『』『』『』『』『』
"All right, leave it to me!"
Sudou looked up at the ball floating in the air. With a strong leap, he jumped and spiked it down with force. The ball flew straight toward the opposing side. Ichinose tried to keep it in play, but her movements in the water were slow and heavy. The ball landed cleanly, scoring a point for Class D.
No one on the sidelines cheered, but the power behind his shot was enough to match, or even rival, Nagumo's.
"Yeah!" Sudou pumped his fist in victory.
"Wow, that was an amazing shot. You really got us," Ichinose said, scooping the ball from the water and handing it back to him.
"Heh. I guess a girl couldn't really stop my shot. Maybe I should hold back a little next time," he said proudly.
"Are you being sexist right now?" Ichinose replied with a smile, showing no sign of irritation. Even with Class D in the lead, she stayed calm and cheerful.
Even though the game started with Class A serving the ball, Sudou's overwhelming presence and power quickly changed the momentum. With each powerful spike and solid defense, Class D kept extending their lead.
"Sudou-kun has a wide defensive range and strong attack power. We need to avoid his area as much as possible."
Ayanokouji happened to overhear Kanzaki's calm observation. Kanzaki seemed to be more of an observer than he let on, much like Ichinose herself. On top of that, he wasn't just analytical. He was athletic enough to keep up with Sudou's pace, making him one of the few on the opposing team capable of returning Sudou's spikes, along with Shibata Shou.
If Ayanokouji remembered correctly, Shibata was part of Kumagawa's group during the cruise exam. Unlike Kanzaki, Shibata had an outgoing personality and seemed well-liked.
Class A really did have a lot of capable students. Compared to Class D, the difference in overall talent was clear.
The game continued. Akito Miyake launched a spike, but it was smoothly returned by Ichinose, who was gradually getting used to playing in the water.
"Okay, Ichinose, give me the ball! I've found our target!" shouted Shibata.
"Roger!"
Ichinose courteously received the ball and set it up with perfect timing. Shibata leapt out of the water and spiked it straight toward Ayanokouji's direction. If that wasn't a coincidence, then it meant he'd judged Ayanokouji to be the team's weakest link.
"Get it, Ayanokouji!" Sudou shouted, quickly realizing Shibata's intention.
Ayanokouji stepped forward. The ball wasn't particularly fast, so it shouldn't have been too difficult to return, as long as he extended his arm a little more.
Bap.
The ball made a dull sound upon contact.
"Geh."
It sailed magnificently in the completely wrong direction.
"Yay!"
On the other side, Ichinose and Shibata shared a high five.
Naturally, Sudou glared daggers at Ayanokouji and stomped over across the water. His rough appearance already made him intimidating, but with that expression, he looked more like a rabid dog than anything.
"What the hell was that!?" Sudou barked.
"Er, I guess it showed the virtue of scoring quietly rather than flamboyantly?"
"What the hell does that even mean!? Don't screw around. It's fine if your angle was off, but at least get the ball in the air!"
Ayanokouji wanted to argue, but decided it was best to stay quiet. Anything he said might just make Sudou angrier. Besides, this was his first time playing water volleyball. It wasn't like he could become a natural in just five minutes.
Sudou was asking for the impossible.
"Hey, hey, calm down, Sudou. I'll get it back with my amazing serve. Check it." Yamauchi picked up the ball, grinning.
He tossed it up and swung hard. The ball sailed toward the opponents' side, but was easily caught by one of the girls, who then passed it to Ichinose. She jumped and spiked the ball directly at Sudou.
"You guys are useless," Sudou shouted, clearly irritated.
He blocked her spike without much effort, sending the ball right back at Class A's side. Kanzaki quickly reacted, setting the ball high. Another girl followed up by lobbing it toward Ayanokouji's direction. But before he could move, Sudou used his height and reach to intercept the ball again and launched it back over the net.
"Eat this!" Ichinose shouted, jumping for a counter-spike.
Her figure naturally caught the attention of Ayanokouji, Ike, and Yamauchi—none of whom were even remotely focused on the ball.
"Back!" Sudou barked.
Horikita stepped in to receive Ichinose's shot. She guided the ball back upward, setting it to a more ideal spot for a counterattack.
Naturally, the one to follow up was Sudou. Relying on his height, power, and explosive jumping ability, he spiked the ball as high and hard as possible, with no concern for finesse.
None of the girls on the opposing team could stop his attacks. Only Kanzaki and Shibata had the athleticism to respond to his power, and even then, they could barely deflect it. Sudou had both superior jump and raw strength, forcing Kanzaki and Shibata into a constant defensive stance.
Class A's strategy was clear: deny Sudou the ball at all costs. If they could stop him, they could take control of the match. Outside of Sudou, only Horikita and Miyake had reliable offensive and defensive capabilities. Matsushita was average across the board, while Ike, Yamauchi, and Ayanokouji stood out as the weakest links.
Still, Shibata managed to read Horikita and Sudou's attack this time. He deflected it cleanly, sending the ball back into the air.
"Nice one, Shibata-kun!" Ichinose called out, reacting quickly.
Kanzaki caught the rebound and passed it toward Ichinose, who leapt into action without hesitation. Her spike came sharp and fast, targeting the gap between Ike and Yamauchi.
