Classroom of the Elite 2nd year Volume 12.5
Chapter 10. The Promised Night
The time slightly rewinds from early April to the end of March.
Since I had to deal with some matters starting this morning, I got up and started my day at 7 AM.
At 8 AM, I turned on the TV and let the news program play as background music in my room. Then, I sent a message to Ichinose.
"Will be out until 3 PM. today. Hope you can come to my room afterward."
The content of the message wasn't very detailed.
But since last year, this promise has been mentioned over and over again.
So there was no need to go into detail now.
Of course, it's true that there were huge changes in circumstances before and after the year-end special exams.
Ichinose seemed to have come down with a fever afterward and didn't attend the graduation ceremony, heading straight into spring break.
And up to this point, she hasn't shown up even once.
This proves how much damage I've caused, how deep the scars I left are, and that they haven't healed yet.
The message I sent didn't show as read.
Was she still sleeping? Or did she get up but pretend not to notice? Or maybe it was something else.
I tried calling once to confirm, but it didn't even ring.
I got the automated message that only plays when the phone is turned off or in an area with no reception.
"Please contact me when you see this."
After simply adding that, I decided to leave it for now.
Today is that day, and Ichinose surely knows it.
If there's no response at all today, I'll have to make a decision about how this ends on my own.
I looked at the TV. The ongoing weather forecast announced that it would be sunny during the day, but heavy rain was expected from evening until dawn.
While momentarily occupied with cleaning my room, my phone rang.
For a moment, I thought it was a reply from Ichinose, but it didn't seem to be.
"Hello."
"Hey, Ayanokouji! Come out and meet me now!"
I had to pull my phone away from my ear due to Ishizaki's loud voice.
"…Now? It's just past 8 AM"
"Spring break, right? Anytime works. I just want to talk about something."
"Well, that's true… I could spare about an hour. Where do you want to meet?"
After I asked, it seemed like Ishizaki was lost in thought, possibly because he hadn't decided on a meeting place yet.
"An hour is fine. As for the place… uh, anywhere outside works."
His invitation was so haphazard that I wondered if he really had a reason to meet.
"At least decide on a location."
"What? Oh, in front of the dorm… no, I got it! How about Keyaki Mall?"
Keyaki Mall? At this hour, it's still closed, so we can't go inside.
But precisely because of that, there probably wouldn't be any students around. It seemed like a fitting place for a private conversation.
"Got it."
"Alright, I'll be there in ten minutes. See you soon!"
With that, Ishizaki hung up the phone unilaterally.
So energetic so early in the morning—it's a bit intimidating.
Well, I'll know once I get there.
1.
Due to the limited time specified by the other party, I immediately left the dormitory and headed to the designated Keyaki Mall.
"Well then—"
Holding my phone, I tried to locate Ishizaki, but there wasn't a single soul in sight.
After another five minutes, the person who invited me still showed no signs of appearing.
As I debated whether to contact him again or wait a bit longer—
"Ayanokouji-kun?"
Shiina Hiyori appeared and spoke to me. The only thing she had in common with Ishizaki was that they were in the same class.
"Good morning, Ayanokouji-kun. What a coincidence."
"It is."
I replied briefly, picking up on her remark. But was this really a coincidence?
Meeting a classmate of the inviter at this specific time in Keyaki Mall—it wasn't impossible, but the odds seemed slim.
"Um, actually, I just got a message from Ishizaki-kun... Though he wasn't very clear, I decided to come out first. Is it the same for you, Ayanokouji-kun?"
It seemed Hiyori and I were thinking along the same lines.
"Exactly. Ishizaki called me out just now but didn't explain why."
Hiyori clasped her hands together, looking both relieved and slightly pleased.
"Me too. But I wonder what it's about."
"I don't think it's anything bad..."
"Oh, wow, you guys are early~"
As Hiyori and I exchanged glances, Ishizaki approached us, speaking in a carefree tone.
"You're about ten minutes late, Ishizaki."
"I headed out in just a shirt, realized it was too cold, and went back to grab another layer. Oh, and I bumped into a buddy on the way—well, whatever. We're all here now."
"Whatever, huh... Well, it is what it is."
As a general rule, the person who suggests a meeting should either be on time or arrive early.
Maybe I was just overly sensitive because I've gotten used to this.
"Right?"
I looked at Ishizaki, who was grinning and nodding. Suddenly, a thought struck me. Relationships between people change every day—everyone had grown more familiar with each other. No, more than familiar, they'd grown closer.
I'd had similar impressions of Ishizaki in the past. These interesting shifts in relationships are surprising. Is this something everyone feels, or is it a unique insight of mine, having never built close friendships before coming here?
"Good morning, Ishizaki-kun."
The ever-thoughtful Hiyori, after watching us chat for a while, greeted Ishizaki warmly.
"Oh, good morning."
"So, what's the reason you called us out, Ishizaki?"
Pushing the topic forward, I prompted Ishizaki. He paused for a moment, smiled awkwardly, and then clenched his fist before raising it in front of me.
"The time has come! Join our team!!!"
His voice echoed loudly in the morning air at Keyaki Mall.
The volume was so loud it carried an echo, causing a bird perched on a tree to fly away.
"Sorry, I didn't quite understand what you just said. What exactly do you mean?"
Without a proper explanation, I couldn't grasp Ishizaki's intentions or behavior.
"Don't act like you don't get it! I mean join us—transfer classes!"
"Talking about this out of the blue, early in the morning?"
"Yeah, since April's coming up soon, I thought I'd give it another shot today."
Crossing his arms, Ishizaki hummed to himself, nodding in satisfaction.
"Ishizaki-kun's invitation is nice, but Ayanokouji-kun has already moved up to Class A. Given that, transferring to another class doesn't seem very realistic, does it?"
Hiyori gently conveyed the current situation to Ishizaki.
Her words were simple and easy to understand, but Ishizaki didn't accept them.
"The points aren't that far apart, right? And Ryuuen-san will soon close the gap in a storm of progress. Plus, if our class turns the tables and takes the lead, wouldn't Ayanokouji's image take a hit if he joined us then? So why not come now, while we're still behind—"
He blurted this out instinctively.
I see. Ishizaki's perspective isn't bad.
Ordinarily, the goal would be to transfer to the firmly established Class A. However, prioritizing impressions and timing, his suggestion wasn't entirely off the mark. In fact, I was indeed planning to transfer classes—just not to Ryuuen's.
"If we don't invite you now, someone else might beat us to it."
It wasn't entirely impossible that Ishizaki's instincts were picking up on my intent to transfer classes.
Even Hiyori seemed somewhat impressed by his argument.
"So? Join our class now, Ayanokouji. I've already said it several times—you and Ryuuen-san together would be unstoppable! How about it? How about it?"
No matter how much he emphasized "how about it," I couldn't just go along with this. But Ishizaki's persistence was undeniable.
"Sorry, it's not going to happen. Or rather, there's no need."
"What do you mean by 'no need'?"
The best way to make him accept this calmly was probably—
"This time, Ryuuen has greatly narrowed the gap with Sakayanagi, getting closer to Class A. Even without my help, there's a strong chance of success. And just as you said, Ryuuen is likely to soar even further from here. In that case, there's no need for drastic measures—unless you're saying Ryuuen won't win without me?"
If Ryuuen heard this, he'd be furious. Ishizaki could imagine that, right?
"N-no, that's not it at all..."
"I'm just stating the facts. Since, as a close aide, you have no doubts about Ryuuen, you should trust his ability. He already patched up the class by recruiting Katsuragi."
These words should be enough to halt his efforts.
"But... but I..."
Ishizaki faltered for a moment, showing resistance. However, he likely realized that this clumsy invitation wouldn't work.
He had yet to fully consider the consequences of what would happen if I and Ryuuen joined forces. Continuing this would only go against his leader's intentions.
"But I... it's not just about that."
Ishizaki looked troubled but still refused to back down.
"I just really like you, man. Being in different classes means we'll be rivals in future battles, right? Doesn't that mean we'll be completely on opposing sides, with no chance to team up? But if it's now... with Ryuuen-san, you, Albert, Shiina... everyone could be allies, having a great time together. If you agree, I'm even ready to get beaten up by Ryuuen-san!"
