can't say kicking trash cans is very commendable. If you don't strive to act with moderation, it won't benefit our class."
"What do you mean 'benefit our class'? What's the big deal if I kick a trash can over a little?"
She displayed an attitude indicating she didn't think she did anything wrong.
In response, Katsuragi slightly closed the distance between them.
"If you engage in behavior unbecoming of a student and the school discovers it, you'll receive a negative evaluation. Whether it's a weekday, weekend, or even spring break, the consequences remain the same. I thought you'd have more than sufficiently learned that during these two years."
"Acting so high and mighty…"
"High and mighty? I wasn't being high and mighty. I merely stated common sense, decency expected of a student. Besides, Ibuki, you…"
As Katsuragi began his lengthy lecture, Ibuki didn't even try to conceal her tongue-clicking.
The feeling that she had been caught by a troublesome person began to dominate her thoughts.
Seeing how Katauragi continued to ramble on, Ibuki interrupted him with a wave of her hand.
"Yes, yes. I was wrong, okay, okay. Then, bye… "
As if to run away, Ibuki began walking and attempted to pass by Katsuragi, but then she was grabbed by the arm.
"What are you doing?"
"The trash can didn't fall over, but it's out of position. You need to fix that."
"Haa? So what about its position? As if anyone cares about that."
"At the very least, I care. And the fact that I care means the school might care as well."
Saying this, Katsuragi pointed at a surveillance camera.
"You're seriously such a stickler. The school isn't watching us all the time, much less at a place like this. Or rather, who cares about the position of a trash can?"
"Of course, I would hope that's the case. However, it's better safe than sorry."
As Katsuragi spoke, he brought Ibuki back to the trash can.
"…How ridiculous."
With the desire to be released quickly taking priority, Ibuki reluctantly picked up the trash can.
"There, is this good enough?"
"No, it's not. The original position was about twenty centimeters more to the right."
"Haaa?"
"About twenty centimeters more to the right."
Katsuragi repeated what he said, instructing her to return the trash can to its proper place.
Although Ibuki was getting irritated again, she lifted the trash can with an exasperated sigh and moved it about twenty centimeters.
"Is. This. Okay. Now!?"
"Yes. Well, this should be good enough."
Satisfied, Katsuragi turned toward the surveillance camera and gave a slight bow.
"Are you stupid?"
Though these words involuntarily escaped from her mouth at his overly courteous behavior, Katsuragi was unbothered and began walking away.
Ibuki was about to watch him leave, but there was something she was caught up on.
"Haven't you already accomplished your goal?"
"Goal?"
"Sakayanagi lost to Ryuuen and dropped out of school. There's no need for you to be so eager anymore, is there?"
"…I see. Certainly, that was one of my goals. However, I would've preferred accomplishing it with my own hands though…"
Katsuragi stopped, folded his arms, and reflected on the end-of-year special exam by himself.
"But that doesn't mean my goals have disappeared. There's also my goal to graduate from Class A."
"So you want those privileges too, huh?"
"Naturally. Those who don't desire such privileges are probably in the minority. However, that isn't the only important thing. Not just me on my own, but winning Class A with all of our classmates—that's what's critical."
Katsuragi wasn't originally in Ryueen's class.
In fact, the time they spent as adversaries was still slightly longer than their current relationship.
But right now, he answered without any embarrassment that he was thinking about his current class more than anyone else. At this demeanour, Ibuki felt it was a false goodwill, in other words, it was faux benevolence[1].
"Are you serious?"
"Of course, I'm serious."
In other words, it wasn't sanctimonious.
He firmly answered that he currently had the resolve to move forward with Ryueen and the class.
"Is that why you're going around teaching those idiots how to study?"
"The expression, 'Going around teaching,' isn't quite accurate. I also respond to their requests for help; there's that too. I can't leave people like that alone. It's in my nature, you see."
"So if someone asks for help, you'll help them?"
"Well… I suppose there's no harm in putting it that way."
"Then let me kick you."
"I don't understand what you mean."
"It's exactly what it sounds like. I'm feeling incredibly irritated right now, so I'm really itching to kick something, you see."
"What a troublesome personality. However, unfortunately, I'm not inclined to let you kick me."
"Then who should I kick?"
"You shouldn't kick anyone, but if you absolutely must kick someone, then I suppose there's no other choice than to find someone who would enjoy being kicked or someone who would benefit from being kicked. If such an odd person exists, that is."
"I see… well, that makes sense."
"Apart from that, if there's anything else I can help you with, I'm willing to lend a hand."
"Hmm…?"
Setting aside whether Katsuragi's actions were benevolent or faux benevolent, it was unmistakable that he was considerate and looked after people.
Having reached this peculiar conclusion, Ibuki made a proposal.
"Then buy me a meal."
"How did we go from kicking and not kicking to this?"
"You said you'd help me, right? I'm in trouble 'cause I don't have any money. Look."
She displayed her Private Points balance on her phone screen.
"…You should have more than this even when you entered school."
"I'm bragging, but I'm seriously broke."
"Don't brag about that."
"So with that said, feed me something. Eating something delicious should help release my stress."
"I see, I understand."
