"Shiina Hiyori. Class C's queen."
Kikyou's two spheres quivered in incredulity.
"What?! There's no way that she is interested in all of this."
She had reported that this interesting silver-haired girl wasn't involved in the competition, which was why she couldn't believe that I had assigned such an important position to her. Despite her best efforts, she made a mistake in her analysis of Shiina, which made her the perfect queen for someone like Ryuuen.
And he knew this as well.
"You are right. She isn't obsessed with reaching Class A like some others, but she is a kind girl who wants to protect her classmates at all costs. This was reason number one for her interference. Reason two is, well... have you ever cared to inquire what she reads during her time in the library?"
"Mystery novels, right? I'm not really into that stuff, so..."
My classmate averted her eyes, as if she was embarrassed by this.
"Exactly. Shiina sought to unfold a mystery. She loves the thrill, not knowing but trying to figure out what's going to happen and who did what during each scene. Wasn't it strange how three of her classmates vanished? Wouldn't she be even more intrigued once you told her about the video? Her willingness to partake in the competition stemmed from these simple reasons. She wanted to figure out the truth before the author revealed his plans to the audience."
"Wait... did you watch her as well? Since when?"
"Before the midterms..."
"God, I can't believe you."
Her body fell backwards into the second pillow while she embraced the first one. Kikyou peered at me as I took a sip from my tea before she stretched towards the nightstand to grab onto her own. A smile made its way onto her face as she mirrored my actions and lay back down.
"It's all in the surroundings. If you know how people act when they are confronted with certain scenarios, then you can start every encounter in a favorable position, even without preparation. For example, what would someone like Ryuuen do when he had no way to fight back?"
"Exploit someone else to his advantage, maybe? Wait... Class A?"
Ryuuen Kakeru would always choose confrontation.
If this was impossible, he would opt for the next best thing.
"They were already vulnerable to his antics because of the rift in their midst. Shiina and Ibuki were sent to our camps in order to gather information, which I confirmed when I checked up on Class B. Sleeping in their camp to shorten the distance wasn't necessary, but allowed me to assist them in realizing that Chiaki had lied to them."
During my stay, I had also figured out Class B's leader.
This wasn't difficult since I had spent close to four whole months with them. I knew the baselines for their behavior and how they acted and spoke when they were stressed or hiding something. Shiranami Chihiro was even easier to read than the rest, because she had been uncomfortable around Ichinose before, when the latter rejected her confession.
Her conduct this time was similar, betraying her importance.
"So both Ichinose and Kanzaki determined that Matsushita had betrayed them because of your preparations, right? You led them to this conclusion, knowing full well that they wouldn't inform their classmates, as they perceived her as a dangerous threat who might act unpredictable once she caught wind of their knowledge."
I took another sip of tea and went on with my explanation.
"Yes. From this point onwards, they were enemies. Ichinose trusted my words and began to doubt everything that Chiaki did. I could feed them information that would never reach her ears, pitting both of them against each other. Class B's leader wasn't someone who would take aggressive actions, which was why everything worked out without a hitch. Ryuuen did the same on a smaller scale between the two factions in Class A."
"You are letting the girl that likes you and your girlfriend fight each other..."
I couldn't help but notice the giant smile that appeared on her lips as she began to understand my steps throughout this exam. She loved the thought that both girls had been played with while she held one of the biggest secrets in the entire year, which made her even happier.
My detailed answers reassured Kikyou of the trust I put in her.
"Ichinose came up with the plan to join up with us, which allowed them to monitor Chiaki, who was, to their knowledge, planning against them while they could make sure that Ibuki would have a harder time figuring out their leader. Now that Shiina knew about the video, she would inform Ryuuen and they would look for the person who might have set them up during the trial."
"Okay, so far, so good. Even though it's hard to wrap my head around some things you did, I gradually get it. But what the fuck was Class A doing all the time? Ryuuen reacted to your moves by planting spies, taking some measures behind the scenes and forming a deal with him, right? Ichinose also realized that she was betrayed and responded with her own plan in mind. The fuck did Katsuragi do?"
"He couldn't take any risks or act with aggression in any shape or form after his initial plan had failed, so he went for a defensive strategy. It was better to leave this island with 270 points instead of trying anything because he hadn't realized that Yahiko was already revealed as their leader."
"So this is how they lost all their points in the end?"
She grabbed another cookie as she nodded in understanding.
With my explanations as a basic framework, she began to understand how the other classes maneuvered themselves into their inevitable doom, as everything they did was within my expectations. Her body shuddered for a moment, as she must have remembered the things I had done to her and how she had always danced to my tune.
"Yes. After Class C left the island, we visited their spot and noticed footprints leading away from their camp. I got rid of these prints during my nightly run, which was why both Ichinose and Kanzaki thought that someone, namely Ryuuen, remained on the island."