Ishizaki, who supported Ryuuen more than anyone else, was willing to risk being scolded, and his reason wasn't just about my abilities. I fully understood this now.
"Even hearing that, I don't feel bad. I don't dislike the time I've spent with you and Shiina. In fact, it has been more comfortable than in Horikita's class."
"Right?!"
Ishizaki's eyes lit up.
But I couldn't let him hold on to that hope for too long.
"However, I can't choose to transfer classes purely for camaraderie. Besides, gathering personal points is extremely difficult. Other students besides Ryuuen might oppose it and protest. At the very least, Ibuki definitely would."
"Who cares about Ibuki? Just shut her up!"
"Ibuki's just one example. A sudden transfer like this would raise suspicions. People might even think I'm a spy sent by Horikita's class to sabotage Ryuuen's class from within."
Precisely because Ryuuen's class was nearing Class A, there was a higher chance of rejection.
"And as Hiyori said, Horikita's class is already in Class A. Transferring to a lower-ranking class while taking on great risks is something I'm reluctant to do."
"Well... then, how about this?!"
"What is it?"
No matter how I guided him to give up, his persistence was relentless.
But whatever he came up with next would be meaningless.
Because I had no plans to transfer to Ryuuen's class in the first place.
"If you join our class, you can date Shiina! How's that?!"
As he said this, Ishizaki grabbed both my hand and Hiyori's, forcing us to shake hands.
"Eh, eh...?"
Hiyori, who had been watching Ishizaki's reckless proposal with a smile, was now startled by this sudden move.
"What kind of ridiculous proposal is this?"
He was completely disregarding our feelings. Too bold.
"This is something only our class can offer, unlike Horikita's! What do you say?"
"For the record, I already have a girlfriend."
"What? If you're transferring classes, just break up with Karuizawa while you're at it!"
"That's absurd."
"Then... you don't like Shiina?"
"It's not that I don't like her."
That much I could state clearly.
"Then it's fine, right? Shiina, you like Ayanokouji too, don't you?"
"Eh...?"
"It's best not to say things that make others uncomfortable, Ishizaki."
"It's not uncomfortable, right? These things should be said outright. If you two like each other, it's a win-win, right?"
He forcefully tried to justify his reasoning. No matter how you looked at it, this wasn't something Ishizaki could meddle in.
"...Making Ayanokouji-kun uncomfortable is not okay."
And so, we remained in this awkward state, hand in hand.
Hiyori gestured for Ishizaki to calm down.
"If I ever meet a girl I like, I'll pursue her with everything I've got. Go for it in one go."
"No… Ayanokouji-kun already has a wonderful girlfriend."
"Then, if he and Karuizawa break up, what would you do, Shiina?"
"Eh…?"
"I'm not wrong, am I? The reason you can't pursue him is because Ayanokouji has a girlfriend, right?"
"Give it a rest, Ishizaki. Don't make Hiyori uncomfortable. Saying outright that you don't have any feelings in front of me is quite harsh. Only a small number of people can openly admit to disliking someone in front of them."
"But Shiina is the type who clearly says whatever is on her mind…"
I could feel her hand, which was being held, growing rapidly warm. It seemed that even Hiyori, who usually didn't show much change in her demeanor, couldn't hide her discomfort in the face of such a barrage of blunt remarks.
Compared to the first time I met Hiyori, the impression she gave me now was somewhat different.
"Um… I'm feeling troubled."
Hiyori seemed to want to break free from the hand-holding, but couldn't pull away.
The force Ishizaki was using wasn't that strong. Hiyori was likely trying to avoid the awkwardness and embarrassment of forcibly shaking it off, so she refrained from doing so.
In response, I subtly showed a rejecting gesture and forcibly separated their hands.
With this, the obstacle preventing them from letting go was gone.
As I slowly relaxed my grip to release her hand, for some reason, I felt a stronger grip than when we were first holding hands.
"...Hiyori?"
"Um, could I say just one more thing…?"
Hiyori seemed to have resolved herself, lifting her head to look at me.
"Oh, is this a confession!?" Ishizaki joked.
Ignoring Ishizaki's playful comment, Hiyori took a deep breath and spoke:
"If Ayanokouji-kun could come to our class… I'd be very happy… Is that impossible…?"
"This…"
The reasons I couldn't accept had just been explained to Ishizaki.
There was no need for me to clarify further, as Hiyori should understand as well.
Even so, she mustered up her courage to invite me.
"Wow, well done, Shiina. Having you invite him works better!"
Come to think of it, Ishizaki, Shiina, and even Albert, who wasn't here, all shared the same sentiment.
I could feel their enthusiasm more strongly than before.
"For me, that's truly extravagant."
Indeed, if I disregarded everything else, transferring to Ryuuen's class seemed like the happiest route.
To not participate in class competition, to be surrounded by friends I got along with, and to spend the last year of school peacefully.
What I originally sought when I entered this school was right before my eyes.
If I were to tell them, "I'll leave it to you, then," Ishizaki and the others would surely give their all to support me.
"I'm grateful for your kindness. But as expected, I still can't accept."
"I see… I'm sorry. I made an unreasonable request."
Hiyori slowly released my hand, reluctant to let go.
"Damn it, it's no good, huh? You're attached to your current class after all. I thought you were the type who wouldn't be bound by such things—"
Even with Hiyori, their final weapon, persuading me, Ishizaki seemed to finally give up.
"Thank you again, both of you, for the invitation. Perhaps a year from now, I'll regret not accepting it."
There's still one year left. Nobody knows which class will come out on top.
The Ishizaki and Hiyori standing in front of me undoubtedly have the potential to win.
Horikita's class does as well.
And I hope the other two classes that have fallen behind can hold on to their hope too.
I want every class to have a chance to keep fighting.
What's needed for that is hope.
As long as hope exists, the students will give it their all.
Because of that, I must work to create that kind of situation.
So then, how can we ensure everyone continues to compete?
The answer—goes without saying, doesn't it?
2.
After formally refusing Ishizaki and Hiyori's invitation, we didn't immediately part ways. The three of us chatted for a while longer.
The rejected party would naturally feel somewhat disappointed, but they didn't bring up the topic of transferring classes again. Instead, we genuinely enjoyed a peaceful conversation together.
They even invited me to have tea at Keyaki Mall after it opened, but I politely declined, as I had other plans today.
After we parted ways, I returned to my dormitory. By this time, it was 9 AM, and there was still no contact from Ichinose.
As planned, I headed to Keyaki Mall around 10 AM. to meet someone I had arranged to see, spending some time with them.
When everything was over, I returned home, and it was already past 2 p.m.
Time passed steadily—an hour, then another…
I didn't send another message or make a call. Instead, I waited quietly in my room for a reply.
What should I do with the rest of the day?
Since today marks a pivotal crossroads for Ichinose, the choice ultimately lies with her.
I hope the final decision will come from Ichinose's own judgment, not from me.
I cleaned my room and tidied myself up a bit.
Then I prepared dinner, eating alone in silence.
With no messages received, the 8 PM. curfew arrived.
Still, the curfew didn't signify a final verdict.
After all, it simply prohibits entering the girls' dormitory. Technically, Ichinose coming to this side isn't against the rules. Though it isn't explicitly stated, being caught entering the opposite gender's room late at night would likely result in a warning.
Well, at this point, the formalities surrounding gender-based dorm restrictions and the idea of maintaining propriety have become vague and symbolic.
This much I realized back when I started dating Karuizawa.
There were still four hours left until the day ended.
I took a leisurely shower and watched TV.
The morning news had been interesting, but the evening variety shows failed to capture my attention.
After brushing my teeth, it was already past 9 PM.
"Just three hours left."
By now, the students who go to bed early were probably already asleep. But it was almost certain that Ichinose wasn't asleep yet.
She was definitely awake and lost in thought.
The night deepened, and time passed without pause.
After 9:30 PM, I heard the sound of rain falling outside.
I gently opened the window, and within moments, rain poured heavily.