Instead of moving to intercept the ball, Neither of them moved to intercept it. The ball hit the water cleanly, giving Class A another point.
"Hey! What the hell are you two doing!" Sudou shouted, storming over.
Losing his patience, he grabbed both Ike and Yamauchi in a headlock, shaking them back and forth.
"Ow, ow, ow! My neck—!"
"I-It's not my fault! I just—she looked kinda cool, you know?!"
Ayanokouji quietly watched from the side. He could more or less guess why the two froze up.
In fact, he had frozen too when he saw Ichinose spike in midair.
As a healthy young boy, it was only natural that his body reacted on its own. Especially when the opponent happened to be Ichinose.
And with a small sigh, he muttered to himself.
"This was going to be a tough match."
『』『』『』『』『』
"Kumagawa-kun, look at that. Your class is playing a volleyball match against Class A,"
Tachibana Akane, the secretary to the student council president, said as she stood beside Kumagawa. She had been helping out the pool staff earlier and was now accompanying him in his role as an observer.
"Uwaa, it looks fun,"
Kushida chimed in as she hung around with the two of them. She had originally planned to make a brief appearance and leave right away, but was begged by Tachibana to stay a little longer.
Seeing the almost pitiful look on her face, Kushida couldn't bring herself to say no. While part of it was sympathy, being stuck with Kumagawa of all people, she also held a certain respect for Tachibana as both a diligent secretary and an upperclassman.
And so, Kushida found herself seated beside Tachibana and Kumagawa, watching the match unfold from afar.
Kumagawa was lounging lazily in his chair, his usual carefree smile on display as he waved a paper fan slowly in front of his face.
"Tachibana-senpai, is it really okay for him to laze around like this?" Kushida asked, glancing at him with a hint of disbelief.
『Kushida-chan, you can ask the person in question who's sitting right next to you. 』
She ignored his comment and waited for Tachibana's answer instead.
"Kushida-san... you, as someone who's currently working with Kumagawa-kun, should understand. Even if I told him to work, it's not like he'd listen, right? Right now, his only job was helping with the pool setup earlier. He hasn't been given any other task since, so it's fine if he's not doing anything. In fact, it's best if he stays that way as long as he doesn't cause any problems."
"I see..."
She wanted to complain that calling it "working with Kumagawa-kun" sounded like an extremely poor description, But, realistically, that was the situation now, and most likely how it would continue to be in the future. So she swallowed her words of discontent.
『Hey, hey, even if that's the truth, isn't that a bit harsh? Still, I didn't know you saw me like that, Tachibana-senpai. At least for me, I thought you had a slightly better opinion. 』
"Anyway, Kumagawa-kun. Did you watch Nagumo-kun earlier? What do you think of him?" Tachibana asked, clearly avoiding kumagawa earlier comment.
『Nagumo? What about him? 』
"You'll be facing him sooner or later, right? I just wanted to hear your thoughts. From your perspective."
Tachibana was genuinely curious about what the person chosen by the president to go against Nagumo thought of him. Judging by Kumagawa's record, he was already considered a troublesome student, so much so that even the president seemed to have given up on managing him.
If that was the case, then perhaps he was just the kind of person who could become a problem for Nagumo as well.
But for now, she simply wanted to know what kind of impression Nagumo Miyabi left in the eyes of Kumagawa Misogi.
『Well, if you want me to be modest—』
"You don't have to be modest."
『He was kind of cheeky? 』
"Cheeky?"
『From a logical and objective perspective, he's the type who tries to dominate everything in an overwhelming way. It's kind of like a dealer in Russian roulette. He's the type who sets up the rules, loads the gun himself, then hands it to others like it's some grand challenge. And then when someone loses, he acts like it proves how superior he is. That's the vibe I get from him. 』
"...That's a strange analogy," Tachibana said, her tone neutral.
『Is it? I thought it made sense. Anyway, in other words, he's got a boring personality. 』
"Boring..."
Tachibana couldn't help but repeat the last word under her breath. It was the first time she'd heard anyone describe Nagumo Miyabi that way. Though she didn't fully understand Kumagawa's analogy, it was oddly fitting coming from him.
In a way, it reminded her once again that Kumagawa Misogi was a rather unique individual.
『Now that I've answered your rude question, it's time you return the favor, Tachibana-senpai. 』
"...How did it even comes to that?"
『It's what they call, the 'I scratch your back you scratch mine', right? 』
"Um, no, I think that's something completely different..."
『Well, anyway, I just need a little help with something. If you say no, I might accidentally let something slip to the president... like how you've fallen head over heels for him, or something like that. 』
"—!!!"
Tachibana's face turned bright red in an instant.
Kushida, who had been quietly listening nearby, looked at her upperclassman with pity. Once again, Kumagawa had blackmailed someone in broad daylight. and this time, it was his own senior. He truly was a despicable underclassman.
But seriously... did the president really not notice Tachibana's obvious affection for him? Or was he completely aware, yet chose to ignore it?
She found it hard to believe that someone as sharp as Horikita Manabu could be that dense. Even she, who had only known Tachibana for a short time, could tell the girl's feelings were plain as day. There had to be a reason Manabu was consciously ignoring them.
Either way, she couldn't help but feel pity for Tachibana once again.
