A Late-Night Heart-to-Heart in Kushida's Dorm Room

8 p.m.

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

Kushida opened the door in pink pajamas, wearing an appropriately delighted expression. "Tsukishima, you're finally here! Come in! I thought of a great plot, you know!"

She pulled Tsukishima into her room, sat cross-legged on the bed, and gritted her teeth as she started muttering under her breath. "What the hell did you say, you pervert? Why is everyone looking at me differently now?"

"Those disgusting guys look at me like I'm naked! Don't tell me you drew some lewd pictures of me!"

"Even Hirata's looking at me weirdly, like I'm some kind of saint!"

Tsukishima unfolded his drawing board. "I didn't. Horikita and Ayanokouji came to my room last night and saw the succubus drawing I made of you. Horikita wanted to use it to threaten me, so I told her you knew about it and even wanted a cut of the points."

"Horikita probably wasn't the one who spread it. It was probably Ayanokouji. I bet he was targeting me."

Kushida grabbed a slipper and hurled it at his face, grinding her teeth in anger. "You bastard, now you've dragged me into this! I should've just helped you out that day! Ayanokouji, that poker-faced bastard—he's been hiding his true colors!"

Tsukishima caught the slipper with one hand and set it neatly on the floor. "Don't panic. A crisis is also an opportunity. This is a perfect chance for you."

He waggled his eyebrows and gestured animatedly. "You could announce that you're releasing a limited-edition photo book to raise Class Points. I've already come up with the perfect reason: 'For Class D's victory.' Just imagine how many people you'd win over—a saint willing to debase herself for the sake of the group!"

Kushida ground her teeth. "That's not perfect at all! Why should I sell photos of myself for that bunch of idiots? It'd ruin my future!"

Tsukishima waggled his eyebrows. "You're the Saint, after all. But don't worry. If anyone asks, just come to me openly and adorably demand an explanation. I'll apologize and say it was only a joke."

Kushida snorted and started biting her nails, hugging a plush toy. "Ayanokouji..."

"Don't go after Ayanokouji. He's no ordinary guy..."

Tsukishima told her how Chabashira-sensei had called him in and arranged for Ayanokouji to secretly investigate.

Kushida's expression darkened. "Since when has that old hag Chabashira cared so much about the class?"

As he sketched lines in his notebook, Tsukishima said nonchalantly, "It's not that she doesn't care. She cares too much. After I yelled at everyone in class that day, I left. I directed Hirata to handle everything else by phone."

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

"She either bought the information with points or got it out of Hirata."

Hugging her plush toy, Kushida's gaze grew colder. "It probably wasn't Hirata Superman. He didn't have time that day, though I can't rule out that she called him..."

Tsukishima picked up where she left off. "However she found out, it means she's been keeping an eye on the class the whole time."

"She started by threatening me. When that didn't work, she claimed she was on my side, then let slip what she knew about Ayanokouji and tried to sound me out about my future plans."

"Then I turned around, and Ayanokouji was right behind me."

Kushida laughed coldly, her sweet voice carrying a hint of menace. "That old hag probably wants to make us fight like crickets. What a perverse Observer, huh, Bug One?"

Tsukishima shrugged and kept drawing. "Bug One doesn't care who wins or loses. Bug One just wants to eat his fill and go to sleep."

"I've had some contact with Ayanokouji. He doesn't seem like the sort to take the initiative. He gathers information just in case he needs it."

"So either Chabashira has something on him, or... he's planning to make me act first."

Kushida narrowed her eyes as she analyzed the situation. "She's convinced you'll see Ayanokouji as a threat to your position as the 'mastermind behind the scenes' and try to eliminate him. Then she'll sit back and wait for him to retaliate and get you expelled."

"Maybe she'll even bail you out, only to make you her plaything for good."

"That old hag really is a top-tier bitch! Is she really so sure you can't beat Ayanokouji?"

Tsukishima rubbed his chin. "Who knows? Maybe she only cares that there's a winner. She doesn't care who it is. But what's she doing all this for?"

Kushida narrowed her eyes and smiled. "Want Saint Kushida to look into it for you? You just have to lick my toes."

Tsukishima paused, then laughed. "No need. You're busy enough already. Though, if you washed them first, I might be persuaded to give them a taste. After all, art comes from life."

Kushida spat. "Pah! You disgusting foot fetishist! Pervert!"

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

Tsukishima chimed in with a complaint now and then.

Time passed slowly.

While Kushida was getting a drink, Tsukishima glanced at his phone. "All right, it's past ten. I should head back."

Kushida nodded regretfully. It was obvious she hadn't finished venting, but she quickly put on her slippers and stood up, a sweet smile on her face. "You're leaving already? What a shame. I still have so much of my plot to tell you!"

Tsukishima smiled too. "It's fine. I'll come back again. Once I've improved my drawing skills, we can start creating! Keep it up!"

Tsukishima walked to the door, then suddenly turned around, his expression serious. He lowered his voice. "By the way, will you think over that photo book plan? 'For Class D's victory'—what a rousing slogan."

Kushida grabbed the nearby cushion and threw it at him without hesitation. She muttered under her breath, "Bring it up one more time, and why don't you sell your own photos?"

Tsukishima nimbly caught the cushion and tossed it back to her. "I'd like to, but no one would buy them."

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

"Ha, good night, little devil saint."

Not long after he left,

someone knocked on Kushida's dorm room door again.

Kushida rolled her eyes. Did that guy forget something?

As she wondered, she put on the smile of Saint Kushida.

She opened the door, saw who it was, and started with her signature drawn-out greeting. "Ohhh, Horikita. What brings you here so late?"

Horikita Suzune's face was cold. "Aren't you going to invite me in?"

You icy bitch. I'll get you one of these days!

Kushida opened the door wider and warmly ushered Horikita Suzune inside. "Come in, Horikita. I'll make you some tea."

You ice queen, I hope you drink yourself to death! Then you'll wet the bed tonight!

Horikita looked around Kushida's room. Cute pictures covered the walls, and a pink cushion bore an adorable little bunny. In short, the place was full of cutesy decor that didn't suit her at all.