"They would assume that he was the leader, right? But how did that help you?"
"I waited around after Ichinose and the others had left since I still had some time and noticed Class A students at the site. The prints were a misdirect for both of them. I only made it more believable than Ryuuen alone could."
Katsuragi's trusted companions would have checked the location again, just like Ichinose. They would have informed him about this sudden change, and he concluded that Ryuuen must have betrayed them. Class B's leadership was also confused and occupied with searching for someone that wasn't on the island. This would have given me some leeway in case I had to take risky actions that weren't as well hidden, which never came into play.
"What about Yamada? Why was he with us?"
Kikyou emptied her tea and took another sip from my cup.
If she had asked me, I could have just poured her another drink, but it seemed like she was too occupied with the explanation and stole mine. She fixed a strand of hair behind the back of her ear and sat cross-legged before me.
"Yamada joined us to take care of Shiina, in case something went wrong. He must have been tasked to get rid of the leader card after Ryuuen retired as well, since both her and Ibuki were with us all the time."
"So Ryuuen really was the first leader?"
"He was a proper tyrant and wouldn't have trusted anyone else with this, but his plans had changed because of my movements. He had to put his faith in someone, and Shiina, his queen, was the most trustworthy person now that she took part in the competition. Once all three of them arrived at our camp, it was time for your performance."
"Miming Ibuki for Horikita..."
A smile surfaced on my lips as I nodded.
Kikyou was never in any danger since she had stolen the underwear during the day and placed it in my bag while everyone was busy with their chores. At night, she walked out and rummaged through her own luggage until she was sure that Horikita had noticed her.
Their heights were similar enough with Ibuki at 1,59 meters and Kikyou at around 1,55. A few socks and clips to fix up her hairstyle were enough to create the illusion that someone that resembled Ibuki had stolen Karuizawa's panties during the night, even though they had been missing for half a day already.
This caused a chain reaction which doomed both Ibuki and Shinohara.
"But what if she had stood up? Or had seen that —"
"... your breasts are too voluptuous to be Ibuki's?"
"Yes, damn it!"
Once again, the pillow flew in my direction.
"I'd never do something I'm not 100% sure of. You are too important to endanger."
"So why exactly did I play Ibuki in the middle of the night?"
"Future reference."
I tilted my head and scanned over her body.
"Be serious for once..."
"Shiina would have realized that Ibuki had no reason to steal the underwear and would have concluded that this was a ploy by either Chiaki or the mystery person to comb the woods for Ryuuen. To top it off, I could separate her from Ibuki and Albert, two headless chicken without someone to listen to."
"And that accident of yours? Was it part of your deal with Kouenji?"
"Yes. I told him that he could earn easy points by showing off his physical abilities once throughout the exam in order to assure Chiaki that he would be a safe bet to carry me around. She wouldn't have enough money to pay him, so she was bound to haggle. Kouenji wouldn't budge, so she would try to get a better deal by including the identities of the class leaders. He agreed, since I had already supplied him with the names in advance. This would not only damage the mystery person's funds, but also move Kouenji into the sights of Ryuuen and Shiina, who were looking for the mastermind."
"But wouldn't he have seen this setup coming?"
"Yes, he would have, but it wasn't a setup. He agreed to follow my directive during this exam because he lost a bet against me. His pronounced narcissism led him to believe that he was better than everyone in this school, since no one in his past had even come close to his capabilities. He trusted his talents, unaware that someone in his vicinity was superior."
"Wait! He lost a bet?"
Kikyou had difficulties to believe that Kouenji, who could cold-read anyone in this school and possessed one of the most impressive physiques in our year, had suffered defeat in something as benign as a simple wager between two people.
Yet, there was nothing strange about this.
He might have been able to read me like a book, but I was the composer of the volume he tried to decipher. I wouldn't let him know something he shouldn't and presented him the information I wanted him to have on a silver platter.
Due to his loss, he respected my abilities.
I humbled him, which was an unprecedented occurrence in his life that had been filled with success and triumph over other people. Thanks to me, he had uncovered a flaw, an imperfection in his perfect existence he could improve upon.
Kouenji and I — we were even.
My queen already knew how the end of the exam played out, since she had informed Hirata that she overheard the conversation with Ichinose and that Kouenji had decided to help me. Both of them, and the other important students in our classes, glanced at him in surprise during the announcement, so that Shiina and Ryuuen falsely assumed that he was Class D's invisible benefactor.
"Okay... what happened with Ichinose?"
"She looked into the poisoning we had caused and concluded that Chiaki wanted to get rid of me for the points. This sentiment was reinforced due to the previous 'accident' and the underwear theft. Afterwards, I had Kouenji approach her with a proposal to protect me and my well-being, if she forked over one million private points."
"Where did she get such a huge amount?"
"Ichinose plays the treasury for her class."
