(Third Person's POV)
October 1st dawned. Class points translated into private points, awarded to each student based on their class's performance.
The day meandered by, filled with the usual routine – classes and preparations for the upcoming midterms looming in mid-October.
Nightfall arrived, a blanket of darkness cloaking the school. At precisely 1:00 AM, a knock shattered the stillness in Ayanokoji's dorm room. An unexpected visitor stood on the other side – Kushida Kikyou.
Their meeting wasn't a chance encounter. Ayanokoji had granted her this clandestine visit.
Stepping inside, Kushida shut the door with a click, the lock securing their private conversation.
(Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's POV)
The click of the lock echoed in the room as Kushida closed the door behind her. Gone was the usual bubbly facade, replaced by a steely glint in her eyes.
"Why?" she demanded, her voice laced with barely contained anger. "You promised you wouldn't interfere."
I met her gaze, my expression unchanged. "There are nuances to consider, Kushida," I replied, my voice devoid of any warmth. "I said I wouldn't reveal your actions to the class. And I kept my word."
She gritted her teeth, frustration coloring her features. "But you interfered! Sending that recording to Ryuen… you freed Horikita from my grasp!"
"Let's be precise," I countered, leaning back in my chair. "I tolerated your actions, up to a point. Your plan to humiliate Horikita in front of Ryuen, extracting a million private points as punishment… that exceeded the boundaries of what I deemed acceptable."
Silence descended upon the room, broken only by the soft hum of the air conditioner. The logic of my words hung heavy in the air, and I knew she recognized it.
"Another chance," she pleaded, a hint of desperation creeping into her voice. "Just one more opportunity to expel Horikita Suzune."
My gaze turned glacial. "You've already squandered your chance, Kushida. Your strategy was amateurish, predictable. Even Horikita is wary of you now."
"Then give me another chance!" she insisted, her voice rising in desperation. "I can do better! I can bring her down!"
I studied her for a moment, my eyes scanning her tense posture, the tremor in her voice. This uncharacteristic display of desperation piqued my curiosity. "Beg, Kushida," I said, my voice flat. "If you truly desire another opportunity."
The air crackled with tension as she stared at me, a battle raging within her eyes. Then, in a move that surprised even me, she dropped to her knees.
My initial reaction was one of mild amusement. Kushida, the epitome of popularity and confidence, reduced to such a posture. It fueled my curiosity further. What secrets did Horikita possess that could drive Kushida to this level of degradation? What did Horikita know?
"Ayanokoji-kun," she began, her voice barely a whisper. "Please. Just let me expel her. I'll do anything."
The raw emotion in her voice was undeniable. Was this simply a case of intense hatred? Or was something more complex at play?
"There's information I need," I declared, my voice neutral. "Tell me everything you know about Horikita. Why is her expulsion so crucial to you?"
She hesitated for a moment, then launched into a story. A story that painted a picture of Horikita's past, of a childhood shrouded in darkness, a past that threatened to unravel her meticulously crafted facade.
As she spoke, the pieces began to fall into place. The fear in Kushida's eyes – a fear not of Horikita herself, but of the secrets Horikita held about Kushida.
The revelation sparked a new wave of intrigue within me.
Horikita held secrets about Kushida.
Secrets that could potentially destabilize the entire class hierarchy. This unexpected development shifted the dynamic of our game considerably.
"Intriguing," I murmured once she finished, a hint of a smile playing on my lips. "This changes things, Kushida."
Her eyes flickered with a sliver of hope. "Does that mean…?"
"It means," I interrupted, my smile widening ever so slightly, "that I can offer you another chance to expel Horikita. The next special exam will be your final opportunity to achieve this goal. Succeed, and Horikita will be expelled. Fail, and I'm afraid you won't have another chance. Because if you attempt anything after that, I will expel you myself."
Relief washed over her features. "Thank you, Ayanokoji-kun! Just one more shot, that's all I need!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with renewed energy.
Just as she was about to get up, I spoke again, my voice a quiet reminder. "Remember, Kushida, my priority remains Class D's advancement. I will pursue that goal in my own way."
Her elation subsided slightly, but she nodded hurriedly, her mind focused on the task at hand. She was about to leave when I called out to her one last time.
"Hold on, Kushida."
