『』『』『』『』『』
It had been a day since the special exam on the uninhabited island ended. No exciting events had occurred since then—aside from the usual problems within each class. Most students enjoyed the vacation, though there were a few exceptions.
Clink. clank.
The sound of utensils clashing against plates echoed throughout the room.
Now it was time for lunch.
After a week of barely surviving on fruit and whatever else could be scavenged, it was no surprise that the students had lost their minds. The moment real food was placed in front of them, all sense of dignity vanished. Still, as civilized people born into the 21st century, even though they were messy, they still maintained a certain level of civility.
"Thank you for helping on the deserted island. I'm sorry I didn't thank you enough for helping to find the culprit, Ayanokouji-kun."
Ayanokouji and Hirata were having lunch together, having coincidentally met while grabbing their meals. He glanced at Hirata, quietly assessing his condition. Though he wasn't as cheerful as usual, he seemed to be recovering.
Still, Hirata wasn't the type to let things go easily. He carried the weight of the class on his shoulders, always trying to maintain harmony. The stress from the island was still lingering.
"You don't need to apologize. I wasn't even useful. Horikita found the underwear thief."
He had already told Hirata that it was Horikita who had found the culprit and that Ibuki had been the spy. It was the easiest answer, and more importantly, it was the one that wouldn't raise any unnecessary suspicion.
Horikita taking the credit for it didn't bother him. In fact, it was preferable. The less attention he drew to himself, the smoother things would go. If people thought Horikita had been the one pulling the strings, they would focus on her instead.
"Even so, I'm grateful to you for helping."
"Did Karuizawa get her underwear back?" He asked.
"Yeah. When she heard Ibuki-san was the culprit, things went smoothly."
Karuizawa had her underwear stolen on the island, and Ibuki had staged the entire incident to find out who stole her camera by planting the underwear in a guy's bag. Because of that, the relationship between the boys and girls of Class D had been in a precarious state.
But Hirata had acted quickly, concealing the underwear and preventing further escalation. Thanks to his intervention, the situation had temporarily cooled down.
Unfortunately for him, another incident would follow soon after one, that would completely shatter the already fragile trust between the boys and girls.
It wasn't Ibuki's fault. Just an unintended consequence of her actions.
The tension between the two groups had already reached a breaking point due to the underwear incident. But when the boys discovered that the girls had secretly used class points for their own comfort, things took a turn for the worse.
Ayanokouji glanced at Hirata again. His mental state had likely taken a hit due to the ongoing conflict within the class. Even so, since they had won the exam, it wasn't as severe as it could have been.
"Honestly, there's something I'd like your advice on." Hirata spoke in a slightly apologetic way as he looked down at the menu.
"Advice?"
"I wondered if you would act as a bridge to help reach Horikita-san. After all, Class D will have to come together and work hard in the future, and I think Horikita-san will be indispensable."
"The other day, Class D got a major boost thanks to Horikita-san. Class morale has shot up, and more than anything else, the number of people who idolize Horikita-san has increased. This is a big opportunity."
"Well, I suppose so."
Horikita Suzune was a student in Class D. She was an honors student, highly accomplished both academically and physically. However, her greatest weakness was her aloof, independent personality. She kept to herself, avoiding unnecessary interactions due to her high-handed attitude.
Socializing wasn't exactly her strong suit.
But during the exam, she had managed to show a different side of herself—even if only at the very end. A more ambitious and charismatic version of Horikita had emerged, however briefly. And because of that, many students in Class D believed she was the reason they had taken first place.
Ayanokouji may have contributed to that perception. After all, he had made sure to let her take the credit when it mattered.
Still, he had to admit—it wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
If the class believed in Horikita's leadership, that belief alone could help unify them. Whether or not she actually deserved the credit was irrelevant.
What mattered was the outcome.
"That's why I think she should try and get along with everyone right now. If she cooperated with us, I think we could get up to Class C, and then B... No, we could even reach Class A."
