Onizuka raised an eyebrow slightly and looked toward Sakayanagi, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Oh? Then I wonder what important business Classmate Sakayanagi has with me. We never settled who was better at chess last time. Don't tell me you've come to challenge me again?"
Sakayanagi's smile was serene, her expression calm.
"Well, there'll always be another chance to decide who wins. But there is something I've been meaning to discuss with you."
After saying that, Sakayanagi Arisu fell silent.
As soon as she stopped speaking, an invisible pressure settled over the air.
Sakura glanced at Onizuka uneasily and hesitated before asking softly, "Um... should I step away?"
Just as Sakura stood up, Onizuka pressed his lips together in thought. His gaze swept over her hesitant expression, and he nodded.
He secretly felt that Sakayanagi's visit probably didn't bode well.
After all, she was always plotting with meticulous care and harboring inscrutable intentions. Letting Sakura know too much might only drag her into unnecessary trouble.
"All right, Airi. Wait for me a little while. Once this 'young lady' is done, we'll carry on."
Onizuka tried to sound casual and gave her a reassuring smile.
Then he sent Airi to wait where Kamuro Masumi was sitting nearby.
After Sakura walked away, he took a deep breath, his earlier relaxed expression fading. He sat up straight and folded his arms across his chest.
"Then, Classmate Sakayanagi, why don't you get straight to the point? You've gone out of your way to interrupt my peaceful day... I have to say, it puts me in a bit of a difficult position."
He smiled slightly, his words carrying a hint of probing.
"I keep my work and personal matters quite separate. You must have something important in mind to seek me out."
"Of course. It's something good, though. Onizuka, have you heard about the Special Exam during summer vacation?"
Onizuka raised an eyebrow, calculating to himself. There wasn't much time left before summer vacation, and Sakayanagi had come to see him now for the sake of the Special Exam.
That was somewhat unexpected.
Still... as far as he knew, Class A had been embroiled in quite a bit of infighting since the start of the school year, and Sakayanagi's authority within the class wasn't absolute.
Perhaps her visit had something to do with all that turmoil?
"Classmate Sakayanagi, what could you possibly need someone like me, a mere 'Class D' student, to do for you?" Onizuka's lips lifted slightly, amusement in his voice.
Hearing him say that, Sakayanagi smiled softly.
Sakayanagi smiled softly at his words, an inscrutable glint in her eyes.
"'A mere Class D'? I doubt Ryuen and the others see you that way now, do they? After all... they fell into your hands and lost every last bit of face."
Onizuka smiled faintly, entirely unmoved. "What they think is their business. You can't possibly have come just to watch another class's drama, can you, Classmate Sakayanagi?"
Sakayanagi gracefully rested her hands, one over the other, on her lap, her gaze sharp.
"Of course not. Onizuka, you're capable, and that's precisely what caught my attention."
She added lightly, as if without a care, "Quite a few people in our Class A are 'rather interested' in you."
Onizuka smiled faintly.
"Rather interested? I'm honored. But that kind of 'interest' usually comes with strings attached, doesn't it?"
Onizuka didn't believe everything Sakayanagi said. The other leader of Class A... he recalled that he was a man named Katsuragi Kohei.
By all accounts, Katsuragi was quite steady in his conduct. Onizuka couldn't believe someone like that would casually start a fight with someone else, let alone with Class D, the least threatening class.
Seeing that Onizuka didn't believe her, Sakayanagi turned her eyes slightly to the side.
"Just as I thought. When talking to a smart person, it's better to be frank~"
She paused briefly. Her voice grew softer, yet more enticing.
"I hope you'll cooperate with me when the time comes, Onizuka. [Go after Class A]."
Onizuka was slightly taken aback, then raised an eyebrow, a trace of teasing in his gaze.
Sakayanagi was actually proposing to "go after Class A"? That was certainly intriguing.
"Oh? Why do you say that? Class A's defeat wouldn't be a good thing for you, either, would it?"
Sakayanagi maintained her composed smile and replied unhurriedly.
"You're right about that, Onizuka. But my 'defeat' and Class A's defeat aren't one and the same."
She looked up at him, her voice gentle but tinged with sarcasm.
"For this Vacation Exam, I'll choose to take leave, and Classmate Katsuragi will be entirely in charge-"
"Surely you understand now, Onizuka?" She smiled faintly, an inscrutable look in her eyes.
"Class A's defeat won't mean my defeat."
Onizuka didn't let himself get swept up in her rhythm. He picked up his coffee and took a small sip.
With an amused smile, he looked at Sakayanagi across from him.
"Classmate Sakayanagi, if that's the case, aren't you worried I'll tell Katsuragi about your plan?"
At that, Sakayanagi showed no sign of panic. Instead, she watched him with a faintly mocking smile.
"Classmate Katsuragi is a very upright person. If it were him, he could never betray the class the way I do, no matter what."
After saying something so bewildering, Sakayanagi continued:
"The answer is that the benefits Onizuka would gain by reporting me are far less than what he'd gain by cooperating with me."
"After all, fundamentally, both of us act in pursuit of our own interests. Those who can set aside their stance and weigh the costs are the smart ones, don't you think?"
Onizuka was silent for a moment, and his smile grew broader. He found Sakayanagi's proposal interesting.
If he could gain something easily, why wouldn't he?
After a few seconds of thought, he nodded slightly. "In that case, why would I refuse? But, Classmate Sakayanagi-"
He paused, a note of caution entering his voice.
"If you're asking me to deal a 'major blow' to Class A during this Vacation Exam, do you already know what the exam entails?"
Hearing his question, Sakayanagi shook her head and answered with a serious expression.
"I don't know the specific details of the exam, either. But, Onizuka, you're the smart one in Class D, so I'm sure you know that any kind of exam has loopholes if you plan carefully enough."
A sharp glint appeared in her eyes. She was clearly displeased that Onizuka had asked her that.
Onizuka nodded and looked at her thoughtfully.
"If the details haven't been decided, then we'll talk about it when the time comes. I'll make sure this exam doesn't disappoint you, Classmate Sakayanagi."
"I hope so."
Now that they had settled the matter, Onizuka didn't want to stay any longer. Wasn't going out shopping with Sakura better than this?
After watching the two leave, Kamuro Masumi came over to Sakayanagi. Seeing her gritting her teeth, she couldn't help feeling surprised.
She had never seen Sakayanagi wear any expression other than a smile, let alone look like this.
She heard Sakayanagi muttering under her breath, "Damn Onizuka. He actually dared to insult me over my family background. I'll make you pay for this..." and things like that.
Kamuro Masumi very wisely decided to go order another cup of coffee.