『』『』『』『』『』
Heya, Kumagawa-kun. Good work out there. It's been a couple of months, hasn't it?
Did you enjoy yourself in that new world?
Well, knowing you, I'd say you probably did. After all, for some reason, that school's full of beautiful girls. Doesn't it sound like something out of an RPG? And if there's a protagonist or a hero in that kind of setting... then I guess that makes you the villain, right?
Kumagawa Misogi
The Demon King, Kumagawa Misogi.
It has a nice ring to it, don't you think? Even though the Demon King is destined to lose, he still struggles against fate, trying to win against the inevitable.
Strangely enough, it suits you.
I really do hope you find your second victory in life, even if it's impossible. But still, this kind and thoughtful Anshin'in-san really hopes you do.
Then again, in a world full of normal people, whether you win or lose might not mean anything at all.
It's just really worried about you, Kumagawa-kun. Or rather, I'm worried about the people around you.
Worried that your sweet words might end up rotting someone's heart. You probably already know this, but since you're a first-class loser with zero self-awareness, I'll say it anyway. your words can definitely soil someone's heart.
Have you ever heard of something called the "poison theory"?
No? Of course you haven't.
Ahaha.
Don't worry, this elegant, all-knowing Anshin'in-san will explain it for you. Yes, yes—go ahead and admire my brilliance. I give you full permission to quote me on your next science exam.
So then, "poison theory."
To put it simply, it's the idea that even a tiny bit of something harmful can corrupt or destroy something much bigger and purer. Like a single drop of poison in a glass of water, it's not about how much, but how it spreads. That small drop is all it takes to ruin everything.
If we apply this to humans, then it's like saying that even a small amount of negativity or maybe just a word, a gesture, or advice can quietly corrupt everything. And the more "harmless" it seems, the easier it corrupt something.
Sounds familiar doesn't it?
Well, you should understand that better than anyone.
Since there's no such thing as being "harmless," for a you, a minus among minus. The Minus that Crawls from Chaos.
No matter how gentle your words are, the fact that they come from you means they'll definitely soil someone's heart.
Did you perhaps give someone advice recently? I hope not. Even if the intention was pure, that motivation can get twisted all too easily.
Like, A struggling girl who cannot make up her mind—oh, no, this is just something I said arbitrarily, not meant to be any sort of prediction. Of course, among the ten quadrillion Skills that I hold, I do have plenty of Skills that allow me to make predictions, but while I'm fine with using them to mess around, they aren't particularly Skills that I want to use straightforwardly.
Life is more fun when the future is unknown.
But well... regardless of whether that's better or worse, I get why people do it.
Something as tiresome as giving "motivation" can just be left for someone else to have — that's the kind of thinking it implies, right? It's easy to understand if you think of motivation like owning a car. The bigger and flashier it is, the more fuel it burns, the more expensive the upkeep, and the more exhausting it is to maintain—so why bother taking care of your own drive, when it's so much easier to just hitch a ride with someone else?
What does that have to do with poison, you ask?
What, it's not that difficult of a topic.
If you think of it like this—when you say something with good intentions, or offer someone a bit of advice, that something will definitely soil the heart. It twists that desire to change into something else entirely. Maybe obsession. Maybe self-doubt. Maybe pride.
In the end, you could say that's just another example of the poison theory at work. Even if it's a bit of a stretch.
But that's the kind of thing I'm talking about.
Let's just hope there aren't any pure, honest, and naive girls falling under your influence just yet.
Still, I probably don't need to worry too much. After all, it's not like there's anyone naïve or pure enough to actually seek advice from you. And in your case, you'd probably find the whole thing "embarrassing," or "a waste of time," right?
Well then, feel free to spend your life full of embarrassment and your little adventure full of second-hand embarrassment however you'd like.
Embark, embark.
By the way, Kumagawa-kun, there's something I've been meaning to ask. It's just a small thing—something one of my terminals mentioned offhandedly. Nothing serious, really, just something I felt like nitpicking.
You remember my terminals, right? The same kind you met back when you were student council president at Suisou Academy. Of course, I'm not going to tell you who it was. She made it very clear she wants nothing to do with anything involving you.
Besides... never mind. It's better if I don't say anything yet.
Anyway, I'm going to respect her wishes and let her live in peace.
Because you know, I'm kind like that.
Anyway....
Apparently, you've been spending time with someone?
A girl, no less.
Isn't that a rare sight?
It's been quite a while since that whole mess with Sukinasaki Saki back in middle school, hasn't it?
For someone like you to actually make a friend... what was her name again?
Kushida Kikyou—
『』『』『』『』『』
Knock Knock Knock.
Right now, Kushida Kikyou was standing in front of a room on the fourth floor of the student dormitory.
The dorms were a fifteen-story building with over 140 rooms in total. The layout was simple—boys occupied the lower floors up to the seventh, while girls lived on the floors above. So the fact that she was standing here, on the fourth floor, could only mean that she was in front of a boy's room.
The door in front of her was plain, no different from any other in the building with numbers on them. If there was anything unusual, it was the number pasted on the top.
Room 421.
"What an ominous number..."
She muttered under her breath.
Well, she'd already heard about it from the owner of this very room about how some kind of accident had broken the original door, and in the rush to replace it, a mistake had been made with the numbering. Even so, looking at it now, it felt almost intentional.
All you had to do was tack on a "9" at the end, and the number turned into 4219. When read a certain way in Japanese, that became shi-ni-iku
In other words: "Go die."
Whoever it was, whether it was truly a coincidence or someone's idea of a joke, was practically telling the occupant of this room to drop dead.
...But then again, considering who lived here, she figured it was probably deserved.
Knock Knock Knock.
She taps her knuckles against the door again, only to be met with silence.
"Tsk, did he really fall asleep?"
It was already well past the time they'd agreed on. But honestly, she only had herself to blame for expecting him to keep a promise. Clicking her tongue, she raised her hand to knock again—only to hear a faint creak as the door slowly opened.
『Heya, Kushida-chan.』
Kumagawa stood in the doorway, his voice just as detached and artificial as usual. Everything he said sounded like a lie, even the way he said her name.
『Do you have any medicine for headaches by any chance? 』
"What a greeting for someone who's made a girl wait thirty minutes."
『...Oh right, I did have an appointment with you. Sorry, I completely forgot about it. 』
"At least try to use the headache as an excuse..."
What did she even expect from him?
"...?"
At first, she thought he was just spouting excuses to cover up the fact that he'd overslept and made her wait for thirty minutes, but it seemed that wasn't the case—seeing the way he was pressing down on his forehead, it seemed his head actually did hurt.
