Card Table

Komiya opened his eyes, and some answers came to him.

After speaking with Sudo alone, Chabashira must have realized that even for Sudo, beating three people single-handedly was a bit far-fetched.

But even if Sudo had been framed, everyone who heard about the complaint would think he had done it. Sudo's usual bullying, unreasonable behavior would make the people around him believe he was capable of such a thing.

"Chabashira chose to tell me what happened and let me think it over. Maybe she can't see a way to solve the problem either, at least for now," Komiya muttered to himself.

With Class D now split into one clique after another, Sudo was facing a lawsuit involving the Class C homeroom teacher all on his own. Without any evidence that he had acted in self-defense, he stood no chance. In the worst-case scenario, Sudo would be expelled outright.

If this really was Class C exploiting the situation—or even making the whole thing up to attack them—then whoever stepped in to protect Sudo now would surely become Class C's next target.

Horikita Manabu already got the complaint documents, so he must understand the situation. Did he refuse to let me see them because he thinks I'm likely to fail? It seems the accounting information I've memorized is very important to him. Only then did Komiya understand why Horikita Manabu had refused.

Horikita Suzune isn't helping because she already said last time that she was only helping Sudo for her own sake—to Ascend to Class A. If Class C's complaint succeeds, Class D will lose a huge number of points. If it doesn't, Class D won't gain any points either.

Horikita had said last time that she didn't want to keep helping them with every assessment. That would only make them dependent on her, and they would repeat the same mistakes in every crisis that followed.

Sudo's usual habit of saying cruel things and acting arrogantly made him unpopular with all his classmates, including those in Class D. That would remain a weakness for the class.

If Sudo were usually a kind student who got along with others, then even if Class C had framed him, no one would believe such a baseless accusation.

In other words, to get Horikita to help, I need to prove that Class C is attacking Class D—and make sure Sudo reins in his temper and stops causing trouble from now on. Komiya frowned. If Horikita wanted to use this incident to teach Sudo a lesson, she would wait before stepping in, and by then the chances of failure would be even higher.

Faced with the problem at hand, Komiya thought back to the results of his first two attempts.

The first time, after learning the school's rules, Komiya had tried to help Hirata and the others hold on to their points by sharing information. He hadn't gotten directly involved, and in the end, the points they earned had been dismal.

The second time, Chabashira had asked Komiya to intervene directly in Class D's Midterm Exam. Although he'd stepped in and worked hard, helping Horikita's side tutor the trio and helping Hirata's side explain problems at the Study Group—

If Komiya hadn't gotten his hands on past exams, though, the Midterm Exam after Chabashira had sabotaged them would have gone horribly. Had all his previous efforts really made a difference?

Komiya suddenly felt as if he were sitting at a Card Table. Countless people all around him were playing cards, and every card on the table was affecting each player, intentionally or otherwise. Anyone who wanted to change the situation would play a card from their hand that they thought might help.

Komiya didn't even notice that his heart seemed to be beating faster and faster.

"I don't have enough cards in my hand," Komiya muttered excitedly. He had already decided what to do next.

Just then, his phone rang.

"Ayanokoji? What's up?"

"Komiya, Sudo just came to see me."

"...I think I know what you're going to say."

"Really? You understood that quickly. That's a big help. Is this about something from the Student Council?"

"My position on the Student Council probably won't be of any use this time. I can't think of a good solution either."

"I see. But I have something more important to tell you," Ayanokoji said mysteriously.

"More important than this?" Komiya's breathing grew faint as he listened closely.

"Actually, students can freely make copies of their classmates' dorm keys through the dorm supervisor. They just have to state a reason and claim the room's occupant has given permission. It's especially common among the guys."

"What!" Komiya was surprised, but this had nothing to do with Sudo's problem, and he couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.

Ayanokoji asked suspiciously, "I've already had Ike and the others make four copies of my key. They said they needed them for some kind of meeting point... Don't tell me you've got copies too?"

"Looks like I'm not that close with Ike and the others," Komiya explained. He didn't have any copies of their keys.

"If I report it afterward, Ike might get expelled on the spot... You should check with the dorm supervisor too, just in case."

"I definitely will. But could you tell me how Sudo described what happened first?" Komiya asked curiously.

Ayanokoji explained, "Sudo said he'd been selected as an official member of the Basketball Club for the summer tournament. When Komiya Kazuya, a Class C member in the same club, found out, he told Sudo to meet him in the special teaching building. But when Sudo arrived, Ishizaki from Class C was there too. They threatened Sudo and told him to quit the club. When he refused, the three of them attacked him."

"I think I understand. But what do you want to do about Sudo?"

"They came to my room earlier to 'meet up' and think of a solution, but honestly, Sudo came to me first to ask for help. I don't know whether I should be happy or unhappy about that."

"...Let's set that aside for now. How badly is Sudo hurt?"

"He doesn't show any signs of injury. It's as if he wasn't attacked at all."

"...This is bad. Ayanokoji, you really don't plan to help?" Komiya was now certain that this was an attack on Class D by Class C.

How could three people attack one person and leave Sudo without a single injury? Besides, two of them were also in the Basketball Club.

Ayanokoji sighed. "Sigh. What do you want to do?"

"If you don't want to help, I won't force you. But at least get Horikita to step in. I asked her before, and she turned me down outright."

"Really? I thought Horikita wouldn't stay silent about something that hurt Class D. But even if you want me to ask her to help, I can't think of a way to persuade her right now."

"Anything will do. Since Sudo has already been selected as an official member of the Basketball Club in his first year, he might be useful later on... No, he's sure to be useful. Use that to persuade Horikita."

"Understood. Can I ask you a strange question?" Ayanokoji suddenly asked.

"Of course. Go ahead."

"I get the feeling that Komiya isn't really the type to get involved in things like this. Why are you helping Sudo this time?"

"...Come to think of it, why am I?" Komiya couldn't figure out why he was being so proactive.

"This might be a good opportunity, Komiya."

"What opportunity?"

"I heard that Class C and Class B have each chosen someone to represent them. Will you represent Class D?"

"...Isn't Hirata already doing that?"

"You know that's not what I'm asking."

After a few seconds of silence, Komiya replied, "I think I'll pass. Something about it makes me uncomfortable. I guess it doesn't really suit my personality."

"I see. If you decide to take action directly later, could you let me know too?"

"I'm heading to Class C now."

Ayanokoji's dumbfounded voice came through the phone. "Huh?"