A/N: Don't skip the author notes for two reasons. Firstly, I'm simply curious about something so I have to ask you a question. As for the second reason, it might become a pleasant surprise for some of you so don't skip.
How did you find the development in the recent chapters?
Just curious. That's all.
Now we're on the second reason, the important reason, why you shouldn't skip the author notes.
Ready..?
Okay...
I'll probably publish some wholesome AI Arts at the beginning of each chapter from now onwards about Hiyori or perhaps some other girls from cote.
If there's someone you really want to see, you can recommend me someone and I might make one of them.
But I'm great at getting Hiyori's, so with the other ones, I'm not really too confident.
Also here, an AI Art of Kurushima with his long hair. I think I nailed it decently enough. Couldn't get a better one... lol...
[Image:]
Anyway, here you go with the chapter.
--
[Ryūen Pov]
[21th December]
I approached one of my henchmen from behind, touching him on the shoulder, as he stood there like an idiot in the middle of the floor, looking several times side to side.
"Komiya, you were supposed to look after Kurushima. Where is he...?"
"I don't know, Ryūen-san... I lost him..."
"Tch... go support, Ishizaki. He must have noticed someone was trailing him."
But why would that bastard even care...?
He knows they won't do anything aside from simply bothering and observing him. It might be annoying, but that's it.
He also does not meet up with Hiyori, so perhaps he has an affair...?
Hahaha...
Of course not.
What an amusing thought.
Slowly, with my hands in the pocket, I walked over to the toilet.
I looked at the clock, seeing how ten minutes remaining were still left, so I've had enough time to empty myself.
If I were to come late, we'd lose Class Points. We're just 2 Class Points from Class A away, but...
That crippled loli...
Will she stay in this school...?
She was not today present in her class, apparently.
I don't care, either way. But I wanted to be the one, who crushes her.
I walked further, until I opened the doorknob of the WC for the boys in this floor. As I opened the door, I saw the very own person I looked for.
He was staring at himself in the mirror, washing his hands, his face, slightly wet.
"Kurushima."
"Ryūen."
His voice sounded entirely monotone, not like the usual tone he carries. He took the paper towel from the side cleaning his hands and face, throwing it, then away.
"Had a nice shit?"
He simply looked at me dead in the eyes, with his red eyes.
"I'm not in the mood for any of your games."
"Hah...?"
I looked at him, tilting my head to the side.
"Are you deaf...? Do you want me to repeat it...?"
When I heard this bastard's sudden attitude, I felt the immediate urge of beating him up and have noticed that I had thrown a kick at him.
But before I knew it, I saw him dodging my kick, sidestepping to the side. Just when I wanted to do more, I felt my right arm being apprehended by him from the back.
That bastard even pressed my face against the mirror...
"Did you really believe you could possibly hit me, Ryūen...?"
Instantly, I felt how he released my arm and was in the process of walking away from the WC.
"You know who X is..."
"And you don't care what he does, do you...?"
"The rumors about Ichinose extorting Points from my class..."
"Ichinose...?" he looked at me in slight confusion. But then, he seemed to have realized it.
"Ah... there was something like that, was there not...? I forgot. But I don't care, anyhow. Is that all you wanted to say, Ryūen...?"
"For someone who should be a bit close to her, as you two are student council members, you seem to be quite indifferent towards her."
"Indifferent...? Is that so...? I suppose for other's I do make that impression..."
"So you're saying it's not like that...? Do you have an affair with her, perhaps...?"
He looked at me dead in the eyes, again.
"Don't be so serious, Kurushima."
"If you're here just to joke, then I'll be going."
As he was in the process of leaving, I spoke up, again.
"What if it was something about Hiyori...?"
He looked back at me, just as I wanted. "You remember the Sports Festival, do you...? Her injury..."
"What if it was X's work, Kurushima...?"
He looked at me. "Unlikely. You believe, he was able to convince Sakayanagi-san to do this...? Her, from all people...?"