"You seriously have a headache?"
『Mmm...』
"....If it's that bad, then maybe you should just stay in and rest. Honestly, you can forget the favor. It's not like it's that important anyway."
Maybe it was a chance to let this whole ordeal go.
Plus, saying it made her feel oddly good about herself—like she was being the bigger person, showing a little kindness. But before she could even get comfortable in that fleeting sense of goodwill, Kumagawa was already there, bluntly trampling over it.
On her gesture.
On her consideration.
On the kindness of a human.
『I'm going. 』He gave a tired shake of his head, at her considerate proposal. 『I can't let your kind gesture go to waste just because of a little inconvenience. I have to waste your money for my own comfort. Think of it as me being considerate. 』
"Uh... uh-huh..."
So that's his version of being considerate, huh? After spending enough time with Kumagawa, she'd started to realize—this roundabout, backwards logic might actually be his way of showing consideration. Even if, in the end, it just made him seem inconsiderate anyway.
"You know, if your head really hurts that much, maybe just sleeping it off is the better option. Seriously, you don't have to push yourself."
Just go to sleep already....
He gave a dramatic sigh as he leaned back against the doorframe.
『Then I guess it can't be helped. I have no choice but to lie in bed and let you take care of me for the rest of the day. 』
"Actually, now that I think about it, maybe it's better if we get chocolate first. I read somewhere that chocolate's good for headaches, you know? Something about increasing serotonin or whatever."
Just like that, she completely change her stance.
The idea of sitting next to a half-conscious Kumagawa, nursing him back to health sounded way more bothersome than just following through with the original plan.
『Huhuhu, I didn't know you care for me that much, Kushida-chan. 』
"Seriously, what a pain..." she muttered under her breath.
『Come in, then. It'd be rude of me to let a girl wait outside when I'm the one being pitied today.』
"Haah..."
So he was tactful enough to invite her in, but not enough to realize that keeping a girl waiting for thirty minutes was the bigger problem. What kind of logic was that?
With a reluctant sigh, she stepped inside.
It wasn't her first time in his room, but it was oddly tidy. Cleaner than she remembered. Sure, there were still Shounen Jump magazines lying around here and there, but now he had a small TV set up with a game console under it—something she hadn't seen before.
He clearly wasn't too concerned about conserving points.
Their class had been struggling over the past couple of months, but he'd managed to rake in a considerable number of private points during the VIP exam. Thanks to that, he probably didn't have to think twice about his spending habits for a while.
You could say it was fortunate that he managed to secure so many points from the exam.
All in all, it was a perfectly average high school boy's room.
Except for one thing that didn't sit right with her.
"..."
『Want something to drink? Would you like tea, coffe, milk, soda, or juice? 』
"Then I'll take the tea."
『Great choice. Unfortunately, I only have water. 』
"...Then why bother asking in the first place?"
Why was he like this from the moment she walked in? It was still just 9:30 AM, and even with a headache, he somehow found the energy to start harassing her.
Kumagawa disappeared into the kitchen for a moment and returned with two glasses of water, placing them on the table. he took hers, but her eyes didn't stay on the glass for long.
They drifted to the far side of the room.
"So... what's with the giant screw?"
She couldn't hold back her curiosity anymore.
There it was—an absurdly large screw, big enough that its head could fill a person's palm. A few more were embedded into the wall beside it, hammered in at awkward angles like some amateur art installation. He'd even used a couple of them to hang his school uniform jacket.
For the record, she'd seen the other side of that wall before. The screws had gone clean through, cracking the surface from the inside out.
It looked like something straight out of a horror movie.
But how?
It was too all over the place to be some kind of deliberate installation. And too crude to be the work of someone using proper tools. Even if someone strong enough tried to drive the screws in by force, at best they might leave a dent or a crack—not pierce through an entire wall like that.
To push them in that deep, with that kind of precision, or rather lack of it— meant whoever did it wasn't using any kind of tools.
They just shoved them in.
Directly.
The more she stared at them, the less sense it made.
『Well, you see, if I kept everything looking clean and normal, then that would just become the standard, wouldn't it? Sometimes I need to throw in something weird to keep the balance. I mean, even Van Gogh didn't paint the same thing over and over—he needed contrast. So, I did a little remodeling. 』
"...I don't think anyone would call this a change in aesthetic. It just looks like deliberate vandalism. Seriously, who even helped you with something this weird and troublesome?"
『Help? I did it myself. 』
"Well, if you don't want to tell me, that's okay. You don't have to make the effort to lie."
『..... 』
Looking at his slender build, there was no way he had the muscle to drive those screws into solid concrete. But judging from his expression, he wasn't lying—or at least, didn't care if it sounded like a lie.
Well, it's not like it was her problem. She was just a little curious, that's all.
And if it wasn't meant to be a joke, but rather one of those weird, self-deprecating, surreal little stories of his, then yeah—Kumagawa Misogi was probably the best in the school at delivering those.
Still... it was kind of surprising that he even knew who Van Gogh was
『Of course, I had to pay a compensation fee for the property damage. Ended up losing a bit too much money over that.』
"..."
So he had to pay for it, huh?
If that was true, then did he blow most of the 1 million points he earned in the VIP exam on this nonsense? That would explain why he didn't look too happy about things. Was that the source of his headache? A stupid decision coming back to bite him?
If so... then maybe, just maybe, Kushida could understand that feeling. Not that she could do anything about it. But maybe, as a generous and understanding classmate, she could spare him a tiny bit of sympathy.
But, that was about as far as she could go. Any more than that would be too much.
"So, are you really sure you don't want to keep sleeping?" she asked, eyeing him with a little concern. "I can just go buy you some chocolate or something and bring it back. You know, I heard sleeping and serotonin help with headaches."
It wasn't like she was desperate to get out of this, but she figured it wouldn't hurt to try one more time, just to be sure.
Kushida had already done more than she usually would. And if he still insisted on tagging along in that condition, then whatever happened next was on him.
『There's no way I can do that... Since I'll just end up being rushed around in my pre-recorded dreams anyway. That's where the headache comes from. Lately, someone's been pestering me nonstop while I'm asleep... it's honestly exhausting.』
Once again, Kumagawa was saying something that made little to no sense.
"...Dreams?"
『She hadn't done this in a while, so I thought she was past that childish phase of her life. But here she is again, tormenting me in my sleep. What happened to the kind, considerate Anshin'in-san everyone loved...?』
"Anshin'in-san...?"
He was giving off a rather timid aura, which was unusual for him.
