ON THURSDAY morning, the day before the special exam, we were granted a special day off.
Typically, falling asleep wasn't an issue, but I, Hashimoto, had an unusually sleepless night.
"Lack of sleep really is bad for you... So sleepy..."
As I lifted my body, I saw that there was a message from Kitō on my phone. [It seems that the princess has finally decided on a policy.]
"Although it's already the day before the exam, it seemed that they were finally going to gather the class leaders for a discussion.
However, even though it was a discussion, they probably wouldn't give detailed information about the strategy.
Sakayanagi always thought and acted independently.
She only communicated necessary information to the students she used as her tools.
"Tsk..."
In addition to Kitō's message, I noticed that I had received dozens of messages. These were from the girl I was currently dating.
The night before, I remembered exchanging messages with her until fairly late, but I had given up halfway through because the conversation went on and on with no sign of ending.
'Where are we going next?'
'I want to eat this, I want that.'
'What do you like, dislike?'
'I want to see you, I'm lonely.'It was all such trivial stuff.
[Sorry, I fell asleep. I'll make it up to you next time.]With a cute emote, I sent back that emotionless reply.
I figured that it would satisfy her.
If she was persistent, I just needed to dump her, but there was still some information I wanted to gather.
No matter which class or how trivial, there was never too much information. Let's forget about that woman for now and talk about the issue concerning Sakayanagi.
The issue that was directly connected to the reason why I wasn't able to sleep yesterday.
The issue of how we should fight in the special exam.
And before that, what we should do.
As the end-of-year exams were approaching, my anxiety was growing day by day.
The future where I might lose to Ryūen in a direct showdown with a significant amount of class points on the line.
This was something I absolutely had to avoid.
I have to do everything I can to prevent that, don't I?
1
Sakayanagi was indifferent to the set time and place.
Whether it be a karaoke box or a dorm room to avoid being seen.
Even in the special wing or behind the gym, there were secret meeting locations everywhere.
Well, I suppose Sakayanagi didn't care since she wasn't divulging secrets.
Today, as usual, we headed to the most vibrant cafe in Keyaki Mall.
And she seemed to be enjoying her leisure time, selecting a popular seat with Kamuro and Kitō following behind her.
"My apologies, Princess. I'm a bit late," I said, sitting in an empty seat, continuing to call Sakayanagi 'Princess.'
"You seem quite close to her, don't you?"
"Ah, where did you see that?"
Up until last year, I only had to watch out for Class A students, but since we became second years, I had to be careful of the kōhais and the others as well. Did I overlook that?
No, if there was a first-year student in the second-year hall, I should have noticed.
That meant—
Had she been secretly keeping a pawn within the class in advance?
Most of the time, it was Kamuro, Kitō, or me, but periodically, Sakayanagi would contact someone on her phone to receive information. I asked about it once, but she never directly mentioned who they were. It was possible they were watching us.
I decided it was unnecessary to rush to find out if it was a student within the class, but if this wasn't a coincidence and they were intentionally watching me, that would change things.
"I'm quite shy when it comes to love, so keep it a secret, okay?"
"Hehe, I promise I won't tell anyone."
"So? What's today's talk about?" Kamuro asked.
"You know it even if you don't ask, Masumi-chan."
"Hey. Don't call me by my first name."
"My bad, my bad. It's just a habit."
"What kind of habit is that? You've hardly ever called me that."
"In my heart, it's always Masumi-chan."
"Gross."
Kamuro strongly rejected the 'Masumi-chan' nickname, apparently repulsed by it.
I understood. If I were in her shoes, I would have found it creepy too.
However, when playing the fool, such nicknames helped to leave an impact."So, shall we start, Princess? It's about the special exam, right?"
"Special exam? No, you're mistaken, Hashimoto-kun. Today is just a simple tea party."
Sakayanagi denied my assumption with a laugh.
I exaggerated my reaction accordingly, almost falling from my chair.
"If that's the case, you wouldn't have needed to gather the executive members here, Princess."
"It's for public appeal."
"If other classes find out that Class A is holding a strategy meeting, they'll inevitably share information and increase their sense of tension. They'll spare no effort to win."
What public appeal? That was laughable.
I put up with it until yesterday, and now she has no intention to discuss anything.
"What's the benefit of doing all that? I don't get it. Can you explain?"
"There's a benefit. It makes the other three classes more serious, doesn't it?"
"...So, it's advantageous?"
As Kamuro said, it seemed more like a loss than a gain.
I'd rather they become complacent, so why were we tensing them up?
"I want to enjoy the battle. Lately, we've been doing recreational activities like cultural festivals and school trips."
