The Real Killing Blow

"... You mean someone in our class has connections to the mastermind behind it all?"

Katsuragi Kohei's pupils contracted slightly. He wasn't stupid; looking back, he did notice something amiss, though he hadn't initially considered it among his own students. It was only after Ayanokoji Kiyotaka reminded him again that he began to have some doubts.

"If you pay more attention, I will also be mindful."

After saying only this one sentence Ayanokoji Kiyotaka quickened his pace and left, leaving Katsuragi Kohei walking slowly behind, lost in thought.

On the surface, Kushida Kikyo had previously been in contact with Kitagawa Ryo, and she was a core student in Class A, making her arguably the most likely suspect.

However, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka always felt that something was amiss, and that the real spy might be someone else entirely.

However, if the other party follows their own logic, Kushida Kikyo might be someone who is blind to what's right in front of them.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka rubbed his temples, feeling a slight headache, and took out his phone from his pocket.

Theoretically speaking, there should be another assistant planted in the White Room besides Yagami Takuya.

However, in reality, more than a month has passed since the start of the school year, and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka has not received a single contact from the other party. It's as if the other party has sunk into the sea without a trace.

Since its inception Drama Club, which is essentially a place to slack off and take a break, has received very few applications from other freshmen. After all, drama itself sounds boring, and since it is a newly established club, it might be disbanded by the school one day. As a result, Kitagawa Ryo has only received one application to join the club so far.

Ahem, it's that baseball club girl he approached at the Club Orientation back then, the one who was completely captivated by his good looks.

Kitagawa Ryo barely had time to glance at this membership application, which clearly had impure motives, before it was collectively rejected by Karuizawa Kei and Ichinose Honami.

However, today, after saying goodbye to Kitagawa Ryo and joining the Drama Club, Ken Sudō found a club application in the mailbox in front of the club room, a long time ago.

Class 1-D: Amasawa Ichika.

Chapter 63: The Real Killer Move

Amasawa Ichika was a name that Kitagawa Ryo was quite familiar with.

The other party was the mysterious figure who first appeared in Class 1-D on the first day of school, whom he had noticed. Although there was a possibility of a butterfly effect, the appearance of Yagami Takuya had already convinced Kitagawa Ryo that the White Room had secretly planted other people in this school, and Amasawa Ichika from Class 1-D was the most likely one of them.

However, in the month or so since the start of the semester, Amasawa Ichika herself has not shown any presence. Although she is a pretty girl, she is not the most special one among the girls in Class D, whose overall appearance is quite good. She is also a loner. Apart from her good grades in the last quiz, which ranked in the top ten in the class, she has no other outstanding qualities.

Kitagawa Ryo tapped lightly on the desk, slowly shifting his gaze, hoping to glean some other information from the application submitted by the other party.

However, in terms of age, place of origin, and reasons for applying to join the company, she is no different from an ordinary female high school student of this age. She has nothing outstanding, but there is nothing particularly wrong with her either.

With the idea of meeting face-to-face once, Kitagawa Ryo ultimately replied that the initial review had passed.

"Amasawa, although we are both students in Class 1-D, this should be the first time we've spoken."

Kitagawa Ryo placed the brewed tea in front of Amasawa Ichika and sat down opposite her.

Yes, that's right.

"But Kitagawa-kun, don't worry, this is also the first time I've spoken to a classmate, so you're the first one."

Although she said that, Amasawa Ichika herself did not feel nervous at all about being alone in a room with a member of the opposite sex for the first time or being in a job interview. Her tone and expression were quite relaxed.

Kitagawa Ryo was amazed by Amasawa Ichika's first impression. She was probably the first girl he had ever met with a twin-tail hairstyle. Although Sakura Airi sometimes wore this hairstyle, Airi's twin tails were either low or high, while Amasawa Ichika's Kitagawa Ryo the more familiar, traditional type of twin tails.

This traditional style of twin ponytail can easily give people a childish feeling, and if it is not particularly suitable, the first impression is often that it is "trying to look young". However, on Amasawa Ichika, it has a perfect and natural feel.

"Amasawa looks more like a middle school student."

Kitagawa Ryo had previously learned some information about Yagami Takuya from Karuizawa Kei. Although he was unsure whether the spies sent by the White Room were all transfer students a year younger than him, he still made some verbal probes.

