"You know me?"
Perhaps it was because of the way Kitagawa Ryo had called her "Suzune" so naturally, even Horikita Suzune, who had been struggling moments before, stopped and looked at him suspiciously, as if trying to recall whether she had ever met this person before.
"I just know your brother. I've seen your photo before."
Kitagawa quickly let go of her hand, took a step back, and raised both hands in a gesture of innocence.
Although their brief scuffle had already drawn some attention from nearby first-years, Kitagawa didn't want to stir up any more drama. He motioned for Horikita to follow him.
"Come with me. He has something he wants me to tell you."
His quick thinking redirected Horikita's attention toward Manabu. Giving Hiyori an apologetic glance, Kitagawa gestured for Horikita to follow him to a quieter spot.
"Suz-- Horikita-san, have you noticed some of this school's rules yet?"
"I imagine you applied here to follow in your brother's footsteps, right?"
He revealed information he already knew and quickly took the lead in the conversation, steering her into a position of questioning. From the beginning, Kitagawa had devised a plan based on his knowledge of her.
"You really know my brother?"
"Maybe even more than you do."
"Prove it."
"The proof is the fact that you're asking me for proof."
Kitagawa sighed.
"If you really knew your brother, you'd already know whether someone like me exists in his life."
"So you're just a liar, then."
[See? I've warned you about being too quick to judge people.]
He shook his head.
"That's why you're in Class D, and Horikita Manabu is in Class A."
"Oh, you still think class placements were assigned randomly, don't you?"
That made Horikita frown. She seemed confused.
"If not by random assignment, then there's no reason I should be in Class D. I excel academically and physically."
"Sure, that might be the case in a normal high school."
"But this isn't a normal high school."
Kitagawa gave a soft laugh. Suzune hadn't changed much since middle school.
"I'll give you a piece of information for 10,000 personal points. Deal?"
"Personal points?"
Horikita was momentarily stunned. Up until now, she thought points were just school-issued allowances. But Kitagawa's comment triggered a memory from her homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae:
"Points can buy you anything."
If that was true, then Kitagawa had already grasped this fact and had begun using it to his advantage.
"What you just thought of is the information I'm giving you."
Kitagawa nodded, seeing the realization flash across her face. Suzune was intelligent, but rigid, prone to extremes, and very easy to manipulate.
[First, she'll attempt to haggle, thinking she's being clever.]
"10,000 is a tenth of a month's allowance. I don't think your info is worth that. 1,000 points."
"1,000 isn't enough. The information is worth far more."
[Then she'll back off a little, thinking she's gaining the upper hand.]
"If you really think it's worth 10,000, then tell me first. I'll judge its value and pay accordingly."
She made a confident step forward.
Her entitled attitude, if left unchecked, could be dangerous. Suzune often applied her own sense of logic to all interactions without considering how her words might affect others.
"Why should I trust you?"
Kitagawa challenged her.
[Next, I bring up Manabu. She'll falter, trying to prove herself.]
"You want to know about your brother, don't you? Like I said, you came here chasing after him."
Kitagawa suddenly reversed the conversation.
"But you're in Class D. You're far from even Class C, let alone A."
"You're hoping he comes to find you, right? But the harsh truth is, he may not even want to acknowledge a sister in Class D."
"If that's true, then it's the school's fault I'm here."
Suzune pushed back.
"I scored near perfect on the entrance exam, and my interview went fine. There's no way I belong in Class D."
"Why assume class placement is based only on test scores?"
"Isn't that common sense? Exams exist to rank students."
"Rather than clinging to common sense, maybe you should look more closely at your classmates. If placements were based on scores, some of them wouldn't be here, right?"
There were clearly those with grades too good for D class, and others who should've never passed.
"True. I can't imagine sharing a class with people like Ike or Yamauchi."
[Now for the final touch—planting the seed.]
"But here you are. The school has labeled you the same 'defective product' as them."
Suzune pressed her lips together, unable to refute him.
"By this time next month, you'll understand everything I've said."
Kitagawa gave her a smile.
"Since we go way back, I won't charge you."
He took two steps, then turned around.
"Don't confuse pride with isolation."
Before she could respond, he added:
"It's hard for a turtle to flip itself over alone."
"The first line is something your brother might say. The second is from me."
"See you around."
-------------------------------------
Kitagawa Ryo walked back slowly, letting out a barely audible sigh. In his original plan, there was no intention to make contact with Horikita Suzune this early. But life had its way of throwing surprises, and now he could only accept the reality. All that remained was to see whether Suzune would act in alignment with his expectations.
It was underhanded, he knew. But if used correctly, Horikita Suzune could become a weapon capable of tearing Class D apart.
Unlike the previous simulation where he tried to correct the twisted aspects of Suzune's personality, now, as the leader of Class C, Kitagawa was intent on making use of every available resource. Compared to Class A or B, the weakest target to crush first was Class D. That was precisely why he had targeted Sudou yesterday.
His thoughts shifted quickly, already formulating several potential plans to divide Class D. Which one to implement would depend on any variables that might arise moving forward.
"I'm back."
Lifting his head, he saw Shiina Hiyori still standing in the same spot. She looked slightly downcast, her eyes lowered. Kitagawa tucked away his scheming and called out to her from a distance.
