It had been a week since the decision was made to hold the class conflict.
Initially, Mamoru thought the entire class would rally behind Arisu. But contrary to expectations, he decided to wait and observe how things unfolded.
Many in the class were puzzled by his stance, but Arisu herself never said anything.
She understood that Mamoru wasn't interested in this kind of power struggle. Even though she couldn't fully pull him into her camp, she also knew he wouldn't join Katsuragi's side. That was enough for her to leave him alone.
And now—
"I suddenly have a lot of free time…*yawn*"
Mamoru muttered as he quietly enjoyed a parfait at the campus café, sitting alone.
Ever since the conflict had begun, everyone around him—both participants and non-participants—had been somewhat tense, especially with the upcoming midterms. In stark contrast, Mamoru seemed oddly relaxed.
One reason was that Arisu had been spending more time in strategy meetings with her group and less time around him.
Another was that the number of cursed spirits appearing on campus had dropped, thanks to established patrol routes. That gave him more unstructured time than usual.
(I haven't received any assignments from my brother either… So what should I do?)
Midterms were the only immediate concern. But Mamoru didn't feel the need to increase his study hours.
He had always kept up with the basics. Even with a few curveball questions thrown in, he was confident he'd score over 80%.
(Should I increase my training time...? No, seriously, all I think about is work or training. Am I a workaholic?)
Until recently, he'd been so busy that having sudden free time now left him unsure of what to do.
Campus entertainment cost points. Going off-campus just to kill time felt excessive.
Free from obligations for the moment, he'd splurged on a menu item he'd been eyeing for a while. But spending more points than necessary didn't appeal to him.
(Not that I don't have things I should be doing…)
As that thought crossed his mind, he looked up and noticed a few students walking by the café.
They wore gloomy expressions, and their glances toward the chatting café customers were tinged with quiet resentment.
(Probably Class D students.)
Lately, Mamoru had seen many students with that same defeated look—almost all of them from Class D.
"…This isn't looking good."
He murmured to no one in particular.
Negative emotions were fertile ground for cursed spirits. Mamoru had been actively exorcising them from campus, but that didn't mean all the negative energy had been purged.
With so much unrest and no telling what might trigger another emergence, letting this much negative emotion pile up was a dangerous idea.
(Zero points, huh… That's harsh.)
Mamoru accepted that this school was structured around harsh disparities. He had no intention of interfering with that system. But even so, the level of inequality was more extreme than he'd expected.
(Still… what can I even do about it?)
Even if he offered to help, there was no reason Class D students would trust someone from Class A.
It frustrated him, but lacking a solution, he had no choice but to hope Class D would figure something out.
He sighed, took a sip of his coffee to clear the lingering unease—and then someone sat down in the seat across from him.
"Do you have a moment?"
"…Katsuragi-kun, huh? I don't mind. But what's the occasion?"
The man now sitting in front of him was none other than Katsuragi Kōhei—currently in direct conflict with Arisu.
Even Mamoru was surprised to see him show up like this.
Katsuragi folded his hands on the table, his expression serious.
"I'll get straight to the point. I want you to form a third group and participate in the upcoming points competition."
Mamoru's eyes widened slightly at the request.
(So that's what this is about.)
Mamoru had no real interest in the conflict, but once he heard the rules of the game, he could already imagine several strategic possibilities.
This, however, was one of the least likely scenarios he'd considered.
"…Alright. I'll bite. Tell me how you reached that conclusion."
"First, let me make one thing clear: I have no personal attachment to being class leader."
"If someone else can lead the class effectively, I'll gladly support them."
"You don't think Arisu-san is capable enough?"
"I acknowledge her abilities. But she's dangerous. That became evident during our last meeting."
"So you figured out you were being manipulated."
From the look on Katsuragi's face, it seemed he had realized Arisu had orchestrated much of their last discussion.
He frowned. "I'm not that oblivious. If the entire situation is that neatly arranged, anyone would eventually catch on."
"Well, planning ahead like that is also part of being a good leader, isn't it?"
"That's not the problem. The issue is how she perceives the class itself. When she suggested that ridiculous game, I realized—she sees this class as her plaything."
(I- i can't argue with that...)
Mamoru silently agreed, unable to offer any rebuttal.
"It's fine if I lose. But I can't let Sakayanagi win this alone."
"Sounds like you've already given up on winning."
"…To be honest, she has the advantage. At the very least, she has more high-performing students in her group."
That was true. Arisu had the prestige of being top-ranked in quizzes.
Many high-achievers who were initially neutral had gravitated toward her, hoping to be on the winning side.
