Ichinose

Qiuyue: (Isn't that Ichinose? Ayanokoji's with her, too. Looks like Class B and Class D have reached an agreement after all.)

(So, is today also the day Shiranami confesses to Ichinose? Should I get involved? If I keep Ichinose from owing Ayanokoji a favor, she probably won't get involved in tricking Class C into dropping the complaint. I can step in.)

"Good morning, Ayanokoji."

"Good morning, Qiuyue."

Qiuyue walked over to greet them and looked at Ichinose.

"Um..."

"Ah, hello. I'm Ichinose Honami. Nice to meet you."

"Hello, Ichinose. I'm Qiuyue Qi. I'm in the same class as Ayanokoji. Nice to meet you."

As Ichinose spoke with Qiuyue, some of the students passing by greeted her, too. Ichinose returned their greetings with a "Good morning."

That made things a little awkward for Qiuyue, who was standing right in front of her, so Ichinose looked at him apologetically each time she greeted someone.

Qiuyue: (Those students greeting her must be from Class B.)

"You're really popular, Ichinose."

"Not at all. It's just that everyone trusts me, and I can't let them down."

Ichinose clenched her fist and said this as if to encourage herself.

Qiuyue: (...First, I need to find out whether Class B and Class D have actually agreed to work together. Honestly, cooperating won't help Class B at all.)

(But I still need to get the nuisance out of here. How can I get Ayanokoji to leave? Ah... I've got it.)

Qiuyue took out his phone and sent Ayanokoji a message, then gave it a little wave in front of him to signal that he should check it.

After noticing Qiuyue's gesture, Ayanokoji checked his phone.

[I told Ike earlier that we should compete to see who can get a girlfriend first, didn't I? I think I've fallen in love at first sight. She's my target. Ayanokoji, I'm begging you—could you come up with an excuse to leave for a bit? Please?]

[All right.]

Ayanokoji looked up at Qiuyue. Qiuyue smiled awkwardly, and Ayanokoji sighed.

"Ichinose, I have something to take care of, so I'll be going."

"Huh? Oh, okay. If you have something to do, go ahead. Bye, Ayanokoji."

Ayanokoji quickened his pace as he walked away.

After Ayanokoji left, Qiuyue tried to start a conversation with Ichinose.

"Ichinose, this might be a little rude, but I'm curious about what you and Ayanokoji were talking about just now."

"Huh... Well... It was about working with your class. I was asking Ayanokoji to pass the message on to Horikita."

"Why our class? We're Class D. I'm sure you have better options."

"Look, we're Class B. We can't exactly work with Class A if we want to surpass them. As for Class C... Ahaha, they seem a little hard to get along with.

"And they want to surpass our class, too. The points for Classes A, B, and C are really close right now. Probably the next exam that gives out a lot of Class Points will be enough for us to overtake one another."

Qiuyue: (Huh... So they really are cooperating. Ichinose... Your kindness will be taken advantage of. Just like in the original story, Class B helped Class D, and once D climbed back up, Horikita ended the partnership on her own. Ayanokoji didn't say a thing.)

(Even though I liked this character so much in my previous life, now that she's standing right in front of me and talking to me, I feel completely unmoved.)

(The best outcome would be for me to help resolve Ichinose's confession situation, so Ayanokoji can't make her owe him a favor. But... knowing Ichinose, she'd probably help even if she didn't owe him anything.)

"...I see. Let's walk together. Class is about to start."

"Sure."

Qiuyue and Ichinose walked side by side toward the school building.

Qiuyue: (How can I get Ichinose to tell me about her situation and ask me to help? I feel like there's no way I can manage that.)

"Ah!"

Ichinose suddenly let out a little cry. Qiuyue instinctively glanced over at her. Ichinose fidgeted with her fingers, looking a little bashful, but her expression was serious.

Qiuyue: (What's this? So cute. Wasn't I just completely unmoved? Why all of a sudden...?)

"Um..."

Qiuyue: (It's probably about the confession. We only just met, so she's embarrassed to bring it up.)

"It's okay, Ichinose. Just tell me. If I can help, I'd be happy to."

"...Um... Qiuyue, have you ever been confessed to by a girl?"

"No."

Qiuyue replied instantly. Ouch, that one hit home.

"Ah... I'm sorry, Qiuyue. I didn't mean it like that. I just..."

Qiuyue: (I know, I know... Actually, I'm kind of fond of watching girls cuddle up to each other...)

"Are you about to get a confession?"

"...Yeah. Um, even though we've only just met, if you don't mind, could you spend a little time with me after school? It's... about the confession."

"Sure. I'm free anyway."

"Huh?"

"I know what you want to ask. I don't know many people, just a few students in my class. I've already asked around, but I can't help Sudo."

Qiuyue: (If anything, I hardly know anyone at all.)

"...I see. I hope we can find a witness soon. I'll help you look, too."

"No, I don't think that'll accomplish anything."

Qiuyue: (I think it'll go just like in the original story. Even if they find witnesses and evidence, it won't help. Class C really was beaten up, and with that fact established, there's no way Sudo will be found innocent.)

"But Ayanokoji, Horikita, and the others went to check out the scene. If you think that's pointless, why don't you tell them?"

Qiuyue: (Am I supposed to tell you they went there to set up a fake camera and trick Class C?)

"I think they already know that. I have plenty of free time every day. I spend most of it in the library reading novels."

Qiuyue: (With Shiina...)

"...Could it be that you're actually really capable, Qiuyue?"

"That's just your imagination. I'm a Class D student, you know."

Qiuyue denied it immediately.

"But..."

"Ichinose, where should I meet you after school?"

Ichinose understood that Qiuyue didn't want to continue that topic, but she was still happy that he'd agreed to help.

"Thank you, Qiuyue. Let's meet at the back gate after school."

"Okay. I'll remember: the back gate."

The two of them arrived at school just then. They said goodbye and went to their respective classrooms.

Qiuyue: (Sigh... What should I do about Chihiro Shiranami? What approach will Ichinose take?)