Chapter 49

"Alice, you're so cute." I said stiffly, keeping a poker face.

"Hahaha! Honestly, this feels pretty nice! Again! Again!"

"Alice, actually, I brought you something even more fun than last time..."

"Is that so? Since when did you start caring about me so much?"

Sakayanagi gave another sly smile. It seemed she'd already guessed why I'd come, which was undoubtedly the worst possible situation for me.

"Of course I care. We're such good friends, and I heard you'd been pushed below Katsuragi, so naturally I came to give you a hand."

"Oh, so that's what this is! You should've said so earlier. How about I give you some advice in return?"

Sakayanagi refused to give an inch. She was already negotiating before I'd even told her what I wanted. This girl was way too shrewd. They said pregnancy made you stupid for three years—couldn't I land some kind of intelligence-lowering blow on her? My high school life would be so much easier... Never mind. There was no need to go that far. I'd leave that to someone who really needed it.

"Sure! We'll help each other and improve together."

Then I told her my plan to use Katsuragi as a scapegoat.

"Minya, what if you do all that and Katsuragi really does take my position?"

"That won't happen. Alice is so capable. Katsuragi's nothing but a paper tiger—just an easy target. Besides, the higher you fly, the harder you fall, right?"

"Then I'll be counting on you for the next Special Exam! If you go back on your word, I'll be in trouble..."

Sakayanagi put on a pitiful expression.

"I won't. How could I sell out a teammate? Especially one as cute as you."

"You certainly know what to say. I wonder how you're insulting me in your head, though."

No way. I wouldn't even dare think about you.

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare... Alice, I genuinely want to work with you! You're clever, perceptive, and considerate. You couldn't ask for a better partner."

"Hehe, since you're so sweet-tongued, I'll help you this once! But Minya, aren't you worried I'll tell Karuizawa in Class D that you were sabotaging things? As I recall, you made a pretty sleazy bet with her, just like the one you made with me before..."

Sakayanagi smiled as she spoke.

Don't. Let's talk this out.

"Even if I was sabotaging things, you don't have any concrete proof that I gave you the fake questions! If you tell her, it'll just be your word against mine. Once I hand the questions over to you, you won't be able to prove they came from me. Don't worry, there aren't even any fingerprints of mine on them. Besides, Class D will definitely wonder how you found out about the fake questions. Hirata hasn't been going around announcing it."

"As expected of you, Minya. You're still so cautious. Fine, then. I'll send someone over to you later. You can decide what needs to be done."

"No problem. Thanks for your help, Alice."

"Don't thank me. You'll have to repay me. I want you to deal with the reactionaries within Class A this summer."

"Make Class A great again? No problem. A single bald guy should be easy to handle. By the way, this so-called summer vacation is obviously going to involve an exam, right? You think so too?"

"Of course. Unfortunately, if it's something like a hiking trip, I might not be able to participate. Be sure to look after Class A for me!"

"I will."

It'd be even better if you weren't there! Then I could go all out and rack up points against your class.

"I heard you've had a pretty rough time with Class D lately?"

"I wouldn't say we had a rough time. Class D just barely managed to hold off our attack. Horikita Suzune in particular seems to have something going for her."

"How does she compare to me?"

"Hard to say..."

I wasn't worried about offending anyone. I genuinely couldn't tell what Horikita was capable of now.

"Really? You can't tell, even with your good eye for people?"

"Thanks for the compliment... But Horikita has too many contradictions for me to judge her based on experience."

"Interesting. Very interesting... What about Ryuen in your class?"

"Ryuen? He's even more interesting. He might even be able to challenge you! But as my class's ace, I'll have to keep the details confidential."

"He's better than you, Minya? No, wait. You're such a sly person—you've never liked being the one to step into the spotlight..."

"You can keep guessing."

"Boring..."

Sakayanagi yawned lazily.

"Come challenge me when you're ready."

"That's all well and good, but don't you think you're looking down on us a little too much?"

I couldn't help commenting.

"What's the problem? Take care of Ichinose in Class B first."

"Ichinose is your main rival in Class A right now, isn't she? We're not here to do your dirty work."

"True strong people don't worry about things like that."

"Come on. I came here to drag Class A into this. You really think it's fair to have one class take on the BD Alliance? Watch out, or all three classes will target Class A first."

"Mhm! Mhm! I'm so scared!... Enough of this nonsense. Come play a game of chess with me!"

"You're way too strong... Give me a bishop handicap and I'll play."

"Hahaha! Are you even a man? You're asking for a handicap when playing a girl?"

"Plenty of the world's top chess players are women, you know? And you're clearly far more experienced than I am. There's nothing embarrassing about losing."

I said it without blushing.

"Fine. It's been a while since I had an opponent. I'll do as you say."

Sakayanagi raised her delicate hand, picked up a bishop, and moved it off the board.

"Happy now?"

"No. I want a handicap on your light-squared bishop. If you take your light-squared bishop, I'll be at a disadvantage after castling."

I pushed my luck and corrected her.

Sakayanagi frowned, then tossed the piece aside.

"Why are you so petty? You're nitpicking over something so trivial! I'm not playing anymore! You're impossible to deal with..."

Hehe, mission accomplished. It was a good thing she couldn't stand me! I'd done it on purpose...

"Then, Lady Alice, may I take my leave?"

"Get out!"

Sakayanagi waved her hand.

I felt like I'd been pardoned and hurried off.

After I left, Sakayanagi quietly picked up the light-squared bishop and held it before her eyes.

"Are you really that afraid of me? If only I'd gone along with you back then and deliberately lost... You said I was too competitive, Kitazawa Minya, but aren't you just the same? Why don't you come challenge me again? You coward..."

Author's note: Second update! Happy holidays, everyone! I'm not even at home, and I'm still scheduling updates for you all. Aren't I great? Hehe...

###

Birds of a feather flock together

Birds of a feather flock together. — The Book of Changes

The first time I saw Hashimoto Masayoshi was in the school dormitory. He wore his uniform casually and sported a neat hairstyle that most boys would never choose. His tanned skin showed that he often exercised outdoors in the sun. He had the air of a friendly, sunny boy. But why did I suddenly feel...