After a week of fruitless stalking, Ren's investigation finally bore fruit.
That day, after school, Karuizawa's routine was the same as always. She shopped and hung out with her friends from the gyaru clique, and as evening fell, they headed back toward the dorms. But this time, something was different. At the dormitory entrance, Karuizawa separated from her companions, turned, and walked off alone into the growing darkness.
Ren, naturally, followed without hesitation.
He trailed her as she moved toward an increasingly remote part of the campus. As the people around them thinned out, Ren noticed a change in her demeanor. She seemed nervous, almost sneaky. A girl, alone, late at night, heading to a deserted area... Ren concluded she must be up to something she was ashamed of.
Was she planning to bully someone in secret? Or was she like Kushida, needing a private place to vent a hidden side of her personality? He considered the possibility. Kushida was a pure white angel on the surface but a dark little devil underneath. Could Karuizawa be the opposite? A strong, aggressive gyaru on the outside, but secretly a weak, cowardly girl who cries alone at night?
He recalled their daily staring contests. Karuizawa had never once backed down; in fact, her glare had only grown stronger each day. Two days ago, driven by his own competitive spirit, Ren had even used the "eyes of a top predator"—a survival skill learned in the wilderness to intimidate ferocious beasts—and she still hadn't flinched. To possess that kind of gaze, one had to truly face their fears, accept them, and finally, become fear. It wasn't something a normal high school girl could fake.
Just as he was pondering this, he saw a dark figure appear on the path ahead of Karuizawa. When she saw the figure, her pace quickened, and she trotted purposefully toward them. The answer was revealed. She was meeting someone.
The figure was a tall, slender boy in the school uniform. Even in the dim light, Ren could tell he had a disciplined posture and an air of an "honest person"—the kind who looked easy to bully. The scene—a deserted corner, a hot blonde girl, and an honest-looking handsome guy—set off alarms in Ren's head. It was a classic plot from one of those books.
Is she going to blackmail him into dating her? he thought excitedly. Good! I can use that to blackmail her into dating ME.
As they drew closer, Ren finally saw the boy's face. It was an acquaintance.
"Hirata?!"
The discovery threw all his theories into chaos. Hirata was the core figure of Class D, popular and respected. Furthermore, he was physically capable, far from an easy target. Am I mistaken? Is this just a simple love confession? Ren wondered. Unless... Karuizawa has some kind of leverage against him. Could it be that she discovered Hirata lied to clear my name? The more he thought about it, the more it seemed like the only plausible explanation.
Convinced he was onto a conspiracy, Ren needed to get closer. The area was quiet, and the darkness made any sound carry. He crept forward cautiously, finally finding cover behind a large bush. From here, he could only barely hear their lowered voices. He strained his ears.
The Japanese listening test was about to begin.
Question 1:
Karuizawa: "Hirata-kun... I... be my boyfriend."
Ren's mind filled in the blanks based on the context: Hirata-kun, I like you, please be my boyfriend! It was a confession after all. This was bad news. If Hirata agreed, his week of tracking would be wasted, and finding another shield as suitable as Karuizawa would be difficult. Don't you dare agree, Hirata! Ren pleaded internally.
Question 2:
Hirata: "Why... I can't agree."
A rejection! Ren thought, relieved. Hirata had likely asked "Why me?" and then politely refused. But Karuizawa wasn't giving up.
Question 3:
Karuizawa: "...you're popular... a boyfriend... look powerful... people will... be scared of me."
From these fragments, Ren inferred her true motive. She didn't like Hirata; she wanted his status. By dating the most popular boy, she would gain "prestige" and become more powerful and intimidating. Aha! he thought. That's her price! Prestige! This was excellent news.
Question 4:
Hirata: "...I can't... Ishikawa-kun... is a good person."
Ren's ears perked up. He mentioned me. He pieced it together: Hirata was rejecting her, but he was suggesting him as an alternative shield, even calling him a "good person" to sweeten the deal. What a true friend! Ren thought, his ego swelling. My status in the class must be even higher than Hirata's now. Of course, she probably didn't ask me first because she's worried my tendency to 'sacrifice myself' would get her into trouble.
Question 5:
Karuizawa: "...you won't agree... bullying... danger... afraid..."
The final words Ren had managed to decipher from Karuizawa's conversation were: "...you won't agree... bullying... danger... afraid."
Dangerous words, all of them. Ren's mind immediately connected the dots. If Hirata "disagreed" to be her boyfriend, she would "bully" his classmates. She was reminding Hirata that her methods were "dangerous" and would make people "afraid."
It was coercion. His guess had been right all along. She was blackmailing Hirata, not with knowledge of his lies, but with the threat of violence against the class he was so desperate to protect. Ren breathed a sigh of relief. Since she didn't know the truth about him, this would be much easier to handle.
He glanced at his phone, which was still recording video. He knew the audio would be useless, but it didn't matter. He could just dub it later. He didn't need to convince a court, he just needed to convince Karuizawa. With this "evidence," he could turn the tables, threatening her to become his girlfriend and shield, forcing her to leave Hirata alone. It was perfect.
He watched Hirata, worried that the kind-hearted boy might snap under the threat and punch Karuizawa, a move that would get him expelled. He tensed, ready to rush out and intervene.
Question 6:
Hirata: "I think... well... okay... when it's necessary... I won't deny it."
He didn't get angry. He didn't fight. He... agreed. Hirata had agreed to Karuizawa's request, accepting the humiliation for the sake of his class's harmony. Ren shook his head in disbelief. Such a great sacrifice to maintain a false peace. Is it really worth it?
The two finished their conversation and parted ways. Ren decided not to follow Karuizawa any further. He already had what he needed: the "benefit" she desired, and the "leverage" to control her.
He waited for them to leave, then stepped out from the bushes. He took out his phone, typed a message to Hirata, but hesitated before sending it. Forget it, he thought, deleting the text. I'll solve the problem first, then tell him. It'll be a good lesson for him about the consequences of trying to be a good person when you lack the ability. By making Hirata suffer for a while, his eventual "rescue" would be all the more appreciated, making Hirata a more loyal tool for his own expulsion plans.
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