Splitting Up

After the group converged, they left the school building together and arrived at the courtyard that connected the various areas.

Natsukawa Sosuke stopped in his tracks, glanced at the slightly bloated team beside him, and spoke calmly.

"Five people moving together makes the target too large and isn't very efficient."

His voice wasn't loud, but it caused everyone to come to a halt.

Ike Kanji looked at Natsukawa with some confusion: "Then what do you mean?"

"We investigate separately." Natsukawa's gaze swept over the group. "Ayanokoji and I will head toward the Special Building in the south, and you three go toward the Club Building in the north. By splitting up to ask questions, we cover more ground and the efficiency will be higher."

This proposal instantly made Ike Kanji's eyes light up.

He was in a group with Kushida; the fewer annoying guys around, the better! Natsukawa and Ayanokoji, those two dullards, volunteering to leave was a godsend!

"I agree!" Ike Kanji didn't even think before expressing his stance. "Natsukawa, you're right, splitting up is more efficient!"

Although Kushida Kikyo was somewhat reluctant, Natsukawa's reasoning sounded perfectly logical, and she couldn't find an excuse to refute it. Besides, with Ike and Yamauchi present, she couldn't very well show her intention of wanting to be in a group with Natsukawa.

"Mm, I also think this is better." Kushida nodded, her face still wearing that gentle smile that considered the big picture.

Thus, the five-person squad split into two groups.

Kushida led Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki toward the north. Along the way, Ike Kanji excitedly brought up various topics, trying to grab Kushida's attention.

Meanwhile, Natsukawa Sosuke and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka headed in the opposite direction, strolling along at a leisurely pace.

As soon as they were out of the sight of Kushida and the others, Natsukawa immediately chose to "slack off." He walked straight to an empty bench by the courtyard and sat down naturally, leaning back against the backrest in a relaxed posture.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka followed behind him and, seeing this, stopped in his tracks, feeling somewhat speechless.

Natsukawa tilted his head to look at Ayanokoji, who was still standing, and asked, "Why are you so invested in this matter too?"

"I'm not." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's answer was honest. "I was just dragged along by force by Ike and Yamauchi."

As he spoke, he sat down on the other side of the bench, keeping a subtle distance from Natsukawa.

After a brief silence, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka took the initiative to break the stillness. He looked at the backs of Kushida and the others as they disappeared around a corner in the distance and asked, "Natsukawa, what is your take on this Sudo situation?"

Natsukawa Sosuke kept his gaze fixed straight ahead and spat out a few words.

"I'm sitting and watching."

"..."

This answer successfully caused a crack to appear in Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's expression.

Natsukawa didn't seem to care about the other's reaction and continued on his own: "However, Sudo is still quite useful. The fact that he can already be a regular member of the Basketball Club shows that his physical talent is top-tier."

"Although his temper is explosive and he goes off at the slightest provocation, as long as you can put the right reins on him, he's a... good horse capable of pulling the carriage that is Class D."

After finishing, Natsukawa turned his gaze toward Ayanokoji beside him, his deep eyes carrying a hint of subtle probing.

"Pass a message to Horikita for me."

"...What?" Ayanokoji was somewhat surprised that Natsukawa would suddenly mention Horikita.

"If she still wants to promote to Class A, she must be present at the negotiation with the Student Council next week."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's brow furrowed imperceptibly: "Why don't you go tell her yourself?"

"I assumed you were sent by her to make contact with me and, incidentally, probe my situation." Natsukawa's tone was very flat, as if stating a fact. "Since that's not the case, then never mind. It doesn't matter if you don't pass it on; I just say whatever comes to mind anyway."

Ayanokoji didn't respond. He knew that Natsukawa had seen through Horikita's little schemes. Indeed, Horikita Suzune was full of curiosity about the astonishing ability and intelligence network Natsukawa had displayed during the midterm exam incident.

The two chatted idly like this, enjoying this rare moment of peace.

Suddenly, a somewhat urgent cry came from the tree-lined path not far away, breaking the tranquility.

"Natsukawa-kun--!"

Natsukawa Sosuke and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked toward the sound at the same time.

They saw Ichinose Honami carrying her school bag, jogging toward the bench where they were sitting in a hurried manner.

"Phew... phew... Natsukawa-kun, Ayanokoji-kun, you really are here."

"Um, I just heard that something happened in Class D. What exactly is going on?"

Natsukawa Sosuke looked at her and asked in a flat tone, "Who did you hear that from?"

"It was Kushida-san!" Ichinose Honami straightened up and explained, "I happened to run into Kushida-san and the others at the Club Building just now. Seeing them looking for information in such a hurry, I went up and asked."

"After hearing about Sudo-kun from her, I felt this might be a bit troublesome, so I wanted to come over and ask you... does Class D need any help from Class B?"

She said this very naturally, her tone filled with sincere kindness. However, the content of her words caused a slight ripple in the heart of Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who had remained silent the entire time.

Ichinose Honami, the undisputed leader of Class B. Whether in terms of popularity, ability, or sense of responsibility, she far surpassed Class D's Hirata Yosuke.

Yet, at this moment, when faced with an internal dispute in Class D, her first reaction wasn't to find the "person in charge" like Hirata or Kushida, but to bypass them directly and come to Natsukawa Sosuke—an ordinary student who kept to himself—and she was asking whether help was needed in a tone that was almost like seeking instructions.

This posture could no longer be explained simply as "concern between friends."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka keenly sensed that in Ichinose's heart, Natsukawa Sosuke's status and importance had already surpassed the collective of Class D. What she was displaying was the attitude of a subordinate subconsciously seeking guidance and opinions from a superior.

Of course, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's face remained as calm as ever; he just sat there quietly, like a background character that didn't exist, silently observing everything.

After saying those words, Ichinose Honami also seemed to realize it immediately.

Watching the calm, unruffled profile of Natsukawa, she suddenly realized that her previous words had been a bit too eager and impolite. Natsukawa was not the leader of Class D, and for her to bypass Hirata and the others to come directly to him for strategy felt improper from any angle.

A faint blush crept onto Ichinose's cheeks, the result of the embarrassment of realizing her own slip of the tongue.

However, she quickly adjusted her mindset, putting that energetic smile back on her face and naturally shifting the topic, pulling the atmosphere back from serious class strategy to the casual concern of friends.

"Ah, speaking of which..." Ichinose's tone turned light, "How is Airi-chan... doing lately? She's alright, right?"

She skillfully used Sakura Airi as an entry point, which allowed her to express her concern while simultaneously easing the slightly awkward atmosphere from just a moment ago.

Natsukawa Sosuke's gaze softened for an instant, and he nodded: "Yeah, she's back to normal."

"That's good!" Hearing this news, Ichinose Honami let out a sigh of genuine relief, and the smile on her face became even more sincere.

"Regarding what happened last time, it really is all thanks to you, Natsukawa-kun! You are definitely the biggest hero for helping Airi-chan step out of the shadows!"

She did not hold back her praise, and then, as if remembering her "actual business," she waved at Natsukawa and Ayanokoji.

"Since you two are resting here, I won't disturb you! I should go find Hirata-kun and the others to see if there's anything I can help with! After all, we are allies!"

With that, she turned around once more and walked with light, quick steps, chasing after the direction Kushida and the others had left in, leaving behind only a vibrant silhouette.

Watching Ichinose Honami's figure disappear at the end of the tree-lined path, tranquility returned to the bench.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's gaze lingered on Natsukawa's profile for a moment, thoughtful, but in the end, he said nothing at all.

He knew that the fog shrouding the man before him was far thicker than he had initially anticipated.