Now that I thought about it, the forecast had mentioned continuous heavy rain from tonight until tomorrow morning.
Even after closing the window, the loud sound of rain echoed throughout the room.
It seemed like the rain was only going to get heavier.
By 10 PM, I had finished everything I could do in my room for the day.
Now, just two hours remained until the day's end.
I took out my phone to check the messages I had sent to Ichinose:
"I'll be out until 3 PM today. Afterward, let me know a convenient time for you to come to my room."
"Please contact me once you've seen this."
These two consecutive messages had now been marked as read.
It was clear that Ichinose was awake and had seen them.
Then, I waited another 10 minutes, then 20 minutes, for a response.
But—no reply came.
Breaking the agreement is Ichinose's choice.
So was silence her answer?
Both possibilities existed. To be honest, I had thought she would take some kind of action.
Had I placed too much expectation on her?
If she chose to remain silent, my next steps were already decided.
I had determined that I had given Ichinose plenty of time to think.
And yet…
I slowly rose from the bed where I had been sitting.
I still wanted to confirm things directly.
Over the past year, I had consistently influenced Ichinose Honami for my own sake.
So it felt natural to want to see the outcome with my own eyes.
Even if Ichinose refused, I at least wanted to see her current state.
This desire naturally welled up within me.
At the very last moment, I decided to make a concession on my part—to confirm her answer directly.
3.
At 10:30 PM, I decided to confirm things and ventured out despite the risks.
Fortunately, it was pouring rain outside, and I didn't sense any presence as I reached the hallway.
I walked through the corridor towards the emergency stairs and made my way to Ichinose's room.
Then, I pressed the doorbell, calling for her, who should have been inside.
A small chime rang from the other side of the door.
But no matter how long I waited, there was no response.
Perhaps, unable to confirm that it was me who had come, she was signaling that she didn't want to see anyone right now.
I took my phone out of my pocket and pressed the call button.
Since the message had just shown as "read," her phone should still be on. The ringtone began to ring.
Five times, six times—
Even after the ringtone went off more than ten times, Ichinose still didn't answer.
I pressed the end call button and gently knocked on the door.
"It's me. The promised day is almost over, so I came for that."
Rather than using my phone, I conveyed this with my own voice.
Even though the pouring rain outside might mask the sound, making noise like this was still quite risky.
If any of the other girls found out I came to visit her, it would undoubtedly cause a huge commotion. The discoverer would also be obliged to report any rule-breaking.
Thus, such calls couldn't be repeated indefinitely.
While I really wanted to see her with my own eyes, I wasn't willing to take a high risk.
If this was Ichinose's answer, I could only accept it as it was.
The other side of the door remained silent.
"I'll wait for three more minutes. If there's no response, I'll leave, so please don't worry."
I quietly started counting down 180 seconds.
During this time, I watched the heavy rain behind me.
Fifty seconds, forty seconds... The remaining time was ticking down.
Then, when it reached the tense thirty-second mark, the situation changed.
My phone vibrated slightly, signaling a message.
"Why did you come?"
It wasn't from someone else but from Ichinose on the other side of the door.
If sending this message had taken all her effort, then I had to respond sincerely.
"I told you, didn't I? Today is the promised day."
"It's late at night already. Curfew is over."
As I was about to reply to the message I'd received, Ichinose sent another one.
"I don't have the courage to go to Ayanokouji-kun's room right now. I'm sorry."
"I know. That's why I came."
This reply was marked as read almost immediately, but no further messages followed.
I sent another one.
"I'll wait one more minute. If the door doesn't open, the promise will be nullified."
This message, too, was marked as read.
After that, it was up to Ichinose to decide.
To hate me, to doubt me—those were her choices. Even so, whether she wanted to fight alongside me next year was up to her.
If she chose to become disheartened and voluntarily drop out, so be it.
Or, she might take actions I hadn't anticipated. Naturally, the choice was hers to make.
As long as she came to a conclusion and showed it to me.
With only ten seconds left on the clock, I started thinking it was time to leave when my phone vibrated again.
"The door's unlocked. Come in."
Ichinose sent this message.
Unlocked? I reread the words several times and felt a moment of unease.
Recently, Ichinose hadn't gone out, and the rumor that she didn't intend to meet anyone was circulating without the need for investigation.
In that case, the only connection between the inside of the room and the outside world was the door. It was certainly, absolutely, supposed to be locked.
Did a classmate of hers visit her after my investigation and leave the door unlocked?
Of course, various scenarios were possible... but the likelihood was low.
Had she anticipated I might come today?
It was difficult to draw a conclusion in either direction.
If we were speaking on the phone or face-to-face, I might have been able to discern her intentions.
But unfortunately, through this featureless exchange of messages, it was nearly impossible to see through her thoughts.
Though slightly startled by this unexpected piece of information, I decided to proceed forward.
Cautiously, I pressed the door handle.
It was indeed unlocked and turned smoothly.
However, once the door opened, there was no light; the room was enveloped in silence and darkness.
"Ichinose, are you there?"
I called out softly, but there was no response.
Gently, I closed the door behind me.
The room remained dark, and I could hardly see anything. It was eerily silent.
Only the faint hum of the refrigerator compressor broke the stillness.
"Ichinose."
I called out again, and once more, there was no reply.
In this situation, barging in without taking off my shoes would be inappropriate, so I decided to wait a little longer.
Since I hadn't grasped the situation yet, I waited quietly for my eyes to adjust to the dark.
As my vision adapted, my surroundings slowly became clearer. In the corner of the room, I could make out Ichinose, hugging her knees and burying her head in her arms.
"Curfew has already passed. Aren't you worried?"
"That's what I should be saying. You brought me in here, so you bear responsibility too, don't you?"
"...That's true."
It had been a while since I'd heard Ichinose's voice.
She sounded more spirited than I expected, and it seemed she wasn't physically unwell.
"Ayanokouji-kun, you took today more seriously than I imagined."
Ichinose spoke softly about my decision to take the risk and visit her.
"But this wasn't for me, was it? It was for yourself... right?"
Ichinose must have understood this by now.
"That's correct."
So I didn't hesitate, nodding in agreement before continuing.
"This was something decided a year ago. Today is the day to deliver judgment on Ichinose Honami as a student."
Upon hearing this, Ichinose might get angry and say something like, "What do you mean by delivering judgment so casually?"
"Deliver judgment... Which side of the meaning are you referring to?"
But Ichinose neither got angry nor panicked.
Typically, upon hearing the phrase "deliver judgment," most people would think of something negative.
It conjures the image of delivering a final blow during seppuku to ensure an immediate death. But the phrase has another meaning—to stay by someone's side and take care of them, which is entirely the opposite.
"You'll find out soon enough."
"I see…"
"If it's okay with you, may I come in?"
"...Please do. Lock the door for me."
Though the chance of someone visiting at this hour was slim, it was better to be cautious.
Following her instruction, I locked the door, removed my shoes, and entered the room. Although there was no light and I couldn't see much, the room was exceptionally tidy, with no risk of tripping over anything.
In the darkness, I walked to a spot where I could see Ichinose and stopped.
"You might not want to see me or even look at my face again. But I want to talk to you today. This might be the last chance to have a proper conversation."
"Cutting ties entirely... not even staying friends. Is that what you mean?"
"I wouldn't deny it. If it's the best decision for both of us, then it's necessary."
Ichinose took the initiative to propose cutting ties. That was fine.
If she thought that was the worst-case scenario, she would realize how naïve her judgment was.
Because what I was about to say would be even harsher than she could imagine.
"Do you have anything you want to say first? If not, I'll tell you my answer."
Without unnecessary chatter, going straight to the point was best.
"—No. Tell me."
Had she already prepared herself? Ichinose didn't even lift her face as she confirmed.
"The results of the year-end special exam were the turning point of fate. If Ichinose's class loses, a comeback would be nearly impossible. It was an absolutely crucial battle. But in the end, Horikita's class won. In other words, your path to Class A has been severed."
"That's… how it is. While many students haven't given up yet, it feels impossible… because I couldn't beat Ayanokouji-kun. Everyone's dreams were shattered because of me."
