Kikyo Kushida's Invitation

Yoshikage Kira was far too sharp to be fooled; he saw through her pretense of seeking advice instantly. Yet, he did not chase her away. Instead, he withdrew his gaze, returned his attention to his terminal screen, and replied in a cold tone, "The scope of the investigation should be limited to within our own class. There is no need to discuss it with outsiders."

At the word "outsiders," a flicker of something unreadable passed through Kikyo Kushida's eyes, though she masked it quickly. Her tone remained gentle, even taking on a note of sincerity: "Kira-kun, I know you're wary of me. After all, we are in different classes, and everyone has their own agenda in this exam. But I truly want to have a proper talk with you, and not just for the sake of the exam."

As she spoke, she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial level, offering a tentative revelation: "Actually, I can tell you some things about Class D—not core secrets, perhaps, but information that might be useful to you. Ayanokoji-kun and Horikita-san have already compiled a list of suspicious individuals in private, and they seem to have the intention of cooperating with Class B, though they haven't found the right opportunity yet."

At these words, Yoshikage Kira's fingertips paused. He finally looked up at her again, a trace of sharp, hidden intensity in his eyes, though his expression remained devoid of extra emotion: "What are you trying to say?"

Seeing that Kira had finally responded, a flash of joy crossed Kikyo Kushida's eyes. She hurried to say, "I don't mean anything else by it. I just feel that it's too difficult to go it alone in this exam; having more information means a better chance of winning. And... I'm really quite tired lately."

Her tone softened significantly, shedding some of its calculated charm for a layer of genuine exhaustion, and a faint weariness appeared in her eyes: "I have to keep up this gentle facade all the time, look after everyone's feelings, and be incredibly careful during exams for fear that one mistake will drag the class down. I have so much weighing on my heart, yet I have no one to confide in."

As she spoke, Kikyo Kushida's gaze remained locked on Yoshikage Kira's face, observing his every expression without blinking—she wanted to see if this perpetually indifferent boy would reveal a hint of something different because of her vulnerability and honesty; she wanted to see if he was willing to accept her imperfect side, and if he was worth the effort of opening up and forging a deeper bond.

After a moment's pause, she gathered her courage, her tone carrying the weight of a cautious invitation: "There is a small cafe on the cruise ship. It's very quiet, and no one will disturb us. Kira-kun, could you accompany me there for a while? I have some other fragmented information about Class D that might help you, and I also... just want to talk to someone to relieve some of the pressure I've been under."

She made no overstepping requests, nor did she express any ulterior romantic intent; she simply issued an invitation under the guise of sharing intelligence and unburdening herself. Her eyes were filled with anticipation and anxiety, hoping both that Kira would agree—giving them more time alone to deepen their bond—and fearing that he would coldly reject her again, denying her even this small chance to get closer.

The sea breeze on the deck remained gentle, carrying a salty scent that stirred their hair. Yoshikage Kira watched Kikyo Kushida silently, his expression still cold, yet he did not refuse immediately. His mind calculated rapidly—the information she offered about Class D might truly help him grasp the situation and save time on his investigation; meanwhile, her display of vulnerability gave him pause. This girl, who always wore a mask of kindness, seemed to hide unknown exhaustion and secrets beneath the surface.

He remained silent for a few seconds before responding in a flat, neutral tone: "Fine. But I will only listen to information related to the exam. There is no need for anything else."

Hearing this, a bright smile bloomed instantly on Kikyo Kushida's face. The anxiety and weariness in her eyes vanished, replaced by undisguised delight: "Okay! Thank you, Kira-kun! Let's go now; the coffee there is quite good."

She stood up first, walking briskly toward the deck exit. After a few steps, she paused and looked back at Yoshikage Kira, her face still wearing that gentle smile, her eyes full of expectation. Yoshikage Kira stood up slowly, tucked away his student terminal, and followed her toward the ship's cafe with a calm, composed expression.

Their figures gradually disappeared around the corner of the deck. The sea breeze continued to blow, carrying its salty scent as if witnessing this subtle bond quietly taking root. Kikyo Kushida's heart was full of anticipation; she knew this was only the beginning. She would use this opportunity to slowly draw closer to Yoshikage Kira, letting him see her true self, hoping to enter his heart and become the one person who could stand by his side and accept all that he was.

Meanwhile, Yoshikage Kira followed behind her, his expression cold, though his mind was filled with vigilance and calculation. He was well aware that her invitation was no coincidence; her honesty and vulnerability might be genuine, or they might be another form of probing. Regardless, as long as he could obtain useful intelligence and secure Class B's points, a trip to the cafe was a trivial cost. Since Kikyo Kushida had many sources of information in Class D, he would let the gains from that intelligence outweigh the cost of interacting with her.

The cruise ship's cafe was located in a secluded corner on the second deck. The decor was simple and elegant, with warm yellow lights casting a glow over the tables and chairs, creating a cozy and quiet atmosphere. Unlike the salty sea breeze on the deck, the cafe was filled with the rich aroma of coffee mixed with a faint scent of pastries, causing one's tense nerves to relax involuntarily. There were few people in the cafe at the moment, only a scattering of students at a few tables, speaking in low, gentle voices that did not disturb others.

Kikyo Kushida found a corner seat by the window and gestured for Yoshikage Kira to sit opposite her. She then called a waiter and ordered two cups of coffee, her tone remaining gentle: "Kira-kun, what kind of coffee do you usually like? I just ordered two mild ones; they shouldn't be too bitter."

Yoshikage Kira sat down across from her, his expression cold, looking less like someone there for a conversation: "It doesn't matter."

Faced with his continued indifference, Kikyo Kushida did not lose heart; instead, she became even more determined. She stirred her coffee gently, her fingertips tightening slightly, and began to speak, her tone carrying a hint of genuine exhaustion: "Actually, I've always envied you, Kira-kun. Being someone who goes unnoticed means you don't have to care about how others see you; you can just focus on your own goals. It's not like me—no matter when it is, I have to smile at everyone. Even if I'm exhausted inside, I can't show it."

As she spoke, she looked up at Yoshikage Kira, her gaze locked onto his expression, carefully observing every subtle change: "I'm really anxious about this VIP Exam. You know the situation in Class D—we don't have many points, and our margin for error is very low. One slight misstep, and we'll lose the few points we've managed to gain."

"I thought the survival challenges and the fire during the Uninhabited Island Exam were torturous enough, but I never expected this special VIP Exam. Right now, I have to coordinate with Ayanokoji-kun and Horikita-san to investigate clues, soothe the emotions of the other students in the class, and guard against probes from other classes. Sometimes, I really feel like I'm about to break."

This was the first time she had removed her gentle mask in front of someone else, revealing her vulnerability and the pressure she was under. She did not deliberately play the victim; she simply confided her true feelings. All of this was to test Yoshikage Kira—to see if he would show a hint of gentleness because of her fragility; to see if he was willing to accept her imperfect side; and to see if he was worth the effort of opening up and forging a deeper bond.