Discussion and Probing

Back to the other side, just as Itozawa and the others quietly left following Kamuro, Sakayanagi's brow twitched slightly, a nearly imperceptible depth flashing in his eyes.

She turned around and called towards the door in a calm and indifferent tone, "Kanzaki-kun, do I have to personally invite you over?" Her voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for Kanzaki to hear.

Upon hearing Sakayanagi's call, Kanzaki's expression remained unchanged, as if he had long anticipated this moment.

He slowly emerged from the corner, his steps unhurried as he entered Class A's classroom.

His movements were fluid and natural, showing no signs of nervousness or awkwardness. Instead, he carried an air of ease and familiarity, as if two old friends were meeting at a predetermined spot, ready for a pleasant conversation.

Sakayanagi's gaze met Kanzaki's arrival with a gentle warmth. The corners of her lips curved upwards into a friendly smile.

Her posture was relaxed, her body leaning slightly towards Kanzaki. This subtle gesture conveyed her trust and closeness to him. "Kanzaki-kun, what brings you here?"

Sakayanagi's tone carried a hint of lighthearted teasing.

She knew exactly why he was there, but she didn't care at all.

Kanzaki smiled faintly, his demeanor unhurried, as if their conversation was merely casual small talk.

"Just passing by, thought I'd see how you were. What? Not welcome?" His words held a touch of levity, as if he were unconcerned about being suspected.

His hands were casually tucked into his pockets, his body slightly tilted, exuding a relaxed posture. However, a hint of vigilance lay hidden in his eyes, ready to respond to any of Sakayanagi's probes.

Sakayanagi's gaze swept over Kanzaki, a playful expression on her face. "You can never hide your expressions, so stop pretending." She leaned closer. "I heard you've been getting close to Itozawa from your class lately. Does he have something special about him?" Her eyes were sharp, as if trying to catch any subtle clues from Kanzaki's reaction.

Kanzaki shrugged, a smile in his eyes. "Itozawa is an interesting guy. We just chat occasionally." His voice was calm. "But it seems even you have been stumped by him. What? Did he bully you like those others? Should I go take care of him for you?"

His tone carried a hint of teasing.

He knew very well that Itozawa couldn't have offended him in that regard, otherwise Itozawa would have already been firmly in Sakayanagi's sights.

Sakayanagi let out a cold laugh. "You ungrateful soul, I was clearly concerned about you. Those people in Class B are not as simple as you think."

The reason she cared about Itozawa was, of course, because Kamuro had told her that he was the one who instructed Kamuro. That's why she became curious about him.

When she checked the school records in her father's office, she found nothing unusual. That's why she decided to start by probing Kanzaki.

But of course, she couldn't tell him the truth and give him a chance to mock her.

A flicker of amusement crossed Kanzaki's eyes. "Sakayanagi, if people in Class B aren't simple, does that make people in Class A simple? I think you're more relaxed than I am."

Sakayanagi smiled, dropping the topic. Instead, she steered the conversation elsewhere. "Kanzaki-kun, do you remember our bet from last time?"

"Of course, I remember, Sakayanagi." He replied, a playful tone in his voice. "I rarely get to see you flustered. This is a rare opportunity, and I'll definitely remember it."

Sakayanagi's lips curved upwards, confidence in her eyes regarding the bet. "Then, since you're here today, I'll give you a chance. Admit your defeat, how about it?" she challenged, leaning forward slightly, as if seeking an answer from Kanzaki's expression.

Kanzaki gently shook his head. "No, I'm still curious how you plan to get the Class B students to talk." His voice was calm, but the challenge in his eyes was evident. "Don't worry, if you win, I'll definitely honor the bet. But unfortunately, it seems you won't win this time."

Sakayanagi bit her lip. She had been too hasty back then. Now, she could only try to trick Kanzaki.

"Oh? Is that so? But I heard there's been some unrest in Class B recently. Perhaps that's my opportunity." Her voice carried a hint of confidence, as if she had grasped some crucial information.

Kanzaki's eyebrows rose slightly, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, which he quickly concealed. "Unrest? I haven't heard anything about that." He responded dismissively, trying to hide his inner turmoil. "But even if you know something, I don't think you'll succeed."

Sakayanagi chuckled softly, a hint of smugness in her eyes.

It seemed they hadn't discovered her handiwork yet.

"We'll see, Kanzaki-kun. I'm really looking forward to seeing you lose the bet."

Kanzaki smiled faintly, anticipation for Sakayanagi's challenge in his eyes. "I'm also looking forward to seeing you fail, Sakayanagi. After all, this is a rare opportunity."

Seeing that she couldn't sway Kanzaki's thoughts and had obtained the information she wanted, she didn't press further. Instead, she brought up another topic. "Kanzaki-kun, aren't you worried about the safety of the two who went to follow Kamuro? After all, you know my methods. Aren't you afraid they'll be tricked by Kamuro?"

Her posture was relaxed, her body leaning slightly towards Kanzaki. This subtle movement conveyed her trust and closeness to Kanzaki, while also exerting pressure on him.

Kanzaki chuckled lightly, his demeanor unhurried, as if unfazed by Sakayanagi's provocation.

"If you can find out Itozawa's background, then I'll truly have to thank you."

Kanzaki's voice held a hint of lightness, his smile revealing his trust in Itozawa's abilities, while also showing that he didn't take Sakayanagi's provocation seriously.

"Let's wait and see."