"Kukuku, true enough. That crippled girl would never agree with someone's requests."
Sakayanagi had no qualms of throwing those away, whom she deemed useless. Since she was aware I had the competitions lists of the opposite class it's also easy to say, she was in fact, the one, responsible for this.
I told her every competition list in which Kurushima would participate, soon enough, once Kushida provided me the competition list, so she could adjust her strategies resolving of taking Kurushima out of the game.
In almost every competition, she focused on getting Kurushima to retire from the Sports Festival.
But in case it might not work, she made another reserve plan, of decreasing his reputation, leadership, and him getting questioned, with Hiyori, being the essential part of her plan.
If one of the 9 from 10 groups were in the same group with Hiyori, they should get her down, injure her, thus leading Kurushima to act.
Hiyori didn't win the 1/10 chance, where Class A would not participate in the three-legged race, due to the crippled loli being restricted with her disability.
I have to admit... it was a very good strategy, Sakayanagi.
But it's all reliant on the defectives of Kurushima's class.
She knows it, and I, too.
Doubting the leader who brought you into Class A...
And even believe he's a Traitor...
They're truly quite the defectives.
In no other class would Kurushima ever be questioned, in particular, with his achievements he made, so far.
As I was for a moment in my thoughts, I saw that Kurushima was not present anymore.
"The bastard left, huh...?"
"Well..."
"If I were to ask him for X's identity..."
"It'd not be fun, either way..."
"Karuizawa Kei..."
"Tomorrow, at our last day, before the holidays..."
"I'll have you tell me, who X is..."
Besides... he's clearly protecting, X, too, now...
He won't fall for my traps, no matter how much I'd phrase it...
--
[Ayanokoji Pov]
[22nd December]
Just as the lessons ended, Ryūen Kakeru, the tyrant of his class, appeared right in front of our eyes, entering the classroom, alongside a couple of other people.
It happened right after Chabashira-sensei gave the signal that class was over. The doors to our classroom opened and Class B students, including Ryūen, showed up at our Class.
The class was in uproar over this unexpected visit.
Chabashira-sensei glanced at them briefly but then immediately left the classroom. It would be a different story if a brawl were about to break out but there's nothing wrong with students from a different class paying a visit.
I thought about it over and over again, but apparently, Y did not give him my identity, yet.
Seeing how Y was the reason why the Paper Shuffle concluded in a draw I've been wondering this in secret, very often.
Y has given Ryūen hints about me in the Island Exam, helps him, all in secret, but does not tell him my identity yet.
As of now, Kanzaki, is one of the most suspicious people, yet...
Once I dealt with Ryūen, I'll bring my investigations forward with him. Since I also have ongoing plans with their leader, Ichinose Honami, it'll align itself very well in the Third Semester.
Horikita, who was about to leave, stopped, and glanced at the Class B students.
Alongside Ryūen, the ones who showed up were Ishizaki, Yamada Albert, Komiya and Kondo.
It's understandable that the class would be tense with all these fighters gathering.
"Ryūen-kun..."
Kurushima, our class leader, slowly stood up from his seat, walking towards Ryūen. These two faced each other, opposite to opposite, looking at each other.
"Do you have any business with our class...?"
"You know very well why I'm here, Kurushima."
Hirata slowly stood up, walking in-between, these two.
"Could you tell us why you're here, then, Ryūen-kun...?"
"I'm just giving you folks a warning."
"A warning...?" Hirata asks confusingly.
"I have no intention of explaining it to someone who doesn't get it. Or are you merely pretending to not understand?"
At first glance, that seems like a taunt meant for Hirata but that's not really what it is.
Ryūen was barely looking at Hirata, he had been looking around at the whole class. If those words weren't meant for Hirata then perhaps they're meant for either Keisei or me, or perhaps Akito and the others.
But he was mostly just lightly looking around.
Suddenly however, he turned himself around, walking out of the classroom, closing the door.
My eyes went for the question 'why', until I noticed it.
He's going after Koenji, huh...?
