Splitting Up

For most of the semester, Zhuge Linghao had tried countless times, but none of the trouble he started himself—challenges, bets, contests, and the like—had ever triggered an optional quest!

Though Zhuge Linghao often talked about stirring up trouble, almost every time he had to get dragged into some incident before he could earn emotion points!

So Zhuge Linghao gradually started thinking he might as well give up. After all, it was always trouble that came looking for him!

It was another break between classes. Kushida had told Ken Sudō that he'd better not wander around too much over the next few days, in case he got into even more trouble.

She also said she'd formed an intelligence-gathering team with Hirata and the others to work together and collect leads from witnesses.

After school, Kushida Kikyo and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who'd been rushing all over the place, sat sighing beside the fountain. Two "clingy dogs"—Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Haruki—sat beside Kushida.

Kushida said helplessly, "We still haven't found any leads on the witness."

Yamauchi said wearily, "Could Sudō and the others have been lying?"

Kanji Ike wasn't sure either. "Maybe? Maybe not?"

Ayanokoji rested one hand on his hip. "How's Hirata doing?"

Kushida glanced at her phone and said listlessly, "He replied. It seems like he hasn't found anything either."

The investigation had hit a dead end, and nobody had any useful suggestions.

Just then, Ichinose Honami stepped within speaking distance.

"Hey, Kushida, Ayanokoji-kun."

"I heard from someone in my class that you're investigating something?"

Kushida and Ayanokoji exchanged a glance, then decided to tell Ichinose what had happened.

Ichinose, who was Kushida's good friend, said, "Class B will help look for clues too!"

Ayanokoji watched Ichinose warily.

"Don't worry. Class B won't get in the way. Besides, I still owe Zhuge a favor."

The four students from Class D looked at Ichinose curiously. What favor?

Before long, Kushida received a message from Ichinose, asking them to meet her by the electronic display at the track and field grounds.

So they headed over to the track and field grounds.

As they walked, Kushida asked, "Did Ichinose find something already?"

Ayanokoji said, "I'm not sure, but we'll find out soon."

They stopped in front of the electronic display. Yamauchi said, "Everyone, come see what it says!"

"Witnesses to the violent incident at the Special Building shortly after six p.m. on June 30, or anyone with information about the people involved, please contact Kanzaki Ryuji of Class 1-B."

"Kushida, Ayanokoji, you're here." Ichinose smiled, accompanied by a purple-haired boy.

"This notice?"

"It was Kanzaki's idea! We also posted a request for information on the school's electronic bulletin board."

Ichinose took out her phone and said, "We got some information. One of the students who fought with Sudō and the others is named Ishizaki Daichi. He was a delinquent back in middle school, a skilled fighter, and notorious in the area!"

"The other two are both members of the basketball team. The three of them were beaten soundly by Sudō and Zhuge, even though they were outnumbered. That clearly doesn't make sense."

Kanzaki Ryuji analyzed the situation.

"Could the three of them have let themselves get beaten on purpose? If they deliberately set a trap to frame Sudō and the others, then it would all make sense."

Ichinose had thought the same thing.

She took out her phone to thank the person who'd provided the information, but since the sender was anonymous, she didn't know how to transfer points to them.

So Ayanokoji kindly helped her with it. While he was doing so, he saw that her phone displayed 2,642,219 personal points!

His pupils contracted. How does she have so many personal points?

The student council president's office.

Zhuge Linghao's phone chimed. He'd received 8,000 points.

"Arigato! Thanks for the information, President Nagumo! Here are the 3,000 points I promised you."

Miyabi Nagumo narrowed his eyes, his voice strangely cold. "You're an interesting guy, Zhuge. I only just saw that notice, and you've already made a clean 5,000 points."

Earlier, when Ichinose had gone to discuss a strategy for finding information with Kanzaki Ryuji, Zhuge Linghao had been bored in his room, browsing the school's online news.

As luck would have it, he suddenly came across a notice offering a reward of 8,000 personal points!

Zhuge Linghao sprang into action and dashed straight to the student council president's office, where he made a deal with Miyabi Nagumo. He'd paid 3,000 points for information from Nagumo about the three students from Class C.

Horikita Manabu, who'd watched Zhuge's entire operation, smiled silently.

He pushed up his glasses and got straight to the point. "Zhuge, you seem to have gotten stronger in the two months since I last saw you. By the way, how's Suzune doing?"

"You flatter me, President. I'm just an ordinary person. No matter how strong I get, I can't beat a monster, can I? As for Suzune-chan, wouldn't it be better to see for yourself how she's doing now?"

Zhuge Linghao clasped his hands together. "Please, President Horikita. May I invite you to attend next week's hearing? Suzune-chan will most likely be there!"

"Hmm. I'll consider it."

Back at the dormitory building, Zhuge Linghao wore a smug grin.

He'd only had to do a little talking to profit from the difference in information and timing. He was in a great mood.

He made his way to Ayanokoji's room, taking the familiar route.

When he opened the door, he saw the familiar faces from the celebration last time.

Kushida said, "Zhuge, you're here. We were just about to hold an information-sharing meeting."

Horikita Suzune, who'd gone off on her own, said coolly, "Here's an important piece of information for all of you, who've been running around for nothing and accomplished nothing. The witness is Sakura Airi from our class."

"Where did you get that information?"

"She was the only one in class with her head down at the time, and I saw her run out of the Special Building in a panic."

Kushida Kikyo said, "Okay! I'll call her and ask what happened."

Meanwhile, Sakura Airi was in a dark room, looking at the photos she'd taken earlier on her computer: pictures of the five of them fighting.

Suddenly, the phone to her left rang.

After hesitating for a moment, she quietly pressed the button to reject the call.

Ayanokoji's room.

Kushida Kikyo called several times, but the other person hung up every time.

Seeing that, Sudō, who was lying on the bed, punched his pillow. "Damn it! We finally found a witness!"

Horikita Suzune calmly reasoned, "But I don't think it'll make any difference, even if she comes forward. Both sides will just stick to their own stories."

"And have you noticed? Whether or not this incident was self-defense isn't the core of the problem. The real problem is..."

Kushida Kikyo asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Horikita Suzune stood up, opened the door, and stepped outside. "It's nothing. I'm going back. See you."

After Horikita left, Kushida Kikyo quietly edged closer to Zhuge Linghao and asked sweetly, "Zhuge, what do you think about what Horikita just said?"

"I think about it lying down!"

"..."