"Pair of aces."
"Can't beat that."
"..."
"Kamuro, it's your turn."
"Hm? Oh, right... I can't beat it either..."
This is so boring. What on earth did Sakayanagi mean by that? They were coming to find me? No, that couldn't be right. She hadn't even said who.
The Class A students were killing time with playing cards they'd gotten in exchange for Class C points.
Class A had no shortage of entertainment or food now. They'd gotten it all with Class C points.
Katsuragi had Class C take care of everything they needed for 800,000 points a month.
Kamuro was still trying to figure out what Sakayanagi had meant. Poor girl—she still hadn't realized they weren't looking for her, but for Class A.
"Who's there!? This is Class A territory! Leave at once!"
The commotion outside the cave instantly brought Kamuro to attention.
"Kamuro, want to play three of a kind?"
"Two jokers, then a plane with wings. I'm out."
Kamuro played like a whirlwind. First came the jokers, then a plane with wings, and she went out in one turn.
The two people playing with her stared at each other, wishing they could eat the cards in their hands.
Kamuro set down her cards and left at once. Watching Katsuragi head outside, she couldn't wait any longer.
"Where are you going?"
Hashimoto Masayoshi, one of the Sakayanagi Faction's core members, grabbed Kamuro and asked.
Kamuro shot back irritably, "What, you gonna police me when I go to the bathroom, too?"
She shook off Hashimoto's hand and hurried away.
Watching Kamuro rush off, Hashimoto was baffled. "Did she wake up on the wrong side of the bed? No, she looks like she's in a hurry. But... she didn't bring any toilet paper."
Kamuro was hiding behind the plastic sheet covering the cave's entrance, sneaking a look outside to see what was happening.
As soon as she peered out, a hand reached toward her, making her jump. But another, much larger hand grabbed it.
"You should understand what will happen if you lift that. I believe I already explained it.
"Although the school has no rule against students from other classes entering a class's occupied base, it's an unspoken rule among all the classes.
"If you insist on lifting it, I won't stop you. But you should be prepared for Class A to set up camp at your Class D base."
That was... Horikita Suzune, wasn't it? Or was that not her name? And who was that poker-faced guy behind her? What was his name? Probably just a lackey. Were those the two Sakayanagi had told me to watch?
Horikita frowned and withdrew her hand, displeased.
"Fine, I'll give up. Let's see how many points Class A's turtle-up plan earns you."
"Hah. You Class D students really do love to talk big."
Horikita turned and left.
"Let's go, Ayanokoji."
After Horikita and Ayanokoji had gone, Katsuragi gave Yahiko a stern lecture.
Kamuro left her hiding place behind the plastic sheet and took the chance to return to the depths of the cave.
Were those really the two Sakayanagi wanted me to watch? It didn't feel like they'd done anything. They just left without doing a thing. Why bother thinking so hard about it? I'd leave the brainwork to Sakayanagi. I'd report to her after the exam.
"Come on, let's keep going. Kobayashi, Yamada."
Kamuro felt her job was done and was completely at ease. She told the two friends to keep playing cards with her.
"What are you doing? You from Class D again? Still won't give up? Katsuragi already told you that you can't get in."
?????
"Kamuro, you spaced out again. It's your turn."
"Jokers, twos, a straight. I'm out."
Kamuro hurried after Katsuragi, leaving the other two staring at each other again.
"She cheated, didn't she?"
"She did."
"..."
"Yahiko! Put your hands down!"
As soon as Katsuragi stepped outside, he saw Yahiko about to attack a boy and immediately shouted at him sternly.
Kamuro, meanwhile, was skulking behind the plastic sheet, peeking out. When she saw that figure, she knew she'd never forget him, even if he turned to ash. Qiuyue.
That damn guy! Go on, Yahiko! I'm rooting for you! Hit him!
Qiuyue suddenly apologized, then hugged Yahiko.
??????? Wait, what...? Is he... gay??? Gross.
From this angle, Kamuro could see Qiuyue's hands roaming all over Yahiko. She became even more certain that Qiuyue was "gay."
It wasn't until she saw Qiuyue slip a hand into Yahiko's pocket that she realized something was wrong. From where she was, she could see it, but Katsuragi couldn't!
Qiuyue Qi... No wonder Sakayanagi wanted to recruit him. That sneak-thief technique of his was the work of a pro. What was he looking for?
Kamuro was too slow on the uptake to realize why Sakayanagi wanted to recruit Qiuyue. She naively thought it was because of his pickpocketing skills, and she still had no idea what he was looking for.
If Qiuyue knew what was happening and what Kamuro was thinking, he'd definitely have complained, "Girl, if your brain's no good, why bother using it?"
"Sigh... Yahiko, go inside first. I'll handle things here."
Katsuragi suddenly said this, leaving Kamuro at a loss. She hurried back inside. The two factions were at each other's throats now.
Kamuro returned to her spot and saw Yahiko come in behind her. She let out a deep breath, finally relaxing a little.
"Kamuro..."
"Hmm? What's up, Kobayashi?"
"You... cheated, didn't you?"
"No way! Do I look like the type to cheat? I don't even know how."
Kamuro lied. She really hadn't known how to cheat before. But after Sakayanagi had used that trick to crush her, she'd shamelessly begged Sakayanagi to teach her. It was the same trick she was using now.
"I don't believe you."
And rightly so. Kamuro had arranged her cards way too perfectly. No one would believe her.
Just as Kamuro was about to head outside again, Katsuragi came back in. She couldn't keep up with what was going on and thought it was all over.
But Katsuragi came in and took Hashimoto away. After waiting a while, Kamuro followed them.
Just as she was about to reach the plastic sheet, Hashimoto lifted it and came inside.
Huh???
Hashimoto looked at Kamuro, frozen in place, and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Coming back to her senses, Kamuro snapped, "None of your business. If you've got nothing to do, hurry up and get inside."
"??????"
Hashimoto grew even more confused as Kamuro ushered him along. He made a bewildered face, then thought it over and concluded:
"...I get it. She didn't wake up on the wrong side of the bed. She's on her period. Girls are all moody during that time. Yeah, that explains it. I'll tell her to drink more hot water later."
By now, Kamuro had returned to that familiar spot behind the plastic sheet.
She looked outside and saw Qiuyue talking to someone. Katsuragi was holding something, and Class B's homeroom teacher, Hoshinomiya-sensei, stood not far away.
Kamuro's mind went blank. She really wasn't smart enough to figure it out. All she knew was that she should remember what she saw and report it to Sakayanagi.
Qiuyue handed a card to Katsuragi. After looking it over, Katsuragi picked up a pen and prepared to write on a piece of paper.
Even Kamuro could understand one thing, dim as she was: Qiuyue had betrayed his class, because there was no doubt that the card was a Key Card.
Kamuro saw Qiuyue move closer while Katsuragi was signing. One of his hands reached around Katsuragi's other side, making it look from Kamuro's angle as if he were embracing her.
This pervert really is gay, isn't he? Gross. I'm getting goose bumps. No, I need to stay away from him from now on.
After Katsuragi finished signing, Qiuyue and Hoshinomiya-sensei left together.
Kamuro hurried back into the cave and sat down in her usual spot for playing cards.
As soon as she sat down, someone placed a cup of hot water beside her. She looked up and saw Hashimoto smiling as if to say, "No need to thank me."
??????
Before you continue