Twisted Affection

Just do what you want to do.

Kitagawa Ryo concluded with this sentence.

The VIP Exam a set pattern in the fifty-sound sequence, was utterly boring to him; in fact, it was Ryuen Kakeru who had deciphered this pattern.

Let's go for something big then.

Whether it's deception or betrayal, pursue your own desires and make your own decisions.

On the first day of the VIP Special Exam, all the First Year students received news that left them completely stunned:

The VIP Special Exam has concluded.

And even more explosive news was yet to come:

Class C, who had already secured victory, embarked on a most unique game.

Werewolf game, with a prize pool of 83.5 million Private Points and each player betting one million points, has begun.

Chapter 43: Twisted Love

"Werewolf Game?"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had just finished his group's first discussion and left the meeting room when he received a message posted in the class group chat by Hirata Yosuke.

"Is Kitagawa Ryo from Class C?"

The other person's face flashed through his mind. After reading the whole story, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka put his phone back in his pocket. He had always felt that this person's behavior was a bit strange. Unlike Ryuen Kakeru, his mind was not entirely focused on getting into Class A. This was not to deny what the other person had done this semester, but in Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's view, Kitagawa Ryo was happy, or rather, enjoyed doing things that had nothing to do with getting into Class A.

For a long time, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had been hiding behind Horikita Suzune, so he was able to notice that Kitagawa Ryo's actions were not simply for the purpose of getting promoted. There were many times when he had more and better options, but the other party showed a tendency to not care. This VIP Exam was no exception.

He could have directly attacked the other three classes to become Class A, but instead he went to great lengths to obtain more than 80 million Private Points. If he was just obsessed with Private Points, then he used them as a lure to host a Werewolf Game.

Many people might think that Kitagawa Ryo is arrogant and conceited, wanting to prove that he can win again even if they have to compete again, but Ayanokoji Kiyotaka doesn't think so.

"Wow, what a wonderful boy who likes to break the rules and make his own!"

Upon returning to the room, the first thing that caught my eye was Rokusuke Koenji Rokusuke, shirtless and working out. Sweat glistened on his well-defined muscles. He was supporting himself with one hand while holding his phone in the other, laughing loudly:

"I was originally planning to end this boring exam tonight, but this makes it quite interesting."

Koenji Rokusuke seemed completely unconcerned about the opinions of the other three people in the room, and nonchalantly walked out of the room with a towel in hand.

"Someone as beautiful as me should participate in this kind of fun competition."

Turning his gaze away from Koenji Rokusuke, who had just left the room, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked at Hirata Yosuke, who shared the room with him.

"Should Class D participate in this competition?"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka asked this question because, compared to classes A, B, and C, Class D was not even qualified to participate. After all, in addition to finding an invitation, each participant had to pay one million Private Points. It should be noted that for a considerable period of time, Class D' s highest Class Points were only eighty-seven, and the nearly one hundred points added during the Uninhabited Island Exam would not be available until next month.

"If I can find an invitation, I'll try to get in touch with some of my closer friends."

Hirata Yosuke seemed to sense Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's concerns, and he carefully considered his words before speaking:

"Karuizawa said she could prepare one million entry points herself, and Kushida seems to be able to help prepare some as well. Since Class A and Class C seem to have announced a ban on lending out Private Points today and tomorrow, we can only ask Class B students and upperclassmen. However, we should be able to combine the entry points of the two of them."

Without a doubt, in this Werewolf Game, the more participants each class has, the more likely they are to win the final grand prize.

Therefore, even before the game officially started, the competition between the classes had already begun silently.

In the pre-game negotiations, Class D, lacking any financial advantage, was undoubtedly at a disadvantage.

"I'll also contact some senior students I know to see if I can borrow some."

Another member in Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's room, Yukimura Teruhiko, gritted his teeth and said, "After all, if Class D can win this Werewolf Game, they won't have to worry about their Private Points for quite some time. Class D is already dirt poor, but the poorer they are, the more they want to gamble this time."

