Chapter 127: Ibuki, You Are an Important Person to Me
Although the answer was given nonchalantly, Ibuki Mio took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She stared at Katsuragi Keima, trying to discern any clues from his face. At the same time, her brain worked at high speed, wondering what his reason was for seeking her out.
But that face was as calm as ever; nothing could be seen. Logically, she should refuse. In the middle of the night, going out alone to chat with a boy from Class D was inappropriate no matter how you looked at it. Moreover, as a "mole," she should avoid such contacts that could easily lead to exposure.
However, Ibuki Mio believed this was also an opportunity to obtain intelligence. Furthermore, she was filled with curiosity toward Katsuragi Keima. Ibuki was always curious about the strong—especially this person who had previously defeated her.
She nodded. "...Okay."
The two quietly slipped out of the tent. The camp was silent; the campfire had been extinguished, leaving only a few sparks flickering in the ashes. Moonlight spilled over the clearing, coating everything in a layer of silver-white. Katsuragi Keima walked to a large tree, leaned against the trunk, and—contrary to expectations—continued playing his game.
Standing beside him, Ibuki Mio didn't know what to say for a moment. Just where did this guy get a game console? Ibuki had been very concerned about this earlier. Shouldn't all students have had their electronic products confiscated before entering the island? Why was he still able to play a console?
Could it be... he purchased it directly with points? Did he actually use points on something like that? Did the other students in his class really have no objection? A string of questions surfaced in Ibuki's mind, but she couldn't make sense of any of them.
The silence between the two lasted a few seconds before it was quickly broken.
"Sit," Katsuragi Keima said.
Ibuki hesitated for a moment, then sat down beside him. A distance of about one meter remained between them. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, falling upon them.
"What are you looking for me for?" Ibuki asked.
Katsuragi Keima didn't answer immediately. He continued playing his game, his fingers dancing over the buttons. It was only after several seconds that he spoke.
"You have things you want to ask me."
Ibuki froze. "What?"
"You've been observing all day," Katsuragi Keima said. "Looking at Elsie, at me, at Horikita, at the others. You have doubts, but you haven't voiced them."
Ibuki fell silent. "...How did you know?"
"I guessed. But now it's confirmed."
Ibuki stared at him. "Do you always guess?"
"Mhm."
Silence again. Ibuki took a deep breath. She indeed had many doubts. The atmosphere of this class. The way these people interacted. Elsie's "expert" disguise. And the impenetrable man in front of her.
"Then..." she started, then stopped.
"Mhm?"
"Is your class always like this?"
Katsuragi Keima looked up. "Like what?"
"..." Ibuki weighed her words, "This... harmonious?"
Katsuragi Keima thought for a moment. "Not entirely. Someone was expelled recently."
Ibuki was stunned. She remembered the matter of Yamauchi Haruki—the Class D student expelled for cheating and failing grades.
"But that was his own doing," Katsuragi Keima continued.
"The others are alright."
Ibuki fell silent. She thought of Class C's situation: Ryuen Kakeru's violent rule, the mutual suspicion among students, everyone harboring their own hidden agendas. It was completely different from here. Though Ibuki had to admit that only Ryuen could integrate the entire class together, in her heart, she didn't actually approve of that method.
"Why?" she couldn't help but ask.
"Why what?"
"Why can your class be like this?" Ibuki looked at him. "Despite being the worst, Class D, with clearly no advantages, why can you be so... united?"
Katsuragi Keima pushed up his glasses. "Because there's no need to be on guard against each other."
"What does that mean?"
"Resources are insufficient; being on guard is useless. By uniting, we can actually survive." He paused. "Besides, there is a common goal."
"Common goal?"
"Mhm. Rising up from Class D."
Ibuki fell silent. She remembered what Ryuen Kakeru had said: "Class C's goal is to rise to Class A. But we will do it our way—conquer with power."
Conquer with power. Rule with fear. Which was more effective: that, or Class D's "unity"? She didn't know. But looking at the calm boy before her, she suddenly felt that perhaps Class D's way wasn't as foolish as she had imagined.
