The next morning in Class C was anything but peaceful. As the clock ticked closer to Chabashira-sensei's arrival, a charged silence settled over the room. Kushida stood up, her usual demeanor of cheerful innocence replaced by a dramatic air of seriousness.
"Hey everyone," Kushida's voice cut through the stillness, a feigned concern coloring her tone. Her gaze swept over her classmates, who were now fully alert. "There's something really important I need to share."
A murmur of confusion rippled through the classroom. Suzune Horikita's eyes narrowed in suspicion, exchanging a wary look with Yosuke Hirata. Even Ken Sudou and Kanji Ike, who typically radiated carefree energy, shifted uneasily in their seats.
"What's up, Kushida?" Hirata asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and concern. "Why the sudden drama?"
Kushida's gaze swept over the stunned faces of her classmates, her lips curling into a small, troubled frown. "Just a few days ago," she continued, her voice trembling slightly for added effect, "someone from our very class came to me with a… disturbing request."
The tension in the room thickened immediately. Whispers erupted among the students, exchanging nervous glances. Ayanokoji, as usual, remained seated, his expression unreadable, seemingly unaffected by the growing tension.
Kushida paused for dramatic effect, her eyes scanning the room as if she were measuring the impact of her words. "This person," she declared, her voice gaining a theatrical edge, "wanted me to use my influence in the upcoming criticism votes! He wanted all of us to target…" She paused again, letting the anticipation build, "…Ayanokoji-kun!"
A wave of disbelief swept over the class.
Yosuke Hirata, who was usually the voice of reason, looked completely taken aback. "Expel Ayanokoji-kun?" he echoed, disbelief clear in his voice. "But why? He hasn't done anything wrong!"
Kushida threw her hands up dramatically, her eyes wide with feigned shock. "Exactly! Apparently, this person is just… jealous. Jealous of Ayanokoji-kun's academic performance, his athletic skills, and all the positive relationships he's built with so many of us."
Her words were crafted with precision, aimed to elicit exactly the reaction she wanted. The students, already primed by her earlier manipulations, took in her narrative with increasing agitation.
Airi Sakura, usually soft-spoken and gentle, erupted in indignation. "That's ridiculous! Ayanokoji-kun has always been helpful and kind. He even helped me during the study sessions!"
Kanji Ike chimed in, his voice carrying a note of defense. "And don't forget the sports festival! Ayanokoji-kun was a huge asset. He really pulled his weight."
The classroom erupted in a fresh wave of outrage. Ayanokoji, for his part, simply raised an eyebrow, a brief flicker of amusement crossing his features before vanishing. He remained silent, allowing Kushida to take center stage in her carefully orchestrated performance.
Haruki Yamauchi, sitting at the back, felt a cold dread seep into him. Sweat began to bead on his forehead as he glanced around, feeling the accusatory stares of his classmates. He knew what was coming, and it was clear he was the target of the current spectacle.
As if on cue, Kushida turned her gaze toward Yamauchi. Her eyes locked onto him, and she began in a whisper that carried to every corner of the room. "The person who asked me to do this..." Her voice dropped to a dramatic whisper, "...was none other than... Haruki Yamauchi!"
The classroom erupted into chaos. Yamauchi's face drained of color, his usual bravado evaporating as he was bombarded with accusing stares. Even his friends, Ike and Sudou, looked at him with a mix of betrayal and disappointment.
"I—It's not what it sounds like!" Yamauchi stammered, his voice barely audible. "I just thought... I didn't mean to—"
"Save your excuses, Yamauchi-kun," Kushida interrupted, her voice dripping with disdain. "Trying to get rid of a classmate for such petty reasons is absolutely despicable!"
The room exploded in a flurry of accusations and insults directed at Yamauchi. His plot, driven by jealousy and self-interest, had backfired spectacularly. Kushida's manipulation had turned the entire class against him.
Ayanokoji remained an emotionless observer, his anticipation of this outcome evident. This was part of his strategy, and Kushida was executing it flawlessly.