And Katsuragi clearly understood that.
But that wasn't the only issue.
(…From the way he's talking, it sounds like he hasn't realized the bigger threat.)
When Mamoru heard about the competition, he doubted Arisu intended for it to be a straightforward academic contest.
There was no doubt she had a hidden card up her sleeve—one that would all but guarantee her victory.
"By the way, how many participants have you and Arisu gathered?"
"I have fourteen. She has seven."
(That's more lopsided than I expected… Is that confirmed?)
Mamoru suspected that Arisu may have planted a few of her own people within Katsuragi's camp—lowering their average score from the inside.
It was a basic sabotage strategy, one that Katsuragi probably hadn't even considered.
The stakes were high. These midterms would directly impact class points.
Katsuragi might assume spies were just for intel gathering—not sabotage.
(Still, it's not my place to advise him.)
He had already chosen to stay out of the conflict. Giving Katsuragi tips now would be dishonest.
For someone like Mamoru—used to both deception and being deceived—this kind of scheme barely even registered as underhanded.
"So... why me? You didn't seriously think I'd side with Arisu-san, did you?"
"Watching how you act, I get the feeling there's no real hierarchy between you and Sakayanagi. In fact, it almost seems like she's the one chasing after you."
"You're still not part of her camp. That means you're against the game—and she's not in a position to force you to join."
Mamoru was quietly impressed.
Most of their classmates assumed he and Arisu were close. But Katsuragi had accurately assessed the real distance between them.
Arisu had been using Mamoru subtly, but Katsuragi had seen through it. His perception was sharp.
"Still… that doesn't mean it has to be me, right?"
"If we choose someone else, Sakayanagi might crush them. Even if they win temporarily, if they're seen as an enemy, there'll be consequences later.
You, on the other hand, are on good terms with her. She won't treat you as an enemy."
(Katsuragi kun~ you make it sound like she's a wild animal. …Not that I'd disagree.)
"You said you gathered 14 people, but kept some back. Why?"
"Among those with high grades, I asked several to hold off. I want you to lead them as a neutral third group—to force a draw between me and Sakayanagi.
You don't need to be the leader if you don't want to. But I'm asking for your cooperation, at least for this game."
It was Katsuragi's least risky option.
If he won outright, Arisu's camp would hate him and the class would be split. But if a third party could take the win, it would ease the factional tension.
Of course, that depended on Mamoru agreeing.
"Sorry, but I can't help you."
Katsuragi's face tensed slightly.
"…Can I ask why?"
"Same reason I gave Arisu. I have no interest in inter-class battles.
I'm willing to cooperate to keep the peace, but I honestly don't care whether we graduate in Class A or Class D."
Katsuragi was stunned by how casually Mamoru said it. But he quickly recovered.
"If you're trying not to disturb the peace, wouldn't helping be the logical choice?"
"Maybe. But I want to avoid getting involved in things that determine the class's direction.
If I joined you, it would be seen as support for your vision of the class."
Mamoru understood that he was an outsider at this school.
As a classmate, he had some responsibility. But imposing his will on the class's direction crossed a line he wasn't willing to step over.
"Even if that means accepting disadvantages under Sakayanagi's leadership?"
"If that happens, I'll deal with it. I chose not to get involved. I won't complain about the consequences. And if it ever becomes unbearable… I'll reconsider then."
Unless his duties as a sorcerer were interfered with, Mamoru was prepared to tolerate most things.
Katsuragi stared at him, but Mamoru returned the gaze with calm resolve.
Eventually, Katsuragi sighed in defeat.
"…I see. It seems I can't change your mind. That's unfortunate. I'll drop it."
"I'm sorry for refusing. But in exchange, I'll give you my word: I won't assist Arisu-san either."
"That alone helps. Honestly, I was hoping you'd lead. I doubt Sakayanagi would underestimate you."
"Who knows. I don't even know what that girl's thinking most of the time."
Mamoru couldn't see himself as a leader. And he couldn't imagine Arisu following him, either.
With that, the conversation ended.
His parfait long gone, Mamoru stood up and took the bill.
"Well, I'll be going."
"Yeah."
Waving lightly as he turned to leave, Mamoru wondered what Katsuragi would do next.
Would he field another representative? Or just fight alone?
(Either way, the odds aren't in his favor.)
Forming a third group was a smart move—but also the safest one.
If Arisu had already planted insiders, she'd find out immediately.
It was even possible that some of the students Katsuragi asked to hold back were already compromised.
Still, Mamoru couldn't blame her.
He kept his own secrets too—so he was in no position to judge.