Even if it lowered the chances of victory or brought disadvantages, she prioritized her own amusement.
That was how Sakayanagi had been reigning as class leader this whole time.
The class tolerated it because the results had been obvious.
We steadily accumulated class points.
In other words, if that is no longer the case, Sakayanagi's value would plummet at once.
I didn't know if anyone else saw such an uncertain future...
After finishing the so-called 'casual tea party,' I entered a restroom near the east entrance.
I wasn't using the restroom for its intended purpose, and it wasn't for a confidential meeting either.
Just an unbreakable habit. I went into the last stall and locked the door. Then, once its automatic cover opened, I sat on the toilet seat without pulling my pants down.
The stalls in Keyaki Mall were always kept clean, it never felt unpleasant. No bad smell either.
Well, even if there was a certain level of dirtiness or odd smell, I wouldn't mind it much.
The music inside the mall was a bit much, but I leaned forward with my arms on my knees and closed my eyes.
This was the place; the place to calm my heart.
The place to return to the origin. In a school where escape routes were scarce, it was a valuable place of refuge.
(TL NOTE: Origin is metaphorical here, basically a place to reset to one's roots or "base".)
"Even in ANHS, I find myself going to the toilet out of habit. Habits are really hard to break."
For the following 30 or so minutes, I stayed there without taking out my phone even once.
"Shall I go home?"
When there was a sign that no one was at the sink, I stood up, flushed the toilet, washed my hands, dried them, and left the bathroom.
"Looks like the long shit is over."
"You surprised me. How long have you been here?"
Ryūen, who had been leaning against the wall beside the entrance with his phone in his hand, snorted a laugh.
"I was just wondering what you were up to."
"Give me a break. Tomorrow is the special exam, right? I wonder what kind of suspicion I'd be under if I were seen with you here. Couldn't you have visited my room or used some other way?"
"If you're innocent, then act with confidence."
"You ask too much. Keep it short."
It was fine for me to contact him, but Ryūen unexpectedly contacting me was annoying.
Especially in Ryūen's case, who knew where and what he was going to say?
However, in order to understand the inner workings of the opposing classes, discussions with him were unavoidable. It was a rough sea, but as long as I could see it, I could ride the waves.
2
On the day off, I spent the morning with Kei at Keyaki Mall.
Despite occasionally expressing her anxiety about the special exam tomorrow, Kei should've been able to spend the day relatively peacefully. While chatting about trivial matters, we headed back to the dorm together.
On the way back, my phone rang. When I checked the caller ID, it showed Kanzaki's name.
Kei peeped in to see who was calling, but as soon as she saw the caller's name, she lost interest and took out her own phone. We both stopped walking almost simultaneously, and I answered the call.
"What's up?"
"Where are you right now? I went straight to your room, but it seems you haven't returned yet."
"I'm just on my way back. Do you need something?"
"Could you spare some time to talk? Watanabe and I will be there. Is that alright with you?"
It was unusual for someone to visit my room without an appointment.
"I'm on my way back now. Can you please tell Watanabe as well?"
"Ok. Can I wait in front of your room?"
I agreed and ended the call. At the same time, Kei put away her phone.
"What's up with Kanzaki-kun and Watanabe-kun?"
"I don't know. It seems they want to talk. They're waiting in front of my room. I'm sorry, but I think we should call it a day."
"That's fine, but are you close to those two, Kiyotaka?"
"I was in the same group as Watanabe during the school trip. I've been seeing him quite a lot recently."
"Oh, you're making more and more friends, I see."
Kei seemed amazed and slightly pleased, giving a few small nods.
We both got on the elevator and got off at the fourth floor. As the doors opened, we saw Watanabe and Kanzaki waiting. They noticed us, and Watanabe waved his hand.
"See you later. Contact me whenever. Oh, take your time too."
Considering him as my friend, Kei communicated her friendly intentions with a smile, showing no concerns.
Since our reconciliation, she seemed to have regained her composure."Sorry for the sudden visit. Were you planning to spend time together later?"As soon as we met up, Kanzaki cautiously broached the subject.
"Don't worry about it. It's rare for you two to visit together. Come on in."
I invited them in after unlocking the door. Their surprised glances swept over the living room, which had taken on a strong feminine, colorful appearance. Making my guests comfortable, I asked for their drink preferences and went to the kitchen. Soon after, Kanzaki got up and approached me.
"I was told to keep it quiet since they didn't know if they'd be able to go, but when I mentioned meeting up with you, they responded saying they could come.
Sorry for the sudden addition, but can I invite two more people?"
