『』『』『』『』『』
『You're early. 』
"You're stealing my line, Kumagawa-kun."
Kumagawa had arrived a little earlier than usual at the spot where Kushida often came to vent. It was a decent place for that kind of thing, slightly far from where students usually passed through, and the breeze helped cool things down after letting off some heat.
『I figured you'd show up here after that little discussion earlier. 』
"Was it that obvious?"
『A gentleman like me would notice something like that. Lucky for me, I'm not one. And we're not at that kind of relationship yet, are we?』
"Then what kind of relationship are we?"
『...Friends with benefits? 』
"....."
She should've expected an answer like that from a perverted contrarian like him.
Even so, it was impressive, if not a little disturbing that he'd caught her expression during the earlier discussion with Ryuen and the others. She thought she'd managed to keep herself in check better than usual, maybe the most composed she'd been since the school year started in April.
Maybe it was just Kumagawa. Maybe he only noticed the worst in people. Or maybe he literally couldn't see anything good in them at all.
Both were equally unpleasant in their own way.
Fortunately, she wasn't the type to dwell on it. She'd already given up on treating him like a normal person long ago.
As long as their symbiotic relationship stayed intact, that was enough.
"Seriously, that damn Horikita is so annoying! Why doesn't she just drop dead already?"
And with that, Kushida let it all out.
"Every single time I try to say something, she just cuts in and shuts it down. She acts like she's being logical and calm, but in reality, she's just being cold and dismissive. It's honestly annoying. Irritating. How can anyone always listen to her and not me when I'm the one actually trying to move the discussion forward, and she's the one who makes it useless?"
『Maybe because you actually want to betray the class? 』
"Shut it."
Kumagawa, for once, decided to shut up.
It took her about two minutes to calm down. Her breathing evened out, and she leaned her head back against the railing with her eyes closed.
『Oho, that's an outstanding and versatile performance you just showed, Kushida-chan.』
He clapped slowly.
『A flawless blend of victimhood, frustration, and just the right amount of sincerity to make people feel guilty for doubting you. 』
She glanced at him with tired eyes.
"You're so irritating, you know that?"
『Speaking of irritating, do you think if I grabbed your boobs right now, it'd count as emotional support or workplace harassment? 』
She paused.
"...That's inappropriate, you know."
Is that even something you can say so casually?
But he just kept smiling like it was a compliment.
『Well, my inappropriate remarks are made with exactly forty grams of copper, twenty-five grams of zinc, fifteen grams of nickel, five grams of spite, and ninety-seven kilograms of embarrassment mixed with confidence. 』
"...What?"
Did he just list a formula? For what exactly? Was that supposed to be the chemical makeup of his shamelessness?
『In other words, I'm the walking definition of bad taste. But at least I'm consistent. 』
Kumagawa said proudly.
Even Kushida could sense a trace of pride in his voice. A faint, fragile sort of pride that felt like it could vanish the moment someone pointed it out. Still... was that really something a person should be proud of?
And then, there was something that suddenly came to mind, so even if it had nothing to do with the topic of his shamelessness, she decided to bring it up out of curiosity
"Hey, hey, Kumagawa-kun, Kumagawa-kun."
『What is it, Kushida-chan, Kushida-chan? 』
"Are you particularly close with Ichinose-san?"
『Ichinose-chan? 』
"Yup, Ichinose-san."
Earlier, during the discussion, with Ryuen's proposal still fresh on the table, she had asked Kumagawa for advice what she should do. not to him particullary, rather on his past friend, Medaka, who in Kushida point of view, is just as inhuman as Kumagawa.
But to ask Kumagawa when she could've asked Kanzaki, her own classmate, or Horikita as the invovled parties, made it stand out.
From an outsider's perspective, it's how people assume others are close. When someone chooses you in a room full of capable people, it naturally creates a perception. That there's something special between the two. That you trust them in a way that feels... personal. Especially when the situation's tense and when it's a decision that could change the direction of the exam.
"...That kind of thing doesn't go unnoticed, you know,"
『Hmm... Are we close? I wonder...』
He could've just said "yes" or "no." But of course, he didn't. Because for Kumagawa, the meaning of closeness was always a little twisted.
『Let's just put it this way. 』
He raised his finger.
『In the first place, I never thought I'd have anything to do with her. But... let's say it's the kind of relationship where the webs she weaves... happen to catch the ties that I bind. 』
"...?"
What?
Why was he suddenly trying to sound cryptic?