Still, whether it was timidity or something else entirely, it was clear that this 'Anshin'in-san', real name or not, had a real effect on him.
She never would've guessed there was someone out there capable of changing his aura so drastically...Well, it left her with a strangely complicated feeling.
"I don't really get it, but in other words, you've been having nightmares about this Anshin'in-san, and that's what's giving you the headache?"
『Well, that's close enough. If I had to put it into words,s it's like having someone stab my eyeball with a fork from the inside.』
"...Stab your eyeball with a fork, huh."
Where did she heard that term again?
She remembered reading about it somewhere. Something about the worst kind of headaches a person could experience.
A cluster headache.
If that was what he meant, then sleeping probably wouldn't do anything. In fact, it might make things worse. This wasn't something that a little nap and a bar of chocolate would fix.
"...Shouldn't you go to the infirmary? Or better yet, the school hospital or whatever equivalent we have here? I mean, even if they can't fully treat you, it's still better than just sitting here suffering, right?"
The school wasn't exactly a full-scale hospital, but the facilities were decent. For emergencies or chronic conditions, students were sometimes taken off campus. But for something like this, it should be manageable.
『So you've come to the same conclusion, too, Kushida-chan. But the thing is... I hate hospital and doctors. And needles. And sterile white rooms. 』
Of course he did.
『Well, if I can somehow get that chocolate, I'm sure this headache will go away. And once the headache's gone, maybe my brain will finally start functioning like a decent human being. I heard the longer a headache drags on, the more it rots your character or something like that.』
In that case, she was tempted to hope his headache stuck around just a bit longer. But... she wasn't the kind of person who'd think something so inhumane.
『What are you waiting for? Let's go together, Kushida-chan.』
Kumagawa-kun laughed listlessly.
『To find the "chocolates." 』
"...Haah. Fine."
『Then, could you turn around for a bit? Or wait outside? I need to change clothes. I'd rather not traumatize you first thing in the morning. 』
She let out another sigh.
Seriously, what was with this guy?
『』『』『』『』『』
『...What is it, Kushida-chan? 』
"Hmm... It's weird seeing you wearing something other than your usual black school uniform."
『Weird...? 』
"How should I put it... I've gotten so used to seeing you in that black uniform these past two weeks that now, seeing you wear anything else feels off. To the point that imagining you in our school's uniform feels kind of unnatural."
That black school uniform of his, she remembered him saying something along the lines of it being from his previous school. Saisou, or whatever -sou academy it was. It suited him oddly well though.
Maybe it was because of his childish appearance, or the way his black hair and large, pale blue eyes contrasted with it, but somehow, that pitch-black uniform just fit him.
So, seeing him in something else... it just felt wrong somehow.
『Right. According to what Anshin'in-san told me in my dream, I'm the kind of person who doesn't belong in the real world, and should just stay in school forever. So, naturally, that's why people expect me to always wear a school uniform.』
Naturally....
As cruel as that advice was, she didn't know how much faith one could put in the words of some dream-born girl he mentioned every now and then—but for now, it was easier to just go along with whatever he was saying. Even if this "Anshin'in-san" turned out to be a real person, Kushida had no plans to dig into Kumagawa-kun's personal life. She didn't want to get involved with something like that.
"I see..."
『Even though I know what she really meant was that I shouldn't graduate—for the good of the world. But I don't think she's that cruel. Pretty roundabout way of saying it, don't you think?』
"Then why were you speaking in such a roundabout way?"
『Huhu. 』
Kumagawa-kun brushed off her question with a laugh.
"....."
His mentality was really hard to read.
But if she pressed the issue, he'd probably just respond with something even more annoying. So she let it go and quietly moved the conversation forward.
She was that kind of girl, the one who moved things along without making a fuss.
And then, something suddenly came to mind. It had nothing to do with the main topic, but out of curiosity, she decided to bring it up.
"Hey, hey, Kumagawa-kun, Kumagawa-kun."
『What is it, Kushida-chan, Kushida-chan? 』
"You like chocolate, right?"
『How did you know?! 』
Kumagawa's expression was one of pure shock.
...Was he really that surprised?
Wasn't the whole point of this trip just to satisfy his selfish craving for chocolate? Whether he admitted it or not, both his words and actions had already given him away.
But since she was the kind of person who moved things along without making a fuss, she simply continued.
"Then, between Kinoko no Yama and Takenoko no Sato, which one do you like more? Or rather, which side are you on?"
The war between the Kinoko faction and the Takenoko faction, the two great rivals of the chocolate snack world was practically common knowledge. But now that she had the chance, she wanted to know Kumagawa-kun's stance on the matter.
Since he was so adamant about getting chocolate, and those two were his only options, he had to have a favorite.
If anything, she figured that whichever one he liked was probably the unpopular one, but his answer was something else entirely.
『No, those two have to be bought as a set, right? You buy them together and mix them up before eating.』
"..."
That was... very much like Kumagawa.
『Um, So... basically, what you're saying is Kushida-chan, you're going to buy me Kinoko no Yama, Takenoko no Sato, and Kikori no Kirikabu, right? 』
"Of course not! ...I mean, of course it is, but don't make it sound like I've turned into your snack-fetching servant! And why did you casually throw in Kikori no Kirikabu too?!"
『What's the difference? In the end, you're still the one buying snacks for me, right?』
Kumagawa responded immediately.
What's with that easygoing attitude?
Doesn't he have even a shred of modesty?
But... as annoying as his words were, she couldn't exactly argue back. He was wrong in all the right ways, yet somehow made it impossible to argue back against him. So, in the end, all she could do was growl in frustration.
"Grrrr..."
『Anyway, aren't you supposed to go out today to look for a present for Kokoro-chan's birthday with the others? 』
"...I won't ask how you knew that, since I did mention something about buying a present for Kokoro-chan before. But how did you know it was today?"
『Ayanokouji-kun told me. Apparently, I'm not in the boys' group chat. Or the class group chat. So I don't know what's going on in class at all. So, without giving me much choice, Ayanokouji-kun messaged me privately to tell me about it. 』
Apparently...
Why did he make it sound so shady?
『Also, apparently, they're planning to hold a birthday event for Inogashira Kokoro-chan, my classmate from D-Class. They want to prepare a present, but since they're low on money, they're basically asking anyone they can to pitch in. All in the name of friendship. And apparently, that includes my money too. That's how I know. 』
"..."
The way he said it, it made Class D sound like a bunch of jerks who only cared about Kumagawa when it came to money. And the fact that they couldn't even bother to add him into any group chats, yet still counted on him when it was convenient, somehow made it even worse.
