"So this is the real Kushida Kikyo."
Before Horikita Suzune could say anything, Yuki Himeno started to panic.
In her mind, Kushida Kikyo and Honami Ichinose were indisputably the most popular girls in their year.
They were both equally kind and beautiful, and the hundreds of friends listed on their Personal Terminals were proof enough of their charm.
Whether in the cafeteria or on the field, wherever they went, laughter and cheerful chatter followed, as if they had some kind of magic that drew people to them.
But right now, in Yuki Himeno's eyes, Kushida Kikyo's smile was still sweet, while her gaze was frighteningly cold.
The stark contrast left Yuki Himeno feeling uneasy.
She was truly afraid that Honami Ichinose might be hiding a side like this, too.
"Horikita, this is the real Kikyo. Her kindness is an act. Do you think someone like her can help you achieve your goal?"
Ignoring Kushida Kikyo's icy stare, Makoto Nishikado turned to Horikita Suzune and asked.
"It doesn't matter whether she's genuine or not. I value her ability."
Horikita Suzune's gaze was resolute.
In fact, she valued Kushida Kikyo even more now.
From what Horikita Suzune knew, Kushida Kikyo had apparently done something earth-shattering in middle school.
They said that, all by herself, she had driven the entire class to the brink of collapse.
In the end, not a single student in that class graduated normally, and even the teacher in charge had suffered a mental breakdown.
The incident was so serious that the school had covered it up tightly. Only a handful of students there knew what had really happened.
It had made Horikita Suzune realize that Kushida Kikyo was like a sharp double-edged sword: wielded well, she could cut through every obstacle, but mishandled, she could wound the wielder.
But Class D was a complete mess right now, with its students at odds and their grades at the bottom.
If they wanted to survive at this fiercely competitive school, they had to rely on Kushida Kikyo's abilities to unite the class.
So even knowing she was dangerous, Horikita Suzune had no choice but to take the risk.
She had to keep Kushida Kikyo firmly under control!
"Horikita, are you out of your mind? I'm trying to get you expelled!"
Kushida Kikyo felt a strange unease.
Usually, once someone discovered her true nature, they either cowered in fear or avoided her like the plague.
Horikita Suzune was the first to stay so calm after finding out—and even value her more.
But Kushida Kikyo's mind was still made up. She had to get Horikita Suzune expelled.
She had worked so hard to become Class D's angel. Whenever anyone had a problem, they came to her for advice. That was the life she had always wanted.
Kushida Kikyo loved being trusted and relied upon.
She had become someone everyone saw as truly special!
If Horikita Suzune exposed her true nature, everything she had worked for would go up in smoke.
No!
That was the one outcome she absolutely could not allow!
So Horikita Suzune, Makoto Nishikado, and even that fish-eyed lackey all had to be expelled.
"You're all so close to Horikita. Why not get expelled together? That way, the three of you won't be lonely."
Kushida Kikyo kept smiling sweetly as she looked at Makoto Nishikado and Yuki Himeno.
She had no idea whether she could pull it off, but things had already gone this far. She was nearly at her breaking point, so she might as well make the threat!
"Do you really think you can bury us?"
Yuki Himeno met her gaze without backing down.
Give her a break. Kushida Kikyo had no idea how capable Makoto Nishikado was. Did Yuki Himeno?
Kushida Kikyo's threats only made her want to laugh.
"Given her attitude, are you confident you can handle this?"
Once again ignoring Kushida Kikyo, Makoto Nishikado turned to Horikita Suzune and asked in his usual unhurried manner.
Kushida Kikyo's eyes were practically shooting flames.
At that moment, she truly hated how composed Makoto Nishikado was.
"As long as I don't break the school rules, she can't get me expelled that easily."
"So I have time to show her that I'm sincere."
After thinking for a moment, Horikita Suzune gave her answer.
She wasn't afraid Kushida Kikyo would doubt her, because she truly was sincere.
Once Kushida Kikyo understood how she felt, she would surely bow down and help Horikita Suzune unite Class D.
"You're really naive, Horikita."
Kushida Kikyo scoffed.
Horikita Suzune's words did sound sincere, but why should Kushida Kikyo believe her?
She had already experienced both betraying a friend and being betrayed by one.
"She's clearly very insecure. To get you expelled, she'll probably stop at nothing—including joining another class as a spy."
"If you can't stop her, you might eventually think your presence is holding the class back."
"Horikita, can you accept that outcome?"
Makoto Nishikado took another sip of coffee and calmly gave the three girls a glimpse of what was to come.
[Triggered Horikita Suzune's emotions, gained 4488 emotion points.]
"Does it really have to go that far?"
Horikita Suzune frowned, unable to understand.
Given her own experiences and temperament, she couldn't imagine Kushida Kikyo going that far off the deep end.
"Join another class in secret? That sounds like a pretty good idea."
Kushida Kikyo's eyes lit up. After considering it carefully, she decided it really was a good plan.
She could get revenge on Horikita Suzune while protecting her own image. It was the best of both worlds.
But then another question came to mind: Who exactly was Makoto Nishikado? He knew so much about her past and personality, as if he had been watching her from the shadows all along.
"Teacher Ximen, if you were in my position, how would you deal with this?"
Horikita Suzune couldn't think of any other way.
If Kushida Kikyo pressured her, she could handle it. It wouldn't be a big deal.
But Makoto Nishikado would definitely care about what was happening to her, and then her brother would find out, too.
That wouldn't be good.
"There are only two ways. The first is to think of a secret you absolutely can't afford to have exposed, then tell Kikyo."
"Once she knows you won't betray her, she'll feel secure."
Makoto Nishikado held up one finger.
Horikita Suzune looked at Kushida Kikyo and saw that Kushida Kikyo was looking back at her.
The instant their eyes met, Horikita Suzune could tell Kushida Kikyo agreed with the idea.
The problem was that Horikita Suzune had her own privacy, but no secrets so serious that she couldn't let them out.
"Teacher Ximen, is there a second way?"
This time, Makoto Nishikado didn't explain. He simply took the voice recorder he had been carrying in his pocket and pressed play.
When Kushida Kikyo's voice came from the recorder, her face darkened completely.
There was no doubt: the recording could not be made public.
Kushida Kikyo's face twisted as she suddenly reached for it.
Fortunately, Makoto Nishikado had been ready. He grabbed and restrained both of Kushida Kikyo's hands with one hand, then safely put the recorder away with the other.
Watching the comical scene, Horikita Suzune didn't know what to say.
Only then did she realize that Makoto Nishikado had deliberately indulged Kushida Kikyo earlier, letting her get carried away.
To bring about someone's ruin, first drive them to madness.
So that was how it worked.
But Makoto Nishikado wasn't so optimistic.
Looking at the vicious expression in Kushida Kikyo's eyes, he knew he had made no more than fifty percent progress in winning her over.
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