"That's right. Because you, as the leader, were too weak, the class lost. The responsibility lies heavily on you. But anyone can assign blame. There's no need for me to come here and deliver judgment for that."
Ichinose didn't budge. Whether she had prepared herself or not, her head remained lowered.
"Even though Ichinose's class is in such a dire situation, there's unexpectedly still a chance for a comeback."
"What you're saying... is strange. The path to Class A isn't severed?"
"Only if Ichinose continues to serve as the leader—"
At this moment, Ichinose's shoulders trembled slightly.
"…Are you saying… you want me to step down as leader?"
"If you want the class to win, then do so as soon as possible."
"I see… But if it's just that, it'll happen eventually. Because I no longer have the qualifications or confidence to lead the class…"
She hugged her knees even tighter and softly answered.
I continued:
"Sorry, this alone is meaningless. It's natural for you to step down as the leader, but what comes next is crucial: there needs to be someone who can lead you to victory in that position. Only then will your class have any chance of advancing to Class A."
"A leader who can lead us to victory? Who do you mean... Kanzaki-kun?"
"No one. Right now, there is no one in Ichinose's class who has the ability to turn things around in this situation."
"Then... doesn't that mean we're completely stuck?"
"If there isn't anyone in your class, then we can just bring someone in from another class."
"...What do you mean?"
"I'll transfer to your class and become the new leader."
This was a strategy I had been formulating for some time.
Now, I decided to reveal one part of it to Ichinose.
"Ayanokouji-kun...?"
"You should already understand my abilities, both their strengths and their weaknesses. Catching up to the 500-point gap with Horikita's class won't be an easy fight. But given a year, it's more than possible."
"Giving up on your hard-earned Class A status to join a lower-ranked class...?"
"It might seem incomprehensible, but rest assured. If the transfer goes through, as you wish, your class will advance to Class A and graduate as such."
At this moment, Ichinose, who had been hugging her knees, lifted her head.
I thought her eyes would be swollen from crying, but that didn't seem to be the case.
"Ah... I see. So that's how it is..."
She looked as if she had suddenly realized something.
Then, slowly, Ichinose turned her gaze toward me.
In her pupils, I could see the reflection of someone playing the role of her executioner.
"Ayanokouji-kun defeating me during the special year-end exam... That was part of a predetermined course of events, wasn't it? If I had won, this proposal wouldn't have surfaced."
Had Ichinose won, the class points would have been much closer, nearly balanced.
In such a case, there would have been no need for me to transfer classes.
Her insight was partially correct.
"That's certainly one option, and I can't deny it. Besides, if you'd defeated me and proven your strength, I would have welcomed that outcome."
I plainly laid out the reasoning for my involvement.
"I see... But this isn't necessarily a bad thing for our class, right? If Ayanokouji-kun replaces me and leads the charge to Class A, that should be a good thing, shouldn't it?"
"That's true. But you must have some idea, don't you?"
"Yes... There's probably some condition, right?"
Ichinose stepping down as leader and me taking her place wouldn't solve everything.
"I'll transfer into your class and graduate as Class A. However, there is one condition: Ichinose Honami, you must withdraw from this school."
That was the sole condition I demanded.
If she agreed, the deal would be sealed.
"My withdrawal from the school..."
What would Ichinose think upon hearing this condition?
What would she do?
Since this morning, I'd been curious about what her answer would be.
This was one of the branching points I had built into my strategy. No matter how things turned out, I had prepared responses to all possible outcomes in advance. But I wanted Ichinose to make the choice herself.
"Sorry. I don't have enough personal points..."
"Don't worry. Making the transfer happen isn't hard. You can hand over all the points you currently hold, along with the points collected from your classmates. If that's still not enough, you can borrow from the first-years. With added terms, quite a few students would be willing to lend, don't you think? With your credibility, you could easily secure a loan with interest. Even if you can't borrow the full 20 million points, getting just the shortfall isn't a difficult task."
With that, the transfer would be straightforward.
Just 20 million personal points to secure a Class A status.
"Even if it's possible... why would Ayanokouji-kun go to such lengths? What's your goal?"
"A certain graduate once told me something: 'Become a student who remains in everyone's memory.' At the very least, the leaders of each class now recognize me as a formidable presence. No, not just the leaders. The other class members are gradually starting to notice too, right?"
This awareness had nothing to do with right or wrong, good or bad.
"If the transfer is successful, I will undoubtedly become a student who remains in everyone's memory."
"That's true."
"Do you remember what I told you a year ago? To continue being yourself?"
'A year from now, keep moving forward with your classmates. Along the way, you'll experience joy, sadness, and sometimes even despair. But no matter what, don't stop moving forward.'
The true meaning of those words from a year ago.
"That was also to preserve the value of the class. In that way, you could maintain the 40 students initially assigned by the school. Even if you left, we could bring in someone from another class to keep the number at 40 from the start of the third year."
Controlling and managing the class from its original state with my own hands.
"Because starting from scratch is ideal for me."
"If I stay, there will be 41 people... and that would be abnormal."
"Of course, that's not the only reason. Your presence is a hindrance to the class. You possess a strength in character that I can't control."
If Ichinose rebelled against me, it wouldn't just be one or two students who would follow her lead.
If things developed to that point, it would obstruct the normal operation of the class.
"I see... You're amazing, Ayanokouji-kun. You've really thought through everything..."
However, this branch was slightly different from the originally planned future.
Because Sakayanagi's withdrawal prevented the original scenario from playing out, the trajectory was adjusted.
"If I voluntarily withdraw, the class points will drop even further. Can you still win?"
"It would probably be difficult to fight a proper battle. Achieving over 800 class points depends heavily on the rewards offered by the school. But the next steps are the key to victory. If students from other classes are forced to withdraw under extraordinary circumstances, the corresponding class will be penalized. Instead of earning points to close the gap, weakening the opposition to narrow the gap is the strategy."
Relying on my own abilities alone wouldn't allow everyone in the class to graduate as Class A.
By taking responsibility and voluntarily withdrawing, Ichinose could enable her classmates to graduate as Class A.
For Ichinose, who bore a heavy burden after her defeat, her inner struggle between these two options must be agonizing.
In other words, this was the final branching point.
"If I really withdraw... will the class be able to advance to Class A?"
"I guarantee it."
This was the truth.
I was genuinely proposing this as a means to lead Ichinose's class to Class A.
"In that case, I'll—"
"But, Ichinose, there's something important I need to tell you first. I guarantee I'll lead the class to Class A, but I don't guarantee that all 39 of your classmates will graduate."
"...What?"
"Of course, right? From now on, we'll need to catch up, and I can't afford to carry any dead weight. If I determine that someone is unnecessary, I'll eliminate them. Eliminating weaknesses is one of the top priorities to recover from this massive point deficit. If there's a chance to force someone to withdraw during a special exam, I'll use it without hesitation. Whether it's Amikura, Watanabe, or others close to you, I won't show favoritism. Just like when I removed Maezono from Horikita's class."
The fact that I used Maezono and led her to withdraw was the truth.
Like a nightmarish reality, this was something Ichinose Honami had already experienced firsthand.
"That said, it won't be a case of 10 or 20 students withdrawing. At most, just a few."
Two difficult choices.
One was to accept my proposal, bring me into the class, and voluntarily withdraw.
The other was to reject my proposal, turn her anger into strength, and remain as the class leader.
No, in reality, there was only one choice.
Because Ichinose Honami couldn't abandon her classmates.
There was a 99% chance Ichinose Honami would stand back up as the class leader and start fighting again.
If that happened, I'd barely manage to get all four classes to compete.
However, achieving true balance between all four classes might be impossible.
That couldn't be helped.
But the answer I wanted wasn't one of those two.
What I truly desired was a third answer.
In reality, I longed for a third answer that even I couldn't anticipate.
"That's so cruel..."
"Yes, it is."
A nearly impossible demand.
Ichinose would soon explode in anger and choose to fight to the end.
Even so—that's what I hoped for.
From the day I decided to provide Ichinose Honami with a way out a year ago, I had planted the seed.
Manipulating human emotions of love and hatred, both positive and negative.
