Chess Match

Outside the Old School Building, beneath a streetlight.

Chabashira lit a cigarette—it was the first time Ayanokoji had seen her smoke. She exhaled a cloud of smoke, her profile looking somewhat weary beneath the streetlight.

"Do you know who's behind Hashimoto?" she asked.

"Sakayanagi Arisu," Ayanokoji said.

"If you knew, why did you dare to make a move against him?"

"Because he crossed the line," Ayanokoji said calmly. "I can tolerate threats against family. Kidnapping is different."

Chabashira glanced at him. "Aren't you afraid Sakayanagi will retaliate?"

"I am," Ayanokoji admitted honestly. "But I'm more afraid that if we let this slide, everyone will think Class D is easy to bully."

Chabashira finished the cigarette in silence, then crushed the butt against the side of a nearby trash can.

"The rules for next week's 'VIP Exam' are out," she said, abruptly changing the subject. "This time, unlike previous years, it'll be a cross-grade team battle. First- and second-years will be randomly paired up to compete against other classes."

Ayanokoji frowned. "Randomly?"

"On the surface," Chabashira said. "But in reality, the Student Council and the class leaders have already assigned the teams. Class D's partner... is Class 2-C."

Class 2-C.

Its leader was Atsushi Ryuen, older brother of Kakeru Ryuen.

A man known throughout the school as the "Tyrant."

"This was Sakayanagi's doing," Chabashira said. "She wants you to partner with the most ruthless class in the second year, then be eliminated by your own 'teammates' during the competition."

Killing with a borrowed knife.

"Is there a way to change it?" Ayanokoji asked.

"No." Chabashira shook her head. "The list is final. Unless you can get Class 2-C to withdraw before the competition starts, or... get them to change their target."

She paused. "But I'm warning you, Atsushi Ryuen is ten times more dangerous than Kakeru Ryuen. He isn't a madman. He's a true hunter. Manipulating people and setting traps are what he does best."

"Understood," Ayanokoji said. "Thank you, ma'am."

Chabashira waved a hand and turned to leave. She took a few steps, then stopped and looked back at him. "By the way, what conditions did you promise Shiho Manabe to get her to help you so much?"

Ayanokoji thought for a moment. "I promised to help her transfer classes."

"Which class?"

"Class B," Ayanokoji said. "Ichinose agreed."

Chabashira froze for two seconds, then smiled and shook her head. "You really are... All right. But be careful. That girl isn't as simple as she seems."

She left.

Ayanokoji remained where he was, looking up at the night sky.

The stars were bright tonight, but clouds obscured the moon.

His phone vibrated. It was a message from Karuizawa: "Something's happening on the Class C side. Ryuen and his people went out. They're heading toward the Old School Building."

Ayanokoji replied: "Don't worry about it. It's already taken care of."

Karuizawa soon sent another message: "Kushida's making a call on the dorm balcony. I overheard one line—'Ryuen took the bait. We can start the next step.'"

The next step.

Ayanokoji narrowed his eyes.

Had Sakayanagi really ordered Hashimoto to kidnap Ichinose tonight?

Or... was this also part of someone's plan?

"Ayanokoji-kun."

Ichinose's voice came from behind him. She had straightened her clothes and hair, and aside from her eyes being a little red, she seemed fine.

"Thank you," she said softly as she came to stand beside him. "And... I'm sorry. I dragged you into something like this because of me."

"It's not your fault," Ayanokoji said. "I was the one who asked you to threaten Hashimoto."

"But if I hadn't..."

"He would have found another way to pressure you," Ayanokoji interrupted. "What happened to Hamaguchi's younger brother was only the beginning. Class A wants to break up the alliance between Class B and Class D, and you're the crucial link."

Ichinose was silent for a while, then asked, "That secret... the one Manabe had about me. Did you read it?"

"I did."

"Will you... tell anyone?"

Ayanokoji turned to look at her. "That's your past, not a crime. And you've already moved on."

Ichinose's eyes reddened again, but this time with emotion.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Really."

Footsteps sounded in the distance. Hirata and Sudo came running over.

"Are you all right?" Hirata panted. "We heard something happened at the Old School Building, so we rushed over..."

When he saw that Ichinose was unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let's head back first," Ayanokoji said. "Let's keep what happened tonight quiet, as much as possible. Hashimoto's expulsion is all but certain. Class A... will react."

They headed back.

As they neared the dormitory area, Ayanokoji's phone vibrated again.

This time, it was an unfamiliar number.

He answered.

"Good evening, Ayanokoji-kun."

Sakayanagi Arisu's voice was as light and cheerful as if she were chatting about the weather.

"I heard about Hashimoto-kun. What a shame. I can't believe he did something like that and brought disgrace on Class A." She paused. "Still, thanks to you, I was able to get rid of a disobedient pawn. So, thank you."

Ayanokoji stopped walking.

"You knew he'd make a move?" he asked.

"No," Sakayanagi said. "But I knew he'd lose control sooner or later. So I gave him a little 'nudge.' For instance, I made him think kidnapping Ichinose-san was my order."

She laughed. "But he was too stupid and actually went through with it. So it's only natural that he was eliminated, don't you think?"

Cold.

A chill crept up Ayanokoji's spine.

Hashimoto had been a pawn from beginning to end. Sakayanagi had wanted to get rid of him all along; she'd simply used Ayanokoji to do it.

"In return, I'll give you a word of advice," Sakayanagi continued. "Be careful of your partner in next week's 'VIP Exam.' Atsushi Ryuen-kun... he's really looking forward to playing with you."

The call ended.

Ayanokoji lowered his phone and looked toward the second-year Class C dormitory.

Behind one of the windows there, perhaps a pair of eyes was watching this way too.

The hunter was already in position.

And the prey...

He tightened his grip on the phone. Its screen reflected his calm face.

It remained to be seen who was whose prey.