"When did you..? If you say before the midterms, I'm going to strangle you."
"It was after, during the Sudou incident."
An exasperated sigh escaped her lips as she shook her head.
Kikyou realized what I had forced Ichinose to do, since she understood how Class B's naïve idiot operated. Without consulting her classmates, she spent her points and decided to save me, someone that was not directly affiliated with them.
They would have probably agreed to provide these points to help me, but she hadn't asked them and went through with the transaction behind everyone's back. This decision destroyed her and so might the consequences of her actions.
All because I wanted to see how far she would go for me.
"Those poor girls... they have no fucking clue." Kikyou lay down on the pillow that was placed on my lap and stared into my eyes. Her crimson orbs shone as her lips began to move. "So, who was our designated leader? We didn't lose any points so it couldn't have been you, right?"
I pulled out the card which was engraved with 'Ayanokouji Kiyotaka'.
"No one dared to write me up. Class A was playing defense and Katsuragi assumed that they would still receive at least 270 points. Ryuuen had warned him about me to get an advantage, so he chose to be careful just in case. Class C also knew that we had something up our sleeves after Shiranami's sudden retirement. They were content receiving at least 50 points because they assumed that no one knew their leader."
"Wait... that's it?!"
"That's it."
A loud, heartfelt laugh echoed through the cabin as she held her stomach.
Such a situation would have been hard to accept for anyone, since the whole plan would have fallen apart if just one of them acted out of line. Yet it was already set in stone that none of them would see through me and the traps I had set up. Only a lunatic would dare to play poker with such an insane number of points.
They could have struggled all they wanted.
There was no way to beat me.
Kikyou calmed down and kept peering into my golden orbs as her fingers caressed over my cheek until her palm grasped onto my head. Her heartbeat became audible as she pulled me towards her in a smooth, yet hesitant, motion.
"What are you doing?"
Despite my question, I hadn't put up any resistance.
She was quiet for a few moments, before her eyes flickered in a peculiar light as I once again observed my reflection in her crimson spheres. Her irises darted around, scanning my face as her fingers rubbed against my skin.
My classmate bit her lip and pulled me closer.
"I'm your queen, right?"
Our noses touched.
Just a little more and she would have continued past her last attempt, past the point of no return. She knew that there was no going back once she kissed me, but she was assured of my trust in her now that I had described my plans.
'If he committed himself to me, then maybe I could as well...'
Those thoughts must have swarmed her mind.
"Yes, you are."
"Then I'm serving my king."
Kikyou pulled me closer as the answer to my previous question vanished between the sounds of her explosive heartbeat. Her soft voice lingered in the room as her warm, tea-scented breath brushed against my nose moments before they slid past each other. With each millimeter, she grew bolder and convinced that I wanted the same thing as her.
Our lips met for the first time, tasting like green tea and cookies.
After my excursion with Kikyou, I left our room at around six in the evening.
I might have been running late, but my date would understand that I had been indisposed for a little while. My queen had walked me through everything that had transpired on her end after I finished my explanation, which opened up some new and interesting possibilities for the future.
Hirata, who had been the content of this conversation, returned to our room at around four and played cards with us while we enjoyed the rest of the tea together. It was relaxing to spend time with him, and my heroic sacrifice for our class had brought us even closer.
Because he saw himself in my actions.
My light blue jacket fluttered in accordance to the gentle sea breeze that drifted over the Speranza. One of the caretakers greeted me with an amiable smile as I ambled towards the open-air stage that was illuminated by the setting sun. I had already predicted that the play would barely be patronized since this wasn't the sort of entertainment high-schoolers would be interested in, but I was shocked to see only a single person.
Sae sat in the fifth row on the first seat of the right-hand side.
I was relieved to see that she wore her usual provocative business-oriented attire, otherwise I might have felt bad for not changing into something more fitting. Her outfit looked fantastic, as always, but I couldn't help but wonder how much more attractive she would be in an evening dress.
A red one maybe, or a purple low cut open back dress?
Something that revealed her slender legs.
"May I sit?"
My beloved teacher glanced at me with an unconcerned expression before a faint frown decorated her otherwise smooth and charming face, due to my lack of etiquette. Her problem wasn't my attire, but the hands which I had tucked into the pockets of my shorts.
She retracted her legs and made some space for me to walk past.
The stage play that was shown wasn't anything groundbreaking or new, but a Greek myth I had already read before. I figured that she knew the story as well, since she appeared to be interested in classics. She also must have seen the performance once before, since her attention had shifted towards me.
Maybe she wanted to tell me something with her choice.
Time passed as we sat in silence.
Ten, twenty, thirty minutes went by as the performance on stage went on, yet neither of us produced a sound. If I had realized that it would take her so long to open her mouth, I would have told Horikita to meet up tomorrow.
"Thank you."
These two words slipped her charming lips.
