Chapter 301 Today's Intel: Hiyori Will Discover the True Identities of "X" and "Anonymous"
Mid-December—the chill of winter was growing deeper.
Shimizu Akira wrapped his heavy coat tightly around himself. His inner layer was thermal cotton, with his winter school uniform in the middle, and a heavy overcoat as the outermost layer. Even fully armed like this, he still felt an involuntary, piercing cold as he walked.
He looked up; fine snowflakes were slowly drifting down from the hazy, gray sky.
"It's snowing! Look!"
"I wonder if we can have a snowball fight?"
"In your dreams. This amount won't even cover the ground!"
A few passing students excitedly pulled off their gloves, reaching out to catch the falling flakes. Shimizu Akira stopped, watching the rustling snow. This was likely the first snow he had seen since coming to this world.
Winter really only feels right when it snows!
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.
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By the time Akira entered the classroom, nearly a third of the students were already seated. The chill still permeated the air.
"So cold!"
"Why hasn't the school turned on the AC yet?"
"My toes are about to freeze off..."
Akira looked at the clock on the wall; it was 7:30 AM. The classroom's climate control was always centrally managed by the school. Typically, the heating should turn on around 7:30, though the specific time fluctuated depending on the staff's schedule.
The heat wasn't on time today.
Lately, the first thing most early arrivals said upon pushing open the door was a complaint about the AC. It had become a staple of the winter routine.
Akira sat down and turned to look at his neighbor to the right, Horikita Suzune. She had already taken off her coat, wearing only her winter uniform on top. Below, she still wore her signature long socks, revealing a small sliver of pale thigh at the "Absolute Territory" gap.
It looked freezing just looking at her.
At the moment, she was focused on reading Raymond Chandler's Farewell, My Lovely. This made Akira feel a bit nostalgic. If he remembered correctly, on the first day of school, Horikita had been sitting just like this, holding a copy of Crime and Punishment.
"Akira-kun, good morning." Horikita lifted her gaze from the page and greeted him.
"Yeah, morning, Suzune." He responded as if a beat late.
"What's wrong? You seem a bit distracted."
"Nothing, I just feel like you've really changed compared to the start of school. You actually give polite greetings now." He sighed while putting down his bag.
"...Haven't I always been like this since the first semester?"
Suzune answered as if it were a matter of course.
'You? Giving polite greetings?'
This person was as confident as ever.
"Absolutely not, you're imagining things," Akira denied without hesitation, but then added: "However, when we first met, you really were the one who took the initiative to speak to me."
"That's not right!" Horikita Suzune's heart skipped a beat, and she refuted him almost instinctively.
Even though she had long since admitted she liked him and they had shared many intimate moments, she would never admit to the claim of "initiating a pick-up." By common logic—Akira had high EQ and impeccable social skills; with his "everyone loves him" personality, he could talk to anyone easily.
And her? Her IQ was beyond reproach, but she was notoriously bad at socializing. At the start of school, she was an ice beauty radiating a "stay away" aura. How could someone like her have initiated a conversation with him before they even knew each other? She had her pride to protect!
However, when she looked up, she saw Akira wearing that grinning expression again, turning to look at her.
"Fine, let's settle the score about the first day of school."
Our first conversation was by the steps at the school gate, right? Didn't you call out to me first?" He slowly raised his first finger.
Horikita Suzune subconsciously knit her brows, tracing back through her memories. The first dialogue... it really did seem like she had called out to him. The reason, apparently, was because he had looked at her one too many times on the bus, and she wanted to know why.
"...And then? The second time, right here in this classroom, at these very seats—you suddenly spoke to me too, right?"
Horikita subconsciously closed her book. The second time... was that her too? She really couldn't remember why that time occurred.
"Don't remember?" Akira lightly patted the back of her hand. "I was reminiscing about the contents of the school handbook, and you suddenly started explaining why the school had 160 students and deduced there were four classes of forty. So, the second time was also you starting the conversation."
Horikita Suzune finally remembered. That slightly embarrassing memory. At the time, she was still very confident, thinking she had seen through Akira's train of thought, only for him to reveal he was just reciting the handbook. That was her first "face-slap" at this school.
So, the first few conversations when they met were really initiated by her? And for such embarrassing reasons every time? Doesn't that make it look... like she was interested in him from the very beginning?
Horikita had a sudden urge to travel back in time and slap her past self to correct this history. Akira, on the other hand, was quite happy to see her awkward and shy state. This was probably Suzune's unique cuteness.
