[Editor's note: This chapter has been edited to remove content that breaks our content rules.]
Even now, the two continued bickering. Kiyotaka could not help admiring their persistence.
“Looks like she has her uses after all. I suppose I’ll let it slide,” Kikyo said lazily.
“Hmph. You came along later, so be good and call me your big sister. Then I might be willing to accept you.”
Eventually, the two reached a reluctant truce.
Kiyotaka waited a long time, but no notification arrived to tell him that the task was complete. His eyes narrowed. Apparently, they still were not truly on board.
Chapter Twelve: Kikyo’s Little Scheme
Only a few peaceful days passed before another problem arose in their class.
“Sudo has been reported by students from Class C for violence on campus. If the accusation is upheld, he’ll be expelled,” Horikita said, her expression grim.
“Sudo, what exactly happened?” Kikyo asked, looking at him with concern.
“I told you, I didn’t do it! Those bastards from Class C started it! I was defending myself!” Sudo slammed his palm on the desk in fury.
“Do you think behaving like this makes you convincing? Class C has submitted medical reports and accused you of beating up three students without provocation. The student council will rule on the matter in a week. Depending on the verdict, points will be deducted from Class D, and your punishment will be decided.”
“Tch.” Sudo looked thoroughly disgruntled.
Just then, Ayanokoji ambled into the classroom and took his seat.
“Did any of you see the students from Class C attack Sudo? If you did, please help him,” Kikyo said, standing up.
Silence filled the classroom. Only Airi Sakura, seated in a corner, looked flustered and conflicted. Kiyotaka, who had happened to walk in at that moment, was the only one to notice.
“What do you think about this?” Horikita asked when she saw him.
Kiyotaka propped his chin on his hand.
“I don’t have much of an opinion. What about you? You’ve helped him before. What do you want to do?”
“Sudo may have a bad temper, but I don’t think he’s lying. This could very well be a scheme by Class C.”
“But the fact remains that we don’t have a witness, right?”
“Perhaps we could ask Honami Ichinose from Class B. She might know someone who saw what happened,” Kikyo suggested as she came over.
Seeing both girls looking at him expectantly, Kiyotaka sighed.
“I’ll go talk to Ichinose. Kikyo, organize our classmates and see if you can find any leads.”
“Sure.” Kikyo readily agreed and left.
“You have connections in Class B too?”
Kiyotaka glanced at Horikita.
“I helped her with a small favor before. Let’s give it a try.”
“Ayanokoji? What a surprise. You actually came to see me.”
The girl who greeted him cheerfully had long pink hair falling over her shoulders, pale violet eyes, and a pretty face.
“Something happened to a classmate, so I thought I’d ask whether you had any information,” Kiyotaka said helplessly.
Ichinose thought for a moment, then seemed to remember.
“Oh, you mean the fight? Sorry, I don’t think anyone in Class B knows anything about it.”
Kiyotaka had not expected much to begin with, so he showed little reaction.
“That’s all right. I was just asking.”
“But I can help you look for clues. I still owe you a favor, after all.”
Kiyotaka was not sure how to respond. All he had done was pretend to be her boyfriend so she could turn down another girl’s confession. It had hardly been a big deal to him. Still, having someone help with the search was certainly useful, so he did not refuse.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
“No problem! I’ll let you know if I find anything.”
“Thanks.”
Kiyotaka watched Ichinose leave, then returned to the dormitory.
Outside his room, he could hear an argument. When he opened the door, he found Kikyo and Horikita quarreling inside.
“You don’t get to order me around about this! I’ve been with Kiyotaka much longer than you have!”
“Oh, still pretending to be so aloof? Why not be honest like me?”
The sight of them arguing gave Kiyotaka a headache. He coughed to announce his presence.
“Kiyotaka, you’re back!” Kikyo hurried over to greet him.
“What are you two arguing about now?”
He looked from the chilly-faced Horikita sitting nearby to Kikyo beside him.