The mood in our class skyrocket in an uproar, people like Ike and Yamauchi, being overly excited. Some of the other boys, were like that, too.
The thought of what Ryūen wanted to do to Koenji excited them...
I looked at Horikita, but also at Hirata and Kurushima, who were outside, probably discussing what happened, now.
Miyake tapped me on the shoulder, as Yukimura, I, and Miyake, walked over outside towards where Kurushima and Hirata are, who must have been quietly discussing what happened.
"Kurushima-kun, what do you will they be doing with Koenji-kun...?"
"Nothing, so don't worry... They're not stupid, and neither is Koenji. It's just an intimidation tactic, nothing more."
Hirata nodded, slightly.
"... Should we not support Koenji-kun, regardless, then...? In case, that something happens, however...?"
Miyake speaks up, quietly. "Kiyotaka and I can follow them."
Yukimura, who looked in thought, also speaks up. "You two can count me in, too."
"Will you three be really fine...?"
I did a slight nod. "Keisei and I will be heading there. And Horikita and Sudo, too, apparently. So don't worry about us, you two."
He knew very well if either he or Kurushima followed them, mostly everyone would tag along, too.
Energetic students like Ike or Yamauchi might cause a ruckus or a provocation which could lead this to be more drastic than it is.
"If something is, however, we'll call you two."
Kurushima did a slight nod, alongside Hirata.
The three of us walked towards where Ryūen and his group was heading too. We slowly caught up with Horikita and Sudo who walked in front, who gave us a slight nod, as we followed them, now altogether, from behind.
"What does Koenji usually do after school?"
"...not a clue."
"I don't know either."
"I think we should have asked Kurushima-kun to tag along with us..."
"True..."
"Should we call him...?"
"Not now..."
"Is no one here familiar with Koenji's behavioral patterns?"
None of our classmates have spoken to him at length and the one who might have an idea is Kurushima, who however, is still in the class.
"He mostly heads straight back to the dorm."
"How can you tell?"
"I spot him heading back quite often. Either way, it'll be problematic if he leaves the school building. First of all, we should head to the entrance."
Saying that, we headed towards the entrance. If his shoes are still there then it would mean he's still inside the school building, and in that case we'll be able to buy time.
To not fall behind, we kept up our pace. "Something serious like actual conflict might break out." Sudo said that to Horikita while clenching his fist.
"Quit your joking. Mass violence between Class C and Class B is no laughing matter. More importantly, why did you follow me?"
Horikita walked alone, but Sudo followed her, without hesitation.
"Isn't it obvious? Because I'm worried about you, Suzune. I've heard rumors that Ryūen will attack even women."
"I'm not so fragile so as to need your protection."
"Don't say that." Horikita did not change her bullish stance of being able to protect herself. Since she's proficient at martial arts, she doesn't need a man. Sudo's show of masculinity is also in vain.
But Sudo is Sudo after all so he probably doesn't even entertain the idea of Horikita being strong one bit.
"Besides, this may be unnecessary but there's one more thing I have to add. How about focusing those worries on your club activities?"
"It's fine I'm telling you. There's still time left until practice. Let's look for Koenji already."
Even as she tried to drive him away, Sudo still stuck to Horikita.
"Good grief...it's tough having to move around while carrying the seeds of trouble." She gave him a stealth insult.
If Horikita were to get hurt while she's alone, Sudo will definitely snap. If that happens, it'll turn into a huge uproar that would make the previous one look like a joke.
If the same people are to get into a fight again then neither the school nor the student council would show any mercy. In that sense, having Sudo tag along should be seen as the best option.
--
[Ryūen Pov]
[22nd December]
I looked over at that weird freak in front of me, who still had not dropped his act, despite my countless provocations towards him.
Or was he acting, currently...?
I dropped his handheld mirror, but he's still acting like this odd freak.
Now that I remember, Hiyori said, Koenji was also strange, when they first met, at the Cruise Ship.
If it's really not him, it comes all the way up to Karuizawa, huh...?