It seemed Hirata was certain of Horikita's potential. Ayanokouji didn't particularly mind helping him out. The task was simple enough. He could at least bring Hirata and Horikita closer together, but that probably wouldn't lead to a permanent solution.
"But even if I can bring you both together, things won't be that easy. Horikita is difficult."
"Yes, I understand, of course. Horikita-san only opens herself up to you, Ayanokouji-kun. I don't want to force her confidence. That's why I wanted to tell you my intentions so that you can talk to her. Then, pretend I never spoke to you."
In other words, Hirata wanted him to be Horikita's whisperer. If Ayanokouji played along, Horikita would unknowingly enter into an unseen partnership with Hirata without ever realizing it
"If I thought she'd listen to me, things would be simple enough. But it won't be that easy. I usually just go along with whatever Horikita says. I've never really forced my opinion on her. If I suddenly start voicing strong opinions, she'll probably find it suspicious. If she finds out it's your opinion, I think she'll shut down completely."
"But I can't come up with anything else right now. I don't think I have the confidence to speak with Horikita-san, let alone persuade her. This is my last resort."
"...Don't you think it's a little soon for last resorts?"
Hirata clearly wanted to join forces with Horikita, but he'd have to face her directly. Ayanokouji didn't blame him. In certain categories, Horikita was an even more difficult person to talk to than Kumagawa—and that was saying something.
With that in mind, Ayanokouji casually threw out another suggestion.
"What if we asked Kumagawa?"
"Kumagawa-kun?" Hirata blinked, clearly not expecting that answer.
"He has a way of persuading Horikita, even if it's... unconventional."
Just as Ayanokouji was about to continue, he noticed Kumagawa entering the restaurant alone. Their eyes met. Kumagawa grinned and waved his hand. Ayanokouji gave a small wave back.
But instead of coming directly to their table, Kumagawa suddenly veered off in another direction, making his way toward an already occupied seat.
Hirata looked unsure.
"I don't know if Kumagawa-kun is the right person for this..."
"I get where you're coming from, he's unpredictable. And half the time, you can't even tell if he's being serious or just messing with people." Ayanokouji replied.
That was a fair concern. Kumagawa's words often made people uncomfortable, even when he wasn't doing anything particularly malicious. His ability to provoke reactions from others was almost a talent in itself.
"Still, I think he's a better option than me, If I tell Horikita to work with you, she might just brush it off. But if Kumagawa does it, she'll at least argue with him."
"Isn't that worse?" Hirata asked, confused.
"Not really. Even if she argues with him, that means she's engaging with the idea. It's better than her completely ignoring the topic." Ayanokouji said.
It was true. Horikita wasn't particularly fond of Kumagawa, but she interacted with him more often than she did with most people. That was already more than what most people in the class could accomplish.
Hirata still looked skeptical, but he didn't immediately shoot the idea down. That was a start.
Ayanokouji glanced in Kumagawa's direction. He had seated himself at a random table, seemingly unbothered by the fact that the seat was already occupied. The students sitting there looked visibly uncomfortable, but Kumagawa carried on eating as if he belonged there.
After a few moments, he casually started talking to them. Ayanokouji couldn't hear what was being said, but judging by their expressions, it was something either bizarre or unsettling. One of the students frowned, looking annoyed, while the other just looked confused.
Before Ayanokouji could look away, a cheerful voice cut through the restaurant.
"Ah, so you're here after all, Hirata-kun! Let's eat lunch together!"
He turned his head toward the entrance.
Karuizawa approached, leading a group of girls, she sounded happy and carefree.
"Um... Karuizawa-san, I thought I canceled our plans..."
Hirata stumbled over his words, looking unsure.
Ayanokouji found that odd. It wasn't like Hirata to cancel plans with his girlfriend, at least not without a reason. Maybe he needed some time alone after the island exam. Or maybe, just maybe, he had wanted to talk to Ayanokouji in private.
The latter seemed unlikely. Hirata wasn't the type to actively seek him out for a personal conversation. So, Ayanokouji settled on the more logical explanation
But before Hirata could say anything else, Karuizawa and her friends pulled out chairs from another table, dragged them over, and surrounded him in an instant.
