Takahashi: I Told You She Was a Contrast

"Moshi moshi, what's up, Ayanokouji?"

It had been two days since Takahashi withdrew from Horikita's study group task. He hadn't expected Ayanokouji to call him now—hopefully he wasn't about to get roped into being some seventeenth-century unsellable product.

"Yeah... something's come up."

"About the study group?"

"You could say that. Kushida got scolded by Horikita, and now..."

"Ah, I get it." Takahashi glanced at Hoshinomiya-sensei beside him. "I'll be right there."

With that, he hung up. He liked Hoshinomiya-sensei well enough, but Class B and Class D were rivals to some degree. Better not let her in on internal Class D affairs.

"Sorry, Hoshinomiya-sensei, I've got to head to a study group my classmates organized. You know me—broadly learned, overflowing with talent, a walking library, versed in past and present... They need a guiding light to lead them out of failing grades."

"No problem, Takahashi-kun. Go help your classmates. I have a faculty meeting to attend anyway." Hoshinomiya-sensei was truly understanding.

Out in the hallway, he dialed Ayanokouji back as he walked.

The call connected quickly.

"Moshi moshi, fill me in. What happened between Kushida and Horikita?"

"Well... I asked Kushida to invite Sudo and the others to the study group, on the condition that she join too. But Horikita isn't exactly welcoming to Kushida. Just now, Kushida got chewed out by Horikita, and I saw her run off looking really upset..."

"Hold on." Through the hallway window, Takahashi spotted a figure dashing into the school building. "So you can't find Kushida right now?"

"Yeah... that's right."

"Don't worry. I saw her. I'll go check on her. You go talk to Horikita."

"Okay."

"Why? Why doesn't someone like her just die already?"

"Bang, bang, bang..."

She kicked the locked door to the rooftop several times in a row.

Then came more curses—damn her, so annoying, disgusting—and the like.

Takahashi didn't interrupt. He sat on the stairs, waiting for Kushida to vent. He could understand her situation. Everyone had emotions; they just expressed them differently. Sudo exploded on the spot, while Kushida was like a bowl—water slowly filling until it inevitably overflowed.

Right now, Takahashi just needed to make sure Kushida was safe. The rest wasn't his business.

He checked the time. Almost ten minutes, and she was still cursing. Looked like a lot of water had spilled over.

"Haaah..." Bored from waiting, Takahashi started to doze off and let out a yawn.

"Who's there?"

Kushida rushed down the stairs and spotted Takahashi sitting there.

"You... what are you doing here?"

"Oh, I just fell asleep here. Woke up a second ago."

"You heard everything, didn't you?"

"Heard what?" Takahashi looked puzzled. Weren't you just cursing out Horikita? Nothing secret. What did I hear?

"Heh."

Kushida's face darkened as she stepped forward, reaching out to grab Takahashi's neck. Calling it a grab was generous—she barely put any pressure on it.

Takahashi pushed her hand away and yawned again. "Done venting? Then head back to the dorm and sleep. It's getting late."

Before he could finish, Kushida grabbed his hand and pressed it against her chest.

Takahashi: (′///`)

"If you tell anyone, I'll report to the teacher that you assaulted me here. The fingerprints on this uniform are evidence." Kushida's face was grim.

(ー_ー)!!

He grabbed her wrist, yanked her, and pinned her against the wall.

"That hurts."

"Kushida-san, everyone has moments where their emotions boil over. That doesn't make you any less cute." Takahashi leaned in closer. "What if I told you that from the very start, everything you've said has been recorded? If I hand that recording to the teacher, what use is your so-called fingerprint evidence?"

"If you're going to put on a show, go all the way."

"Bastard."

Back in the dorm, Takahashi lay on his bed, replaying everything since the start of the semester. Hirata, tirelessly maintaining class unity. Karuizawa, seeking a protective umbrella. Horikita, clueless about human relationships. Kushida, with her dark side. Ayanokouji, hiding his true abilities. And Chabashira-sensei, along with Hoshinomiya-sensei.

This school was getting more and more interesting!