"Is that so? Guess I'll have to prepare with that in mind. Who's coming?"
"Ichinose and Amikura."
There was no particular issue with the increase in numbers, but I couldn't figure out the circumstances from this four-people combination.
Kanzaki had become a reformer, working on changing both Ichinose and his class.
On the other hand, Ichinose wanted to maintain the status quo, a conservative.
At the same time, Ichinose seemed aware of Kanzaki's movements but was standing idly by.
Or was I reading too much into it? There were no signs of Himeno and Hamaguchi, who supported Kanzaki.
"The class strategy regarding the upcoming special exam is settled, and Ichinose said she wanted to confirm some final checks with you. It might not be beneficial for you though."
He was apologetic, and I could sense that he wasn't very enthusiastic about today's matter.
"I don't mind. What's with Watanabe and Amikura coming over?"
"For Watanabe, it was completely coincidental. I bumped into him on the way to your place."
"Yeah, it was just a coincidence."
Could he have anticipated Amikura's arrival somehow and tagged along?
Or was I thinking too much?
In any case, I didn't bother to ask because it didn't matter either way.
I turned on the TV and engaged in mindless chatter for a while to pass the time.
About 15 minutes later, the doorbell rang. As expected, Ichinose and Amikura showed up. They brought snacks from Keyaki Mall as a gift.
After getting everyone drinks, I prepared to listen.
"You might've already heard from Kanzaki-kun, but regarding tomorrow's special exam, I wanted to discuss something with you, Ayanokōji-kun. I'm sorry for the sudden request."
This meant, rather than a spontaneous thought, she had considered it in advance.
"I don't mind in particular, but unfortunately, I'm not the leader. If you want to know about our class's internal affairs or strategies, you should negotiate directly with Horikita."
"That's okay. Rather, I want you to listen to our side of the story."
"Hold on. Before you talk to Ayanokōji, there's something I would like to ask first."
"Huh? What is it?"
"If you want to collaborate or something like that, I'll firmly oppose it."
As if he wanted to have the first word, Kanzaki took the initiative and voiced his concern.
He indicated no concern about the two of our classes cooperating which made it easy to understand what he meant by 'collaborate.'
"You're worried about the possibility of me tying the scores for all four classes, aren't you?"
"To be blunt, yes, that's exactly it."
"Why didn't you bring up that topic during the class meeting?"
"Even if I were to express my opinion against colluding, if you approved of it, Ichinose, the majority of the class would concur. I didn't want to let that happen. If behind-the-scenes discussions were happening without me knowing, I wouldn't be able to do anything. However, if a discussion took place in front of me, I'd be able to speak against it."
That was why he avoided the subject until now, having never raised the issue before. He had his own reasons why he hadn't brought it up in a more private setting.
If I was helping with the class's reform, I would side with those in opposition if I was there.
That surely must've been a part of his calculation.
"The special exam is tomorrow, right? Isn't it too late to push for the four classes to collude now?"
Amikura, who was sitting next to Ichinose, said, almost as if expecting such a comment.
It was far too late to make a move as far as common sense was concerned.
"Normally, yes. But considering it's Ichinose, I wouldn't be surprised if she was still contemplating until the very end to avoid risking anyone's expulsion. She might change her decision last minute to protect her classmates."
"If the four classes could coordinate and ensure a clear victory, her suggestion is worth considering. Even if we lose class points, as long as all classes face the same fate, it wouldn't be unfair. As Kanzaki-kun said, it might still be possible to realize that plan."
"Nevertheless... If we lose the chance to rise—"
Kanzaki, who was prematurely scared of such a development, was about to counter-argue when Ichinose gently stopped him.
"Don't worry. I didn't come to beg Ayanokōji-kun to agree to this. If I intended that, it would be proper to talk to Horikita-san directly."
Thus, Ichinose reassured him. But Kanzaki must have felt restless.
Cooperating against expulsion, even without collusion, could feel quite familiar. If Ichinose remained committed to protecting her classmates even to her own detriment, their chances of victory would decrease.
To hide his anxiety, Kanzaki clumsily put on a relieved expression.
"That's a relief. I'm sorry for abruptly interrupting you. I'm terrible at conversations. I always cause trouble."
I conveyed that there was no need to worry after he apologized.
"Kanzaki-kun, you've become quite close to Ayanokōji-kun, haven't you?""Really?"
"Indeed. Even if your former self had these thoughts, you would've hesitated to talk so openly about the class's internal affairs. If it were Hirata-kun or Kanedakun here, your response would've been completely different."