Katsuragi folded his arms, gave a nod, then opened his eyes.
"I refuse."
"Wait, why? Aren't you supposed to extend a helping hand to troubled classmates?!"
"Only if they're truly troubled."
"Come on, I'm genuinely troubled. I have almost no Private Points left!"
"If you're broke, you can eat the wild plants set. The school provides proper relief measures. It's not like you're in a state where you can't eat anything. Besides, your Private Points will be replenished in April. I don't see any need for me to help at this point."
Faced with Katsuragi's frank attitude, Ibuki glared at him.
"But I want to eat something better."
"Then from next month onward, you should straighten yourself up and learn how to save a little."
"I already am saving here. It's just that girls have various expenses—it can't be helped."
She made an excuse that didn't apply to her at all to dodge the issue.
"I see. Then, as a man, there's not much I can help with. You should seek advice from another woman who knows how to save money."
If she could ask such a person for advice, she wouldn't be struggling in the first place.
She tried to argue back, but Katsuragi had already started walking away.
She regretted even momentarily thinking that he might've been considerate and looked after people.
"What's with him…? Ah jeez, getting angry made me hungry…"
After glaring at him until his back disappeared from view, Ibuki held her stomach.
"Gonna go home…"
Deciding there was no point in staying at Keyaki Mall, she immediately returned to the dormitory.
* * *
[1]: The raw is 偽りの善意,つまり偽善, which is somewhat wordplay. The former, "偽りの善意," which is translated here as "false goodwill," is literally just stating the definition of "偽善" (notice how both these characters are in the former). "偽善" also often gets translated as "hypocrisy," but that's not accurate, and it doesn't capture the word's meaning well, which is why it's translated as "faux belevolence" here.
Part 1
* * *
INSTEAD OF RETURNING to her own room, she visited a certain different room and firmly knocked on its door.
"What business do you have here?"
The one who came out looking annoyed was a student from another class, Horikita Suzune.
"Can I come in for a bit?"
"What if I say no?"
"…Then fine."
Ibuki immediately turned her back at her dissatisfied attitude, but Horikita quickly stopped her.
"I'm joking. You can come in."
"Then you should've said so from the beginning."
Ibuki returned and entered Horikita's room.
"Let me guess—you're planning to eat dinner here anyway, right? It's the end of the month, after all."
"Quit arbitrarily jumping to conclusions."
"Then am I wrong?"
"…Well, not this time."
After letting Ibuki in, Horikita began preparing tea.
"Your timing is still a little off for having dinner, so just relax for a while. I'll call Kushida-san over later too."
"Her too? Every time, she just keeps going on and on. It's annoying."
Due to having lots of school information, Kushida had no shortage of topics, and she would go on talking for a lengthy period of time.
"You're annoying too, you know."
Although in a different way, Horikita pointed out that Ibuki was the same.
"Huh? Don't lump me together with her."
Despite saying this, about an hour later, Kushida also arrived at Horikita's room to join them.
Ibuki, Horikita, and Kushida.
Recently, these three had been spending more time together, even though it should've been an unpleasant time for Ibuki, or rather, for each of them here.
"If it weren't for the free meals, I wouldn't have come to a place like this…"
Ibuki muttered quietly.
"Did you say something?"
Horikita turned around from the kitchen, but Ibuki bluntly answered that it was nothing.
Then, she flopped down on the floor.
While staring at the ceiling of Horikita's room, which she'd become quite familiar with, she thought…
That she shouldn't keep living like this.
That she couldn't keep hanging around here.
That's right. Ibuki didn't want to admit it.
The fact that she was getting closer to Horikita and Kushida, whom she both detested.
The fact that she'd begun to understand that this was becoming a comfortable space for her.
So it would be better to distance herself before it was too late.
Being alone would surely make her happier in the end, after all.
That's the kind of person I am, she thought.
Even if she didn't distance herself, Horikita and Kushida would eventually leave her anyway.
She understood this.
It was only natural, given her difficult personality.
She should leave immediately.
She should never come back.
Though that was what she momentarily thought, as soon as the delicious smell of food began wafting through the air, she stopped thinking about it.
Since she was broke right now, it couldn't be helped.
After all, she thought that distancing herself could wait until another time.
Ibuki's irritation mysteriously disappeared along with the meal.
Shiraishi Asuka's Short Story:
The Secrets She Harbors
* * *
(Original translation provided by Drago, edited by LegacyEMTLs)
WHILE HARBORING RESTLESS emotions, Shiraishi arrived at school earlier than anyone else.
Taking her seat amidst the quiet classroom, she shifted her gaze to the empty seat on her left.
Since the day before, that place had become a certain student's seat.
From Class 1-D to Class 3-A.
And then from Class 3-A to Class 3-C.
That person's true intentions remained unclear.
Did he decide to transfer to become a savior, or is there still a side to him we haven't seen?
Either way, for Shiraishi, this was a matter beyond her expectations.
"This is troubling, isn't it?"
Only after speaking these words did she realize she'd been troubled.
"I—"
What do I want?
Now that she knew about Ayanokouji's transfer, and that fact was seeping into reality, she needed to think.
An inexpressible emotion—
No, that wasn't accurate.