Tachibana glanced at Kushida with pleading eyes, but Kushida chose to pretend she didn't see anything.
Still, with what Kumagawa had planned, having Tachibana-senpai's help would definitely make things smoother for her later. Kushida felt a little guilty, but there wasn't much she could do.
『If you don't want to, that's fine. I didn't expect you to agree anyway. But don't expect me to keep quiet in front of the president either.』
"Kumagawa-kun, that's a bit much. That kind of threat could completely destroy someone's motivation, you know..."
Unlike herself, Tachibana-senpai was rather straightforward, and maybe even a bit gullible. So don't overdo it... was what Kushida was trying to say.
"Grrr."
Tachibana let out a low growl, her cheeks puffed out in frustration. Even though she was clearly angry, her small stature and serious expression only made her look unintentionally cute in the eyes of both Kumagawa and Kushida.
"...What is it that you want my help with?" she muttered with a reluctant sigh
She agreed, though her voice carried a mix of irritation and resignation. It was obvious she wasn't happy being threatened, but at the same time, she doesn't want her secret were exposed in that kind of way.
As long as it doesn't cause any kind of trouble, she could probably help with whatever Kumagawa was planning.
『That's the spirit, senpai. I knew you had a kind heart. 』
"Hmph, Shut up."
『All right, Tachibana-senpai. For now, all you need to help me with is just—』
『』『』『』『』『』
And so, I, Kushida Kikyou, ended up being dragged into one of Kumagawa's out-of-nowhere requests again.
Well, to be fair, it wasn't that much of a hassle. But it felt a lot better if she could blame Kumagawa for it in her head. Even if it wasn't troublesome, it was still an inconvenience. So pinning the blame on him was the most mentally satisfying option.
For now, she just needed to wait for a little while by the poolside while talking to strangers. In a way, this could even help expand her connections with other students.
Thanks to helping out with the student reorganization the other day, she managed to remember most of the students at school. It was a lucky break, though the reason she was even involved in that mess was yet another unpleasant story tied to Kumagawa.
It's not like she remembered every name and face perfectly, she didn't have a photographic memory after all, but she was confident in her ability to recall people. As long as she could match names with faces, the rest came naturally. From there, she could easily hold a conversation.
Her looks didn't hurt either. Having a nice figure and a cute face really helped.
If you wanted to be good at socializing, there were three important things to know: appearance, personality, and empathy.
Most people could get by with just the first two, and the empathy part could usually come from the other person. But it was definitely a bonus if you had all three.
It wasn't necessarily about being kind or deeply understanding others, but as long as you can read the room, as long as you could do that, socializing was pretty easy.
Then she couldnt help but to think about Kumagawa.
It's not like he was a bad conversationalist. In fact, he was pretty good at talking to people. His appearance wasn't bad either. By her standards, he was actually kind of cute.
The problem was just... his personality.
She'd heard this was the "reformed" version of him, the supposedly softened Kumagawa after being rehabilitated by someone called Medaka from his previous school. A girl praised as perfect on every aspect, and apparently capable of solving any problem.
But if this was the best she could do with Kumagawa, then Kushida didn't want to imagine what he was like before that. Because even now, in this supposedly mellow state, he was already unbearable.
Anyway, for now, she just needed to do what he told her and collect the corresponding reward later.
After finishing her conversation with the second-year stranger, Kushida said goodbye and left the poolside, heading to the girls' locker room.
It was already midday, and the locker room was nearly empty. Unlike in the morning, when it was almost packed, most of the girls were out enjoying themselves. Only a few remained inside, and no one else seemed to be coming in.
Kushida walked to the innermost part of the locker room where her locker was located near an iron door, only to run into a familiar face.
"Karuizawa-san?"
"H-huh? Kushida-san?"
"What are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be playing volleyball with the others?" Kushida asked.
Instead of hanging out and playing like the rest of the girls, Karuizawa was alone in the locker room. It felt a little out of place, considering how much of a social butterfly or rather the typical gyaru—queen type she was, shouldn't she be laughing it up with the group right now?
"Ah, I just felt a little dizzy from the summer heat," Karuizawa replied with a faint smile. "So I thought I'd come back and grab a cooling sheet or something before going out again."
"Hee~ aren't you really prepared. Cooling sheets, huh? That's pretty smart of you."
Maybe she should buy one too later. She remembered they sold the good ones at Keyaki Mall. The ones at the convenience store weren't bad either, but they didn't last as long. Still, now that she had more points to spare, she figured it wouldn't hurt to splurge a little. It's not like she was desperate for points like before.
While Kushida was thinking about which one to buy, Karuizawa glanced at her and spoke.
"By the way, Kushida-san... how close are you with Kumagawa-kun? The others were looking for you to play volleyball, but you were with him earlier, right?"
"Hmm? What do you mean by that?" Kushida tilted her head slightly. "We're childhood friends, so I just talk about the past with him sometimes. He was a lot different back then, so I guess it helps us feel closer, like how things used to be."
"Different?"
"Yeah. I think we got along for a while, but after he moved, we lost contact. So I don't remember much about him now. The fact that his appearance changed a lot doesn't help either. That's why I didn't recognize him until he approached me first and brought it up."
"Is that so...?"
Well, most of that was a lie, of course.
Except for the part about his appearance.
