Ibuki's Questions / The Light That Fell into Darkness

By the time everything was over, nearly two hours had passed, and Airi had cleaned the evidence of her sneaky snacking from around her mouth.

She glared at Kiyotaka with a wounded expression.

"I was worried you might be upset, and you were thinking about taking my life!"

Kiyotaka laughed at that, then gently drew Airi into his arms and felt her heart pounding wildly.

"Airi, I'm so glad I have you. I love you more and more."

Airi's eyes grew dreamy as she replied,

"Me too..."

Ibuki's Interrogation

That night, Kiyotaka didn't tease Airi again, and she didn't leave. Instead, she snuggled into his arms and slept soundly through the night.

It wasn't until the next day, when she groggily felt someone jostling her, that Airi finally woke up. She opened her eyes and, sure enough, found Kiyotaka's hands playfully bothering her.

"Kiyotaka, you're so annoying. Teasing me first thing in the morning."

"Good morning. First thing in the morning? It's already past nine. If you don't get up, the sun's going to burn your—"

Kiyotaka laughed and gave Airi's nose a gentle pinch, then stopped teasing her.

Airi stretched before slowly getting out of bed to wash up.

While the two of them were getting ready, Horikita and Kikyo also arrived at Kiyotaka's room. They didn't seem surprised to find Airi there; they'd already checked her room earlier and found it empty, so they'd expected as much.

"Good morning, Kiyotaka, Airi~ Did you get tired last night, Airi~?"

Kikyo greeted them with a mischievous grin.

Airi was easily embarrassed, and Kikyo's teasing immediately turned her cheeks as red as a ripe apple.

"I... slept really well."

Horikita rolled her eyes at Kikyo.

"Stop teasing Airi, Kikyo. She's shy enough as it is. Anyway, Kiyotaka, Airi, today's the last day of the cruise. Hirata suggested that everyone in Class D get together at karaoke. I really can't turn him down this time. What do you think?"

"I'll go with whatever Kiyotaka decides," Airi replied without hesitation.

Kiyotaka thought it over, then sighed.

"Ugh, what a hassle. Fine, let's go. You were the one who made the biggest contribution, so you should show your face."

Horikita gave Kiyotaka an exasperated pinch at that. What did he mean, the biggest contribution? She'd just been a scapegoat.

But then she thought about it again. Everything Kiyotaka had done was to help her. Otherwise, given how much he hated trouble, he would have stayed in his room all day and night.

Since it was still early and none of them had eaten, Kikyo and Horikita waited for Kiyotaka and Airi to get ready, then they all headed to the dining room for breakfast.

As it happened, they ran into Ryuen and his group along the way. When Ibuki spotted Kiyotaka among them, her gaze turned strange.

"Hey, Suzune. Fancy meeting you here."

Ryuen gave Horikita a wicked grin, but stayed where he was without saying anything.

Seeing that Horikita looked coldly at him and had no intention of speaking, Ryuen didn't seem to mind. He gave a quiet laugh and moved closer to her.

"You got the better of us this time, Class D. I lost. But you won't be so lucky next time. I'm getting more and more interested in you, haha!"

With that, Ryuen swaggered off with his group.

"He's got his eye on you now," Kiyotaka said calmly.

"It's nothing. They're one of our targets anyway," Horikita replied with a cool shake of her head.

Kikyo and Airi exchanged a glance but said nothing. They were smart enough to know that all they needed to do was keep quiet for now. If Kiyotaka needed their help, he would ask.

There were still plenty of Class D students in the dining room when they arrived, and they greeted Kiyotaka and the others as they came in.

Horikita especially had earned their acceptance after her impressive performance this time. She even seemed to have gained some influence in the class.

"You're certainly popular," Kiyotaka teased her as he watched.

"Here, you want it?" Horikita shot back. She had never liked smiling, and now she felt as if her face would freeze from smiling so much to return everyone's greetings.

"I'll pass. I'd rather stay quietly in the background, harmless and unnoticed."

"I know exactly what you mean," Horikita agreed with a long sigh.

Kiyotaka and the others ate breakfast in peace. Afterward, Kikyo suggested they explore the ship, since there were plenty of attractions aboard. Kiyotaka declined, saying he wanted to rest. In the end, the three girls went off together and agreed to meet again at two in the afternoon.

Just as Kiyotaka was about to enter his room, someone called out to him.

"Ayanokoji."

Kiyotaka stopped before opening the door and turned around with a calm expression. The person who had called him was Ibuki.

"Is something wrong?"

"Can I come in? I have something to ask you."

Ibuki met Kiyotaka's gaze without flinching and asked directly.

Kiyotaka smiled and opened the door.

