Black Room Supreme Masterpiece? OUT! D1→D0

After an exceptionally meaningful handshake with Kushida Kikyo, the school hallway fell into silence, the atmosphere between them somewhat strange.

Tennoji Kaede was the first to break the ice.

"I'm happy to have earned Classmate Kikyo's trust. To be honest, I don't know what you've been through, but I find your current true self much more comfortable to look at, and even more lovely."

This was genuinely how Tennoji Kaede felt. The fake personality Kushida had maintained was terrifying if you thought about it too much; the unfeeling beautiful girl was far more interesting.

Huh?

Kushida Kikyo's cold eyes snapped open wide!

Disbelieving, she watched Kaede's retreating back as he walked towards Yamauchi.

He actually thinks I look better now?

It's said that those who wear a mask for too long often hate it the most and grow to detest their true selves.

Kushida was like that, but today, for the first time in her life, someone said her true face was better... In her eyes, Kaede had no reason to lie at this moment... So, he's serious?

"We need to think about how to best handle Yamauchi Haruki. After all, that lunatic holds your secret too."

Right!

Kushida Kikyo suddenly realized, she had almost forgotten. Her current situation was far from optimistic.

"Um, I originally planned to get proof and then threaten Yamauchi Haruki, forcing him to keep quiet from now on, otherwise..."

He interrupted her. "Otherwise, Classmate Kikyo would go down in flames with Yamauchi Haruki, right?"

Kushida Kikyo: "...Yes."

It's time to use that person.

Tennoji Kaede pondered, then made a decision.

"Classmate Kikyo, doing that isn't enough. In the future, you'll only live under the shadow of this incident."

Tennoji Kaede turned back, staring at her.

"I will handle Yamauchi's matter for you. However, are you truly willing to trust me?"

"To resolve this completely might require some sacrifice from you, Classmate Kikyo, but I promise you won't suffer this kind of harm again in the future."

Kushida fell into thought.

"In fact, this could be an opportunity. Perhaps in the future, you won't have to live disguised behind that extreme false face anymore. There might be better choices."

Kushida Kikyo: !?

"Are you willing to trust me, Classmate Kikyo?"

Kushida could no longer refuse Kaede.

Afterward, Tennoji Kaede made a phone call, and a certain man arrived—

Third Year Class A, the Student Council President, Horikita Manabu!

Advanced Nurturing High School, more than a month and a half after the first-year new students enrolled.

A shocking event occurred!

First, Class D's interpersonal relations angel, the female student ranked first among all first-year boys, Kushida Kikyo.

She suddenly changed her demeanor!?

Silent, solemn, exuding a desolate and cold aura, like a truly aloof flower.

This surprised everyone. When asked for the reason, she always remained silent.

At the same time, the Class D students who first noticed Kushida's change detected another anomaly.

Their Class D classmate, Yamauchi Haruki, had mysteriously disappeared from the school?

Initially, Yamauchi's close friends, like Ike Kanji, Sudo Ken, and Tendo Ryotaro, were puzzled.

Where's Yamauchi? Where did he go? Could it be... he dropped out?

Later, someone, it's unclear who started it, suddenly voiced a terrifying thought.

Combining Kushida's change with Yamauchi's bizarre disappearance, everyone felt an abnormal sense of dread.

Then, just as Class D was in a state of anxious unease, during the latest class meeting, Chabashira Sae revealed the earth-shattering truth.

Kushida Kikyo had taken a temporary leave of absence, and not just for one day.

Today, Teacher Chabashira looked like an active volcano. "First, there is some very unfortunate news for Class D. Yamauchi Haruki has been forcibly expelled for violating school rules."

"Class D's Class Points have now dropped from 1 to 0. Heh heh."

After speaking, Teacher Chabashira was the first to laugh, as if her class had finally returned to her ideal score, making her genuinely satisfied.

Class D fell silent, but surprisingly, everyone seemed to have expected it.

And a drop from 1 to 0 points, at this point, really didn't matter much to them anymore.

They were waiting for definitive news...

Ike Kanji couldn't hold back any longer and asked the question on everyone's mind, "Saechie, that... you said Yamauchi violated school rules... what did you mean?"

Teacher Chabashira's face was cold. "I believe you've all noticed recently? The changes happening to Kushida Kikyo."

Upon hearing this, everyone in Class D felt like they couldn't breathe!

Though they were foolish and slow, they weren't unreasonable.

Could the rumors be true!?

Hirata's face contorted in pain as he exhaled heavily, releasing the tension in his chest.

He had given up hope.

He had been clinging to the fantasy that the two incidents might be unrelated, but ultimately, he had been too naive...

"Haruki Yamauchi molested Kushida Kikyo. The evidence is conclusive. This is the sin he committed, one severe enough for expulsion!"

"Perhaps 'molested' is too light a word... Ike, are you satisfied with this answer now?"

Ike slumped into his seat. He knew how severe the consequences would be for having been friends with a sinner like Yamauchi!

The other close friends of Yamauchi in Class D wore expressions that were difficult to describe.

Seeing everyone fall into a silence as deep as an abyss, Teacher Chabashira sighed heavily in her heart once more.

This Class D might truly be finished, even with that boy around... After speaking, Chabashira Sae quickly left the classroom.

Following that, Class D exploded!

Karuizawa Kei, Class D's apparent female leader, stood up in anger. She glared at the group of boys close to Yamauchi behind her and pointed, shouting:

"Are you guys even human? How could you do something like that to a classmate???"

Sudo Ken kicked his desk and retorted furiously, "You gossip! That was Yamauchi's doing, what does it have to do with me!?"

"Exactly!"

"Karuizawa-san, that's unfair."

Sato Maya began to cry softly. "I can't believe Little Kikyo had to go through such a terrible ordeal..."

At these words, Class D fell silent.

Then, a more chaotic shouting match erupted between the boys and girls, the content of which had nothing to do with Kushida Kikyo anymore.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka sat expressionlessly on the "King's Homeland" divine seat.

In reality, he felt a bit speechless at the moment.

He didn't care about the loser Yamauchi, nor did he care about the consequences of the current chaos in the class.

Instead, he saw an opportunity.

Ayanokoji noticed that the individuals he had previously placed his hopes on in Class D were now in varying degrees of breakdown and confusion. This was a good chance.

Although it was earlier than expected, it was also a good time for him to intervene.

However, he still had reservations because Kushida Kikyo's behavior in the past few days had been somewhat abnormal, something he couldn't overlook.

But if he didn't act soon, Class D might truly spiral out of control...

Ultimately, Ayanokoji decided to act first to salvage the situation.

He would start with that interesting man--

Hirata Yousuke!

Fire cannot be contained in paper forever.

Within a day, the matter of Kushida Kikyo spread throughout the entire high school campus.

For a time, all normal people felt sympathy and regret for Kushida Kikyo's tragic experience.

Shortly after, Student Council President Horikita Manabu suddenly announced that Kushida Kikyo had officially joined the student council!