As the uproar began to die down, Kushida stood tall, a triumphant smile playing on her lips. She had achieved her goal—Kouenji would face criticism votes for his disruptive behavior, while Yamauchi would face the consequences of his treachery.
The classroom buzzed with a new kind of tension. The seeds of distrust had been sown, and a new game had begun.
The rest of the day was oddly muted. The vibrant energy that usually characterized Class C was replaced by an undercurrent of tension. Yamauchi moved about the classroom like a ghost, ostracized by his classmates. Kouenji, his usual arrogance dimmed, shot nervous glances around the room.
Lunch break arrived, and a heavy silence settled over the classroom as soon as the teacher left.
"So," Kei Karuizawa, the de facto leader of Class C, finally broke the silence, her voice cutting through the tension, "what's the plan for tomorrow's Class Vote Special Exam?"
All eyes turned toward her. The specter of expulsion loomed large in the room.
"We have two clear options," Kei continued, her gaze sweeping over the room. "Kouenji, with his... uncooperative nature, or Yamauchi, who's shown himself to be a selfish backstabber."
A low murmur rippled through the class. The discord Kushida had stirred up was now fully blossoming into a heated discussion. Some students, fed up with Kouenji's disruptive behavior, leaned towards his expulsion. Others, disgusted by Yamauchi's betrayal, favored his removal.
Yosuke Hirata stood up, trying to bring some calm to the chaos. "Hold on, everyone," he said, his voice steady but troubled. "We shouldn't be targeting anyone. There's got to be a way to deal with this without—"
His voice trailed off as he was met with indifference. Kushida, with a saccharine smile on her face, cut him off. "That's a nice thought, Hirata-kun," she said, her voice laced with feigned sweetness. "But the reality is, someone will be expelled. We need to minimize the damage."
Her eyes shifted between Kouenji and Yamauchi, her tone hardening. "Frankly, neither of them is really contributing positively to Class C."
A wave of agreement washed through the room. Karuizawa added her voice to the chorus, her tone filled with vindictiveness. "Exactly! We need to get rid of the dead weight!"
Even Suzune Horikita, usually reserved and icy, nodded grudgingly at Kushida's words. Airi Sakura, known for her gentle nature, seemed resigned to the inevitable.
Hirata, feeling isolated and defeated, stumbled over his words. "But... but..."
Suzune cut him off, her voice cold and calculating. "It's been three days since Chabashira-sensei announced this exam. If you had a solution, you would have presented it by now."
Hirata fell silent, his face flushed with frustration. Seizing the moment, Kushida took control. "Alright then," she declared, her voice ringing with authority. "Let's decide who needs to go."
A tense silence fell over the class as Kushida raised her hand. "Those who are voting for Kouenji, raise your hands!"
Thirteen hands hesitantly went up, the students' eyes darting nervously around the room.
Kushida nodded, a hint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes. She then turned to Yamauchi, whose face was a mask of fear.
"And those who are voting for Yamauchi?"
Ten hands reluctantly rose, the rest of the class remaining non-committal.
The room buzzed with whispers as students weighed their options. Despite the initial outrage, expelling Kouenji seemed like the safer choice. After all, he was a consistent troublemaker.
Kouenji, for the first time, seemed genuinely shaken. A thin sheen of sweat covered his forehead. "Don't be hasty," he said, his usual arrogance tinged with desperation. "I'm valuable! I do well academically!"
Kushida was quick to counter him. "Your academic record is impressive, Kouenji-kun, but can we afford your disruptive behavior? Remember the sports festival? Remember the deserted island exam? All those wasted Class Points!"
Kouenji opened his mouth to argue but found no words. He had been caught off guard by the sudden shift in his classmates' perceptions. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken accusations and simmering resentment.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch break, the students filed out of the classroom, their minds preoccupied with the looming vote.
Meanwhile, Ayanokoji sat alone in the bustling cafeteria, his lunch tray a pristine display of balanced nutrients. As he picked at his food with practiced disinterest, his phone vibrated in his pocket.