At Ichinose's remarks, Kanzaki tilted his head in confusion as if he didn't understand, but it was useless. Right around the time Kanzaki and Himeno started making moves together, Ichinose must have sensed something was amiss.
"Nevermind me, let's get on with the conversation."
Prompted, Ichinose nodded with a smile and turned to face me.
"The reason I came to Ayanokōji-kun before Horikita-san was—"
I braced myself for what might pour out, but in reality, it wasn't much. She wanted to win with her classmates and not lose—just a close-knit ambition. She didn't need to bring along her close aide, Kanzaki, just for that.
Even Kanzaki, who had been listening with a stern face, eased his guard.
After that, the conversation shifted to casual chit-chat.
Thanks to Watanabe, the atmosphere livened up, and this reunion felt like a simple gathering of friends.
As the clock turned past six, and the view outside dimmed, Kanzaki suggested wrapping up the gathering.
Ichinose, Amikura, and Kanzaki exited first, followed by Watanabe.
"I wasn't sure how today would go, but it turned out to be quite fun."
That was probably because Watanabe was able to talk freely with Amikura.
When I signaled him with my eyes, Watanabe gave me a broad smile in return.
As the front door closed behind the departing guests, silence returned.
The TV, which hadn't been intrusive until now, suddenly seemed too loud, and I turned it off.
As I was about to put away the leftover cups on the table—The doorbell rang with a "ping-pong" sound.
As I had not yet contacted Kei, it was unlikely anyone would be visiting without permission. I wondered who it could be.
Still wondering, I opened the door.
On the other side stood Ichinose, who for some reason had returned alone.
"Sorry, Ayanokōji-kun. It seems I left my phone here..."
I thought something was up, but the reason quickly became clear. It seemed she had simply forgotten her phone.
"Your phone? Where is it? I'll get it."
"I think it's under the table. Really sorry."
Forgetting your phone wasn't something unique to Ichinose. As a daily necessity, and because we take out our phones so often, it was easy to forget them.
At the same time, it was also something we quickly remember forgetting.
Kei often left her phone in my room and came back flustered to fetch it.
"Wait a moment."
Leaving Ichinose at the entrance, I checked under the table.
I quickly noticed her phone exactly where Ichinose had been sitting.
I returned after about ten seconds and gave the phone to Ichinose.
"Thank you. Sorry for the trouble again."
"See you around."
"...Oh, can we talk for a bit?"
We had already talked a fair bit, but girls always had more to say.
With more understanding than surprise, I nodded in approval.
"People might misunderstand if they see us alone together, so should I lock the door?"
After suggesting it herself, she turned to lock the door but immediately hesitated.
"No, not a good idea. If the door was locked and someone came... That would be even worse."
Two people alone together was still an innocent occurrence.
In fact, until recently, Ichinose's classmates had been here.
But if the door was locked with just the two of us, the situation would change drastically.
It would suggest that we were doing something covert, something we didn't want others to see.
"Mako-chan and the others just left. I clearly told them that I forgot my phone in your room, so even if someone sees us now, we have a good excuse."It didn't seem like she was talking to herself. She appeared to be explaining her intentions to me.
She tried to lock the door but then stopped herself. She explained the situation out loud.
"Did you intentionally forget your phone to be alone with me?"
Whether it was the response she had been trying to induce or not, Ichinose just smiled at my question.
"What do you think, Ayanokōji-kun?"
I didn't expect her to ask me about her true intentions.
"My suspicions are probably correct. Your 'forgetting' was intentional."
Upon listening to my response, Ichinose, unable to hold back, looked down and acknowledged it.
"I wanted to see you, Ayanokōji-kun. Just the two of us, in any way possible... Do you think I'm repulsive...?"
"Repulsive? Why would you say that?"
"Why...? Because I went out of my way to see a boy who has a girlfriend..."Indeed, if the genders were reversed, it would be easy to understand.
It wouldn't be surprising if someone was immediately labeled as a stalker.
But in the end, how such an action would be perceived depended entirely on the recipient's mindset.
If the target was disliked, they were a stalker, and if the target was liked, they weren't a stalker.
"It's weird for you to boldly meet a guy with a girlfriend. You're actually being considerate."
If she had forced her way to visit, patching things up with Kei would be difficult, and it would only worsen our situation.
If this situation was created, then even if the two of us met, it could be explained as an unavoidable circumstance.
"...Really? You really don't think I'm repulsive?"
"Yeah."
If there was anything to think about when I looked at the current Ichinose, it was just one thing.
She's becoming an increasingly interesting subject.
That was all.
Immediately after, she slowly approached and leaned against my chest.
"This was an accident... I lost my footing, and you just happened to catch me... right?"
