He will definitely take revenge on me in the future, right? I'm finished! What should I do?
As Kushida spiraled in terror, another thought occurred to her, a single idea that cut through the panic. If Ren was truly this invincible schemer, then his strange, seemingly unnecessary words couldn't have been a mistake. They had to have a purpose. What was the point of saying things that would only make her suspicious?
Unless... making her suspicious was also part of the plan.
He wanted her to doubt, to re-examine the situation, to realize that reporting him with the coat would lead to her own downfall. He was giving her a chance to stop before it was too late.
No, this was the second chance. His phone call was the final warning. If she hadn't realized her mistake, she might have continued trying to threaten him with non-existent evidence. He could have simply recorded her threats and exposed her, leaving her with no recourse.
At that moment, Kushida had a sudden, profound enlightenment.
Before, she had been skeptical of Hirata's theory that Ren was a good person. She had seen too much of the darkness in people's hearts to believe it fully. But now, she believed. She believed it without a single doubt.
Ren Ishikawa liked to curse, to look down on people, to threaten them, to skip class and teach girls foul language... but he was, without a doubt, a good person. Not a pitiful, weak good person, but a capable one, who could protect himself and help others without flaw.
What she admired most was that he didn't have to spend every waking moment pleasing others as she did. He did whatever he wanted, insulted whomever he pleased, and yet he still won people's favor—even their respect. How did he do it?
I wish I could be like him, she thought, a desperate longing welling up inside her. If I had his ability, my 'Kushida Empire' would never have been destroyed.
She fantasized about a life where she didn't have to hide her dark side, where she could say what she truly felt and have people like her even more for it. A life where her friends wouldn't abandon her if they ever learned her secrets.
Ren Ishikawa had this ability. And she wanted it more than anything.
An idea sparked in her mind. If I tell him about my desperate situation... with Horikita... could he teach me how to break it? Could he teach me his methods?
Filled with a surge of desperate hope for the future, Kushida's thumb moved, intending to tell Ren everything. In her excitement, however, she accidentally hit the "end call" button.
Finished! she thought, horrified. I was rude! I hung up on the one person who could save me!
She quickly redialed.
Ren had been initially annoyed that Kushida had hung up on him, but then he decided it was a good sign. It meant she was angry, that he had successfully provoked her, and that she was more determined than ever to get him expelled. He had gotten his revenge for her threat. Feeling pleased with himself, he prepared for bed.
Then, his phone rang. It was Kushida. He connected the call.
"I'm so sorry, Ren-kun!" she said immediately, her voice filled with deep, sincere remorse. "I accidentally pressed 'hang up' just now! And what happened today... it's all my fault! I shouldn't have treated you like that. Gomen nasai!"
Ren was silent.
He had absolutely no idea what was happening anymore.
"I am truly sorry!" Kushida's voice was earnest through the phone.
Ren's mind instantly jumped to the worst possible conclusion: she was having a change of heart. She was no longer going to threaten him with expulsion. No, don't be pessimistic, he told himself. She just threatened me this afternoon. How could she regret it so quickly? It's impossible.
He quickly rationalized the situation. She must have realized her threats were too strong. A hot-blooded high school boy might react impulsively, fight back, and expose her secrets before he was expelled. So, she was apologizing to soften her approach, to give him a way to save face. It was a classic tactic used when persuading an enemy to surrender. She wasn't giving up the threat; she was just packaging it more nicely to increase her chances of success.
To verify his new theory, Ren played dumb. "Kushida-san, what are you talking about?"
"Huh? Of course, I'm talking about..." Kushida began, but then she stopped herself. We're on the phone, she realized. The phone has a recording function. But she dismissed the thought just as quickly. A master schemer like Ren wouldn't need to resort to something so crude. No, his feigned ignorance must have a different meaning. He wasn't accepting her apology because it was too insincere. A mistake this serious—threatening someone with a false accusation of assault—required more than a simple phone call. It required a grand gesture.
"Ren-kun, are you free now?" she said, changing tactics. "I want to talk to you in person."
Ren nearly slapped his thigh in triumph. Yes! That's it! She's asking me to meet so she can persuade me to surrender again! He had already made up his mind. He would show her his unyielding will. He would force her to give up and report him.
"I'm free," he said, accepting her invitation. "Where should we meet?"
"Where are you now?" she asked.
"My dorm."
"Wait for me! I'll be there soon. See you later."
Beep.
She hung up again. She's coming to my room? Ren thought, surprised. Isn't she worried about her image? A few minutes later, there was a knock on his door.
