Once Sudo left, the people behind him lost interest too.
The main problem was Horikita Suzune's downright awful attitude.
Yagami Shizuka was sincerely glad he wasn't in Class D. Everyone there did whatever they wanted, like a bunch of kids who'd never grown up.
Instead of raising children for the school, he'd rather get Nagumo to beat him up, then take twenty million points from him in exchange for a transfer to another class.
Class D wasn't beyond saving. It was just going to take a lot of work.
Only Horikita Suzune remained in the library, sitting there in a daze.
She was angry, but it hadn't even occurred to her to admit she was wrong.
She felt lost, with no sense of direction.
Deep down, she was crying. She'd called her older brother that morning, but he hadn't answered. That was why she'd already been in a bad mood.
And now, Sudo had left. She'd lost all chance of rising to Class A.
"Didn't you say you wanted to help her?" Shiina Hiyori asked at that moment.
"Not now. You saw it just now. She won't want to help those underachievers at a time like this," Yagami Shizuka said, dismissing the idea outright.
"Then will it be okay once she's in a better mood tomorrow?"
"That's not it. It's not a matter of her mood. Tomorrow, her desire to rise to Class A will have changed. You could say she'll have grown up a little. She just needs some time to grow. You'll understand tomorrow." Yagami Shizuka couldn't explain the reason outright.
Shiina Hiyori looked thoughtful. "But wouldn't the longer they wait, the worse things get for them?"
"Not really. As long as they come to me within a week, they can still be saved. My methods are unconventional."
"Mm." Shiina Hiyori didn't ask anything else.
A little after five that afternoon.
Yagami Shizuka received a notification.
[The tip you wanted has arrived. This is a tip you scheduled in advance. That's right, Kushida Kikyo will arrive on the school building's rooftop within fifteen minutes.]
After leaving the library, Yagami Shizuka received another notification.
[Your movements have long since been exposed. When you appeared in the library, Sakayanagi Arisu was watching you. She is following behind you. You have received a tip.]
[1. Ignore Sakayanagi Arisu's pursuit. When you scheme against Kushida Kikyo, she will inevitably find out and decide that you are extremely devious. From then on, she will keep her distance from you.]
[2. Catch Sakayanagi Arisu and bring her along to scheme against Kushida Kikyo. You will gain an unexpected reward: she will think you share the same goals.]
[3. Give up the pursuit, and you will lose the forty thousand points that were about to be yours.]
So if he didn't let her join in, he was devious, but if he did, they were kindred spirits?
Was Arisu really that cute?
Not long after Yagami Shizuka left, he spotted Sakayanagi Arisu emerging from the library too, wearing a hat. She wasn't walking very fast, and she was still trying to catch up with him.
When he reached the school building, Yagami Shizuka suddenly turned around and rushed to Sakayanagi Arisu at incredible speed. He scooped her up and carried her off.
"Eek! Hey! What are you doing?" Sakayanagi Arisu panicked. She'd thought she was being very discreet, but she hadn't expected him to notice her.
"What am I doing? You're following me, and you're asking what I'm doing?"
"I just happened to be going the same way! I was heading back to the classroom, that's all." Her lovely face had turned into a miserable pout from the fright.
"Okay, okay!" Yagami Shizuka held the corners of her mouth in place and shushed her. "If we don't hurry, we'll miss the show."
Sakayanagi Arisu immediately quieted down. Yagami Shizuka was so close that her heart was beating fast.
She whispered, "Where are you taking me?"
"You'll see in a moment."
[Kushida Kikyo will arrive within three minutes. Reach the rooftop within 45 seconds.]
He carried Sakayanagi Arisu on his back and quickly climbed the dormitory stairs. His speed left her amazed.
He took the stairs to avoid the cameras. There was no need to go through the corridors; he could climb up quickly by using the handrails.
"Wow! What kind of monster are you?"
"I'm a normal person, flesh and blood."
In just a few breaths, Yagami Shizuka had climbed to the rooftop. Then he carried Sakayanagi Arisu to the side of the rooftop shed to hide.
They lay in wait there.
"Hey, I—"
"Shh."
When Sakayanagi Arisu started to say something, Yagami Shizuka gestured for her to be quiet.
Yagami Shizuka took out his phone and positioned it so it could record.
"Why did you bring me here?" Sakayanagi Arisu whispered into his ear from his back.
"You'll see in a moment," Yagami Shizuka said calmly.