Sae's tone differed from her usual stern, sometimes even sadistic, disposition. She hadn't turned to face me, despite her interest, but I could glimpse at her shining eyes, which exuded hope for a better tomorrow. Three years — this was the time she had waited, hoped for a special individual in her next class who might be able to help her.
"I did nothing that would warrant your thanks."
A faint smile surfaced on her alluring face.
Neither of us talked about the deal we had established in May. She had thanked me for something else I had gifted her, but there was no need for such pleasantries. We both understood, any more words between us were unnecessary.
The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away.
Her hand slipped into her blazer pocket before she pulled out the pill I requested. My favorite instructor glanced at the packaged emergency contraception and handed it over without questions or any worried remarks about the danger our intercourse could have brought upon us and her.
This wasn't the first time, after all.
Chiaki might have still been concerned about conceiving, but her fears were unwarranted. I had tracked her cycle and slipped her a pill on the island when we bet on who could finish the bowl with berries faster. Sae had handed me the first one together with the vinyl bags, so I just had to squeeze it into a fitting fruit which my girlfriend needed to swallow without chewing.
"May I ask you something?"
She was rather hesitant, which was unlike the Sae I had grown accustomed to.
This change in treatment was to be expected after she had seen first hand what I could do for her. Unfortunately, this behavior didn't fit my charming homeroom teacher, as I didn't want her to lose her charm just to curry favor with me. I preferred her this way and believed that she would realize this as well.
The reason for her hesitance was the nature of her question.
"You are curious why I hadn't asked you for condoms, right?"
A silent nod followed, as she kept her eyes peeled to the play.
Sae was the only one who knew that my sexual intimacy with Chiaki was pre-arranged since I had asked her for the emergency contraceptives before we departed for the island. I hadn't known how the exam would turn out, but preparation was key. Thanks to this test, I had no difficulties to follow my initial plan.
Why risk a pregnancy if there was no need to?
"The rewards far outweighed the risks."
Now that she had considered the 'maybe', she would never forget this fantasy. Her imagination had already run wild as she thought about how we might break the news to our parents, their reactions and her worries about the school's backlash when they found out. She had daydreamed about a small Kiyotaka, or a little Chiaki, which increased her investment in me and this relationship.
"She already loves you. What's more to gain?"
"That's none of your concern."
We relapsed into silence as both of us peered at the stage, following the magnificent performance of Daedalus who managed to create wings using the branches of osier, which he connected with wax. He taught Icarus, his son, how to fly and warned him to keep away from the sun, since the heat would melt the wax he had used for the wings.
Sae was worried now that I denied her more information about my plans.
Both she and I still remembered our meeting on May 1st, when the S-System was revealed. We recalled how she wanted to threaten me, sell me out to Horikita, which might have caused certain aversions towards her person.
Back then, she hadn't known how capable I was.
Now she was concerned about my attachment to Class B.
The doubts in her grew over time, as she couldn't be certain whether I would betray her down the line. Her suspicions deepened further since I made sure that Ichinose and her class left the exam with the highest amount possible to keep them relevant in the point race to the top.
My beloved homeroom teacher voiced neither of these apprehensions, as she couldn't reveal her insecurities in front of someone whose intentions were unknown, a person who knew what pained her — what she desired.
She wore her mask like a crown, hoping that no one saw the truth.
How beautiful would she be with tears streaking over her face?
"Say, how does it feel to be Class C's homeroom teacher?"
The faint smirk on her face intensified as she peeked at me.
"Ask me again when I'm Class A's homeroom teacher."
"Why would I ask you how it feels to be Class C's instructor when you are in charge of Class A?"
I tilted my head to the side with the most puzzled expression I could manage.
A sweet chuckle slid off her lips before she focused back on the stage.
The performers who portrayed Daedalus and Icarus soared towards the heavens as they escaped the labyrinth below. Father and son defied the laws of nature and beat gravity. His offspring, young and too enthusiastic, got carried away by the freedom his escape had rewarded him with.
He ascended — higher than any other mortal ever did.
Until his wings began to burn.
"You wanted to remain under the radar, right? Why did you stand out this time?"
"Chiaki is the class leader, at least as far as everyone else is concerned. If her boyfriend was useless during such an important time, they would wonder why and poke around. Even though she had asked me out without knowing about my abilities, I couldn't be certain that others would believe this."
Rather than standing out because I did too little, I showed just enough to be similar to Sudou's physical level with more stamina but clear weaknesses in academics and overall intelligence. I adopted a naïve stance during my time on the island to demonstrate myself as a kind person, someone a girl like Chiaki might have felt drawn to.
My physique had already been examined once, back at the pool, as the realization that my developed muscles might be abnormal struck too late, just like I needed some time to notice that I was apparently good looking. Back in April, I hadn't been aware of my popularity with the girls, with which I could have maximized my advantages early on.