He really did look completely different from when he was a child. She remembered the photo, and his hair was almost white, a pale ash-grey. But now, it was black. Was there some condition that could turn white hair to black? Or did he just dye it?
Not that it mattered to her. Still, it was true that he was a lot different now.
"But why do you ask if I was close with Kumagawa-kun?"
"It's just... kind of hard to imagine you being childhood friends with someone like him. I mean, considering what kind of weirdo he is."
"Ahaha..." Kushida could only manage a nervous laugh.
It was practically the truth, so there was nothing she could say to deny it. But still, why did she talk about him like that? It's not like she knew anything about him or her, for that matter. So hearing Karuizawa speak so carelessly felt more unpleasant than she expected.
"...Well, I guess I just got curious, It's rare to see you spending time with someone like that." Karuizawa said, brushing her hair behind her ear.
"I see..." Kushida replied with a small smile. She then continued.
"Ah, speaking of childhood friends," Kushida suddenly added with a casual tone. "Are you close with Ayanokouji-kun?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Karuizawa raised an eyebrow, clearly caught off guard by the question.
"I don't know... I just kind of get the feeling that you and Ayanokouji-kun have been rather close lately. Is Hirata-kun okay with that?"
There was a brief pause before Karuizawa casually responded.
"....Why wouldn't Hirata be okay with it?"
This time, it was Kushida who raised an eyebrow.
Is there something wrong with this girl...?
Wasn't she Hirata-kun's girlfriend? Why would she ask such an idiotic question?
"I mean... aren't you Hirata-kun's girlfriend? Wouldn't it be bad if you were seen getting close with another guy?"
Normally, when someone was in a relationship, there were unspoken boundaries, like not being overly familiar with someone of the opposite sex, or at the very least, being aware of how it might look to others.
Not to mention, the boyfriend in question wasn't even here. And yet the girl was acting close with another boy. It was one thing to just hang out with friends, but Karuizawa had been spending quite a lot of time with Ayanokouji recently.
"I don't mean to pry or anything, but... doesn't it bother you? Being seen so close with Ayanokouji-kun when Hirata-kun isn't around?"
Of course, it wasn't Kushida's place to dictate how people handled their relationships, especially romantic ones. But even so, there was definitely something off about the girl standing in front of her.
Karuizawa didn't answer right away. Instead, she let out a light sigh, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I don't think I'm that close with Ayanokouji-kun, honestly. He's kind of gloomy, not really my type. Besides, I already got permission from Hirata-kun to join the pool today. It's just a shame he couldn't come with me."
"I see... is he sick or something—"
Before Kushida could finish her sentence, a loud voice echoed from the entrance of the locker room.
"Attention, everyone inside! We'll be performing maintenance on the shower and drainage system. Please exit the locker room for the next thirty minutes."
"Huh...? Maintenance?" Karuizawa muttered, raising an eyebrow.
Both she and Kushida turned toward the entrance and saw a small girl with short purple hair standing near the doorway.
"Oh, Tachibana-senpai." Kushida said as she looked at the girl.
"Did you know her, Kushida-san?"
"Kind of," Kushida replied vaguely, giving a small smile. "She's the student council secretary. I've been talking with her a bit recently."
Unlike Kushida, who seemed to have connections all over the place, Karuizawa didn't really know anyone outside of her own class and several people from the other class.
This is what they say different in quality even though they were similar that they were both social buttertly.
And as if noticing their presence, Tachibana began walking toward them.
"Kushida-san? Is that your friend with you?" she asked, her gaze shifting toward Karuizawa.
"Hello, Tachibana-senpai. This is my classmate, Karuizawa Kei. I just came by to grab my sunscreen and happened to run into her here."
"Nice to meet you, senpai." Karuizawa gave a polite nod.
"Ah, hello, Karuizawa-san. For now, would you both mind waiting outside? The maintenance will take about twenty-five or thirty minutes, so it will be a little long."
"E-eh, but—"
Karuizawa looked a little hesitant, as if she wasn't ready to leave just yet. But before she could say anything more, Kushida took her hand with a bright smile.
"Yes, yes," she said lightly, pulling Karuizawa along toward the exit without giving her a chance to argue.
As the two of them stepped out, several other girls left the locker room as well. Moments later, a few maintenance staff walked in, carrying tools and equipment. One of them placed a small stand outside the entrance, the sign on it reading: "Maintenance in Progress."
"Well, let's go to the pool together, Karuizawa-san. We can hang out with the others for a while," Kushida said with an easy smile.
Karuizawa glanced at the locker room door for a moment before turning back to her.
"You can go ahead first, Kushida-san. I still have something I need to grab."
"Something you forgot?"
"Yeah, just a small thing. I'll be right behind you," Karuizawa replied, her tone casual, though her gaze briefly drifted back toward the entrance.
"Is that so? Then I'll head off first," Kushida said, giving a light wave before walking away toward the pool.
Left alone, Karuizawa glanced around. Standing right in front of the locker room would look suspicious, especially since the boys' locker room was right next to it. Not wanting to seem like some kind of weirdo, she moved to a nearby bench and sat down to wait for the maintenance to finish.
About twenty minutes later, she spotted Ayanokouji approaching from the opposite direction. Their eyes met, and he gave her a casual greeting.