She understood, but pretended not to.
"…There's a… mountain of problems, isn't there?"
Starting up her tablet, she grabbed the pen and began to draw a person.
The very person at the center of this commotion.
What kind of expression, what kind of gesture would be better—she didn't really know the answers to these questions yet.
From now on, throughout the upcoming school year, she'd surely become better and better at drawing him.
She'd surely hear his voice, and come to know.
"No, but that's…"
She was thinking about it again.
She had to avoid thinking about it.
This secret… these feelings mustn't be known to others.
Shiraishi made a mental note of this.
Emotions she abandoned years ago.
Why, now of all times, is this happening?
"…I am… foolish, aren't I?"
Immediately after she uttered these words of self-reproach to herself, she reacted to the sound of the door opening, and Shiraishi was surprised to see someone unexpected standing at the entrance.
"Good morning."
That person spotted Shiraishi and greeted her.
"Good morning to you, too."
After returning the greeting, Shiraishi calmed herself.
She deleted the half-finished drawing on her tablet with natural motion and pretended to study.
"I didn't expect someone to be here already. You're rather early."
"…Yes, I woke up unusually early today. But you're early too, Ayanokouji-kun."
"Since I've switched classes, it's like I'm a transfer student from a different school. Rather than being welcomed, I thought it'd be better to be the one doing the welcoming."
"It's an interesting coincidence—two people who are early risers sitting next to each other in such a large, empty classroom."
"Maybe."
He had a voice with little inflection.
Even so, it wasn't as though it was completely devoid of emotion.
Shiraishi listened intently, letting Ayanokouji's voice seep into her body, familiarizing it.
Silence fell upon them.
Wanting to hear more of his voice, Shiraishi spoke to him.
"Why did you decide to transfer to this class, Ayanokouji-kun?"
Shiraishi continued after a short pause.
"I can't believe you'd choose to drop to a lower class after finally making it to Class A."
"That might be true under normal circumstances."
He was ever so calm.
Or perhaps it was to hide his emotions.
At his voice, as elusive as clouds, Shiraishi almost wore her delight on her sleeves.
"If it's not normal, then… why did you decide to transfer?"
Because of that, she couldn't help but continue.
Even while knowing she shouldn't overstep, she ended up doing so.
While faintly recalling her own bitter past.
While deeply reflecting that she must never repeat her mistakes.
Morishita Ai's Short Story:
Gatling Gun
* * *
(Original translation provided by Drago, edited by LegacyEMTLs)
THIS WOULD BE a life-or-death battle. I firmly resolved myself for this.
To end this war, I must pull the trigger.
Fire—!
Immediately following this declaration in my mind, I shot a large bullet (eraser shaving) with my right index finger, flying out in a straight line.
The target was the evil titan sitting before my eyes, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka—the back of his head.
Impact!
The first shot hit near the crown of his head.
It seems that firing just one shot isn't enough to inflict damage after all.
I, the commander, placed multiple bullets (eraser shavings) I had prepared in advance on my palm.
Allow me to show you our army's strongest weapon. Gatling gun—unload!
This time, I fired multiple pieces of eraser shavings (bullets) in rapid succession.
I was certain I had to be causing damage to the target…!
Just as I was attempting to confirm the extent of the damage, the target in question, the titan, began to move and turned around.
"What is it?
I had asked in response.
Of course, I had accounted for the opponent noticing my attack.
My abundance of combat experience wasn't just for show, you know.
"No, I mean…"
"Looking behind you during class, even during the self-study period, is something only a naughty, naughty student would do. Please face forward and focus on what you have to do."
After I made him face forward, though he appeared a bit troubled, he soon seemingly returned to his studies.
Well then, shall we resume the attack?
Tap-tap. As I fired the Gatling gun again, the enemy, now on higher alert, turned around even more vigorously than I had accounted for.
Kuh… While I hid the eraser properly, it'd be great if he hadn't found out, but…
"Staring at my face from such a close distance, what a pervert."
To divert attention from my left hand clutching the eraser, I responded to change the subject.
"I have no such intention. Are you doing something to the back of my head?"
"Not at all? I'm seriously engaged in the class."
I somehow managed to live another day. I needed to defeat him while I was still able to somehow keep the damage received to a minimum.
…However, at that time, I had no way of knowing.
That actually, it wasn't only Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, there was another enemy beside him…
Shiraishi Asuka's Short Story:
An Extra Pair of Ears
* * *
(Original translation provided by Drago, edited by LegacyEMTLs)
PRESSING MY PHONE to my right ear, I closed my eyes and calmed my mind.
"You know what I mean. The 'Hundred-Man Slayer' Asuka—you've heard that nickname, haven't you?"
Ryouko-san's clear, high-pitched voice was always pleasant to hear, wasn't it?
"…That rumor's real…?"
"Of course. It's not the type of story that spreads if it's a lie."
Yoshida-kun's voice—I didn't dislike it, but it was flat and uninteresting.
"It wasn't a hundred friends?"
In the next moment, reacting to Ayanokouji-kun's voice reaching my ears, I slowly opened my eyes.
"Aah… It's this voice after all, isn't it…?"
