'Gravure idol audition?'
Before I could read the complete article, afternoon classes started, and I decided to ponder about that after school. For now, I have more pressing matters at hand.
Wait, what do I have more important than this?!
I have vivid memories of the volumes prior to year 1 volume 10 of this light novel, but now that I think about it, wasn't there an incident related to this 'idol thing' in the initial volumes?
And the student involved was Sakura, right?
At that time, Ayanokouji helped her with that stalker and everything was over.
However, Sakura Airi has already been expelled.
On top of that, this message is from an unknown account.
Well, the sender must be inside the school premises as outsiders has no way to contact us. So, the question is whether they are a student or a teacher.
No, teachers don't involve themselves in private lives of students.
Does that mean, it is from some student?
If this article is related to Sakura, then, that must mean, the sender is someone who is aware of Sakura's secret, right? This actually narrows down the number of suspects, but why me?
Could it be?
.
.
.
After thinking about it for a while, I decided to put this matter at the back of my mind, and deal with the immediate matter at hand.
I revealed some pretty startling information to Sakayanagi to make her agree to my plans. All that's left for her is to appoint someone else as the commander.
However, the one with a protection point in her class is Sakayanagi herself. So, appointing someone else as the commander, implies that she is putting their expulsion on line for her own amusement of having a match with Ayanokouji.
This might seem impossible to anyone, who doesn't know Sakayanagi's personality. She is not someone, who depicts her classmates anything more than pawns. Even if her class dives down to class D, as long as she is having a fun time, she would not bother to rise up from that position.
Moreover, she must be confident of her class winning, even if class A goes against any class in this special exam. Due to that confidence, she has already established a large lead as class A.
That's why, I can imagine her doing just what I said, but still, it's not a matter of convenience, it's actually a matter of pride for her. If she agrees to my proposition, then it would imply that she was manipulated by my schemes. On the other hand, desire of having a fair and square match with Ayanokouji can most possibly overwhelm her pride too.
So, I am still skeptical about dealing with her.
Even if I eliminate our probable confrontation with class A, fighting with other classes is not that easy.
Class B has a strong sense of unity, and they perform everything through their straightforwardness. I can try to pull something on them, but it's simply risky. I could be expelled, even before the special exam happens.
And Class D, despite their torn apart outward, I can actually visualize Ryuen cooking something, currently. Just because he is not back to the throne doesn't mean his story is all over. As Ibuki and Ishizaki worked their ass off to keep Ryuen in their class, and even Shiina helped them, it's likely that this special exam would serve as a comeback battleground for him.
Moreover, I am not in favor of dealing with someone like him. From his past records, Ryuen would be someone to stab you in the back, still withholding rules of any contract.
Well, those routes are not entirely impossible to choose. I am just calculating possibility of risks involved, and have come to the conclusion that Sakayanagi route is the safest, for now. Unknown elements are scary after all. And as I have the last card of Ayanokouji's past, a deal with her is still plausible.
I just hope that she does choose what's best for me. I am in quite a prickle right now.
Then let's move to the class matchup lottery venue.
***
Well, I am screwed.
Or not?
I mean, as Sakayanagi came to the special building for the lottery herself as the commander, that means her deal with me is off right?
Likewise, Ichinose was the commander of class B, and Kaneda was of class D.
They all had one protection point, indicating quite the usual choice.
I was the only one without a protection point.
When I went to Chabashira declaring myself as the commander for class C, her confused expression was quite painful for me. At least, you should have an idea of how I am being viewed in the class as the homeroom teacher, no?
Well, putting her aside, I didn't have any more expectation from other homeroom teachers.
Sakagami and Mashima were indifferent to my situation, but the pitiful eyes of Hoshinomiya pierced my heart, and it still stings.
I mean, I get it already. No one has any expectations for me.
But, on the flip side, having no expectation could be a positive thing. I have no external pressure. I have no backing. I have no support for this special exam.
That's the environment, I had been living in my previous life too.
I have come to a conclusion through all these suffering.
