Ordinary Days Can Sometimes Stir Up Hidden Waves (3)

"You called me over—do you have some new information?"

"Is it not allowed to simply invite you to sing?"

"Of course it is, but I get the feeling the topic will end up related to last time."

"..."

Truly the mannerisms of a yakuza princess.

I glanced at the guy standing guard by the door...

This kind of scene usually only happens when a boss is negotiating business or a crime lord is about to have someone chopped up.

The originally noisy music was cut off, and Sakayanagi Arisu and I met in a KTV room.

"The Past Exam Questions are real. Ryuuen Kakeru personally brought Katsuragi to verify them."

"If they're real, he should be keeping them from you."

After all, you two are rivals.

Though I didn't say it outright, she understood anyway.

Sakayanagi Arisu took a sip of her drink and said nonchalantly:

"This should count as an open scheme—treating something like this as a merit. In contrast, I haven't done anything at all so far."

"That may be, but I feel like you only need to wait for Katsuragi to bring about his own downfall."

"Why do you say that?"

A glint sharpened in her eyes.

"Ryuuen Kakeru managed to uncover these Past Exam Questions, and the rumors of him ruling Class C as the 'Tyrant' all highlight his ambition. I don't think Katsuragi Kouhei's level of Personal Points will satisfy his appetite."

"Rather, Ryuuen Kakeru is waiting for someone to take the bait. The Past Exam Questions are bound to leak eventually, and the upperclassmen are all hoping to cash in on them too."

"The school wants someone to discover this condition and use it to avoid expulsion, but from the start of enrollment, this war has never been students versus the school. Even if Ryuuen Kakeru really is shortsighted and only hopes to use this to earn some Personal Points and keep his class from getting expelled..."

"But that kind of thing won't be allowed, will it?"

She set down the glass in her hand.

"Of course, ending the exam so neatly and properly would be far too boring."

"As the leader of Class A, I have to represent the highest level of students and formally greet everyone in the grade, don't I?"

Shifting her tone, she added with a hint of mischief:

"If you told that Ichinose Honami in your class to be more careful, do you think she'd be so moved she'd give herself to you..."

"..."

"Speaking of which, being overtaken by others doesn't seem like the Sakayanagi Arisu I know."

"You're changing the subject again..."

Though she saw through my shallow attempt to divert the topic, she still went along with it.

"The students assigned to Class A are recognized by the school... I wouldn't go so far as to praise that."

"Having a bit of a lead at the start of enrollment, then thinking you can keep it all the way to graduation—that's far too naive."

"Katsuragi has already distributed the Past Exam Questions to the class and strictly demanded secrecy. If those at the bottom think hugging those questions will solve everything, then I'm sorry to say..."

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a faint smile on her lips.

I once asked her why she told me all this.

I want Hajima-kun to witness it with me...

That was all she said.

"If you take any longer opening the door, we're going to get caught!"

She said with some complaint.

"And why does it have to be your room? The library or a café would be about the same."

"...Want something to drink?"

"You really are... don't change the subject."

"I only have water, so make do."

"You're so annoying."

"I haven't done anything."

"Anyway, about the test last time..."

"Lately I've even been dreaming about being in class. Give me a break."

Karuizawa slumped over the table, shaking her head in resistance.

After a while, as if sensing the room had grown quiet, she lifted her head slightly.

It happened to meet my gaze.

"Alright, giving up now would make all our efforts wasted."

I patted her head, offering her comfort.

But for some reason, a faint, strange feeling stirred in my heart.

Her hair slipped through my fingers, and the sensation in my palm was unusually distinct.

"How much longer are you going to keep touching me!"

Though Karuizawa looked away indifferently toward the window, I clearly saw her ears flush slightly red.

She smoothed the hair by her ear, bit her lower lip, and after a long moment, said:

"Bastard... is it really that nice to touch?"

"...Stop it! Do you have some weird fetish or something?"

"Pervert..."

Even as she complained like that, my hand had already stopped moving.

A faint friction came from my palm.

She really isn't honest...

"...That's about it. After this, just write down what the problem requires."

She seemed a bit distracted.

"Karuizawa?"

"..."

"Karuizawa Kei!"

I tried calling out to her as I leaned down.

So absorbed. What's she thinking...

"Kei?"

"Huh?! What's with that, why'd you suddenly call my name?"

I watched her unfocused pupils slowly sharpen.

Was it because I called her by her first name?

She seemed flustered for a moment.

I vaguely remembered Tetsuya once telling me that girls generally don't like being called by their first names...

Calling someone that without permission would make them dislike you.

That's what Tetsuya said back then.

So was she angry?

"What did you just call me?"

"Nothing..."

"Kei... you said it, didn't you!"

"I just saw you were distracted, so I called out to you."

"If you don't like that form of address, I'll be careful next time."

Hearing this, she seemed a bit angry.

"What's that supposed to be, you're so annoying..."

"Why are you angry again!?"

"Annoying!!!"

"Hateful guy... I hate you..."

"You called me that, so it's not like I said..."

Watching her puff up, arms crossed over her chest.

She's clearly angry, but for some reason, the way she looks mad feels more like she's acting spoiled with me.

So you can't blame me for always teasing her, right...

Huh? What was the last half of what she said?

What did you just say?

If I asked that, I'd probably get punched flying.

"I didn't quite catch that..."

"Hateful Hajime Kashima!"

She threw herself onto me.

The next second, a mark was etched into my shoulder.

This girl really bit down too hard.

I held her to keep her from falling, steadying my balance.

"Hmph."

She wrinkled her cute little nose at me, letting out a smug hum.

I let her go, pretending to rub my shoulder in pain.

But she worriedly asked if I was really hurt.

Seeing me silent, she anxiously brushed my hand away and pulled open my collar.

What came into view was a shallow set of teeth marks...

"How could something like this possibly hurt!"

Catching my smug grin, she took a step back.

Huh? What's she planning?

A flying shoulder tackle coming my way...

Just kidding—it was Lady Karuizawa's headbutt attack.

Wait... I didn't have my footing this time!

I fell onto the bed, and she rested her head on my stomach.

"You okay, Kei?"

I patted her head.

Kei kept her arms wrapped around my waist and just shook her head.

Then, the room fell into a certain harmonious atmosphere.