No, it wasn't limited to love.
Help and betrayal, goodwill and hostility.
Blending opposing emotions together would lead to this outcome.
Ichinose's heart, in such a short period, was disturbed by countless positive and negative emotions.
Now, it had reached its peak.
Undoubtedly, Ichinose's affection had reversed into hatred after my betrayal.
This state, in psychological terms, was called ambivalence.
In ambivalence, negative emotions could have a powerful influence.
I learned this during my studies with Shiraba.
So, the possibility of Ichinose turning her hatred into strength and baring her fangs at me was quite high.
No matter what changes occurred, I was merely an observer, closely monitoring the new experiment.
And Ichinose was arguably the most suitable test subject.
Now she harbored a hatred deeper than affection for me.
The deeper the love, the deeper the hate.
This mental state couldn't be underestimated—it was almost like a psychological illness.
But this couldn't be called a new experiment.
Adding hatred to the mix and breaking through was something my father had repeated with countless test subjects.
Could this surpass even my father's experiment?
That's what I wanted to test.
"...You're so unfair, Ayanokouji-kun."
"And?"
"You're a liar... You always are."
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
Still, she didn't yell, didn't stand, didn't turn to hate me.
"..."
Her current reaction seemed unexpected, even to me.
"...Sorry, just forget everything I just said. I'll leave."
Feeling a little disappointed, I turned to leave the bench.
I couldn't suppress the intense stimulation coursing through my mind.
"Neither side, huh? Then, what do you think is the correct choice?"
"I don't want to abandon a single companion. I can't leave anyone behind."
"What a selfish ideal."
"That's right. My strength alone won't be enough. But with you, Ayanokouji-kun, it can be achieved."
"Not expelling anyone, but switching classes. Is that what you're trying to say?"
When I asked, Ichinose smiled for the first time today and shook her head in denial.
Then, she revealed the path she envisioned — a path that wasn't a road to anyone else.
Using her own thoughts, she proposed a method to balance all four classes.
"Is this... the answer you wanted to give?"
"Maybe it's the wrong answer."
"—No, it's not."
I was momentarily speechless, unable to respond right away.
Her classmates admired Ichinose, aiming for Class A alongside her.
Graduating as a full group without leaving anyone behind — this was the only possibility.
What she lacked as a leader was now firmly in her grasp.
In terms of potential, Ichinose might surpass Horikita or Ryuuen.
If she could fully overcome her significant weakness of mental fragility and let go of her naivety, who knows what kind of storm she could stir up in the coming year.
I approached Ichinose and extended my hand toward her.
"To achieve this choice, it's necessary to maintain a proper distance between us. Without doing so, we can't even start. Of course, you can use hatred as your driving force. There's no need to like me at all—"
"That's not it, Ayanokouji-kun."
Ichinose, who took my hand and stood up, immediately denied my words.
"I've been cooped up in my room, trying over and over to hate you, Ayanokouji-kun. But I couldn't. I know I'm acting like a fool, but my feelings of liking you won't change. Even today, no matter how cruel your words were, nothing has changed."
A citrusy fragrance wafted from her soft, silky hair—
A scent coming from Ichinose, who had been shut away in her room all this time.
In the darkness, I noticed her brilliantly radiant hair color.
Could it be that I had a massive misunderstanding?
I had simply assumed that everything today was orchestrated by me, leading her step by step.
But in reality...
"You knew I would come?"
"Yeah, I knew. Ayanokouji-kun, you would definitely come to check on my condition and mood. You wouldn't be able to suppress that impulse."
Ichinose was confident that, on this day, no matter how late it was, I would visit her.
Emotionless text messages. An unlocked door.
A tidy room and an appearance groomed for meeting someone.
In other words, everything was prepared.
Of course, my proposal likely wasn't anticipated.
No, even that was uncertain.
Ichinose, even if unaware of the full picture, definitely had a strong intuition.
"Curfew has long passed. If you leave the room now, someone might see you. If that happens, it could hinder our plans."
"That's true—"
"...So, Ayanokouji-kun, why not become an accomplice?"
She surprised me not once but twice, exceeding my expectations.
Indeed, Ichinose was extraordinary.
"How do we become accomplices?"
"Between us, there's nothing to hide anymore. And I don't want there to be."
Ichinose grabbed my hand.
Without saying a word, she pulled me forcefully.
And just as I tried to step back, she pushed me firmly down toward her chest this time.
Feeling like I was told to "sit on the bed," I sat down. No, I was made to sit down.
Ichinose stood in front of me, looking down at me.
"It feels like I've figured out everything about Karuizawa-san."
"...What do you mean?"
"She must have been touched by the darkness within her, saved by you, and then shown hell again. Ayanokouji-kun believes those things were necessary for Karuizawa-san."
"Maybe."
"That's terribly self-serving. Even if you saved her in the end, it's hard to call that the right approach. You hurt, destroyed, and corrected others at your whim."
Ichinose didn't know I had broken up with Karuizawa.
But from various signs, she could tell that I deliberately parted ways with her.
"I'm the same, aren't I? Just like Karuizawa-san, no, like everyone else. I've been manipulated by you."
Ichinose's eyes, both elegant and clear, carried a sharp darkness that fluctuated in intensity.
Her ever-changing gaze now glimmered with a powerful light.
It went beyond my calculations, making it impossible to discern right from wrong.
"You—"
Grabbing my shoulders, her weight pushed me back.
"Just as you've used me, I'm using you. I'm entitled to that, right?"
"At the very least, I don't have the right to deny it."
"My feelings for you, Ayanokouji-kun, won't change. I can't forget you. In fact, I want to meet you so much that I can't contain myself. More than any classmate, more than any family member, you're the only one on my mind. But that's not how you feel, is it? Your view is broader, and you only think about yourself."
Ichinose smiled, seeing right through my true feelings.
"That's fine with me. But I can't forgive it. Just as you've carved a mark in my heart at your whim, I want to carve a deep mark in yours, in my own way."
Ichinose leaned over, supporting herself with her hands on the bed, causing it to creak slightly.
She held onto my hand, moving it.
Through this touch, I felt the emotions she had never expressed directly before.
Her heart was racing fast, clearly not calm, in an extremely nervous state. I understood all this.
Outside the window, the pouring rain pounded against the glass, the droplets splashing and crackling.
"You've done some terrible things to Karuizawa-san, haven't you? Wouldn't it be troubling if she found out?"
"I'm sorry to say, but I already broke up with Karuizawa before coming here. I've already managed all risks related to visiting a girl's room at night."
However, my original concern was the possibility of being trapped out of hatred.
"I see. I've been shut in my room recently, so I didn't know."
It wasn't surprising. This wasn't something that happened last week or yesterday.
It happened today—March 30th.
"So even if we do something like this, it can't be used as blackmail material."
Ichinose's presence completely filled my vision, immersing everything in darkness.
"I'm not trying to blackmail you."
Ichinose whispered softly in my ear, her cheeks flushed red yet maintaining an intense posture.
She pressed her lips to mine.
The fierce move caused our teeth to clash, startling Ichinose slightly.
"Sorry, I didn't do it right. This is my first kiss—"
With that, she slowly and gently pressed her lips against mine this time.
"Like this, it's okay now, right...?"
"Yeah..."
"Not going to run away...?"
"That's not an option. Forcing my way out here would carry even greater risks."
Ichinose had made up her mind not to let me escape.
If I forcibly pushed her away, the worst-case scenario could lead to a physical altercation.
For a male student visiting the girls' dorm at night, this would be a dead end.
Not something that could be resolved with a mere warning.
Ichinose's determination was at that level.
Then I must respond to her resolve accordingly.
I reached out to her clothes, ready to remove them.
For a moment, hesitation flickered in her eyes, and her body stiffened. But she immediately relaxed and took off her shirt herself.
This was already beyond the realm of reason.
I had been ensnared.
From the moment I stepped into this room, there was no escape.
At the same time, I found myself deeply drawn to the unknown charm she possessed.
I thought I had completed the necessary learning.
But perhaps this was just the beginning.
In this room where only the two of us were, the night invaded every corner.