Ayanokouji barely had time to react before he was quietly pushed aside, as if he weren't even there.
Their peaceful lunch had suddenly become chaotic, filled with laughter and casual gossip. Ayanokouji, not much of a talker to begin with, wasn't particularly bothered. He simply continued eating, letting the scene play out around him.
"Oh? These pancakes are delicious."
He commented to no one in particular, his voice drowned out by the lively conversation between Karuizawa's group.
Unbeknownst to him, the whole thing made him look almost pitiful.
『』『』『』『』『』
『Ayanokouji-kun seems pretty pathetic from here, right? It reminds me of myself at times.』
It looked like a scene straight out of a tragic comedy. There he was, sitting alone, methodically eating his food without a care in the world, while just a few steps away, a lively group surrounded Hirata, completely disregarding his existence
Shrugging, Kumagawa turned his attention back to the two unfortunate students sitting across from him, both looking increasingly uneasy in his presence.
『So, where were we? Ah, that's right. 』Kumagawa clapped his hands together
The girl, who had already stopped eating, visibly flinched.
『I was just asking you both a very simple question: If you had to choose between being buried alive in a coffin or slowly sinking into a tar pit, which one would you prefer? 』
The students exchanged uneasy glances. They had just been casually eating, talking about trivial things, when out of nowhere, Kumagawa had sat down at their table and started speaking. At first, it was nothing but incoherent rambling—something about how spoons were a scam designed to trick people into eating slower.
But the more he spoke, the more unsettling it became. His voice never changed, always carrying the same lighthearted, almost friendly tone, yet the words themselves dug into them like needles. Before they even realized it, the conversation had veered straight into the subject of suffocation, decay, and the feeling of soil pressing down on a slowly cooling body.
His body wrapped in bandages appereance did not make things any better, if not, it only make it worse.
『Huh? You're looking a little pale. Oh! I get it! You're actually imagining it, aren't you? The weight of the dirt above your head, the way the air gets thinner with every breath, the way your nails break as you claw at the wood—』
The girl stood up abruptly, grabbing her tray with shaky hands. The boy followed a second later, mumbling something that vaguely resembled an excuse before they both hurried away.
『... 』
Kumagawa blinked, watching them leave.
『Well, that didn't go very well. 』 He muttered to himself, absently taking one of the abandoned bread rolls and popping it into his mouth.
He gave it some thought. Maybe the topic had been a bit too heavy to start with. People liked easing into conversations, after all. Jumping straight into existential horror might have been too much for an opening.
『Next time, let's start with how long a human head stays conscious after being separated from the body. 』
"Are you an idiot?"
『Hmm? 』
Kumagawa turned around and saw Kushida standing there with a plate of food in her hand. She didn't look the least bit disturbed by his words—if anything, she just looked vaguely exasperated.
Without waiting for an invitation, she casually sat in front of him and began eating.
He watched her take a bite of her omelet.
『You know, Kushida-chan, that's a little rude. Are you insulting my intelligence? What if I was actually a genius? I'm feel a little hurt by how much you treated me differently with other people. 』
Kushida tilted her head, chewing her food slowly before swallowing.
"Treated you differently? What are you talking about?"
She answered with a bright smile—one that could make boys fall for her on the spot. It was flawless, a smile so perfectly crafted that it had to have been practiced over and over again for years.
『That's a perfect smile, Kushida-chan. With your personality, it would almost make me fall in love with you. 』
For just a second, her expression twisted in visible disgust before she quickly smoothed it over, her perfected mask snapping back into place.
"Thank you, Kumagawa-kun."
She resumed eating her food as if nothing had happened, as if his words hadn't affected her at all.
A few moments of silence passed between them before Kushida set her fork down and looked at him again.
"So, what do you think about Horikita-san?"
Kumagawa blinked at the sudden question before flashing a confused smile.
