"CONTINGENCY PLAN"
It's always important to know your enemy more than they know about themselves, but at the same time, you must even know about yourself too.
Especially when you're me, who has been challenged to a battle without even giving the chance to have a look at the rule book.
What I need now is intel, in other words, information.
And right in front of me is a very reliable source.
"Where do you want to start?"
Isn't that obvious? From the beginning.
"Hirafuki High School!"
"Ok. Listen carefully. I'll tell you the points you need to remember, as we don't have much time"
"Why? We can skip class, so don't worry about time."
"It's not that easy with the Student Council President"
"Yuki-nee's boyfriend?"
"Yes!"
"Ok, understood."
We had very little time, so it's time for me to shut up and take it all in.
"Hirafuki is a school like any other, on the surface. But it garners its reputation for an entirely different purpose. The students here are from families with power and reputation, and it is only rivaled by Sekkito High School."
"Sekkito...!"
Didn't think I'd hear that name again in a short period.
"As a former student, I think you know about your school's reputation and the students there."
"Yes. And your point is...?"
"It's the approach that differs them."
"How?"
"I'm certain you have already noticed, but you're waiting for me to tell you. right?"
"It's better to confirm than be confident."
"Whereas students at Sekkito deal an issue in a gentleman's way, the students at Hirafuki deal it robustly, as you've seen."
"Robust?...."
Her phrasing was starting to confuse me.
"Ok, I'll dumb it down for you."
"Much appreciated."
" Things here are settled with a fight. The girls use strategic means such as Chess, Shoji, Billiards, etc., so that there's no physical disadvantage, but it depends all on their abilities to turn the situation in their favor. Understood?"
"Yeah, I guess so? That doesn't sound bad."
" On paper, it doesn't. Anyway..."
She was dead serious...
"For the boys, it's a completely different case. They have to use any means necessary to win."
"Any means?"
Something doesn't sound right. I feel a bit off.
"Yes."
"What are the rules?"
"There are no rules."
"That doesn't make sense"
"The only thing you have to know is, you can't paralyze or kill your opponent."
"So, in simple words, they're kind enough to take him to death's door but cruel enough to not let you enter that door and drag you back into the suffering?"
"Precisely."
"So, it's basically a rehearsal dance for the day we enter the corporate world?"
"Bullseye."
"And that would work because of the 80:20 ratio in this school? And since I belong to the minority, that is, I'm a peasant or of the common class, I'll be targeted by a fair margin."
"I wouldn't say it's only down till that seeing how there are stand-out exceptions like Yukiko."
"Can't deny that."
"We're almost out of time! I still need to..."
I inserted the straw into my carton and gave the juice to her.
"Calm down. Here, have a sip."
"This is not the time..."
I pressed the carton against her face. She took it and drank some of it.
That cooled her down.
We shared the special bread I had purchased from the cafeteria and finished it.
Bell rings...
"I still haven't told you everything."
"It's more than enough. I'll figure it out. Don't worry."
Sakura was worried. I nodded and gave her a signal. She started to go back. But she gave me one final warning.
"Be careful. Especially, since you're from Class-K."
Be careful? Coming from Sakura-nee, I can figure out what she means.
"What does that have to do?"
"Don't you know? Class-K is not well appreciated by the other classes. They hate them. In a way, they are considered outcasts."
"That's a rather accurate description in my case."
"Nao! I'm worried."
" Don't worry, I'll be fine."
"I'm not worried about you, I'm worried about your opponent."
"Huh? Talk about being considerate."
"Don't cross the line!"
Sakura uttered those words and disappeared into the dark shadows in the stairway.
I was still standing on the rooftop, taking in the breeze and thinking about the information Sakura-nee left me with.
"As long as you don't kill or paralyze the opponent. "
I was remembering that line.
"So, blood has to be shed and sacrifices have to be made."
I sipped the other half of the juice.
An indirect kiss.
That's what I was thinking.
I went through all the details and was lying down on the terrace. I thought of taking a nap for some time, but I could hear footsteps fast approaching my way.
I was vigilant.
"Did they jump the gun? I'm not prepared enough."
It lasted for a few seconds, before seeing that it was my classmates.
"So, why are you here? Who's side are you on?"
The Naomi-sensei look alike stepped forward.
"Woah, easy! Calm down. It's a self-study period. We wanted to check on you, but we didn't have your number."
Everyone nodded.
"I'm still alive without any collar on me. So you can go back now."
There was no reason to waste my time here.
"Are you still mad at me?"
"Of course not. Who are you? Have we spoken before?"
"How rude. I'm Kagasaki Ichika."
"Ok Ichika, it's a pleasure meeting you. Now leave."
I stated clearly that I want to be left alone.
"Look, I clearly don't enjoy getting involved with the likes of you."
"The feeling's mutual."
"But, sadly we have been dragged into this mess."
"How so?"
She sighed.
"Where were you planning to get lumberjacks on your end?"
Now that I think about it, Yuki-nee did mention Lumberjacks from both class-A and K.
"I wasn't planning on any."
"Huh?"
"It's my problem, and I've got to deal with it. If I go down, I'll go down alone."
"You don't trust us, do you?"
"If that's how you want to interpret it."
"I wish that would work, but sadly, the condition for the match doesn't permit it, so we are the lumberjacks representing you."
"Nice, extra baggage now."
"I would wish for you to treat us as humans."
"Ok...."
A strong gust swept past us and something caught my eye.
"Where are you looking at?"
"Your chest."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me.."
"Pervert!"