This wasn't a ceremony of becoming lovers.
If it were, it wouldn't have made sense from the very start.
This was an absolute contract, born of mutual need.
And then, together with that contract, we united to the deepest level.
Recklessly devouring each other.
4.
A few days after the distance between Ayanokouji and Ichinose had significantly narrowed—
It was early April, at the end of spring break, at the Keyaki Mall. Six of Ichinose's classmates were waiting in front of a café with subtle expressions on their faces.
This was because they had received a message in the class group chat from Ichinose, who had been staying at home and avoiding contact with anyone.
The group chat was soon filled with messages expressing hope that Ichinose would return to her usual self.
Ichinose began by apologizing for her lack of communication and then stated that she had decided on a course of action and wished to meet everyone to discuss it.
While most students wanted to participate, Kanzaki immediately intervened.
Since the situation was still unclear, Kanzaki suggested that only a few people should attend to avoid burdening Ichinose.
Neither Ichinose nor anyone else objected to Kanzaki's selection of members.
For better or worse, the class readily accepted Kanzaki's thoughtful proposal.
The chosen members were: Shibata, Hamaguchi, Amikura, Himeno, Shiranami, and Watanabe.
For the other classmates, this selection of seven individuals may have seemed slightly odd.
It included central figures of the class as well as ordinary students.
Kanzaki chose Himeno and Hamaguchi, who supported him, while also selecting classmates close to Ichinose to conceal his true intentions.
Even in the event of a vote, Kanzaki could at least count on three votes in his favor.
Uncertain about Ichinose's current state, he decided to prepare for any eventuality.
On the way to the café, Kanzaki met Shibata, and they walked there together.
"Good morning, Shibata-kun, Kanzaki-kun."
The first to arrive was Amikura, widely recognized as Ichinose's closest friend who had spent the most time with her, both during school and breaks.
Once they met up, greetings were exchanged among everyone.
"Good morning, Amikura. It's such a relief to hear from Ichinose again, isn't it?"
"Yes, truly. I almost cried when I got the message."
Since the defeat in the special end-of-year exam, Ichinose had avoided meeting anyone. Even when her best friend, Amikura, visited her home, she was turned away with a simple "I can't meet you right now."
While many classmates sent messages to encourage Ichinose, Amikura worried these might have the opposite effect.
During this time, Amikura had been racking her brain for ways to help Ichinose recover but had found no solutions.
"I can't be at ease until I see her face-to-face. While it seems like she'll attend this discussion, will Honami-chan really be able to show up in front of everyone? Is she truly okay?"
Amikura was concerned that the meeting might end inconclusively if Ichinose didn't show up.
"She'll definitely come. Ichinose isn't the kind of person to shirk responsibility," Shibata replied confidently, without hesitation.
"Even so... Honami-chan has barely left her house," Amikura said, voicing her concern that Ichinose might not have the courage to appear in front of the group.
"If that happens, we just need to be understanding."
"That's not a small issue," Kanzaki interjected, unable to suppress his frustration at their optimistic exchange.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"The defeat in the special end-of-year exam has already determined our class's future. Two weeks have passed since then, and we haven't even drafted a new strategy. We can't afford to waste any more time."
Calling everyone together but not showing up herself wouldn't do.
"That loss isn't Ichinose's responsibility alone. You lost as the class representative, and we, as participants, could have contributed more. In other words, it's the responsibility of the entire class."
"I'm not assigning blame. I'm talking about what to do moving forward. It's already late to act."
Spring break was more than halfway over, and they would soon enter their third year.
The time for preparation was steadily running out.
"What do you mean by 'what to do'? We just need to work harder and be more united than before!"
"No… Our class has no chance of winning anymore," Kanzaki said, fully aware that his negative outlook would make him unpopular with Shibata and the others.
Naturally, Shibata and his group didn't welcome such pessimistic statements.
"What nonsense are you spouting, Kanzaki? That's not true."
"Are you still not seeing the reality of the situation, Shibata?"
"Wait a minute, calm down. Look, Watanabe and the others are here."
Amikura interjected, pointing toward the group.
In the direction she indicated, Watanabe was enthusiastically waving his hand.
Shortly after, Himeno, Hamaguchi, and Shiranami joined as well.
With all seven members present, they entered the café together.
"Looks like things are a bit tense. What happened?"
Hamaguchi asked as soon as they were seated, noticing the glaring exchange between Kanzaki and Shibata.
"Kanzaki said I'm not seeing the reality of the situation."
"Not seeing the reality?"
Kanzaki continued explaining what the class should do in the coming year.
"You should face reality, Shibata. Didn't Hoshinomiya-sensei say something similar?"
"You're the one who doesn't get it. We still have a year left. Did you see how many points Horikita's class earned in a year? We just need to do the same."
Kanzaki, who was urging them to give up, and Shibata, who was determined not to, had an irreconcilable clash of opinions.
"You've analyzed how that class accumulated points, haven't you? While they have some below-average students, they also have many outstanding ones. We don't have anyone like Koenji, who can take first place on the deserted island exam alone."
"That's—"
Kanzaki pressed on.
It was as if he were venting the frustrations he'd bottled up over spring break.
"We also don't have anyone like Ayanokouji, who completely outsmarted Ichinose in the special end-of-year exam. No matter how you look at it, it's impossible to win."
"Wait, hold on. Koenji might be as you said, but wasn't Ayanokouji's win just a coincidence? We don't know the details of the exam."
"…The fact that you can still say something like that at this point is exactly why this won't work," Kanzaki said, raising his voice in frustration at Shibata's mindset.
"Our class is already sinking. We should focus on figuring out how to save as many people as possible."
"Wait a minute, Kanzaki-kun. That's going too far…"
Amikura, who had partially agreed with Kanzaki's perspective, couldn't help but interrupt.
"It's not too far. It's the truth."
"Even if what you say is true and the class is sinking, shouldn't we work together to try to rise back up? We should all strive together as a united class, without leaving anyone behind!"
"Hey, Shibata-kun, do you really think that's possible…?"
Himeno said softly from the side, addressing Shibata, who was fervently opposing Kanzaki.
"Huh?"
"From where we are now, rising to Class A… isn't that incredibly difficult?"
"I know that. Precisely because of that, we need to be more united! If people like Kanzaki keep thinking negatively, it'll make a comeback impossible!"
Shibata insisted on thinking positively no matter what.
Kanzaki refused to think positively no matter what.
It was inevitable that their opinions would clash.
"Forget it. Talking to you is pointless," Kanzaki said, giving up on the conversation, unable to endure Shibata's optimism any longer.
"What's wrong? Not talking anymore? I was hoping to keep chatting."
"A conversation where you refuse to accept anything but the answer you want is meaningless. Your blind optimism is showing its downside."
"No, no, this isn't blind optimism. Kanzaki, you're the one who's way too negative."
"I'm just being realistic. In the end—"
As their completely opposing views collided intensely, a figure slowly approached.
"You two, arguing isn't allowed."
Just as their argument was heating up, the person they'd been waiting for finally appeared.
Even Shibata, who had been glaring at Kanzaki, opened his mouth in surprise.
"...Ichinose, you're here."
Kanzaki, who was only half-convinced Ichinose would show up, seemed surprised.
On the other hand, Shiranami was more relieved than happy, almost on the verge of tears.
"Are you okay, Honami?"
"Yes, sorry for worrying everyone. I'm fine now."
Though everyone wondered if Ichinose's cheerful demeanor was just a facade, she appeared full of energy on the surface.
Especially Shibata, who felt Ichinose's hand on his shoulder and noticed her gaze shining even brighter than before.
"Y-You seem fine, Ichinose. That's great..."
"Sorry for making you worry."
"No, it's nothing. I always believed you'd be okay... haha."
Shibata noticed that Ichinose seemed to have matured a little since before and shyly looked away.
Ichinose gently removed her hand from Shibata's shoulder and turned to face everyone.
"I'm truly sorry for not replying to anyone until now."
"That doesn't matter... Are you really okay now?"
Amikura asked, and Shiranami nodded repeatedly with a worried expression.
