During the weekend, Ike went on a date with Kinoshita (on Saturday) and Yamauchi went on a date with Manabe (on Sunday). I tried to monitor their movements but as expected, a bunch of guys from Class D was patrolling around them secretly inside Keyaki Mall.
Miyamoto and Hondou were on standby. I was ready to give them the signal to move if I ever felt like either of the girls planned to confess.
At the end of the day, nothing happened, which was fairly expected since Ike and Yamauchi were the ones who asked them out on two separate days.
I was readying some things before a person knocked on my door. I hurriedly hid the items and received the guest.
"Good evening, Kiyotaka-kun," Kikyou greeted me with a smile.
"Come in, I've got tea and coffee."
"I'll have some coffee then."
Kikyou sat on my bed. She shared some of her frustrations with me, but they were much less than usual.
"What's with that look?"
"Ah, nothing. You didn't seem to have it as bad as the previous times."
"Oh, that? Hmm... I don't know. I just feel a lot better recently. I'm sure a large part of it is because of you, Kiyotaka-kun. Having someone... whom I can share my deepest thoughts with is much more extricating than I expected," she said.
"Is that so...?"
"Yep!" Kikyou nodded with a smile.
"Then, can I share some of my worries with you?" I asked.
Kikyou perked up and faced me.
So bright...
Well, she didn't really exude any physical form of light, but her smile was so wide that I reflexively winced.
"I've been waiting for this, Kiyotaka-kun! Come, tell me everything and anything!" Woah, she's really enthusiastic about this.
"I'm having second thoughts now. You might use my secrets as weapons, after all..." I joked.
Thud.
I stepped on a landmine. Kikyou punched me in the chest as hard as she could. It hurt a little, but that didn't really matter too much. What caught my attention was her displeased face.
"I won't... do that..." she said with a strained voice.
It looked like she was about to cry.
"Sorry, Kikyou. I was just kidding..."
It seems like her trust in me has grown extensively over the last couple of months.
"Really?"
Right now, Kikyou wasn't putting on her angelic act. As she mentioned earlier, she's becoming more and more dependent on me. It doesn't matter whether she's aware of this or not. Our relationship made it so that this was the natural progression of things. I knew this right from the moment Kikyou said she trusted me.
"Yeah, I guess I really shouldn't tell jokes like that when it's so hard to tell if I'm being serious or not."
"I just... I felt like you didn't trust me at all when you said that. And it just made me feel sad."
I can't tell how genuine Kikyou's words are, but I have to act sincerely.
"Sorry."
I trust Kikyou. I trust her very much. As long as her way of life doesn't change, as long as she continues to crave other people's praises and worship, the suffering she'd endure will never come to an end. And I'm the only one who can ease that suffering. As long as I can control her, she's the most trustworthy and powerful piece I can have.
"Well, your bad joke aside. Feel free to tell me anything that's bothering you. You're always the one who helps me. I would feel a lot better if I could pay you back in some way." Kikyou said while pointing her little finger towards my nose.
I nod.
"You see, Kikyou... I didn't really have to step down as the class's leader..."
"Huh? Wasn't that decision a part of your strategy?" she cocked her head wonderingly.
"I'll be honest. I think I can still fend off any schemes from other classes regardless of my position in class... But I really want Horikita, Hirata, and you to be the true leaders of Class B."
"Wait, huh? What are you talking about, Kiyotaka-kun? You're the only fitting leader for Class B! Sure, that Horikita is smart and all, but she's nothing compared to you. And Hirata-kun's pacifist attitude would just make our class a punching bag," Kikyou explained with an exasperated and worried expression.
"Of course, I know that there's room for growth. But, I want all of you to be able to stand up on your own. I know you guys can do it, especially with your help."
"What...? Why the heck are you saying this? It's like you're leaving us or something."
"I... Yeah, that might be right... I might leave you guys someday. And by that, I meant that there's a chance that I'll drop out," I said.
Kikyou was visibly shaken by my words.
