Girl, Why Are You So Confident?

"I told you. Resistance, infighting, splitting up, even betraying your class and coming after me—it's all fine. You're free to do whatever you want."

"Tenmei will not change!"

"Now I'll relay my orders, Morishita Ai!"

"Yes, sir!"

Morishita Ai sprang to her feet, snapped off a salute, and showed no doubt whatsoever in Kijima Tsukur's words.

"Tell the leaders of the other three classes to meet me on the rooftop at four thirty after school. If they don't have a leader yet, have their class representative come instead. Three people at most."

"Yes, sir!"

Morishita Ai answered loudly, then theatrically pulled out her phone and glanced at it. She saluted again.

"Reporting, sir: there are still twenty minutes until class starts. Should I go now?"

"Do as you like. I only care about the result."

"Understood!"

Morishita Ai dashed out of the classroom, clearly to notify the other classes, leaving everyone bewildered.

What was all this "Yes, sir" and "sir" stuff?

Were those two role-playing?

More importantly, why was this oddball so obedient to Kijima Tsukur?

Yamamura Miki was, too. And so was Morishita Ai?

What had happened while they weren't looking? Had Kijima Tsukur already won the two of them over?

Could this so-called Tenmei actually be real?

Impossible.

Absolutely impossible!

Meanwhile, Katsuragi, Sakayanagi Arisu, and Hashimoto Masayoshi frowned, clearly focused on something else.

Obviously,

judging by Kijima Tsukur's attitude,

he wasn't just acting on a whim or making baseless claims. He must have some kind of plan.

Perhaps

he didn't really intend to reveal the information, but wanted to trick the other classes with false information while probing them for details?

Hashimoto Masayoshi and the others wondered to themselves.

Did Kijima Tsukur think that to fool the enemy, he first had to fool his own people?

Was he actually saying this because he didn't trust them?

I see!

The three of them suddenly understood.

If that was the case, Kijima Tsukur's unreasonable behavior made sense.

Or perhaps there was another possibility.

Maybe this was a test, a way for Kijima Tsukur to manage his subordinates and weed out those who were useful?

The more they thought about it,

the more plausible it seemed to Katsuragi and the others. It felt like they'd found the truth. Otherwise, Kijima Tsukur's thinking was simply too bizarre.

Come on.

Hashimoto Masayoshi felt a little helpless.

Kijima Tsukur really was cautious. It seemed he hadn't earned this leader's trust, which would make things difficult going forward.

Still,

he was limiting the other classes to three people?

He wondered who Kijima Tsukur would take with him.

Sis, why are you so confident?

Meanwhile,

there was still some time before class,

more than enough to visit all the other classes.

After leaving the classroom, Morishita Ai notified Class B and Class C in turn, then headed to Class D.

Class D was different from the other two classes.

Before she even reached the classroom, Morishita Ai heard the noisy commotion from down the hall.

Classes hadn't started yet,

but the volume was already enough to make anyone feel annoyed.

It wasn't like the noise in Class C, either.

Class D was more like... more like everyone was trying to outshout one another to fight for the class's standing. That was how Morishita Ai saw it.

Morishita Ai reached the doorway, raised her right hand high, and called out:

"Hello~"

"Hm?"

At that, the people in Class D fell silent.

School had only started three days ago, and many of them hadn't even learned all their classmates' names yet. They had no idea who Morishita Ai was.

Quite a few people looked at one another, as if asking, Who's that?

Since she was greeting them, she was probably from another class. But what if she was actually a classmate? That would be awkward.

Gradually,

everyone's gaze settled on a boy with short blond hair. Most of them clearly hoped he would step forward and deal with her.

After notifying two classes,

Morishita Ai had seen how each had reacted. So far, Class D seemed the slowest and most foolish.

And besides...

"Yo~"

Before the blond boy could say anything,

a boy rushed straight up to Morishita Ai.

He pressed his right index and middle fingers together, swept them forward from his forehead, and struck what he thought was a very cool pose, chin held high.

"Good morning~ Beautiful, I'm Yamauchi Haruki. Are you having some trouble? Just tell me what it is. You should know, I was the star of my middle school rugby club. There's nothing I can't do at this school!"

"Yamauchi!"

The blond boy had just reached Yamauchi Haruki's side. He gave Morishita Ai an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, Yamauchi likes to joke around. I'm Hirata Yosuke. You don't seem to be from our class. Is there something you need?"

"Hm? What? You're not in our class?"

Yamauchi Haruki froze for a moment,

muttered a few words, then turned away, looking rather disappointed.

Morishita Ai was certainly cute, but if they weren't in the same class, his chances were too slim.

Besides, there were so many beautiful girls in Class D. He didn't have to give up the whole forest for one tree.

"Right!"

Morishita Ai didn't pay any attention to the guy who was obviously unreliable. Raising her right hand like a robot, she spoke one word at a time.

"I'm here to deliver an order from Lord Kijima Tsukur. At four thirty this afternoon, after school, the leader of Class D is to meet Lord Kijima Tsukur on the rooftop!"

"Hm?"

Hirata Yosuke tilted his head.

The woman in front of him was a little strange. The words she'd put together made little sense to him.

A few girls behind him huddled together, watching and whispering.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Orders? 'Lord' and all that? What's going on?"

"Kijima?"

At the back of the classroom, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji was a little surprised. He hadn't expected to hear that name so soon.

And...

that man seemed to have already established some standing in his class.

Before enrolling,

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji wouldn't have thought much of it.

But after seeing Class D,

he understood very well that the popular types were probably sunny and outgoing people like Hirata.

Someone like Kijima Tsukur would be lucky just to fit into his class. It was incredible that he'd managed to gain some standing there.

Just then, Horikita Suzune looked toward the doorway.

"You're from Class A?"

"Hm?"

Morishita Ai looked surprised and asked, puzzled,

"Do you know me, or do you know Kijima Tsukur?"

"I've met him twice."

Horikita Suzune nodded. "Did he send you to find me?"

No...

Sis, why are you so confident?

"No."

Morishita Ai turned to Hirata in front of her.

"Lord Kijima Tsukur has asked the leader of your class to meet him on the rooftop at four thirty this afternoon."

"Um..."

Hirata Yosuke still looked confused.

"Sorry, but what do you mean by 'class leader'? I don't think the school has appointed class presidents or anything like that, has it?"

"Hmm..."

Morishita Ai stared at him.

Clearly, Class D hadn't even considered choosing a class leader. They still fully believed what the school had told them.

They were the only class like this among the three.

In Morishita Ai's view, even if Class B was an exception, Class C at least had its suspicions. But the confused expressions on everyone in Class D's faces...

They were shockingly weak—far weaker than she'd expected...