Did he think that would make him sound cooler or more mysterious? Kushida stared at him for a second, wondering if he was messing with her again—or if he was just being serious in his own weird way.
She tried to keep her expression neutral. But knowing Kumagawa, he probably knew exactly how hard she was trying to act like it didn't bother her.
And, of course, he chose to ignore it.
She let out a quiet sigh.
"...Can you speak normally? I can't understand the things that you said sometimes. "
And Kumagawa let out a quiet sigh in return.
『Good grief. To think that you can't understand something so simple like that! What a pathetic, useless classmate you are.』
"Grrrr..."
『But there's no need to worry. I'm a fairly understanding person. I will accept all of your flaws and shortcomings as a person, Kushida-chan. No need to worry.』
Kushida looked hurt.
"Words can hurt, you know."
At that unexpected comment, Kumagawa fell silent for a moment.
『... 』
But after that, he finally spoke, with a smile on his face.
『Then call the word police. 』
"..."
It was useless.
That was the thought that crossed her mind in that moment.
She tried to guilt-trip him. Just a little. Just enough to see if he'd respond like a decent person. She even made herself look hurt, just enough to make it convincing. It wasn't hard. She'd perfected the art of playing innocent years ago.
But when his reply was something like that, she realized again how pointless it was.
Trying to get a normal reaction out of Kumagawa Misogi was like trying to look into a broken mirror. No matter how much you adjusted your angle or cleaned the surface, there was no way the feedback would be normal.
Still, that was less than she expected.
『Anyway, do you have his phone number? I think it's time to start now. 』
"...I do have it, but... are you really doing it? Are you sure it's going to work?"
『Yep. 』
"..."
When he sounded that confident, it only made her more anxious.
Kumagawa was just that kind of guy. The more serious he acted, the more it felt like things were about to go wrong.
"Are you really, really, really sure it's going to work?"
He didn't answer right away. Just tilted his head a little and gave her a vague smile.
『...Well, at this point, there's no point in being too fixated on whether the plan looks like it'll work or not, Kushida-chan. You see it in manga all the time, right? Those moments where the weird plan ends up working because it's so dumb that no one expected it. The kind of plot twist where logic takes a backseat to outcome.』
He paused for a moment before finishing with a shrug.
『It's just a matter of whether the result justifies the method. 』
"If you phrase it like that, that's something you're supposed to overcome with willpower, Kumagawa-kun."
『If I end up relying on willpower, then Kumagawa Misogi would be doomed from the start. But this time, it's not about willpower. And it's definitely not about the power of friendship or whatever cliché people throw around. If anything, that would go completely against how this exam works. 』 His tone was calm, without even a hint of hesitation.
"...What do you mean by that?"
If Kushida didn't act like an adult here, if she didn't question the plan, or at least act a little skeptical, then she'd just be carelessly gambling with something personal that was connected to her in more ways than she liked to admit.
When Kumagawa first explained the gist of the plan, she was immediately suspicious. It sounded too simple.
Maybe it was just him oversimplifying things again—he had a habit of doing that.
But even when she tried to reverse-engineer the logic and make it sound more complicated in her head, it still ended up sounding too simple.
『Now, now, what's with all the questioning? I'm starting to feel violently attacked here. Can't you just put your blind faith in me and blindly follow my orders without a single shred of doubt? If I told you to strip, you should blindly take off your clothes while putting on an apron to cover yourself. That's how trust works, right? 』
"..."
What an outrageous thing to say to a girl.
"Is that innapropritae remarks made up of forty grams of copper, twenty-five grams of zinc, fifteen grams of nickel, five grams of spite, and ninety-seven kilograms of embarrassment mixed with confidence at works?"
『That's right. Except this time, I added a hundred kilograms of sincerity into the mix.』
"...Isn't that just worse?"
It was unbelievable how he could say things like that with a straight face. He was basically shamelessly admitting that he wanted her to wear nothing but an apron.
『Still, the fact that you remembered the ratio made me touched. 』
He placed a hand on his chest like she just complimented his cooking.
『I might cry. 』
"You won't."
『Yeah. I won't. 』
She sighed again.
『Well, as long as you do your role properly, it'll work somehow. 』
Kumagawa tried to reassure her with his usual smile—one that somehow looked both reliable and untrustworthy at the same time.
"...Fine."
With a small click of her tongue, Kushida took out her phone and opened her mail app. After a few quick taps, she sent over the number.
Ding!
The notification tone rang from Kumagawa's pocket, confirming that the message had gone through.
