Horikita POV
"Seventy-nine points in total, huh? Honestly, I thought you'd do worse. I'm a little surprised," said Horikita, carefully reviewing the surprise test she had made for me.
Yes. Horikita had prepared a little "special exam" for me, probably as a disguised form of revenge for turning the diagnostic test into my own playground instead of answering it like a civilized person. Spoiler: I got the worst score in class. But apparently, she had underestimated me... a lot.
"Did you think I was an idiot like Sudō or Ike?" I said, raising an eyebrow.
"Not exactly. But I wanted to be sure. After all, the real exam will be in three days," she replied in her typical cold, calculating tone, as if she were planning a coup d'état.
"And the problems with the three idiots' group? Did you solve them already?" I asked, referring of course to the delightful trio of Sudō, Ike, and Yamaguchi. The three of them had flat-out refused to study, and Horikita had tried to help them... with all the subtlety of a chainsaw.
"More or less. At least they're still showing up to the study sessions," she said, crossing her arms.
Lie. I knew perfectly well those three didn't attend out of love for knowledge. Oh no. They went because Kushida, with her eternal disguise as the class's "angel," had decided to join the group "in good faith." And of course, with Kushida in the room, even the most atrophied brains suddenly found the courage to sit up straight and pretend to understand fractions.
Let's just say that if Kushida said, "let's study," they heard, "let's go on a group date." That's how easy the masses are to handle.
"You shouldn't get overconfident just because of one decent grade," said Horikita, fixing her eyes on me as if she could read my entire academic history with a glance. "I think you can do a little better."
"Sure, sure, but compared to the expectations you had, this was almost a historic feat, wasn't it? Admit it, I left you speechless."
"Yes, you left me speechless... like when you see a monkey solving a Rubik's cube. It's surprising, but it's still a monkey."
I laughed, not because it was funny, but because I was already used to her sharp humor. It was her twisted way of saying "good job."
"And you? Are you preparing for the exam, or are you just focusing on controlling everyone like a benevolent dictator?"
"I can do both. Unlike some people, I know how to prioritize," she said while reviewing a list of student names and what I assumed were their academic threat levels.
"I see. And on that list, what level am I?"
"You're just above 'lost cause,' but below 'necessary miracle.'"
"You really know how to motivate people, Horikita. You should put that on encouragement cards."
"Thanks for your sarcasm, but I don't need to motivate you. Kushida-san already takes care of that, doesn't she?"
I froze for a second.
"Excuse me?"
"It's obvious you care about what she thinks of you. Don't deny it." She spoke without even looking up. She was marking something on the list as if taking notes for a future judgment day.
"Hey, don't drag Kushida into this. I study because I want to improve myself."
"Right. And Sudō comes to the study sessions because he dreams of being a doctor."
I bit my lip to keep from laughing.
"Speaking of which, don't you think Kushida is taking advantage of her 'natural charm' a little? I mean, the guys don't study, they just stare at her like she's some kind of educational app with legs."
"She does what she believes is right. If that helps keep the group from falling apart, then I don't complain. Although I'd prefer if at least one of those idiots knew how to multiply without using their fingers."
"That's asking a lot, Horikita."
"I know... But if you managed to get seventy-nine points, then maybe there's still hope for this class."
"Was that a compliment?"
"Don't get excited. You're still just an experiment under observation."
...
"So that bitch Shinohara thinks the senpai from 2-C is in love with her just because he told her her dress looked nice," said Kushida, dropping her backpack on the floor of my room like it was hers. "Can you believe it? Just a generic compliment and she's already fantasizing about weddings, babies, and selfies at Disneyland. Ridiculous."
I barely lifted my eyes from the book I was pretending to read.
"I guess some people fall in love easily. Like those who help someone carry papers to the office and suddenly buy flowers, right?"
She turned her head slowly, smiling with sweet venom.
"Ah... so you heard that part, huh?"
"Heard it. Suffered it. Is there a difference?"
Kushida chuckled softly, walking around the room with confidence, as if measuring every inch. She sat on my bed without asking, crossing her legs with the grace of an idol, though I knew better than anyone that behind that angelic disguise lived something much darker.
"You're lucky I like you, Endo-kun. Very few can say that."
"What an ambiguous honor. I wonder if I'll survive it."
"Want to find out?" she asked with a sweet smile, but her eyes were as sharp as blades.
We stayed silent for a few seconds. She started fiddling with her phone with feigned indifference, while I thought about how many times she had come into my room in the past weeks. Always with some excuse: "just passing by," "I was bored," "I needed to talk to someone who isn't a complete idiot"... but she never admitted the real reason.
She wanted to control me. Or at least, keep an eye on me.
Because I knew the truth. Not the "angel" Kushida everyone adored, but the real one. The one who whispered with venom in her voice that if I told anyone, she'd make my life hell. The one who never fully relaxed around me, but still couldn't stop spending more time with me.
"By the way," she said, putting away her phone and narrowing her eyes at me, "you haven't let anything slip yet, have you?"
"About what? About the fact that the perfect princess of Class 1-D actually wants to stab half the world?"
She gave me a smile sweet as honey... but denser, more dangerous.
"Just reminding you of the kind of relationship we have. I'm not your friend, Endo. And you're not my confidant. Don't get confused."
"Relax, my ego's not so broken that I'd think this is friendship," I shrugged. "Although if you were a little nicer, I might even invite you for tea."
"I'd rather have poison. Faster and more efficient."
"Classic Kushida," I said, standing to pour myself a glass of water. "As charming as ever."
She made herself comfortable on my pillow without the slightest shame.
"And you, as insufferable as always, but at least not a complete idiot. That's progress."
"Was that a compliment?"
"That was clinical analysis. I'd worry about your self-esteem if you take that as something nice."
I smiled. Funny. Even though she treated me with disdain, sarcasm, and veiled threats, she kept coming. She kept talking to me. She kept crossing that line between public and private. And though neither of us would admit it, something in this twisted relationship was beginning to change.
"Are you going to keep using my bed as your personal throne?" I asked.
"As long as you don't kick me out, yes."
"And if I did?"
"I'd break your nose. With a smile, of course."
"How sweet. I feel so safe with you around."
"You should. After all, don't they say you should keep your enemies close?"
I looked at her. She held my gaze without blinking.
"Yeah... but you're way too close."
Kushida held my gaze for a moment longer. Then, as if someone flipped a switch, she smiled with that bright expression she used in front of everyone else.
"Oh, Endo-kun~. Are you insinuating something? How bold, are you falling in love with me?"
"And what if it's the other way around?"
She froze. Just for a second. But I saw it. That tiny crack in her smile. Like a fracture in a mask.
"Hah... you're so funny," she replied, standing up theatrically. "You're definitely not as boring as I thought. But I'm leaving now. Wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea."
She headed for the door, her steps elegant, almost arrogant. But just before leaving, she stopped. Without turning.
"Endo... Remember, if you talk, you lose everything."
"Same to you, Kushida."
She chuckled softly, amused. And then she left.
The door closed with a click. I stayed there, alone, with silence hanging in the air. Her words still floated in the room, like poisonous perfume.
I lay down on the bed. Her actual perfume lingered on my pillow.
"She's definitely going to kill me one of these days," I thought.
But what I didn't dare admit...
Was that part of me was starting to enjoy it.