Chapter 294 The Three-Way Bet / The Sakayanagi Faction Going All-Out on Infighting
Shimizu Akira spent nearly another half hour at Horikita Suzune's place, not counting the time they spent eating.
For the first ten minutes, he was the one guiding the intimacy.
After all, Suzune had always been shy and conservative; he was long accustomed to slowly leading her along. But for the remaining twenty minutes—ever since Horikita Suzune had asked about the kissing—the initiative had completely shifted into her hands.
The two of them barely stopped. Every single time, Horikita Suzune would lean in proactively with absolute seriousness.
Shimizu Akira enjoyed it at first; after all, it was rare for Suzune to be so proactive. But he couldn't hold out against kiss after kiss after kiss. Her posture made it seem like she was trying to make up for every kiss she hadn't received before.
He could guess her thoughts: she was likely provoked by Kushida Kikyo. But in reality, their personalities were worlds apart; Kikyo was nowhere near as conservative as Suzune.
Furthermore, he and Kushida Kikyo had been dating for over two months now, counting from the day of the VIP special exam. She was his first girlfriend; forget kissing, more intimate things had already happened frequently.
It wasn't even a comparable situation. Suzune was being way too competitive.
Actually, while they were kissing, he had caught onto this and tried to say something, but Suzune wouldn't listen at all, simply using her cherry-red lips to block his words.
This was the first time in his life Akira truly understood the meaning of "Don't talk, just kiss me."
Horikita Suzune was truly someone who hated losing to her core.
Last time, they exchanged nicknames because of Kushida's provocation; this time, her proactive offensive was, in the end, a seed planted by Kikyo. Without those triggers, given Suzune's original personality, these two milestones might have taken another month or two to happen.
Still, if they were competing over kissing this time, what would it be next time? Could it be that to win against Kushida Kikyo, Horikita Suzune really was willing to do anything?
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At 7:00 PM, a knock sounded at Shimizu Akira's door. He reacted almost instantly, knowing it must be his girlfriend, and hurried to open it.
Since it was winter and late at night, Kushida Kikyo wasn't dressed as thinly or sexily as usual; instead, she was wrapped in a thick coat. As soon as the door opened a crack, Kikyo squeezed inside toward the warmth, bringing a chill with her as she dove into his arms.
Shimizu Akira instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist.
"It's cold outside, isn't it? It's nice and warm in here."
Kikyo looked up at him, a smile in her eyes, and reached up to hook her arms around his neck, pulling him down. Shimizu Akira leaned in, meeting the kiss she proactively offered.
Unlike Suzune's stubborn kiss, Kikyo's was soft and smooth, her tongue gently brushing his lips with a clingy, pouting sweetness. But before Shimizu Akira could savor the softness, his lip was suddenly nipped.
The two pulled apart. Kushida Kikyo lightly touched her own lips with a finger. "Mhm? Akira-kun, the 'mouth-feel' tonight is a bit different! You haven't been kissing other girls, have you?"
'She can detect even that?!'
Shimizu Akira was stunned for a second, then said helplessly, "Well... actually, I just came back from Horikita Suzune's dorm."
"Is that so? So you came back from that woman." Kushida Kikyo's fingertip lightly scratched his palm.
"What, did you go over there proactively again?"
She wasn't the type to get angry over this anymore. It was just a kiss, and she knew she held the title of his first kiss months ago; she had that much confidence.
"I wasn't entirely the proactive one; Suzune was proactive this time too," Shimizu Akira replied.
Kikyo's eyes lit up. She pulled him toward the bed and leaned into his chest, resting her chin on his shoulder and laughing.
"That cold Horikita Suzune actually sought out a kiss proactively?"
Shimizu Akira squeezed her soft hand.
"Wasn't it because you provoked her? You must have said something to her in secret, right?"
"Mhm? Well, definitely! Back during the VIP exam..." Leaning in his arms, Kushida Kikyo recounted her conversation with Horikita Suzune in detail.
After hearing it, Shimizu Akira didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Back then, we had already kissed countless times. You actually told her a lie like that?"
"I personally love telling lies! You know this!" Kikyo looked up and nuzzled his chin.
"When we started dating, Akira-kun promised to accept all of me."