She didn't know if she should feel sad or just pity him.
"Well, I got the invite too, from Ayanokouji-kun, but I figured it was because the idiot trio asked him to."
She rejected it of course.
Considering Ayanokouji was one of the few people who knew her true nature, him suddenly inviting her to pick out a birthday gift definitely raised some red flags. And knowing how often he was around the three idiots, she figured that was the reason.
"I was also invited to hang out with Shinohara-san and the others, but since I already promised to meet with you, I thought I'd just get this over with first."
『So... does that mean you'd rather spend your time with me than the three idiots, and your girl friends... for the rest of the day? 』
"..."
Now how was she supposed to respond to that?
That line of questioning was wrong on so many levels, she didn't even know where to begin.
No matter how she answered, he'd definitely twist it into something else and get the wrong idea. So she had to think carefully.
It was a matter of pride.
Also—"the rest of the day" was pushing it. Once she bought him the chocolate he so desperately wanted, she was absolutely planning to leave.
"Hey, it's been a while."
But before she could even form a response in her head, someone cut off her train of thought. Not that she minded. Honestly, the timing was convenient. It spared her the trouble of responding to something completely pointless.
Both of them turned toward the voice.
Two upperclassmen were approaching them—a boy and a girl. Despite it being summer vacation, they were dressed in school uniforms.
Their faces were familiar. As they should be.
After all, they were the student council president and secretary—Horikita Manabu and Tachibana Akane, respectively.
『President! 』
Kushida gave a polite greeting to the student council president.
And with that, the older Horikita turned to face her for the first time. No, that wasn't quite right. It would be more accurate to say his face was still pointed at Kumagawa and only shifted his gaze enough to include her in the corner of his vision.
In short, he glanced at her.
"Is this your classmate?"
『Eh? You don't know? Then let me tell you! This is Kushida Kikyou-chan! My classmate, and for today, my partner. 』
Kumagawa leaned forward as he said that, sounding oddly enthusiastic. She appreciated the energy, but being introduced as his partner was irritating. He could've just said "classmate" and left it at that.
"I know who she is," Horikita replied coolly "I just didn't expect her to be your classmate. After all, I never forget a face. And we just happened to attend the same middle school."
"!!!"
Kushida's body tensed.
Middle school...? Of all things...
The student council president not only remembered her name, but he also remembered her face.
And worse It just had to be Horikita.
Kushida's mind reeled with the implications. She didn't know how much he remembered, or how much he knew, but the fact that he recognized her at all was already bad enough.
Still, she somehow managed to maintain her usual smile.
『By the way president, why are you wearing a school uniform? Isn't it supposed to be summer vacation? Or did I misunderstand something somewhere?』
"We've decided to do some reorganizing in the student council room over the next few days," Tachibana the secretary explained.
『Is that so? 』
"You know, that was a really stupid response. You should be careful with what you say, you know? Do you even know who you're talking to? This is the fearsome student council president!" Tachibana was incensed
『Is that his formal title? 』
"W-what?"
『No matter how I hear it, fearsome student council president just sounds like a nickname. Shouldn't there be a real title? Like Supreme Chancellor, Executive Overlord, or maybe even God-Emperor of Paperwork...? 』
"Y-you!
Kushida glanced at the banter between Kumagawa and the secretary. Why was he suddenly teasing her?
If you didn't know anything about Tachibana Akane beforehand, it might've just looked like a playful back-and-forth between an upperclassman and a cheeky underclassman. Judging by their heights, you'd probably mistake Kumagawa as the senior.
But knowing who she really was, it just made Tachibana look pitiful. Especially since she had once carried the image of a composed, respectable secretary, standing proudly next to the revered student council president during the entrance ceremony.
"Kumagawa. If you have no prior engagement, I'd like you to accompany me," said Horikita Manabu plainly.
"P-President?!" Tachibana was caught off guard by the sudden request. Unfortunately for him...
『I've got a prior engagement. 』
"Huh?! You're turning him down?!" Tachibana sounded completely flabbergasted.
『It can't be helped. I've got a prior engagement with my partner for today, so my schedule's all booked.』
"This is regarding the matter you asked about before. I'm fine with adjusting to your availability, but it'd be preferable to handle it before the semester starts." Horikita said.
Kushida turned to glance at the student council president. He didn't look like he was planning to give up. If he mentioned wanting to meet before the semester began, it must've been something important.
『Okay. 』
Just like that, he quickly goes back on his word, even though he'd insisted only moments ago that his schedule was packed with her.
"But didn't you just say you had a packed schedule?" Secretary Tachibana voiced the obvious question.
『There could be another reason. But fundamentally, I may not have any reason to accompany him, but I don't have any reason not to accompany him. 』
"Um..."
Tachibana, looked like she was still struggling to keep up.
『So, where will it be? Where is it, where is it? Where do I need to go so we can finally have our important talk? To have our important discussion? And finish our important talk and discussion? 』
"Where were you planning to go? I don't mind adjusting my schedule to match yours," Horikita replied.
『Hahaha. Should I? Should I tell you? Of course—it's to buy some chocolates.』
"Chocolates?"
『That's right. I like chocolate. I have some every day except on February 14th. 』
Kushida could sense a hint of pride in the idea that he didn't eat any on February 14th—although it was a faint hint of pride that could blow away at any second.
"Tachibana, we have some chocolate in the student council room, don't we?" Horikita turned toward his secretary.
"Yes, President. We should have some prepared as snacks for guests."
"There you have it," he said, shifting his gaze back to Kumagawa. "Why don't we head there? It's hot out here anyway."
It was said like an afterthought, but it didn't feel like a simple invitation.
And Kushida, left standing beside them, realized something—he really was planning to go.
Then what about her? She'd already put in quite a bit of effort just to get here.
Horikita Manabu stepped forward, his calm demeanor leaving no room for argument.
"I need to borrow Kumagawa for a moment. There's something I need to discuss with him, something related to student council affairs. I'm sorry, Kushida. I understand you had a prior arrangement with him."
『An arrangement? 』
He looked at Kushida blankly, as if he'd never heard the word for setting up a meeting between two people before.
『Wait a minute. Does that mean Kushida-chan has to leave? 』
"What I need to discuss involves information not meant for the general student body. It's confidential. I'm sure you understand." Horikita answered without hesitation
『Hmm... that's a problem. 』
"What do you mean?" Horikita narrowed his eyes.
『Even if you tell her to leave, I'll probably end up telling her what it's about anyway. But if you insist, then it can't be helped. You can go now, Kushida-chan. Apparently, you're not needed here. Shoo, shoo. 』
"..."
