An Unexpected Alliance

Kazama In's quip about light novels and meat cleavers was like a drop of water falling into boiling oil. The already delicate atmosphere erupted in an instant, only to fall into an even more absurd silence.

Sakayanagi Arisu: "..."

Ichinose Honami: "..."

Kamuro Sumire: "..." (Thought: Lord Kazama... are you perhaps focusing on the wrong thing?!)

"Pfft—" Sakayanagi Arisu was the first to crack, letting out a short laugh like the shattering of silver bells. She stopped enjoying the head-patting and lightly tapped the ground with her cane. Her azure eyes once more brimmed with the playful amusement of someone in control of everything. Her gaze shifted between Kazama In and Ichinose. "In-kun, you're still so... insensitive to romance. But," she continued, her sweet voice carrying an undeniable note of authority, "Ichinose seems to have some 'girl talk' she needs to have with me in private. In-kun, could you... sit this one out for a while? Kamuro, help me over to that parasol so I can sit down."

Kamuro Sumire looked as if she'd been granted a reprieve. She immediately stepped forward and carefully helped Sakayanagi up, while giving Kazama In a complicated look that said, "You're on your own."

Seeing the intangible tension between the two girls, which seemed ready to spark at any moment, and remembering his "brilliant quip" from earlier, Kazama In wisely chose to stay silent. He gave Ichinose a long look (she was biting her lip, gazing at him with stubborn hurt in her eyes), then glanced at Sakayanagi, whose smile was sweet but whose eyes were cold. In the end, he merely let out an almost imperceptible sigh and nodded. "...Don't take too long." Then he turned and walked toward the drinks counter in the distance, his pace seemingly steady but carrying a hint of escape, leaving the two girls at the poolside's invisible battlefield.

Sunlight filtered through the tall palm fronds, casting dappled shadows beside the pool. Two girls with vastly different demeanors stood facing each other, and the air seemed to freeze.

Ichinose Honami took a deep breath, trying to steady the ache in her heart and the humiliation she felt at the idea of "sharing a slot." She straightened her back. Her azure eyes, usually brimming with sunshine, now roiled like the sea before a storm as she met Sakayanagi's gaze. "Sakayanagi, I don't know whether you were joking or serious just now. But Kazama-kun... he isn't an object, much less a 'slot' to be 'shared.'"

Sakayanagi sat in a white wicker chair beneath the parasol, her cane resting elegantly to one side. At Ichinose's words, she merely tilted her head slightly, her smile unchanged, though her voice carried a hint of condescending pity. "Oh? You seem angry, Ichinose. Is it because I exposed your little feelings? Or because you think... I stole your 'thing'?" She deliberately emphasized the word "thing."

"Kazama-kun isn't a 'thing'!" Ichinose's voice rose despite herself, brimming with a rare intensity. "He's a person! He has his own feelings and choices! My feelings for Kazama-kun... are serious! They're based on understanding and respect, not possessiveness!" Her words rang out with the pure, resolute conviction of a girl.

"Understanding? Respect?" Sakayanagi seemed to have heard a joke. She covered her mouth and laughed, her laugh clear but cold. "Ichinose, which Kazama In do you understand? The quiet Kazama In from Class D, who sometimes smiles at you? Or..." She leaned forward slightly. Her azure eyes were like a frozen lake, reflecting a sharp glint. "The 'Arbiter' Kazama In, who grew up amid blades and deceit, whose hands may be stained with a darkness you can't imagine, and whose smile is just another mask?!"

The enormous amount of information and the icy tone in Sakayanagi's words made Ichinose take half a step back. Her face paled slightly. "Y-you said what?"

"Looks like In-kun hasn't told you anything." Sakayanagi's smile held the cruel satisfaction of a victor. "How pitiful. You haven't even glimpsed his true face, yet you dare boast about 'understanding' and 'respecting' him?"

Sakayanagi Arisu leaned back in her chair. Her gaze seemed to pass through the pool before her, lost in a distant memory, and her voice grew ethereal.

"In-kun and I... met at a banquet filled with the smell of blood and false smiles. We were both very young then, maybe... six or seven? He was the Kazama Family's sole heir, and I was the sickly young lady of the Sakayanagi Family. From the moment we were born, our worlds were bound by chains called 'family.'"

Her fingertips unconsciously traced the smooth ivory surface of her cane, as if drawing strength from it.