As if my body were shivering with excitement, it ran from my ears to my brain, then throughout my entire body.
A voice, clinical and colorless, devoid of emotion.
A voice most unsuitable for observation, one impossible to analyze.
Yet, I wonder why it makes my heart race so much.
Is it because his true nature is so beyond conventional thought?
Whether it be violence or domination, cunningness or vileness, he executed everything with that voice.
"I-I already said I'm not interested!"
So much so that Yoshida-kun's voice, which I shouldn't have disliked, suddenly felt like a racket.
I had become entranced by his voice.
"Does that 'Hundred-Man Slayer' expression change to the 'Two-Hundred-Man Slayer' when it reaches two hundred?"
What impression he had of me—I wanted to know his sentiments.
Whether it was praise or condemnation, either was fine.
Please tell me with that wonderful voice.
"I've come to respect her. It's honestly amazing for someone my age to be involved with a hundred people."
"Eh? Is that what you really think…? It really does seem like you feel that way, huh?"
"Isn't a specialist in any field worthy of respect? Sorry to bring up my previous class, but it's like Sudou in basketball, Onodera in swimming, or Inogashira in sewing."
"As expected, your way of thinking is wonderful, Ayanokouji-kun."
While feeling it was a shame to temporarily part, I reluctantly removed the phone from my ear.
I couldn't hold myself back anymore.
From here on out, allow me to hear your voice not through the phone, but directly in person.
"Sakayanagi-san. Please leave the rest to me."
Getting up from the sofa, I decided to head outside where he waited.
Ibuki Mio's Short Story:
Concern?
* * *
(Original translation provided by Drago, edited by LegacyEMTLs)
IBUKI HAD A lingering frustration she'd been carrying.
The defeat in the special exam, Ryueen's strategy being seen through by Ayanokouji being used—it was neither of these reasons.
No, while those were frustrating, there was something else… an even greater frustration.
That was Horikita Suzune.
When she heard Horikita had become dispirited learning of Ayanokouji's transfer, she held her stomach and laughed.
But that joy didn't last long, and gradually, she began to feel stressed. It was because Horikita had stopped cooking and abandoned her duty of supporting and maintaining her, the cash-strapped Ibuki's, stomach's peace and stability.
Regardless of whether Ibuki visited her room or called her, she received no proper response.
And today, Class A had been defeated in the special exam.
While this was good news for Ibuki's class, personally, she couldn't honestly be happy about it. Horikita would only become more dejected.
So, who knew when Horikita would be able to provide meals for her again?
"…Why do I have to act so considerate?"
It was after school. Growing irritated with Horikita, who hadn't emerged from the school building, Ibuki paced back and forth near the entrance, waiting. Once she came out, she'd give her a sharp stimulus to cheer her up, and then make her cook.
Such one-sided thoughts ran laps inside her mind.
But no matter how long she waited, there was no sign of Horikita coming out.
She'd gone to check the shoe lockers once, but Horikita's shoes were still there, so she hadn't gone home.
"Come out already. How concerned do you plan to make… no, no, I'm not concerned."
When a strange emotion surfaced, she pushed it out of her mind. Her thoughts were getting weird because she hadn't eaten anything delicious for a while. That was her conclusion.
After that, perhaps another thirty minutes of going back and forth in the same place…
"Ah… she's coming out."
Horikita, whom she'd been waiting for, finally emerged from the school building.
She looked lifeless from behind, and as expected, Ibuki couldn't feel a speck of spirit or vigor.
'You shouldn't kick anyone, but if you absolutely must kick someone, then I suppose there's no other choice than to find someone who would enjoy being kicked or someone who would benefit from being kicked. If such an odd person exists, that is.'
As she stared at her back, Ibuki remembered what Katsuragi had once told her.
By the time she recalled it, she was already running on impulse.
The only thing she could do right now—that is, to deliver a merciless kick to Horikita's back.
Guidebook Short Story:
A Pillar of Support
* * *
AS 1 AM on Thursday night approached, I, Hasebe Haruka, was seated in front of my computer, quietly waiting for the moment.
I was thinking about Ayanokouji-kun's class transfer.
He looked the same as always at the victory celebration at the end of spring break.
But I couldn't tell what was in his heart.
Days had passed since the opening ceremony, and the class was still in chaos, with many unable to grasp the situation.
Even Horikita-san hadn't been informed about the transfer.
Could it be…
"…My fault?"
I couldn't help but think so.
I resented Ayanokouji-kun because Airi had been expelled.
I thought he had trampled on her feelings and those of our group.
I didn't know Ayanokouji-kun's true intentions.
But to survive in this school, sacrifices sometimes had to be made.
I thought I had learned that much.
I wasn't particularly surprised that Ayanokouji-kun had chosen to transfer.
"How arrogant of me, right?"
It wasn't because I saw Ayanokouji-kun as an enemy or wanted to start over with the group.
It wasn't as if I got tired of such convenient excuses.
Ayanokouji-kun wouldn't transfer for such reasons.
Surely, it was beyond my understanding.
He must've had his own reasons.
At 1 AM, my computer screen automatically changed.
A cheap title appeared, and two male hosts were shown amid the audience's applause.
