The Promise with Koenji

It was a day in early May.

The horizon was tinged with the pale white of a fish belly.

It was that moment just before the sun had fully risen.

Kujo, Ayanokoji, and Koenji were out on their usual morning run around the perimeter of the dormitories.

After finishing their run, the three of them chose a suitable patch of grass to perform their stretches, just as they always did.

"Ayanokoji, didn't you mention before that you're now, for the time being, one of the leaders of Class D?"

Facing Kujo's question, Ayanokoji replied while continuing his stretches:

"I was forced into it; my opinion doesn't seem to matter much."

Kujo rinsed his mouth with water, spat it out, and immediately followed up: "Then, do you know Karuizawa?"

In the original story, Karuizawa only met Ayanokoji and became his tool during the cruise ship exam. If the butterfly effect had caused changes, in Kujo's understanding, could they have already known each other?

Ayanokoji lied with a blank expression: "Is that a place name?"

It sounded as if he truly didn't know Karuizawa.

After speaking, Ayanokoji glanced sideways at the deep-in-thought Kujo.

He remained curious about Kujo's keen intuition, given what a unique student he was.

Just how far could Kujo go?

Then, Ayanokoji asked:

"So, what was your reason for recording Hirata's past?"

Prompted by the question, Kujo simply tossed the digital recorder containing Hirata's past to Ayanokoji.

Ayanokoji caught the recorder. It was a high-end electronic device sold publicly at the school; while there were budget versions, this one was clearly expensive.

Kujo trusted Ayanokoji.

If it were him, he would surely be able to use the information provided at the right time and in the right way.

Meanwhile, Koenji, standing to the side, seemed to have realized something—was Kujo's behavior aimed at him?

Koenji was not someone who didn't understand human nature.

He usually didn't care about others' evaluations or thoughts, but he still possessed terrifying analytical abilities, even if he personally referred to them as intuition.

Especially when someone set their sights on him, Koenji could detect it quickly.

Koenji's usual hearty laughter was gone.

In its place were a different tone and a question directed at Kujo.

"Just how much do you know, Kujo?"

How much did he know?

Without looking at Koenji, Kujo observed Ayanokoji, who had turned his head.

Seeing that no useful information could be gleaned from Ayanokoji, Kujo shifted his gaze to the questioning Koenji.

"I don't understand what you're referring to."

Of course, Kujo knew exactly what Koenji meant.

To most students in Class D, Hirata was like the backbone of the group.

He possessed a bright, cheerful exterior and a serious, complex personality; he was also a handsome guy with a great reputation in Class D.

Because of this, the interpersonal relationships surrounding Hirata were more complex than a spiderweb.

Wang Meiyu was one of them.

It could be said that she was a rather unique student in Class D.

Wang Meiyu was an international student from China.

She had helped Koenji in the past.

That was why Koenji cared so much about Wang Meiyu.

And because Kujo recalled from Ichinose that Wang Meiyu liked Hirata, he had recorded Hirata's past. By doing so, he could effectively sever her attachment at any time, and if handled correctly, he could even manipulate Hirata into helping with tasks.

When necessary, this recorder could become a massive asset for its holder.

So, Kujo continued:

"I do know many things, but I won't intentionally harm everyone. You can tell that, can't you, Koenji?"

Koenji proactively swapped positions with Ayanokoji, hooking his fingers onto Kujo's shoulder.

It was now Kujo and Koenji's turn to continue stretching together.

Kujo sighed:

"Koenji, you must have been bored ever since you arrived at this school. Someone with your talent and strength must find it dull not being able to meet a worthy opponent. The next exam might be a suitable stage; let's face each other directly."

The hand Koenji had pressed onto Kujo's shoulder began to tighten.

Since arriving at this school, it was a rare occasion for Koenji to be serious.

This is what he said:

"Kujo, your understanding of the rules of the game is always full of surprises."

Kujo finished his stretches.

He stood up, rose onto his toes, and said to Koenji:

"However, there is a prerequisite for you to battle me seriously. You've earned quite a lot of points from the upperclassmen, haven't you? I want to borrow 2.5 million from you."

Ayanokoji, standing to the side, tried to put on a look of shock, but no matter how hard he tried, he ended up with his usual indifferent, poker-faced expression.

But does Kujo calculate even those around him into his schemes?

Watching the two of them, even Ayanokoji couldn't help but wonder whether the voice recorder in his hand was a blessing or a curse.

Perhaps, until he fully understood Kujo's intentions, he would have to keep this weapon completely sealed away.

"Interesting."

Koenji hadn't brought his phone out, so he couldn't transfer the points to Kujo.

Yet, he didn't refuse Kujo; he simply gave Kujo and Ayanokoji a cool, retreating back after finishing his morning workout.

Watching Koenji leave, Ayanokoji had one final question in his heart, and he asked Kujo:

"You likely cannot defeat Koenji. Knowing you are bound to lose, why challenge him?"

Kujo didn't look at Ayanokoji, merely stating his assessment of Koenji:

"Some people lack passion for life; they rarely intervene in things they aren't interested in. Although they never say it, deep down, they crave an opponent. Having no passion for life is a far more painful thing for someone with talent."

Hearing this, Ayanokoji felt that he could learn from this persona as well.

However, Ayanokoji continued to ask Kujo:

"You know Koenji very well, but it seems that even an ordinary student like Wang Meiyu is someone you would calculate into your plans?"

If Ayanokoji was a blank slate that could be painted any color.

Then, Koenji was a monster with a strong, distinct color of his own.

Every move Koenji made was unpredictable. If he had any weakness, it was that he had people he cared about in this school.

Ayanokoji was already accustomed to the omniscient attribute that Kujo possessed.

It was just that an omniscient person was not necessarily omnipotent.

Ayanokoji didn't think Kujo could defeat Koenji head-on in any aspect. Could it be that he intended to use Wang Meiyu?

Kujo smiled, and to Ayanokoji's question, he replied:

"Perhaps I really am just a piece of trash, after all."

Was doing something like this already enough to be considered in the realm of trash?

Ayanokoji took a sip of water and began his daily "normal person" study plan.