If X does not intend to reveal himself, I'll have to make him show up.
"You sure act like quite the delinquent. That handheld mirror is rather expensive, you know?"
"My bad, my hands slipped."
"Then it can't be helped. In that case, let go of my arm. I can't style my hair properly like this. Of course, I'm a man who'd be just fine even with his hair out of order, though."
I let go of his forearms, not because he asked, but because he's apparently not the one I'm searching for, potentially.
"Stop it already, Ryūen-kun."
"Shut it, Suzune. Koenji's my playmate now."
"Aren't you just one-sidedly attacking him? He wants no part of this."
While picking up the shards of the handheld mirror, Suzune glared at me with that sexy expression of hers.
"I'll do it. Your hands might get hurt."
Saying that, the gorilla picked up one of the shards.
Suddenly however...
I had a spontaneous thought...
"You look so fucking sexy, Suzune. With that expression of yours. Sure, you don't want to fuck? My offer still stands."
I looked at her, but she showed me that disgusted expression, again. If it wasn't for X's protection, you'd have kneeled and crumbled before me, Suzune.
But don't worry, once X is down, no one will protect you, anymore.
"Ryūen, you..."
Just as the red-haired gorilla next to her wanted to move, he was stopped by these three guys behind him.
In particular, with a shard in his hand, I could have easily expelled him, if he walked towards me or grabbed me even slightly.
Should I add more fuel into the fire...?
No. It won't be effective, again.
"Quite the approach, I must say..."
"So you realized it, Koenji...?"
"If it wasn't for them holding Sudo back, red-hair might have gotten expelled. That was surprisingly good."
"E-expelled...?"
"You..."
"Sudo, calm down."
"Yeah... my bad..."
"What did you even think, Sudo...? Not only would it have gotten problematic if you get hurt since you have your club activities, but you also almost could have been expelled if these three didn't stop you."
"I'm sorry... It won't happen again..."
"I hope so..."
As I looked at these two, I heard the sound of that damn cane.
*Plonk*
"I was wondering what this ruckus is all about, but this really is quite an interesting lineup."
"So you're back. I had my doubts already about whether you left the school for good or not. It seems like your father's condition did not hold you back in the end."
"Ryūen-kun, did you perchance miss me...? I'm honored, fufu."
"Kuku. I didn't hear such a funny joke in ages, crippled girl. However, I'm quite surprised the school let you leave like this."
"I seem to have misjudged you, Ryūen-kun. Perchance, did you not read thoroughly the manual we received on the first day...?"
"Are you illiterate, perhaps...?"
"Illiterate...?" I tilted my head to the side with slight anger, looking at that crippled girl who had a smirk written on her face.
"Ah... I didn't know it was that bad with you. I apologize, Ryūen-kun. Should I explain you what the meaning of illiterate means...?"
"Let's see..."
With a smirk on her face, I felt my veins popping out of my head. Immediately, without hesitation, I sprinted towards Sakayanagi.
I jumped in the air, throwing a kick at her.
But that Hashimoto guy, blocked it however, and fell to the ground.
She looked at me with a smirk on her face.
"I'm sorry, Ryūen-kun. My teasing seems to have gone too far."
She looked at me in the eyes, seeing ready to explain it.
"There are special rules where you can be temporarily excused. Of course not for a great duration of time, but in this case, I was allowed 3 Days."
"There were some governmental matters I had to deal with in my absence, so it was not only because of my father, who has fallen into a coma."
Although the crippled Loli is acting tough, having her kind, caring father in a coma is something that would leave you quite affected.
Her expression shows that she has mourned, in some way, at least.
"So your daddy left you that affected, huh? But I don't care whatever happened to you. I want to be the one who crushes you. If you left like that, it'd leave me very dissatisfied. That's all there is too, Sakayanagi."
"I'm glad we're on the same page. But I'm afraid you're not capable enough for that, Ryūen-kun."
"To be entirely truthful though, you'll certainly be a better side dish than the other class. After I've crushed your class and her's, I'll head for the main dish."
