Chapter 131: Sakayanagi: "You have more VIPs in Class B than I do in Class A—The advantage is mine!"
On the other side, the Class D area was also in a state of near-explosion.
However, this time it wasn't a discussion in the class group chat—after all, too many people had witnessed that conflict on the deck with their own eyes; there was no need to spread it through the group. Since it happened to be breakfast time, students from Class D were sitting in small groups throughout the restaurant.
Some passed by carrying trays, others were just sitting down, but no matter what they were doing, the topic couldn't escape what had just happened.
"Did you hear? Ayanokouji and Ryuen from Class C got into a fight."
"What do you mean 'got into a fight'? I heard Ryuen was looking for trouble unilaterally, but Ayanokouji countered him."
"For real? That gloomy Ayanokouji?"
"I saw it with my own eyes! Ryuen was being held up by Ayanokouji with one hand, like he was lifting a little chick."
Ike Kanji was walking toward a seat with his tray when he paused, his face showing an expression of pure disbelief. "Hey, hey, hey—the Ayanokouji you're talking about is our Ayanokouji? The one who always hangs out with us? He can take on Ryuen?"
"It's him," a boy leaned in, lowering his voice. "All of Ryuen's moves were dodged. With that last move, he picked Ryuen straight up. You should have seen it—Ryuen's face looked like he'd swallowed a fly."
Ike's mouth hung open for a long moment before he managed to choke out: "Holy crap... that guy is that good at fighting?"
"Isn't he?" another boy nearby chimed in. "If there's a sports-related exam next time, shouldn't we let him take the field? It's called, uh, 'making the best use of resources!'"
"Makes sense," Ike nodded thoughtfully. "But with his personality... can he be ordered around? I feel like Ayanokouji might have his own ideas..."
In Ike Kanji's heart, there was a feeling of not wanting his "bro" to suffer, but also fearing his "bro" might suddenly be driving a luxury car while he was left behind.
Among the former "Four Fools" of Class D, Sudo was indeed still an idiot, and Yamauchi had become the class enemy. Ike continued to hang out with them only because he had no one else, but Ayanokouji—the one with the lowest presence... turned out to be this fierce.
What about him?
Was he going to be at the bottom now?
As they spoke, Hirata Yousuke walked past. He carried a tray, the usual gentle smile still on his face, but it lacked some of its usual lightness. He sat down at an empty table but didn't start eating immediately, instead staring blankly at his tray.
He had heard everything they just said.
'Ayanokouji can fight.'
This fact itself didn't surprise him—there was always something unfathomable about that boy. But the problem now was what Ryuen had said:
"Honey trap," "Seducing a Class C girl," "Using her to bully another girl in Class D," "Recording for blackmail."
Every one of those phrases made Hirata's heart tighten.
He wasn't unaware of Ayanokouji's performance during the deserted island exam.
Swapping leaders, guessing leaders, making Classes A and C suffer—he admitted those methods were impressive. But that was an exam, and it was directed at other classes. Now, what Ryuen was saying was that Ayanokouji was targeting the girls in his own class.
Hirata's hands tightened slightly.
He could tolerate Ayanokouji calculating against him in an exam, using him, or even sacrificing him if necessary—because he was a boy, the leader of Class D, and it was his responsibility to bear that.
But if Ayanokouji's goal was the girls in the class, if he was using those methods to hurt his own people... especially vulnerable classmates... Hirata felt he couldn't accept it.
He couldn't just sit by and watch...
"Hirata-kun?"
A voice pulled him back to reality. Hirata looked up to see Yukimura Teruhiko standing by the table; it was Yukimura who had called him.
"Are you okay? You look a bit pale," Yukimura said.
Hirata shook his head and forced a smile. "I'm fine, just thinking about a few things."
Yukimura sat across from him. After a few seconds of silence, he adjusted his glasses and suddenly lowered his voice.
"Hirata-kun, regarding what Ryuen said... do you think it's true?"
Hirata didn't answer immediately.
Yukimura continued, "Ayanokouji doesn't talk much, but I've always felt... he has a lot going on in his head. Yesterday, he even asked me to borrow a camera, saying he wanted to take some pictures. I didn't think much of it then, but now..."
He paused, his brow furrowing deeper.
Hirata's eyes narrowed slightly. "A camera?"
"Yeah," Yukimura nodded. "Around 10:00 AM, after the first Dragon Group discussion ended. He said he wanted to take pictures of the ocean, so I helped him borrow one. Thinking about it now... if what Ryuen said is true, it's not hard to guess what that camera was for."