She flashed a mischievous smile. "Did that woman's face turn ugly right then? It's a pity I didn't get to see it with my own eyes. But since Akira-kun witnessed it, I suppose I'm satisfied."
'Is my girlfriend having another 'villainess' episode?'
He tapped her nose. "Why do you love targeting Suzune so much?"
"Because she's been ignoring me since the first day of school!" Kikyo immediately sneered. "You're her seatmate, so you must know, right? She has ignored me exactly 123 times. She's made me go to her so many times."
Shimizu Akira was stunned.
He tried to recall the scenes since the start of the term but couldn't remember such a specific count. However, truth be told, just sitting in his seat, he had seen many instances of Kushida Kikyo trying to talk to Horikita Suzune only to be snubbed.
There were definitely seventy or eighty times.
'It seems... Suzune isn't entirely innocent?'
"You actually counted?" He couldn't help but comment.
"Suzune just has that personality; she's cold to everyone. It's not like she's targeting you on purpose."
"It is absolutely on purpose!" Kushida Kikyo huffed. "On the day of the VIP exam, she clearly said she hated me."
Shimizu Akira sighed. "You two really are natural enemies; neither of you will yield."
The friction between them clearly hadn't built up overnight; both were bursting with grievances.
"We are probably natural-born predators and prey." Kushida Kikyo huddled closer into his embrace, her tone taking on a reflective quality.
"I tried talking to her in junior high too, but she always loved ignoring me. That was also when I realized I wasn't good at using my head, while Horikita Suzune easily took first place in the entire grade. It was infuriating."
"And then!" Her voice rose slightly.
"On the first day of school on the bus, I recognized her instantly! Later, when I went out of my way to talk to her, she had the nerve to act like she didn't know me at all! I was clearly quite cute in junior high and famous in school. So, she was either ignoring me on purpose or she really forgot me—either way, it proves that woman is an incredibly irritating person!"
Shimizu Akira shook his head. He smoothed his hand down her back to soothe her.
"Anyone would feel uncomfortable being treated that way. But you know Suzune's personality; for the first few months, she really didn't recognize you. It's been a long time since junior high graduation, and she has never been good at remembering people."
"Not good at remembering people?" Kikyo suddenly looked up and glared at him, a spark of anger in her eyes.
"I'm that insignificant in her eyes?"
She then frowned and pressed further: "Wait, you said she didn't recognize me at first. Exactly when did she recognize me?"
"Well, I just came back from her dorm, and she mentioned it." Shimizu Akira recounted the conversation.
"Ha?!" Kikyo let out a cry of disbelief. "During the study group? The one our class held after the Sports Festival to prepare for midterms?!"
Her voice grew more frantic.
"That woman... she didn't recognize me until the second semester?!"
'Unbelievable! This is too ridiculous!'
She, Kushida Kikyo, a living human being, was classmates with Horikita Suzune for three whole years! And yet? It took six whole months for Horikita Suzune to recognize her?
The woman wasn't blind; how could this happen! Based on what Akira said, it seemed Suzune only recognized her face; as for the matter of her taking down an entire class back then, Suzune mostly just suspected it.
"Right, Kikyo," Shimizu Akira remembered.
"Regarding the things you did in the past, I told Suzune. I took a bit of liberty there."
"Mhm, it's fine." Kikyo leaned in and kissed his cheek, her tone indifferent.
"With that woman's personality, even if I didn't admit it, she would find a mountain of evidence to prove I did it. Just like last time, she was certain I used a side account to frame Yamauchi."
She really didn't take it to heart.
Such a small thing—why be angry? Shimizu Akira was so good to her; she wouldn't throw a tantrum with her precious boyfriend over something so inconsequential.
"So," Shimizu Akira continued, "Suzune also said she doesn't plan to tell anyone else about your past. You can be at peace for now."
"...I don't believe her." Kushida Kikyo curled her lip. "She's holding several pieces of leverage against me; it makes my whole body feel uncomfortable!"
'As expected, that's her reaction.'
"However," Kikyo's tone shifted as she looked up at him.
"While I don't trust that woman, I trust you. Since she's proactively kissing you, she must have confessed, right? Maybe from now on, she'll be wrapped around your finger, so she shouldn't be able to move against me."
