Chapter Eight [The Sixth Day of School] Inviting Ryuen to the Rooftop (Thanks to Kurikara Tenzō)

Saturday.

"Even though it's a day off, Ayanokoji, do you think it's appropriate for two men to meet up somewhere like this?"

Looking at the couples passing by, they weren't wearing uniforms, but they seemed to be upperclassmen.

Ayanokoji didn't seem to care at all. If anything, he was completely devoid of emotion.

Right now, Ayanokoji was analyzing the object before him known as ice cream, especially its internal structure.

Watching Ayanokoji's blank expression, Kujo pressed a hand to his forehead.

He knew that people who came out of the White Room were like this, but having him around was still embarrassing.

To keep Ayanokoji from not knowing how to use a spoon or a straw, Kujo had no choice but to order another ice cream float and demonstrate how to eat it.

Ayanokoji unlocked a new skill.

Then he asked:

"Kujo, do you know how to make girls like you?"

At that, the spoon in Kujo's hand fell to the ground.

Ayanokoji, have you been possessed?

His words left Kujo baffled.

As far as he knew, Ayanokoji would never say something like that.

The other boy came from the White Room.

He was an elite among elites, selected through countless rounds of elimination.

He was hailed as a natural genius who, after receiving an education designed to cultivate geniuses, had become the ultimate masterpiece.

A rising star of the Neon Agency's future.

The ceiling of the original novel.

Though he'd pull off all sorts of outrageous stunts later, right now he should be in the state of wanting to live an ordinary life after just starting school.

But ordinary boys didn't make girls like them.

Absolutely not!

Kujo grumbled inwardly.

Still, he tried to reassure Ayanokoji.

"Ayanokoji, you asked the wrong person. I'm actually just as single as you are."

At that, the spoon in Ayanokoji's hand fell to the ground.

Then he gave the ground a cursory glance, just for show.

His actions were exactly like Kujo's a moment earlier.

Ayanokoji copied the way Kujo had handled it. Instead of picking up the spoon, he asked a server for a new one.

Then Ayanokoji casually remarked in Kujo's direction:

"So you're slow on the uptake too, Kujo."

Kujo didn't understand what Ayanokoji meant. But Ayanokoji's thoughts always jumped around, and Kujo didn't particularly care, so he didn't reply.

Ayanokoji continued speaking as he ate.

"Actually, it's possible that girls like you a lot, Kujo. You just haven't noticed."

Kujo was puzzled and asked Ayanokoji:

"When did you learn fortune-telling, Ayanokoji?"

Ayanokoji didn't understand.

Kujo tried another way of putting it.

Ayanokoji, when did you learn how to tell fortunes?

This time, the other boy finally understood.

Then Ayanokoji spoke in Kujo's direction, his words laden with meaning:

"Being able to keep your talents hidden is a remarkable gift. Maybe I've always been able to tell fortunes."

Kujo knew that Ayanokoji had mastered all kinds of exceptional talents.

But rather than believe that he was actually telling fortunes,

Kujo would sooner believe that Ayanokoji was hinting at something.

"Why don't you tell the fortunes of the four first-year classes' Class Points for the first month, Ayanokoji? Honestly, if you weren't treating me, this place might kick me out if they saw the points in my account. I wonder what happens if you run up a tab at this school."

Ayanokoji fell silent because he didn't know the answer either.

Ayanokoji soon finished his ice cream float, then ordered another.

Kujo didn't have many points, but Ayanokoji's daily spending was usually kept to the bare minimum. He didn't have to worry about running out of points, so he had no need to cut back.

Ever since Class D's homeroom teacher, Chabashira, said students would receive points regularly each month but didn't say they would get a hundred thousand points every month, Ayanokoji had deliberately reined in his curiosity and avoided trying new things.

But since the school's secret had practically become public knowledge,

there was no need for him to save anymore.

Ayanokoji had no desire to move up to Class A.

Points were worthless to him.

Even if he spent them all, he wouldn't be troubled.

Even two million points wouldn't be impossible for him to amass.

Ayanokoji thought this was the time to show the kind of happiness an ordinary student would feel.

Or maybe this was when he should act a little more boastful?

Ayanokoji tried to make his expression more convincing.

"I could have another one later, too."

?

Kujo was speechless.

That was pure showing off his wealth.

He had no idea who Ayanokoji had learned such bad habits from.

So, to put Ayanokoji on the spot, Kujo asked him a nosy question:

"So why do you want girls to like you, Ayanokoji? Are you planning to pursue a girl in your class?"

When boys gathered together, they talked about girls.

One of the things Ayanokoji had learned from gathering information lately was this.

But he had no intention of dating a girl.

Still, if it was just chatting and bragging, Ayanokoji had learned quite a bit from his classmates.

As a result, he'd recently been able to talk to quite a few girls.

"Don't all the boys like discussing this stuff?"

"..."

After parting ways with Ayanokoji, Kujo received a text from Sakagami in reply.

[Sure]

Just one simple word.

It held many stories.

Kujo wanted an undisturbed school life.

Sakagami wanted to see the students in his class unite.

And Ryuen had already become the leader of Class C, determined to bring the class together under his rule.

In terms of physical ability, Ryuen was far inferior to Albert. Ishizaki could even take a few people and overpower him with sheer force.

In terms of grades, Ryuen was practically at the bottom of Class C.

But compared to physical ability and academic performance, Ryuen possessed something no other student in his class did: the shamelessness, drive, and patience to attack without limits just to make others acknowledge him.

Given the nerve and guts of the students in Class C, there weren't many who'd risk everything to keep tangling with someone like that.

When all was said and done, Ryuen's goal was simply to make the students in Class C submit completely to his rule.

Though he was used to using violence, Ryuen had no intention of making everyone in the class drop out.

He even granted privileges to students with special talents.

Though he had his own motives, even if Ryuen didn't step up to lead the class, Ishizaki or someone else would end up ruling it.

And now, if Ryuen wanted to become the leader of Class C, all that remained was to deal with the last two people in the class.

Class C's homeroom teacher, Sakagami Kazuma, and him, Kujo Makoto.

On the school rooftop, where hardly anyone ever went.

Watching Kujo arrive late, Ryuen jeered:

"Kujo, you sure took your sweet time. How long were you planning to keep me and Sakagami waiting?"

Kujo shrugged, looking unconcerned.

"I'm the one who invited you. You're the ones who came too early."