It was indeed Kushida. He wasn't surprised she'd found his room; a social butterfly like her likely knew everyone's room number.
"Please let me in!"
The moment he opened the door, she slipped inside, clearly not wanting to linger in the hallway of the boys' dormitory. Ren closed the door, turned, and faced her.
"I am truly sorry!" Kushida declared, and then her body began to fall forward, her knees bending as she prepared to prostrate herself on the floor.
It was the opening move of the Dogeza, the ultimate bow of apology. Ren had seen it countless times on TV during his six months in Japan, and it was always a prelude to something terrible. The gesture was unlucky.
He reacted instinctively, reaching out and grabbing her by the collar, pulling her back up before her knees could touch the ground. Wait, this feels familiar. This time, however, he was careful about where he put his hands.
She's actually trying to perform a Dogeza? Ren thought, shocked. Isn't this taking it a bit too far? Is she adding moral blackmail to her intimidation tactics?
"Please let me go," Kushida pleaded. "I did such an excessive thing. Etiquette demands I at least perform a proper bow!"
"Forget it," Ren said, still holding her up. "I'm sick of seeing that bow on TV. It's become a meaningless, procedural thing that only ever appears when something bad is about to happen. Are you here to apologize or to annoy me? Stand up straight, my arm is getting sore."
"I shouldn't be that heavy, right?" she retorted instinctively.
"You're at least a hundred pounds," Ren grumbled. "Now, if you have something to say, just say it."
Kushida stood up obediently and bowed deeply from the waist. "I was wrong about what happened during our lunch break! I know my mistake now. I will not, and I dare not, try to frame you again. I hope you can forgive me!"
Hearing this, Ren's resolute expression, which he had prepared to show his "unyielding spirit," instantly crumbled.
It's over, he thought, his heart sinking. She really is apologizing. She's not going to get me expelled!
He stared at Kushida with a look that was three parts disdain, three parts hatred for her lack of fighting spirit, and four parts utter boredom. He shook his head and sighed.
Kushida, of course, interpreted his look completely differently. He's disappointed that I only realized my mistake now. "I'm so grateful you gave me the opportunity to repent," she said with a shameful expression. "Under your teachings, I stopped myself from going too far. I've given up my evil thoughts. All I want now is your forgiveness."
Ren was completely lost. When did I give you a chance to repent? When did I ever "teach" you anything? Why would you pull back from the brink of the cliff? Just jump!
Before he could voice his confusion, Kushida continued. "I know my apology is just empty words to you. But if you can forgive me, I'll do anything! And after that, I hope you can grant me one wish!" She finished with another deep bow.
Aha! Ren's mind lit up. There it is! The conspiracy! It's a feint! Retreat to advance! The details were different, but the core strategy was the same: lower his guard, then persuade him to surrender.
"What wish?" he asked, feigning curiosity, preparing himself to utterly crush her "delusion."
"Please," Kushida said, raising her head, her eyes shining with a fanatical greed. "Teach me how to make friends!"
"...Huh?"
Fortunately, Ren had waited for her to finish before preparing his rejection. "Make friends?"
"Yes!" she said, her voice intense. "I want to be like you! To just be myself, without catering to others or suppressing my dark side. I want to be able to scold whoever I want and still gain everyone's favor, even their respect! I want to have your ability!"
Ren blinked, pointing at his own chest with both index fingers. "Are you sure you're talking about me?"
"Yes."
"I am well-liked and respected by others?"
"Yes!"
Ren recalled the venomous glares he'd received from the entire class just a few hours ago. "Are you mistaken? I've offended everyone in this class. How could they possibly have a good impression of me? You're asking me, a person who only knows how to make enemies, to teach you how to make friends. What is wrong with you?"
"Ren-kun, I have already witnessed your wisdom. Please don't pretend anymore!" Kushida pleaded. "I know Hirata-san asked us not to tell you, but I don't believe for a second that your keen eyes could be fooled by our classmates! Hirata's actions... they were all done under your guidance, weren't they? Just like what happened to me. If you hadn't reminded me, I never would have realized I was already completely under your control. It was all part of your plan."
Ren's mind was reeling even more. Hirata? What did Hirata ask them to hide from me? So that's why the class has been acting so strangely! That seemingly honest guy has been doing something behind my back?
"Kushida," he demanded, his voice urgent. "Tell me everything you know about what Hirata asked you to hide from me!"
Seeing Ren's apparent ignorance, Kushida was momentarily confused. Was Hirata's speech not part of his plan? But then, she had another epiphany. Of course! He knows everything. He's just testing my loyalty! He wants me to "betray" the class secret to prove that I am truly on his side!
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