After class, I walked to the cafeteria with my female classmates and saw a group of five people approaching us.
It were students from Class…B.
Honestly, I don't hold any grudge against Class B, however, they have one person in their class, who shares the same surname as one of the people mentioned in the diary entries of my father.
No, no, it's even worse. If it would be only the same surname, everything might be still within the acceptable realm, however, he's the son of that person.
Someone, whom I going to obliterate, the moment I'm finding out that he's responsible for the incident.
No, no, not just him, but everyone on the list, the moment I'm finding out that they also share even the slightest correlation to that incident.
Out of that solemn reason, I'm going to obliterate Class B and crush their spirit so thoroughly, that they won't even think of participating in the class competition anymore.
All because of you…
Ryūji Kanzaki…
Let me tell you this…
I'm going to crush you.
Perhaps, by expelling you, as it might become an option.
However, if I'm doing that, the only other person whom I can release some extent of my hatred would be Chairman Sakayanagi's daughter, Arisu Sakayanagi.
Enough of that, I should greet them first if I don't want anyone to become suspicious of me.
"How can we help you, Ichinose-san, Amikura-san, Shibata-san, Kobashi-san and Kanzaki-san?" I asked, trying to gauge why they are here.
"Ahh, Kurushima-kun, we never received the opportunity to speak to one another," the strawberry girl named Ichinose expressed something so obvious that I wanted to turn my head away.
Please, don't tell me, they're going to introduce themselves now.
"I'm Ichinose Honami…" she said, as she and the other people in her class began to introduce themselves. I'm honestly stunned, not in a positive way though.
"As for the reason why we're here, is simple," she exclaimed, her tone being friendly. "If possible, we want to be friends with you," she said earnestly, as I tried to decipher whether she is also wearing a façade like Kushida.
Ah, I completely forgot about Kushida.
I should have taken control over her sooner. Well, it won't take much effort to control and manipulate her anyways.
"Ah, that's going to be a difficult request," I exclaimed, trying to gauge their reaction to that.
"Huh?" she muttered in a confused state, as she didn't expect that answer.
"Since we're already friends, there is no need to ask, right?" I expressed, with a warm and kindhearted smile.
"Ahm…Yes, I suppose," she replied, bewildered by my answer.
"Ahem, we also wanted to congratulate your class ascending to Class C," she exclaimed, her tone remaining friendly.
"Thank you, Ichinose-san," I thanked her, with a hint of fake gratitude in my voice.
"If you don't mind, would everyone here like to exchange the phone numbers with us?" she asked, as I nodded.
After a month of school, I was able to collect about 147 phone numbers, from the first second, and third-year students. However, those five weren't included in these 147 people.
Not like it matters though.
"Well, we're going to our class now," she said, as she went to the table where Class B is sitting. "Goodbye, everyone," she said, alongside her other classmates aside from Kanzaki, who simply just nodded.
In the meantime, I finished eating my meal and made my way to the library, as I was luckily also not bothered today.
I picked up a book from the bookshelf and went to a near table, only to see her sitting, as she played chess with herself.
It's Sakayanagi Arisu, daughter of Chairman Sakayanagi.
Ironic, isn't it?
Meeting the children of two of my targets…on the same day.
I should restrain myself, as much as possible.
That's easy to say.
I'm really…really furious right now.
I'm feeling my hatred running throughout my veins. However, I can't show her any possible signs of that.
Luckily, I'm able to hide my emotions so well, that it's impossible to read me in that regard. Because the moment I lost them, I developed the ability to hide my emotions completely.
But sometimes, a few outbreaks are bound to happen. Like, the moment I beat up those three idiots. It felt refreshing if I'm being honest.
Nevermind, I didn't come here to have a monologue with myself but to read and relax. I'm not going to let her ruin that.
But just as I walked and wanted to sit down, I heard her speaking.
"You must be Kurushima Kaoru from Class D, no, excuse me, it's Class C now," she exclaimed, her tone showing a hint of curiosity.
"Ah, yes, and who might you be, Miss…?" I demanded for her name.
"Fufufu, where are my manners," she expressed. "I'm Sakayanagi Arisu, leader of Class A," she introduced herself.
"I see, it's a pleasure to meet you, Sakayanagi-san," I expressed, as my tone remained friendly.
"The pleasure is also mine, Kurushima-kun," she answered, speaking in the same friendly tone as I.
Just as I wanted to speak, I heard her speaking again. "Kurushima-kun, do you perchance play chess?" she asked, her tone carrying expectancy.