He checked his phone, and upon seeing the number, let out a quiet chuckle.
『Got it. 』
Kushida, sensing it was time, started to walk away.
"I'm heading off first."
It was still only around 5 PM. The cruise ship was still buzzing with activity—students wandering, chatting, doing their own thing in groups or alone. Unlike their usual meetings that happened around midnight, this time was far more public.
While the place was secluded, it wasn't isolated enough to guarantee privacy.
But just as she was about to leave—
『Ah, wait a sec.』
Kumagawa called out to her.
"What is it?"
『Do you have Hashimoto phone number? 』
"Of course I do. But why?"
That was a fair question.
Kushida had the contact info of nearly every student of every class in ANHS. first, second, and third years. She was the type who collected connections like people collected stamps or keychains. Her network was wide and deep, stretching across classes, grades, and social groups. It wouldn't be a stretch to say she had the most student contacts out of anyone in the entire school.
『I need to fulfill a promise to someone. 』
He said it offhandedly, like someone remembering they left the stove on.
"Promise? Can you even fulfill a promise in the first place?"
It was a wild take coming from Kumagawa, of all people. The idea of him treating something like a "promise" seriously sounded like a joke.
『I don't know how you view me as a person, but I considered myself as a good person, and since it was a promise, it's destined to be fulfilled, right? You see, ever since I was born, I've only ever broken a promise 27,893 times. 』
"...I think it's pretty amazing that you've managed to keep count, but isn't 27,893 times more on the larger side of things?"
『Ah, is that so? Then, be large-hearted at how large that number is.』
The same light tone of voice as always.
From how he spoke, it seemed... personal. She didn't know who this person was, or what kind of story they had with Kumagawa, but she could only pray for their safety.
Without asking more, Kushida opened her contacts and sent the number.
『Thanks. 』
She slipped her phone back into her skirt pocket and turned to leave.
"So, I can say whatever I want, as long as it's still within the general confines of the plan, right? You won't be offended?"
『Haha, it seems like you're planning to say something terrible about me, huh, Kushida-chan? 』Kumagawa's tone was oddly cheerful, almost like he found some joy in the idea.
"Obviously. What? Is there something wrong with that?"
Kushida didn't bother sugarcoating it. She admitted it outright, not a hint of shame in her voice or expression.
『It's fine, I'll leave it to you. Every person has a cool line that they dream of saying at least once in their life, but I never thought a Minus like me would get the chance to say this. 』
Kumagawa the continued without pause.
『Do as you see fit. 』
『』『』『』『』『』
『♪♩~ ♪~ ♬~ 』
Kumagawa was now in a different café located on the third floor of the lower deck. Not too far from here was the fourth basement floor, where the ship's power distribution area was located.
He sat by the window, humming to himself with absolutely no rhythm.
In one hand, he held a pack of Kinoko no Yama chocolate snacks. In the other, the latest issue of Shounen Jump was spread open, held with exaggerated care. On the table beside him sat a half-finished cup of pure and plain celery juice. The whole setup looked more like something a kid would be forced to consume after losing a bet.
But there he was. Waiting for someone.
It was thanks to Kushida's network that he managed to get a hold of this person phone number. In that way, she was as useful as Saki-chan had been in the past. Especially when it came to connections. The more he thought about it, the more she reminded him of her. But unlike Kushida, Saki-chan was someone who worked completely behind the curtain—more of a "ruler of the rulers" type
『I wonder if she misses me...』He murmured idly to himself.
"Nobody is going to miss you, moron."
Kumagawa looked up from his magazine, and as expected, saw a familiar figure standing before him. That confident, smug grin was practically trademarked.
『You're late, Ryuen-chan.』
Kumagawa greeted with a smile, casually brushing off the blatant insult Ryuen had just thrown at him.
"Hmph."
Ryuen smirked, not bothering to hide the amusement on his face, and without saying a word, he pulled out the chair opposite of Kumagawa and sat down like he owned the place.
It was, in every sense, poor manners.
『No sense of manners, no respect for common decency, and not even a thank-you for the invitation. Just like a third-rate villain from a 90s manga. 』
He closed his magazine slowly.
『But that's okay. I prefer my guests loud and unpleasant. 』
"Tch. You've got a big mouth for a guy reading manga and drinking liquid grass."
『I thought that I'd better prepare just in case. 』
Kumagawa casually raised his glass of celery juice.