"Yeah. There's no evidence to deny it."
When I answered, I couldn't see it, but I felt Ichinose smile.
"I love you, Ayanokōji-kun. I'm helplessly in love with you... I've never been in love before. Yet, I have a strong suspicion that this might be my first and last love—it's strange, isn't it?"
She was adopting strategies that were unimaginable from the Ichinose I first met.
There was an aspect of that which was attractive, even to the opposite sex.
Her love was her driving force. She used it to draw from and utilize the potential she didn't even realize she had, creating her desired situation.
Ichinose's unchanging generosity.
I had prepared different actors, like Kanzaki and Himeno, to cause a stir in that, but there were now more lines of development than expected. Of course, this wasn't a bad thing, but rather a good thing for me. It was because I could approach improving their class from two different directions.
Originally, only one line was drawn straight, with a high risk of failure.
I drew a new line to increase the probability of the class's survival.
However, Ichinose added variation to the line that had a high failure risk.
It was different now. It was hard to judge if this linear line, which could be considered a new line, would succeed or fail at this point.
A wonderfully attractive scent wafted from her hair that was hard to describe.
It wasn't just the fragrance of shampoo or other hair products.
"If we weren't in different classes, we could've spent more time together..."Then, it happened.
Without warning, the door to my room was forcefully opened.
"Sorry, Ayanokōji, could you give me some personal advice—"
I saw Watanabe's face from Class B, who was sitting with us until just a few minutes ago.
Ichinose must've been on guard for this sort of situation.
She must've taken into account that someone might drop by unexpectedly.
But at the very least, a knock would've been expected.
I myself had not factored in that someone would open the front door without permission.
My body must've tensed up due to this unexpected scenario.
Unable to break away from the clingy situation, Ichinose simply looked back in surprise.
"Wh— what—!?"
Watanabe himself, who thoughtlessly opened the door, gasped in surprise more than anyone else.
A few seconds in reality felt like several tens of seconds.
The warmth of Ichinose's body from the close contact with her casual wear instantly left.
It would've been impossible to passively dismiss the physical contact as just an accident or coincidence.
The excuse that she almost fell down wouldn't convince anyone.
Although Watanabe was initially unable to grasp the situation, that most likely wouldn't last forever.
Naturally, not only I, but Ichinose must've also understood the gravity of the situation.
What kind of response would Watanabe give? That would determine our course of action.
There was nothing I could do at the moment, so I had to leave the outcome to the two of them.
"Oh, uh, um, sorry, I didn't knock... so um, I'll be going!"
Faced with an impossible situation, Watanabe's decision was to turn and flee.
As Watanabe tried to close the door, Ichinose moved faster.
She blocked the door from closing completely with her hand.
"Watanabe-kun."
"Y-yes!?"
Watanabe immediately stood straight after hearing her formally address him.
"Can you come in?"
"But I'm intruding, and my business isn't anything major!"
"Can you come in? Please."
"...Y-yes."
I couldn't see Ichinose's expression since she was facing Watanabe, but it was the usual smile that she showed everyone when she turned around.
There was no sign of her being flustered or upset.
Without a doubt, she was taken aback when Watanabe saw us.
But she quickly adjusted and decided what she should do next.
She ushered Watanabe into the entrance area and locked the door to the genkan after getting my approval.
(TL NOTE: Genkan(玄関) is like an extended entryway. Essentially, the room is for removing shoes before entering the main part of the building.)
While she couldn't lock the door before, with Watanabe inside, the problem was solved.
Being able to calmly manage the situation even in this emergency, when you'd usually lose your cool, was indeed commendable.
"Come in."
With the three of us, the entrance area was a bit cramped. I decided to let Ichinose and Watanabe further into the main room.
His tense expressions clearly conveyed his emotions. Neither of the parties involved seemed to be panic-stricken. It was only natural that he was terrified by our calm demeanors.
The room was unusually quiet, partly because I had turned off the television.Watanabe, who had sat down on his own volition, probably didn't feel alive.
"About what happened earlier, I did that on my own. Ayanokōji-kun isn't at fault."
"Y-yes, of course."
"I don't quite like your blatant use of formal speech though."
"S-sorry..."
"I was just hugging him on my own. You saw the situation, so I assume you understand."
Watanabe could only repetitively nod in agreement to Ichinose's composed reasoning.
"I did something bad. I know there's no obligation for you to keep this a secret, Watanabe-kun, but I believe you aren't someone who acts out of malice. I believe you won't spread this story to harm others."
Ichinose was not just silencing him, she was trying to reach his guilty feelings and contain him using his remorse.