『Horikita-chan? Gossiping about your friend, that's not very pure of you, Kushida-chan.』
"....."
Kushida stared at Kumagawa without saying anything. Her gaze was serious—so much so that Kumagawa actually took a moment to ponder before answering.
『Well, I think she's not a very good person. 』
"H-huh?"
Kushida was so surprised by that answer that she gave him an incredulous look.
『Hey, hey. What's with that look? You're staring at me like a monkey that just solved an algebra equation. I must tell you, that's very insulting to my fragile heart. 』
Kushida ignored the last part, instead narrowing her eyes slightly before asking again. "But aren't you friends with Horikita?"
『Me? Friends with Horikita-chan? Now you're just being presumptuous. I'd say our relationship is more like Gon and Hisoka? 』
"Then why are you always around her?"
『Did you mistake me for Ayanokouji-kun? That's a little concerning, Kushida-chan. It's like you have trouble telling apart the guys who knew your secret. 』
".....You're a terrible person, Kumagawa-kun." Kushida smiled cheerfully.
Kushida's expression and the words coming out of her mouth didn't quite match. It was a perfect, radiant smile—one that could make anyone believe she was genuinely happy.
『You say that, but you're still here, talking to me. Could it be that you actually like me, Kushida-chan? That'd be a problem, you know? I'm a terrible boyfriend.』
"As if. I just figured you were easier to deal with than certain others."
『Oh? Rest assured, Kushida-chan. Even if that 'certain other' makes things difficult for you, I would never do that. I like to think I'm very considerate.』
"Shut up. Why do you always talk like that? It's annoying."
Kushida found herself irritated in a way she couldn't quite put into words. Maybe it was the way Kumagawa always spoke like he was in on some kind of joke only he understood.
『Eh? Isn't this just another case of how saying the opposite of what you really mean is a sign of affection? Like when someone says "I hate you" but actually wants attention?』
"Kumagawa-kun, you should just go and die. Ah, sorry, that was a slip of the tongue. Just think of it as my way of showing affection."
『It just sounds like begrudging fondness to me, though... 』
He shrugged before continue eating.
『But aren't you being a little reckless, Kushida-chan? Showing your real face so easily... what if someone overheard? Wouldn't that be troublesome for you? 』
"There aren't many people around, and this corner is quiet. No one's paying attention to us."
Kumagawa's eyes flickered around the area. True enough, the lunch crowd had mostly settled down, and this corner was tucked away from the main foot traffic. Conversations from other tables barely reached them.
『That's right. But we can never be too cautious, Kushida-chan. 』
Kushida resisted the urge to click her tongue. There was something irritating about the way he said that—like he was lecturing her. It reminded her of an old teacher droning on about common sense.
"That's a surprise. I thought you were the type to assume the worst about everyone."
『Well, who knows? I can be more optimistic than you might think.』
Kushida scoffed.
Before Kushida could continue, an unexpected voice cut through their conversation.
"Well, well. I didn't expect to find you with a girl."
Ryuuen casually pulled out a chair and sat down without invitation, his signature smirk plastered on his face. He leaned back in his chair, draping one arm over the backrest as he lazily examined both Kumagawa and Kushida.
『Seriously, what kind of person sits at an occupied table without consideration or consent? Honestly, it's rude. 』
"Hmph, you're the last person I'd take that from."
Ryuuen gave Kumagawa a once-over, eyes narrowing slightly at his appearance.
His body was wrapped in white bandages from head to toe. His right arm had layers of gauze peeking out from beneath his sleeve, and even his neck had strips of fabric barely concealed by his collar. It was a wonder he could even move properly with how much of his body seemed to be held together by medical tape.
Kushida, despite her usual composure, glanced at Kumagawa with slight concern before quickly masking it with a smile.
『Oh, this? Just bad luck. 』
Kumagawa said nonchalantly, flexing his fingers as if testing their mobility. The joints in his hand creaked loudly, a sickening sound like an old, rusted door being forced open. Both Kushida and Ryuuen grimaced instinctively at the unnatural noise.