Kushida narrowed her eyes, staring at him with suspicion.
Honestly, she wouldn't mind if the whole plan got scrapped then and there. But the way he casually dismissed her like a pet being sent out of the room rubbed her the wrong way. But more than that, what bothered her was the inconsistency.
Why did he involved her in the first place if she wasn't necessary?
Because of that, her suspicion only deepened.
Meanwhile, Horikita Manabu looked both exhausted and visibly annoyed. But the topic he wanted to discuss wasn't something he could just blurt out in front of another student. Unfortunately, it was just his luck that the person he had to rely on happened to be Kumagawa Misogi.
He already knew what kind of person Kumagawa Misogi was, he'd dealt with him personally before. If left alone, he really would blurt out everything without hesitation.
How annoying.
"...Fine. Kushida you can come with us."
In the end, she was reluctantly allowed to tag along.
If Kumagawa was going to talk either way, then it was better to keep her close and monitor the situation himself.
"If you're uncomfortable, you can return to the dorm for today, Tachibana," the president told his secretary.
"No, sir! My instincts are telling me not to leave you alone with this boy!" Tachibana responded firmly, giving a sharp salute like a loyal bodyguard. Her behavior might've been a bit much, but her instincts weren't wrong.
"Fine. For now, let's head to the student council room. Follow me."
『』『』『』『』『』
"The student council has received the results from the island test and the exam on the ship. Honestly, both outcomes were far beyond my expectations."
After the four of them arrived at the student council room, Horikita Manabu opened the discussion with a comment on the recent special exams.
『The student council really holds that much authority, huh? I didn't think you'd be able to get your hands on the results. Did you also manage to get a detailed report on how the exams played out? 』
"The results themselves aren't difficult to obtain. But no, I don't have access to any detailed reports about the exams. That part remains under the teachers' jurisdiction. The individual actions during the test are also unclear."
As it should be. If the student council could get detailed accounts of what happened during the exams, then there'd be no real difference between them and the staff. That kind of overreach would be completely inappropriate.
『Still, even without looking for it, bits of information always seem to find their way to you, don't they? 』
"...I know you had a hand in the results of both exams. You outmaneuvered the other three classes and dragged down their scores. And just before the new semester started, you managed to bring Class A down to Class C."
"W-what?!"
Tachibana's voice shot up in surprise. She hadn't heard anything about that. The class rankings were supposed to be announced at the start of the new semester along with the rest of the school. To hear that Class A had already fallen to Class C was shocking.
"You don't need to deny it. It's obvious you were involved. Especially when the results turn into a disaster for one class or all of them."
『... 』
That statement was hard to refute.
The student council president seemed well aware of Kumagawa's nature—someone with a tendency to drag others down, even if it meant bringing himself down with them.
『Are you insinuating that I have some kind of destructive tendencies that brings ruin to everyone around me? Do you agree with what he's implying, Kushida-chan?』
"Well..."
Why are you asking me?
Kushida couldn't understand why he was dragging her into it. The one who made the accusation was Horikita, not her. She could have just nodded and agreed, but she had an image to maintain—especially in front of someone important like the student council president.
『That guy sure likes to make a lot of assumptions. But he's not wrong. Plus, it's the kind that's innate. 』
"...?"
That was an unexpected response.
Did that mean his destructive tendencies were something he was born with? But since it was Kumagawa saying it, she couldn't help but doubt it. It sounded like just another lie from him.
『But, well, it's a bit unexpected. I thought the student council here was just for show. But to think you actually had real authority.』
"This school is different from most. The student council holds significant power, especially in matters involving the student body."
『Hahaha, if you say that, it makes me sound like a completely powerless student with no influence at all. 』
"..."
A cool expression with a cool tone of voice.
He seemed oddly proud of being powerless, even though it was his own insinuation that brought him to that conclusion. Yet, despite everything, he wore that pride without shame. Watching him, Kushida couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed—though she wasn't sure why.
"Let me ask you a question, Kumagawa."
『Mmm, what is it? 』
"What do you think about this school?"
『This school? 』
"That's right. What do you think about the current state of this school. Do you believe its system is fair? Is it too harsh on the students? Or do you think it's the students themselves who are lacking? I've seen many perspectives—some claim this environment pushes students to their limit to foster growth. Others call it a manufactured battlefield meant to weed out the weak. But I'm more curious about what you think."
『Are you talking about it's meritocracy system? 』
"...You can view it that way."
『Why are you being vague all of a sudden? In the first place, isn't that how this school is currently being run? 』
Kumagawa smiled faintly, as if amused by the question.
Meritocracy.
Well, it's a pretty simple concept on paper that only seems complex because the name is dressed up to sound nicer than it is.
It's just a system that divides people—winners and losers, the elite and the useless, Pluses and Minuses. Those with ability rise, and those without get left behind. A system that legitimizes inequality.
In more violent terms, meritocracy is just another way of saying "might makes right." As long as you're competent, you're allowed to stand above others. That's what this place believes.
In the end, it's just a fancy word for sorting people into categories.
That's the concept known as "Meritocracy."
『In my opinion, there's not really much to talk about there, especially about the current system. For one, it directly mimics how society works, so even if you complain about it being harsh or unfair, that won't change the reality of the outside world. This school just strips away the pretense. No one here can pretend that kindness or good intentions are enough. If you want to succeed, you step on others. If you want to be recognized, you sacrifice your pride. It's a perfect training ground for the real world. 』
"...I agree with you. This school is harsh, but that's exactly what enables students to grow. The competition, the pressure, the consequences—without those elements, any progress would be superficial at best. That's why the current student council has placed its focus on nurturing potential and fostering growth by maintaining a delicate balance within each class. Not just rewarding results, but making sure students have the environment to reach them."
『Judging from the direction this conversation is going, is it safe to assume that you're starting to doubt how the current meritocracy works? Or rather... is it safe to assume you're questioning your own way of ruling?』
"...You're free to assume whatever you want. But let me ask you instead, what would you say if the school suddenly shifted toward a system of 'pure meritocracy'? Would you support that?"
『Pure meritocracy...? So if I'm guessing right again... that "pure meritocracy" you're talking about must be something way stricter than what we have now, right? Is it ten times harsher than the current system? Sounds like it's just a more extreme version of what's already in place. So isn't that just a matter of categorization without accounting for things like potential? In the end, it's just a more radical way of doing the same thing.』
At the end of the day, that method would only result in a lot more expulsions than the current one. It's not all that different in terms of ideology, but the "pure meritocracy" approach focuses on categorization based solely on ability rather than potential.