However, noticing her instinctive movement to pull her hand back, Akira realized he couldn't push this topic further. Otherwise, she might actually revert to that "stay away" hissing cat from day one.
"Aren't you cold? With your legs exposed." His gaze fell on her bare skin.
"I'm used to it," she replied, then gave him a sideways glance.
"...How is it that even in winter, you're still so enthusiastic about that matter?"
'Huh? Does this girl think I'm looking for an excuse to touch her thighs?'
Akira felt an invisible black line drop from his forehead.
"I'm genuinely just worried you're cold! And if you go out like that, your legs really will freeze."
"..." Horikita didn't reply immediately.
After a moment of silence, she let out a soft sigh of compromise.
"I get it... I'll find some time over the next few days. You can come to my dorm... and help me warm up by hand."
As she spoke, that "helpless against her boyfriend's desires" perfect-girlfriend expression appeared on her face.
It seemed she had already started imagining a scene where he used his hands to warm her legs. After all, after the last sports festival, Akira really had helped her relieve the muscle pressure in her thighs that way.
Akira was momentarily speechless. Meanwhile, Horikita enjoyed his rare, tongue-tied expression.
"Heh heh."
"Are you laughing at me?" Akira finally realized she was teasing him on purpose. What was this? A role reversal?
Horikita smiled again before putting away her playful look and answering seriously: "Actually, it is a bit cold. After all, there's no kotatsu in the dorms."
Detecting a flash of confusion in Akira's eyes, Horikita didn't find it strange.
Her desk mate's occasional lack of common Japanese knowledge was nothing new.
She explained patiently: "A kotatsu is a heating device with an electric heater installed under a table. Because a quilt is usually placed over the table, it's called a kotatsu. When I was little, my legs were always cold in winter. The first thing I'd do after school was stick my legs in the kotatsu."
I see. A kotatsu.
Akira remembered seeing heartwarming scenes in anime of families gathered around a kotatsu in winter. That thing really was perfect for warming legs.
Did Japanese people not feel the cold because of those?
Since the dorms only had AC, no wonder Suzune felt cold.
"Then let's go buy a kotatsu after school." With Akira's personality, he didn't want to see her shivering.
"Not many people come to my dorm," Horikita replied flatly. To her, a kotatsu was too much of a luxury for one person. She knew very few people; for all intents and purposes, Akira was the only one who visited her.
"Then I'll buy one, and you can come over to my place, okay?" Akira insisted. "If you feel cold and it makes you comfortable, it's worth buying. It doesn't matter if no one else uses it."
Horikita froze slightly. Seeing his serious expression, she looked down and thought for a moment, her voice softening. "But... a kotatsu takes up a lot of space. Does your dorm have room for it?"
"Don't worry about that," Akira laughed. "My room layout is more spacious than yours. I don't cook and don't have many appliances, so it fits perfectly. If your legs feel frozen, just come to my room anytime."
Suzune's cheeks warmed slightly as she nodded.
"I understand." Since Akira's room would have a kotatsu... it couldn't be helped. It was for the sake of staying warm. That counted as a valid reason.
She wasn't going for Akira; she was going for the kotatsu! As for whether he would take other "physical warming" measures... ahem.
"Akira-kun," she changed the subject, "when you made the bet with us... did you already know the Japanese language exam would be very easy?"
The final grades had been released.
Yes, his desk mate, Shimizu Akira, had taken first place in the class.
She was only third, trailing him by over twenty points. These past few days, she had analyzed why she lost.
Math, Chemistry, and Physics were full of tricky questions; even she only got around 85, but Akira got perfect scores in all of them.
Her strong suits, like Japanese and World History, were unexpectedly easy—even featuring "giveaway" questions from the first semester. While she got nearly perfect scores, so did Akira. Thus, Akira no longer had a "Japanese language" weakness and vaulted to number one.
"I will keep our agreement and won't speak ill of Kushida."
After saying this, Horikita picked up her book again and added in a low voice: "You should also tell your 'two-faced' girlfriend to behave and stop making small moves in class."
The term "two-faced" was quite harsh. Luckily Kushida didn't hear it, or her mask would have slipped again.
Akira narrowed his eyes slightly. He felt Horikita had forgotten something important: since he won the bet, he could technically make one arbitrary request of her and Kikyo.
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The time reached 8:00 AM, and the daily intel refreshed.