"I'm fine, really. I have something I want to say to everyone, including about this situation."
Ichinose smiled faintly and sat down between Amikura and Shiranami.
All eyes were focused on Ichinose.
It was necessary to consider whether she was forcing herself to smile, whether she had recovered from the psychological trauma caused by the year-end special exam, and, most importantly, what the group should do next.
Before Ichinose fell ill and was absent, she had shown signs of wanting to resign as the class leader.
Although Hoshinomiya had interrupted her prematurely, everyone had sensed that atmosphere.
"Uh, um, Honami-chan."
Before Ichinose could speak, Amikura couldn't help but interrupt.
"Yes, what is it?"
"You... You're not going to say you want to drop out, are you?"
Whether or not Ichinose continued as the class leader didn't matter much to Amikura, one of her closest friends. If Ichinose wanted to give up the position because it was too much, Amikura had no right to stop her.
What Amikura cared about most was whether Ichinose had grown to hate this school.
She felt Ichinose might say she wanted to take responsibility for failing the exam by voluntarily dropping out.
"You don't need to worry about that. I already know that Sakayanagi voluntarily dropped out and cost her class 300 points."
Ichinose explained to Amikura from the perspective that "I don't want to cause trouble for the class more than anyone else," dismissing the possibility of such an option.
Seeing Ichinose's stance, Kanzaki further probed her intentions.
"If there were no penalty for the class, would you consider dropping out?"
"Kanzaki-kun, how can you even say that!?"
Although Ichinose had declared she would stay, Kanzaki's words seemed like a blow to her optimism, which displeased Amikura.
"Yeah, Kanzaki, you shouldn't say things like that."
Watanabe immediately expressed agreement.
"Don't worry, Amikura-chan. Even if dropping out didn't incur a penalty, I wouldn't leave."
Reassured by Ichinose's promise, Amikura let out a deep breath of relief.
"If dropping out would benefit the class, would you consider it? Like if your withdrawal earned the class 300 points, for example."
Kanzaki pressed on, asking how Ichinose would decide in such an unlikely scenario.
"Although it's a different condition, if my withdrawal guaranteed everyone's graduation in Class A, I wouldn't hesitate to leave."
"That's not okay, Honami-chan!"
"I understand. Don't worry; that kind of option doesn't exist. So, until the moment we graduate in Class A, I'll fight alongside everyone."
"Can we take this to mean you've fully recovered mentally?"
Shibata leaned forward happily.
"Yes, I've had enough time to think, and I've sorted out all the issues around me. If everyone still agrees with me being the class leader, then nothing will change."
"Of course, Honami-chan! Our leader has to be you—"
Thud. Kanzaki tapped the table lightly, interrupting the conversation.
"Let's hold off on the matter of leadership for now."
Interrupting the joyous Amikura and Shibata, Kanzaki posed his question.
"Sorry, but I can't believe you've completely bounced back. Just a few days ago, you were shutting yourself away. Can someone really change so quickly? Forcing yourself will only harm the class."
"Hey, Kanz—"
Shibata hurriedly tried to stop Kanzaki, but Ichinose calmly interrupted him.
"Indeed, those days of shutting myself in felt like hell. While the year-end special exam hurt the class, the greater pain came from losing an exam we could've won. I lost count of how many times I thought about dropping out, crying in frustration. But—"
Ichinose paused briefly and then turned her gaze toward Kanzaki and the others.
"The current me is different. I've fully recovered."
"You certainly seem spirited, but what's the proof?"
"Do I have to say?"
"Of course. If you insist you've recovered, there must've been some significant trigger."
Kanzaki pointed out that psychological trauma isn't something that just heals on its own.
If she claimed that time alone had healed it, Kanzaki would dismiss it as a lie.
"Well—because the doubts in my heart have been resolved."
"Doubts in your heart?"
"Yes. Questions like how I can keep fighting, how I can ensure we don't lose any teammates on our way to Class A, and whether it's okay for me to remain the class leader—these doubts have been answered."
"…How were they answered?"
"I was saved by someone."
"By someone?"
The first person Kanzaki thought of was Ayanokouji.
After all, Ayanokouji had defeated Ichinose in the year-end special exam.
As for Ichinose's feelings for Ayanokouji and the fact that he'd once helped her class, those seemed trivial in comparison.
Other students, however, thought first of teachers or other friends rather than Ayanokouji.
"That's amazing. Who helped you?"
Curious and without suspicion, Shibata asked.
As if carving this name into her heart, Ichinose's expression softened into the warmest smile of the day.
"It was Ayanokouji-kun."
Upon hearing the expected name, Kanzaki couldn't hold back his anger.
"Ayanokouji is our clear enemy. Are you saying the person who defeated you in the year-end special exam saved you?"
"Yes, it's absolutely true that Ayanokouji-kun saved me."
Kanzaki let out a deep sigh to calm himself and avoid being consumed by anger.
Kanzaki himself had been saved by Ayanokouji several times.
In truth, Kanzaki believed Ayanokouji was a very reliable person as an ally.
However, during the year-end special exam, Ayanokouji had naturally stood in their way as an enemy.
He had defeated Ichinose and dragged her entire class into despair, making Kanzaki realize that half-hearted friendships led nowhere good.
"Saved by Ayanokouji, huh? I wish you were lying, but if it's true, that's an even bigger problem. Was it really saving or something else entirely?"
Kanzaki's relentless critique of Ichinose pushed Shibata and the others' anger past its limits.
"I mean, if Ichinose herself says so, at least we should thank Ayanokouji, right?"
"You don't understand, Shibata. Ayanokouji is an incredibly dangerous man."
"What danger? Ayanokouji doesn't seem like a bad person to me."
Kanzaki hesitated, debating whether to reveal everything he knew.
Ayanokouji was the son of Ayanokouji Atsuomi, someone Kanzaki deeply respected. He couldn't possibly be an ordinary person.
However, revealing this would hardly convey his concerns to those around him.
"Kanzaki-kun"
"—What?"
"Before you speak, could you listen to what I have to say first?"
As if her innermost thoughts had been seen through, Kanzaki was momentarily overwhelmed by Ichinose's presence.
There was no intimidation, no threat.
Though Ichinose's tone and expression were just like usual, Kanzaki found herself unable to speak, for some reason.
"The reason I failed the year-end special exam was that my heart was too fragile. Looking at the exam content, I should've had at least a fifty percent chance of winning against anyone."
Ichinose first explained to the class what should have been done after the exam had ended, the summary.
"The reason I lost to Ayanokouji-kun was because I lost sight of the true nature of victory and defeat. I want everyone to understand the state of mind I was in at that time."
Until now, Ichinose had never spoken her inner thoughts.
"I—don't know when, but I've always liked Ayanokouji-kun."
Without blushing or panicking, she calmly confessed her feelings to the class.
The most surprised person was Shibata, whose mouth hung open, unable to speak.
Ichinose didn't pay attention to him and continued.
"At least Ayanokouji-kun also had me in his thoughts. At that time, I believed that with all my heart. But not long into the exam, my one-sided belief was shattered."
Ayanokouji proposed that, in order to avoid having any students expelled, they should use the betrayer privileges on each other.
She had been used by Ayanokouji, becoming an accomplice in the expulsion scheme.
The class held their breath as they learned for the first time about the battle between the representatives.
At the same time, it touched on what Kanzaki wanted to reveal to everyone—Ayanokouji's true nature.
A seemingly inconspicuous person.
But that was just an illusion. Ayanokouji was an extremely calm student capable of making precise judgments.
Ichinose wanted to be the one to explain Ayanokouji's abilities, not Kanzaki.
"Ayanokouji-kun... he's really that amazing, huh?"
For Himeno, who still couldn't fully accept it, Ichinose nodded happily, as if she herself was being praised. Though Himeno also realized that Ayanokouji wasn't an ordinary student, there was still a huge gap in their recognition.
"Actually, it was only during that exam that I truly understood him. The reason Horikita-san's class was able to rise to Class A wasn't just because of one factor, but I believe without Ayanokouji-kun, it wouldn't have been possible."
It was as if she were saying it wasn't Horikita's class, but Ayanokouji's class.