『But, well, if we're talking about agreeing or disagreeing—if someone somehow managed to reshape the current system into a pure meritocracy like you said, then all the efforts of the previous student council would become relics of the past. Basically, that person would be trying to destroy the legends. If you destroy everything, you're no different from those who tear down historic landmarks just to build high-rise buildings. At the very least, it's something I can't understand, let alone agree with. 』
"Is that so...."
Horikita Manabu fell into a deep silence, as if carefully contemplating something in response to Kumagawa's answer.
Based on the conversation so far, the question Horikita threw at Kumagawa seemed to be a leading question, even though it was a little too broad to be a leading question, but also a little too specific not to be one.
After what felt like a long pause, the student council president finally reached a conclusion. as He adjusted his glasses and said something that left both Kushida and Tachibana stunned.
"You asked before to join the student council. Back then, I told you to show results first. Now that you've exceeded my expectations, I'll allow you to join."
Secretary Tachibana's eyes widened.
"P-President, didn't we just accept a first-year girl onto the council the other day? We've also filled other seats from the second-year classes. There shouldn't be any positions left..."
"There's still one open seat, isn't there?" he asked calmly.
"O-One? You can't mean—?!"
"Kumagawa. If you're willing, I'll appoint you as vice president."
"W-Wait a minute," Secretary Tachibana finally regained her voice. "This is completely unprecedented! He's a first-year and from Class D, no less! We can't suddenly appoint such a rude junior to the vice presidency..."
She trailed off, falling silent for a moment as if something had clicked in her mind.
"President... Is this because of Nagumo-kun? Are you thinking ahead to next year—when he's elected student council president?"
Before Horikita could answer, Kumagawa raised his hand nonchalantly.
『President, what kind of person is this Nagumo Miyabi? Is he a new student council member? Or maybe just a substitute filling in for someone else?』
"Neither of those."
『!?』
Kumagawa expression was one of shock.
『Not a regular member, and not a substitute...? Just who is this amazing enigma...? 』
"You met him before, didn't you? During the trials back in July."
『Huhuhu... I forgot.』
"...."
Horikita let out a short sigh before returning his attention to Tachibana.
Kumagawa had no idea what the details were, but he understood the general picture. The conversation between the secretary and the president was familiar—he had experienced something like it not too long ago himself. It wasn't hard to guess what was happening with the current student council.
Meanwhile, Kushida stayed silent, quietly anayzing the earlier exchange between Kumagawa and the president without interrupting.
It would be a lie to say she wasn't surprised by the offer Horikita Manabu had made.
Vice president.
But, she wasn't as shocked by the position itself—what stunned her was who it had been offered to. Kumagawa. Of all people.
Why him? Did the president not understand just how terrible of a choice that was?
Right now, she was more worried about the future of the school than anything else. Especially her future for the next three years.
Was Kumagawa even capable of leading others?
Even if she lowered her expectations as far as they could go, it was still impossible to imagine Kumagawa in any kind of leadership role. No matter how she looked at it, anything led by him would only end in disaster.
To begin with, "leadership" was a word that had nothing to do with someone like Kumagawa.
What exactly was the current student council president thinking?
『Kushida-chan, Kushida-chan. Got any ideas? 』
"H-huh?"
The sudden question caught her off guard.
『I'm asking if you have any insight on this Nagumo Miyabi person. 』
"Um... Did you really think I'd know anything about that?"
『But you're the type who knows everything and everyone in this school, right, Kushida-chan? 』
"How much are you overestimating me... That's way too generous. Sure, I recognize most students by face, but only to an extent."
『So that means you do know about Nagumo Miyabi, right? 』
"...I do."
She clicked her tongue internally.
Once again, he was leading her around with his questions.
It was irritating.
Lately, it felt like their conversations always ended up like this—guided at his pace before she even realized it.
Truth be told, he was a well-known figure, especially among the second years. Practically everyone knew him, and for some reason, feared him. She didn't exactly know why he was feared though.
He was smart, highly athletic, popular with girls, and a star player in the soccer club. On top of that, he served as the current vice president of the student council. Given all that, it was no surprise he was seen as the leading candidate for the next presidency.
『Ooh... That's impressive.』
"Is that all you have to say?"
Kushida narrowed her eyes slightly. His reaction was oddly plain, given how much she'd just laid out.
『I'm not the kind of guy to raise quibbles against an all-around genius. But it gets the attention of a contrarian like me for a reason much more beautiful and brilliant. 』
"A much more beautiful and brilliant reason? ...What could that be?"
『The fact that he's popular with girls. That's the most brilliant and beautiful part. 』
"..."
Kushida felt her expression twitch.
Of course it was that.
It was a compelety stupid reason at that.
"Did you finish your conversation?"
Horikita and Tachibana had already wrapped up their discussion. Judging from her expression, Tachibana seemed calm again, as she would resigned to whatever decision the president would make.
"I'll be direct—do you intend to accept the invitation? I'd prefer to hear your answer now, but if you need time, I can wait. Just know that the offer only stands until the start of the next semester."
『That's obvious, isn't it? But before we go any further, there's still one thing I need to get off my chest think of it as my last question before I give you my answer. 』
Why did he have to say it like it was some final farewell?
"What is it?" Horikita replied.
『This whole idea of me joining the student council, and not just as a member but as the vice president, does it have something to do with the current Vice President Nagumo, by any chance? 』
"There can be two student councils functioning at once, but what makes you think that?"
『Why else? Even though I do have experience managing a student council. In fact, I ran one at my previous previous school with just two people, still, I can't help but question it. Why me? You're aware of my reputation, aren't you? I'm not exactly what you'd call student council material. 』
"You misunderstand. I couldn't care less about your reputation. Even if you were from Class D, even if you had a worse reputation than you do now, it doesn't matter. This school doesn't sort students solely by ability into Class A, and the same applies to the student council. Do you understand where I'm getting at?"
"U-um... President," Tachibana interjected hesitantly. "You might've said a bit too much. Aren't you going a little too far?"
"There's no problem. I'm sure this man understands that already."
『I see... In other words, you want me to become a criminal by rebelling against the vice president and future student council president Nagumo. That's quite an attractive invitation. 』
"..."
Horikita didn't respond immediately. It wasn't because the statement caught him off guard—rather, he was quietly impressed. He didn't know how Kumagawa had managed to reach that conclusion so quickly based on the limited information. But it was accurate.
That was exactly the scenario he had in mind.
And because of that, because Kumagawa Misogi had seen through it so cleanly, Horikita Manabu's evaluation of him quietly rose.