Threatening him into silence would not be nearly as effective.
"I'm really sorry, Ayanokōji-kun. I acted on my own volition."
"It's fine."
"I'm glad you say so, but if Karuizawa-san learns about this, she'd get angry… No, she'd be deeply distressed. I'm prepared to take any punishment."Ichinose knew that I wouldn't punish her over something so trivial.
She was filling in the final 1% after suppressing 99% of Watanabe's urges. Her words and her psychological analysis were spot on. But how far she was planning to take it was another matter. Her genuineness was mixed in her calculated wisdom.
The ratio was unclear, and therefore I couldn't possibly predict everything.
After a while, silence filled the room again.
I couldn't let this silence go on forever.
"Anyway, you two should go home for today."
I suggested they leave. Ichinose seemed to have been waiting for these words, as she immediately acknowledged.
But surprisingly, Watanabe didn't move, he didn't seem to have any intention of standing up. Earlier, he seemed quite panicked, but now, he looked a lot calmer.
I wonder what he's thinking.
"Watanabe?"
As I called his name, he drew a deep sigh and looked between me and Ichinose.
"I was in the wrong. Not knocking before entering someone's room is a breach of manners. I don't think that something like this would serve as a guarantee for staying silent because of this incident… I came back because I had something to discuss with Ayanokōji. So, um, along with that, would you mind hearing a story from my junior high days...?"
I hadn't asked about why Watanabe came back.
"I guess I'll leave now then."
"W-wait. Ichinose, if you're okay with it… I'd like you to hear my story too."
Despite this sudden proposal, Ichinose, who was unlikely to decline, held back her feet that were about to step out.
A consultation. Watanabe began by talking about his past.
"When I was in junior high, second year, I had a fateful encounter. I became friends quickly with a girl I met when the classes were shuffled. We were seated together—that was the first connection. She said she found me interesting, and we became increasingly close. We were in the same group on a school trip and I was convinced it was destiny."
His love story. It might not have been his first love, but it was clear from his demeanor that it was a significant one for Watanabe.
"I even thought she might've liked me since we were so close, but I was clueless back then... she was dating a pretty cheerful guy from the next class. I didn't know that and my feelings for her only intensified."
Unrequited love. Notwithstanding the difference between men and women, the people in his situation could be replaced with myself, Kei, and Ichinose.
"Every day, I would call her and chat about gibberish even late into the night—"
It didn't feel like a happy memory, his face was filled with bitterness.
"But one day, we really hit it off over the phone. I was shocked when she told me that she liked me. I was so happy... I couldn't answer when she asked me what I thought of her. It probably took me about five minutes to say 'I like you too.'"
There was an ironic laugh accompanied by a trace of embarrassment and a look of self-deprecation.
"She was dating another guy before you, wasn't she?"
My first thought was that she was two-timing, but Watanabe denied it.
"No... She was dumped by him before that. I don't know when, but I think their relationship was probably bad around the time she started talking to me on the phone."
In other words, she fell for Watanabe, someone close to her once she became completely single.
That seemed like a natural course of events with no issues.
"I didn't know about her past relationships at that time, but she fell for me, the second in line, thanks to being dumped by the normie. I was over the moon, not knowing any of that context."
Then, Watanabe started dating her.
They were middle school students, so it wasn't a public relationship, but a secret between them. They exchanged texts and occasionally visited each other's homes. It seemed to be smooth sailing.
"We managed to kiss twice, you know? Well, she initiated though..."He seemed a little embarrassed rather than shy.
But fate took a turn for Watanabe when they became third years.
They ended up in different classes due to a class shuffle.
In that class was a male friend from elementary school who apparently ended up liking the girl. It didn't require much to know what that meant.
"In the end—she apologized to me on the phone while crying. 'I'm sorry, we can't date anymore...' she said. Telling me she liked me on the phone, then telling me she didn't like me on the phone. It's laughable."
After that, she started dating Watanabe's close friend.
"I guess it couldn't be helped... but it was hard. What really stung was when my close friend laughed while telling me he had dumped her a few months later."
Watanabe and the girl's relationship was a secret. Therefore, his close friend probably didn't mean any harm.
Of course, it wasn't impossible that he knew and did it out of spite.
"I'm shy about love... I thought I would never fall for anyone, but then I fell for another girl as soon as I entered this school... Go figure, right?"
Watanabe was positive and cheerful. I always saw him as someone who was just shy about love, but his past was marked by memories that made you think.
"So, there you have it. I never intended to share such an embarrassing past with anyone. So, I want you to believe me... I won't tell anyone about today."An exchange of secrets. That was the best Watanabe could offer.