"The Kazama Family... is far larger and darker than you can imagine. Their world has no sunny beaches, only cold blades, deadly poisons, and betrayal lurking everywhere. From the moment In-kun could walk, he was forced to undergo the harshest training—combat, infiltration, interrogation, disguise... He learned how to end a life in the shortest time and by the most effective means. His childhood wasn't filled with toys and candy, but punching bags, shooting ranges, and endless physical endurance trials." (This was only half true. The earlier chapters would make the reason clear, too. It had already been emphasized that his emotional wound stemmed from his mother's death. These childhood experiences were real, but he had forced himself through them; neither the family nor his father had forced him to.)

Sakayanagi's voice trembled almost imperceptibly.

"I remember one time... he was badly injured during training. His back was flayed open by a wooden sword, but he didn't even groan. The cold Kazama family head—" (This would also be taken to mean his father, but she was actually referring to Kazama In.) "—only glanced at him and said, 'If you can't even endure an injury like this, you're not fit to be the Kazama Family's heir.' Then he had someone drag him away without even giving him medicine. I was the one who secretly sent our family doctor to treat his injuries." Her expression dimmed. "Then my uncle found out..."

She raised her eyes to Ichinose, her gaze complicated.

"In that frigid world, the only ones who could understand each other, even a little, were us two 'monsters.' I was a 'porcelain doll' held back by my frail health, and he was a 'killing machine'—honed by his family (himself). We'd hide in the Kazama Family's enormous, empty back garden and share a piece of candy we'd secretly stashed beneath the cherry blossoms. He'd awkwardly tell me about the little birds he'd seen outside the training grounds, and I'd read him fairy tales he never had time to read... Those were the only warm moments we could steal. Back then, he... still smiled at me sometimes, just a little, but for real."

A bitter curve formed at the corner of Sakayanagi's mouth.

"But later... everything changed. The infighting within the Kazama Family grew more severe, and assassinations targeting the heir became commonplace. In-kun watched with his own eyes as the bodyguard he trusted most had a poisoned needle pierce his throat and fell dead in front of him, protecting him... From that day on, the light in his eyes disappeared completely. He began shutting himself away, wrapping himself in layer upon layer of cold, hard armor. His smile vanished, his emotions were stripped away, and he became the perfect 'Arbiter' tool the family needed. The family also forcibly cut off our contact for a very long time, citing 'safety.' Not until... we both came to this school."

Sakayanagi's gaze refocused on Ichinose's face. It held scrutiny and a trace of envy she barely let show.

"So, Ichinose, you say you understand him? You understand the Kazama In who smiles at you in the sunshine, makes you breakfast, and protects you on rainy nights. But that's only the part of him that's 'human,' something that surfaces once in a very long while, after being suppressed for too long. His true core has long been frozen in an abyss by his family and the darkness of his past. The sunshine you see is no more than an illusion refracted through a layer of ice."

Sakayanagi's story slowly unfolded before Ichinose Honami like a heavy scroll. The descriptions of darkness, bloodshed, betrayal, and loss sent chills through her and made her heart ache. She couldn't imagine that Kazama In had spent his childhood in such an environment. But... it didn't shake her feelings.

Ichinose Honami listened quietly. The shock and pity in her eyes gradually gave way to a brighter, more resolute light. She didn't back down. Instead, she stepped forward and met Sakayanagi's complicated gaze, her voice clear and strong.

"Sakayanagi, thank you for telling me all this. It makes me... feel even more sorry for Kazama-kun." Her voice caught slightly, but her eyes were unwavering. "Yes, I may not know every part of his dark past. But what I've seen is no illusion!"

Her thoughts drifted back to the evening that had changed her life.

"The first time I met Kazama-kun... wasn't at some banquet. It was in a filthy, messy dead-end alley near my house, piled with garbage bins. He was curled up in a corner, covered in grime, his clothes torn in several places, with scrapes and bruises on his exposed arms. His eyes... were empty and wary, like a wounded little wolf licking its own wounds in solitude."

Ichinose's voice softened, warmed by the memory.

"My mother has a kind heart, so she brought him home. He ate an entire pot of the curry my mother cooked, but kept his head down and only murmured, 'Thank you for the meal.' He was quiet and wary back then, but I could feel that deep down... he was kind."

Her gaze grew distant.

"Later, my family ran into serious trouble. My father fell gravely ill and lost his job. Even with my mother working several jobs, we could barely make ends meet. My little sister and I often went hungry, and we couldn't even pay our school fees... It felt like the sky was about to fall. Just when we were at our most desperate, Kazama-kun 'happened' to show up again. He would always 'find' discount coupons, have some extra discounted ingredients, and even when my little sister had a fever and we couldn't afford medicine, he 'just happened' to 'find' the right medicine and a small bag of fruit 'by the door'..."

