Kushida Kikyo stood there, staring at Horikita Suzune in front of him.
"...Horikita Suzune."
After a long time, Kushida Kikyo finally spoke.
"As expected... I still can't accept you."
She took a deep breath, as if trying to calm the anger in her chest, but failed.
"At this moment, looking at your expression of naturally winning... I really, hate you more and more."
That kind of hate is not the kind of petty fights between girls just for the sake of jealousy.
Rather, it is pure hatred that wants to completely erase the other person's existence.
Faced with this overwhelming malice, Horikita Suzune did not back down.
"That's true."
"I never expected you to like me. For me, your likes and dislikes are not within the scope of my consideration. Whether it is dislike or hatred, it has nothing to do with me."
This is Horikita Suzune.
This look only angered Kushida Kikyo even more.
"Heh..."
Kushida Kikyo sneered.
"Then don't forget, Horikita."
"The content of our bet is that if I lose, I will no longer 'hinder' you. That's all."
"This does not mean that I will be your friend, nor does it mean that I will help you."
"..."
Horikita Suzune was about to say something, but Kushida Kikyo obviously no longer wanted to listen to her preaching.
"I don't want to see your face for one second now."
Kushida Kikyo picked up her schoolbag and prepared to leave this suffocating place.
However.
The moment she took the first step.
A hand fell on the top of her head.
"Crack."
The palm of her hand covered her carefully taken care of her short hair, as if comforting a fried Wild Cat.
Kushida Kikyo's body suddenly froze.
"Why are you so angry?"
Kazehara Tetsu.
His fingers gently teased Kushida Kikyo's hair, causing a tingling feeling.
"Being willing to accept defeat is a virtue, Kushida. If you put on such an expression that you want to eat people, if other students passing by see it, your "Little Angel" image will collapse, right?"
This intimate, even somewhat transgressive move made Horikita Suzune's pupils next to him shrink slightly.
Not surprised by Kazehara Tetsu's frivolity.
This man is not a gentleman to begin with.
But I was surprised by Kushida Kikyo's reaction.
Kushida Kikyo did not hide.
She just froze there, letting the hand make trouble on her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, more like enduring than resisting.
"... and so do you."
Kushida Kikyo slowly raised his head.
"Apart from Horikita... I also hate you the most, Kazehara Tetsu."
She gritted her teeth, and although her voice was lowered, her intensity was even stronger.
"Don't touch my head like you're coaxing a dog... it's disgusting."
He said it was disgusting and disgusting.
But she still didn't move that hand away.
This sense of contradiction between words and deeds, this strange "obedience" amidst extreme disgust, made Horikita Suzune on the side feel his heart skip a beat.
Horikita Suzune's eyes wandered back and forth between the two of them.
The context of the conversation between these two people... didn't look like ordinary classmates from across the class at all.
"Hate me?"
Kazehara Tetsu was not angry because of the phrase "that's disgusting", but instead seemed to have heard some pleasant compliment.
"Being hated by 'everyone's idol' Kushida is, in a sense, a special treatment."
"After all, instead of being called 'Kazehara-kun' with your fake face wearing a mask, it would be more interesting to look like this now..."
"You..."
Kushida Kikyo air knot.
She knew that there was no point in disguising herself in front of Kazehara Tetsu.
From the moment she was exposed in front of Sports Festival, from the moment her ulterior secret was grasped by this man, she was already naked in front of him.
In this case, it is futile to continue pretending.
Kushida Kikyo stopped pretending this time.
She raised her hand suddenly, but he didn't slap Kazehara Tetsu's hand away hard, but grabbed his wrist with such force that her nails dug into her flesh.
She ignored the confused Horikita Suzune next to her and stared at Kazehara Tetsu with her eyes.
"What do you mean? It's you again... right?"
"What happened this time... How could that bastard Ryuen suddenly change his mind? Now that the greedy guy got the test questions, how could he give up the transaction because of his conscience?"
"Have the ability to make a lunatic like Ryuen change his mind, and have the ability to fish Horikita Suzune out of this fatal situation..."
"There is no one else but you."
Kushida Kikyo's breathing became rapid and his chest heaved violently.
"You once again... saved Horikita Suzune."
"Why?"
"Aren't you from Class A? Isn't it more beneficial to you to watch Class D's civil strife and watch me fuck Horikita Suzune with Expulsion? Why are you meddling in other people's business!"
She was unwilling to do so.
Really unwilling.
The plan is obviously going on normally, but there is only one last step left to remove this thorn in the side.
But this man just happened to get in the way.
Facing this barrage of questions, the expression on Kazehara Tetsu's face did not change at all.
"Saved her?"
Kazehara Tetsu glanced at Horikita Suzune, who was silent next to him, and then looked at Kushida again, with a trace of mockery in his eyes.
"It's not a 'rescue' this time."
"What I did was just give her a little... well, 'suggestion'."
"As for how to implement that suggestion, how to convince Ryuen... or how to deceive."
"This was all accomplished by Horikita Suzune's own ability."
Kazehara Tetsu's voice is calm and objective.
"If she is a loser, even if the test questions are changed and she fails, you will still win, right?"
"So, don't blame me for the failure. It's because your skills are inferior to others, Kushida."
"Skills are inferior to others..."
These four words were like needles pricking Kushida's heart.
"It doesn't make any difference! Without your advice, she wouldn't even have a chance to get on the gambling table!"
Seeing her losing control, Kazehara Tetsu sighed lightly.
"Don't get angry, Kushida."
"If a girl gets angry often, she will get wrinkles, right? Besides... as classmates, we should get along well with each other."
"Look, isn't what you usually say is 'everyone should be friends'?"
"Haven't you been 'working hard' for the unity of Class D? In order to maintain the image of Goddess that everyone likes, you will treat even the most inconspicuous and dark otaku gently."
His eyes were full of sarcasm.
"What? Don't make a special case just because the target is Horikita Suzune."
"Since the character is 'an angel who can be friends with anyone', then please be sure to perform this role... in full."
"Ha... haha..."
She suddenly smiled.
"Really, like friends?"
She waved her hand violently, and this time, she finally broke free from Kazehara Tetsu's hand.
"The so-called 'everyone is a good friend', the premise is... to eliminate all people who know about my past."
"That's real peace, real... getting along."
In order to maintain that perfect "illusion", she is willing to destroy everyone who knows the "truth".
"What an amazing realization."
Kazehara Tetsu took a step forward, closing the distance that Kushida Kikyo had just opened.
"Then, Kushida..."
"I also know your past. I have also seen your ferocious face just now. According to your theory, I am also one of the objects you need to 'eliminate'."
"What should you do?"
"..."
The man in front of me is not Horikita Suzune.
He is not an opponent who can let her vent her hatred.
Kushida Kikyo was silent for a few seconds and distanced himself from Kazehara Tetsu.
"You're right."
"It is a virtue to accept defeat when gambling. This time I lost, and I will abide by the bet."
Her eyes swept over Horikita Suzune, her eyes still filled with undisguised disgust, but at least she no longer spoke harshly.
"I won't hinder you anymore, Horikita. At least, not on the surface."
"As for you, Kagihara."
"I really don't have the ability to ask you to 'shut up' right now. And for the time being... I can't afford the expensive price you mentioned."
"So, that's it for now."
She no longer looked at the two of them, nor did she stay.
Only two people, Horikita Suzune and Kazehara Tetsu, were left in the corridor.
"What exactly happened between you and her?"
"Just some... fun little secrets."
"It doesn't look very good."