According to that man, every other institution aside the White Room was a waste of time.
But he was a fool to think this way.
I couldn't deny that I had gained a lot during my time in this place, but the numb emotions and gaps in my behavior were hard to supplement and correct, even now, after I had fled. In the White Room, everyone was equalized. It didn't matter if you were handsome or ugly, whether you were a boy or a girl.
Disposal was the only future for the subjects that didn't perform.
In the real world, I had benefits because I reached certain standards.
My esthetics alone granted me certain perks which someone like Ike didn't have.
That man hadn't realized that my growth stagnated in the White Room.
The curtain for this play was about to close, which was the perfect time to exit the venue. I excused myself and walked past my homeroom teacher as she stretched out her arm, stopping me in place. She held something in her palm which kept rustling due to the pressure her grip exerted onto the item.
I accepted the trash and heaved a sigh.
"That's not something a teacher should give their student."
"Could you throw them away on your way out?"
Sae pulled back and folded her arms as I nodded.
My feet carried me past the empty rows, over the carpeted entrance hall and out of the door until the voices in the theater vanished due to the distance between me and the performers. I walked up to the garbage can on my right and stared down at the pack with seven unused cigarettes she had given me.
I dumped them in the trash and texted Chiaki to meet me.
The get-together with Chiaki was short-lived.
She knew that I was going out with a friend and didn't want to intrude on me for too long. My girlfriend was prepared and had brought a half-empty, or -full, bottle of sparkling water to wash the contraception down.
We split as she walked back to her room while I strolled towards a rather fancy establishment on the third floor. The ship was gigantic, nothing I had seen before. The measurements of its length, width and even the height made it one of the largest ships in Japan, maybe worldwide.
The restaurant she had invited me to was the most expensive one available to us.
Horikita was already waiting when I arrived.
I glanced at my phone, which displayed the current time as six fifty-seven, three minutes before our agreed upon time. Due to Sae's long-lasting silence, I had cut it quite close, otherwise I would have arrived around ten minutes prior.
Much to my regret, I had practiced the phrase, 'I didn't wait long' for naught.
According to my research, it was custom that the guys arrived before the girls and waited for them. They were apparently also allowed to be late because it was cute when they apologized, but I didn't understand this sentiment. It only signaled disorganization, and the excuse that 'it took her so long to find something to wear', was pitiful, at best.
My personal experiences differed as well, since Chiaki was usually the first to show up when we didn't meet in front of our rooms. She always said that she had just arrived as well, but I was educated by Karuizawa that this was a phrase I should learn, understand and internalize as it was one of the so-called ten commandments in dating.
I researched them but came up empty, so I assumed they were her own creation. Despite my interest, I hadn't found the right time to ask her about the other nine just yet, but I planned to extend my horizon when the opportunity arose.
"You look much better."
"Thank you for telling me that I looked awful before..." A light frown appeared on her appealing face, which was pretty charming in the right light. "You don't look bad yourself, for being Ayanokouji-kun, that is."
Would it have killed her to compliment me once?
For all she knew, I could have dressed up like this for her, yet she still concealed her praise with an insult. Well, I may have done the same, so I guess I should forgive her this time around.
"Let's go inside?"
"Sure."
The two of us stepped away from the railing and strode over to the entrance, side by side. I reached out towards the door handle and pulled to clear the space for my lovely company. Her brows rose in surprise, but she regained her stride and walked into the restaurant with a casual, thankful nod.
We weren't the only students that visited this place, as I could see some schoolmates from the other classes as well. Four of the patrons were from Class A, while I recognized three familiar faces in the back, where Himeno and two of her friends enjoyed their meal.
They glanced over as we made our way towards the reception, whereupon I greeted them with a small wave of hands. All three class B students returned my kind gesture before they committed themselves to their dinner.
This was one out of the three upper-class restaurants on the cruiser. It wouldn't be out of place for one of the meals to cost as much as the minimum wage of any normal white-collar worker, since not only the food, but also the service, interior and location were top-notch.
"Table for two."
The server performed a gracious bow after his brief conversation with Horikita and led us to a free table at the window front. It was quite the romantic spot, with an assortment of lit candles and the whole nine yards, which surprised me somewhat. The view outside was extraordinary, but this was similar to the unoccupied tables to our left and right.
Did he perhaps get the wrong idea about our relationship?
My company was also perplexed by the man's behavior and the date-like table we received, since none of us wore anything overly fancy that would have outed us as a couple. There was also no handholding, or deep, ensnaring gazes, which the man could have misinterpreted.
Both of us arrived under-dressed for such an establishment, since we had brought nothing special for this trip, aside from our casual attire and the rather large selection of clothing we could purchase on the cruiser.
None of which would have prepared us for this place.