The Keyaki Mall has a rest area specifically for students. If the third-year final exams result in a tie, an additional special exam will be held to determine rankings. First-year Class D's Hiyori Shiina will uncover the true identities of "X" and "Anonymous" by December 22nd.
The Keyaki Mall... it was indeed one of the most popular facilities on campus. The building had over ten floors with various shops and entertainment. Every day after school, you could hear students making plans to hang out there.
Akira remembered the extremely accurate fortune-teller granny from summer had a shop there. He didn't know there was a student-only rest area; he'd have to check it out.
The second piece of intel revealed a unique rule. If the graduating third-years tied, they had to do an extra test? That situation seemed rare.
The current third-year landscape was dominated by Class A; a tie would be difficult to achieve.
As for the third... intel about Shiina Hiyori again. Wait, she was about to find out "X" and "Anonymous"? This felt strangely familiar... Akira recalled that in April, there was similar intel saying Hiyori would see through his "Yue" identity in May.
Now, she was investigating new targets? Could Ryuen Kakeru have commissioned her again? It was the same pattern.
Setting aside Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's "X" identity, Akira absolutely did not want Ryuen to discover that "Anonymous" was Kushida Kikyo.
Given Ryuen's style, once he knew, he'd likely spread the word to destroy Kikyo's reputation. For Kikyo, who valued her social standing above all else, that would be a death blow.
Knowing the crisis was coming, Akira knew he had to do something.
But what? Last time, he wasn't close to Hiyori, so he could approach her as an "assistant" to interfere with the investigation.
Unfortunately, she saw through him in the end.
This time, since Hiyori didn't know Ayanokouji and wasn't close to Kushida, she had no reason to keep their secrets. Honestly, the fact that she kept his secret last time was already a lot. Akira had some pride left; he didn't want to shamelessly keep asking her for favors.
,
,
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Just as the bell for the end of school rang, Sudo Ken and Ike Kanji walked to the back of the classroom.
"Shimizu! Let's go hit the Keyaki Mall!" Sudo patted his desk. Ike also stuck his head over to call out to Ayanokouji, who was packing his bag: "Don't dawdle, let's go!"
"Sure," Akira stood up. "I actually need to buy a kotatsu. You guys can help me pick one."
He was still focused on the heating issue.
"A kotatsu?" Sudo Ken raised an eyebrow. "Shimizu, with your build, since when were you so afraid of the cold?"
Ike immediately caught on, nudging Sudo with his elbow and winking: "Idiot, this is obviously for Horikita-san, right?"
Akira smiled without answering, slinging his bag over his shoulder. Ayanokouji Kiyotaka followed silently, quiet as ever.
The four walked down the tree-lined path toward the mall.
"Seriously," Ike rubbed his hands, exhaling a cloud of white mist, "the dorm AC is like a decoration. I have to wrap myself in a blanket just to play games at night."
Sudo Ken sneered: "If you ask me, it's definitely that new Council President's fault! He probably messed with our AC because we're Class C!"
"Even so... he wouldn't target the AC... probably." Ike lost his confidence halfway through the sentence.
Akira laughed at the duo.
Nagumo Miyabi, huh? Given that man's style, it wasn't entirely impossible.
Sudo had previously claimed the cafeteria food tasted worse because of Nagumo too. Unknowingly, the new president had become the universal scapegoat for all misfortunes—as if every shadow on campus could be linked to him.
The four entered the electronics store, and warm air mixed with the scent of new plastic hit them. The array of appliances was dazzling, and the hot items area featured various heaters. Ike curiously approached an open kotatsu and was immediately enveloped in warmth.
"So comfortable! As expected of a kotatsu!"
Sudo tried sticking his legs in too, letting out a sigh of satisfaction: "This is too good! No wonder you're buying one, Shimizu."
Ayanokouji silently observed the price tags and energy efficiency labels of different models.
A salesperson in a store vest approached with a smile: "Are you looking for a kotatsu, gentlemen? With the weather getting cold, this basic model is a bestseller and very cost-effective." Akira didn't decide immediately. His gaze drifted between several models, finally landing on one with a minimalist design and a dark solid wood top.
"I'll take this one," he said, pointing. "Also, for the matching quilt, please pick a thick one."
"A wise choice, sir," the salesperson nodded approvingly. "The heating on this one is very even and safe. The table top is large too—if you sit around it, it can fit five or six people. Is it for dorm use?"