Tears welled in Ichinose's eyes, but a warm smile touched her lips.

"I knew it wasn't a coincidence! It was him! In his own way, he was quietly protecting the family that had once given him the warmth of a meal! He never said anything, but I knew! He didn't want us to feel indebted to him!"

Her voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable force.

"And that time... I almost did something I shouldn't have—stealing—to buy my sister a hair clip. It was him! He saw my struggle and pain, and stopped me. He scolded me so harshly: 'Honami, can you get what you want this way?' It was him! He used the little money he had to buy the hair clip, put it in my hand, and said, 'It's for your sister. Don't disappoint her.' He taught me that no matter how difficult things get, I should hold my head high and respect myself!"

Ichinose's tears finally spilled over, but her eyes shone with astonishing brightness, as if they were burning with fire.

"Sakayanagi, you say his heart is frozen in an abyss? But that's not what I see at all! I see him, hungry and shivering in an alley but still alert; him, silently protecting our family without asking for anything in return; him, pulling me back without hesitation when I almost went astray; him, shielding me as we ran through the rain; him, erupting in terrifying anger when he saw Sakura being bullied... All of that is real! That is Kazama In, alive and breathing! No matter how heavy a past he bears, deep down he still has warmth and a sense of justice!"

She forcefully wiped away her tears, her voice ringing with conviction.

"Maybe he's used to hiding behind a cold expression. Maybe he's afraid to express his feelings too easily. But that doesn't mean he has no feelings! And it certainly doesn't mean he should be treated like a cold tool or a 'slot' that can be handed around as you please! What he needs is understanding, companionship, someone who can truly enter his heart and melt the places frozen over—not for you to provoke him with 'engagement' and 'sharing' and treat him like a toy to satisfy your desire for control!"

Ichinose's words exploded in Sakayanagi's heart like thunder! For the first time, the smile vanished completely from her face. She looked at the girl before her, tears streaming down her face but her gaze stubborn as the stars. She watched her defend Kazama In's dignity and worth without backing down, and bare the warm, real memories of his past that she had never been part of... A complex emotion unlike any she'd felt before swept over her.

It wasn't anger or jealousy, but... a deep, shattering shock, and a trace of... almost imperceptible shame?

The commotion by the pool seemed to fade away, leaving only the two girls' silent confrontation and the surging emotions in their hearts. Kamuro Sumire stood a few steps away, eyes lowered and mind blank. She was already numb inside. "That's a lot to take in... The young lady's dark childhood memories... Lord Kazama's tragic training history... The angel of Class B's heartwarming tale of salvation... This is more thrilling than a prime-time soap opera..."

After a long while, Sakayanagi Arisu finally spoke. Her voice was no longer sweet or cold, but carried a calmness unlike anything before, almost as if she were exhausted.

"A toy? Heh... Ichinose Honami, you really are... so naive it's stupid, and yet so stupid it's impossible to hate you." She gave a self-deprecating smile. "You're right. What I said just now... was deliberate. It was nasty, I know."

She lifted her head. For the first time, her azure eyes shed all their pretense and schemes, revealing a bewilderment that was almost fragile.

"The engagement was a joke made by our elders. I never took it seriously. Sharing? That was an even more absurd test. I just... couldn't stand it."

"I couldn't stand that he'd shut himself away and shut even me—the only 'one of his kind' who knew his past—out."

"I couldn't stand that after coming to this school, he seemed to have found something in you... something I couldn't give him—that pure warmth, untouched by any shadow."

"And I can't stand... watching him live like a person when he could, yet insist on locking himself in the cage called the 'Arbiter.' Using those damn, clumsy methods he learned from books to 'socialize' and 'raise affection'!" Her voice held a note of furious exasperation. "He should have been an eagle soaring through the heavens, but he broke his own wings and willingly wallows in the mud!"

Sakayanagi's gaze sharpened as she looked at Ichinose again.

"Provoke him? That's right, I wanted to provoke him! I wanted to tear away that cold mask in the most extreme way and force him to face his true feelings! Whether it's anger, disgust, or... something else! Anything's better than the walking corpse he is now!" Her voice carried an almost fanatical fervor. "I know better than anyone that the fire deep inside him hasn't gone out! He's just forcing it down himself! He needs a spark! A violent shock! Not a slow boil!"

Ichinose was stunned by Sakayanagi's impassioned confession. She saw the deep concern for Kazama In in her eyes, along with a desire to save him that bordered on desperation. It was nothing like the image Sakayanagi had presented before.

"But... a violent shock could cause even more harm!" Ichinose countered, though her tone had softened. "Just now... your words hurt me, but they hurt him too! When I saw him leave... his eyes looked so conflicted! He was hurting!"