The surrounding students were the same as us, dressed in their usual informal style, and I had to wonder how someone like Kouenji would have shown up. His choice of wardrobe was nothing but a speedo, after all. He also didn't strike me as someone who cared about man-made rules, so he would probably try to dine with a dripping wet body while the staff frantically wiped the floor after him.
Should I invite him to dinner just to check?
Since we could enjoy the pleasure of visiting such a top-class establishment without proper apparel, I decided that I could at least act like a proper gentleman and pulled Horikita's chair back to make it easier for her. A quizzical expression surfaced on her fair skin as I slid it into a comfortable position when she sat down.
"Thank you..?"
Her confusion alone had been worth the trouble.
The attendant brought the menu as I placed my bum on the soft and ridiculously comfortable chair. We both thanked him, which he acknowledged with a quick, yet graceful bow and vanished like a ninja.
I peered out of the window, intrigued by the view.
Horikita opened the card and read over the available options.
"You seem awfully comfortable in this exquisite environment, Ayanokouji-kun. I had counted on the fact that I might be able to catch you off-guard in retaliation for your behavior on the island. Guess I'll have to try a little harder."
So there was a catch after all...
"I learned basic etiquette and such things while I was homeschooled."
The White Room took these matters seriously, as it was important for their 'product' to function and prosper in any setting that they might encounter in their adult life. This was more theory than truth due to the high quantity of disposals and the low quality of superior subjects.
Her faint amazement was impossible to refute.
"Please, choose whatever you like."
She worded this matter of fact as if she rewarded me for my services on the island. This, however, would require her to pay for this dinner, which was difficult since the school provided the meals, catering and drinks for free. If this hadn't been the case, only a few students could have reveled in such an establishment.
"You do realize that this won't cost us a dime, right?"
My neighbor narrowed her eyes in astonishment.
"Who told you? I thought I could weasel myself out of feeling indebted."
"Wow, this is stooping low, even for you." I stopped browsing the menu and glanced at the girl with a disappointed, almost pained expression. "The school prepared multiple announcements before we departed."
"You remembered? I underestimated you, Ayanokouji-kun."
Just how little did she think of me?
A deep sigh slipped my lips as a victorious smirk surfaced on hers.
Her change in expression was a rare occurrence on its own, but I still couldn't get over her beauty when she smiled like this. I believed that I could count myself lucky that we were seatmates, despite the attacks and insults I had to endure at the start of our relationship.
Every beginning is hard.
"Jokes aside... Thank you for taking care of me, Ayanokouji-kun."
The string of sweet words that left her mouth was sincere, filled with emotions she wanted to convey but couldn't due to her inherent nature. It was an unusual sight, a strange yet warm feeling when she behaved this way. I found myself mesmerized by her glistening wet lips and captivated by those fiery red eyes which were framed by her raven-colored hair.
A faint, charming blush began to adorn her cheeks as I kept staring.
"Don't sweat it. We're friends, right?" A dull thud reverberated through the interior of this top-class establishment before a gentle stinging sensation moved from my ankle up to my leg. "Why did you kick me?"
"I don't particularly like this word. You know this better than anyone, so please consider my circumstances and stop using this phrase in my presence, or to address my person whenever you talk with someone else."
She was much stricter than usual, which confused me.
This scene got even stranger when she clicked her tongue, annoyed by her own words. It seemed like she had realized that she behaved rather unsympathetically, which was a sign that she tried to better herself. If this was an overall improvement or just revolved around me remained to be seen.
My leg slapped against hers, whereupon she retaliated in kind.
"Are you sure you want to keep this up?" A sly smile appeared on my lips as I supported my head with my palm. "The other guests started watching us around a minute ago. If we continue, they might think we are playing footsies."
Her movements ceased as she glanced around the room.
The waiter behind me observed the whole situation with a melancholic smile on his face while the schoolmates I had mentioned stared at us with curious expressions, since the repeated thuds had caught their attention. Some of the Class A guys glared at me, even though we never met.
My 'date' grew ashamed and ducked into the menu.
Wow, Horikita is adorable...
I mirrored my neighbor and browsed through the available cuisine, now that I had annoyed her a little. Some prices were so over the top that I could only gasp at the amount, which grew even worse the further we advanced down the available meals. The cheapest course one could order was 50.000 yen, which was about 350 dollars.
The whole first-year would have been broke if we had to pay during this trip.
They offered multiple Kaiseki courses, with the cheapest starting around 53.000 yen and the most expensive totalling around 97.000 yen, which would be a whooping 680 dollars — give or take.
That students like us could feast on such expensive meals demonstrated how much the government valued this school and the graduates it produced every year. The vacation and the cruiser were already more than impressive, but their treatment for us freshmen was the cherry on top. I doubted that we would have such a chance again, and since the school was fitting the bill, I decided to enjoy myself and let them bleed.