『You know, if you rearrange the sounds, serorī becomes se-ro-ri, which sounds dangerously close to seiron—as in "sound argument"—and jūsu can be twisted into jisshō, meaning "proof." A man of conviction like me needs to stay hydrated with the bitterness of truth, after all. 』
He said it all with a perfectly straight face, like it made any sense.
"...The hell are you even talking about?"
『Don't worry about it, you don't have to search for every little meaning in my words. 』
Kumagawa took another long sip of the juice.
It was slow. Bitter. Almost painful to watch.
Ryuen didn't even try to hide the disgust on his face.
"Tch. Are you doing this on purpose?"
『???』
Kumagawa looked genuinely puzzled, as if sipping something that resembled melted grass mixed with regret was perfectly natural behavior.
『Yeah. Well, that could be it... They say your stomach starts hurting if you don't stay hydrated all day, and drink vegetables... Aah, jeez, I'm really not in good shape right now. At this rate, people who start reading from the second volume will misunderstand that I'm some sort of gloomy character. 』
"...You sure talk like you're important."
『Well, you're here, aren't you? 』
That shut Ryuen up for a second.
He clicked his tongue again, clearly irritated, but didn't leave.
As annoying as Kumagawa was, Ryuen had long classified him as a threat—more dangerous than Sakayanagi in certain ways
『I have something to discuss with you, Ryuen-chan. Or do you want me to pour you a glass of celery juice too? It'll help with digestion, or so the lies on the internet say. 』
"Hard pass. I'm not trying to poison myself today."
Ryuen glanced down at the shounen jump in Kumagawa's hand, then back at his face.
"Alright, let's hear it. You dragged me here, so talk. Better make it worth my time, I've got better things to do."
『You sure are awful to talk to. 』
"..."
Ryuen's brow twitched. That offhanded jab got under his skin more than he wanted to admit.
『In any case, I've got something to discuss with you. Or if I'm being precise, something I want you to help me with. 』
"I don't do charity work."
『It's not charity work if both of us gain something from it. 』
"...So, cooperation?"
『Hmm... cooperation, huh? That sounds a little too positive for a flimsy minus like me. So it's kinda hard for me to accept that label. But if you're asking whether this is cooperation or not—yeah, it's definitely not that.』
Ryuen frowned at the absurd answer.
"Then what the hell is it supposed to be? Some roundabout way of wasting my time?"
『Hmm... maybe collusion is a better word. 』
"...What are you, a politician?"
『The word collusion might sound shady, but it's written with the kanji for "together" and "scheme or conspire" you know? In that sense, collusion could be seen not as something inherently sinister, but as a form of intimate understanding between two parties. 』
Ryuen was silent for a moment, lips curled before he burst out laughing.
"Ku ku ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
The sound was loud enough to draw attention from nearby students. A few turned their heads out of instinct, only to quickly avert their gaze the moment they realized it was Ryuen Kakeru. As always, his presence alone was enough to kill curiosity.
"You've got a twisted way of putting things," Ryuen said, still laughing.
Even though the words cooperation and collusion often looked the same on paper—two or more parties joining forces toward a goal—their meanings couldn't be more different at their core.
Cooperation was "unity through shared strength"—built on trust, or at least mutual respect. While collusion on the other hand, was "unity through shared schemes"—a mutual undestanding that both sides were willing to get their hands dirty if it meant getting what they wanted.
So even if the structure looked similar, the intent behind them couldn't be more different.
Ryuen leaned forward, elbows resting on the table.
"And why should I cooperate with you? As far as I know, Class B and D are already off the table."
『Hahaha. Should I? Should I tell you? 』
"Heh. Enjoy your little performance, but I'm not interested in this so-called collusion of yours. I was just curious about what kind of circus you were gonna run. But as expected, it's a waste of time. I've already got everything I need to win this exam. So enjoy it while you can, loser."
From the start, Ryuen had no real intention of accepting Kumagawa's offer. He came out of curiosity—nothing more. But seeing Kumagawa's usual clownish behavior, he figured it was pointless.
『Ah? You mean the "VIP pattern"?』
The moment those words left Kumagawa's mouth, Ryuen's grin faltered.
『Well, the school really lacks creativity in that department. They could've used something more exciting, like the color of the girls' panties to determine the VIPs among the 12 groups. But instead, they went with something boring, like the Gojuon-jun order as the deciding criterion. 』
"...What are you getting at?"
『What I'm getting at is for we to have a collusion to attack other classes. 』
"And why the hell should I believe anything that comes out of your mouth? I'm not stupid enough to strike a deal with someone like you without solid proof."