『You wouldn't believe how ridiculous it was. I slipped down a hill, and hit my head first. I heard something crack. Not sure if it was my skull or just a branch but it had such a sickenig sound. Then, as if that wasn't enough, I kept rolling, bounced off a few rocks, smashed into a tree—probably broke a rib here and there. I could feel my ribs caving in one by one, my leg twisting in a way legs really shouldn't twist. And just when I thought, 'Wow, this fall is really going on longer than expected,' I finally landed. Flat on my back, staring up at the sky... only for some nameless idiot to come charging at me, deciding that it was a good time to start a fight. 』
He let out a wistful sigh, as if recounting a fond childhood memory.
『Fighting while my bones were making that awful creaking noise with every move is painful you know? But, I didn't really have a choice, so I fought him like that. Not the worst fight I've had, but definitely not great either. 』
"..."
His tone was so casual, so indifferent, that it made the description even worse. Both Kushida and Ryuuen sat in stunned silence, not expecting such a grotesquely detailed story.
"What the hell, how are you still alive..."
Even if what Kumagawa said was half nonsense, judging from his current appearance, there was no denying that he really did suffer a fatal accident.
Still, he acted like it was nothing.
『Well, since you went through all the trouble to find me, I'm guessing you want to talk about the results of the uninhabited island exam, right? 』
"Tch. Your personality is terrible, you know that?" Ryuuen clicked his tongue, annoyed
『I don't mind sharing. 』
Before Ryuuen could respond, Kushida, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up.
"Kumagawa-kun... did you do something on the exam?"
Kushida was not stupid enough to not picks up the clue based on their conversation.
『Well... Even if you ask me, I don't know how to answer it since I didn't even hear the question. I'm not some kind of ESP like those in manga, you know? 』
Kushida's expression didn't change, but there was a twitch in her brow.
It was an annoying response. He was being deliberately difficult, because there was no way to tell whether he was doing it on purpose or if he genuinely just didn't care.
He was just being a nuisance for the sake of it.
Even Ryūen, who prided himself on his ability to irritate people, found himself momentarily irritated by Kumagawa's attitude.
Taking a deep breath, Ryūen forced himself to ignore the nonsense.
"Hmph. You knew I'd figure it out, didn't you?"
『Figure out what? 』
Ryūen narrowed his eyes.
"That you can't change the leader unless you have a valid reason."
That was the rule Kumagawa had exploited. If the leader retired, the position could be transferred. It was a loophole baked into the system—a rule designed to account for unexpected situations like illness or injury. But in this case, Kumagawa had forced the situation.
And Ryūen hated being played.
He had suspected something was off, but now he needed to confirm it.
『Ah, that. Yeah, that was pretty funny, huh?』
Kumagawa grinned, as if Ryūen had just complimented him instead of calling him out.
Ryūen's eyes sharpened.
"So you did bait me into taking the same approach."
『Bait you? Ryūen-chan, you wound me. I'd never do something so underhanded I mean, I had to retire, right? It wasn't my fault I slipped and fell off a cliff. What a terrible accident. Truly tragic.』
"A terrible accident, huh?"
He wasn't buying that for a second.
"Don't screw with me. You set this up from the beginning, didn't you?"
『You really think I planned to throw myself off a cliff? I might be a little crazy, but come on, give me some credit. 』
"...Then what did you plan, Kumagawa-kun?" Kushida asked.
Kushida was a little suprised that the final score had something to do with Kumagawa, since she doesnt expect Kumagawa to be the schemenig type. All he had been known for is either annoying, disgusting, or a pervert.
Honestly, there is not a single rumour about him being good whatsoever.
『Hmm... good question. What did I plan? What could I have planned? I was the leader, after all. I had a huge responsibility. Naturally, I had to do my best, right?』
He shrugged dramatically.
『This really has nothing to do with me. 』
Ryūen narrowed his eyes. "Nothing to do with you?"