Though he was a studious type, he still possessed reasoning skills. Otherwise, he wouldn't be a top student. He decided to relay this information to Hirata.
Hirata fell into instant silence.
Yukimura looked at him, hesitated, but spoke anyway.
"Hirata, I know you've always wanted to protect everyone in the class. But this person, Ayanokouji... I think we might need to get to know him all over again."
After a long silence, Hirata nodded softly. "I understand."
But Yukimura stood up, his breakfast completely untouched. "I'm going to go talk to him. I want to know the truth."
Hirata was stunned. He wanted to say something, but in the end, he remained silent, watching Yukimura leave.
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Meanwhile, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was leaning against a window in the cabin corridor, his gaze fixed on the distant sea. His face showed little emotion, but he heard the sound of approaching footsteps from behind.
Every person's footsteps have a different weight and walking habit.
Therefore, Ayanokouji did not turn around.
"Ayanokouji."
Yukimura Teruhiko's voice came from behind him, carrying a hint of complexity.
Only then did Ayanokouji turn to face him. Yukimura stood a few paces away, his expression a subtle mix of hesitation, vigilance, and estrangement.
"Is something wrong?" Ayanokouji asked.
Yukimura was silent for a few seconds before speaking.
"What Ryuen said... is it true?"
Ayanokouji looked at him without speaking.
Yukimura took a deep breath and continued, "You had me borrow a camera, saying you wanted to photograph the sea. But if what Ryuen said is true, then that camera was meant to..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear.
There wasn't a flicker of emotion in Ayanokouji's eyes. He simply looked at Yukimura quietly for a few seconds before speaking slowly.
"You believe him?" Ayanokouji said.
Yukimura blinked, taken aback.
Ayanokouji continued, "How much of Ryuen's words do you believe?"
Yukimura frowned. "But..."
"There are no 'buts'," Ayanokouji interrupted. "If you choose to believe him, I won't stop you. But if you came to me just to confirm these things, then I have nothing to say."
With that, Ayanokouji turned back to the window, returning his gaze to the sea.
Yukimura stood there, his expression shifting several times. He wanted to say something, but ultimately said nothing and turned to leave.
After a few steps, he stopped and said without looking back:
"Ayanokouji, I said before that I was willing to cooperate with you because I felt you could lead Class D upward. But if your methods involve hurting people in our own class... then I can't support you."
After finishing, he hurried away.
Ayanokouji continued looking out the window, his expression unchanged from beginning to end. However, he knew that Yukimura—a pawn that had come to him for free—was now useless.
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At that moment, the girls of Class D were also gathered together.
In another corner of the restaurant, Kushida Kikyo was sitting with Hasabe Haruka, Mori Nene, and Wang Mei-Yu. The four were huddled around a small round table, their breakfast almost untouched.
"It's really terrifying," Wang Mei-Yu whispered, a hint of lingering fear in her voice. "Ayanokouji-kun... he usually looks so honest, how could he do something like that?"
Mori Nene nodded. "I'm surprised too. If what Ryuen said is true, then this guy is just too..."
"Too what?" Hasabe Haruka cut in, her tone mocking. "Too good at faking it. He acts all harmless normally, but then he pulls these stunts behind the scenes."
Kushida Kikyo sat to the side, her expression perfectly calibrated—a mix of concern and confusion, as if she were innocently inquiring: "But, that 'other girl from Class D' Ryuen mentioned... who exactly is she?"
The moment those words were out, the other three fell silent.
That's right—the girl Ayanokouji had targeted, who was she?
Hasabe frowned. "It couldn't be one of us, could it? If that's the case, I think we have to be very careful."
Wang Mei-Yu's face turned a shade paler. "No... it can't be... I haven't even spoken to him!"
Mori Nene was calmer. "Not necessarily. There are so many girls in Class D, it isn't necessarily us. However..." She paused and looked at Kushida. "Kushida-san, you're popular and have contacts in other classes. Could you help us look into it? At least so we know what we're dealing with. Since it involves Class C, someone in Class C must know."
This suggestion made Kushida's heart tighten slightly.
Because...
Look into it? Of course she would. But not to help Hasabe and the others—it was for herself.
She knew Ayanokouji had targeted her before.
The GPS tracks from that day, her kicking the fence and swearing... if Hikigaya hadn't warned her and called her back, what would her situation be now? She didn't dare think about it.