"....So, does everything answer your question."
While Kumgawa and Horikita were in the discussion, Kushida looked at the student council president. And the fact that Horikita manabu did not agree nor disagree with Kumagawa's opinion means that Kumagawa is compeletly right in case that Horikita want to use Kumagawa to fight againts Nagumo Miyabi.
She didn't understand how Kumagawa reached that conclusion so quickly, but she decided to ask him about it later.
『So, if I lose against the current vice president, that'll be the end for me, huh? I'll be forced out of this academy. But still, it'd be a boring twist if I was expelled because the vice president bullied me out...』
...Was he planning to reject it?
Kushida couldn't help but wonder. The offer sounded glamorous, sure, but the risks far outweighed the benefits. Even if it was the vice president position, with Kumagawa's reputation, gaining influence wouldn't lead to anything good. Especially when his opponent was someone with deep influence like Nagumo.
And in the end, it was clear that he was just being used as a pawn by the student council president.
Logically, there was no reason to accept.
But Kumagawa Misogi was not someone who acted on logic. "Logic" and "heart" weren't things he had in the first place. So the chances of him rejecting the offer were low. No—almost nonexistent.
『All right. Then it's decided!』 Kumagawa said, standing up. 『In that case, why don't we give it a go? 』
"There's no way you're actually doing this, right?!"
Kushida found herself throwing in a tsukkomi before she realized it.
It really put her at a high risk of getting screwed over.
『No, no, we have to at least weigh the profits and losses, right? Don't worry, even if I'm not exactly good at it, I'll make sure we walk away with something. 』
"...?"
『President, while I'd be happy to accept your offer, there's one more problem to consider. 』
"What is it?"
『The position. 』
"The position?"
『Yes. Let's be honest, vice president is a nice title, but it's not enough. In terms of real influence, it's still limited. The vice president can't move freely without the president's approval, and it's hard to implement meaningful change that way.』
The more he spoke, the more unsettling his smile became. Even Horikita Manabu, who rarely showed emotion, felt a chill run down his spine as he saw that smile.
『So... For the sake of the school, for the sake of the student, and above all else, for my sake. It would be delightful beyond words if you handed over the position of student council president to me, right here and now. 』
Instead of merely accepting the vice presidency offered by Horikita Manabu, Kumagawa Misogi was now aiming straight for the top—requesting the seat of the student council president itself, without hesitation or restraint.
"Y-you...!"
Tachibana raised her voice, clearly upset by the disrespectful tone from a junior student.
But despite her anger, she couldn't bring herself to confront Kumagawa directly. There was something off about him that made the air around him feel dreadful. A strange pressure that made her instincts scream not to get involved.
Horikita Manabu calmly adjusted his glasses, narrowing his eyes at Kumagawa.
"I'm afraid that isn't possible. The school has rules, and no matter how unusual your circumstances, a first-year student cannot become the student council president. Offering you the position of vice president is already bending the rules more than we should."
He paused for a moment, then continued.
"Of course... if you had enough private points, certain procedures could be bypassed. But even then, there's a limit to what can be allowed. This school still values structure."
Kushida let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Well, whether he was serious or not, Kumagawa-kun was the kind of person who could go back on his word without a second thought.
『It's obviously not a money problem! 』
Instead, he got mad.
『Money, money, money... You people are always like that!』
"You misunderstand. I'm saying this is how the school works. It's the rule."
『Ah, I see. In that case, I'll just have to follow the rules.』
...It was also very much like Kumagawa-kun to abandon his own anger without warning.
『In that case, can I have my own secretary too? 』
"That's not possible. All current student council positions are already filled. You joining is already bending the rules. Adding a secretary isn't feasible."
『Then what about a private manager instead? 』
"Manager...?"
『It doesn't have to be official. More like a partner than a proper secretary. Someone to help manage things behind the scenes. After all, it's not realistic for a first-year to go up against Nagumo-senpai without any support, right? 』
"...I see. Since you brought it up like that, I assume you already have someone in mind?"
Kumagawa's eyes drifted toward Kushida.
"...?"
What was this?
What was this overwhelming sense of discomfort?
She didn't know why, but she felt like she had to stop him. Once he said it, things would start moving in a direction she couldn't control. But it was already too late.
『Kushida-chan would be perfect, don't you think? 』
"W-what?! W-wait a minute, Kumagawa-kun...!"
She raised her voice in panic, but was completely ignored. Worse, Horikita Manabu didn't brush it off either. He looked like he was seriously considering it.
"Kushida, huh..."
『You already know she's the best option available right now. Especially for you.』
It was true that keeping Kushida close might be for the best.
By making her an accomplice, it would be easier to monitor her actions. If anything went wrong, it would be easier to deal with her. And if she tried anything behind the scenes, Kumagawa, who was now directly involved, could respond immediately.
In a way, this decision might reduce more future risk than it created.
"...I-I don't think I'm really suited for something like that," Kushida said, her tone deliberately modest. "Wouldn't it be better if Kumagawa-kun just handled it on his own? It's not like I'd be much help, and honestly, getting involved might only make things messier."
It was a fair excuse. From an outsider's perspective, she had no real reason to take part in this kind of conflict. She wasn't directly connected to the student council, and more importantly, she didn't want any attention drawn to herself.
Under normal conditions, she might've accepted the offer with a bright smile. But this time, it felt like she was being dragged into something heavy without a single word of consideration.
"You wouldn't be taking on any official responsibility, it's not a formal role. At most, you'd be assisting Kumagawa on occasion. There's no loss for you in this arrangement." Horikita Manabu replied
"That's not the problem..." she muttered.
Even if there was no official risk, the fact that she'd be associated with this situation was already dangerous. The enemy here was Nagumo Miyabi, the current student council vice president. Getting involved with someone like that—even indirectly—could threaten her already unstable school life.
She was already walking on a tightrope, constantly hiding her true self. Horikita Suzune was in her class, and two students knew her secrets. Adding this new risk into the mix felt like too much.
All she wanted was to buy some fancy chocolates and quietly repay a favor.
"How did it come to this..." she whispered bitterly, blaming just one person in particular.
There was no way out of this.
If she refused now, there was no doubt the student council president would keep an eye on her.
If she refused, there was no doubt Horikita Manabu would keep an eye on her. It was already bad enough being marked by the powerful student council president, but to make matters worse, he remembered her, her face, her name, everything from middle school. That alone made this the worst possible situation.
There was no telling if he remembered "that" incident.
No, she couldn't be sure.
But just the possibility made her head feel heavy.
Shit.
She couldn't help but curse in her heart.
