The Cafe's Bond

Yoshikage Kira listened quietly, his expression remaining largely unchanged, though the sharpness in his eyes dulled slightly, replaced by a trace of imperceptible calm. He did not interrupt her, nor did he offer comfort; he simply watched her in silence, as if listening to a matter that had nothing to do with him, yet he inadvertently absorbed every word she spoke and every expression she wore.

Seeing that Kira offered no response, Kikyo Kushida felt no disappointment and instead continued, "I can tell you more about the clues regarding Class D. Ayanokoji has been keeping a close watch on the movements of Shiho Manabe and her group from Class C recently; it seems they had a conflict with Kei Karuizawa before. Meanwhile, Horikita is cross-referencing the whereabouts of all group members, focusing on those who acted suspiciously during the discussion sessions."

As she spoke, she kept a close eye on Yoshikage Kira's reactions, terrified of missing even the slightest shift in his expression. She knew this information might be useful to him, and she hoped that by sharing it, she could deepen the bond between them just a little bit more.

Yoshikage Kira tapped his fingertips lightly against the tabletop, his expression remaining cool and his tone flat as he spoke: "Understood. Anything else?"

Although his response remained cold, he had at least not refused to listen, which sparked a glimmer of hope in Kikyo Kushida's heart. She nodded gently and continued, "There is also the fact that two members of Class D were intercepted by Kakeru Ryuen's people after the discussion session ended. They seemed to be testing them, though they didn't reveal any information about Class D. I think it's highly likely that Kakeru Ryuen will take action soon, so your Class B should be on guard as well."

While this information wasn't critical, it helped Yoshikage Kira further verify his own deductions and gave him a better grasp of Kakeru Ryuen's movements. He gave a slight nod, asked no further questions, and simply picked up his coffee to take a light sip.

Kikyo Kushida looked at his still-indifferent demeanor, feeling a trace of disappointment in her heart. She knew that this was simply Yoshikage Kira's personality—he did not reveal his emotions easily. Yet, she could sense that he did not completely reject her; otherwise, he would not have agreed to accompany her to the cafe, nor would he have patiently listened to her confide in him and share information.

She sighed softly: "Kira-kun, I know you are still wary of me, and I know that everyone has their own agenda during this exam. But I truly hope that we can use this exam as an opportunity to become friends in the truest sense, even if it's just as friends who can share intelligence with each other."

As she said this, her gaze remained locked on Yoshikage Kira's face, her eyes filled with sincerity and expectation, even a hint of trepidation. She waited for his response, hoping he might reveal another side of himself—a Yoshikage Kira who wasn't just cold and calculating, but perhaps gentle and weary as well—giving her a chance to get close to him and understand him. She dared not ask for too much; she only hoped to break down the barriers between them, build a sincere bond, and find someone who could accept all her negative aspects while still treating her the same.

The atmosphere in the cafe remained quiet. The warm yellow light bathed them both, softening their silhouettes, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of coffee mixed with a faint scent of desserts. The previously tense atmosphere had become much more relaxed. Yoshikage Kira remained silent for a long time, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the rim of his coffee cup as he calculated rapidly in his mind—Kikyo Kushida's sincerity was not a facade, and her request was simple: she just wanted a genuine connection. She had been bearing too much pressure on her own, and the intelligence she shared could indeed help him and help Class B better handle the situation ahead.

After a long while, he finally raised his eyes slowly, his gaze resting on Kikyo Kushida's face. His tone remained flat and devoid of ripples, yet it was much softer than before, carrying a trace of imperceptible loosening and an indescribable complexity: "During the exam, we discuss only intelligence. Anything else is unnecessary."

Although it was still a refusal, and he still hadn't agreed to be friends, this rejection was far softer than his previous cold detachment. It lacked the barrier of an "outsider" and the repulsion of "don't bother me." A gentle smile bloomed instantly on Kikyo Kushida's face, the joy and expectation in her eyes no longer hidden, bright and warm like the sun after a rain: "Okay! I understand! As long as I can talk to you, Kira-kun, and as long as I can help you, that's enough. I won't bring up anything else."

The two sat in the cafe, drinking coffee and chatting intermittently about topics related to the exam. Kikyo Kushida would occasionally interject with her own stress and exhaustion—such as worrying that her negligence might implicate Class D, or the need to constantly maintain her gentle image without a moment of slack. With every word, she closely monitored Yoshikage Kira's reactions, capturing the subtle shifts in his mood. Yoshikage Kira mostly listened quietly, occasionally responding with a few words. His tone remained cold, but he no longer showed any obvious repulsion, and when Kikyo mentioned the threat posed by Kakeru Ryuen, he even gave a faint reminder to "keep an eye on your own safety." This simple reminder sent a wave of warmth through Kikyo Kushida's heart.

Time slipped away, and the cafe began to fill up with other students from various groups, sitting in twos and threes, whispering to each other. Their tones were filled with anxiety and confusion regarding the exam, and while there was the occasional lighthearted chatter, it was always accompanied by a trace of cautious vigilance. Yoshikage Kira glanced at the time on his terminal, his expression shifting slightly as he realized he had to meet Honami Ichinose soon and could not stay much longer.

He stood up slowly, straightened the hem of his uniform, and spoke to Kikyo Kushida in a low voice: "It's getting late. I have things to attend to, so I'm leaving. If you have any useful intelligence regarding Class D or Class C later, contact me through the terminal immediately. If you run into trouble, you can come to me first."

Kikyo Kushida nodded quickly, a gentle smile still on her face. Being told she could come to him first was exactly the response she needed: "Okay! Go ahead, Kira-kun. If there's any situation, I'll notify you immediately."

Yoshikage Kira gave a slight nod, said nothing more, and turned to walk out of the cafe. Once outside, the warm yellow light was cut off by the door behind him. The lights in the cruise ship corridor were cold and clinical, and the sea breeze drifted in through the portholes, carrying a salty, damp scent that caused his slightly relaxed nerves to tighten once more. He pulled out his student terminal and saw two messages from Honami Ichinose. The urgency in her tone was clear, and a flash of apology crossed his eyes as he quickly replied: [Sorry, I was delayed by something just now. I'm heading to the lounge to find you now. I won't waste any time; I'll be there in ten minutes.]

After sending the message, Yoshikage Kira quickened his pace toward the lounge. In his mind, he rapidly organized all the intelligence Kikyo Kushida had shared—Shiho Manabe's abnormal movements, Class D being tested by Kakeru Ryuen, and Horikita's investigative focus—while simultaneously deducing Kakeru Ryuen's next move.