A comedy duo that was becoming a bit famous.
Despite having school in the morning, this was why I stayed up late.
The online show 'Idol in the Making' was broadcast every Thursday at this time.
Idols were invited to the studio, where they tackled topics presented by the show while participating in an online popularity vote. Every two months, the top-ranked participant would graduate from the show and secure new work.
Conversely, the lowest-ranked would drop out and be replaced by a new candidate.
It seemed to be a long-running show, having passed its third anniversary.
I had only started watching it a few months ago.
To see the idol in the making who had joined the show.
Their numbers were pinned on their chests in order of age.
My favorite idol was wearing the number nine.
"Let's get right to it and announce the first topic! Ta-da! The steaming hot oden reaction battle!"
A crudely written flip chart was turned over.
Last time, when she first appeared on an online show, she was barely known. However, she had managed to secure sixth place in the popularity vote, which was a promising start.
Her conversational skills were admittedly not great, but her earnestness and dedication to every challenge had captured some fans' hearts.
I watched the screen intently, waiting for her turn.
She nervously watched the previous idols' reactions.
"Is it okay if I talk a little?"
I started muttering to myself and continued.
"Yeah, that's right. He transferred."
This was also a monologue. Knowing it wouldn't reach her, I spoke to the girl through the screen. A considerable amount of time had passed since we last met.
But her feelings on the other side of the screen hadn't changed.
I remembered last week's topic.
'Please confess who your first love was.'
She confessed her true feelings with a shy expression.
It was about someone she met in her first year of high school, and whom she still had a crush on.
From the outside, it could've seemed like a painful event, a past she wouldn't want to remember.
Yet, instead of being gloomy, that girl had started walking forward.
I, who should've been leading and holding her hand, was left behind before I knew it.
She was helping me. From afar, she waved and smiled at me, telling me to walk.
Then I had to walk.
As a friend worthy of her.
Still, her impulsive remarks were risky and made everyone around her panic.
As an idol, admitting to having a crush was still immature.
But that was okay.
Because she was still an idol in training.
And a crush is still safe, right?
"Maybe you should've shown this side of yourself to Ayanokouji-kun sooner...?"
Her striving figure.
Her bright smile.
Knowing this, could it have changed Ayanokouji-kun's feelings about his class?
"…No."
Probably not.
In Ayanokouji-kun's heart, her presence must've vanished.
If it were to sprout again, it would be after zero turned into one.
Not the zero from Advanced Nurturing High School, when you couldn't do anything.
But the idol who was fighting hard on the other side of this screen, transformed into one.
I wish she could say this back then—
'Thanks to that time, I've become stronger. I'm not interested in you anymore, though.'
Then, even Ayanokouji-kun would be taken aback.
"No… she wouldn't say something like that."
She would definitely show her sincere gratitude.
Not as a two-faced idol, but as a clumsy idol who only fought honestly and directly.
"Keep going…"
I cheered her on through the screen.
Now, I can only see her through the screen. She can't hear my voice.
My voice won't reach her.
But I won't stop.
"Keep going…"
Over and over.
I'd keep cheering.
"I'll also work hard for one more year… so you won't laugh at me when we finally meet on the outside, okay?"
I had long been overtaken by her.
So, no matter what, I must not stop.
I had to chase after her.
Now wasn't the time to be discouraged by Ayanokouji-kun's actions.
Let's work hard together.
And in one year, I'll definitely go to meet you—
"Keep going, Airi."
I called her name and smiled at her through the screen.
Guidebook Short Story:
Mock Date
* * *
THIS STORY TOOK place just before the second-year deserted island exam began.
I, Karuizawa Kei, had made my way to Keyaki Mall after school.
Keyaki Mall was bustling with students at this time.
There were those who came to hang out with friends, and others who came to shop or get a haircut, among various other uses.
Or perhaps… to go on a date with a lover.
In any case, since we couldn't leave the school premises, Keyaki Mall was an essential place.
Normally, I would often come here to hang out with my friends.
But today… I went alone.
There wasn't anything in particular I wanted to buy.
I just wanted to try something experimental.
"Phew, I'm kind of nervous."
I muttered to myself as I entered the mall from the north entrance.
It had been nearly an hour since school ended, so there were quite a lot of students around.
"Yeah, this should be fine."
I reassured myself by looking around at the crowd and walked on.
First, as planned, I headed to the general store.
The store itself was small, but there were about four girls inside, browsing various items and enjoying themselves.
Well then.
I held my phone in my hand and wandered around the store.
Soon after, a message arrived on my phone, signaling that everything was ready.
I almost couldn't contain my smile but held it back and casually looked at the products by myself.
New products circulated every week, so I never got bored, especially with cute phone accessories around.
However, I had bought so many recently that my phone strap was becoming heavier than the phone itself, so today, I had to resist.
Resist… Resist… Maybe I can't!
"This is cute~"
A strap that had just arrived was extremely cute.
It was a small kitten with a ribbon.
I took a photo of the product I liked with my phone and sent it, then muttered to myself as I slowly toured the store.
[Do you like this kind of thing?]
I smiled at the message that came back and sent, [Surprising?] and received [A little.] in reply.