"No, wait. I didn't expect Ayanokouji to be that powerful. I have no connection with him, I never even thought about it... So, it's more like respect than like, I guess?"
Shibata, in a panic, could only hope that Ichinose had misspoken or misunderstood something.
"Respect, of course, there is that, but more than that, it's a feeling of liking for Ayanokouji-kun."
Ichinose boldly said this, feeling her body heat up. Not just because of the skinship at that time, but also because, in an instant, she had touched upon something even Karuizawa might not have seen—the surface of Ayanokouji's innermost feelings.
"How amazing... to make Ichinose say something like this... What exactly happened?"
For Watanabe, this wasn't just a one-sided confession from Ichinose, and he was taken aback. He then looked toward the person he had feelings for, Amikura, who seemed happy for Ichinose to be open about her feelings. Through the recent conversation, Amikura sensed that something had happened between them. Perhaps, a relationship had been formed beyond imagination.
"No, but... I mean, didn't Ayanokouji have a girlfriend?"
"Shibata-kun... Well, this is a bit hard to say... Ayanokouji-kun and Karuizawa-san apparently just broke up recently."
Although Amikura didn't want to cut off any hope, he decided it was better to tell him sooner.
Then, Shibata collapsed onto the desk, unmoving.
"Anyway... I believe everyone now understands. We no longer have a chance."
Kanzaki had been quietly listening to the half-idle conversation, feeling that it was about time to shift the direction of the discussion and propose a change in strategy.
"From now on, we should focus on accumulating individual points."
Giving up on reaching Class A, the focus would entirely shift to collecting individual points.
Ichinose had once used up all her points to save a classmate, but then immediately started saving again. If she raised the proportion of savings to the maximum and paid attention to economizing, they should be able to keep a few tickets to Class A.
"Kanzaki, are you seriously considering giving up on Class A?"
"Sorry, I didn't ask for Watanabe's opinion. Answer me, Ichinose."
Kanzaki's tone carried a warning. Optimistic remarks at this point were just a waste of time.
"Indeed, if it's difficult to reach Class A, considering accumulating individual points is a reasonable approach. It's not a bad idea. In fact, the former Class A probably considered this option countless times."
Third year students have already accepted the reality that it's a one-on-one competition between Horikita's class and Ryuuen's class.
"But I believe this class can still fight. We can still aim for Class A."
"...Impossible. After seriously analyzing our strength, we can't come to that conclusion."
"Hey, Kanzaki. Even if it's true that it's hard to catch up, aiming for Class A is not a bad thing, right? Having a goal makes a huge difference in motivation."
Watanabe, seemingly influenced by Ichinose, began to persuade Kanzaki.
Kanzaki, however, still couldn't accept this baseless statement.
"The efficiency is too low. It's true that it's free to aim for anything, but that freedom comes at a cost."
"I don't understand. What cost?"
"There are plenty of examples. For instance, exams that require more manpower—using up individual points is key to strategy. Or when we need to gather intelligence or avoid certain punishments, individual points might be necessary. Or... when the class has students expelled? Do we have to spend 20 million every time?"
"Are you saying we have to abandon our classmates just to give up on Class A?"
"Not just me, the whole class needs to have this mindset."
"No, you're saying the whole class..."
Forcing Watanabe into silence, Kanzaki seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack.
"How do Himeno and Hamaguchi feel about this?"
Kanzaki called on two of his allies.
"Well... indeed. Honestly, I think it's a good idea to consider it. How about you, Himeno?"
"I agree... saving individual points isn't a bad idea."
"No, wait, are you serious? Sacrificing our classmates just to get one or two people into Class A? No, no, that's absolutely impossible. Whether we win or lose, we need to stick together as a class. How can we change this policy?"
Shibata raised his head from his desk, his eyes slightly wet. It was clear that he couldn't just sit idly after hearing Kanzaki's words.
"I think so too."
"Right, right? ...Ichinose..."
Shibata saw Ichinose nodding in agreement with a smile, which struck him again, causing him to slump back onto the desk.
"That's enough, it's just some pretty words."
"Yeah, they are pretty words."
Upon hearing Kanzaki's remark, Ichinose agreed without hesitation.
"Our strength lies in the fact that no one has been expelled up until now. However, we can't deny that we've been losing class points as a cost. But—this so-called pretty words will bear fruit one day."
Despite Ichinose's confident response, Kanzaki still couldn't see any clear prospect. He felt that she was merely talking about dreams and ideals.
"I want to graduate into Class A without losing a single person from our class."
"Even though you know it's impossible?"
"No, it's not impossible."
"I'm sorry, but I can't believe it. I admit that you've recovered from the psychological trauma of the exams... but to simply say that we still have a chance to get into Class A doesn't convince anyone."
"Indeed, it's time to end this state of having only words but no substance. The fact is, we've fallen from Class B to Class D over the past two years."
Ichinose accepted Kanzaki's words and nodded naturally.
"Can you wait until after spring break, until the first day of the third year?"
"Are you saying that you'll prove it on that day?"
"Yes, if by that time you can't accept it, I will seriously consider Kanzaki's plan."
No longer considering class rankings, turning to save individual points.
If Ichinose agrees, the class will have no choice but to follow, even if they are unwilling.
A few days left. Although time is precious, it's worth considering the conditions.
"You can't back out, right?"
"I won't back out. Right now, I don't have the qualifications or the authority to say that we can graduate into Class A. But I promise to elevate the class to a state where we can compete for a spot in Class A."
Ichinose turned her gaze to the others to confirm their thoughts.
Everyone was still somewhat confused, but they came to a conclusion of temporarily reserving the plan.
After this, Ichinose returned to her usual self.
They exchanged stories from the past two weeks, sharing both sadness and joy.
Shibata had always wanted to ask about Ayanokouji, but didn't dare to ask deeply with others around, so he didn't speak at all.
He could only hope that there hadn't been much progress.
The long-awaited warm time in Ichinose's class—Kanzaki, however, observed it coldly.
Having already agreed to wait a few more days, he could only endure.
Then, Kanzaki stood up and walked towards the bathroom, with Ichinose following him.
"Kanzaki-kun."
"...What is it?"
"You should have something to report to me, right?"
"Something to report?"
Kanzaki, who had stopped and turned around, was unsure of the topic and looked at Ichinose in confusion.
"The responsibility for the special end-of-year exam lies with me. But don't Kanazi-kun have something to explain about your battle strategy as a representative?"
"Are you saying there's something wrong with my battle strategy? I seriously fought and lost to Horikita, though I'm not happy about it, that's the fact."
"Did you already agree to ask the opponent to give up victory before the exam even started?"
"This..."
"Kanzaki-kun, you gave up on winning from the start. I really wish you could have at least discussed it with me beforehand."
"Wait... Did Horikita tell you this? Or..."
"It doesn't matter who told me, right?"
"Yes, indeed... that was the only way I thought we could win. It wasn't the time to consider formalities. I judged that I could only do that..."
Kanzaki had intended to continue explaining calmly, looking Ichinose in the eyes, but he immediately took a deep breath.
Ichinose was completely different from the person who had just listened to everyone's speech.
"The reason I didn't speak up is just that, if I had said the truth in front of Shibata and the others, it would have lowered morale."
Though he hadn't been thoroughly questioned, Kanzaki couldn't help but desperately start to justify himself.
"Because no matter what, I couldn't win against Ayanokouji-kun, you came to that conclusion, right?"
"That's..."
Ichinose's deep gaze captured Kanzaki's heart.
"I understand your anxiety and the pain that no one else understands. It's okay now."
What's okay? Kanzaki didn't have the courage to ask further.
"I'm sorry, my battle strategy truly isn't commendable..."
"Next time you face difficulties, you must consult with me. I'll do my best to help."
Her gentle words made Kanzaki feel a chill down his spine.
These words could also be seen as a warning: never act rashly again.
Ichinose turned and returned to the classmates.
Her expression was no different from usual after sitting down.
"Is that really Ichinose...?"
Different from the confidence she showed during the end-of-year special exam and the exhaustion after the exam, there was an indescribable eerie feeling.