Is this why Kumagawa was so adamant on bringing her here, so that he can dragged her into this mess altogether?
Kushida shot him a hateful glare. A glare so clear that it would be strange if he didn't notice it at all.
『Hm? 』
Kumagawa tilted his head, pretending to be clueless.
Then came a sickly sweet smile, almost endearing on the surface. But from Kushida's perspective, it looked nothing short of evil.
『Anyway, does that mean I'm officially the vice president of this school? 』
"More or less. But if we're speaking in terms of technicality, your appointment as vice president won't be formally recognized until the start of the new semester. That's when the official paperwork will be processed and your responsibilities will begin in earnest. Until then, consider this more of a provisional agreement."
So, on the first day of the new semester, everyone would find out that Kumagawa was the new vice president—despite being a first-year.
It was completely unprecedented.
『Mhm... I see. Nice working with you, President. 』
Kumagawa reached out his hand without hesitation.
Horikita took it after a brief pause.
"...Likewise. I look forward to seeing what you'll bring to the student council."
The two of them shook hands—Kumagawa Misogi, a first-year and the newly appointed vice president, and Horikita Manabu, a third-year and the current student council president.
『』『』『』『』『』
"How could you do that?! You dragged me into that whole mess without a single explanation! I had no idea what was going on, and you made me stand there like some clueless idiot while you talked in circles with the student council president! If this backfires on me, I'm holding you completely responsible."
Kushida was practically fuming after what happened in the student council room.
To be dragged into something that had nothing to do with her, without a single word of consideration, was the worst outcome she could imagine—especially when she was supposed to be out just buying chocolates.
If cutting ties with Kumagawa were possible, she would've seriously considered it by now.
Well, even if that wasn't on the table, lately she'd just been tossed around at Kumagawa's whim, without any say in the matter.
『That's an awful way of putting it, you make it sound like it's somebody else's problem, Kushida-chan. 』
"Well, I'm not going to deny it."
She crossed her arms tightly, still glaring at him.
"Because from where I'm standing, it was your problem, and you dumped it on me without asking."
Even though she was still angry about the whole ordeal, getting mad wouldn't change anything. With the student council president already keeping an eye on her, she had no choice but to go along with Kumagawa's plan while trying to stay as inconspicuous as possible.
So, she decided to shift the conversation—to the topic she was genuinely curious about, which also happened to be the main issue.
"Let's set aside the fact that I'm angry. I'm more curious why you accepted his proposal in the first place—especially when it means going against the current student council vice president. Even if the title is tempting, is it really worth the risk of going against a second-year?"
By doing that, Kumagawa was only making things harder for himself in a school where personal influence and reputation determined almost everything. Whether life would be easy or difficult depended entirely on how others perceived you.
"Wouldn't it be easier to just let the student council deal with their own problems? Wouldn't that be more convenient for you?"
It would definitely make her life easier if that had been the case.
『And why should I go to the trouble of doing that? It seems easier to make an enemy out of him and just launch a surprise attack instead.』
"..."
Why is he talking like this is some kind of fist fight?
Did he mean becoming the "Vice President" was supposed to be the surprise attack? Is that his weapon? His method of fighting? In the first place, how is that even supposed to work as a surprise when the entire student body will find out about it on the day of the new semester?
That alone would render the whole thing meaningless—if you could even call that a surprise attack in the first place.
『Besides, whether I sit back or not, Nagumo Miyabi would come for me eventually. Just like in Shounen Jump, you know? Trouble always finds the protagonist, whether they like it or not. I just sped up the natural outcome, that's all. 』
"Sped up the natural outcome...?"
『...Just by living, I become somebody's enemy at some point. 』
"...Ahaha..."
She let out a weak laugh and swallowed hard.
Why did he have to say it like that...? There was something oddly self-deprecating in his voice. And because of that, her anger, which had been burning just moments ago, quietly faded. Especially since, as far as she could tell, it was the truth. Or at least, based on what she had observed so far... it felt that way.
Kumagawa Misogi.
There's probably no one in the entire first year who doesn't know that name.
And because he was so famous—or rather, infamous—he seemed to have made enemies all over the place. Maybe not enemies in the strictest sense, but there was no doubt that plenty of people disliked the person named Kumagawa Misogi.
Take Class C, for example. Right now, they must hate him more than anyone. He's the reason they dropped to Class C. Not to mention, two of their students got expelled because of him.
The same could be said for Class B. They also had a student who was expelled because of Kumagawa.
As for Class A, they didn't interact with him much, so you could say they were still neutral. But she noticed how Ichinose had changed a little after getting involved with Kumagawa. She still acted like her usual self, so most wouldn't notice. Whether that change was good or bad, she couldn't say. Still, someone in Class A must have picked up on the change in Ichinose's demeanor. And if they noticed how often she interacted with Kumagawa, there was no doubt that someone in that class had quietly suggested keeping their distance from him.
And with the way things were progressing with the "deal" Kumagawa made with the student council president, it was only a matter of time before he made an enemy of the second years—especially since the target was Nagumo Miyabi, the vice president and the one who held sway over the entire second-year student body.
Why did he had to have so many enemies....
At this point, Kushida could only hope so that all the enemy Kumagawa had made so far would only attack him, while ignoring the fact that she was secretly helping him.
She would rather have Kumagawa has a hard time rather than her, since he was rather proud on being hated after all. So in a way, it could be seen as Kushida is giving him a favor.
『Anyway, I feel like I'm forgetting something. Do you know what it is, Appointmenter Kushida-chan?』
"...You didn't get any of the chocolate you were promised. Which, if I remember correctly, was the whole reason you dragged me into the student council room in the first place. And in the end, you didn't even get that."
『?!! 』
Kumagawa's expression twisted into pure shock.
In the end, the student council members hadn't offered him a single piece of chocolate. Even though it was the president himself who suggested having the talk there under the pretense of sharing some, not once did they bring it up during the entire meeting.
She realized it then.
He had been scammed by Horikita Manabu into having that conversation.
How devious.
『Well, whatever... let's go, Kushida-chan. Together. To find our long-awaited chocolate. 』
"Haaah..."
Kushida let out a sigh as she followed after him, resigned to her fate once again. But at the very least, it was only to buy some chocolate.
What could possibly go wrong...?
...Well, as always, nothing ever went as expected.
For one of them, it would take an entire week before he could finally get the chocolate he had been craving so desperately.
And for the other, she would soon find herself desperately trying to turn a really bad rumor... into just a slightly bad one.
But a bad rumor is still a bad rumor, no matter how you spin it.
『END』
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