"Yes, I suppose, I do," I said, unsure if I should answer truthfully or not.
However, it's logical to assume that she might have Intel about my hobbies, due to the girls in my class, revealing everything about me.
"I see," she said, in a quiet tone. "If it doesn't bother you, are you willing to play a game of chess with me?" she asked.
"Chess?" I exclaimed. "I guess, it should be alright to play one game," I responded.
"Thank you, Kurushima-kun," she exclaimed, expressing her gratitude.
"Well then, do you want to be black or white?" she asked, giving me the option to choose.
"Hmm…how about we let luck decide that," I answered as I took a 100 Yen coin out. "Head or trails?" I asked, seeing her grinning crazily at me.
"I'll go with head," she responded, as I simultaneously threw the coin into the air the moment she spoke up.
In the next moment, the coin landed on the table, showing that it's head.
"Fufufu, you're quite unlucky, it seems," she answered, as she took the white figures.
"Seems so," I replied, taking the black figures to my side.
"Let's begin," she declared, her voice holding on some expectancy.
"Yeah," I responded, as I was deep in thought whether to hold back or not.
I'm not here to make her attentive to me, so I decided to lose the very moment the match was proposed. However, I was not expecting her to be so good at the game.
It truly took me by surprise. Even if I played chess two years ago the last time, I was still somewhat confident in my abilities.
Therefore, I played the best moves possible in my current situation.
However, I still focused on my objective not winning.
With that, the game of chess continued for more than twenty-eight minutes, and overall 59 moves were made throughout the game.
To be honest, midway through the game I gave it all and for a small moment I wanted to win, but that might ruin my plans completely, so I disregarded my sudden interest to win.
So I made in the next moves some crucial mistakes, that shouldn't be noticeable and allowed her to gain an advantage.
At the 44th move the game was now in her favor and it ended in a checkmate in the 59th move.
"Kurushima-kun, great game," she exclaimed, completely surprised and shocked from the game.
"Even though I heard my classmates talking about you playing chess, I never thought that you would be almost at the same level as I," she exclaimed, her voice being in awe-struck.
"You heard of me?" I asked, trying to gauge a more precise answer out of her.
"Fufufu, who didn't?" she asked, with a question in return. "The number one in the Ikemen rankings, the most famous boy in the first-year and the person who got on the student council on day three which nobody in the school could achieve before you," she remarked.
"Ahahaha, I see," I replied, awkwardly laughing. "I guess I'm more famous than I thought," I expressed.
"Fufufu, indeed," she replied.
"Well then, I'm par—" Just as I wanted to part here, I got interrupted.
"Fufufu, Kurushima-kun, it would be quite troublesome for me not being able to contact you for another round of chess, wouldn't it?" She exclaimed, wanting to ease her boredom through me.
"So, do you mind exchanging phone numbers?" she asked, her tone remaining friendly, but her intention was all written over her face.
"I don't mind, Sakayanagi-san," I expressed, as I was now forced to exchange phone numbers with her.
Damn…
I didn't want that situation happen again, but now…
It's futile.
"Thank you, Kurushima-kun," she expressed, in a graceful tone, as she took her cane and standed up.
"Until some other time, Kurushima-kun," she exclaimed, walking away.
"Yeah, until some other time…" I said, as I walked away in the opposite direction with indifferent and cold eyes.
.
.
.
A/N: Did someone realize that Kanzaki would be also one of his targets?
In Chapter 13 "Confrontation with Ryuen" I tried to make a small foreshadowing that Kanzaki would be one of Kurushima´s targets.
But since I am a newbie author, I am not sure if that was properly conveyed.
Well, anyways, how did you find this Chapter?
Kurushima has met both Arisu and Kanzaki, two of his targets on the same day.
He truly does not have good luck.
Also, a small spoiler for the next Chapter. I am planning to write another Flashback Chapter due to Arisu and Kanzaki triggering his emotions and memories.
Though, I am not sure whether it will be one or two Flashback Chapters.
Well, I hope you liked the previous Flashback Chapter, because they do have great amount of importance about Kurushima´s motives of extracting revenge.
And I think I can announce another aspect. It won´t be a spoiler or anything like that just making my reader´s attentive of what to expect from now on.
The fic will be going from this point onwards in a more darker direction. As for the comedic aspects, they still might be able to occur sometimes, but not as often as before.
Also, another important note is that Ayanokoji will be the Deuteraganoist of the story and as such, some or many Chapters in the Future might be from his perspective.
Well, that´s all for now.