Ayakoji Chiyoko glanced at him sideways, then turned and walked away, "I didn't expect someone like you to joke."
"A person without a sense of humor can't live long, he will be killed by his own boredom," Kagura Hikaru stepped and followed.
"Philosophy, huh? I don't like it."
"Why?"
"I think it's a study with no practical use."
"Science belongs to the universe, religion to the deities, only philosophy is truly the power of man."
"Only those with weak hearts need such a thing."
"That's quite arrogant."
Ayakoji Chiyoko admitted to herself that she had misjudged Kagura Hikaru.
This person wasn't just a rock, on the contrary, there was also a fierce side to his heart, otherwise, he wouldn't be playing metal music.
And he had guts, daring to talk back to her face-to-face.
"...Let's end the small talk here," Ayakoji Chiyoko's voice turned colder by several degrees, "The reason I sought you out today is for one thing, I want you to take charge of the public opinion campaign against Kiryu Hina."
"You mean the campus rumors?"
"Not just that."
Ayakoji Chiyoko turned to look at him.
"The News Department at school is controlled by the Student Council, and I am forming a club that can counter it, tentatively named 'Society Discussion Meeting.' This club will publish a school newspaper like the News Department, and when the time comes, it will compete with the News Department to shake Kiryu Hina's prestige."
"You want me to take charge of this 'Society Discussion Meeting'?"
"That's right. This department will pass the review and be established tomorrow. Afterwards, submit an application to join. Officially, you'll be a member, but if you have any ideas, speak to the club president; she will listen to you. Your main task is to provide Kiryu Hina's private interpersonal relationships and her past deeds. The Society Discussion Meeting will use these as material to fabricate rumors and taint her."
Whether to call it openness or arrogance, these words that seemed like they might only be spoken by a villain came out of Ayakoji Chiyoko's mouth with no sense of dissonance at all.
However, to have him take charge of a club right off the bat like that, it seemed that Kiryu Hina's previous drastic measures to distance herself from him had an effect, and Ayakoji Chiyoko started treating him like a subordinate.
Unfortunately for her, he had no intention to agree, for the same reasons he had refused to join the Disciplinary Committee.
Being Ayakoji Chiyoko's subordinate might seem to bring them closer, but in Kagura Hikaru's view, it actually put more distance between them because their relationship changed from equals to superiors and subordinates.
He couldn't accept terms where the costs and benefits were not equitably distributed.
Let alone the fact that he was expected to participate personally in blackening Kiryu Hina's name.
Therefore, Kagura Hikaru decisively shook his head and said, "Sorry, such actions of plotting against others behind their backs are against my principles."
The subtext, of course, was a refusal.
Regardless of how tactfully it was put, a refusal was still a refusal. Ayakoji Chiyoko might have anticipated this outcome, as she did not seem overly surprised, but her mood could not possibly brighten.
Her expression darkened, she said coldly, "If you can't create value for me, then what use are you?"
"That's quite harsh."
Even when attacked so directly, Kagura Hikaru didn't seem to get angry, instead he considerately reminded her, "I understand Kiryu Hina more than you do, if she lets such rumors spread within the school, she must have countermeasures in place. Be careful not to play with fire and get burned."
Let alone the fact that she was the one who had initiated the campus rumors in the first place, so it wasn't the impulsive act Ayakoji Chiyoko thought it was.
However, Ayakoji Chiyoko clearly wasn't someone easily swayed, her expression unshaken, with no plans to change her mind.
"You have your moral standards; I have my methods of doing things. Don't try to lecture me."
Then she abruptly brought up a second matter, "Ai Cheng Hua Lian, do you know this person well?"
Huh?
Kagura Hikaru was taken aback, not expecting to hear that name at this moment.
Was he suspected because he had hit a wall with Ai Cheng Hua Lian and they thought he was the informant who had silenced her?
Even though that was indeed the case.
So, should he deny it?... No, it felt like a trap...