"So you're after Kurushima, huh?"
"Indeed. He's quite a capable opponent. It's rare for me to encounter another fellow genius, so I'll make sure to bury him personally."
"I see. How about you and your freak class piss off now, Sakayanagi?"
"Fufu, that's not very kind of you, Ryūen-kun, is it...? Shouldn't you invite me to the Christmas Party you're planning...?"
"Back off. The two of us have no business, yet."
"You don't have to go that far, do you? If it's a party you're planning then the more the merrier, wouldn't you say? So perhaps you'll let me join?"
"If you're staying then don't get in my way."
"Of course, I won't do anything to embarrass the party's organizer."
"Koenji, where the hell do you think you're going?"
Ishizaki said in a loud tone.
"The conversation has bored me quite a bit, so I have taken myself the liberty of walking away. Am I still being held here for his initial matter? If so, how about we wrap this up fast? Otherwise, I'll have to leave now."
"My bad, things got in our way and our little talk stalled. Let's get down to business."
Koenji smiled faintly. "I conclude from this situation that—you are obsessed with defeating either a person who is causing trouble for Class B or a person who has formed an alliance with another class. Am I wrong?"
"Let's see, any eyesore I don't like is an enemy to defeat."
"And a person from within Class C has appeared to hinder you. So you're attempting to unravel this person's identity."
Koenji seems to understand the gist of it without even requiring an explanation from me.
"That's exactly right."
"Then I'm sorry to disappoint but I have absolutely no interest in either the future of Class C or the future of any other class. I haven't done anything noteworthy in the exams leading up to this point and I have no intention of doing so in the future either. Is it really fun to waste time on a person like that?"
"That's funny, care to explain the zodiac exam then? Or the Sports Festival? Rumors have been spreading, you know?"
"Well, well, you're quite the knowledgeable one."
"That's just my own way of killing time. I couldn't bring myself to attend all those boring meetings so I decided that ending it all would be the shortcut to freedom. That is all."
"And the Sports Festival?"
"I merely had a bet with Kurushima. That's all there is too. He was able to defeat me and I complied with the conditions of our bet, as agreed upon. I'm a man of my words."
"So you've lost the bet despite Kurushima having broken ribs at that time. I expected more from someone like you. You're not that great of a deal, in the end, are you?"
"Fu... I wonder. He's only faster than me. But considering the difference of our bodies, that's only logical, is it not...?"
"Nonetheless, I'll have to see it as my loss. I underestimated him a bit."
"You act like you know him."
"We're in some way, past acquaintances."
"So that means I can't rule the possibility out that you're not X, can I? Kurushima is well aware of X, in other words, if you were to be X, it'd make similarly wise sense, because you two share a past together."
"He's also protecting him, so if it's you, it surely is plausible. What about that?"
"That is correct but if that's the conclusion you've drawn that it would simply mean you're just a moron whose brains only amount to this much."
"Kuku, sure enough. If you are telling the truth then that'd mean you're a completely harmless existence."
"Yes. I like how you catch onto things quickly, Dragon Boy."
At the moment I heard that name, I felt veins popping out of my head. Especially because that crippled girl laughed at that nickname.
In the end, I confirmed however, that Koenji was not X.
It was something I suspected, what Hiyori, too suspected, essentially because of the development on the Island Exam.
However you could not rule it out. In particular, because he submitted the VIP without knowing of the pattern, beforehand.
--
[Ayanokoji Pov]
[22nd December]
After talking with Chabashira and Horikita Manabu I made my way to the rooftop. I heard Chabashira saying something, but I ignored it.
In recompense for Horikita Manabu's support, I had to comply that I'd stop Nagumo Miyabi.
Although he trusted in Kurushima's abilities, he was deeply disappointed because he chose to retire from the Student Council Election.
In the end, the reason can only be speculated, but it's most likely, that he was threatened that many people of our class would be expelled.
