The Strategy Meeting

That's right, that's the impression Kushida left on Ayanokoji. Although he also felt that such a person shouldn't exist, Class B already had Ichinose Tenshi, so why couldn't Class D have Kushida Tenshi?

However, he only thought about it. He naturally knew that Kushida had problems, otherwise he wouldn't have been assigned to Class D. He just didn't know what Kushida's problems were.

Horikita's words, however, seemed to have opened up a new way of thinking for him.

"I don't think you're making things up without reason, so I hope you can give me a reason. You don't mean to say that because you think she hates you, do you?" Shuichi Kanda continued Ayanokoji's words and gave Horikita Suzune again.

"Does Kushida dislike Horikita?"

This was the first time Ayanokoji had heard such words, so he seemed somewhat surprised.

"That's right, Kushida, and Kanda was also present at the time." Horikita Suzune nodded. "However, I won't accuse her of being a traitor just because she dislikes me. I have evidence to support my claim that she is a traitor."

Shuichi Kanda nodded, signaling Horikita to continue.

You keep talking, I keep listening, and then I secretly laugh at you. Sure enough, even now, Class D is never boring.

Furthermore, he is also concerned about Kushida's past. Although their relationship has recently made some progress, she still hasn't brought it up herself.

However, before doing so, Shuichi Kanda felt it necessary to give Horikita a reminder.

"Then let me hear your reasons, but are you really going to drag Ayanokoji, an innocent bystander, into this?"

"Then I'll be going now."

Ayanokoji turned around and prepared to leave this place of trouble.

"Wait, I'd like to hear your thoughts on this too. Aren't you interested in why Kushida was assigned to Class D? Besides, you promised to help me lead Class D to Class A, right?"

Ayanokoji, who originally intended to leave, returned here because of the information provided by Horikita.

He was intrigued by Kushida's gentle approach to all the students in the class, except for Horikita.

So it seems you've already made up your mind, Horikita Suzune. In that case, I can only say, I'm sorry to say.

"Kanda- san, and Ayanokoji, you both met Kushida on the bus on the first day of school, right?"

Shuichi Kanda nodded, but he didn't know that Ayanokoji and Horikita Suzune were also in the car at the time.

Were you in the car at the time?

"That's right, Ayanokoji's seat was just across the aisle from mine."

Horikita Suzune nodded. "Actually, Kushida and I went to the same middle school, but I didn't recognize her when I first met her because our school is a large university with over a thousand students."

"I understand, you probably didn't care much about other students back then, right?"

Although reluctant, Horikita nodded.

"I first remembered Kushida during the book club last semester, because her gentle manner towards everyone reminded me of someone like her from middle school."

In middle school, she was kind to everyone and made a good impression, making her a popular figure. Although she didn't seem to be a member of the Student Council, she must have been quite influential.

Listening to Horikita's words, Shuichi Kanda could imagine it, because that's exactly what Kushida is like now. Although he hasn't extended his influence to other grades yet, there are almost no first-year students that Kushida doesn't know.

So, Horikita, what's your basis for believing Kushida is a traitor?

Shuichi Kanda wanted to continue listening to Horikita's story.

"So what's your basis for judging that Kushida might be a traitor?"

At this point, Horikita took a deep breath, and his expression immediately turned serious.

"What I'm about to say is the basis for my claim, but I can't guarantee it's true. It's just a rumor I heard, and only Kushida himself probably knows the real truth."

"That happened sometime in late February, near the end of my junior year of middle school. A class experienced a mass absence."

"It shouldn't be a flu outbreak, right?"

"Ayanokoji, your joke isn't funny at all."

No, I was just stating a possibility.

"What possibility is that? If there were a flu that could infect an entire class, the whole of Japan would be doomed by now, right?"

"You two shut up!" Horikita was really at a loss with these two, especially Shuichi Kanda.

"Yes, please continue, I'm listening."

"The news spread like wildfire at school. Apparently, a certain girl started it all, causing the class to fall apart. And that class never recovered until graduation."

"So that girl is Kushida, right?"

"That's right. If that girl is Kushida, then the reason why Kushida was assigned to Class D is completely clear."

"But I don't know the specific reasons for the class's collapse. The school suppressed the news shortly afterward. After all, if such a thing were to be fully made public, the impact on the school would definitely be significant, and it's not impossible for the school to go bankrupt as a result. But you can't hide the truth forever, and even if the school tries to suppress the news, rumors still spread."

"Because the class was discussing it after it happened, I heard about it too. Apparently, the classroom was a mess, and the blackboard and desks were covered with slanderous and defamatory graffiti."

At this point, the truth is quite clear.

"I see, I understand now."

Shuichi Kanda nodded.

"What do you understand?" Horikita tilted her head in confusion.

"If Kikyo was indeed the one who caused the class to fall apart back then, isn't the reason already quite obvious?"

Horikita and Ayanokoji both looked slightly puzzled. Wasn't it obvious? Why couldn't we guess it?

Need I say more? It must have been that Kushida was venting her emotions when someone discovered her, and then her Inner Personality was exposed.

The graffiti on the blackboard and desks was also directed at Kushida. As for why the class fell apart, it must have been because Kushida took countermeasures. As for what those measures were, Shuichi Kanda didn't want to speculate.

"You don't need to look at me like that. I'm not going to tell you. If you want to know, you might as well just ask Kikyo."

Looking at Shuichi Kanda's expression, Horikita suddenly said, "Did you already know that Kushida wasn't what he seemed to be all along?"

"Yes, what's wrong?"