『That's right. Whether I retired or not, whether I was the leader or not... The outcome would've been the same. 』
"So what, you're saying Class D would've won even without your involvement?"
Kumagawa tilted his head, as if considering it.
『All I did was nudge things along. The rest was just human nature.』
"Hah! I knew it. There was someone else pulling the strings. There's no way I'm buying your nonsense. You might be a tricky bastard, but there's no way Class D wins just because you 'nudged things along.'"
Of course, there was no way Ryuuen would trust the words of a pathological liar like Kumagawa. The guy spouted nonsense like it was second nature—half of what he said was probably made up on the spot. But that was exactly why Ryuuen knew there had to be someone else.
"...You really are one nasty bastard, huh?" Ryūen muttered.
『I hope we can keep being friends, Ryūen-chan.』
Even so, Ryūen couldn't deny it.
He had underestimated Kumagawa.
At first, he had assumed the guy was just some lucky idiot who somehow managed to enter this school purely by chance. But now? Now he knew that Kumagawa was a real piece of work.
And that pissed him off.
Ryūen stuffed his hands into his pockets, his smirk never fading. "Well, whatever. Enjoy your little game while it lasts. I'll crush you next time."
Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and walked away.
Kumagawa watched him go with an amused expression.
『So rude, don't you think, Kushida-chan? He didn't even say goodbye properly.』
Kushida, who had been watching the entire exchange silently, finally let out a breath.
"...You really enjoy messing with people, huh, Kumagawa-kun?"
『Oh, please. I was completely innocent in that conversation. Ryūen-chan just loves to blame others for his own mistakes. Honestly, it's exhausting being falsely accused all the time. 』
Kushida's smile twitched.
Even though Kumagawa had technically told the truth, he was still lying in the most infuriating way possible.
Kushida's eyes flickered with curiosity as she watched Ryūen leave. But now, she had another target.
"Say, Kumagawa-kun, what really happened on the island?" she said sweetly, tilting her head.
『Hmm? What do you mean? I was just playing around, like always. 』
Kushida leaned in slightly, her tone soft and playful.
"Come on, don't play dumb. Did Horikita-san have anything to do with it?"
Kumagawa put a hand to his chin, as if deep in thought.
『Hmm... Nope! I don't know anything.』
"You sure about that? You wouldn't lie to me, right, Kumagawa-kun?"
『Yup. 』
"Then tell me the truth~."
She clasped her hands together, tilting her head just enough to make herself look adorable. A picture-perfect display of innocence.
『Okay! I will tell you since have a cute face.』
"...Huh?"
『You're just so cute, Kushida-chan, that I feel completely powerless. I guess I have no choice but to spill everything! 』
Kumagawa nodded to himself, as if this conclusion was the most logical thing in the world.
Kushida blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the drastic shift in attitude.
"...Wait, really?"
『Yup, really. I'm a simple guy, you know? Beautiful girls get special treatment. 』
Kushida narrowed her eyes slightly. She had tried to manipulate him, but somehow, he had thrown her off instead. She kept her smile, but inside, she was wary. Kumagawa never told the truth so easily.
Still, she decided to listen.
『First things first, I became the leader of Class D. Not because I wanted to, but because everyone was just so eager to give me the role. So I had no choice but to take responsibility, right?』
"Uh-huh."
Kushida nodded, pretending to go along with his nonsense. That was obviously a lie. There was never a second—nor would there ever be a time—where Class D would nominate Kumagawa for anything remotely resembling position of power.
If there were an exam where students had to vote for someone to be expelled, Kumagawa would probably be their first target.
『Kushida-chan, I can feel your doubt. It's like a knife to my fragile heart. Do you really think so little of me? 』
"It's not doubt if it's a fact, Kumagawa-kun." Kushida rested her chin on her hand, smiling sweetly.
『That's cold. You wound me. But it's fine! Since you're cute, I forgive you.』
"Thanks, I guess?" She rolled her eyes before steering the conversation back. "So? What did you do after you became the so-called 'leader'?"
Kumagawa continue his explanation.