The confidence of not knowing whether you'll win the elections and making yourself Nagumo Miyabi as an enemy, must have greatly contributed to his decision.
It's nothing I'll object. But even though he has been in secret supporting his sister, he did not mind entrusting Kurushima with the student council president, huh...?
So even he, must have a reason why he thinks so highly of him, based on his past. An individual that I'll study, once I have the time.
But antagonizing him seems to be something no one really likes to do in particular. Sakayanagi might make her moves regarding him...
I'll think whether I'll wait or not...
If he's here because he doesn't want his past to be revealed, she'll take advantage of that, soon...
On the topic regarding Sakayanagi, what happened to Chairman Sakayanagi seems to be a coincidence.
I've been wondering if that 'man' was responsible for this, but I'm unable to think he'd be able to do this. In particular, because he had not even a single of his bodyguards present.
He also should not be able to smuggle someone in or out, nor be able to make it look like an accident.
His influence here is not as great as its outside...
I looked at Horikita Manabu again, turning myself around.
A few minutes after I've gone up to the rooftop, Horikita Manabu will stop halfway on the stairs to the rooftop. I explained to him already that there's no need to talk to the students coming back down from the rooftop nor is it necessary to punish them.
Just make sure the students coming back down are made aware of your presence. The former student council president has witnessed the students leaving the rooftop. That alone would be extremely effective against Ryūen and his group.
In return, I made sure of the promise regarding Nagumo.
"Give me twenty minutes. That's all I need."
"Just make sure you make it quick, Ayanokoji."
I nodded, walking towards the corridor, again. After I've arrived at the corridor, I climbed the stairs. Step. By. Step.
As I slowly made my way up, a black shadow appeared before me. The gate watcher holding the road to the rooftop. He's silently watching me with a daunting pose. It's Yamada Albert from Class C.
He hasn't made a single move yet. The perfect watchdog. I don't know the details but he's probably one of Ryuuen's underlings too. He looks down at me as though appraising me.
"May I pass?"
I don't even know if he understands Japanese but I'll try talking to him. But Albert remained perfectly still and continued to observe me.
Is his silence meant to imply refusal? Or a lack of comprehension? It's frustrating how it's hard to tell. He took out his phone using his large hands and deftly tried making a call.
"[Don't panic. I'm the one you are seeking for.] (No need for panic. I'm the one you've all been looking for)".
As I said that in English, Albert stopped moving.
But a reply was not forthcoming. "[Today I'll solve the trouble by myself, and no one interferes.] (I'll resolve this problem on my own today. There will be no outside interference)"
As I explained myself again in English, Albert gave it some thought before closing his phone. And then he silently made way. Wordlessly signaling me to pass. Apparently he's acknowledged me. But him staying behind on the stairs is going to interfere with my plan.
"I'm going to crush Ryūen now. He doesn't stand a chance without your help." I provoked him in Japanese.
Albert looked down the stairs once and after confirming that there's no one else, he opened the door to the rooftop himself.
And after stepping out onto the rooftop, Albert stood beside the door and watched me from behind. The overcast sky above seems as though it'd rain down on us any moment now.
I looked at Karuizawa, cowering near the fencing, far from the door. And then Ishizaki and Ibuki, having noticed the door opening and closing, looked over at me with Ryūen following suit.
I looked around, left and right, to check for the presence of surveillance cameras.
The camera's lens has been painted black and it's no longer capable of carrying out its function. I see. So he simply blinded it with a spray. After I grasped the situation, I immediately turned back to face Ryūen's group.
"Ayano...kouji...?" Ibuki was the first one to say something. Hearing my name spoken, Karuizawa also noticed my presence.
She didn't say anything right away, but I was able to tell from her eyes that she's shocked at my presence here.
"Sorry I'm late." I said that to her.
"Why...why did you come...?" Karuizawa looked at me while forcing that feeble voice out.
"There's no need to ask, is there? I made a promise. That I'll save you should anything happen to you."
"Ryūen-san, does this mean Ayanokoji is X!?"
"That's not possible. He's definitely not the one."