“I was only trying to discuss something with my big sister, but she accused me of bossing her around,” Kikyo said, sounding aggrieved.
Horikita watched her performance coldly. Rather than explain, she gave a soft snort and went into the kitchen, apparently unwilling to look at her any longer.
Kiyotaka knew perfectly well what Kikyo was trying to do. He changed the subject.
“So? Have you found any leads?”
“No. We couldn’t find an eyewitness, and there’s no evidence proving that Class C started the fight.”
Kiyotaka fell into thought.
What a nuisance. If having no expulsions was one of the conditions for advancing to a higher class, all their work might be wasted. Their first priority was to find evidence. If that failed, he would have to resort to underhanded methods.
“Kiyotaka...” Kikyo called, but he did not respond.
Eventually, she asked him, looking hurt, “Did I do something wrong? Why are you being so cold to me?”
Kiyotaka looked straight into her eyes.
“Do you really find all these little schemes worthwhile? I thought you’d changed a little, but apparently you’re still the same.”
“I’ll change, all right?” Kikyo pleaded.
The exchange left her subdued. Horikita felt a little sorry for her.
Kikyo glanced at Horikita, then quietly prepared to leave.
“I’m tired. I’m going back to my room.”
Kiyotaka made no attempt to stop her. He simply watched her go.
“Is this really all right, Kiyotaka?” Horikita asked as Kikyo left. Although she was cold by nature, she was not unfeeling. Putting herself in Kikyo’s position, she thought being treated that way by Kiyotaka would be unbearable.
“When someone has an agenda of their own, you can’t rely on them or place your trust in them.”
That was all Kiyotaka said.
Horikita understood what he meant and did not dare say more.
Chapter Thirteen: Airi Sakura’s Obsessive Fan
Early the next morning, Horikita slipped back to her room.
On his way through the school, Kiyotaka noticed a message Ichinose had posted on the bulletin board.
“If you have any information about the fight, please contact Honami Ichinose of Class B...”
“Oh, what a coincidence, Ayanokoji!”
Speak of the devil. Ichinose appeared just as he was thinking of her, greeting him with a sweet smile.
“Hi. Is this...?” Kiyotaka asked, looking at the bulletin board.
“Oh, that? I thought that if anyone knew something, this would give them a way to tell me. I’ve posted requests on the forums and elsewhere too.”
As she finished speaking, her terminal chimed.
“Oh! A lead already.”
“Let me see... Apparently, one of the three injured students had a terrible reputation in middle school. He was a local bully with a long history of fighting. Hmm... That’s useful information. I’ll send them the reward.”
Ichinose tapped on the sender’s details, only to discover that the message was anonymous.
“Huh? How am I supposed to pay someone anonymous?” she asked, puzzled.
“I know how. Let me see your terminal.”
“Sure.” Ichinose handed it over and leaned closer to watch what he was doing.
She really is trusting, Kiyotaka thought. After a few quick operations, he transferred the reward to the sender. In the process, he caught a brief glimpse of Ichinose’s balance.
“All right! I’ll let you know if I get any more leads. Bye!”
“Bye.”
After Ichinose left, Kiyotaka sank into thought. They had only been at school for two months. Why did she already have a balance of more than two million? How had she managed it?
The days passed without any meaningful progress in Sudo’s case. Kiyotaka was not particularly concerned, but Horikita was increasingly anxious. Sudo’s expulsion itself mattered little to her, but it would affect their class’s advancement—and therefore her own progress.
Kiyotaka noticed her concern and called Kikyo over during a break.
He had not contacted Kikyo since their earlier confrontation. Now that he had approached her again, a hint of hope appeared in her eyes.
“Kiyotaka, did you need something?”
“Yes. You know Airi Sakura, right?”
“Airi? A little, I suppose. She’s usually very quiet. I’ve tried talking to her a few times, but she never seemed very interested.”
“There may be an eyewitness to the Sudo incident: Airi Sakura. Go ask whether she’s willing to testify.”