『I did my best. Really, I did. I took my duties very seriously. Making sure everyone was comfortable, helping out where needed... you know, being a proper leader.』
"So, in other words, you did absolutely nothing."
『Now, now. Let's not get caught up in the details.』 Kumagawa waved her off.
『What's important is that Class D survived the exam in one piece, and isn't that what truly matters? 』
Kushida narrowed her eyes slightly. "You're avoiding the question.."
『Ah, but that's only because you keep pressing me for the truth. If you let me touch your boobs, then I might change my mind. 』
"..."
Kushida's eyes narrowed further. She seemed exceedingly displeased.
With the way things were going, Kumagawa should have been worried. A normal person would have been.
"You wanna die, Kumagawa-kun?"
『Of course not. Definitely not.』
His response was lighthearted, composed to the very end, as if he hadn't just made an absurdly inappropriate remark.
Kushida's smile twitched, but she forced herself to maintain her usual pleasant expression. Meanwhile, Kumagawa simply tilted his head, his eyes scanning her face before he suddenly spoke again.
『Oh? Your complexion looks a lot better already. 』
"...What the hell are you talking about?"
Kushida frowned, momentarily thrown off.
『Well, when you first sat down, you seemed a little off, you know? But now, after getting mad at me, threatening me, and probably thinking about hitting me, you look much better! Ahh, I'm such a good person. 』
Kushida clicked her tongue. "You're seriously annoying."
『And yet, you're still talking to me. That's friendship, Kushida-chan.』
Still annoyed, Kushida pushed the last bite of food into her mouth, chewing it slowly before swallowing. She dabbed at her lips with a napkin.
Then, as if the thought had just casually crossed her mind, she spoke.
"What about Horikita?"
『Horikita? 』
"What did she do during the island exam?"
There was something about the way she asked that made it clear she wasn't just making small talk.
『Man, you really do hate Horikita, huh? 』
"Of course. It's the same as how much I hate you." Kushida didn't even hesitate.
She smiled sweetly, but there was an unmistakable venom beneath it.
"But right now, I hate Horikita more than anything."
The memory after the island exam soured her mood instantly. The way Class D had sung praises for Horikita, treating her as some kind of genius for guessing the other class leaders, made her stomach churn. They had looked at her like she was some kind of hero, someone to admire, someone to follow.
It was disgusting.
That smug, self-important loner had somehow become the center of attention. Even though Kushida had worked so hard to maintain her image, to be liked by everyone, in the end, they had all turned their eyes to Horikita.
Kumagawa watched her reaction with mild curiosity before lazily asking.
『Why do you hate her so much? 』
"That's not for you to know."
『..... 』
"Now, stop trying to change the subject. Answer my question."
『Well, if you're asking what Horikita-chan did during the exam... the answer is pretty simple. Not much.』
"Really?
『I mean, she tried, but let's be real—she wasn't exactly useful. The most she did was keep the class from falling apart, which what you were doing before she even got involved. 』
Kushida's expression brightened almost instantly. The irritation that had been creeping into her features vanished, replaced by something far more pleasant.
"Oh? So she really was useless?" she asked, her voice light and sweet, like she had just heard the most delightful piece of gossip.
Her mood had done a complete 180.
『Wow, your complexion suddenly looks so much better, Kushida-chan. You wouldn't happen to be in a good mood, would you?』
"Of course. I feel so much better now."
Kushida stretched her arms, looking far more relaxed than she had just moments ago. Her entire demeanor had shifted, like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
"Well then, I should get going," she said, standing up and brushing off her skirt. She shot Kumagawa a dazzling smile, the kind that was just a little too perfect.
"Thanks for the meal. And for the conversation, Kumagawa-kun."
『Oh, no need to thank me. I'm always happy to be of service, especially when it helps improve someone's mood.』
With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, her cheerful humming fading into the background.
Kumagawa watched her go, resting his chin on his palm.
『Ah, she's really a mix between Saki-chan and Takarabe-chan. How adoarable. 』
『END』
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