The next day, as Horikita and I exited the school building, I spotted Sakura Airi walking a few paces behind us. Her shoulders were slightly hunched, and she cast nervous glances around her.
A plan formulated in my mind, one that addressed both Sakura's unease and provided an opportunity for further observation. I turned to Horikita.
"I need to make a quick detour," I announced, my voice neutral.
Horikita simply gave a curt nod and continued walking towards her dorm. Her lack of curiosity regarding my destination suited me perfectly.
Once Horikita's figure had disappeared around a corner, I altered my course and caught up to Sakura. "Sakura-san," I addressed her, my tone polite. "Is everything alright?"
She flinched slightly at the sound of my voice, then turned to face me, a flicker of surprise crossing her features. "Y-yes," she stammered, her voice betraying a hint of nervousness. "I'm fine, really. Just… a little uncomfortable around strangers."
"Given the events of yesterday," I replied coolly, "that's a perfectly normal reaction." The mention of the stalker incident seemed to ease her slightly. She offered a small, hesitant smile.
An idea sparked in my mind. "If you'd like," I offered, "I can accompany you back to the dorm."
A blush tinged her cheeks, a reaction that went unnoticed by my dispassionate gaze. "R-really?" she stammered, a flicker of hope brightening her eyes.
"Of course," I replied smoothly.
She offered a grateful smile, and we fell into step beside each other.
The walk back to the dorms was uneventful, our conversation limited to polite small talk. However, it served its purpose. Maintaining a connection with Sakura, fostering a sense of dependence, would be valuable in the future.
As we reached her dorm building, Sakura turned to me, her eyes holding a hint of newfound warmth.
"Thank you again, Ayanokoji-kun," she said, her voice sincere. "I feel much better now."
"I'm glad," I replied with a monotonous tone. With a final nod, I turned and walked away, leaving her standing there.
As I walked away from Sakura, my mind whirred with calculations. Her lingering anxiety around strangers was an interesting development. On one hand, it presented a potential obstacle – a liability if she couldn't handle unexpected situations.
However, caution was paramount. Pushing her too quickly could backfire, causing her to fracture and lose her usefulness.
For now, further observation was important.
Her current dependence on me was a positive development. It fostered a sense of obligation, making her more receptive to future requests. This granted me a degree of control, subtle but undeniable.
The key, however, lay in maintaining the delicate balance. Excessive manipulation could backfire, turning her loyalty into resentment. So I needed to remain subtle.
With a mental map of the possibilities in place, I continued towards my dorm.
~~
The final exam scores had been distributed, casting a pall of anxiety and disappointment over the classroom. As the murmurs of elation subsided, Chabashira-sensei made an unexpected announcement.
"Ayanokouji," she stated, her voice devoid of its usual monotone, "please come to the staffroom after homeroom."
A collective gasp rippled through the class. Eyes turned towards me, a mixture of curiosity and speculation swirling in their depths. Why was I being singled out? Had I somehow violated a school rule? The question hung unanswered in the air.
Unfazed by the scrutiny, I calmly awaited the end of class. Once the dismissal bell echoed through the room, I rose from my seat and made my way to the staffroom, a sense of detached curiosity guiding my steps.
Chabashira greeted me with a tightly-lipped smile, a stark contrast to her usual stoicism. "Ayanokouji," she began, her voice low and measured, "let's dispense with the pleasantries. You see, I too, was once a student of this institution."
This piece of information was unexpected. "Is that so, sensei?" I replied, my tone neutral.
"You see, Ayanokouji," she revealed, "I, too, was once a D-Class student. Driven by ambition, I aimed for Class A, but a… mistake on my part cost my class dearly. That dream remains unfulfilled, a constant source of regret."
A mistake? This information held potential leverage, but I remained neutral, offering no response.
She paused for a moment, her gaze fixed on some unseen point in the distance. "Recently," she continued, her voice regaining its steely edge, "the school received a message from a… certain individual. This individual has requested your expulsion."
My pulse remained steady, my expression impassive. This "certain individual" held no mystery for me. My father's machinations were predictable.
As for Chabashira-sensei's intentions, I understood them all too easily.
Extortion. A blunt instrument, but effective in the right hands. And in Chabashira-sensei's hands, it held a certain weight. Yet, even as a part of me acknowledged the potential threat, I refused to be cowed so simply.
"How… interesting," I murmured, my voice a low rumble. "And what, exactly, do you expect from me in exchange for ensuring my continued enrollment?"
She held my gaze for a long moment, a flicker of something akin to defiance passing between us. "Simple, Ayanokouji. Aim for A-Class. Strive for it with everything you have, and I will strive to protect you and prevent your expulsion."
My hand, with a speed born of training, shot out and grasped her collar, my fingers tightening instinctively. "You will regret using such tactics, sensei," I said, my voice a low growl.
