The First Time

A few students in Class D who genuinely wanted to save their class, including Hirata, began making an effort to find witnesses and new evidence around campus.

"I can't believe such an interesting story happened while I was away for just one day."

After learning through his informants about what had happened between Classes C and D, Sakayanagi came to the Activity Room. This time, he had brought a complete tea set and a tin of tea leaves.

"The story about Class D isn't the most interesting part. Take a guess—how many clubs signed up after I made that announcement at yesterday's club fair?"

At the mention of it, I could barely keep the corners of my mouth from turning up. I truly hadn't expected the third-year students at this school to be so gullible and adorable. They'd even believe a ridiculous lie like that.

"Five?"

Sakayanagi searched his memory and gave a number lower than my estimate. As far as he was concerned, it was already impressive that so many clubs had fallen for it.

"Eight."

"Hm?"

The number I gave was higher than Sakayanagi had expected.

"So all those clubs with only three members signed up?"

Sakayanagi had thought that, by their third year, they would have grown at least a little during their time at this school. They should at least have been smart enough not to fall for such an outrageous scam.

"That's right. Oh, no—there are nine now. It looks like even the clubs with only four members are getting restless."

I looked at the updated file Ryuen had just sent me and laughed delightedly.

I hadn't taken the clubs seriously at first, but now it looked like a rare gold mine. It was a shame Sakayanagi had already fleeced some of them; otherwise, there would have been so much more potential.

In the glow of the setting sun, the Traditional Literature Club turned off the lights.

I sat by the window opposite the desk, leaning against the wall with one hand braced on the little table in front of me.

I stretched out my left index finger and stared blankly at it as it moved mechanically, using my imagination to sketch out memories that had never existed.

But the harder I tried to construct this false memory, the more elusive it became. Only when the image blurred and my thoughts broke off did the memory that formed on its own—and the sensation of my finger brushing against something—carry me far away.

Acting without thinking, I brought the finger I'd been watching to my nose and sniffed it. It smelled of plum juice, just as it had after she'd gotten it on her while snatching it back yesterday.

The gesture felt a little creepy, and I didn't have the nerve to turn around and check their reactions. Instead, I naturally slipped into character and started doodling on the window with my finger.

The window, already fogged with moisture, reflected Sakayanagi's eyes. Feeling a little awkward, I wiped the condensation from the glass and pushed the window open.

With the change in angle, the window became a mirror in which I could see Hiyori. She was tending to Sakayanagi, who sat beside her, completely unaware that I had already drifted off course.

The setting sun and Hiyori's beauty overlapped in the window, while the evening breeze gently smoothed the ripples in my heart.

Together, they made my heart tremble.

As time passed, the light shifted, transforming the same scene into countless different moods.

At last, the two reflected sunsets slipped into Hiyori's eyes at once. As they overlapped, they bloomed into a dazzling, bewitching beauty.

My thoughts drifted until the light dimmed. Only then did Sakayanagi reluctantly get up, walk to the door with his cane, and turn on the lights.

My awareness returned to my body. As I turned around, I saw Hiyori gazing at me with the same faraway look in her eyes.

So she, too, had drifted off course without my noticing. That unspoken understanding was the chain binding us together.

"Oh my~ So much time has passed while I was lost in thought. I should be going. I'm really looking forward to the story Masaryu-kun is preparing for me. I'll come back as an audience member next time."

Sakayanagi left, thoroughly satisfied.

"So, how much longer until we can eat? This Mountain Vegetable Set Meal is cold, and when did you get tangled up with Sakayanagi?"

In a corner I hadn't been paying attention to, Ryuen and the others were sitting around, bored and scrolling through their phones.

"Wasn't the meal supposed to be cold anyway? That pile of feed would go down easier raw than cooked!"

I chose to ignore the question about Sakayanagi, picked some meat that was about to expire from the fridge, and started cooking.

"So, have you all decided to join my club? Let me remind you again: if you join, you'll have to study seriously."

While taking a break after finishing the stir-fry, Hiyori started handing out the food. That gave me another chance to stress the importance of studying to the people who had followed Ryuen to the Activity Room, carrying their Mountain Vegetable Set Meals.

"We're ready!"

Their loud voices echoed through the Activity Room. Looking at these Class C students, who kept talking about being ready, I had no idea how things had turned out like this. Maybe Ryuen had filled their heads with some strange ideas.

"See? Now you can see what Sakayanagi's good for: free labor!"

After telling everyone to line up and get their own food, I carried my portion over to Ryuen, nudged him with my elbow, and grinned as I explained what I had in mind for Sakayanagi.

"I don't believe you can handle that little runt. Just don't end up being too clever for your own good."

Ryuen looked at me with disdain, then once again changed my opinion of him.

"Thanks for getting my food for me."

"Huh?"

Ryuen reached out with both hands and pinned my hands in place. Then he lowered his head and spat into my portion.

"Was that really necessary? There aren't even that many people! Getting your own food wouldn't have taken more than a few steps. Was there really any need for such a childish trick?"

I admit it grossed me out. It was a nasty trick, but it was also very effective!

"Fine, you can have it! Hiyori, get me another serving."

Leaving Ryuen standing there with my food in his hands, laughing uncontrollably, I had Hiyori serve me another portion.

"Jokes aside, Sakayanagi definitely can't be a teacher. At most, I can help them put together study plans. Whether they make any progress will still depend on them.

"There are still far too few students with strong academic skills in our class. Class D has us beat by a long way in that respect. The only person who could take on the role of teacher is Hiyori. Everyone else either isn't suited to it or lacks the ability.

"The real reason I brought Sakayanagi over to our side is that we're bound to have major Special Exams sometime in these three years, including ones that span multiple year groups. The bigger the waves, the more valuable the fish; the larger the exam, the more points there are to gain.

"We have to make sure we can get the greatest possible benefit from the cards in our hands when an opportunity comes along. One success could be worth more than half a term of effort.

"So we can't just make sure Class A becomes our ally at a crucial moment. We'll have to figure out a way to win over Classes B and D, too."

At dinner, Ryuen and I sat apart from the others and discussed our next moves.