Ryuen was clearly unimpressed.
Even if Kumagawa's insight into the VIP pattern caught him off guard, he wasn't about to jump headfirst into a trap. Making a deal with someone like Kumagawa without insurance was no different from signing a suicide pact.
Ryuen knew full well the kind of person sitting across from him.
『Does our friendship and my instinct that you'll say yes count as proof? 』
"Friendship'? 'Instinct'? You think I'm stupid!? That crap doesn't count as proof."
Kumagawa look at ryuen with an vague smile before letting out a quite sigh.
『Good grief... You're being way too cautious for your own good. But I suppose it's true—when dealing with someone like me, you can never be too cautious. 』
"What are you talking about now?"
At this rate, Ryuen felt like he was being led in circles
『So, to clear any suspicion between us, I have to do something that makes you not cautious of me. In short, I have to become the proof itself.』
Without another word, Kumagawa pulled out his phone and tilted the screen toward Ryuen.
Displayed clearly was a message.
– "After careful consideration, you have been selected as the VIP. Please act with responsibility as a member of your group and prepare for the exam. The test will begin for your group at 11:00 AM today and will last for three days. All students in the Snake group should gather in room 2F on the second floor of the upper deck, in the Snake section."
Ryuen stared at the screen, then slowly looked back at Kumagawa, a look of pure disbelief on his face.
"...Are you dumb?"
It was such an idiotic move that Ryuen couldn't even comprehend what the guy was trying to do. Even if Kumagawa's goal was to gain trust, this wasn't something you casually showed.
Who the hell reveals they're the VIP just like that?
"What the hell are you doing?"
『Well, it's simple. The method the school's using to determine the VIPs is based on the gojuon-jun order. A pretty dull method, really—relying on something as uninspired as the order of students' names. But hey, I wasn't invited to the staff meeting, so I don't get much say in the matter. 』
Ryuen narrowed his eyes.
『And in order to figure out who the VIP is, you need more than just three names. Figuring it out isn't the hard part—it's proving it. You need a broader sample to see the pattern clearly. But since each class only gets three VIPs, the school made sure no single class could confirm anything on their own. 』
Kumagawa shrugged lightly, as if the implication didn't concern him.
『Theft. Deception. Manipulation. The school practically hands you the motive to start stealing info from the other classes. They've set it up so you can't figure out the gojuon-jun pattern unless you're lucky, or unless you're willing to get your hands dirty. 』
Once again, Kumagawa had oversimplified the process of figuring out the VIP.
In truth, his method of figuring out the VIPs was closer to brute force—guesswork layered over experience. It wasn't backed by evidence, just a gut feeling sharpened by instinct and recklessness. A kind of confidence that ignored reason.
But he didn't bother saying all that out loud.
『You need at least five confirmed VIPs to lock the pattern in. Four, if you're willing to take the risk. And you, fortunately, already have my identity as the fifth VIP in your hand. You should be grateful. 』
"Fifth?"
Ryuen's expression tightened.
Even though he'd already expected as much, he still didn't like how casually Kumagawa broke down the school's method for picking VIPs. But right now, what really bothered him was that one word—fifth.
Kumagawa give ryuen a devious smile.
He raised three fingers slowly.
『Your class VIPs consist of Rat group, Kaneda Satoru. Goat group, Nishino Takeko. And Pig group, Kōsetsu Yoshimoto....right? 』
Kumagawa named all three VIPs of Class C in a single breath. Ryuen's expression changed the moment he heard each name spoken aloud.
"....."
『It could be more interesting if you discovered the pattern by instinct, and just your feeling, but knowing you, it's hard to convince your own reasoing and deduction with only three VIPs. So that's why you try to build an allience with other class and make the uncooperative class be the scapegoat. 』
Kumagawa was, of course, referring to Class A.
From the very start of the exam, Class A had been the most uncooperative group. Led by Katsuragi, their approach was simple—say nothing, give nothing. Maintain the status quo. That way, no class could rise or fall, and Class A would stay on top.
Ryuen took advantage of that.
By painting Class A as the obstacle to cooperation, he could sway the other classes into forming an alliance against them. If they agreed, he'd get access to the VIPs from other classes.
And once he had that, the rest would fall into place.
But not everything goes according to plan.
Even though Ryuen knew how bad his reputation was, he didn't expect both Class D and Class B to reject his proposal outright. He thought the incentive would be enough to sway them—but apparently, they weren't as dumb as he expected.