My words hung heavy in the air. Kushida, momentarily distracted by the promise of another chance, hadn't fully processed the conditions. Now, a flicker of apprehension crossed her face.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of suspicion.
"There's one more thing," I said, my voice flat. "A test, if you will."
"A test?" she echoed, brows furrowed. "What kind of test?"
A faint smile played on my lips. "A test of your commitment, your resolve. A way to gauge your seriousness about this endeavor."
She studied me intently, searching for any hidden meaning in my words. "And what exactly would this test entail?"
I leaned forward, my voice dropping to a low murmur. "Obedience," I said, watching her reaction closely.
A jolt of surprise flickered across her face, quickly replaced by a flicker of defiance. "Obedience? What do you mean?"
"Simple," I continued, my gaze unwavering. "Follow an instruction, no questions asked."
She hesitated, her usual bravado momentarily wavering. This wasn't part of the bargain she had envisioned. But the promise of expelling Horikita was a powerful motivator.
"Alright," she mumbled, a hint of resignation in her voice. "What is it?"
"Take off your shirt," I commanded, my voice devoid of emotion.
Her eyes widened in shock. "What? Are you serious?" she sputtered, her voice laced with disbelief.
"Perfectly serious," I confirmed, my expression unchanging. "Consider it a test of your willingness to push boundaries, to sacrifice your pride in pursuit of your goal."
Silence stretched between us, thick with tension. The color drained from her face, replaced by a mixture of anger and humiliation. This wasn't the kind of sacrifice she had anticipated. But the image of Horikita's expulsion, the sweet taste of victory, flickered in her mind.
A long moment passed before she spoke, her voice barely a whisper. "This… this isn't necessary, is it?"
"Necessary? Perhaps not," I conceded. "But it is illustrative. It allows me to gauge your true dedication to this cause."
She took a shaky breath, then began to slowly unbutton her blouse. Each movement seemed to be a struggle, a battle between her pride and her burning desire to eliminate Horikita.
Finally, the last button was undone, revealing a black lace bra and a glimpse of smooth, pale skin. She remained on her knees, head bowed, her shoulders trembling with repressed emotions.
I reached out, my fingers brushing the cool fabric of her bra. A jolt of electricity seemed to pass through her as I gently cupped one of her breasts through the lace. It was soft, warm beneath my touch.
However, unlike Sakura, whose touch had ignited a spark within me, with Kushida, I felt nothing. It was a clinical assessment, a test subject rather than a source of arousal. As I explored further, my mind wandered, analyzing the situation, the potential consequences.
Kushida's humiliation was complete. This wasn't about sexual gratification; it was about power, dominance. She had placed herself entirely at my mercy, her vulnerability a stark contrast to the facade she usually presented.
The knowledge was intoxicating, a valuable piece of leverage in the intricate game I was playing within Class D.
After a few moments, I withdrew my hand. "You may leave now, Kushida," I said, my voice neutral.
She scrambled back, grabbing her blouse and hastily buttoning it up. Shame burned in her eyes, but there was a flicker of something else as well – a steely determination.
"Thank you, Ayanokoji-kun," she mumbled, her voice tight with suppressed emotions. "I won't disappoint you."
With that, she turned and fled the room, leaving me alone with the echo of her words and the weight of the twisted dynamic we had established.
Kushida's test had revealed much. Her desperation was real, her willingness to go to extreme lengths undeniable.
~~
(Third Person's POV)
October dragged on with minimal changes in the class rankings.
The mid-term exams came and went, and the results brought a wave of relief – every Class D student showed significant improvement.
Through intel gathered by Sakura, Karuizawa, even Horikita and Hirata, Ayanokoji confirmed that Kushida hadn't made a move against Horikita yet.
Then, the long-awaited announcement arrived.
Chabashira-sensei unveiled the next special exam: the Paper Shuffle Test. She meticulously explained the rules to Class D, a glint in her eyes as she detailed the high stakes involved.
As soon as Ayanokoji grasped the mechanics of the Paper Shuffle Test, a plan flickered in his mind.
Given Kushida's desperation and her alliance with Ryuen during the sports festival, Ayanokoji could almost predict her strategy for this exam. The Paper Shuffle Test was her chance to strike at Horikita.