[I might swoon if my boyfriend gave me something like this♡]
I was about to send such a message but felt embarrassed and deleted it.
Certainly, I didn't have the courage to go that far in today's trial.
Next, the person I was messaging sent a photo, and I excitedly looked at it…
[I thought you'd like this kind of thing.]
The photo pictured a strap with a skull and crossbones.
[No, no, that's not it. Terrible taste. Only middle school boys would use that.]
And this time, I sent back a slightly mean reply.
Sweet talk wasn't the only important thing.
Maybe I should reveal why I was here today.
I wandered around the store by myself, but in fact, there was another person walking a different route from me.
It went without saying… it was my boyfriend, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. Super cool and both smart and athletic.
It's almost as if he stepped out of a manga…
"Maybe I'm praising him too much…"
I corrected myself after saying it.
After all, I wasn't exactly good at relationships.
Ahem, anyway, this was a way we could hold a mock date. We would arrive at the meeting place separately and then wander around the store independently.
If someone else heard about it, they would surely ask, 'What's that?' But this was an attempt to enjoy dating while keeping our relationship a secret.
Well… I guess people would say, 'Just go public with your relationship with Kiyotaka,' but it's okay for now.
[What should we do next?]
[Can we look around a bit more?]
After our exchange, I wandered around the store.
Yes, nobody noticed.
It was true. It was because we each came to the store separately and looked at different things.
Of course, I felt happy that he was nearby, but at the same time, I really wanted to talk directly.
To communicate with our words, our eyes, and our touching hands. That was the essence of dating I had in mind.
After that, we left the general store and killed time by visiting supermarkets and bookstores, changing places and browsing different items.
It was a fun but lonely date.
I didn't think the attempt was a failure, but it was complicated…
I really wanted to date Kiyotaka openly and proudly as soon as possible. Yes, that was what I thought once again, with a renewed conviction.
And then…
It was around 7:30 that evening.
I was watching TV in my room when I sat up at the sound of a knock.
"Hmm?"
It wasn't the chime, but a light knock.
I wondered who it could be, but I couldn't hear any voices.
Feeling a bit curious, I opened the front door…
There was a small paper bag with pink patterns placed on the hallway floor. There was no one around.
Feeling curious, I picked it up and brought it inside.
It's for me, right?
Before opening it, I touched it from the top.
"Hmm, could this be…?"
I had an inkling of what it might've been, so I took the item out of the bag…
There was a small kitten strap with a ribbon.
Seeing it, I couldn't help but laugh.
"He really is simple-minded."
If you think something like this will make you popular, you're totally mistaken.
I removed all the other straps and attached the kitten strap to my cell phone, smiling.
"I'm not satisfied with just this."
I spent the rest of the day looking at the strap.
Guidebook Short Story:
Ever Since That Time...
* * *
(Also known as Volume 10.25)
AFTER THE SURVIVAL and elimination special exam ended, the first break arrived.
I went to the gym without anyone telling me to.
After training alone for a while and sweating it out, I headed to the rest area. Sitting on a chair, partly to cool down, I remembered something and took out my phone.
Then, I searched for a certain word.
"…I see."
I could only be convinced after looking at the article that came up.
While admiring the photos in the article alone, I heard…
"Good morning, Ayanokouji-kun."
"Morning."
The ones who appeared in the rest area were Ichinose and Amikura. They seemed to have come to the gym.
"Oh, that's a cute photo. It's a red panda, right?"
Amikura squinted and asked, having seen my phone screen.
"Yeah. I was just doing some research."
I turned off the screen as if to dodge the question, but Ichinose seemed to have some insight.
"Is it related to the exam question? Ayanokouji-kun, you got it wrong, didn't you?"
It was the special exam from the other day.
It was a memorable moment, so there was no way they would've forgotten, even if it was about another class.
"Now that you mention it, you got the tapioca question wrong too. Are you surprisingly that ignorant of the world?"
Hearing Ichinose's words, Amikura also seemed to understand and asked.
"I can't deny it. Probably because I hardly ever watch TV."
I offered the most common excuse, but both of them just smiled wryly.
"Honestly, I didn't think not liking TV would backfire like that."
"Is that really the problem? These things garnered quite a buzz on the internet too, didn't they?"
Amikura expressed her doubt; perhaps my not-watching-TV excuse wasn't persuasive enough.
"We've discovered an unexpected weakness, huh?"
Ichinose chuckled at my confused expression.
Right after, Akiyama, a member of the gym staff, appeared and called out to Ichinose.
There seemed to be a mistake in some paperwork she had filled out, and she was asked to rewrite it, so they both headed toward the counter.
They'd probably be back soon, but for the moment, it was just me and Amikura left to ourselves.
Feeling it'd be strange to leave just then, I decided to either wait until Ichinose came back or leave on my own once Amikura left.
Since we came to the gym together, Amikura probably intended to wait for Ichinose to return as well.
I sat down on a chair, leaving one empty next to me.
"Honami-chan's really changed, huh? It's like, unimaginable when you think about how she was like a few months ago…"
"Is that so?"
Indeed. Recently, Ichinose started showing a side of herself that she hadn't before.