Sakayanagi Arisu gradually calmed down. She knew Yagami Shizuka had something in mind; she just didn't know what it was yet.
In any case, he definitely hadn't brought her somewhere deserted to do anything indecent.
That was what she told herself, though she felt a little disappointed.
Bang! Thud!
The sound of the rooftop door slamming shut echoed ahead.
Sakayanagi Arisu leaned slightly to the side and saw the short-haired girl who'd been so magnanimous in the library, even helping to break up a fight.
The girl was very cute and already somewhat famous among the first-years.
Sakayanagi Arisu knew a little about her, too.
Her name was Kushida Kikyo. She was good at socializing, and at this school, she got along with everyone, regardless of status or gender.
In other words, whenever she met someone, she tried to approach them, get their contact information, and become friends.
Wasn't that a little terrifying?
Hashimoto Masayoshi wasn't nearly as dedicated. Compared to her, he was several leagues behind.
As far as Sakayanagi Arisu was concerned, Kushida was the most useful person in Class D.
But the scene that followed shattered her worldview.
Thud! Thud, thud!
Kushida Kikyo kicked the wall several times in a row. Even after she'd finished, she still wasn't satisfied, and she started cursing.
"Argh—this is so annoying! So annoying! So annoying!"
With every shout, she kicked the wall again. "I'm so pissed off! Why don't you just go die!"
The voice that had once been an incredibly cute, girlish squeak now came out low and rough, like a raging delinquent's.
"Acting all high and mighty just because you think you're cute. She's probably just a slut anyway! A woman with a personality like that could never teach anyone to study!"
"Ugh—it's awful! Awful! Just awful! Horikita's so annoying! Horikita's so annoying! I can't stand her! I can't stand her! I can't stand her!"
This was Kushida Kikyo's true nature.
Sakayanagi Arisu was so shocked she couldn't speak. She could only stare with her mouth open, unable to believe what she was seeing.
Once the darkness in human nature came to light, it was always filthy. The cuter someone looked on the outside, the more rotten they might be inside.
That was the conclusion Sakayanagi Arisu had reached after seeing so much of human nature.
Some people were fairly straightforward. They looked covered in flaws, but those flaws were all they had.
With others, if you couldn't see any flaws, they might be hiding a beast inside, something you knew nothing about. That was human nature.
Kushida Kikyo had once wanted to be a good girl. She'd always wanted to be one, and she liked being praised.
She buried every grievance she suffered deep inside, until she could no longer hold them back and had to let it all out.
The anger she'd accumulated toward Horikita Suzune had been building for a long time. She'd reached her breaking point.
She hated Horikita Suzune. If not for her, Kushida could have started over at this new school, acting as if none of her past had ever happened.
She hated her!
Thud, thud!
Clang!
Kushida kicked the iron door open, making a loud noise.
The next second, she froze. She saw Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who'd been about to run away.
"Y-You... What are you doing here?" Kushida Kikyo frowned, her voice still low.
She was like a completely different person from the girl she'd been before, with an entirely different personality.
"I got a little lost, sorry. I'll leave right away." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was in a bind. He couldn't decide whether to leave or stay.
"Did you hear that?"
"If I said I didn't, would you believe me?"
"I suppose not..." Kushida Kikyo headed straight for the stairs.
Once she left, Yagami Shizuka could no longer capture the footage he'd wanted, so he had no choice but to switch to recording audio.
Sakayanagi Arisu also thought what she'd just seen was fascinating, and had recorded some of it. With this video, she felt she could get a lot done.
Inside the stairwell, Kushida Kikyo began forcing Ayanokoji Kiyotaka to leave a handprint.
"If you dare tell anyone about what just happened, I'll make you regret it."
"What if I do?"
"Then I'll tell them you almost..." The things this woman said were outrageous.
"That's a baseless accusation."
"That's fine. It's not baseless."
As she spoke, Kushida Kikyo grabbed Ayanokoji's hand and pressed it against her body.
That's too much! Let go of Ayanokoji already!
Don't hurt Ayanokoji. If you've got a problem, take it out on me!
Yagami Shizuka grumbled to himself, then felt disappointed that he couldn't see it with his own eyes.
"What are you doing?" Ayanokoji tried to pull his hand away, but Kushida Kikyo held it firmly in place. He struggled with all his might and still couldn't break free. He could only press his hand against the red bulge of her uniform in despair.
"There. Now I've got your handprint, so I have evidence. I'm serious, so you'd better understand."