Ishizaki panicked, but Ibuki denied it before Ryūen could. "Ryūen, surely X is just manipulating Ayanokoji. Don't be deceived. They definitely told Karuizawa in advance that they'd send someone else to save her—"
"Shut up, Ibuki."
Laughing, Ryūen distanced himself from Karuizawa and drew a bit closer to me. But even then, he stopped while putting around five meters of distance between us.
I could tell then that Ryūen is extremely wary of me. "Well, well, what do we have here? If it isn't Suzune's orbiter, Ayanokouji. What business do you have at an unpopular attraction like this rooftop here on a winter holiday?"
"Karuizawa sent me a mail. Asking me to save her."
I didn't go into detail and I didn't mention that Ryūen himself had made contact with me either. As for why, it's because Ryūen had foolishly invited me to the hunting ground, a prey hunted by the hunter.
After a very decent while, they finally believed that I was X. Especially, when I explained them the things regarding the Island Exam, in particular, the camera.
"... In the end, you just acted because Kurushima couldn't, or what?"
"Essentially. I wanted to be quiet all along, but I knew he would not check the camera so I destroyed it in advance. Everything else should happen through him..."
"But well, there are sometimes quite unexpected developments, too."
"Kukuku, I agree. That bastard would have ruined much for me if he were still on the Island. Ibuki did something good, for once."
She simply glared at him, but he did not pay any heed. "Although, we'd have won regardless in the very end, still."
I nodded with him, agreeing.
"You could have simply changed the leader after giving Katsuragi the identity of your's. It'd have fulfilled the contract regardless, no? Given that you knew from Y that one could change the leader's, it was certainly something you had in mind, too."
"Kuku, true enough. But I also intended to win, Ayanokoji. Besides I wanted to know whether that guy spoke the truth. That bastard left Kaneda two Anagrams."
"Two...? I'm aware of one, but as for the other one goes, I'm entirely clueless."
"Of course, you are. I didn't tell that anyone yet. But the second one is not as important as the first one."
"... Look at the layout here. That's the second Anagram."
"I see. Look at the rules, huh...?"
Ryūen clapped his hands. "You solved it very fast. It seems like you're truly X. That should solve any remaining doubts, right, Ibuki?"
"Tch..."
"It's nothing particular hard, anyway. Is there something else Y provided you...?"
Ryūen looked at me amusingly. "Kukuku, you're quite curious. But I don't mind showing it to you. It's just two E-Mails which that bastard sent me."
He took his phone out, showing me one of them.
[Subject: ZBZMLPLQR PRBLGZPZ RH GSV LMV BLF ZIV HVZIXSRMT ULI]
"So that's how it is, huh...?" I murmured as I immediately concluded the hidden message behind the subject headline.
Ryūen looked at me in confusion. It seems like he didn't think that the subject headline was overly suspicious.
No, that's not it. He seems to be rather annoyed by Y because he has been skillfully manipulated all the way.
It's more inclined towards that. Just the mere thought of him must have made him pop his veins.
Being severely played by one's hand, all along.
That's the type of person he is.
"What are you talking about...?"
"The subject headline. You didn't seem to have realized it yet, did you?"
"The subject headline...?"
He looked at it for a moment, but still could not figure it out.
"If you reverse it, you'll get the phrase, "Ayanokoji Kiyotaka is the one you are searching for". In other words, the game you played, it was all along, useless."
"If you had thrown away your pride, and let someone analyze it for you, the one who probably did the Anagrams, too, you would have easily figured out my identity."
"Kukuku... I've been played by Y, all along, again."
I chose to remain silent. He wasn't just played by Y but also by me. However, he still had the impression that everything was going according to his plan.
"But after I've crushed you, I'll head towards Y."
"Is that so...?"
Of course, once the conflict resorts to violence, he'll realize, it's not him who was in charge of this very own confrontation, but me.
"Shut the door, Albert."
After receiving that order from Ryūen, Albert closed the door that leads back into the school.
