Yoshikage Kira listened in silence, his expression barely changing. Only the sharpness in his eyes had softened a little, replaced by a calm that was difficult to notice. He didn't interrupt or offer comfort. He simply watched her, as though she were telling him about something that had nothing to do with him, yet somehow he took in every word and every expression.
When Kira didn't respond, Kikyo Kushida didn't look disappointed. Instead, she continued, "I can tell you a little more about what's going on in Class D. Ayanokoji has been keeping an eye on the movements of Shiho Manabe, the student leading Class C, lately. It seems she and Kei had a conflict before. Horikita, meanwhile, has been going over all the group members' whereabouts, focusing on anyone who acted strangely during the discussion."
As she spoke, she continued watching Kira closely, afraid she might miss even the slightest change in his expression. She knew this information might be useful to him, and hoped that sharing it would deepen the bond between them, even if only a little.
Kira tapped the tabletop lightly with his fingertips. His expression remained composed as he said in an even tone, "Got it. Anything else?"
His response was still cold, but at least he hadn't refused to listen, and that gave Kushida a glimmer of hope. She nodded slightly and continued, "There's also this: two members of Class D were stopped by Ryuen's people after the discussion ended. They seemed to ask them a few probing questions, but neither of them revealed anything about Class D. I think Ryuen will probably make a move soon, so your Class B should be extra cautious, too."
The information wasn't crucial, but it could help Kira further confirm his deductions and give him a better grasp of Ryuen Kakeru's movements. He gave a slight nod and asked no more, simply lifting his coffee and taking a small sip.
Kushida watched his still-cold expression, feeling a little disappointed. She knew that was simply how Kira was; he didn't show his feelings easily. But she could tell he hadn't shut her out completely. Otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to come to the café with her, or listened patiently as she confided in him and shared information.
She sighed softly. "Kira, I know you're still wary of me, and I know everyone has their own agenda during this exam. But I hope we can use this exam to become real friends—even if we're only friends who share information with each other."
As she spoke, her gaze stayed fixed on Kira's face, her eyes full of sincerity and hope, with a hint of anxiety as she waited for his response. She hoped he might reveal another side of himself, one people didn't know—the Kira who wasn't only cold and composed, but perhaps also gentle and tired—and give her a chance to get closer to him and understand him. She didn't dare ask for much. She only hoped to break down the walls between them and forge a sincere bond, to find someone who would accept all her flaws and still treat her the same.
The café remained quiet. Warm yellow light fell over them, softening their silhouettes, while the rich aroma of coffee mingled with the faint sweetness of desserts. The tension between them had eased. Kira stayed silent for a long while, unconsciously rubbing the rim of his cup as his mind raced. Kushida's sincerity wasn't an act, and her request was simple: she wanted a genuine bond. She had already borne too much pressure on her own, and the information she'd shared could help him and help Class B handle what lay ahead.
At last, he slowly raised his eyes to meet Kushida's. His voice was still even, without a hint of emotion, but it was much gentler than before, with a subtle shift and a complexity that was hard to put into words. "During the exam, let's stick to information. There's no need to talk about anything else."
He was still turning her down, still not agreeing to be friends, but this rejection was far gentler than his earlier aloofness. The barrier of treating her like an outsider was gone, as was the feeling that he wanted her to stay away. A warm smile blossomed across Kushida's face, and she could no longer hide her delight and anticipation. It was like sunshine after the rain, bright and warm. "Okay! I understand! Just getting to talk with you more and help you is enough. I won't bring up anything else."
They sat there in the café, drinking coffee and chatting now and then about the exam. Occasionally, Kushida would mention her own stress and exhaustion—how she worried that a mistake on her part might drag Class D down, or how she had to maintain her gentle image at all times and couldn't afford to let her guard down. Each time, she watched Kira closely, catching the slightest shifts in his mood. Most of the time, Kira simply listened in silence, occasionally replying in his usual cool tone, but no longer showing any obvious rejection. When Kushida mentioned Ryuen's threat, he even quietly reminded her, "Watch your own safety." That simple warning stirred warmth in Kushida's heart.
As time passed, the café gradually filled with students from other groups, sitting in twos and threes and talking quietly. Most sounded anxious and uncertain about the exam. Now and then, a few relaxed remarks slipped into the conversation, though everyone remained cautiously on their guard. Kira glanced at the time on his terminal and his expression shifted slightly. He knew he had to meet Honami Ichinose later and couldn't stay much longer.
He slowly stood and straightened the hem of his uniform. Then he said calmly to Kushida, "It's getting late. I have somewhere to be, so I'll go first. If you get any useful information about Classes D or C, contact me through your terminal right away. If you run into trouble, you can come to me first."
Kushida nodded quickly, still wearing a warm smile. The offer to come to him if she ran into trouble was exactly what she needed to hear. "Okay! Go ahead, Kira. If anything happens, I'll let you know right away."
Kira gave a slight nod and said nothing more before turning toward the exit. Once outside, the door shut behind him, cutting off the café's warm yellow light. The lights in the cruise ship's corridor were cold, and a sea breeze slipped in through the porthole, carrying a salty dampness that tightened the nerves he had just managed to relax. He took out his Student Terminal and saw two messages from Honami Ichinose. Her urgency was plain in their wording, and a flicker of guilt crossed his eyes. He promptly replied: [Sorry, something came up. I'm on my way to meet you in the lounge now. I won't waste any time on the way. I'll be there within ten minutes.]
After sending the message, Kira quickened his pace toward the lounge. As he walked, he rapidly sorted through all the information Kushida had shared—the unusual movements of Shiho Manabe, Ryuen's attempt to probe Class D, and the direction of Horikita's investigation—while deducing Ryuen Kakeru's next move.
Before you continue