The Black Room's Masterpiece

In Class D, a few boys huddled together in the corner of the classroom, their heads pressed close.

Their faces wore expressions of excitement and lewdness, and their discussion was loud enough to be heard throughout the entire room.

Regarding which girl among them had the biggest "dreams," the boys each held their own opinions.

"Well, it definitely has to be Kikyo-chan!"

Ike Kanji shouted, seizing the initiative.

Kushida Kikyo was his true love; in his heart, no matter what the ranking was, Kushida Kikyo had to be number one.

He would cast every vote for her without a shred of regret.

This sincerity was enough to move the heavens and the earth, and even more so, to move Ike Kanji himself.

Unfortunately, Kushida Kikyo was sitting not far away, hearing his words with perfect clarity.

Who gave you the right to call me Kikyo-chan!

Kushida Kikyo felt a pain in her chest from the sheer rage, forcing herself to suppress her anger so as not to reveal her true colors.

When Makoto Nishikado sent her messages, he would also use nicknames.

It wasn't because they were close, but because that bastard was deliberately trying to disgust her.

At the time, Kushida Kikyo had been furious, secretly swearing that she would make Makoto Nishikado pay the price.

But now, by comparison, she realized that Makoto Nishikado was actually a decent, honest man.

"We're discussing the size of their chests—ahem, their dreams—so it definitely has to be Hasebe!"

Sotomura Hideo pushed up his glasses, unimpressed by Ike Kanji's conclusion.

If they were discussing who had the most popularity, then Kushida Kikyo was undoubtedly number one in Class D; no one could deny that.

But they were discussing something more serious and realistic; one couldn't disregard the facts just because of personal preference.

Out of a pursuit of objective reality, Sotomura Hideo firmly supported Hasebe Haruka.

Not far away, Hasebe Haruka heard Sotomura Hideo's words and shot him a look of disgust.

That gaze was as if she were looking at something filthy, where even a second glance was a form of suffering.

In the classroom, in front of so many girls, these boys were actually discussing such vulgar things out loud—were they serious?

"No, no, no, you're all wrong. The number one is definitely Airi Sakura. She confessed to me, and I've observed her carefully, so this answer can't be wrong. The biggest dream in Class D, the championship trophy, belongs to Airi Sakura!"

Yamauchi Haruki stood with his hands on his hips, looking smug and dismissive of the others' conclusions.

He had full, baseless confidence in his own judgment.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stood beside them, hands in his pockets, listening silently without saying a word.

As the ultimate masterpiece of emotional detachment, he naturally had no interest in such vulgar topics.

He was merely learning how to make friends, and when faced with topics he wasn't good at handling, he chose silence.

The ultimate masterpiece of emotional detachment naturally didn't know that although he hadn't said a word, just by standing next to these boys, he had already been automatically categorized as one of them.

Outside the Class D classroom, Makoto Nishikado had intended to have Yuki Himeno go in and call out Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo.

After hearing Ike Kanji's shout, he stopped his movements.

The subsequent discussion from the boys, carried out as if no one else were around, made his entire face turn dark.

"Are you alright? The people inside are being way too excessive."

Yuki Himeno had long noticed Airi Sakura, who was hesitating and afraid to enter, and stepped forward to softly comfort the dowdily dressed girl.

Judging by the other girl's reaction, she was likely one of the people being commented on by the boys inside.

If not for that, even if she were timid, she wouldn't be afraid to even push open the door to her own classroom.

"Y-yes, I didn't confess to him."

Airi Sakura explained in a whisper.

If Yuki Himeno hadn't been close enough, she wouldn't have even heard Airi Sakura's voice.

If she were facing her classmates in Class D, under the pressure of the atmosphere, she wouldn't have the courage to stand up and express her dissatisfaction.

In front of two strangers, however, she found a sliver of courage to prove her "innocence."

"Even that part is a lie? I suppose so, who would ever like a man like that?"

"That means he's spreading rumors. How could that bastard do such a thing?"

Yuki Himeno was quite angry, but she still tried to keep her voice down so the people in the classroom wouldn't hear.

She truly hadn't expected that someone in Class D would dare to spread such lewd rumors.

Between lying about a girl confessing and commenting on the size of her chest, this already counted as sexual harassment!

"Boss, can you teach them a lesson?"

"If these people aren't taught a lesson, they'll just keep bullying others in the future."

Yuki Himeno didn't know how to resolve this; she wasn't even a member of Class D, and she was even less skilled at handling these kinds of situations.

With that, she could only look toward Makoto Nishikado for help.

If it's Makoto Nishikado, he must have a way.

"Boss? What kind of strange nickname is that?"

"Is it not allowed? I think it's quite good."

"Then as you wish; leave this matter to me."

Makoto Nishikado gave Yuki Himeno a look to put her at ease, then walked up to Airi Sakura, keeping his tone as gentle as possible.

"This classmate, I want to go in and teach those boys in your class a lesson, especially the one who slandered you."

"However, I am not a member of Class D after all, so I need a reason to step in."

"Could you give me your contact information so I can pose as your friend?"

Makoto Nishikado took out his personal terminal.

Airi Sakura looked up, glancing at Makoto Nishikado timidly.

Makoto Nishikado was quietly gazing into Airi Sakura's eyes, his own gaze clear and devoid of any malice or lewdness.

Meeting those eyes, Airi Sakura felt her fear and grievances subside.

Because of her large chest, she attracted the attention of boys wherever she went.

She naturally felt more trust toward boys with such serious eyes.

"Please don't do anything excessive."

Airi Sakura obediently took out her personal terminal and added Makoto Nishikado as a friend.

Even though the boy before her was reliable, she didn't want things to escalate.

Especially since Makoto Nishikado was alone; if a real fight broke out, he would be the one to suffer.

"You are too kind; you'll just get bullied like this."

Yuki Himeno couldn't help but speak up.

She really couldn't watch anymore; Airi Sakura's weakness would only make those boys push their luck even further.

Seeing Airi Sakura still keeping her head down, Yuki Himeno suddenly realized how great Amikura Asako was.

She was quite a troublesome person in Class B herself, and Amikura Asako must have put in a lot of effort to take care of her all this time.

Yuki Himeno made up her mind: she would definitely thank her properly when she returned.

"Both of you, rest assured; leave the rest to me."

"I won't resort to violence. This, Classmate Sakura, find a place to hide and come back in ten minutes."

"Himeno, please look after her."

Makoto Nishikado put away his personal terminal and walked to the door of the Class D classroom.

Once Yuki Himeno led Airi Sakura away and their figures disappeared around the corner, Makoto Nishikado's face immediately turned cold.

He didn't act rudely, simply pushing the door open and stepping into Class D.