Of course, the student council holds significant authority, enough to make minor modifications to the special exam rules. However, in return, they are also required to adhere to certain confidentiality regulations.
For instance, now that Yukio and others have learned some internal information about the special exam, they cannot directly inform the entire class; they need to keep it confidential for the time being.
However, they can privately and discreetly share this information with a few trustworthy classmates. Meanwhile, it appears that all students are busy preparing for the midterm exams.
Only a very few students know that after these midterm exams, there will be a major exam involving all three grades. Beneath the seemingly positive surface, an impending undercurrent is hidden.
On October 20th, just two days before the midterm exams, Yukio, Shiina, and Ibuki appeared at the "Maple and Flowers" cake shop in the Mall, a place quite popular among students.
Shiina was all smiles, as light and breezy as a floating cloud, wearing a gentle and calm smile. Ibuki, on the other hand, had a regretful expression, looking like someone who had missed out on the lottery jackpot by guessing a single wrong digit.
Yukio was also helpless. Originally, he was just supposed to bring Ishizaki over, buy a cake, and leave. However, Ishizaki was still buried in his assignments, catching up on work because of the cover he provided last time.
Seeing the stack of papers, Yukio thought it was best to let it go. He happened to run into Ibuki coming out of the library, so he called her over, saying that as a girl, she could give some suggestions.
Ibuki might have misunderstood, thinking that this bully was buying a cake for some girl and wanted her opinion, feeling extremely aggrieved. She promptly pulled Shiina along, saying that Shiina knew more about these things.
Then, upon asking on the way, she found out that it was actually for Ryuen's birthday!
Ibuki was immediately dumbfounded, wondering if she hadn't pulled Shiina along, would she have come alone with Yukio to buy the cake? She deeply regretted her earlier decision.
But alas, Ibuki wasn't someone who could stay down for long. After a while of regret, she started talking again, "So you guys also need birthday cakes for your birthdays? I thought you just went to KTV to sing and drink?"
"This is prejudice, Ibuki." Yukio casually browsed the items in the store, chatting idly. "Even boys sometimes want to have a cake on their birthday. Of course, eating it every year would be too much."
At this moment, Shiina seamlessly joined the conversation: "There is a line in 'The Count of Monte Cristo' that says it well. What do people truly want to obtain? It's the things they usually can't have."
"Ryuen might not find it convenient to come and eat cake like girls do, so giving him a cake on his birthday today should make him very happy."
Yukio had also read that famous novel, often hailed as a classic: "I remember it follows with a line about studying the incomprehensible to obtain the unobtainable."
"Yes," Shiina turned her small face, her bright eyes glimmering like amethyst beneath her lashes. Her fair neck, elegant like a swan's, and the delicate hint of her collarbone, typical of a cultured young woman, added to her gentle charm.
Ibuki felt a twitch in her temple. What good was reading all those books? One kick from her and they could cry for ages. This kind of conversation was entirely out of her league.
Never mind, Ibuki suppressed her unpleasant feelings, hoping the two could return to the main topic: "So, have you decided which one to buy?"
"I've already decided." Yukio pointed at a very girly, entirely pink Hello Kitty cake in the display case. "I think Ryuen would definitely love this one."
"Pfft," Shiina covered her mouth and laughed lightly.
"Haha!" Ibuki burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. "No, no, don't joke around. Such a cute cake, for Ryuen? Haha, oh my, my stomach hurts from laughing. Be careful, Ryuen might come after you."
Yukio was just joking. After all, it was someone's birthday, and he wouldn't be so outrageous as to actually send a Hello Kitty cake.
Just as he turned around to see if there were any suitable cakes for Ryuen, he caught sight of a figure trying to hide—Kiyotaka Ayanokouji.
Ayanokouji was also feeling helpless. Originally, he just thought that since it was his first birthday outside of the White Room, he might try buying a small cake like regular people do.
Celebrating his own birthday felt meaningless to Ayanokouji, just a pointless waste of money.
But since regular people did it, and to learn more about human behavior, Ayanokouji came to the well-regarded "Maple and Flowers" cake shop among students.
Who would have thought he would run into Yukio, the most troublesome person, here? Was he buying a cake for the two girls with him?
If he was discovered, it would surely cause trouble. Fortunately, the store was large, and they seemed busy picking out a cake, so Ayanokouji decided to quietly avoid them.
With this thought, Ayanokouji tried to keep his distance, avoiding Yukio's notice. But when Yukio turned around, he naturally noticed him: "Hey, Ayanokouji, is it your birthday today?"
"Or are you here to buy a cake for a girl you like?"
For a guy visiting a cake shop, those were pretty much the only two possibilities…
Ayanokouji knew he couldn't avoid it, so he silently nodded: "Yeah, birthday." It should have been a celebratory day, but his eyes looked as if he hadn't woken up, listless and indifferent.
"That's really…" a coincidence, Yukio thought but didn't say the last two words aloud because he suddenly remembered something, something small and peculiar.
"?" Yukio's subconscious silence was unusual. Ayanokouji noticed but didn't know the reason, thinking it probably had nothing to do with him: "If there's nothing else, I'll go buy the cake."
Yukio waved his hand in farewell, watching Ayanokouji pay and leave the cake shop before turning to ask, "Hiyori, Ibuki, do you remember the first day of our class?"
"Ah?" Shiina touched her chin with her index finger, looking as if she was reminiscing: "I remember. I was a bit worried back then, Yukio, you directly fought with Ryuen, Ishizaki, and even Albert."
As for the subsequent water torture, Shiina didn't think it was appropriate to mention.
Ibuki raised an eyebrow. Hiyori? Yukio? When did these two become so close? They were already calling each other by their first names?
Despite her curiosity, she didn't want to be left out. She didn't understand much about world literature, but she was good at fighting: "I remember clearly. If you have something to ask, just say it."
Yukio looked at the two of them and brought up the small matter he had just thought of: "After I knocked Ryuen down, do you remember what he yelled about?"
Shiina blinked. She could remember a lot from her reading, but this sort of thing was beyond her memory.
Ibuki felt a chill of excitement, like drinking a cold Sprite on a hot summer day. Finally, it was her turn: "I remember, I remember. Ryuen was yelling that he wasn't afraid, no matter how badly he was beaten."
"He said beating him was useless and that he would find a way to get revenge. So, why are you thinking about this now? Are you worried that Ryuen wants to take revenge on you? I don't think that's necessary. Ryuen seems to respect you now."
"I know," Yukio replied, indicating he wasn't doubting Ryuen but rather suspecting the relationship between Ryuen and Ayanokouji.
Ryuen lacked fear, and Ayanokouji always looked listless, with eyes devoid of any emotion, clearly showing an emotional deficiency.
There are all kinds of people in the world, and there indeed exists a very small number of people with emotional deficiencies. It could be a coincidence, but Ryuen and Ayanokouji sharing the same birthday?
A coincidence to this extent? Is it possible?
***
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