"Actually, we don't need to rush to borrow money from others. Not only might we be extorted and end up with high-interest loans, but it also wastes manpower."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's cold words startled both of them. Perhaps it was because he had been stuck on the fringes of Class D for too long that his sudden opinion caught them off guard.

"Does Ayanokoji have any thoughts?"

Hirata Yosuke was the first to react and asked. Actually, he was quite concerned about Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, and he had noticed that the other party was taking action when they Uninhabited Island.

"Hmm, I think we should have everyone go find the invitations now."

"But even if we find them, we don't know anything about them..."

"Then sell them to the other three classes."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka quickly added:

"Actually, in this game, the qualification to participate is a commodity in itself. This commodity consists of an invitation and points, but neither can be dispensed with. If you can find extra invitations, you can choose to sell them. I think Class A would be happy to buy them."

Hirata Yosuke's eyes lit up as well. They had initially been blinded by the million points, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's words instantly brought him to his senses. He quickly explained in the group chat that everyone should mobilize to find the invitations.

"Ayanokoji, you've been a huge help. I've always thought you were amazing."

After sending the message, Hirata Yosuke also exclaimed in admiration:

"Let's go look for the invitation together."

"Um."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka nodded in agreement. Hirata Yosuke was very pleased to see him involved in class affairs and stepped forward to put his arm around Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's shoulder.

Let's work together for Class D!

Walking cautiously down the corridor, some of the First Year students were already searching for their invitations using the map, while others were excitedly discussing the special advantages they had this time. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka squinted, recalling the message Karuizawa Kei had just sent him:

"I found the invitation. I can use the points I don't have to help me win."

Because he has been given leverage over Uninhabited Island, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka is now forced to cooperate with Karuizawa Kei's secret operations.

It was from that time that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka began to be extremely curious about Karuizawa Kei's feelings for him.

Of course, this does not mean that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka himself has any feelings for Karuizawa Kei.

Rather, he was very interested in the relationship between Karuizawa Kei and Kitagawa Ryo. The White Room wouldn't teach Ayanokoji Kiyotaka about feelings. This time, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka escaped from the White Room not only to gain freedom, but also to experience feelings. This was also the reason why he had always wanted to stay in Class D as an ordinary high school student.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka still remembers the night before the Uninhabited Island Exam, when Karuizawa Kei had her back to Kitagawa Ryo, and the dangerous yet incredibly vivid emotions shimmering in her azure eyes.

[Twenty Million Personal Points]

At that time, Karuizawa Kei mouthed these words to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. Considering her relationship with Class C, it's not hard to imagine that he wanted to use these points to transfer to Class C.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was very curious.

He wanted to know the essence of that emotion. The definition of love in books was something pure, fresh, and gentle, but Ayanokoji Kiyotaka saw in Karuizawa Kei's eyes was an emotion stemming from the most primal human desires, filled with deception, possessiveness, and betrayal—like the most complex and dangerous thing.

Therefore, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka intends to take this relationship a step further.

He decided to participate in this Werewolf Game.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka closed his eyes, and the layout of the entire cruise ship appeared clearly in his mind. This was something he had written down when he was bored a few days ago.

Step 1 -- Find an invitation.

"So, that's the situation now."

Kamuro Masumi relayed the entire sequence of events surrounding the VIP Exam to the girl on the other end of the phone, and she waited quietly for instructions.

A pair of slender legs peeked out from under her white pleated skirt. The girl, who was at home, wasn't wearing white stockings as usual. She was rubbing her toes against the furry cheek of a white cat. Although Hotaru didn't seem to like this posture, the cat had no choice but to bow its head under the eaves. After being left to be cared for by someone named Sakayanagi Arisu, Hotaru couldn't help but miss the days when Kitagawa Ryo was there.

Back then, the sky was blue, the grass was green, and there was an abundance of cat food.

Hotaru stretched out her paws to tickle the girl's soles, but the girl insisted that she ate too much and was too fat, and that Hotaru hadn't eaten enough for days.

