Kushida's Dorm Room Late-Night Secret Talk

8 PM.

Tsukishima said goodbye to the Boss Lady, then, with his sketchboard strapped to his back, knocked on Kushida's dorm room door.

Kushida, wearing pink pajamas, opened the door with just the right amount of surprise on her face. "Tsukishima-kun, you finally made it! Come in! I've been thinking—I came up with a really good plot!"

She pulled him into the room, sat cross-legged on the bed, and immediately started whispering through gritted teeth. "What the hell did that pervert say? Why is everyone looking at me differently now?"

"Those disgusting creeps are staring at me like I'm not even wearing clothes! You didn't draw any lewd pictures of me, did you?"

"Even Hirata's been giving me this weird look, like I'm some kind of saint!"

Tsukishima unfolded his sketchboard. "No, I didn't. Last night, Horikita and Ayanokouji came to my room and saw the Succubus drawing I did of you. Horikita tried to use it to threaten me, but I told her you already knew, and that you even wanted a cut of the points."

"It probably wasn't Horikita who spread it. It was Ayanokouji. He's likely targeting me."

Kushida grabbed a slipper and hurled it at his face, her teeth grinding in fury. "You bastard, you dragged me into this! I should've just spoken up for you that day! That emotionless blockhead Ayanokouji—he's hiding a lot!"

Tsukishima casually caught the slipper and set it down on the floor. "Don't worry. Crisis is opportunity. This is actually a perfect chance for you."

He winked and gestured animatedly. "You can announce that, to raise class points, you're releasing a 'limited photo book.' I've even got the excuse ready—'For the victory of Class D.' See? A saint willing to fall for the sake of the group—how many people's hearts would that win?"

Kushida ground her teeth at the suggestion. "Like hell! Why would I sell my own photos for those idiots? That's career suicide!"

Tsukishima kept grinning. "Who says you're the saint? But don't worry. When someone asks, you just come to me openly, act all cute and confront me, and I'll apologize and say it was just a joke. Problem solved."

Kushida snorted, hugging her plush toy and starting to bite her nails. "Ayanokouji..."

"Don't go after Ayanokouji. That guy's not ordinary."

Tsukishima told her about Chabashira-sensei summoning him and arranging for Ayanokouji to secretly investigate.

Kushida's face darkened. "That old witch Chabashira—since when did she care so much about the class?"

Tsukishima sketched lines on his pad, speaking casually. "It's not that she didn't care—she cared too much. That day, after I finished yelling in class, I left and handled everything else through my phone, directing Hirata."

"How did she know Hirata was taking orders from me?"

"Either she bought the info with points, or she squeezed it out of Hirata."

Kushida hugged her plush toy, her gaze turning cold. "It shouldn't be Hirata Superman. He didn't have time that day. But I can't rule out that she called and asked..."

Tsukishima picked up the thread. "However she found out, it means she's been keeping an eye on the class."

"First she threatened me, and when that didn't work, she claimed we were on the same side. Then she leaked info about Ayanokouji and tried to pry into my future plans."

"And right after that, when I turned around, Ayanokouji was right behind me."

Kushida let out a cold laugh, her sweet voice laced with frost. "That old witch probably wants to watch us fight like crickets in a jar. What a twisted 'Observer,' don't you think, Bug One?"

Tsukishima shrugged, continuing to draw. "Bug One doesn't care who wins or loses. Bug One just wants to eat and sleep."

"I had some contact with Ayanokouji. He doesn't seem like the type to act on his own. He gathers info just in case."

"So either Chabashira has something on him, or... he's waiting for me to make the first move."

Kushida narrowed her eyes, analyzing. "She's betting that, to protect your position as the 'shadow manipulator,' you'll see Ayanokouji as a threat and try to eliminate him. Then she'll sit back and watch him counter you and get you expelled."

"Or maybe she'll even bail you out, turning you into her personal puppet."

"That old witch is a top-tier bitch! Is she really that sure you're no match for Ayanokouji?"

Tsukishima rubbed his chin. "Who knows? Maybe she only cares that there's a winner. Who that winner is doesn't matter to her. But the real question is—why is she doing all this?"

Kushida squinted and smiled. "Want the Saint to do some digging for you? Just lick my toes."

Tsukishima paused, then laughed. "No need. You're already busy enough. But honestly, if you washed them, I wouldn't mind giving it a try. Art comes from life, after all."

Kushida spat. "Pfft! You foot fetishist! You pervert!"

After that, Kushida started quietly cursing out her so-called close friends.

Tsukishima threw in a sarcastic remark now and then.

Time passed slowly.

While Kushida took a drink of water, he glanced at his phone. "Alright, it's past 10. I should head back."

Kushida nodded reluctantly—clearly, she hadn't finished venting—but she still slipped on her slippers and stood up, a sweet smile on her face. "Leaving already? What a shame. I still have so much of my plot to tell you."

Tsukishima smiled back. "No worries. I'll come again. Once I've improved my drawing skills, we can start creating! Keep it up!"

He reached the door, then suddenly turned around, his expression serious, and lowered his voice. "Oh, by the way—think about that photo book plan again. 'For the victory of Class D.' That slogan's got a nice ring to it."

Kushida didn't hesitate. She grabbed a nearby cushion and hurled it at him, whispering fiercely, "Say one more word about it, and why don't you sell your own photo book?"

Tsukishima caught the cushion deftly and tossed it back. "I would, but nobody wants it."

Kushida caught the cushion and rolled her eyes. "Pervert sketchbook artist!"

"Ha. Little demon saint. Good night."

Not long after he left.

Kushida's dorm door was knocked on again.

Kushida rolled her eyes. Did that idiot forget something?

Thinking that, she put on the smile of Saint Kushida.

Opening the door, she saw who it was, and her ancestral tone kicked in: "Ehh~ Horikita-san, what brings you here this late?"

Horikita Suzune's face was cold: "Not going to invite me in?"

Iceberg bitch, I'll get you sooner or later!

Kushida opened the door wide and warmly wrapped an arm around Horikita Suzune: "Horikita-san, please come in. I'll make you some tea."

Drink up, you iceberg! Hope it kills you! Hope you wet the bed tonight!

Horikita swept her gaze across Kushida's dorm room—cute picture decals stuck everywhere, a pink pillow shaped like a little bunny. In short, it was all a cutesy style that didn't suit her at all.