"What... are you talking about, Kiyotaka-kun? Drop out? Why would you drop out?" she asked, her breathing slightly ragged.
I don't know what got into me, but I felt like I could open up to Kikyou... even if it's just a little bit. Before I knew it, I told her something that I never even planned on mentioning to anyone in this school.
"My father doesn't agree with my enrollment here. He'll do everything he can to get me out of this school."
"What...? So you enrolled here without his permission?" she asked. "But doesn't the school prohibit any form of contact with the outside? If what you're saying is true, then what can your father even do?"
"He's a powerful man, and he has the means to do it. That's all I can say. Of course, I don't want to drop out. I want to graduate with everyone... But if there's a chance where I'll have no choice but to do so, then I don't want the class to crumble." I looked at Kikyou straight in the eyes.
"That's... That's not right... You can't just..." Kikyou can't seem to accept what I'm saying.
Instead of prying further, she's more bothered with the fact that I might drop out.
"Objectively speaking, shouldn't that be a good thing for you, Kikyou? Horikita doesn't know the details of your past, and I'm the only one who really knows about your other personality. Once I'm gone, you won't have that lingering fear anymore-"
"That's not it! You can't drop out!" she yelled.
"Why?"
"You're-!" Kikyou seemed to realize that she was getting a bit too worked up when she looked into my eyes. She calmed herself before continuing. "You're vital for Class B's advancement to Class A. And even if I don't mention your overall benefits for the class, it'd be an inconvenience for me, too. You're the only person with whom I can share my real thoughts. What if someone else catches me... like how you did?"
No one would be able to uncover the truth once she puts her guard up, so that argument lacks potency. As I said, it's more beneficial for Kikyou to let me drop out. Saying such unselfish things isn't like her at all. It's one thing if she's acting right now, but none of her actions indicate that at all.
"Hmm... Don't worry about it too much, Kikyou. I'll do everything I can to stay here. And having Horikita grow with the rest of the class isn't the worst thing we could do. I think it's much better than solely relying on me."
"I see... You're right," she replied, her eyes cast downwards.
Before the silence went on for too long, I took the initiative to speak.
"I thought you hated me."
Kikyou glared at me with a pout.
"I was pissed at you before, okay? I still haven't forgiven you for being a perverted jerk... Telling me to spread my legs and take off my top..."
"Oh, yeah... Sorry about that," I scratched my head guiltily.
"Shut it. You let me punch you, so I guess I was a bit satisfied," she sighed. "I don't hate you, Kiyotaka-kun. Unlike the people that I have dirt on, I don't really see you as an enemy. You're my friend, like Kokoro-chan or Ryuuko-chan who are genuinely good girls."
"I see... That's good then. I really don't want you as an enemy."
"Same here. You're too smart for anyone to handle. I'd rather have you as a true friend," she shrugged.
Kikyou and I sat side by side on my bed. After she said those words, I lay on my back and sighed. Kikyou looks at me with a bitter smile.
"Let's talk about Ike-kun and Yamauchi-kun's case instead," she said. "Is everything alright?"
I'm more than happy to share my progress regarding our current predicament.
"Don't worry. Horikita has already asked me about it, and same with Hirata, on the phone. I have things under control. Well, at least I hope I do."
"Oh... Are you worried about something?"
"I mean, if Ryuuen Kakeru really is their leader, then he's quite the schemer. I feel like he can see through my plans."
"Eh? If you're being serious, then isn't this bad?" Kikyou asked worriedly. "Is there anything that I can help you with?"
"Not at the moment. But if things get dangerous, I'll definitely ask for your help."
Kikyou nodded happily.
After talking about other things for a little while longer, Kikyou finally decided to return to her room.
"Thank you for today again, Kiyotaka-kun..." she said.
"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow, Kikyou."
The worry in Kikyou's eyes was noticeable. She's still thinking about my words earlier.
When she left, I took out the items I hid in the drawer and put them inside my school pants' pocket.