"Um, Sakayanagi?"

Sensing that the other party had abruptly pulled away from the phone, and only faintly hearing laughter and chaotic noises, Kamuro Masumi called out the other party's name once more.

"It's alright now."

Sakayanagi Arisu's voice returned to normal, and she said lazily:

"It seems Ryo was quite cooperative in carrying out the plan to strike at Katsuragi."

"But it's only on Uninhabited Island."

"Seriously, just like his cat, once things settle down, he always has to cause trouble."

Although it sounded like she was expressing a sense of fullness, Kamuro Masumi sensed a subtle joy in Sakayanagi Arisu's tone.

It's roughly like that strange sense of satisfaction you get when you haven't seen a friend in a long time, but when you order food, you find that their tastes haven't changed at all.

Kamuro Masumi named it "the feeling of being a stranger to an ex because I feel I haven't been forgotten and the other person hasn't become a stranger to me in ways I don't know."

Of course, she wouldn't say that out loud, since she was already completely under his control.

What is Katsuragi doing right now?

Seemingly realizing the inappropriateness of her tone earlier, Sakayanagi Arisu steered the conversation back to the current incident.

"Yes, Katsuragi and Totsuka must have gone to find the invitation; they haven't returned yet."

"Yeah?"

While holding Hotaru by the scruff of her neck, Sakayanagi Arisu Fate remarked:

"Then you and Hashimoto should get moving too, at least find an invitation."

"Yes."

Kamuro Masumi initially agreed, but then asked with a hint of doubt:

"So if we only find one invitation, should I participate, or should Hashimoto? I personally think he's better at Werewolf Game than I am."

"None of them."

Sakayanagi Arisu shook her head.

After hearing the rules of the Werewolf Game devised by Kitagawa Ryo, she understood one thing.

Kitagawa Ryo intentionally created conditions that allowed her to participate remotely, since communicating only with processed voice messages would allow her to participate even if she wasn't actually on the cruise ship.

This is a challenge issued to me by the other party.

Sakayanagi Arisu released Hotaru, and the little creature trembled as it ran back to its nest.

She was staying in Kitagawa Ryo's room. In fact, she had moved into this room after all the First Year students left at the beginning of summer vacation.

Even though the layouts are the same, Sakayanagi Arisu definitely prefers this place a little more.

Who do you think will participate?

Sakayanagi Arisu asked the question.

"Although it seems that anyone who finds the invitation is eligible, each class will ultimately select the most outstanding candidates."

Kamuro Masumi asserted that ordinary students wouldn't be so presumptuous as to sign up on their own after finding an invitation, since their situation in the class would be quite dire if they failed, so it would be better to hand it over to the class Leader.

"As for Class B, Ichinose Honami will definitely participate. Also, Shiina Hiyori from Class C and Karuizawa Kei from Class D should each have a spot reserved."

[Karuizawa Kei]

Sakayanagi Arisu caught the attention of this name.

"I understand. Contact me again after you find the invitation, and then I'll confirm the details of my remote participation with Liang."

"OK."

After hanging up the phone with Kamuro Masumi, Sakayanagi Arisu in the sofa and softly spoke:

"Hotaru, come here."

The white cat reluctantly came out of its den and jumped into Sakayanagi Arisu's arms.

"Meow."

The firefly opened its big, round eyes, its pupils as beautiful as firefly-colored gemstones, which is also the origin of its name.

Sakayanagi Arisu and Kitagawa Ryo once joked that she was the one who named Hotaru, and in a sense, that's not wrong, because when she first saw this white cat, she felt that it should be called "Hotaru," and if she were to name it, that would be the name she would choose.

However, the firefly already had the name "firefly" at that time.

Sakayanagi Arisu stroked Hotaru's fluffy head and reached out her slender white fingers to scratch its chin, a small act of revenge.

However, the person who named Ying had already forgotten about this matter by then.

She recalled the first time she heard about Kitagawa Ryo; it was during a serious incident that her father mentioned casually.