"Then why..."

What's wrong with me?

Shuichi Kanda's words left Horikita speechless. Yes, it wasn't a big deal.

"No, nothing much." Horikita shook her head. "So now you understand why Kushida dislikes me."

"Hmm, so you think Kikyo is against you because she hates you, and even proactively provided information to Ryuen when Ryuen threatened to destroy you?"

Horikita nodded; this was exactly what she had in mind.

"However, this is just speculation; I can't be certain that it was really her who betrayed Class D."

That's not how you said it just now.

Moreover, after hearing these words, Shuichi Kanda completely lost his initial desire to watch the spectacle.

Kikyo, you were right about me. Horikita really did reveal your secret, and to Ayanokoji, a complete outsider.

"But if you tell her secret to complete strangers, won't that make her hate you even more?" As he spoke, Shuichi Kanda glanced at Ayanokoji beside him.

Shuichi Kanda not satisfied with Horikita's approach to this matter.

I know you want to use Ayanokoji's power, but that's not a reason for you to tell Kikyo Ayanokoji's secret.

Well, Shuichi Kanda has no right to blame Horikita, since Horikita was just talking about something that happened in his middle school days, and most people probably wouldn't have guessed that it was Kushida.

But Ayanokoji is different; he's no ordinary person.

After a long silence, Horikita sighed.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think it through." Then she looked at Ayanokoji, "Ayanokoji, please swear you won't tell anyone about what happened today."

"In the end, this is just your guess, Horikita. Even if I told you, no one would believe me, right?"

"Yes, I mean, I won't tell anyone, I swear."

In reality, although Shuichi Kanda was dissatisfied with Horikita's actions, he also felt that it would be better if Kushida could let go of his pretense, at least he wouldn't have to put on a smiling face for others every day under pressure.

She doesn't want others to know Kushida's secret, but she also wants Kushida to have less pressure every day. It's a real dilemma.

Shuichi Kanda glanced at Ayanokoji, then fell silent again. It just so happened to be Ayanokoji.

This guy is smart; he must already know—the weapon Kushida used to destroy the class, something only Kushida could control.

Lies don't hurt, but the truth is a sharp knife.

All sorts of lies are hidden in human interactions; people may hate someone to death but still have to put on a smiling face.

Kushida isn't the only one like this. You'll find that most people are two-faced after entering the workforce, especially subordinates when dealing with their superiors.

When the leader is facing you, everything they say is right; behind your back, they're all idiots.

However, Kushida took lying to the extreme, making himself the most trusted person, and then learned the truth about others.

The reason she caused the class to collapse was simple: she exposed all the truths the students were trying to hide.

Then, this explosive revelation caused the entire class's relationships to collapse instantly. Everyone was devastated, and as a result, they all fled from this terrifying reality and stayed away from school.

The consequence was that everyone in the class was absent, and all the students were out of sorts.

That's true. After all, they are only fifteen or sixteen-year-old boys and girls, so it's understandable that they can't withstand psychological pressure.

Chapter 198 War Conference

After Horikita finished speaking, Ayanokoji fell into thought, because he now understood exactly how Kushida had defeated that entire class.

If Kushida really is the person in the rumors, then Kushida must have used the students' secrets to bring the entire class to its knees.

If Horikita's measures against Kushida are not handled properly, it could lead to trouble and a repeat of the past.

The only difference is that this time it might be Class D that collapses.

Just in case, Ayanokoji decided to ask first.

"Horikita, if Kushida really is a traitor, what do you plan to do?"

"What should I do? I guess I have no choice but to insist on telling Kushida that 'I don't know the details' and 'I will absolutely not tell anyone about this,' and try to get her to accept it. There's no other way."

Horikita's words relieved Ayanokoji. If Horikita had insisted on revealing Kushida's past, he would have stopped her.

Because if that were to happen, Kushida would certainly not sit idly by, and Class D might collapse just like the class in the rumors Horikita had heard.

By then, Class D will have no hope of advancing to Class A, and the enraged Chabashira-sensei will probably expel them.

Ayanokoji will not allow Horikita to expose Kushida's affairs until he can guarantee his own safety.

Therefore, Horikita's answer reassured Ayanokoji.

"But it's too early to say that now, because no one can be sure that Kushida is definitely a traitor."

That's true, because Kushida really wasn't a traitor.

However, if Shuichi Kanda hadn't stopped Kushida back then, Horikita's guess would probably have been completely correct.

"Let's go to Palette and meet up with them first. It's not good to keep them waiting too long," Shuichi Kanda suggested after checking his phone.

"Alright."

On the other side, Kushida took off the earphones hidden under his hair and revealed a gloomy expression where Karuizawa Hirata could not see.

Back when Horikita mentioned that Kushida was a traitor, Shuichi Kanda secretly dialed Kushida's number, meaning that Kushida overheard the entire discussion between the three of them.

A few minutes later, the seven students from Class D gathered in Palette's box.

"Ugh--really, what were you doing just now? You were so slow. Didn't you even apologize--?"

His comment was very much in line with Karuizawa's style, and then he was completely ignored.

"I'll start right away. After all, Hirata has club activities too, right?"

"Then let's start by talking about the next quiz."

Horikita immediately responded to the Hirata topic.

"There's nothing much to say about this, right? Nobody thinks this quiz was meaningless, is there?" Shuichi Kanda's words put several people in the room into an awkward situation.

At least Karuizawa and Sudo are like that.

"Chabashira-sensei reminded us so clearly."

Shuichi Kanda.