"If you come in, I can't guarantee what might happen. It's your decision."

With that, he went inside, leaving the door ajar.

Ibuki hesitated for a moment, then stepped in.

Once she had entered and closed the door, she saw Kiyotaka sitting on the sofa, watching her with an amused expression.

"So, what did you want to ask me?"

"Did you break my camera? Were you the one who started that fire?"

Ibuki stared at Kiyotaka.

"I don't know what you're talking about. What camera? And weren't you the one who started the fire? That's what everyone in my class says."

"Quit pretending. You may be the least noticeable person in the whole class, but somehow I feel like you've been behind everything I've done. You're suspicious. Tell me the truth."

Kiyotaka shook his head and gave a quiet laugh.

"Ibuki, did you misunderstand something? You don't think letting you in means I'm agreeing to be interrogated, do you? Even if I knew the answer—and I'm not saying I do—why would I tell you?"

Kiyotaka's words made Ibuki pause. She clenched her fists, conflicted.

"If you won't tell me, I'll make you talk!"

Ibuki charged at him. In the cramped room, it took her only a couple of steps to reach Kiyotaka, and she swung a kick at him.

Kiyotaka watched her approach and shook his head. He couldn't even be bothered to stand. With a quick block and pull, he brought Ibuki down, pinning her arms so she couldn't move.

"Let go, you jerk!"

"You're being pretty naive. You attacked me first. I was only defending myself. Why should I let you go so you can keep hitting me?"

Kiyotaka gave her a sharp swat over her clothes.

"Ah!"

The sting and embarrassment made Ibuki cry out. She struggled harder.

"You bastard! Let me go if you've got the guts! I'll beat you to a pulp!"

Watching Ibuki stubbornly insist on fighting, Kiyotaka's lips curled into an amused smile. She was one of the people he had set his sights on, and now she was at his mercy. He wasn't about to let her off easily.

With that thought, Kiyotaka gave her several more sharp swats, each one making a loud smack.

"Ah, you jerk! Ow..."

Kiyotaka was strong, and each blow stung. Ibuki's protests gradually turned into whimpers.

"Wah... it hurts. Stop it, you jerk."

Kiyotaka only stopped when Ibuki finally begged him to. She was still rubbing the sore spot.

"Can you talk properly now?" Kiyotaka asked irritably.

"Hmph!" Ibuki gave a defiant little snort.

Seeing that, Kiyotaka gave her another swat.

"Ah! Yes, yes, I can! Stop, it hurts!"

Ibuki gave up her defiance and answered at once.

"That would've been better from the start. I don't know why you were so stubborn."

"Are you even a man? You're so rough with a girl! I think you've bruised me!"

After Kiyotaka let her go, Ibuki lost her balance and dropped onto the floor. The moment she landed, she cried out in pain.

Kiyotaka was amused by her and said bluntly,

"What kind of girl comes in swinging punches and kicks? And you have the nerve to complain about me?"

Knowing she had started it, Ibuki stopped arguing about that and looked at Kiyotaka with a wounded expression.

"So, can you tell me whether you did those two things?"

Kiyotaka looked directly at Ibuki with his golden eyes. Rather than answer her question, he asked calmly,

"Do you remember what I said? That if you came in, I couldn't guarantee what might happen?"

Ibuki looked at him warily.

"What are you trying to do?"

Kiyotaka leaned back on the sofa and spoke slowly.

"I'll say it again: I don't know anything about the camera you mentioned. As for the fire, everyone in my class thinks you started it. Wasn't I clear enough?"

"That's definitely not what happened!" Ibuki said firmly.

Kiyotaka sat up and looked at Ibuki thoughtfully.

"Then what do you think happened? And why should I tell you the truth? Who are you to me that I should answer your questions?"

His questions left Ibuki silent. Disappointment and confusion were plain on her pretty face.

That was true. What right did she have? She and Kiyotaka weren't even classmates. If anything, they were enemies. She had just finished spying on them, and now she was asking him to tell her the truth?

That was what Ibuki thought, yet for some reason she still felt indignant.

She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Her relationship with Kiyotaka shouldn't have been so distant. But she had no idea why she felt that way, or what she should do about it.

Looking at Ibuki's conflicted, bewildered expression, Kiyotaka relented a little.

"I won't make things difficult for you this time. If you haven't made up your mind, leave. I'll pretend I never saw you. How about that?"

Ibuki shook her head.

"What do I have to do for you to tell me?"

The Light That Fell into Darkness

Kiyotaka watched Ibuki ask her question with an amused expression.

"Are you sure you really want to know?"

"Yeah. Tell me. I want to know the truth, but there's something even more important, and I don't know whether you can help me with it."