"Oh, can I take that Kitagawa-kun is praising me?"

"It's just my first impression."

Kitagawa Ryo glanced at Amasawa Ichika's outfit. The uniform red school uniform jacket was nothing special, but the inner lining she chose was an unusual orange-red. The bright red hair, the wine-red uniform jacket, and the orange-red inner lining made it a carefully designed and quite eye-catching outfit.

Against the backdrop of her dark attire, the girl's pupils did indeed shine with a dazzling fluorescent yellow.

The pupils of Kitagawa Ryo sister, as well as Hotaru who is currently in the dormitory room, are the same color.

"Amasawa, I noticed that on your application form, under the section for 'reason for joining,' you wrote '[I have ideas to help the Drama Club develop better]'. What does that mean?"

Looking away and pulling himself back to reality, Kitagawa Ryo pointed to the membership application form on the table and asked.

It means exactly what it says.

Amasawa Ichika propped her head up with her right hand, and playfully shook her head as she spoke:

"Actually, I thought of this when your Drama Club went out to compete at the beginning of the month. Unlike other sports clubs in the school, which basically only go out for the Summer Tournament each year, Kitagawa's Drama Club seems to have a wider range of activities."

"In this almost entirely enclosed Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School, this is practically a privilege. If we put more effort into it..."

Amasawa Ichika brought the conversation to a close at just the right moment, then switched to a complaining tone:

"It seems like Class D's Class Points will remain at zero for quite some time. Girls really need Private Points in all aspects of life."

"Right? Kitagawa-kun?"

Kitagawa Ryo narrowed his eyes and didn't speak immediately. This reaction caused a look of shock to flash in Amasawa Ichika's eyes, and he covered his mouth as if feigning surprise.

"Could it be that Kitagawa-kun has already started doing it?"

"I thought I could use this suggestion to join here, but it seems I'm a step too late."

Amasawa Ichika looked annoyed.

"Look, the Drama Club already has Karuizawa from Class B, and our class has Horikita from the Student Council, so it seems like the procedures for checking things will be very convenient."

"I heard that Horikita Suzune's older brother is the Student Council president and the Leader of Class 3-A. There's definitely a chance they could work together, since many third-year students probably have this need. Although the class Leader wants to try and get into Class A, most students are probably just planning to graduate like this."

As if discovering that something she had been preparing for a long time had been accomplished by someone else, and with a subtle sense that she wasn't just a hindsight expert, Amasawa Ichika spoke at length before finally picking up her teacup and taking a sip:

"But looking at it from another angle, Kitagawa-kun has probably proven that this plan is 100% feasible. It seems that Kitagawa-kun will be the one with the most points in our class from now on."

With her hands clasped together in front of her chest, Amasawa Ichika struck a pitiful pose:

"If I ask Kitagawa for help later, he might lend me a little bit of money for today's sake."

Looking up along the other person's palm, in stark contrast to her slightly childish twin-tail hairstyle and face, Amasawa Ichika's figure was quite well-developed and could already be considered rather voluptuous.

"Absolutely no problem."

"Amasawa, you've passed the interview."

Kitagawa Ryo smiled and extended his hand to the other person.

Welcome to the Drama Club.

"Now, we're accomplices."

"Hui, could you help me find out which classes and students were among the applicants for the first batch of completed requests? Also, what were the details of the requests and other relevant information?"

The moment Karuizawa Kei answered Kitagawa Ryo's call in her dormitory room, she immediately noticed the urgency in his voice, something extremely rare for him. Without asking further questions, she quickly pulled up a private file saved on her personal Kitagawa Ryo and, referring to the laptop screen, explained it in detail to Kitagawa Ryo on the other end of the line:

"Because of Miyabi Nagumo's existence, none of us second-year students have had any contact with her yet. We only obtained three requests from Class 3-A and one request from Class 3-C through Horikita's connection."

"I remember Liang said that we should avoid contact with the four second-grade classes and the Class 3-B for the time being."

"Yes, the second year is because of Nagumo, while the Class 3-B is because of Ishikura. He is the Leader of the Class 3-B, and the Class B is still the class that wants to defeat the school's Class A. Their class has a close relationship with Nagumo in the second year."

After quickly explaining the reason, Kitagawa Ryo continued:

"Take a look at that request from Class 3-C."

