The Greatest Masterpiece

The next day, after bringing Kamuro a prepared breakfast, Shuichi Kanda prepared to leave. He was going to meet someone at the Keyaki Mall —no, perhaps more than one.

Stepping outside, Shuichi Kanda looked at the sky, then went back inside to get an umbrella.

Although the weather was fairly nice, the forecast predicted rain today. Although he could buy one at the Shopping Mall, looking at the umbrella stand crammed full of umbrellas in the entryway, Shuichi Kanda decided to pass.

It's 9:00 AM, and we'll probably arrive at the Shopping Mall a little before 9:30. Adding the time for our conversation, we should be back before noon.

Yes, I definitely have to come back, otherwise Kamuro will go hungry.

With that in mind, Shuichi Kanda ran into Ibuki Mio, a student from Class D, in the elevator.

Ibuki wasn't wearing her school uniform at the moment, but rather a set of blue casual clothes. If it weren't for her fierce gaze, she could be considered a beauty.

"What are you looking at?"

He made this annoyed sound as he retreated towards the corner of the elevator, his face showing vigilance.

"It's nothing, and I wasn't even looking at you. How should I put it, I'm not interested in guys your size."

Ibuki is considered tall for a first-year student, standing at 159cm. If that doesn't make sense, here's another statistic: Horikita Suzune is only 156cm tall.

However, although Ibuki is not short, she is unfortunately flat-chested.

Shuichi Kanda's three girlfriends plus one lover far surpassed the scale of Ibuki's relationships.

"What did you say? You bastard! What's wrong with my body shape!?"

Upon hearing Shuichi Kanda's words, Ibuki reacted as if her hair had been bristled, openly displaying her displeasure! No, it was anger!

Shuichi Kanda ignored her, only glancing at her chest with a contemptuous smile before closing the elevator doors.

Seeing Shuichi Kanda's silent mockery, Ibuki was furious. However, there were security cameras in the elevator, and even if she had two more lives, she wouldn't dare to make a move there.

Moreover, as someone who practices martial arts, she would never do something like attacking someone from behind.

"By the way, this elevator probably won't stop, right?"

After the elevator started moving, Shuichi Kanda veiled remark to her.

She and Ayanokoji were once trapped in an elevator at the Keyaki Mall, and it was Shuichi Kanda who came to their Matoba.

Upon hearing this, Ibuki's face darkened, and he fell silent. He also abandoned his idea of going out to fight him one-on-one, after all, this guy had once saved his life.

But she threw me down last time, so we're even!

After the elevator reached the first floor, Ibuki quickly stepped out and then turned to look at Shuichi Kanda.

"Come out here! I want to fight you one-on-one!"

Hearing Ibuki's words, Shuichi Kanda disdainful smile and walked past Ibuki. What a joke! Without Black Belt, would I accept your provocation? Absolutely not!

I don't want to get beaten up by you for nothing; I'm not a masochist.

Passing by Ibuki's location, Shuichi Kanda headed towards Keyaki Mall.

Seeing that she was being ignored, Ibuki stomped her foot angrily and then walked towards the Keyaki Mall.

"Hey, I won't fight you. Even if you do, I won't fight back, so you don't need to follow me."

Seeing that Ibuki had followed, Shuichi Kanda tried to dissuade him.

"Who's following you? Do you own this Shopping Mall?"

"That's good." Shuichi Kanda continued walking slowly.

After walking for a while, Shuichi Kanda looked at Ibuki.

"I said, you should be able to walk much faster than me, right? What's the point of walking with me like this?"

"Mind your own business!"

Ibuki glared at Shuichi Kanda, then quickened her pace, but soon slowed down again.

Shuichi Kanda noticed her actions and couldn't help but find them somewhat amusing.

"I said, what are you doing?"

"Hmph, leaving now would make it seem like I'm afraid of you, wouldn't it?"

Damn it, this competitive spirit is so bizarre. What kind of logic is this? Are you out of your mind, girl?

So, Shuichi Kanda continued at his own pace, while Ibuki, as if determined to Shuichi Kanda, walked beside Shuichi Kanda at roughly the same speed.

If the two people weren't more than a meter apart, it might be mistaken for a date.

Ibuki seemed unwilling to speak to Shuichi Kanda, and Shuichi Kanda was also a quiet person, so neither of them spoke in the face of the strange atmosphere, and they just walked on like that.

"Hey— Ibuki, wait a minute—!"

The sound from behind broke the silence.

Shuichi Kanda glanced at Ibuki, who didn't seem to be stopping, and her expression didn't even change.

Shuichi Kanda could hear the guy behind him clearly, so Ibuki couldn't possibly have missed it. Therefore, there's only one truth: Ibuki simply didn't want to talk to that guy.

However...

"Hey, wait a minute! Hey!"

In just over ten seconds, the voice appeared very close behind the two of them.

"Shut up! Ishizaki! Stop yelling around here!"

"That's because you didn't react at all—wait, Kanda too?" Ishizaki, who came up behind them, was initially puzzled, then his expression changed to one of sudden realization. "You guys... could it be... on a date?"

However, before he could finish speaking, Ibuki kicked Ishizaki in the back of the knee.

"Ouch! What are you doing?!"

"You at least know why you got kicked, right? Shut your mouth! And you're so annoying, stay away from me."