Horikita and I seemed to be on the same wavelength, as we both ordered the most expensive course this restaurant offered. The waiter noticed that we concluded our selection process before either of us called him and took our order before he executed a respectful bow and left.
"This is my first time eating such a course. What about you?"
"Same for me, but I couldn't help myself after knowing that the school would pay."
A bewitching smile emerged on her luscious lips.
She glanced over the ocean with a sanguine gaze while I couldn't help but marvel at both her and the reflection the light cast into the window. My classmate was truly beautiful. There was no reason to deny this sentiment. Her elegance, which she rarely displayed, shone even more radiant in such a refined setting.
Even though she wasn't wearing a fancy evening gown, she fit into this scenery, as if it had been her role all along. A rose-colored dress would have enhanced her lithe and slender frame while emphasizing her red orbs. She was already good looking, but she would have blown most of the girls out of the water.
"What?"
Horikita turned towards me, narrowing her eyes in suspicion.
"Nothing, what did I do?"
"I had a feeling that you thought something stupid."
That again?
Today seemed to have been one of her esper days. I was a rather unlucky fellow to meet the psychic Horikita on such a lovely evening, but I was still happy to have taken her invitation, or rather, that she had approached me at all.
Could this have something to do with her period?
Maybe I should keep track of these extraterrestrial outbursts...
"I just thought you were quite beautiful."
Her complexion changed into a soft-crimson color after this compliment left my mouth. She cleared her throat and took a sip of the aromatic tea our waiter's colleague had delivered us after we ordered our courses.
"Thank you, but you shouldn't flatter me, or any other girl, since it could be misinterpreted by your interlocutor. I understand your platonic praise, but other, inferior people might get confused since you have a girlfriend."
Inferior, huh?
I was aware of such rules, but it would have been a shame not to mention it.
"Mh, I'm just telling my friend that she's beautiful. I see nothing wrong with that. When I saw Sudou in the changing room for the first time, I also complimented him for his well-developed physique. It's not like I meant anything by it."
"No, I know... but I mean... Could you stop calling me friend, please?"
Horikita's frame shrunk further as she tried her best to weasel herself out of a conversation she couldn't handle. It was cute how she tried to return to our previous status quo before she shared all her troubles on the island. My neighbor had been vulnerable and showed me a sight of her that should have been hers alone. I doubted that anyone aside from her brother had seen and heard her in such a defenseless state.
"I'm just joking, seatmate-chan."
"Huuuhh... you are the worst." She shook her head in exasperation as a smile appeared on her face. She caressed over her cheek and leaned into her smooth palm. "Next time, I'll be thinking twice about inviting you."
Her lying needs some work...
"You are so mean."
I held both hands in front of my heart to show her how deep a wound she had inflicted on my frail spirit. Horikita chuckled, hiding her mouth behind her hands or fingers. She grasped the cup with two hands and blew into the steaming hot tea, which prompted a flushing response in her body.
My companion took a few sips, trying to hide her charming expression.
The waiter soon returned with the first course, consisting of appetizers.
We enjoyed our meal and held multiple conversations throughout our leisure time. Some were serious as she wanted to hear about what she had missed on the island, while others were interesting as I told her how slippery fish were and that I had managed to catch one with my bare hands.
She laughed and smiled, which soothed my heart.
The two of us breezed through the topics we came up with while we joked and bantered, as usual. Neither of us felt bored or uncomfortable for even a second, as we always found subjects that just clicked. It was enjoyable to hang out with her when she wasn't hitting me, and the warmth she exuded reminded me of my friends in Class B.
I could get used to this...
"That reminds me. I'm glad you are feeling better."
"Yes, me too. It was quite uncomfortable and nauseating, so I hope that something like this won't happen again. I must have eaten something bad when we went out during one of the days before, so I'm glad that you were spared, at least. Without you, we probably wouldn't have scored this high. How is your leg?"
"Better, it still hurts sometimes when I make a wrong move, though. The doctor said that I should take it easy for the next couple of days to make sure that the pain won't worsen. Other than that, I'm in tip-top shape."
She threw me a mischievous smirk.
"That shouldn't be too hard for you. Lazing around, I mean."
"Says the girl who was sick throughout the whole exam."
"You're so mean."
She mimicked my gesture from before and folded her two delicate hands in front of her frail heart. The pained, appalled expression on her face was far more believable than anything I could manage at the moment. Horikita peered into my eyes, awaiting my reaction with bated breath.
Should I ask her for pointers?
"I always thought that you suck at social interactions because of your blatant honesty, but past me was awfully wrong, it seems. You can be quite charming if you want to. It's a shame that you keep this side of yourself hidden."
She brushed through her hair with a prideful expression.
"Well, I told you that I had no interest in making friends on the first day we met. It is a given that I know how to behave on certain occasions, as I would have been a disappointment to my family otherwise. I don't even want to imagine how embarrassed Ike-kun's parents must be to have raised such a pervert."