"Karuizawa, what are you doing here?"
Without answering, Karuizawa simply pointed toward the sign in front of the girls' locker room.
"Maintenance?"
"Yeah. I'm just waiting here for a bit before going in later. Should be done in another ten minutes, I think."
"I see."
That was all they exchanged at first. After that, the conversation stalled, the air between them settling into an awkward silence.
"...Is that all you have to say?" Karuizawa asked, narrowing her eyes slightly.
"What do you want me to say?" he replied in his usual flat tone.
Ayanokouji glanced at her. She sat on the bench with a faintly frustrated expression, her gaze drifting somewhere past him. He had a vague idea of what might be bothering her... but nothing he could be certain about.
His gaze shifted toward the locker room.
Maintenance, huh.
The timing couldn't have been worse, but it wasn't something he could do anything about. For now, it seemed Karuizawa was just waiting for it to finish before heading back inside.
"You're really just going to sit here the whole time?" he asked.
"And whose fault do you think that is?" she shot back, looking at him.
"...Fair enough."
For now, Ayanokouji decided it was best to let her be. In the first place, he hadn't expected to run into Karuizawa here, so there was no reason to force a conversation.
『Oyaa~ Ayanokouji-kun and Karuizawa-san, what a coincidence. 』
Unfortunately, they were met by an unexpected visitor.
"Kumagawa..." Ayanokouji muttered.
The boy in question strolled over with his usual easygoing smile, hands casually in his pockets.
『Ahaha, even thought it's not the first time I've been treated like this, but still, why the apprehensive look, Ayanokouji-kun? 』
"..."
Ayanokouji briefly touched his own face. He didn't feel any change in his own expression, so it must have been Kumagawa's usual way of trying to provoke him. Still... it was true that he felt a certain apprehension whenever this guy appeared.
"Aren't you supposed to be working? I thought you were helping the student council."
『My shift is over, and now it's finally time to satisfiy my desire in this summer vacation pool and go for a quick dip. 』
"Going to get changed first?"
『Ah, maybe you've misunderstood. I don't plan on changing. I just want to put my things in the locker for safekeeping. 』
"...Do you plan to swim with your clothes on?"
『Exactly. That's the gist of it. 』
"...."
So he really did intend to swim with his clothes on.
Did he even know the proper way to swim like that? Well, it was still better than him going in naked. Ayanokouji considered the possibility, knowing Kumagawa's personality, it wasn't entirely impossible, but at least the staff would stop him before it got that far.
『By the way, Ayanokouji-kun, what are you doing here alone with Karuizawa-san? 』
Before Ayanokouji could reply, Kumagawa's gaze shifted to Karuizawa.
『And Karuizawa-san, why are you alone with Ayanokouji-kun? Don't you have Hirata-kun as your boyfriend? 』
"Hah!?" Karuizawa's voice rose instantly, her brows knitting in irritation.
To be fair, Kumagawa's words usually didn't necessarily have any malicious intent behind them, but somehow, everything he said came off as needlessly provocative. But for now, Ayanokouji couldn't tell whether there was any malicious intent behind those words, as he could never get a proper read on the guy, but even so, that one had been a bit too provocative.
"Kumagawa-kun, why don't you mind your own business?"
She had been trying to ignore him from the moment he showed up, but keeping calm was difficult when he so blatantly pressed on her nerves.
『Mind my own business...? Sure, I could do that. But if you get all heated like that, aside from me falling for you, you might end up getting bullied, you know?』
Her expression faltered for a split second before she forced herself to stay composed.
"...What's that supposed to mean?"
『Isn't it common? People who act all high and mighty sometimes get targeted for no reason. Although there are people who get bullied just because they are weak, there are also people who get bullied because they act strong. 』Kumagawa tilted his head slightly, as if something had just occurred to him. 『Or don't tell me... you've been bullied before? 』
"—!!!"
Her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly put on a front. "I don't know what you're talking about. And don't act like you know me. It's creepy."
『Oh? Then why are you always wearing those hoodies, even at the pool? Hiding old scars from middle school bullying? Ah, that's so cool. I'm jealous, Karuizawa-san. 』
Karuizawa instinctively touched her left waist.
She didn't notice it herself, but she was already trembling, a chill running through her body despite the summer heat. She couldn't quite understand what had just happened, but for some reason, she couldn't help feeling afraid.
『Ahaha, what's wrong, Karuizawa-san? A girl shouldn't look so pale, it's not good for your health. Oh, by the way, how are those girls who used to bully you doing these days? 』
"!!!—"
At those words, Karuizawa froze in shock and panic.
"You... do you... know Shizuka-san and Shizue-san!?"
The names slipped from her mouth before she realized it.
Up until now, she had desperately tried not to let Kumagawa get to her. Even if her composure had been crumbling little by little, she still forced herself to keep a strong front. But in that single moment of panic, she let her past spill out, something she had wanted to bury forever.
『Nope. I didn't know who those two are, and I didn't even know you were bullied. I just guessed.』
He said it casually, as if it were nothing.
Then, without warning, Kumagawa closed the distance between them in an instant, shattering any sense of personal space. Their faces were so close that their noses could almost touch each other.
"—!!!"
Karuizawa found herself staring into his dark blue, empty eyes as he spoke again.