"What does it matter? We'll run into each other later anyway."

While Ibuki and Ishizaki were interacting, Shuichi Kanda had already walked away.

He didn't want to get involved with the group from Class D. Although they were all very straightforward, he felt that if he spent too much time with them, they would become idiots.

As for their purpose, they probably want to meet with Ryuen later, otherwise it's hard to imagine that Ibuki would invite Ishizaki out.

That's even more unbelievable than Sakayanagi asking Yamauchi out on Yamauchi alone.

Chapter 278 The Greatest Masterpiece

At the entrance of the Keyaki Mall, Shuichi Kanda met the person he had come out to see— Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.

"I mean, can't we talk about this in the dorm? Why did you have to call me all the way to the Shopping Mall? It's tiring."

Upon meeting Shuichi Kanda didn't hold back in his criticism.

Shuichi Kanda was extremely annoyed that he was called out early this morning after a long afternoon of work yesterday, without even being told what it was about.

Although he could have simply refused, Shuichi Kanda decided to see what Ayanokoji was up to, and also to buy some fresh ingredients and fruit to take home.

"That's what I thought at first too, but Sakayanagi seems very resistant to talking in a room, especially your room."

Sakayanagi?

What happened to my room?

Even if you want to come, I might not necessarily want you to come!

Shuichi Kanda an eyelid slightly. "So it was her who wanted to see me. Where is she?"

"They're already in the store, let's go in too."

Ayanokoji extended an invitation to Shuichi Kanda, then led the way, stopping in front of a café on the second floor.

This is it.

"Do you need to tell me?"

Shuichi Kanda his eyes. He found that Ayanokoji seemed to be getting more and more silly, or rather, more and more human.

At that moment, Sakayanagi was sitting on a chair near the outer glass of the shop. Although she wasn't wearing a school uniform and her face wasn't shown, her combination of a white wig and a beret, along with a cane beside her, was Shuichi Kanda had never seen anyone else in the school dressed like this.

Since he could see Sakayanagi through the glass, Shuichi Kanda naturally knew what was going on.

However, Shuichi Kanda was quite satisfied with this result, because he disliked waiting for others, and at this moment, there were still five minutes until the meeting time, and all three of them had already arrived.

"You guys must have a lot of free time during spring break. Why can't you say what you want to say in your dorm instead of coming here?"

After entering the store, Shuichi Kanda unceremoniously sat down at the same table as Sakayanagi, and Ayanokoji followed suit, the three of them sitting around a round table in a three-way standoff.

Good morning, Kanda and Ayanokoji.

Good morning.

After casually replying, Shuichi Kanda picked up the menu that was placed to the side and then raised his hand to call the waiter.

"I'll have this, thank you." After pointing to one of the drinks for the waiter, she looked at Ayanokoji and asked, "What would you like to drink?"

"Um, coffee will do."

"Then I'd like another regular coffee, please."

After the waiter left, Sakayanagi picked up the coffee on the table and took a sip.

"Kanda- kun, you're really not being polite."

"You're too kind? I don't even know how to write that word. Besides, you're the ones who invited me out, so isn't it only natural that you buy me a drink?"

Shuichi Kanda tossed the menu aside, leaned back in his chair, and said nonchalantly.

"Now that Kanda- kun has accepted my invitation, may I ask what you need to say today?"

"Sure, but are you really planning to say it here? It wouldn't be good if someone saw the three of us sitting together." Shuichi Kanda looked around, then his gaze settled on an inner door. "How about we go to a private room?"

"Sure."

A few minutes later, the three of them were seated in the private room, and their drinks were served.

Shuichi Kanda picked up the milk tea, took a sip, and thought it was alright.

"So, what do you need me for?"

"Regarding the overthrow of Acting Chairman Tsukishiro..."

Upon hearing Ayanokoji's words, Shuichi Kanda immediately stood up from his seat.

"Farewell!"

"How heartless of you! Aren't you going to ask me why I said that?"

"No matter what, this has nothing to do with me." Shuichi Kanda picked up his coat, which he had placed on the back of the chair, and prepared to leave.

Defeat Tsukishiro?

That guy has no grudge against me, why should I defeat him?

Although there were some minor disagreements at the beginning, Shuichi Kanda did not intend to go against the Acting Chairman because of these minor disagreements.

Whether he can actually eliminate the other party is another matter; the matter itself is extremely troublesome, so Shuichi Kanda is unwilling to get involved in this mess—it's not worth it.

Besides, their target is you Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, what does that have to do with me, Shuichi Kanda?

"I've already treated you to milk tea, so how about you sit down and let us finish what we have to say?"

You think you can bribe me with just a cup of milk tea?

Dream!

Shuichi Kanda opened the door to the private room and prepared to leave.

"If Tsukishiro's actions harm Class C, don't you care?"

Shuichi Kanda stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.

"What do you mean?"

Ayanokoji didn't say anything more, but his meaning was already obvious.

When she saw Shuichi Kanda stop, Sakayanagi found it quite amusing. She had always thought that Shuichi Kanda was like her, the kind of person who didn't care about the class, but it seemed that wasn't the case at all.

Shuichi Kanda sat back down, picked up his milk tea, and drank it silently, waiting for Ayanokoji's explanation.

How much do you know about the White Room?

"Not much, I only heard some from Sakayanagi. I also overheard part of your conversation when your father came that day."