Kushida's Middle School Secret

Actually, Tsukishima could make a guess.

First, it definitely wasn't about her true nature being exposed—otherwise, Kushida would already be Horikita's suicide dog by now.

As for what it was, he had to start reasoning from Class D.

What was Class D? A dumping ground for defective products. How did the school identify Class D members as defective?

Either their flaws were so obvious they could be spotted at a glance.

Could Kushida Kikyo's two-faced nature be spotted? Unlikely. You can know a person's face but not their heart.

Especially someone on Kushida's level. If she wanted to put on an act, not even half a year of close contact would necessarily reveal it, let alone a single interview.

Since it couldn't be seen, why did the school put her in Class D?

Tsukishima glanced at Kushida beside him.

The only explanation was that Kushida Kikyo had caused a major incident in middle school because of her personality.

That was why she was placed in Class D.

Kushida Kikyo said she needed to confirm something with Horikita—something serious enough to make her abandon her perfect saint persona.

So it was obvious. What Kushida wanted to confirm was probably related to that middle school incident.

Tsukishima rubbed his chin. Kushida and Horikita were most likely from the same middle school. Kushida wanted to confirm whether Horikita knew about her "middle school big incident."

But judging by Horikita's behavior, she probably didn't know. Otherwise, last night's threat would have gone differently.

Besides, with Horikita's personality, her eyes were full of nothing but her brother. Everyone else only came to mind when they had some use.

Kushida quick-stepped two paces to stand in front of him, a sweet smile on her face, but her words came through gritted teeth: "You bastard, you're not trying to guess what I want to confirm, are you?"

Tsukishima was shocked: "You can read minds? I didn't even say it out loud!"

Kushida swept a glance around, found the place empty, and immediately grabbed Tsukishima by the collar. The sweetness on her face vanished in an instant.

Only gnashing teeth remained: "You bastard, your eyes dart around every time you think! And you love rubbing your chin! Damn it! Do you already know?"

Tsukishima patted her hand: "Watch your image, watch your image. You sure observe me pretty closely."

Kushida snorted coldly and let him go: "If I look at you every day, I'd remember too!"

Tsukishima nodded: "I've guessed a bit about your situation. She probably doesn't know, or you wouldn't be in good shape right now."

"Something big enough to make you drop your image would be a perfect blackmail card for her. With her all-in personality, would she sit on a winning hand? What for? So yeah, she definitely doesn't know about your thing."

Kushida gritted her teeth: "You mean I wasted my effort?"

Tsukishima nodded: "Yeah, and I think it's better if you don't go. She's all about 'first this, first that,' but she's also sharp. And then there's Ayanokouji—that guy's even more something. Who knows which social experiment lab he crawled out of. What if they pick up on something?"

He elbowed her and whispered: "If they catch a whiff, they'll threaten and test you. Once they confirm it, no matter the method, they'll make you their dog. Both of them are the type to stop at nothing for their goals."

He suddenly sighed: "Those two are practically a match made in heaven."

Kushida was silent for a moment, as if digesting Tsukishima's words:

"...But I have to go to the organized study session. I can't just skip Horikita's side outright."

Tsukishima rolled his eyes: "I mean, don't actively probe her. Do what you normally do. Don't ask about anything from before. Just act like usual."

Kushida fell silent again, biting her lip, looking a bit conflicted. She glared at Tsukishima: "You bastard, are you saying this just to tie me firmly to your side? Afraid they'll use me to threaten you?"

Tsukishima rolled his eyes again: "The way you put it, do I even need to tie you down now? We're dating, we've even entered the adult realm. Need to tie you down?"

"As for threats, a bit troublesome, but not that troublesome. Anyway, troublesome."

Kushida suddenly moved. She lifted her foot and viciously stomped on Tsukishima's instep: "You bastard! This is all your fault! If it weren't for you, how could I be threatened! How could I waste my effort! Damn bastard! Damn foot fetishist! Damn pervert!"

Tsukishima wiped his face: "Keep your voice down. If someone finds out, you'll become a shared saint. Dating isn't bad for you. You can still be an angel. If it really doesn't work, we'll just find a reason to break up and be done with it."

"By the way, your stomp felt pretty good."

Kushida rolled her eyes, took a deep breath, and shot him a vicious glare: "Pervert!"

Tsukishima snorted: "So what if I'm a pervert? Am I proud of it? Am I boasting? Besides, who told you to start scheming without a word? Ah, no love. We've been through so much, and you still don't trust me~~"

Kushida gritted her teeth: "Bastard! It's you who doesn't trust me, right? You know everything about me, but I know nothing about you!"

Tsukishima froze. Thinking about it, she had a point: "Do I dare tell you? You're always recording with your phone, practically wanting to make me your dog, have me lick your toes every day. Do I dare tell you?"

"Besides, I figured out your stuff with my brain. You're dumb—that's my fault? You're careless—that's my fault? What kind of logic is that!"

Kushida took a deep breath: "Fine. I'll give you my phone. You tell me your story—why you were placed in Class D. I'll tell you about my middle school."

Tsukishima rolled his eyes: "Who knows if you've hidden a voice recorder somewhere..."

He suddenly looked at Kushida: "Wait, are you actually planning to be honest with me?"

Kushida's expression didn't change: "Do I have a choice? You know everything about me, but I know nothing about you. You can threaten me into doing anything. What about me? How do I counter you?"

"We can become allies. I can speak for you in class council meetings."

Tsukishima rubbed his chin and laughed: "Hold on a second. Why would I want to become your ally? I have your dirt as leverage. You can control the class's attitude toward me as your counter. Isn't that already a balanced mutual threat?"

"As for class council meetings, I've already deleted Hirata. Go ask him. I never planned to control the class anyway. Otherwise, why would I have pushed for Class B and Class D to cooperate back then? I could have just paid the points myself."

"Buying a seat with points should be simple enough, right?"

Kushida bit her lip as she looked at him, her eyes brimming with disappointment. "So, you still don't want to trust me, do you? So you've been using me all along, haven't you? I understand. Don't contact me anymore from now on."

She lowered her head, tears pattering down.

Tsukishima watched her, knowing full well that this girl was probably putting on an act.

But that momentary tremor seemed to carry a hint of genuineness.

Beneath those layers upon layers of performance, that instant when her shoulders quivered seemed laced with a trace of real grievance she herself hadn't even noticed.