『However, you just told me the names of your bullies, Shizuka and Shizue, right? I'll have to remember that. 』
"..."
What... is this?
It's terrifying...
Karuizawa's mind went hazy, almost completely blank.
Her mind went blank, drowning in panic. Her arms wrapped tightly around herself as her body trembled. Breathing grew shallow, each inhale heavy and painful.
It was just like back then.
'How much does he know?'
'How long does he know?'
'Does he really know about her past?'
Her chest tightened. Her whole body felt cold.
Like her entire being was sinking
And then, she felt a sudden tug on her shoulder. Someone had snapped her back to reality. She looked at Ayanokouji who stepped in, positioning himself between her and Kumagawa.
Ayanokouji looked at Karuizawa. Her face was pale, lips pressed into a thin line, and her hands trembled faintly at her sides. As expected, his earlier apprehension had been right, whenever Kumagawa appeared, things inevitably became far more complicated.
"You've said enough."
『Ahaha, sorry, sorry. It's not my habit to corner a bullied girl like that. For my attitude, my intentions, and my personality, I apologize. I'm just not very good at these things.』
"...Was that on purpose?"
Ayanokouji couldn't shake the feeling that everything Kumagawa had done was intentional, especially the way he locked in on Karuizawa. It reminded him of how Kumagawa had handled Hirata in the past, picking away at his weak spots without hesitation.
That made it even harder to tell. Was Kumagawa doing this deliberately, or was it simply his nature to tear people down wherever he went?
None of the possibilities seemed good.
『Ah! There you go misunderstanding me again. It's not like I planned anything. I just came to see you two. I was ambushing you alright! 』
"..."
『Ack! Now I'm embarrassed! I'm being way too self-conscious. Well, I've run out of things to say, so I'll excuse myself and satisfy my desire for now. Bye-bye. 』
Just as suddenly as he had appeared, Kumagawa left without any care, slipping into the boy's locker room for a brief moment before emerging again and heading toward the pool. In the span of seconds, he leave both Ayanokouji and Karuizawa alone in front of the locker room.
Ayanokouji glanced at Karuizawa. She was seated on the bench now, her body curled in on itself. Her legs seemed to have lost their strength, trembling faintly as she hugged herself.
Kumagawa seemed to have touched her deepest trauma, leaving her in this state.
Did he really know about Karuizawa's past? Ayanokouji couldn't rule it out. But if he did, how? He knew Kumagawa had an abnormal talent for reading people, almost to a frightening degree, yet he couldn't tell if it was real knowledge or just disturbingly accurate guesses.
"Karuizawa."
He called her name, but there was no reaction.
"...Karuizawa."
Even after trying several more times, she still didn't respond.
Ayanokouji let out a sigh. This was troublesome.
Any attempt at verbal communication was clearly ineffective. Whatever Kumagawa had done earlier had hit her harder than expected.
Come to think of it, Kumagawa seemed to have a knack for breaking things, whether physically or otherwise. With his strength and personality, Ayanokouji wouldn't be surprised if he had committed acts of vandalism before. And judging from Karuizawa's current condition, it was clear he could break someone mentally just as easily.
...Perhaps that ability could be useful someday.
But right now, the girl in front of him took priority.
Ayanokouji reached out and gently tugged her shoulder, trying to bring her back to reality.
"Get a hold of yourself. You're fine now. He's gone."
"H-huh?"
Karuizawa's eyes darted around, only now realizing that Kumagawa was nowhere in sight. It was just the two of them. But even with him gone, she couldn't feel relieved. The words he'd left behind had torn open an old scar she had buried deep.
"D-did he know? How did he know?!"
Her voice trembled. She couldn't shake the uncertainty, what Kumagawa had said was vague enough to keep her mind spiraling.
Then, suddenly, her eyes narrowed at Ayanokouji.
"Did you tell him!?"
"...How can you even arrive at that conclusion?"
"You said it yourself! 'Someone who knows the truth, nothing more, nothing less,' right?! There's no one else who knows, so how did he know?!"
"..."
This is troublesome.
Because of Kumagawa, the fragile balance between them was now at risk of falling apart. If things continued like this, their relationship could easily become even more complicated than it already was.
The "thing" Kumagawa and Karuizawa mentioned was only known by two people besides Karuizawa herself: Hirata and Ayanokouji. But now, somehow, Kumagawa knew too.
Ayanokouji briefly suspected Hirata, but dismissed the thought just as quickly. Hirata would never share something like that, especially if it concerned Karuizawa's past. As for himself, Ayanokouji had learned about it using what people could considered 'unpleasant', and there was no reason for him to tell anyone, much less Kumagawa. This situation was already troublesome, and it could cause even more problems later.
He needed Karuizawa for his future plans, since she was convenient to work with. But now things were getting more difficult than expected. For now, he had to calm her down before she broke completely.
"Karuizawa. If you keep going like this, I won't fulfill my promise to you. So you'd better get a hold of yourself."
"Don't screw with me!" She raise her voice.
"Listen, I have no reason to run my mouth about your situation, especially to Kumagawa of all people. Loose talk about information like that would only create problems for me. I still need your cooperation, so calm down and think rationally." Ayanokouji tried to reason with her, trying to calm her down.