A flicker of surprise crossed her features, quickly replaced by a steely resolve. "Choose, Ayanokouji," she countered, her voice unwavering. "Class A or expulsion. Neither option is without its… consequences. And as for regrets," she added, a hint of bitterness lacing her words, "my life is already overflowing with them."
We locked eyes, a battle of wills waged in a silent standoff. Both of us understood the stakes, the precarious balance of power at play. Finally, I broke the silence, my voice a low growl.
"You've made your point," I conceded, releasing my grip on her collar. "But just as I said before, you will really regret trying to manipulate me into doing this."
With that, I exited the staffroom, leaving her alone with the weight of my words.
As I exited the staffroom, the weight of Chabashira's words hung heavy in the air.
Her revelation about the expulsion request, while intriguing, held a tinge of uncertainty. Was it a genuine threat, or a carefully crafted bluff?
The possibility remained that she was using my past as leverage, a ploy to manipulate me into serving her agenda.
However, I couldn't completely dismiss the possibility that she possessed knowledge of my true background.
If that were the case, her seriousness regarding the expulsion was undeniable.
Expulsion was not an outcome I desired at this juncture. This school, this environment, served a specific purpose for me to experience the life of an ordinary student.
Therefore, cooperating with Chabashira-sensei's agenda, as distasteful as it was, became the logical course of action.
The timing of her revelation was also noteworthy.
Delivered right after the end-of-term exams, just before summer break, it hinted at an upcoming event – one that would allow for significant class point accumulation.
This presented an opportunity.
Fortunately, I possessed a valuable asset – Kushida Kikyou.
Her popularity and manipulative nature could be leveraged to our advantage, provided the rules of this unknown event were fair enough. My mind raced with possibilities, formulating strategies and contingencies.
With a calculated step, I headed towards my dorm room.
~~
The familiar silhouette of the dorm building came into view. As I rounded the corner, I spotted Kushida standing outside, her gaze fixated on the vending machine across the path. Given the prearranged text I'd sent, her presence here was unsurprising.
I adjusted my course, approaching the vending machine with measured steps. Once within earshot, I initiated the conversation in a low murmur.
"Kushida," I began, my voice devoid of any inflection. "I require some information about the current representatives of Class A."
Her brow furrowed in a flicker of confusion. "Class A representatives?" she echoed, her voice laced with curiosity. "Why the sudden interest?"
Silence. I offered no explanation, leaving her to stew in her own speculations. This lack of information was a calculated move, keeping her slightly off balance and more susceptible to suggestion.
With a resigned sigh, she acquiesced. "Alright, alright," she grumbled.
A forced cheerfulness tinged her voice. "What exactly do you want to know?"
Perfect. I outlined the details I needed, keeping my questions concise and to the point. She readily provided what I requested, her internal monologue likely a whirlwind of questions about my motives.
The transaction concluded, I began to turn away, ready to retreat to the solitude of my dorm room. However, before I could take another step, Kushida spoke up, her voice hesitant.
"Say, Ayanokouji-kun," she began, leaning in slightly, "are you… dating Horikita-san?"
The question caught me off guard, but I maintained a poker face. "Dating?" I echoed, my voice flat. "Why would you ask such a thing?"
A faint blush crept up her cheeks as she stammered, "Well, I just… you two seem to be spending a lot of time together lately. Studying, strategizing… it just gave off a certain vibe."
"There's nothing romantic going on, Kushida," I stated flatly, effectively shutting down that line of inquiry.
However, her next words surprised me even further. "Actually, Ayanokouji-kun," she began, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "there's something I need your help with."
Intrigued, I raised an eyebrow, silently urging her to continue.
"Horikita-san," she hissed, her voice laced with barely concealed venom. "I want to expel her."
My surprise was momentary. I knew Kushida harbored a grudge against Horikita, and vice versa. But expulsion? That was a bold move, even for her.
"Expulsion?" I echoed, my voice carefully neutral. "That's a rather drastic measure, wouldn't you say? Why do you want to do that?"
"I have my reasons for that. Now…Will you help me or not?" Kushida asked me.
"I'll consider it," I replied flatly. While I wasn't entirely opposed to Horikita's expulsion, it wasn't a move I was prepared to orchestrate on a whim.
The response wasn't what she had hoped for. A scowl marred her usually perfect features. I knew this would likely garner some resentment, but right now, her cooperation was more valuable than her fleeting anger. She wouldn't dare openly defy me, not yet.
"Consider it?" she spat, her voice laced with frustration. "That's all you have to say?"
I remained unfazed. "For now," I said simply.
She gritted her teeth, clearly unhappy with my lack of commitment. "Fine," she hissed, her voice tight with barely suppressed anger.
I knew she would likely seek allies elsewhere, perhaps even in other classes. I offered no warnings, no attempts to dissuade her. The prospect held no concern to me.
As for the expulsion of Horikita, I would monitor the situation. If the opportunity arose, and it aligned with my own objectives, then perhaps I would lend Kushida a hand.