The class bell had already rung.
Silence, contemplation, confrontation, mutual accusations—countless different atmospheres intertwined as time ticked away little by little.
As the teacher for this class, Chabashira Sae wasn't in any hurry to begin the lesson. She didn't mind even if the entire period was spent letting Class D think things through. As long as they could arrive at a concrete "conclusion," it would be a success.
So even when the short break arrived, she had no intention of letting her students off. Instead, she continued occupying their break time, explaining the "special exam" they had bought with two hundred thousand points.
However, what she hadn't expected was that, on the third day—when relationships hadn't yet been firmly established, and breaks were rarely used for interaction—someone from another class would appear here.
"Why? Am I not welcome?"
The silver-haired princess leaned on her cane, smiling gently as she stood at the doorway of Class D.
Behind Sakayanagi Arisu, a purple-haired, cold-faced girl stood silently like a guard.
"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself."
As if suddenly remembering that the students of Class D might not know her, Sakayanagi Arisu first swept her gaze across the classroom, then spoke softly:
"First-year Class A, Sakayanagi Arisu."
"Good afternoon, defective products."
"..."
"...Huh?" Horikita Suzune frowned.
"Eh..." Ayanokōji Kiyotaka remained expressionless.
"Hey, hey, hey, isn't she super cute?!" Ike Kanji widened his eyes.
"Since you're already in high school, you shouldn't be unfamiliar with the word 'exam,' right?"
Seeing that no one directly rejected her entry, Sakayanagi took it as silent permission and began walking slowly around Class D with her cane.
As she walked, she continued explaining:
"Setting boundaries, evaluating qualities, testing knowledge, measuring ability."
"Before an exam, teachers answer all your questions. But once the evaluation begins, are you still allowed to ask them?"
As her words fell, Sakayanagi's steps slowly came to a halt.
She stopped in front of a desk.
It belonged to a deep-blue-haired girl with twin tails.
Wang Meiyu.
The only Chinese student in the first year.
Beautiful eyes, dark blue twin tails, yet she always kept her head lowered. Her youthful face carried a faint, timid aura that made her seem easy to bully.
A perfect target.
But it seemed she hadn't been bullied.
Was it because she hadn't attended middle school in Japan?
"Hello."
Sakayanagi gently placed her hand on the desk.
"Would you like to shake hands?"
"Eh?"
Stiffly, Wang Meiyu looked up.
S-So cute...
But... shake hands?
Why her?
Though she didn't understand, faced with Sakayanagi's smile, Wang Meiyu cautiously reached out and lightly held her soft hand.
"Is... this enough?"
Blinking, she met Sakayanagi's gaze and asked quietly.
"..."
A trace of surprise flashed through Sakayanagi's eyes, but she didn't dwell on it. She smiled and nodded.
"Yes. This is enough."
Are you trying not to expose yourself in class?
Or pretending I didn't notice?
But when I entered, the way you avoided my gaze already gave you away.
Everyone else looked at me.
Only you deliberately looked away.
Still, it's surprising.
The person who spreads nonsense and rumors in that diary looks this easy to bully in real life.
Is this what they call a gap?
Anyway, this little game of hide-and-seek ends here.
It was mildly entertaining.
Releasing Wang Meiyu's hand, Sakayanagi turned and walked out of Class D.
Only after she disappeared did the students belatedly realize that someone from Class A had just been here.
"...So what was she even here for?"
Someone muttered.
...
Outside Class D, in the hallway.
Sakayanagi walked leisurely back toward Class A, leaning on her cane. Kamuro Masumi quickened her steps and walked up beside her.
"...What were you actually doing there?" she asked.
Sakayanagi smiled faintly.
"Didn't I say it from the beginning? I came to see someone."
"That girl just now? She didn't look special at all," Kamuro frowned. "Are you sure you didn't pick the wrong person?"
"And if it was just for a handshake, you didn't need to come in person. You could've had someone call her out."
"You don't understand."
Sakayanagi shook her head lightly.
From the very beginning, the other party had said this was a game of hide-and-seek.
And in hide-and-seek, there are hunters and those who hide.
Sakayanagi never considered herself someone who needed to hide.
So she was the hunter.
And if she was the hunter, why hide?
Find the target.
Confirm it.
Declare victory.
That was all.
Though it looked like she had only shaken hands, things weren't that simple.
It was a declaration of victory.
A declaration that she had seen through the timid facade.
And it was also a warning.
She welcomed Wang Meiyu continuing to write her diary. Even nonsense could add some amusement to her dull life.
But she was forbidden from fabricating rumors about her.
That was what their exchanged gazes had conveyed.
"Yeah, yeah. I don't understand. Only you do," Kamuro shrugged.
...
First-year Class B.
"...Sakayanagi from Class A went to Class D today."
"Apparently... she just shook hands with that Wang girl?"
"Is she trying to befriend her?"
"She's already making friends with other classes. That's amazing."
Students chatted casually during break. Even without listening on purpose, their voices kept reaching his ears.
And the more he listened, the more wrong it felt.
Asakusa Tetsu: "...?"
What do you mean, Sakayanagi Arisu went to Class D to shake hands with Wang Meiyu?
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