"Actually, no," Shimizu Akira replied honestly.
"Suzune didn't confess at all. Looking at her, it seems she has no intention of getting a boyfriend."
"Huh?" Kikyo sat bolt upright, her eyes wide.
"She initiated a kiss without intending to get a boyfriend? Is there something wrong with that woman's brain?"
She rubbed her chin, thinking for a few seconds before making a disgusted face.
"Then again, that woman is more conservative than anyone. Even if she's competing with me, if she didn't like you even a little, how could she bring herself to kiss you? In my view, she's just stubborn to the end, refusing to admit she's fallen for you!"
"I agree with that."
Shimizu Akira was thinking the same thing. He recalled the clumsy seriousness in her kiss and the way she turned away afterward with red ears, still acting tough.
It was clearly a case of her heart saying one thing and her mouth another. After all, they had been seatmates since the start of school; he understood her prideful nature.
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Afterward, Shimizu Akira dialed Horikita Suzune's number. The call was picked up almost instantly, and Suzune's voice came through with a hint of surprise: "Akira-kun? Is there something you need?"
"Tsk, tsk, that was fast," Kikyo whispered beside him. "If I called her, she probably wouldn't even pick up."
Shimizu Akira ignored his girlfriend's muttering and said directly, "Suzune, if you're free, come to the cafe. I have something important to discuss with you." He checked the time; it was 7:30 PM, so the cafe should still be open.
"I understand. I'll be there shortly." Suzune didn't hesitate and hung up after agreeing.
"Why are you meeting her alone?!" Kikyo frowned. She didn't mind her boyfriend interacting with other girls, but this was their time together. It had barely been any time at all, and they were being interrupted by Horikita Suzune; she couldn't help but feel a bit disgruntled.
"I'm not meeting her alone." Shimizu Akira pulled her hand.
"You're coming too. This time, I want to directly resolve the things you both are most worried about."
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Horikita Suzune couldn't quite understand why Shimizu Akira wanted to see her so late. But since it was his request, she would try to fulfill it. Her first thought was that Shimizu Akira hadn't had enough intimacy—after all, she had been the proactive one today.
But on second thought, meeting in a place like a cafe meant it wouldn't be that kind of thing. When she arrived, Shimizu Akira nodded to her from a distance.
'Could it be... a private date?' Her expression softened slightly, and her pace quickened.
But as she got closer, she saw Kushida Kikyo sitting next to him, staring at her with a displeased look, as if seeing an enemy. The softness in Suzune's heart vanished instantly, replaced by an inexplicable annoyance.
'Tsk, what is she annoyed about? I'm the one who should be annoyed!'
"Sit down." Shimizu Akira stood up and pulled out a chair.
Horikita Suzune glanced at the nearby Kushida Kikyo.
'I actually have to talk to this woman? Tsk.'
She didn't dwell on it, crossed her arms, and sat down decisively opposite Shimizu Akira.
"Akira-kun, what exactly is this about?" Suzune was the first to speak.
"It's like this: since I like both of you very much, I really don't want to see the two of you fighting each other anymore."
Shimizu Akira looked at both of them, his tone serious.
"You both have your own concerns. Kikyo is worried you'll tell others about her dark history, and Suzune, you're worried Kikyo will do something to harm the class, right?"
He spread his hands.
"How about you draw up a cooperation agreement? Write your requirements clearly, let Horikita-senpai facilitate it, sign it in black and white, and try to get Chairman Sakayanagi to
act as a guarantor. That way, both sides can be at peace and stop second-guessing each other. How does that sound?"
"Of course, it doesn't have to be too detailed," Shimizu Akira added.
"Just one clear clause: Suzune must not inform others of matters related to Kikyo's junior high years."
Kikyo was obsessed with her dark past being known. But truth be told, the school likely already knew the truth; otherwise, she wouldn't have been placed in Class D.
Ordinary staff might not have that clearance, but Chairman Sakayanagi Narumori certainly knew. Since Kikyo was always worried Suzune would snitch, it was better to have the Chairman as a guarantor.
Firstly, it would be a personal request from the former Council President Horikita Manabu, and secondly, Sakayanagi Narumori had always been approachable; he would likely agree.