"I understand! I get it, so let go of my hand already." Ayanokoji struggled desperately to pull away, but he failed every time he tried.
This woman was unexpectedly strong.
Way too strong. It was like you couldn't even fit it in one hand.
Ayanokoji, you're really something.
Yagami Shizuka was filled with admiration.
"I'm not washing this uniform. It has your fingerprints on it. If you dare betray me, I'll hand it over to the police." Kushida Kikyo kept glaring at Ayanokoji and threatening him.
She was satisfied by the panicked look on Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's face, and didn't immediately let go of his hand.
Yagami Shizuka really wanted to go out there and see if Kushida Kikyo would make him leave a handprint too. That would be a great deal.
But when he made a move, Sakayanagi Arisu glared at him. "What are you doing?"
"Do you think if I went out there, she might—"
He hadn't even finished speaking when he felt a small hand pinch his ear. It hurt a little, and he didn't dare yelp. He could only beg for mercy. "Ah, that hurts! That hurts! I'm sorry, I'm sorry! My princess, please spare me!"
"Hmph!" Only then did Sakayanagi Arisu let go.
Kushida Kikyo talked with Ayanokoji for a little while longer in the stairwell, then went downstairs.
Sakayanagi Arisu got off Yagami Shizuka's back and looked at the recording on her phone. "What are you going to do with this?"
Yagami Shizuka explained his plan. "Actually, when I told you last time that I needed a budget of five hundred thousand points, I meant for myself. I've already spent my share, so now it's your turn. We need at least two hundred thousand. We can get forty thousand from Kushida Kikyo."
"Another two hundred thousand?" Though Sakayanagi Arisu didn't know what Yagami Shizuka was planning, she didn't ask.
"Why only ask for forty thousand? Why not more?" Sakayanagi Arisu was clearly greedier than he was, and didn't mind extorting someone.
"She only has fifty thousand right now. Let her keep enough to get by. Even a rabbit will bite when it's cornered."
"What about the remaining one hundred and sixty thousand?"
"I've got it covered. I planned it out a long time ago," Yagami Shizuka said calmly.
"Okay, then leave this to me." Sakayanagi Arisu stood up, ready to head downstairs.
"Maybe I should go instead." Even though he knew Sakayanagi Arisu had a lot of experience with this, Yagami Shizuka still wanted to handle it himself.
"No need." Sakayanagi Arisu pushed him aside and said, "You're our class's ace. It's better if you don't show your face in other classes."
"Huh? I'm the ace?" Yagami Shizuka couldn't believe Sakayanagi Arisu would say something like that. Did she really think that highly of him?
What Sakayanagi Arisu was thinking was that he obviously wanted to go out there and act out the scene from earlier too. He was dreaming. Not a chance.
"Fine. If you insist on going yourself, that's okay. Just be careful. If she tries anything, bring up what happened to her in middle school again." He helped Sakayanagi Arisu down the stairs.
"What happened?" Sakayanagi Arisu glanced back.
It wasn't easy for her to use the stairs. She got out of breath even walking normally, let alone climbing them.
There was no elevator. She thought this place was terribly unfriendly.
"She was exposed in middle school, and then she attacked the entire class, throwing everyone into chaos for a long time."
"That scary?" Sakayanagi Arisu realized Kushida Kikyo might have an even more frightening side.
"That's right. What she's most worried about is people finding out. If she snaps, she'll reveal everyone's secrets and drag them all down with her."
"By the way, how do you know so many secrets about her?"
"Hmm, well..." Yagami Shizuka pondered. "Let me think about how to make something up first."
"Fine, take your time."
"I'll carry you." Yagami Shizuka crouched in front of Sakayanagi Arisu. "For now, let me be your legs. Trust me, soon I'll help you walk like a normal person."
Sakayanagi Arisu looked at his strong back, unable to suppress her smile as she climbed on.
She said nothing, but Yagami Shizuka could feel the happy beat of her heart.
He escorted her all the way to the dormitory before leaving.
And he still had to hurry to another set.
After that, he ran on the track for a while, went to the Student Cafeteria for a meal, and then began to wait patiently.
There was another show to watch that night. He didn't have to return to the dorm yet.
With experts like Horikita Manabu and Ayanokoji, he might be discovered if he didn't lay low in advance.
He needed a spot where he could watch without being seen, and it would be best if the spot could also stop Horikita Manabu.
Before you continue