That poor guy really deserves a break...
"So, this is a certain occasion, yes?"
My teasing was rewarded with a kick to my shin.
We were the only two people left in the restaurant as the ninth course was brought to our table. With everyone else gone, this situation really felt like a romantic date in the moonlight. Truth be told, it was an unforgettable evening.
"Do you remember how many there were?"
She checked the time on her phone, worried that they would close and ask us to leave before we were done. I doubted that such a well-known restaurant would just kick us out, especially since they were paid by the school, which was funded by the government.
Treating such a customer badly would be suicidal.
"Ten, so we should be alright."
Horikita calculated how long we needed for every course until this point and verified whether we would make it until the official closing time of the restaurant, which was ten pm. Concluding her estimates, she nodded and committed herself to the fruits in front of us.
The last course was green tea and fitting confections.
We spent our remaining time chatting and laughing until we were done with our meals. She was much more relaxed now that the other guests had left and rewarded me with more samples of her charming laughter. The waiter walked up to us and removed the tableware before asking if the meal was satisfactory.
Neither of us could complain, since every course had been better than the previous one. The quality this course had displayed was worth every single yen, which came as no surprise, but still needed to be mentioned. Each meal was pleasing to the eye and tasted even better than anticipated.
All of this was accentuated by the breathtaking view.
"That was a nice meal with a fr — I mean, seatmate-chan."
I expected a well-deserved kick to the shin and prepared myself for the impact but nothing followed. My gaze swayed towards her in mild surprise as I noticed Horikita's uncertain expression. She rubbed her fingers, which betrayed her nervousness, before she took a deep breath.
"Since we are neighb... fr-friends... you can call me S-suzune. I mean i-it's not like you h-have to or anything. It's just, you know if you... want... then I wouldn't mind... if it's you, I g-guess."
What was happening right now?
Despite my best efforts to find the hidden camera inside this establishment, I came up empty. No matter how much I twisted and replayed her words in my mind or went over all their potential meanings, I had trouble dealing with her sweet voice and couldn't understand the adorable, almost captivating, sheepish expression on her face.
Horikita was so worried about opening up that most of her words were difficult, maybe impossible, to decipher. Her complexion, however, painted a clear picture over the gorgeous canvas this evening provided her with.
Was this another daydream in which she whispered me sweet things?
Or was it alright to agree?
"If that's okay with you, Suzune. You can call me Kiyotaka as well."
I bit the sour apple, assuming that I hadn't misunderstood, or worse, imagined the previous conversation. It wouldn't have been the first time that Horikita, no — Suzune said strange things in my weird fantasies.
"Okay then... Kiyotaka..."
With our friendship now officially established, we left the restaurant after saying our thanks to the staff who had handled our service. I accompanied her until we reached the point in our journey on which we would have to separate. We could have continued, of course, but both she and I knew that this would have been a detour for me and that other students might misunderstand if they saw us together this late into the evening.
"I guess that's far enough."
"Yeah, let's call it a night then, Suzune~."
She pouted as an angry, yet precious crimson-colored complexion developed on her face, which again — just in case I hadn't mentioned it yet — was incredibly cute to look at. Her velvet-colored eyes began to quiver as she became more and more frustrated with my lacking reaction.
"Aright, I'm revoking your right to call me that effective immediately."
"That's not how this works, right?" I tilted my head, feigning confusion about something that no person had ever heard before. At least not five minutes after they had reached first-name basis. "Goodnight, Suzune."
A giggle escaped her enticing lips.
"Goodnight Kiyotaka... and once again, thank you for everything you did for me back on the island. I mean it. I was... no, you were... You are a good friend, and I'm glad that I opened up to you. Albeit a little."
I couldn't help but smile after listening to her kind, genuine words.
My classmate noticed this change in expression and celebrated her victory with a prideful, 'Ha, got you!' face. She turned around and walked off with large purposeful strides. A faint rosy-tint surfaced on her cheeks while my eyes followed her receding back.
But Suzune, I was the reason that you were useless in this exam.
Your contemptuous attitude stood in the way of using you properly, which is why you needed to be educated. You considered yourself worthless, miserable, and pathetic by design because of the diluted pesticide I had blended into your meal during our last dinner.
That's right, Suzune. You did this to yourself.
If you had listened and complied, none of this would have happened.
I've never once thought of you as an ally or a friend.
Not you. Not Kikyou. Not Chiaki.
Even my girlfriend you thought I cherished due to the way I behaved around her was nothing more than the means to an end. She was expendable, just like the rest of you.
Fuka, Ichinose and them — all other people are nothing but tools — pieces on my board to move as I please.
It doesn't matter how it's done.
It doesn't matter what needs to be sacrificed.
In this world, winning is everything.
As long as I win in the end...
That's all that matters.