Everyone here can already tell what's going to happen next. Ryūen won't change his ways. "I suppose my retreat has been cut off. Now you're free to take this in the direction you desire."
"First I'll put the fear on that apathetic face of yours. Are you underestimating me? Thinking I wouldn't do anything reckless."
"Are you really going to resort to violence?"
"Conflict isn't always a mental affair. Violence is the most powerful force in this world. This applies to a general leading his forces and is also a brilliant means to assassinate said general both. No matter how crafty you may be, you will be forced to yield before violence."
Even now, as the situation seems as though a fight were about to break out, I looked over at Ryūen, Ibuki, Ishizaki and Albert one by one for a moment.
"I'm going to commit your pathetic appearance to memory and then I'll call it quits. Because I'll be moving onto Ichinose, after Y, come the third semester after all."
"People do yield before violence, that's for sure. Your logic is sound there. But to carry out that logic, you need to be stronger than the other guy. Do you understand that?"
"Huh?"
"The four of you here won't be enough to stop me."
"...?" Unable to understand, Ibuki raised an eyebrow.
"Kukukukukukukukukukuku."
Seems it found it exceedingly funny because Ryūen's laughing his heart out.
"What Ayanokoji is trying to say is this: I won't be made to yield through violence by the likes of you. Then show me the extent of that confidence of yours. Ishizaki."
"I-Is it really okay?" Ishizaki unexpectedly hesitated upon receiving the order to attack. It would be a different story against someone infamous for getting into fights like Sudou but I'm just an ordinary student.
His hesitation is understandable even when under orders. "Don't hold back, get him."
"But..."
"There'll be no problem even if we give Ayanokoji a thorough beating."
"Wait!" When Ishizaki approached me, it was Karuizawa's scream that stopped him.
"Why are you doing something this stupid!? You won't gain anything from beating Kiyotaka up, will you!?"
"Hey, don't just cut in like that, Karuizawa. Your role is over. You can relax, your past won't be revealed anymore thanks to this guy's sacrifice. Just be grateful to him."
He then grabbed hold of Karuizawa's hair once again the same way he did when dumping water on her.
"!" And then shoved Karuizawa to the back, just like that.
"That's why I'm telling you to stay out of this." Nevertheless, Karuizawa bared her fangs at Ryūen for my sake.
She tried to get back up and jump onto Ryūen. "Don't worry, Karuizawa." I called out to Karuizawa and made her stop. "B-But."
"There's no need for concern."
"That's right, save that concern for yourself." Ishizaki stepped forward. "Don't think badly of me, Ayanokoji. This is just another order from Ryūen-san."
Well, I wouldn't have chosen this approach, if I wasn't confident of beating them.
It's not even something special.
It's in the end, just a mundane task.
--
"There you go, Ryūen. You seem to have experienced it: Fear."
As I was sitting on top of Ryūen, dealing him the finishing blow, seeing his scared expression, making him now unconscious, I heard the sound of the door opening.
"Sorry that it longer than expected, Horikita Manabu." I looked at Ryūen still, before speaking further, leading to a full-fledged conversation with him, after the events here.
"Kiyotak—"
But Karuizawa's sudden voice made me attentive and I turned myself quickly around.
She lied on the ground unconsciously.
But in top of all that, someone else was present.
And it was not Horikita Manabu.
"Then you must be Y, I presume."
--
A/N: And this concludes the chapter.
How did you like the chapter?
In particular, the end...?
I made it in the end of the last chapter clear already that it'd happen but here you go, with the confirmation.
How about you write some predictions of what's going to happen on the next chapter?
Are you excited...?
Hopefully, you all are.
We all know what Kurushima wants to do, from the last chapter.
Anyhow, so far, how did you like the last few chapters...?
Have you been hyped up...?
Just curious, nothing more.
In these past four chapters really much happened.
Anyhow, that's all.
I'll make sure to deliver the next chapter well, since I hope, it's going to be Peak.
Have a great day and share your thoughts with me.