As a high-ranking official, the Chairman would never leak such private info; it would be unnecessary and damaging to his reputation.
"A guarantee from the Chairman! Akira-kun really knows how to find a way!" Kikyo looked at Shimizu Akira and smiled sweetly.
"If the agreement is in writing, I can be much more at ease. After all, I'm constantly worried this woman will suddenly spill my secrets."
"Hey!" Suzune immediately frowned and retorted.
"I have zero interest in your so-called 'dark history,' and I have no intention of telling others! As long as you don't betray the class, I don't care what you do." She shot a look of indifference at Kikyo.
"It's only because you're paranoid that Akira-kun has to go to all this trouble!"
In Suzune's mind, Kikyo was synonymous with "trouble"! Only Shimizu Akira, who liked both of them simultaneously, would come up with such a method.
Shimizu Akira didn't think it was a hassle; as long as they could get along, it was better than anything else.
"Then it's settled! Tomorrow, the three of us will go to the school authorities to draft the contract!"
"Wait!" Kikyo suddenly spoke up, her tone defiant. "The idea is good, but I don't want to just follow her orders!"
"Me neither!" Suzune echoed immediately, her eyes full of resistance. "I've found you an eyesore for a long time. Why should I sign something to make you feel at peace? I won't do it!"
"Uh..." Shimizu Akira was stunned.
'Why are they backing out again?' He rubbed his brow helplessly.
"Since you both love competing so much, how about we turn it into a bet? The loser has to fulfill one request from the winner and follow the agreed-upon clauses. Is that acceptable?"
"I agree!"
"Fine."
The two discussed it for a while before Kikyo threw out a proposal: "How about we use the results of the final exam as the stake?"
"Are you serious?" Horikita Suzune frowned. "You should know very well that my grades are significantly better than yours." In the last small test, Suzune was second in the class, while Kikyo was only tenth. It seemed like only an eight-place gap, but the total score difference was dozens of points, nearly a three-point gap per subject on average.
"I know that." Kikyo met her gaze, her tone challenging.
"Just say it—do you dare to accept?"
"There's nothing to be afraid of," Suzune agreed decisively. She was sure Kikyo would try some tricks. She turned to Shimizu Akira and added a condition: "One more rule: Shimizu Akira cannot help either of us. Is that okay?"
"Sure, no problem." Kikyo was incensed by the implication that she couldn't win without help. "Even without Akira-kun, I can still beat you!"
Shimizu Akira sat to the side, watching them at each other's throats yet somehow reaching a consensus. He suddenly had a thought and raised his hand.
"So, can I join this bet?"
"You too?" "Akira-kun?" The two looked at him in unison.
"That's right." Shimizu Akira smiled. "If I win, you both go to the Student Council and sign that mutually beneficial contract and stop fighting over these things."
He figured this was the only way to truly resolve their conflict and let them set aside their worries.
"And if you lose?" Kikyo pressed immediately. "Have you thought about what request you'll grant me?"
Suzune added, "Akira-kun, your Japanese grade isn't outstanding. Even with the bonus from the Sports Festival last time, your total score wasn't as good as mine."
Shimizu Akira's mouth twitched. He was trying to help them out, yet these two were already calculating his defeat. He replied crossly, "Then I won't be polite either! If my total score is higher than both of yours, you both have to obediently grant me one wish!"
"Deal!" "No problem!" The two agreed almost in unison.
Even though Class A was setting the questions this time, Shimizu Akira knew far more people in Class A than they did.
Getting a high score through raw strength was one path, but if he really wanted to find a shortcut, he had his ways.
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One day at the cafe, Sakayanagi Arisu's gaze fell on a math paper at the corner of the table, and she smiled unconsciously.
The fifty questions on this paper were ones she had specifically had the school repeatedly confirm the scope for. She had collaborated with several top students in Class A, using five sets of exercise books to polish these difficult questions. After finalizing the test, she had three students who scored full marks in math during midterms and two who scored over 95 try it out. The result: the highest score was only 90, and two only managed above 85.
Since these questions were for Class C, those "defective products" would likely only have a handful of people capable of scoring above 85.