Seemingly startled by his voice, Hiyori raised her head and locked eyes with him. At first, she turned away with a slight pout, gripping the hem of her uniform, reluctant to speak. But after a moment, realizing she had no reason to be upset, she turned back and smiled brightly, as if to ensure Kitagawa noticed her reaction.
While Kitagawa weaved through the crowd at the club recruitment fair, Shiina pursed her lips, a little dazed.
Even though she had known Kitagawa Ryo for a long time, it felt like barely any time had passed. Somewhere along the way, her feelings had shifted.
She lowered her head again, trying to distract herself by recalling the book she had read last night. But her thoughts wandered to the blueberry pie she had eaten, and then to the sudden appearance of Sakayanagi Arisu, who seemed oddly familiar with Kitagawa.
In truth, Hiyori had known Kitagawa longer. Maybe that was why his sudden change unsettled her so much. It felt like the uncomfortable feeling of a close friend making new friends behind her back.
She had only just mustered the courage to be a little bolder. But as soon as she met Kitagawa's clear eyes, all that confidence vanished.
"Ryo... did you know her before?" Hiyori asked timidly.
"No, I only know her brother. That's all," Kitagawa replied casually.
"Besides, we might face her in class competition in the future."
That comment brought Hiyori some relief.
Even though they were at the recruitment fair, neither of them had plans to actually join a club. They ended up wandering near the vending machines outside the gymnasium.
"What do you want to drink? The mineral water is free," Kitagawa offered as he navigated the touchscreen.
"Ryo, how do you feel about school... life here?"
"It's good. The dorm is comfortable too."
After a long hesitation, Hiyori asked something vague. She had many questions but couldn't quite voice them.
"You've... changed," she said as she scrolled through the drink options beside him.
"People grow. And this school isn't exactly ordinary. Since I chose to lead Class C, I can't stay the same as before."
His voice was calm as he spoke.
"Y-Yeah, that makes sense..."
Hiyori bit her lip. There was a flash of sadness in her eyes.
Just like when Kitagawa had mysteriously disappeared for a year back in middle school and returned changed, she knew something had happened. But she never knew how to ask, or how to help.
Now that they were in high school, it felt the same. She was always a step behind.
Hiyori was naturally a slow-paced girl, and Kitagawa always acted one step faster than others. That alone created an invisible distance between them.
She only hoped that no matter what, she could remain by his side. That even in difficult times, he would always have someone to rely on.
"I-If you ever have trouble or anything... you can talk to me."
Her face turned red as she lowered her head, nervously playing with her fingers.
"Ah, really, I'm fine," Kitagawa replied with a chuckle as he tossed his empty can into a nearby trash robot.
"If I ever had a problem, I'd definitely tell you, Hiyori."
"Lies," she muttered, shaking her head with strange insistence.
"Psychology books say people with problems always say they're fine. And I know you, Ryo."
"I saw Karuizawa Kei in the gym today. I don't know how she got into this school, but still..."
Of course, Hiyori was one of the few who knew about Kitagawa and Karuizawa's past.
Kitagawa placed his hand gently on her head, feeling the silkiness of her hair. He leaned down slightly and comforted her.
"It's fine. She's forgotten everything."
His right hand brushed over his chest, where a long, grotesque scar was hidden beneath his shirt.
"It's all in the past."
-------------------------------------
"Karuizawa-san, how did the communication go?"
Hiding in the corner and watching from afar as Kitagawa Ryo talked with Shiina Hiyori, Karuizawa Kei replied helplessly to the homeroom teacher's inquiry:
"There's always a girl by his side. I can't even get a chance to talk to him alone."
"Then go up to him yourself and request a private conversation."
"No, no, no! He's the boss of Class C! I heard he took down all the delinquents in his class just yesterday! I don't even know him—how am I supposed to approach him?!"
Karuizawa reflexively rejected the idea. For someone like her, who had experienced bullying, a delinquent-like leader was naturally someone to avoid. Agreeing to the teacher's request to communicate on behalf of Class D had already taken great courage.
"You'll be fine."
Chabashira Sae's voice was initially gentle, but she quickly returned to her usual cold and sharp tone:
"In any case, you must come to an agreement with him before the end of today. That is your task."
"...Got it."
Karuizawa sullenly ended the call, stood up, brushed off some dust and grass from her skirt, then took off her uniform jacket and tied it around her waist, trying her best to appear confident and strong. After a brief moment of resolve, she finally started walking toward Kitagawa Ryo.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Chabashira Sae sat in her office chair and lit a slim cigarette. Scattered across her desk were several documents:
Name: Kitagawa Ryo
Class: First-Year Class C
Birthday: January 14
Academic Ability: A
Intelligence: A
Judgment: A+
Physical Ability: A
Teamwork: E
Excerpt from Interviewer's Notes:
Outstanding in both academics and athletics without question. Had no real-life friends in elementary and junior high school. Always completed group projects alone. Likely to have significant deficiencies in communication and coordination with others.
Caused a major disturbance in junior high resulting in one person seriously injured and fifteen others with minor injuries.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To Read Advanced Chapters, and support this novel, please join me on [email protected]/geats2000