Still, he had already accounted for rejection and had a backup plan in place. Given the current situation, he probably wouldn't need to use it.
But right now, the more concerning matter was the person sitting in front of him.
『Such is life. Nothing ever goes the way you want. But knowing you, you've probably already prepared for that. Still, with me giving you my identity as a VIP, that makes five VIPs in your hand. You can now crack the method with pinpoint accuracy. Good for you, Ryuen-chan. With this, we've got the basics we need to start a proper collusion. 』
"...What do you mean by 'fifth'?"
Ryuen narrowed his eyes, cautious.
『Ah, that's right. I was planning to tell you later, but I guess now's fine too. Your fourth VIP is Kushida-chan, right? She gave you her identity as the VIP of the Dragon group in exchange for the outcome she wanted. 』
"..."
『Ah, wait, uh-oh, was this supposed to be kept a secret? Oopsie-daisy—teehee. 』
Ryuen felt like he'd just swallowed a fly.
"...Kushida? I don't know what you're talking about." Ryuen replied, feigning confusion as he leaned back in his seat.
That information wasn't supposed to leak. Only he and Kushida knew about it.
He hadn't told anyone. Not even his own class.
Which meant—
Did that bitch sell me out?
Ryuen ran through the possibilities in his head.
There is the possibility that maybe he was bluffing or just another one of his stupid lies. But considering how casually he brought it up, and the exactness of the detail...
It didn't feel like a guess.
Kushida might've sold him out. Maybe she made a separate deal with Kumagawa behind his back. She always played friendly, but Ryuen knew better than to trust a bitch pretending to be harmless.
『Ah! But before you think of anything presumptuous, Kushida-chan didn't sell you out. It was just your bad luck. I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, 』
"..."
『You really are devious. If I hadn't stepped in, Kushida-chan would've ended up hating you for sure. 』
"I don't know what you're talking about."
『Ahaha, don't play dumb. You really thought you could keep secrets from me? When you're on my level, someone like you can't hide a thing. 』
Kumagawa gave him a mocking smile.
Ryuen felt a nauseating sensation stir in his stomach.
At this point, even without saying it outright, Kumagawa basically had the whole picture.
He let out a quiet sigh.
Then came the grin.
"Heh, so you figured it all out already, have you?"
Ryuen's grin twisted into a sneer, trying to mask the discomfort building up in his chest.
At this point, denying it would only make him look like a fool.
Kushida's status as a traitor being exposed wasn't ideal, but it wasn't a major loss either. That was her problem to deal with. Whether people found out or not didn't matter to him. What mattered was that he had gotten her VIP identity.
That was the part that counted.
"I bet you didn't expect it either. Who would've thought? The sweet, friendly, and innocent Kushida Kikyo, the most popular student in our year, and the girl everyone in your class trusts, turns out she's nothing more than a two-faced rat who'd sell out her own class if it benefitted her. But that's just who she is, isn't it? Just a lowly backstabber."
Kumagawa tilted his head slightly, like he was hearing something weird.
『What's wrong with that? 』
"Hah?"
Ryuen raised an eyebrow.
『It's not a bad thing, you know? We all have our hidden sides and our unhidden sides. Everyone carries some kind of ugliness in their life. Just like you shouldn't discriminate against someone for where they came from, you shouldn't pity or look down on them either.』
"..."
Ryuen fell silent for a moment, hen looked away, clicking his tongue.
This guy's weird.
No matter what he'd do, he couldn't get a read on the guy. Every time he thought he'd figured out how Kumagawa would react, the bastard would do a complete one-eighty and say something completely out of left field.
If Ryuen expected him to get mad, he'd laugh.
If he expected him to laugh, he'd act serious.
If he insulted someone, he'd defend them.
And when Ryuen tried to provoke him, it felt like it just bounced off.
Ryuen couldn't help but think—
Is this guy seriously okay in the head?
"...What do you want?"
He gave up trying to guess what kind of person he was and just asked directly.
『Hahaha. Team plays really are beautiful to see, aren't they? People who were once enemies end up working together. That's the kind of thing you see all the time in shonen manga. 』
Kumagawa made an exaggerated display of shrugging his shoulders. He spoke exceedingly cheerfully, like it was a breath of fresh air.
Indeed, even though he was the one who put in all the blood, sweat, and tears in this exam, his battle hadn't even begun yet.
To put it in terms of the shonen manga he loved so much.
Defeat was only just beginning.
『END』
『』『』『』『』『』
Read Author Thought, it's important this time.