"Sakayanagi-san! More students from the neutral faction want to join our side!" a student across the table spoke up.
Since the Sports Festival concluded, the Sakayanagi faction had indeed been riding high. Arisu counted in her heart—the neutral members who had joined in the past few days accounted for more than half the class. In contrast, the Katsuragi faction currently couldn't even scrape together ten people.
"I really don't get it," one faction member couldn't help but ask.
"The Katsuragi faction can't make waves anymore. Why are you still giving him half the authority to set the eight exam papers?"
"Hehe," Arisu laughed softly. "Because that man hasn't proactively come to me to admit defeat yet. When dealing with an opponent with such resilience, you have to take the momentum to strike a final blow to truly crush them and find peace."
"The leader is right!" someone immediately echoed.
"We have to completely resolve the Katsuragi faction! Otherwise, the class will be in constant internal friction. How can we unite against other classes?"
"Exactly! Katsuragi's lot are just out of it! They stayed hidden and didn't act at all during the Sports Festival—classic cowards! I was hoping the guy would oppose us properly for once."
In the eyes of the Sakayanagi faction, Katsuragi's theory of "peaceful coexistence first, then deciding a leader" was utterly absurd. Resolving internal strife was the foundation of the class. Otherwise, with the people divided, how could they truly tie into a single rope?
"So this time, should we continue to trip up the Katsuragi faction?" someone suggested eagerly.
"Yeah! They're responsible for four papers; there's so much room to maneuver!"
"Sakayanagi-san, you must have planned this from the start, right? But how do we get the papers they set?"
"Hehe, please rest assured," Sakayanagi Arisu said calmly. "On the day the special exam plan was finalized, I already spoke with Mashima-sensei. The final test questions must have my approval to count."
She said indifferently, "So, even if Katsuragi and the others submit their papers on time, without my nod, those four pieces of paper are nothing more than meaningless trash."
"So the leader already arranged it!" a member of the Sakayanagi faction slapped his thigh excitedly. "That way, even if the Katsuragi faction exhausts themselves setting questions, it'll be a waste of effort!"
"It's more than just a waste of effort." Arisu gently stirred her coffee, the milk foam slowly dissipating under the spoon. "I also specifically had someone leak news to Katsuragi that the weight of these exam questions is directly linked to the voice in future class affairs."
She looked up at everyone, a calculating smile on her face.
"Given Katsuragi's personality, he'll likely have his subordinates set questions that look standard but are full of traps, trying to prove his ability. But he doesn't know that only the content I approve will be printed on the exam."
"But if Katsuragi finds out he's been played, will he flip out on the spot?" a more timid member asked.
"Flip out? On what grounds?" a core member sneered. "Most of the class is on our side now. Katsuragi's faction can't even get ten people together; what waves can he make?"
The group finally relaxed completely, smug smiles on their faces. In their eyes, the Katsuragi faction was already in the bag, and this battle for class power would soon come to a close.
"Wait! If the Katsuragi faction's four papers don't count and only our questions are used, if Class C scores well, won't we definitely lose?" someone suddenly realized.
"It would just be a loss in this one special exam," Sakayanagi Arisu's tone was indifferent, as if speaking of a trivial matter.
"Our class has plenty of points in reserve. To completely eliminate future internal strife, this small sacrifice is only natural."
Another pressed: "But since you planned to turn Katsuragi's papers into waste from the start, why did you go to all the trouble of making us polish such difficult questions?"
"Idiot!" a core member nearby retorted. "That's how we prove the Sakayanagi faction went all-out! Think about it: after the exam, the scores of all four classes will be publicized. When those neutral students who are still watching see that we set such high-quality questions and only lost because Katsuragi's side dragged us down, they'll naturally flip to our side!"
This was a calculated move to kill two birds with one stone.
First, by using the excuse of invalidating the papers, she would make Katsuragi's efforts completely futile, letting everyone see that following him was meaningless and thoroughly dismantling his faction's foundation.
Second, this difficult exam paper, condensed from the blood and sweat of Class A's top students, was specifically a test she prepared for Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. She wanted to see how many points this "Masterpiece" could score against questions she designed herself.
As a litmus test before her battle with Shimizu Akira, if he were too weak, it would be quite disappointing.
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