"Even if you tell me to think rationally, how did Kumagawa know!? There's no way someone can just bring up bullying out of nowhere without a reason! Unless....unlesss he really did know about my past...."
"....."
That was definitely a problem.
Ayanokouji still didn't have the full picture, so he couldn't give her a definite answer. For now, he just needed to calm her down by any means necessary.
Kumagawa really had created a lot of unnecessary trouble for him.
"For now, you don't have to worry about a thing. If Kumagawa tries to do something to you, I'll deal with it."
Before Karuizawa could respond, Ayanokouji continued.
"But if you still can't get a hold of yourself, then we can end our relationship here and now. It's your choice."
He turned around and started walking away.
"H-hey, wait a minute!"
Ayanokouji didn't respond, continuing to walk and leaving Karuizawa behind.
Although it might seem a little coldhearted, whatever happened next would be up to her. If she could pull herself together, then she still had value. If she couldn't, she'd be on her own.
Frankly, Ayanokouji preferred the former, but that was for Karuizawa to decide, not him.
For now, it was better to let her sort out her feelings alone. His presence clearly wasn't helping, and being seen alone with her could spark unpleasant rumors, given her relationship with Hirata.
He decided to leave before it interfered with whatever she was planning to do next.
『』『』『』『』『』
While Ayanokouji and Karuizawa settled their problem, the one who had created it in the first place walked toward the pool with a certain sense of expectation.
After leaving the locker room, Kumagawa arrived in front of the pool.
Looking at it again, he couldn't help but be impressed. The government really didn't hold back when it came to spending money on this school. Well, it wasn't strange considering the school itself was a government project, but for some reason, the sight fascinated him.
『Well, it's not like I can get a hold of that much money in my lifetime anyway. 』
"Hah, speak for yourself, one of the richest first years."
Hearing that voice, Kumagawa turned around and found Ryuen Kakeru, the leader of the new Class B, standing there with his usual boldness.
『My, my, Ryuen-chan, what are you doing here? 』
"Kukuku, I'm here to enjoy my well-deserved vacation, of course." Ryuen pointed toward another spot where several students had gathered. Judging by their gloomy expressions, they weren't exactly having fun in a place meant to lift spirits. "And it's a great sight to see the new Class C spending their summer vacation like this."
Of course, Ryuen was talking about the former Class A. Ever since their fall, he hadn't stopped poking at their wounds. Their downfall gave him the perfect excuse to keep harassing them, all so he could enjoy their despair with his usual twisted sense of humor.
『Aah, jeez, I'm not really good at this kind of thing, but at this rate, you're going to get murdered, you know? 』
"Kukuku, says the person who caused it in the first place."
Even as he said that, Ryuen couldn't help but feel impressed. The results Kumagawa had produced in the last two special exams were no small feat, especially how he managed to drag the former Class A all the way down to Class C.
『There's no way I can do tha— 』Kumagawa started, only to be cut off.
"Hmph. Spare me the act. You're as guilty as they come. Everyone in Class C knows you had a hand in it. Maybe even more than mine." Ryuen sneered.
Of course, they didn't figure it out on their own. Even though they were the former Class A, it's not like they were overflowing with brilliant people. Sure, they were smarter than most academically, but their arrogance often blinded them. It made them underestimate the other classes.
With their downfall and Katsuragi backing down from contesting for the class leader position, Sakayanagi naturally took over and had already gained control of most of the class. Ryuen had heard she told her classmates to avoid contact with Kumagawa. And if it was unavoidable, to report to her first before doing anything stupid.
Her caution made the smarter ones in the class connect the dots. Because of that, Class C ended up distrusting Kumagawa more than they distrusted Ryuen. Not that it said much, Kumagawa was, after all, the most untrustworthy and troublesome person among the first years, but it did underline a simple fact: 'you could never rely on anything he said.'
There was also that first-year list... but that was another story.
『It's really hurtful when everybody distrusts me all the time. It feels like my heart's going to break. 』
"You don't look very hurt for someone whose heart is about to break."
『Well, if I actually showed my emotions out in the open like that, people who just got to know me would misunderstand. They'd think I'm some kind of whiny character. 』
"..."
『It's better to make things clear from the start, right? That way, everyone understands I'm a lively, vivacious, Oronamin C character. 』
"What are you even trying to say...?"
『So? What were you aiming for with that line of questioning? Were you trying to prove that I'm just a whiny idiot who can't see through your tricks? Because if that's the case, you're completely off the mark.
』
Kumagawa shrugged casually before continuing.
『Even if you didn't try to pull something like that, I'd still hide my emotions anyway because it would've been embarassing. So really, what you did was just unnecessary and a complete waste of time.』
"..."
Ryuen could feel irritation welling up inside him. Kumagawa's behavior was, as always, infuriating. Still, he managed to restrain himself. Acting on impulse here, in a crowded public pool full of witnesses, would do him no good.
Taking a deep breath, Ryuen looked back at Kumagawa.
"What do you plan to do next?"
『What do you mean? 』
"I mean exactly what I said. What's your next move? After you've finished dealing with Class A, what comes next?"
For Ryuen, this question was important.
Even though he looked down on Kumagawa in principle, both as a person and as a human being, he no longer dared to underestimate him.