Forming relationship with anyone has never been suitable for me. Call it my bad luck or my own fault, everyone I had any type of relationship with, has turned their backs on me. Whether be it friends, or parents, or relatives. I was alone.
Even now, nothing has changed much. Well, this might be the work of previous Yamauchi, but still, this is the result I have been given.
Honestly, after such devastating failures one after another, I don't have any will to form any type of relationship further.
Thus, abandoning the idea altogether is the most appropriate move for me, I think.
That's why, the only one I can trust wholeheartedly is myself alone.
Well, putting aside my monologue, I am still not sure that the deal is off, because, for some reason, Kaneda was the one to pull out the lottery, and he chose class B as their opponent.
So, class C would be going against class A, as was my desired scenario.
Sakayanagi was as always playful with her words, and I couldn't sense any form of tension from her, even after mentioning about Tsukishiro and Ayanokouji before.
After that, teachers just explained the whole setup for commanders and a mock event battle through the screen. And nothing worth mentioning happened further.
***
As I went back from school towards the dorms, I could feel multiple eyes, watching me. Sakayanagi must have increased my surveillance.
Not that it bothers me a lot. And it's not like I am meeting anyone in specific today.
So, I ignored them and went into my room.
Honestly, I was expecting her to make the first move, to see how much effective was that little bit of information. Therefore, I blended myself into my daily life, not long after.
***
For some reason, I want to eat curd all of a sudden.
It was nighttime, while I had such thought. Thinking about buying something from the store for dinner, I was suddenly craving for curd.
Isn't this quite random?
As I was going to the store to buy food anyways, I decided to purchase some curd too.
Packaged ones are good, but I wanted to try freshly made curd.
And for that purpose, I need a curd maker.
.
.
.
'Yeah, this is definitely random stuff.'
'It seems like the author can't decide how to proceed and is just putting anything in the story, in the name of daily life.'
'Otherwise, who in their right mind, would want to buy a curd maker at night, when his ass is just a few centimeter away from being burnt.'
'Ah! I can't' believe it!'
.
.
.
Well, despite grumbling so much about it, I, eventually, ended up at that section in the mall.
Moreover, it's definitely a good change of pace for 'my ordinary life.'
While, I was browsing through the dairy products' section, a familiar figure appeared in my field of view.
As it was quite late around night, probably around 11PM, there were very few people on that floor. No, upon close observation, I noticed that, except us two, others were just staff members of this mall.
While I looked at that familiar figure, their expression was that of a defeated person, who has lost everything. They were quietly staring at some grocery products, probably for dinner as well.
However, at that time, I still couldn't understand. It is understandable for some extreme backlash coming from them, considering their close friend was expelled. But, I don't understand why their condition became so unbearable to watch.
A frail figure, leaning forward as if it would break at any moment. Dead eyes, dark circles under them were indication of sleepless night. And a striking expressionless face.
Moreover, I still can't remember her last name.
As she stood there for more than 5 minutes, I heard some employees whispering among themselves, looking at her. I don't really know when this mall closes, so I quickly picked up some packaged curd and decided to buy that curd maker tomorrow.
But, she was still standing there.
I was going to call out to her, but stopped myself.
Yes. A sense of guilt washed over me, as I reflected on my previous actions, which led to this result.
Shouldn't I have been better off, if I had just accepted my expulsion, and transferred to some normal school?
Wouldn't that have been the ideal ending for them?
Such questions were erupting one after another inside my mind.
However, that can't be changed.
Sakura has already been expelled.
With my guilty conscience, I can't call out to her, nor can I say anything in light of this situation.
As she was not budging an inch from her position, I decided to wait for her, and a certain message flashed through my mind.
I am still skeptical about the sender, but it's likely from someone who wants to break through her depression by me.
Deciding to read the contents, I sat on a bench nearby.
'
'
'
And it turned out to be what I had expected.
'Sakura Airi has been selected as a gravure idol in an audition', is the conclusion I drew from the article.
Now what should I do with this bit of information, and that frail figure, Haruka?