If handled poorly, the trust that had been built could completely collapse.
When uncertain, Kagura Hikaru habitually chose to read minds.
[I saw you walking together with my own eyes, don't lie to me, or our cooperation is over.]
[A person who can betray me at any time is too dangerous.]
[You have gained from mind-reading: Acting +2]
[Acting lv4 (78/100)]
So, she had seen us, huh...
She hoped she hadn't discovered that they had gone to the Student Council together, otherwise the private communication with Kiryu Hina would be exposed.
"Acquainted."
Kagura Hikaru faced forward calmly, nodding slightly, "She came to look for me during the break after the first class today."
"What did you two talk about," Ayakoji Chiyoko's gaze sharpened.
During the break after the first class, she went to look for Ai Cheng Hua Lian in the second year classroom but didn't find her.
It seemed that it was during that time some slip-up occurred.
Kagura Hikaru didn't avoid the question and frankly admitted: "She is the second eyewitness besides myself, she came to seek my opinion, and I asked her to help keep it a secret."
Even Ayakoji Chiyoko hadn't expected him to be so honest, to admit it outright.
Was it trust... huh, what an ironic situation.
"Indeed, she did not admit it," Ayakoji Chiyoko's mood soured, staring intently at Kagura Hikaru like a she-wolf, "There probably aren't many who can keep a secret for you, are you friends?"
"Not really."
"Then is she belongs to Kiryu Hina?"
"No."
"Good."
The rage in Ayakoji Chiyoko's eyes subsided slightly, "Let's leave it at that, but there won't be a next time."
"If the same situation arises next time, I would do the same," Kagura Hikaru cut her off.
The atmosphere became tense once again.
Both stopped in unison, standing at the center of the bustling street, locking eyes with each other.
Both were expressionless, their eyes filled with coldness and resolve, neither backing down half a step.
Ayakoji Chiyoko let out a cold laugh: "Ex-boyfriend, realize your place."
"Wasn't it you who came to me first," Kagura Hikaru said coldly.
"Heh, so I should accommodate you?"
"There's no accommodating anybody, our relationship is purely based on mutual use."
Hearing this wolf-and-tiger talk, passersby thought 'what the hell', are the young people of this new generation all so sophisticated?
Ayakoji Chiyoko, completely unaware that they were being seen as a couple in the middle of a Shura Field, furrowed her brows deeply, "Mutual use, what do you want to gain from me?"
If it was about use, there must be a price to pay.
Last time, Ayakoji Chiyoko had traded the grudge between herself and Kiryu Hina for information, it seemed Kagura Hikaru was not completely satisfied.
Indeed, such a small offer wouldn't even satisfy a mouse.
If it was to crush that person and obtain the truth she sought, paying a little price was acceptable.
"Do you want money? Or do you want me to use the power of the Disciplinary Committee to benefit you," Ayakoji Chiyoko spat sharply.
If Kagura Hikaru really proposed such terms, she would probably accept them too, as she wasn't exactly a paragon of virtue.
But for some reason, Ayakoji Chiyoko did not want to hear such an answer from Kagura Hikaru.
Was she harboring some kind of expectation for him?
Ridiculous.
"A mere student's authority and possessions hold no attraction for me."
Before Ayakoji Chiyoko had time to analyze her own feelings, Kagura Hikaru spoke out, "I know you're not just after revenge on Kiryu Hina, there must be deeper reasons."
"...Oh?"
"I can help you achieve your goals, in return, you'll need to agree to a condition of mine."
Ayakoji Chiyoko was surprised by his insight.
She found that this man always managed to do things beyond her expectations.
Truly... it's becoming more and more interesting.
Ayakoji Chiyoko showed interest: "What do you want?"
She had thought that she could guess his condition, probably something like helping him reunite with Kiryu Hina.
However, she could never have expected that Kagura Hikaru would say something like this—
"What I want is simple," his gaze flickered, "in the next Student Council election, ensure that Kiryu Hina loses!"