But to say it was achieved after only a few months was an exaggeration.
It wasn't surprising, as the changes in Ichinose that Amikura mentioned weren't about the current situation.
"It was right after our second-year deserted island exam ended, and the second term had just started, I think."
Amikura began to speak, smiling as if recalling something funny.
"Back then, Honami-chan seemed unstable, or rather, she was often lost in thought."
"The deserted island exam, huh?"
Hearing that, I caught up with Amikura's story.
That was when I received an unexpected confession from Ichinose and told her about Kei.
Considering Ichinose's feelings, it wasn't surprising that she seemed unstable to others.
"Right around that time, a little incident happened in the class… Oh, but keep this story between us, okay? Don't tell Honami-chan."
I don't intend to tell, but it felt like this might turn into something I'd have to bear a bit of responsibility for hearing.
"I don't think he had any malicious intentions, but there was a time when a boy in the class accidentally overheard a rumor that Honami-chan might like you. Well, it all started with a message that Honami-chan sent by mistake…"
Apps were convenient since you could send messages with just a press of a button. Therefore, it wasn't uncommon to mistakenly send a message to someone other than the intended recipient due to a misclick. Even if you could delete your message, sometimes the message gets seen before it can be retracted.
For a while after the deserted island exam, Ichinose was going through a mentally unstable period.
It wouldn't be surprising if she made a small mistake.
"I didn't see the text myself, but I think it was something like, 'I want to calm down and talk. Can we meet in person?' Taken out of context, it sounds quite meaningful, right?"
"Yeah, that's true. So, the classmate Ichinose mistakenly sent her message to was a boy?"
"Different class. Though, the problem lies in who she accidentally sent it to. That person was Ishizaki-kun, and during the break, he came to our class and boldly asked, 'What does this message mean?' while showing the screen."
Apparently, that caused a stir. The fact that the misdirected recipient was Ishizaki meant the message wasn't taken too seriously, which was a relief, but on the other hand, it was problematic that he thoughtlessly came to check the message with the person involved.
However, it wasn't unusual for Ichinose to be on casual messaging terms with Ishizaki.
"Honami-chan was flustered but immediately corrected it, telling him it was a missent message. Ishizaki-kun was convinced and went back to his class, but the difficulties was what followed. The fact that it was a mistakenly sent message meant that she intended to send that important message to someone else."
That might've sparked the rumors among the boys in the class.
"But why does that lead to me?"
"You'd understand if you saw it, right?"
For some reason, I was met with a somewhat forceful smile.
"Well, that's limited to those with sharp intuition… The boys started making noise for a different reason. Ayanokouji-kun, maybe it's because your 'A' and Ishizaki-kun's 'I' are close in the contact list[1], which is arranged in alphabetical order. There are other names close by, but you and Honami-chan are often seen together…"
The accumulation of past events and the missent message to Ishizaki led to such speculation.
"Honami-chan is always bright and composed, but she gets quite flustered when it comes to matters concerning herself. Maybe she couldn't come up with a good excuse at that time, and she turned pale with her eyes drawn to the floor."
It seemed to be another difficult situation.
Somehow, I could picture the scene at that time.
I can't tell the truth.
But I can't pin it on just anyone either.
And since I just said it was sent to the wrong person, I can't pretend it never happened.
Even though I wandered into this myself, it feels like I've approached a dead end.
"Catching sight of the scene, from our point of view, it was very rare to see Honami-chan like that."
Basically, Ichinose was a very capable person.
She'd usually overcome most things and could resolve situations herself.
However, as Amikura described, this was a period when she was in poor condition.
"We were watching over her for a while, but it gradually started to feel heavy. Boys who didn't think it was you started to wonder if she was planning to confess to someone."
She couldn't sort it out by herself, and the situation only worsened with her silence.
"How did she get through that predicament?"
It wasn't easy to imagine Ichinose pulling off a miraculous recovery from there.
"Like me, the girls knew who Honami-chan intended to send it to. We secretly discussed how to help and stepped in to support her."
Apparently, they managed to get through the situation by working together.
There was a girl who had sought love advice from Ichinose, and she had been thinking of a reply to her.
The message was mistakenly sent during that exchange.
The silence was out of consideration for the possibility of it leading back to that girl.
It was a result of her trying to protect that girl's privacy.
With testimonies from several people, most of the boys immediately corrected their misunderstanding.
"There was nothing to do but accept it, right?"
"Yeah."
It would be different if the girls were putting on a bad act, making it obvious they were covering for her, but judging from their tone, they must have handled it well.
"Are you responsible for returning Honami-chan back to normal?"
"I didn't do anything special. Ichinose just recovered with her own strength."
"I see… but still, thank you."
"You're thanking someone who didn't do anything?"
"I just assume you're being modest. That's why I'm grateful."
Whether I admit it or not, the truth seemed irrelevant.
"But why tell me this? Is it because you thought I was the one who helped?"
"No, it's a different matter."
Amikura had been calm throughout, but her expression stiffened slightly.
"You can tell if you look, but even now, Honami-chan sees you as someone very special. You're the only one in this school who can have a strong influence on her, that's why."