But Ryuen's words forced her to re-examine the situation.
For instance, had Ayanokouji's target really changed? Or had he never given up on her?
Despite these thoughts, Kushida showed nothing on her face.
She simply nodded gently.
"Yeah, I'll try. But something like this... might be hard to find out."
"We're counting on you," Hasabe looked at her seriously. "Either way, knowing who it is is better than knowing nothing."
"Yes, yes, Kikyo-san, please! Even if we have to spend some points, we're willing—" Wang Mei-Yu also clasped her hands, looking at Kushida expectantly.
Since she couldn't refuse now, Kushida nodded. "I'll do my best."
Then, as if she were shouldering a heavy burden, she took a sip of the milk tea in front of her.
Over with the "gal" group, the atmosphere was equally subtle.
Sato Maya, Matsushita Chiaki, and Shinohara Satsuki were sitting together, with Karuizawa Kei across from them. Unlike Kushida's group, these four had almost finished their breakfast, but none of them seemed intent on leaving.
"Speaking of which, that Ayanokouji guy..." Sato Maya started, her face holding a complex expression. "He's actually pretty handsome, but this whole thing is just too scary."
Shinohara Satsuki nodded. "Using a honey trap to seduce a Class C girl, making her bully a girl in our class, while he hides in the shadows to record it—what kind of move is that? Is he sick in the head?"
Matsushita Chiaki shook her head slightly.
"It's not sickness, it's calculation."
Sato and Shinohara both looked at her.
Matsushita put down her fork, her tone turning serious. "Think about it. Why would he do that? If he were just interested in a girl, why not just chase her? Why make it so complicated?"
"Then why did he do it?" Sato asked.
Matsushita was silent for a few seconds before speaking slowly. "For control."
"Control?"
"Yeah," Matsushita nodded. "He uses that Class C girl to bully a girl in our class, then records the whole process. That way, he has leverage over the Class C girl. Whatever he wants her to do later, she has to do it."
She paused and continued, "And what about the girl being bullied? If he 'just happens' to show up at the critical moment to save the day—the hero saving the damsel—what will that girl think?"
Sato's eyes widened slightly. "She... she'd be grateful to him?"
"Exactly," Matsushita nodded. "Grateful, trusting, maybe even falling in love with him. That way, he controls two people at once. A pawn in Class C and a pawn in Class D."
Shinohara Satsuki's expression shifted. "That's... that's too terrifying."
"That's why I say it's calculation," Matsushita's tone held a hint of admiration. "Using an old cliché like the hero saving the damsel to achieve his goals. The method is old-fashioned, but effective. If Ryuen hadn't discovered it early..."
She didn't finish, but the implication was clear.
Karuizawa Kei, sitting opposite them, hadn't said much. She just listened quietly, her face showing no ripples.
But inside, her heart was surging with massive emotion.
Because she was the only one who knew the truth.
Ayanokouji's target wasn't "some girl in Class D"—it was her. The Class C girl was Manabe Shiho, and that "other girl" was herself.
If Hikigaya hadn't found out in advance, if Hikigaya hadn't notified Ryuen, what would she be like now?
Cornered by Manabe and the others, bullied, recorded, and then Ayanokouji "happening" to appear to save her...
Karuizawa's fingers tightened slightly.
She didn't dare think further.
"Kei?" Sato Maya's voice brought her back. "What are you thinking about?"
Karuizawa snapped out of it and quickly forced a smile. "Nothing, I just spaced out for a bit."
Sato looked at her and suddenly said, "By the way, Kei, do you think the girl Ayanokouji targeted could have been you?"
!!
Karuizawa's heart skipped a beat.
But she maintained a calm expression. "I don't know, maybe it was someone else? Why would he target me? I've never even spoken to him."
"True," Sato nodded, not thinking further on it.
But Matsushita Chiaki's gaze lingered on Karuizawa for an extra second.
Because she felt... Kei's reaction... was a bit subtle.
However, she said nothing, withdrawing her gaze and taking a sip of her drink.
As she had said before, she was now part of Karuizawa's team, so naturally, she had to support the leader. Only an idiot would undermine their own group.
Shinohara Satsuki, however, felt nostalgic. "Speaking of which, we really have to thank Class C's Ryuen. If he hadn't found out in time, that target girl would have been in trouble."
"Right?" Sato agreed. "Ryuen is usually pretty annoying, but this time, he did a great job."
As they spoke, Karuizawa's phone vibrated.