He played a card he didn't have to and reiterated that he surrendered unconditionally.
"Today's talk was going to be about... well, the girl I like. Not that anything has developed, but you know, sometimes you want to talk to friends, right?"
What did Amikura look like today? Was she watching me? Was my story interesting? He seemed like he just wanted to confirm that.
"I was actually planning to turn back immediately, however, Ichinose forgot her phone and delayed my timing a bit... but I never thought she'd stay..."Of course, it must have been chaos for Watanabe.
Watanabe had heard from Amikura and Himeno that Ichinose might have a crush on me.
Therefore, he wouldn't be surprised about that part, but that wasn't the focus here.
"My unrequited love. Nothing more, nothing less. It's a fact that Mako-chan and Chihiro-chan also know I'm in love with Ayanokōji-kun."
She admitted it herself as if she could no longer hide it. However, as mentioned earlier, this fact was not well hidden. It was known by quite a few people, so it wasn't a particularly big revelation.
"I just went back to get something I forgot, and on a whim..."
"I-I see… A whim…"
Watanabe appeared to understand, but he was certainly confused. It was no wonder. Before him was none other than Ichinose. The fact that she had been aggressively pursuing someone, whether it was unrequited love or otherwise, was heavy.
"I think I understand you better after our conversation today, Watanabe-kun.
You like Mako-chan, don't you?"
"Wh-what!? H-how did you...!?"
"It's obvious if you look at it. Recently, you've been especially fixated on
Mako-chan."
Anyone would've noticed it at today's gathering, not just Ichinose.
Watanabe's gaze and passion were intense and too obvious to hide.
"Mako-chan still seems to like her middle school classmate, but she also wants to embark on a new love. I don't know who Mako-chan's feelings will be for, but as her best friend, I feel I can trust you."
This was a loving proposition from Ichinose. Watanabe was trying to seek forgiveness by talking about his past secrets, but Ichinose was planning on implementing an insurance strategy. She offered information about Amikura's current state and hinted that she might act as a bridge between the two.
Watanabe was timid when it came to love, but his feelings for Amikura were genuine.
It was because they were genuine that he didn't have the courage to push forward.
If he could depend on Ichinose's help, it was like having an invaluable asset. A strong ally.
Their relationship of trust went from 100% to 120%. Watanabe's emotions were completely controlled by Ichinose.
"R-really? Are you sure?"
"Of course. First off, you'll need to slowly close the distance with Makochan."
"R-right!"
Watanabe replied in excitement. It was likely he still felt guilty for having seen something he shouldn't have, but that would gradually be painted over.
A love triangle. An illicit scandal.
All these things were ultimately someone else's business, something temporary and exciting.
If he were to spread this topic spontaneously, Ichinose would become an enemy.
If he were to keep this topic to himself, Ichinose would become an ally.
If it was clearly advantageous for you, desiring it was only natural.
In conclusion, whether Ichinose and I suffered through a tragic love triangle held no bearing as long as his own love succeeded.
Control a situation that could become perilous and steer it in a favorable direction.
Ichinose noticed that Kanzaki and the others were acting suspiciously.
Watanabe, who had been siding with the Kanzaki's reformation group, had completely joined Ichinose's side here.
It was a difficult decision for me to make.
I had planned to instigate Kanzaki to change the class, but it could be said that Ichinose had already started changing it without my intent.
Whether this action would lead to class unity or chaos was uncertain.
Given this, perhaps it wouldn't be too late to wait and see until the end of the school year—
3
It was around 8 in the evening.
Alone in my room, I, Hashimoto, let out a big sigh.
"No contact as expected. She's probably planning to just relax and wait for the exam," I thought.
Given her past achievements, the probability of her winning without doing anything wasn't low.
Seventy or eighty percent. That was how likely it would be for Sakayanagi to secure first place or at worst, second.
But this alone wouldn't be enough.
There was something crucial that needed to be done to ensure we maintain Class A.
I prepared myself and called Sakayanagi. It would be a battle to determine how I'd fight.
"It's unusual for you to call at this hour, Hashimoto-kun."
Sakayanagi's voice came through the phone, accompanied by soft classical music in the background.
"Sorry for calling so late, princess."
"Don't worry. Please tell me what you have on your mind."
You could easily tell from her calm demeanor that she had plenty of time to converse.
"Today's tea party was fun, but there are some things that I need to address. Based on my investigations, it seems that the potential risk isn't present. I thought I would report that to assure you."
It was just a jab. I created a flow to gauge her reaction. I would take it slow and steady. It was for this reason that I had simulated this many times in my head after returning home.