"Hurt?" Sakayanagi gave a derisive laugh, then slumped back into her chair. "Perhaps... But I have no other choice. Watching him 'act normal' day after day, sinking deeper into the false 'peace' he's created for himself—that's what I can't bear most of all!" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, only a desperate, all-or-nothing resolve remained. "Ichinose Honami, tell me: aside from drastic measures, what else can shatter that layer of ice armor thicker than Albert's muscles?"

Ichinose fell silent. She thought of the serious way Kazama In watched Love Song of Green Seasons, the clumsy yet endearing things he did to "raise affection," and how he instinctively retreated from genuine emotions and helplessly tried to analyze them with reason... Sakayanagi's words, though extreme, weren't entirely unreasonable. Kazama In really did wrap himself up too tightly.

A daring idea quietly took shape in Ichinose's heart. She looked at Sakayanagi Arisu, who had shed every pretense and now seemed to feel only deep concern for Kazama In. After hesitating for a moment, she asked softly, "Sakayanagi... do you... truly want Kazama-kun to find his real self again? Even if... that might mean he ultimately chooses someone other than you?"

Sakayanagi Arisu suddenly looked at Ichinose, her gaze sharp as a blade, as if she meant to pierce right through her. But in the end, the sharp light gradually dimmed, turning into a barely audible sigh laced with the bitter acceptance of someone who had given up.

"Heh... Choice? I've never been in a position to choose. The Kazama Family, the Sakayanagi Family... We've never been able to decide our own fates. I just... don't want to watch him become a soulless puppet completely." She paused, her voice dropping, almost pleading. "At least... while he's still 'free,' let him live like a 'person' just once... Even if it's only once."

That profound hope, transcending possessiveness, was like a key that instantly unlocked every defense in Ichinose's heart. She understood that this girl before her, who seemed so proud and controlling, felt something for Kazama In far more complicated and profound than she'd imagined.

Ichinose Honami took a deep breath, her gaze becoming utterly resolute. She walked over to Sakayanagi and held out her hand.

"Sakayanagi... no, Arisu. I understand now. Maybe... we can work together."

"Work together?" Sakayanagi raised an eyebrow, surprised as she looked at Ichinose's outstretched hand.

"Yeah!" Ichinose nodded firmly. "We both want what's best for Kazama-kun, don't we? You know his past, where his scars are, and how to shock him with drastic measures. And I... might be able to offer some of what he needs that you can't... sunshine and warmth?" She smiled, tears still on her cheeks, but with a sincerity that shone through. "Like... ice and fire? We're completely different, but maybe... together we can melt that iceberg?"

Sakayanagi Arisu looked at Ichinose's outstretched hand, then at the trust and resolve in her eyes, without a hint of reservation. The coldness and obsession in her own azure eyes gradually faded, replaced by the admiration of a worthy rival and... a faint glimmer of hope.

"Ice and fire... melting an iceberg together?" she repeated softly. At last, a genuine, untainted smile curved her lips. She raised her hand, but didn't take Ichinose's. Instead, she brought out her custom-made phone, encrusted with diamonds.

"Contact information. Kamuro, add Ichinose's number." She gave the order.

Kamuro Sumire immediately stepped forward and respectfully took Sakayanagi's phone, then turned to Ichinose. Ichinose quickly gave her number.

Sakayanagi took back her phone and tapped the screen. A moment later, Ichinose's phone chimed with a notification.

"From this moment on, our temporary alliance, 'Operation Save Kazama In,' is official." Sakayanagi's voice had regained its usual elegance and hint of control, but her eyes were much gentler. "Ichinose Honami, I hope you won't disappoint me. Remember, our goal is to make him 'come alive' again. As for who he chooses in the end..." She paused meaningfully. "May the best woman win. But at the very least, he should have the right and the ability to choose."

Ichinose looked at the new contact on her phone, "Sakayanagi Arisu," then at the girl before her, who had put her elegant mask back on but now had a different look in her eyes. She nodded firmly. "Yeah! It's a deal!"

The pool water rippled, and the sun continued to shine brightly. A confrontation full of jealousy and hostility had ended, unexpectedly, in an alliance. For the sake of the same "Arbiter," trapped in a deep freeze, the two girls—one from an abyss of darkness, the other from a sunlit world—had set aside their differences for the time being and formed an unlikely partnership. Kazama In's future seemed destined for a dramatic transformation, born from the clash of ice and fire. Meanwhile, by the drinks counter in the distance, one of the people at the center of it all was busy studying a juice ingredient list, completely unaware.