"But I don't approve of Ryuen's methods, which is why I had a conflict with him," Ibuki said immediately, still not completely giving up on testing Katsuragi Keima. This sentence was not a lie; Ibuki truly did not approve of Ryuen's way. However, she also knew that for this exam, she had to rely on Ryuen's strength.
"Elsie..." she spoke again.
"Mhm?"
"What kind of person is she exactly?"
The corners of Katsuragi Keima's mouth turned up a fraction. "You're curious about her?"
Ibuki froze, then quickly looked away. "I'm just asking casually."
Katsuragi Keima looked up at her. "What do you want to hear?"
"What do I want to hear?"
"In your heart, you should already have a conclusion."
"..."
Katsuragi Keima spoke, "She is a special person."
Ibuki was stunned. "Special?"
"No one knows what is actually going on in that girl's head," Katsuragi Keima said with a smile. "Anyway, you don't need to overthink it. During this time, just get along well with our class. We won't treat you like an outsider."
"But..." she spoke, her voice somewhat dry. Doubts even flickered in her heart, and she couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you afraid I'm a mole?"
If it were Class B, Ibuki might not have asked such a question because she knew that class was full of naive do-gooders. Just being a do-gooder wouldn't lead to success. But in Class D, it felt inconsistent. Ibuki was a straightforward person; even if saying it might cause suspicion, she chose to ask. There were simply too many questions in her heart.
Katsuragi Keima looked at her. Under the moonlight, those eyes remained as calm as water.
"Are you?" he inquired.
"Whether I am or not, you should have your own answer. And you saw the conflict between me and Ryuen—"
"You are."
Without waiting for Ibuki to finish, Katsuragi Keima answered for her. Ibuki's body stiffened, but she quickly steadied herself.
"How could I still listen to a guy like that? If you don't trust me, I can just leave!" Her hands unconsciously clenched into fists. Ryuen had already told her how to respond when faced with suspicion: take a tougher stance. After speaking, Ibuki turned around, pretending to leave.
According to a normal person's reaction, they would definitely try to make her stay at this moment—but Katsuragi Keima didn't react at all. After taking several steps, Ibuki finally couldn't hold it in.
"Hey! Were you suspicious of me from the start? If you were, why did you act so welcoming?"
"I was suspicious of you from the start," Katsuragi Keima said slowly. "From the moment the teacher finished announcing the rules."
Katsuragi Keima said, "That internal strife was too fake. A person like Ryuen Kakeru wouldn't be stupid enough to fall out with his own person in public unless it was intentional."
"I just couldn't stand Ryuen's ways, so what? Otherwise—"
"Then how do you explain this?"
At that moment, Katsuragi Keima pulled something out from beside him. A walkie-talkie. Seeing the walkie-talkie, Ibuki was instantly shocked. She had clearly hidden it well! Why did Katsuragi Keima discover its existence?
No, no. Only Elsie was present at the time. Could it be... Elsie saw her movements? She clearly wasn't even near her... No, could it be that Elsie either has amazing eyesight, or... Elsie had actually reached her side long ago, and she hadn't noticed at all?
Elsie really is no ordinary character! She looks like a fool... but is she actually an expert at camouflage?
Ibuki fell silent. So he had seen through it long ago. From beginning to end.
"Then why did you let me stay?" she asked.
"Because you're still useful."
A complex emotion surged in Ibuki's heart. Useful. Yes. She was a tool. A tool in Class C, a tool in Class D. She should have known.
"What do you want me to do?" she asked coldly. "Pass false information? Or turn on them to help you?"
Katsuragi Keima looked at her. "Nothing at all."
Ibuki was stunned. "What?"
"You don't need to do anything," Katsuragi Keima said. "You should pass intelligence when you need to, observe when you need to. Stick to your plan."
Ibuki was completely confused. "What... what do you mean by that?"