"Yeah," Akira smiled, glancing at his companions. "I hope it keeps someone who's afraid of the cold a bit warmer."
A kotatsu wasn't just for Suzune; it was better if more people could use it. Ike and Sudo nudged each other, clearly understanding his underlying meaning. Even the usually expressionless Ayanokouji seemed to have a microscopic twitch at the corner of his mouth.
The kotatsu cost over 20,000 personal points.
According to the prices Ayanokouji checked on his phone, it was a fair deal. The clerk offered delivery, but seeing the four strong boys, Sudo and Ike volunteered to carry the table themselves.
Ayanokouji carried the heavy quilt and floor mat, while Akira took the smaller parts—the heater and remote.
"By the way, Ike," Sudo asked casually while lifting the table, "how far have you gotten with Shinohara Satsuki?"
"It's... okay, I guess..." Ike was vague.
"'Okay' isn't an answer! Are you dating yet? Are you at D-rank? Or C-rank?"
Sudo pressed on.
Ayanokouji turned his head in confusion: "What does that mean?"
"D is holding hands, C is kissing," Akira explained softly.
This cryptic grading system was common knowledge in high school.
"Idiot! Who gave you permission to grade romance!" Ike retorted, his face turning red.
"Oh—so that means you haven't started dating, and you haven't even held hands?" Sudo realized.
"You should ask her out!"
"I've been too busy lately... the sports festival, special exams one after another, there's no chance..."
"You have time now, don't you? Finals are over, the teachers are just doing review, and winter break is almost here—isn't Christmas Eve the best chance?"
"Well... that is indeed an opportunity." Ike's voice finally betrayed a hint of excitement.
It was Christmas Eve, after all! If planned right, he might actually make a breakthrough.
"Wait, don't worry about me," he looked mischievously at the other three, "what about you guys? No plans for your girlfriends? How are you spending Christmas Eve?"
Sudo Ken shrugged indifferently: "I'm not interested in romance! If you ask me, it'd be great if the four of us just hung out and played games on Christmas Eve."
"I'm free," Ayanokouji echoed flatly.
"Wait," Akira waved his hands, "Sorry, guys. I already have plans that day."
A group of guys huddling together on Christmas Eve sounded way too pathetic.
"What?!" Sudo and Ike's eyes widened simultaneously.
"Shimizu, don't tell me you have someone you like too?"
"Yeah." Akira smiled slightly, giving his friends a warning in advance.
"And more than one."
"Hahaha, stop joking!"
"Exactly! How could you possibly be dating multiple people!"
Seeing the two completely ignore his honest words, Akira could only shake his head helplessly.
Truly, no one believes the truth.
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As the group walked out of the store, the biting wind rushed into their mouths and noses. Sudo and Ike immediately shut up and focused on walking.
Akira took the chance to slow down, lightly patting Ayanokouji's shoulder.
Once the other boy slowed down in sync, Akira asked: "How do you plan to handle your 'X' alt? If Ryuen really catches a lead and exposes you, what's the plan? You should know the smartest person in Class D is investigating this."
"Shiina-san is indeed very sharp." Ayanokouji looked at the bare branches in the distance, his tone unusually troubled.
"I'm thinking of a countermeasure. Ryuen has been messaging me frequently these past few days; the man is a bit too persistent."
To think Ayanokouji would use the word "persistent"! Ryuen Kakeru truly was a troublesome venomous snake.
Akira couldn't help but chuckle; he felt the same way. His "Yue" alt received no shortage of Ryuen's relentless questioning about his identity.
Fortunately, Ryuen hadn't locked onto his class yet, so the pestering wasn't suffocating.
"Since he values violence so much," Ayanokouji proposed calmly, "maybe just beating him up would make him behave for a while."
"I completely agree." Akira had long been annoyed by Ryuen's antics; since the island exam, the guy had been like a persistent flea.
"But the problem is that hitting someone violates school rules."
Violating rules meant a 50-point class penalty.
Ryuen wasn't an idiot; he wouldn't walk into a beating without making the other side pay. In short, this needed a long-term plan.
"Oh right!" Akira remembered something else. "In these finals, your math and other scores were exactly 50 again. Didn't you promise Sakayanagi to take her exam seriously?"
"Shimizu, you've misunderstood," Ayanokouji said coldly. "I never agreed to a contest with her. I haven't even accepted her friend request."
In his eyes, what was Sakayanagi Arisu? Why would she be worth his full effort?
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