He hadn't expected to meet someone like Kumagawa in this school. At first, he thought Kumagawa was just an interesting guy, a temporary amusement before he targeted Sakayanagi and her group to reach the top. But the more he got to know him, the clearer it became what kind of person Kumagawa truly was.
Kumagawa thought for a moment before answering with a rather casual attitude.
『Hmm...Nothing? 』
Ryuen narrowed his eyes at his response. What Kumagawa was saying was fairly obvious and straight to the point, and there was nothing he could object to or wanted to object to. Because of that, he couldn't help but harbor doubts about that attitude of his.
With how this school operates and constantly pushes classes to compete, Ryuen was certain that once summer break ended, another event similar to the special exam would take place.
He didn't know what form it would take, but it would surely be another chance to widen the gap between classes. Because of that, Ryuen kept a close eye on Kumagawa. Aside from Sakayanagi, he was one of the few people Ryuen considered truly worth his time.
"Right, you know there's no way I'm going to believe that you're really doing nothing, right? Even if you say something as convenient as 'nothing' to make yourself seem harmless. Or don't tell me you actually think you can get away with saying 'nothing' while achieving your goals and smiling like an idiot?"
Ryuen tried to make his tone as threatening as possible without sounding openly hostile, hoping to gauge Kumagawa's reaction. But it was pointless.
『If that's what you want to think... well, who knows? 』
Kumagawa did not shrink back.
As usual, there was no sign that he felt any threatning aura present of Ryuen's words. He simply allowed that malice to pass as if playing dumb.
"..."
『But really, I probably don't intend to do anything toward any other class next time. 』
"Well, how can I trust you won't do anything?"
『That's obvious, isn't it? You can't. 』
It was a response more irritating than Ryuen could have imagined precisely because it was true. There was nothing he could do about it, aside from relying on a verbal promise that barely counted as one at all.
『Well, if you're going to take it too far, then you can target me as much as you want or observe me as long as you want. 』
"..."
Ryuen fell silent.
He wasn't sure if there was an underlying meaning in that statement, but he couldn't sense a shred of goodwill from it. No matter what he did, it felt like he would end up getting screwed over in the end.
"Kukuku... you really are unpleasant, aren't you?"
『So, Ryuen-chan, do you have any other words for me? 』
"Well, there were a lot of things, but I think it's best if I end it here. Being this close to you makes my stomach feel nauseous. It's probably psychological." Ryuen spoke condescendingly.
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away immediately.
For now, he had confirmed Kumagawa's stance for the next exam, if there would be one. Though his words couldn't be trusted, Ryuen still thought it was worth asking. He was certain Kumagawa would eventually make a move, so for now, he decided to assign someone to keep an eye on him without interfering.
He had a feeling that direct contact with Kumagawa would only bring misfortune to him or his class. It was better to observe from a distance rather than provoke him unnecessarily.
If the point gap between his class and the others were large enough, Ryuen might have taken the risk. But knowing what Kumagawa was capable of, he didn't want to make the same mistake as Class A and become his next victim.
Kumagawa, on the other hand, didn't seem the least bit bothered by Ryuen.
From the start, he never cared about class rankings or competition. All he needed to do was avoid expulsion so he could return home.
He was certain Anshin'in-san wasn't joking when she said she'd abandon him here if he ever got expelled. Still, it wasn't like he minded all that much. The real problem was how unbearably boring this place was without Medaka-chan or Zenkichi-chan around.
The only person who managed to catch his attention, even slightly, was probably Kushida.
She reminded him a little of Sukinasaki-chan and Takarabe-chan.
Well, either way, since it was summer break, Kumagawa decided not to think too deeply about anything. There were still a few hours left in the day, and later he'd be meeting up with Kushida-chan.
For now, he just wanted to enjoy the rest of the day.
『』『』『』『』『』
『END』
Here you go peasants, another chapter after so long
In any case, wow, I didnt expect it's been two months already, and I've barely touched this story. Well, first of all, I've been slowly falling into the abyss of anime binge-watching. Combined with reading a bunch of web novels recently, I've barely worked on this story at all.
Also, I've been busy with my graduation, and the ceremony just ended yesterday. So maybe now I'll have some time? I don't know, I still need to look for a job, so... yeah...
Will I abandon this story? Probably not.
At the very least, I want to finish Year 1 before deciding whether to continue with Year 2 or not.
I've also been thinking about writing a Classroom of the Elite reaction fic, something like the COTE cast reacting to key moments from Kumagawa's life in Medaka Box, or maybe important scenes from both the manga and this fanfic.
I'd also like to introduce characters like Medaka and Anshin'in-san for the COTE characters to react to. But for that to happen, I want to at least finish Year 1, or at the very least, reach the point where Ichika is introduced. I really want Ichika to be part of the cast for that reaction fic. (Though, honestly, that idea could change depending on my mood at the time.)
That said, I still have to apply for a job... Just hearing that word gives me a bit of a headache for some reason. Anyway, once I find a job, my release schedule might slow down for a while. But for now, since I've only just started applying, I'll keep writing for a bit.
Let's just hope I don't end up facing writer's block or anything like that.
Well, that was a pretty long ramble (or maybe not).
Anyway, there's one more chapter after this before we move on to Volume 5 of the story.
That's it for this chapter. Hope you guys enjoyed it!
[Thanks for reading!]