As Ayanokoji finished his lunch, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and saw a message from Kushida. It read, "How'd I do in class?" with a smiley face emoji at the end. He tapped out his response quickly, "You did well. Handled the situation perfectly," making sure every word was purposeful.
Almost immediately, another message popped up. "Karaoke tonight? Wanna come?" Kushida's casual tone contrasted with the drama of the day, but Ayanokoji found himself momentarily considering the offer.
He thought about it for a moment. A karaoke night with Kushida and her usual crowd didn't exactly excite him, but he didn't want to dismiss the invitation outright. He replied, "Who else will be there?"
The response was quick: "Just the usual crew."
Ayanokoji weighed his options. He wasn't keen on the noisy karaoke scene, but he also didn't want to seem uninterested. He typed back, "Enjoy it. If you want to hang out, come to my room." He left the implication hanging, hoping it would be understood.
It wasn't long before another message arrived. This one had a cartoon figure blushing and a wink emoji, followed by a simple, "Tonight?"
Ayanokoji couldn't help but smirk slightly. He closed the messaging app and resumed picking at his lunch. The distraction had been a welcome break from the intense classroom drama earlier.
When the final bell of the day rang, signaling the end of classes, Ayanokoji retreated to his dorm room. The events of the day had left him feeling a mix of anticipation and curiosity. He settled onto his bed, picking up a light novel to pass the time.
Just as he was getting absorbed in the story, there was a knock on the door. He put the book aside and opened it, finding Ichinose Honami standing there. Her usually bright demeanor was tinged with a hint of nervousness.
It didn't take long for Kushida's response to appear. A playful emoticon, a cartoon figure with a suggestive wink, was followed by a simple, "Tonight?"
Ayanokoji closed the messaging app and returned to his lunch, the brief exchange adding a spark of anticipation to his day. He felt a faint smile tug at his lips, but he quickly masked it with his usual expression of calm detachment.
As evening approached, Ayanokoji retreated to his dorm room, a place he had meticulously kept tidy and unassuming. He wasn't expecting anyone, but the day's events had left him with a sense of intrigue. He settled onto his bed and picked up a light novel, losing himself in its pages.
A knock on the door interrupted his quiet evening. Ayanokoji set the book aside and rose, his face betraying no hint of surprise. He opened the door to find Ichinose Honami standing there, her bright smile accompanied by a touch of nervousness.
"Ayanokoji-kun," she greeted him softly. "May I come in?"
"Of course, Honami-san," Ayanokoji replied, stepping aside to allow her entry. "Please, come in."
Ichinose entered the room with a slight hesitation. Her gaze flitted around before settling on the bed. She took a tentative step toward it and sat down on the edge, her posture rigid with apprehension.
"So," Ayanokoji began, taking a seat beside her, "how did the meeting with Ryuen's… associates go?"
Ichinose took a deep breath before responding. "It went well, Ayanokoji-kun. They transferred the private points. Four million, just as you suggested."
Ayanokoji's eyes flickered with satisfaction. "Excellent. That should be enough to achieve your objective."
Ichinose's expression softened, her gratitude evident. "Thank you, Ayanokoji-kun. I truly appreciate your help. You've been incredibly… resourceful."
Ayanokoji shrugged casually. "It's no trouble, Honami-san. We're partners in this, aren't we?"
He leaned in slightly, his hand reaching out to brush a stray strand of hair from her cheek. Ichinose's breath hitched, a faint blush spreading across her neck. Her eyes met his, revealing a mix of gratitude and something more profound.
"Since you're so appreciative," Ayanokoji continued, his voice dropping to a low murmur, "perhaps some… repayment is in order?"
Ichinose's body responded instinctively to his touch. She knew what he was suggesting and felt a conflict between her desire to comply and her internal hesitation. Her moans grew more pronounced as Ayanokoji's hands ventured to fondle her large breasts over her shirt.
The room grew thick with unspoken desires.
~~
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