"... Let me see. It's Ninomiya- kun from Class 3-C. He asked us to deliver a letter and a plush toy to his family. Apparently, it's a birthday present for his sister. We delivered these things to Mr. Izaki, and it was successfully completed... That's about it."

"Okay, I understand."

"There seems to be something wrong with this request. I'll contact Mr. Izaki right away. You go find Suzune and tell her to keep an eye on the anonymous reports from the Student Council and the actions of the Student Council vice president Miyabi Nagumo."

"Okay--yes."

After hanging up the phone with Karuizawa Kei, Kitagawa Ryo immediately logged onto his social media platform. He had already arranged a secret channel with Mr. Izaki for one-way communication and information exchange before enrolling in school.

Only after being reminded by Amasawa Ichika did Kitagawa Ryo realize a fact he had overlooked.

Like him, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had already been in contact with students at Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School before enrolling.

The common catalyst for their relationship was the Cultural Festival two years ago.

Kitagawa Ryo took Horikita Suzune to help Horikita Manabu Class 1-A.

That was First Year back then, which is now third grade.

Katsuragi Kohei was Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's first open move, but Yagami Takuya was not his hidden move, but rather a pawn deliberately released to mislead.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's first move should be right here.

"Ninomiya- senpai."

"Ayanokoji... It's been two years. I didn't expect you to actually come here."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, Ninomiya in Class 3-C, looked at Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, who had a calm expression, and although the other was just a First Year student, he did not underestimate him in the slightest.

He had met Ayanokoji Kiyotaka at the Cultural Festival two years prior, and the two had even made a deal: he provided some information about the school, and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka taught him a method to increase class revenue.

Even though this method ultimately failed due to his mistake, it allowed Ninomiya to see Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's abilities. The then fourteen-year-old Ayanokoji Kiyotaka left a deep impression on him, but he never encountered him again after the Cultural Festival.

However, on the afternoon of the day the Cultural Festival ended, he suddenly received a note from a school staff member, saying that the children outside really liked their class's performance and asked the staff member to pass it on.

That note was the prelude left by Ayanokoji Kiyotaka at the time.

"I have already contacted the Drama Club to commission it, as you requested."

Compared to the composed Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, Ninomiya, though two years his senior, looked visibly anxious. He gritted his teeth and said:

"This should prove my sincerity in wanting to cooperate with you."

"Of course, if Class 3-C does as I say, they have a real chance to move up to Class A before graduation."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka nodded. His confident demeanor enhanced the persuasiveness of his words, Ninomiya felt a little relieved, but then asked anxiously:

"That commission should be fine, right?"

Ninomiya had no letter to send, nor a younger sister waiting for a gift. Both the letter and the plush toy were arranged by Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

"Since Kitagawa dared to accept this kind of commission, it means that his channels are very stable."

"So the commission itself won't go wrong."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka gave him a positive reply.

"What exactly was written in that letter?"

Ninomiya doesn't believe that the boy in front of him planned all this simply by sending a letter home. If the request is fine, then there must be some kind of trap in the content.

"Ninomiya- senpai, aren't you curious?"

However, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka did not directly answer his question.

"What?"

"About this school, Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School."

"To put it bluntly, every new student should feel that the school is involved in false advertising. Is there anything wrong with this way of thinking?"

"They clearly advertised a 100% college entrance rate and employment rate, but after we got in, we were told that this was a privilege only available to students in Class A."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka listlessly stirred the straw in his cold drink, the ice cubes making a soft clinking sound against the glass.

"But Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School has been established for over a decade and has graduated several thousand students. If only students graduating from Class A received the benefits, it would be easy to find out with a little effort."

"But more than a decade has passed, Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School is still perceived as a 100% perfect high school, the dream school of every junior high school student."

"This is really strange. Where did all the students who graduated from classes other than Class A go?"

Ninomiya had been at this school for over two years and had never thought about this issue. He answered instinctively:

"Was there a confidentiality agreement or something?"

"The confidentiality agreement only means we can't talk about it, but it's actually very easy to find out what kind of work the graduates are doing."

"To use an imperfect analogy, what do you think you would do after graduating from Class C, Ninomiya- senpai?"

"... Go back to your hometown and find a regular job, like a truck driver or something else."

Ninomiya was somewhat speechless. He was indeed not a particularly talented student, otherwise he wouldn't have led Class C to stagnation after two years.