She glanced at the screen; it was an alarm reminding her it was almost time for the group discussion.
However, she also noticed that a message she had sent earlier was now marked as "read."
[Thank you. It was you who notified Ryuen, right? You stopped Ayanokouji's plan. I'll listen to you even more from now on.]
Since it was read, it meant he had seen it.
Her mood suddenly improved. She looked up, scanned the three across from her to ensure no one noticed anything unusual, and then quietly slipped the phone back into her pocket.
A complicated feeling welled up in her heart.
It wasn't lingering fear, nor was it simple relief.
It was... a sense of security.
Because someone had blocked all the danger for her before she even knew it.
.
.
.
At that moment, Hachiman had returned to the restaurant to continue eating with Ichinose, but three messages popped up on his phone screen in sequence.
The first was from Karuizawa Kei: [Thank you. It was you who notified Ryuen, right? You stopped Ayanokouji's plan. I'll listen to you even more from now on.]
Hachiman looked at the message, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. This girl Karuizawa certainly knew how to talk.
For instance, "listen even more"... wasn't she already listening enough? How much more could she "listen"?
Still, he accepted the sentiment for now.
The second was from Kushida Kikyo: [Thanks. This time, I owe you a favor. Combined with the last time you told me to avoid Ayanokouji, I owe you two favors total. I can agree to do one thing for you.]
Hachiman raised an eyebrow. Kushida's favor was interesting.
He recalled that Ryuen hadn't actually named Manabe or Karuizawa on the deck; he had only said Ayanokouji used a honey trap to seduce a Class C girl to attack another girl in Class D.
So, the Class D girls... filling in the blanks themselves... seemed logically sound.
But in a way, this also suggested that the girls of Class D... weren't that hard to "conquer"? Because they seemed to have mastered the art of self-delusion.
Hachiman continued reading.
The third was from Horikita Suzune: [I've already heard about the deck incident. You acted again while I was unaware. I truly am an immature little sister. I owe you a favor this time.]
Hachiman stared at this message for a few seconds, a subtle expression on his face.
'Immature little sister?'
Wait, Horikita, what does this have to do with you?
Ayanokouji's target could have been Karuizawa, Kushida, or even you—that was true enough. So thanking him now wasn't exactly wrong.
Hachiman shook his head and stopped thinking about it.
Since they all messaged him regarding the same incident, he didn't play favorites. He sent a simple "V" (read receipt/check) emoji to all three and put his phone away.
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At exactly nine o'clock, Hachiman and Ichinose pushed open the door to the Dragon Group discussion room.
Quite a few people had already arrived. Sakayanagi Arisu sat in her usual spot by the window, her cane leaning against the table, her beret perfectly straight, with silver hair peeking out from under the brim. She was holding a cup of black tea, looking out the window, her posture as elegant as a painting.
Kanzaki Ryuji had also arrived. Seeing Hachiman and the others enter, he nodded to them. His expression was a bit subtle, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated, his gaze shifting toward Ryuen.
Clearly, he also knew about the incident on the deck.
Hachiman sat down next to Sakayanagi and scanned the room.
From Class C, Ryuen, Kaneda, and Shiina Hiyori had all arrived. Ryuen was leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, with injuries from the morning's fight still visible on his face.
His lip was split, and there was a bruise on his cheekbone.
But instead of making him look pathetic, these injuries added a dangerous edge to his aura.
Shiina Hiyori sat beside him, her long silver hair draping smoothly over her shoulders. She held a book in her hands but wasn't reading it; her eyes periodically swept toward the door.
Next, the three from Class D arrived. Hirata Yousuke entered first with his gentle smile, though it lacked its usual ease.
Kushida maintained her polite social persona.
"Hello everyone, good morning."
"Morning~" Ichinose waved back at her.
However, the moment Ayanokouji entered the room, Ryuen Kakeru stood up. His gaze bypassed everyone else and landed directly on Ayanokouji.
Ryuen raised his right hand and flipped him the middle finger.
The room fell silent for a second.
Everyone's eyes fixed on Ryuen, then followed his gaze to Ayanokouji. Ayanokouji remained expressionless, as if that middle finger weren't aimed at him.
Hirata Yousuke's brow furrowed. He hesitated before speaking.
"Ryuen-kun, about what happened this morning—"
"Shut up," Ryuen interrupted without even looking at him. "None of your business."
Hirata opened his mouth to say more, but seeing Ryuen's "say one more word and I'll lose it" expression, he ultimately swallowed his words.