"What risk are you referring to?"
This woman always played dumb even when she knew what was going on.
It would've been fine if it were towards the enemies, but it was more aimed at allies.
She didn't want uncontrolled information in her ears, just to enjoy everything on her own terms.
"It's obvious, isn't it? The possibility that the three classes will join hands and attack Class A. If the three classes join hands, they can manipulate the majority of points. There'd be no chance of winning if done fairly."
"You seem rather worried about such a small issue."
It was no small issue to face all three classes as enemies? I was nervously trying to figure out if that possibility existed.
"I'm worried. You may not be, Princess, but for me, forming alliances is a threat in itself. It allows them to fire concentrated attacks at Class A."
"These three classes are fighting their hardest to get to Class A. They want to win as many class points as possible in the special exam. It won't be easy for them to join hands just to bring down Class A."
I understood what she was saying. Even if Class A places last, we would just drop from the top. Ichinose and Ryūen's classes wouldn't profit substantially.
Ayanokōji and Horikita's class would stand to lose if they got first.
"But if someone capable of carrying that out lurks in the shadows, then it's a different story."
If Ayanokōji was the kind of person I thought he was, he'd be able to pull it off.
"I won't completely deny that possibility. But is that why you called me?"She seemed to hint that I was wasting her time.
"No, there's more. In fact, this is the main part. I want to contribute to the class."
For the sake of the special exam, I conveyed all the information that I had gathered up until that point to Sakayanagi.
Kōenji made a promise with Horikita, and she was going to honor it. I couldn't specify about it, but it seemed Ryūen had made contact with their classmates and was scheming about something.
Which student from other classes should be prioritized for expulsion, and so on.
I even included obscure details that would seem meaningless to the average person.
"So... this is all the information I have about Horikita's class."I wanted her to buy my enthusiasm.
Action for the purpose of constructing an unshakeable Class A.
"You certainly worked hard to gather information, Hashimoto-kun."
My wishes had been gratified, and my fervor seemingly resonated over the phone.
"Of course. With a rival earning an astonishing number of Class Points, I want to gather every small piece of information and share it with you, Princess.
The best time would have been during that tea party though."
"You're a hard worker. Are you dating Maezono-san for information, not love?"
So it had come to this. Sakayanagi may not have legs, but she had many eyes. I had been seen openly dating Maezono several times. I mustn't panic. I had to deal with this calmly.
"Well, that's also part of the strategy. When did you find out?"
"I've noticed that you've been in contact with her a lot recently. The audio data regarding the Ayanokōji 'threat discussion' that you shared with Masumi-san, was prepared by her, wasn't it?"
"Oh, dear. Did Masumi-chan tell you that?" This is bad for my heart.
I would've been scared stiff if I hadn't prepared for the worst.
Even if I asked Kamuro, she would probably say, 'I wasn't told not to tell
Sakayanagi. Even if I was told, whether or not I would tell is up to me.'
"Anyway, I hope you can utilize the information, Princess."
"I will sincerely accept your kindness. I'm not sure how much use I can make out of it, but I'll put it to good use."
"If I heard correctly, it doesn't sound like you want to utilize the information."
"I already have a basic strategy. I will not rely solely on the information you've collected. However, now that I've heard it, there are parts I'll inevitably have to incorporate."
She seemed less than thrilled with the information now that she knew it.
"Is it unnecessary?"
"Yes. During the special exam, unexpected things can lead to fun. You actually stole some of my fun."
She never failed to amuse me with her ridiculous statements.
She treated the classes as her own property and didn't even try to fight for the Class A privileges.
'It's just a hobby. Don't get me involved in such things.'
"So, can you guarantee that you can win this time?"
"I won't lose. You'll understand if you watch from the sidelines." Based on her confidence and past results, I might have been less worried.
I had gathered too much information.
Ayanokōji's existence had forced significant changes in my plans.
"Jeez, you're so confident... I get it. Then don't worry about what I said. I'll just observe, as long as no problems arise."
At that point, it was pointless to press further.
For me, I had vented all I could during this phone call.
"Please do. Then..."
During the call, her voice remained calm, but it seemed like she was suppressing her unease.
Sakayanagi hated help. She wanted to fight with the information she collected and her own mind only.
That was why she was annoyed by the unexpected provision of information. Even if it wasn't the best, it felt a bit refreshing.
"Serves you right."
I had taken a few blows, but my battle was far from over.
This was where the real deal began.
Compared to the resolve it took to call Sakayanagi, I don't know how much more I'll need, but I will execute my winning strategy.