I realized that she wasn't just standing idly by while being friends with Ichinose.
She understood her nature; she knew Ichinose Honami well.
"I'm telling you this because… I don't want you to make Honami-chan sad or hurt her."
She said this with a bit of difficulty, but her words were clear.
"I don't intend to intentionally hurt her, but that's quite a difficult request."
"Right."
Amikura agreed without denying it.
"Of course, I understand your position. It's not about whether you're dating. I just don't want her to be unnecessarily hurt."
Upon answering, Amikura chuckled wryly and continued, muttering.
"It's tough for Honami-chan, falling for a guy who has a girlfriend."
"You're pretty straightforward, aren't you?"
"I have a vague idea of you too. I figure you aren't flustered, right?"
"Maybe."
Even if it wasn't today, Amikura must've been planning to have this conversation with me sooner or later.
As gym buddies, a chance to be alone together would've come at some point.
"I understand what you want to say. I'll deal with it well."
I couldn't say anything for certain, so I asked for her understanding.
"I'm sorry, it's not my place to tell you this as a third party."
Amikura knew this, so she didn't press the issue too hard.
"You can't just abandon her as a friend. It's not a bad thing."
I showed my understanding, and Ichinose returned.
"Sorry to keep you both waiting,"
"No, not at all."
Considering it was a conversation that was embarrassing for the person involved, Amikura was momentarily flustered.
Ichinose, who had returned, didn't change her expression at all, but it wouldn't be surprising if she had realized something with her keen eyes.
However, she didn't ask what we were talking about.
Maybe it was just speculation, but perhaps Ichinose didn't want to make Amikura tell a clumsy lie.
"Well then, I'm going to head home soon. See you two later."
I said my goodbyes to Ichinose and Amikura and left the gym.
I was unexpectedly told about a situation that occurred in Ichinose's class, but as soon as I stepped outside, I received a message.
[Were you having another private talk with Mako-chan? About me?]
She only came to check with me to avoid negatively impacting Amikura.
Moreover, it seemed she was able to guess that we were talking about an issue concerning her.
She was probably curious about what we talked about, but I couldn't tell her because of the promise I made to Amikura.
[Looks like you've got a good best friend.]
So, I decided to reply with that.
There was nothing to worry about, and it certainly wouldn't lower Amikura's position.
Ichinose sent back a sticker with an illustration labeled 'super happy' in response to my message.
* * *
[1]: The Japanese "Alphabet" is ordered by the Gojuuon—this places the vowels あ(a) and い(i) directly next to each other.
LegacyEMTLs Afterword
* * *
Hey there, Colibri here.
Just wanted to say thanks for reading our translation. Countless hours of work and effort went into it and I just wanna say thank you to everyone in the team for being a part of this, and thank you to the reader for supporting us by reading our translation. If you encounter any errors, feel free to report them on our site. And if you have any comments, you can add them to the comments section of the Y3V1 page. Spread our name through word of mouth and feel free to share these files so long as you credit us.
Anyways, see you next time with Y3V2.
Colibri
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆
Hi, FS7 here.
Thanks for reading our translation. This is our first new volume release as a TL group so we hope the quality is up to par. We're planning to redesign some of the mechanisms for translation to make it even better for Y3V2. Also, just like Colibri said, please report any issues to us. We're very particular about our translations so we're more than happy to rectify any issues if made aware of them.
Thanks.
FS7
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆
One more lead here, F2P2W.
We spent a lot more effort on this volume compared to our translation of V0 since we're on a much stricter deadline this time. I'll say this again, the team is full of people taking on multiple things at once—whether that be school, jobs, or personal projects—all while working on LegacyEMTLs, so please be kind to the team~
Also, you will see a lot of the team bashing Anime Anyway here. Please don't take it too seriously… don't send hate to anybody. Don't take our other leads as examples.
That being said, we hope to bring good quality reads for those patiently waiting for the Seven Seas official translations! And I hope you all win your 50/50s early pity.
Signing out.
F2P2W
LegacyEMTLs Credits
* * *
Colibri - Lead / Dev
"Spread your legs"
FS7 - Lead / MTL Dev / Lazy JE Checker
"I gotta be the biggest Anime Anyway hater in LegacyEMTLs"
F2P2W - Lead / Head Editor
"Please don't actually send hate to anime anyway... Besides that, persimmons are bomb."
Jéra - JE Checker / Editor
「今宵の恐怖劇を始めよう」
Ichinose Honami - JE Checker
"If anime anyway gets less than 1000 views by Y3V6 I'll flash on a colored illustration"
Kall - Editor
"I don't like expending more effort than I have to - Anime Anyway (Probably)"
ECA - Editor
"skibidi toilet, skibidi toilet, ts pmo💔 "
Mika - Editor
"Quis ut Deus"
Sky - Editor
"Shoutout to the team for the hard work, enjoy the read."
Hiyori's Only Lover - Editor
"Why is Hiyori's name only mentioned once??? Arcangel Pa"
Unknown - Editor
"Ayano the rizzler"
BigFaulty - Illustrator
"Inchinose>>>"
FZ - Illustrator
"CoMiC sAnS iS sUpErIoR"