Ichinose looked at Ryuen, then at Ayanokouji, and spoke softly. "Ryuen-kun, we're here to discuss the exam—"
"The exam?" Ryuen finally pulled his hand back and leaned against his chair with a sneer. "Fine, let's talk about the exam."
His gaze landed on Ayanokouji again, his tone dripping with mockery. "But some people should probably clear up their own business first."
Ayanokouji looked up at Ryuen. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Ryuen's eyebrow shot up. "You don't know?"
"No," Ayanokouji nodded. "Your claims about me targeting Manabe from your class—honey traps, recording videos, threats—I know nothing about any of it."
Ryuen's expression froze slightly.
Ayanokouji continued, "After all, I did nothing. My only 'sin' was writing a love letter to a girl in your class. Pure adolescent admiration; I think that's perfectly normal.
As for the rest, I cannot admit to it." His tone was calm and collected, devoid of any guilt.
And what he said... was indeed the truth. Though what Ryuen said was also true, none of it had actually happened yet, right?
One couldn't pin things that hadn't happened on him.
Ryuen stared at him for a few seconds and suddenly laughed. But there was no warmth in that laughter. "Fine, Ayanokouji. You're a good actor!"
Ayanokouji didn't respond.
Just as Ryuen was about to say more, Ayanokouji suddenly shifted the topic. "However, speaking of using girls to gather information... Hashimoto-kun from Class A should understand that better than me."
Swish—
In an instant, all eyes were on Hashimoto.
Hashimoto's hand jerked slightly, nearly dropping his phone. He looked up, trying to maintain a calm expression, but the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed him.
"Ayanokouji, what do you mean?" Hashimoto's voice sounded displeased. He didn't feel he had offended Ayanokouji. To be called out like this...
Ayanokouji looked at him. "Nothing much. I just heard you've been getting close to Maezono An from my class lately."
Maezono An.
When that name was mentioned, Kushida Kikyo's expression shifted.
Maezono An, a Class D girl. Her looks were below average for the class, her personality was ordinary yet vain, and she had low presence—essentially a girl on the lower rungs of Class D's social ladder. Normally, she had no interaction with them. But recently, there were indeed rumors that she was dating a handsome guy from Class A.
Kushida's gaze fell on Hashimoto.
Hashimoto Masayoshi, a handsome guy from Class A, easily top three in looks for the first-year boys. Why would a guy of his caliber take an interest in an unremarkable girl like Maezono?
'Honey trap'
A thought flashed through Kushida's mind.
'Utilization.'
Using romance as a cover to extract intelligence from Class D. And a vain girl like Maezono was indeed the easiest target—because of her vanity, she couldn't resist a handsome guy's advances, and because she'd never been pursued, she had no experience.
Once in love, she'd be easily led by the nose.
The atmosphere in the room turned subtle.
Ryuen leaned back with a smirk, enjoying the show. Katsuragi Kouhei's brow furrowed as he looked at Hashimoto. Sakayanagi Arisu took a soft sip of her tea.
A thin layer of sweat broke out on Hashimoto's forehead. He forced a smile. "Ayanokouji, the way you put it... Maezono-san and I are dating normally. She might not be a great beauty, but I like her type. What's wrong with that? Love is about a spark, not just appearances."
He paused, sounding a bit aggrieved. "The way you say it makes it sound like I'm after something. What could I even want from her? Her Class D allowance? Or Class D's 130 class points?"
There was some logic to his words.
Ayanokouji just looked at him without speaking.
Hashimoto, unnerved by the gaze, quickly added, "And love is supposed to be inclusive. If you hit it off, it's possible for the other person to have shortcomings. You can't think I have ulterior motives just because I'm handsome, right?"
The room was silent for a few seconds.
Katsuragi Kouhei spoke slowly. "Hashimoto is right. There are no restrictions on love."
Hashimoto breathed a sigh of relief, but Katsuragi's next words made his expression freeze again.
"However," Katsuragi's gaze landed on Hashimoto, his tone steady but carrying a warning, "if someone uses romance to induce a student from an opposing class to betray them during class competition, I will absolutely not tolerate such behavior."
He paused, his eyes sweeping over everyone before landing on Ayanokouji.
"I will protect the girls of Class A. Similarly, if someone from another class tries to use such methods against Class A, I will not stand by."
This speech sounded like a warning to everyone, but the spear was clearly aimed at Ayanokouji. He was warning Ayanokouji not to target Class A girls.