Katsuragi Keima pushed up his glasses. "Ryuen Kakeru sent you to find Class D's real leader. I'm telling you, the leader is actually Elsie."
Ibuki's eyes widened. "Elsie? I won't believe you that easily."
"Suit yourself."
"..."
"As for other intelligence," Katsuragi Keima continued, "Pass whatever you want. Real or fake, it doesn't matter. I won't interfere."
Ibuki stared at him, completely unaware of what he was thinking. What on earth was this man's goal? "Aren't you afraid I'll find your class's true leader?"
"Haven't I already told you? Besides, I'm not afraid."
"Why?"
"Because Ryuen Kakeru won't believe it," Katsuragi Keima said. "A person like him is deeply suspicious. He will definitely verify the intelligence you send repeatedly. By the time he's finished verifying, the exam will be over."
Ibuki fell silent. She had to admit he was right. Ryuen was indeed that kind of person.
"So," Katsuragi Keima looked at her, "You can be a mole with peace of mind. I won't expose you, nor will I make things difficult for you. Eat when you should, sleep when you should, and pass intel when you should." He paused. "When the exam is over, go back to Class C if you want, or stay if you want."
An unnamable emotion surged in Ibuki's heart. What was he thinking?
"Aren't you afraid I'll actually help Ryuen Kakeru defeat you?" she asked.
Katsuragi Keima glanced at her. "You won't."
"Why?"
"Because you've already started to hesitate."
Ibuki was stunned. Hesitate? She looked into her own heart. Yes. She was indeed hesitating. From the moment she stepped into the Class D camp, she had been hesitating. The atmosphere here. The people here. Everything here. It all made her hesitate.
"..." Her voice trembled slightly. "You calculated everything?"
Katsuragi Keima didn't answer. He just continued playing his game. Under the moonlight, his profile appeared exceptionally calm. Looking at him, that complex emotion in Ibuki's heart grew stronger and stronger. This man... just who is he?
"Go back to sleep," Katsuragi Keima said. "We have to move tomorrow." He stood up, preparing to leave.
"Katsuragi," Ibuki Mio called out to him.
He stopped his pace. "Mhm?"
"Why... why did you tell me all this?"
Katsuragi Keima was silent for a few seconds. Then he turned his head and looked at her. The moonlight fell on her face, adding a hint of confusion to that cold countenance.
"Because you're worth it. To me, you are a special existence."
He turned and left, returning to the boys' tent. Ibuki Mio sat there for a long time without moving.
"Because you're worth it." These words echoed repeatedly in her mind. Worth it? What was she worth? What did he mean by "a special existence"...
Wait a minute!
Ibuki seemed to realize something, and her face instantly turned beet red. This was the first time a boy had ever said such words to her. Wasn't... wasn't that the kind of thing people said during a confession?
Ibuki's face turned bright red in an instant. She jumped up and spun around twice.
"No, no, no, impossible," she whispered to herself. "A person like him, how could he... how could he say such a thing..."
There must be another meaning. She must be overthinking it. It must be...
But that eternally calm face, those eyes like still water, and that nonchalant yet impossible-to-ignore sentence...
"Aaaaah—" Ibuki covered her face, screaming silently in her heart. Her heart was in chaos. Completely in chaos.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
'Calm down, Ibuki Mio, calm down' she told herself.
'You're a mole, you're here to carry out a mission. You can't be disturbed by such words.'
But... "Because you're worth it." The sentence popped up again. She shook her head, shaking off those thoughts, and walked quickly back to her tent. She crawled into her sleeping bag and closed her eyes.
But her mind was a mess. Ryuen Kakeru's plan. Elsie's hidden depths. Class D's atmosphere. And Katsuragi Keima's sentence. They spun in her head like a revolving lantern, unable to stop.
Ibuki tossed and turned in bed.
"Can't sleep?" A voice rang out from beside her.
Ibuki snapped into a sitting position. Elsie had crawled back in at some point and was lying nearby, looking at her with wide eyes.
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