Ayanokouji maintained his "poker face."
Ryuen sneered. "Katsuragi, protecting your territory?"
Katsuragi ignored him.
Hachiman sat beside Sakayanagi, watching the scene unfold quietly.
Hirata Yousuke opened his mouth to say something to ease the tension, but seeing the states Ryuen and Katsuragi were in, he stayed silent.
Actually, Ayanokouji's move was quite clever. After being publicly exposed by Ryuen, he didn't fight back head-on. Instead, he turned the spear toward Hashimoto—diverting the topic, dragging someone else into the water, and testing Class A's reaction.
And Hashimoto's reaction... was too obvious. That level of acting might fool an ordinary person, but who among the elites sitting here couldn't see through it?
Hachiman withdrew his gaze and looked at Sakayanagi Arisu.
Sakayanagi was sipping her tea. Sunlight streamed in from the window, hitting her profile and making her delicate features look exceptionally soft.
Hachiman suddenly spoke. "Sakayanagi-san, do you have no thoughts on this?"
Sakayanagi put down her cup and turned to him. There was a hint of a smile in those purple-blue eyes.
"Thoughts?" She tilted her head slightly, her silver hair swaying. "What kind of thoughts does Hikigaya-kun want to hear?"
Hachiman looked at her and said nothing.
Sakayanagi laughed softly, her tone nonchalant. "I think it's no big deal. Being able to use points, favors, debts, threats—no matter the method, as long as you can induce another class's student to betray them, it's a form of ability."
She paused, her gaze sweeping the room.
"Results are what matter most. As for the process... it's unimportant."
She said this airily, but it made Hashimoto's face turn a shade paler.
Because Sakayanagi's words clearly meant: No matter what means you use, as long as you win, it's fine. But if you lose, you have to bear the consequences.
It made him remember his betrayal of Class A on the island. He had thought it would only cause a loss for Class A and make Katsuragi lose credibility, but it had turned into a catastrophe for the entire Class A.
Hachiman looked at Sakayanagi and sent her a mental thought: 'Sakayanagi looks open-minded, but in the original story, she was purely a "love-brain." You could say that as long as she's in a relationship, she triggers a love-brain buff and would even give up commanding Class A.'
Sakayanagi's hand holding the teacup paused.
Her brow furrowed slightly before returning to calm. But in those eyes, a flash of displeasure flickered.
She pouted.
Then, she put down her cup, pulled her phone from her pocket, and tapped quickly on the screen.
Hachiman's pocket vibrated.
He pulled out his phone and looked at the screen.
[Speaking of which, does Hikigaya-kun have any other thoughts on this exam?] —by Sakayanagi.
Hachiman raised an eyebrow and looked up at her. Sakayanagi was watching him with a playful smile.
He looked down to reply: "What are you trying to say?"
The moment he sent it, Sakayanagi's reply arrived.
[Hikigaya-kun, you have more people on the VIP list in Class B than I do in Class A, don't you?]
Hachiman's fingers paused.
Another message followed immediately:
[And you don't actually support going for Outcome 1. You're just forced into it.]
Hachiman finished reading and looked up. Sakayanagi was watching him, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She even winked at him.
Hachiman was silent for a few seconds before typing back.
"So, are you using this exam to declare war and exchange blows with me?"
Seeing the message, Sakayanagi's smile deepened. She tapped out a line of text.
[If you are willing to take up the challenge, it would be my honor.]
After sending it, she looked up and gave Hachiman a sweet smile.
That smile was truly adorable—delicate features, soft contours, silver hair shimmering in the sun. Any boy seeing that smile would have their heart skip a beat.
But Hachiman knew that behind that smile was Sakayanagi Arisu's fighting spirit.
She was here, she wanted to fight, she wanted to win, and she wanted to face him directly.
And that was exactly what he wanted.
He needed Sakayanagi's battle intent to ignite. Once she was fully committed to the fight, he could begin the layout he had specially prepared for Classes A and C.
Thus, Sakayanagi's current fighting spirit was exactly the "Sakayanagi entering the trap" look he hoped to see.
This also made Hachiman involuntarily recall what he had said to Ryuen: [I wouldn't suggest you go too crazy for this exam.]
Similarly, those were words he would also say to Sakayanagi Arisu.
Of course, he wouldn't tell her now.
"..."
At that moment, Ryuen Kakeru, sitting in his chair, turned his head. He had been staring at Ayanokouji, but just now, he felt like someone was talking bad about him behind his back.
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