"Then we're friends from now on."
"Mm!"
As the girl answered, the corners of her eyes curved into crescents, and her dimples glimmered with light. Her smile was as pure as morning dew settling on new leaves. It held none of the scheming and infighting so common at this school, nor any of the fawning and grasping of the adult world—only the clearest joy and a sincerity untouched by anything impure.
That was probably why so many people in his previous life had fallen for this girl. She was so pure, so genuine. Ayanokoji, you really are the worst—
Looking at the girl before him, Uesugi Hara felt something gently strike his chest. A thought settled in his mind with absolute clarity: he had to protect that smile.
"Then can I call you Airi?"
"Y-yes, you can..." Her fingers curled slightly, and a flush crept to the tips of her ears.
"Then you can call me Uesugi, or just Hara. It wouldn't do for me to be the only one calling you by your first name, would it?"
"H-Hara... Hara-kun?" She tried it tentatively, her voice as soft as a feather falling to the ground. Then she gathered her courage and repeated it a little louder. "Hara-kun!"
"I'm here—"
"Airi, have you been getting a lot of harassing messages lately?"
"I-I have gotten a few..." Her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes, and her voice was faint. Her cheeks still carried a trace of lingering embarrassment.
"Then be careful of the clerk we ran into today." Uesugi Hara's tone grew somber. "I saw your photo on his computer screensaver. He might be the one sending those messages. And the way he looked at you..." He paused, deliberately lowering his voice until it was icy. "It was like he wanted to devour you."
"Th-then what should I do?" The girl looked frightened after hearing that, and her face went deathly pale.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here." Uesugi Hara softened his voice, offering deliberate reassurance. "Don't go to that shop alone anymore. If you need to buy anything, you can come to me. I can go with you somewhere else."
He saw the fingers gripping Airi's skirt turn white, and added, "Also, just delete messages from strangers on your phone. Don't reply to anything. If you get another strange message, or run into that clerk on the way somewhere, message me right away—remember, you can do that anytime."
Airi bit her lower lip and nodded. Some of the fear in her eyes faded, and her gaze turned a little more trusting. "Th-thank you, Hara-kun..."
"You don't have to thank me." Uesugi Hara watched her fingers gradually relax, and the tension in his heart eased a little. "We're friends, after all. Friends should look out for each other, shouldn't they?"
His words seemed to reassure the girl. She gave a soft "Mm," and her complexion finally regained a little color.
After chatting with Airi for a while, Uesugi Hara waited until she disappeared around the street corner before looking away. He glanced at the time on his Terminal—it was 4:08.
Now that he had seen Airi off, it was time to find Karuizawa Kei.
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, his feet had already turned in a new direction. Unlike the warmth he'd shown Airi, his gaze had grown much calmer, as though he'd switched modes.
It was 4:22 inside the Palette Cafe.
Karuizawa Kei had already arrived. She sat by the window, her fingers clutching her coffee cup tightly. Her carefully styled, wavy hair fell over her shoulders, but it couldn't hide the panic in her eyes.
Uesugi Hara ordered a latte and walked straight over.
When she saw him sit down across from her, she sprang to her feet. Her voice carried a barely noticeable tremor. "Who are you, exactly? How do you know about those things?"
"Sit down and let's talk." Uesugi Hara pulled out a chair, his tone as calm as if he were discussing something trivial. "I'm Uesugi Hara from Class 1-A, but that doesn't matter. What matters is, if these things got out at school—for example, photos of you being forced to kneel in high school, or recordings of those people calling you 'useless'—do you think the friends surrounding you now would still treat you the same way?"
Karuizawa Kei's face instantly went pale. Her lips trembled, but she couldn't say a word.
She knew better than anyone that her popularity in Class D only seemed solid because it rested on her "perfect image." The moment she was labeled a "bullying victim," all that flattery and friendliness would turn into mockery and rejection.
"Are you threatening me?" It took her a long while to force out the words, her eyes reddening slightly.
"Call it a partnership." Uesugi Hara stirred his coffee. "I need you to keep an eye on what's happening in Class D, especially Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, Horikita Suzune, and Kushida Kikyo. In exchange, I'll help you keep your secret and make your position in Class D more secure—more secure than it is now. You can even rely on me. I can be your shield. Besides, looking after you would hardly be a burden for me."
"Why should I trust you?" She glared up at him, anger in her eyes, but even more fear.
"Because I know what you're most afraid of, and I know how to help you avoid it." Uesugi Hara looked at her, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "You only have to tell me what's going on in Class D from time to time. You don't need to worry about anything else. Or should I post your high school photos on the school forum right now?"
That finally broke through Karuizawa Kei's defenses. She gritted her teeth, her nails seeming to dig into her palm, but in the end, she nodded. "...Fine. I'll do it. But if you dare deceive me..."
"I have no interest in destroying my pawns." Uesugi Hara finished his coffee. The bottom of the cup struck the table with a crisp clink. He stood and straightened his cuffs, his tone calm but leaving no room for argument. "Remember, don't give yourself away. Keep in touch."
"By the way, how many points do you have left?" Uesugi Hara asked before leaving.
"34,252." Karuizawa Kei glanced at her Terminal.
Uesugi Hara said nothing more and transferred 20,000 points to her. Once the numbers on the screen settled, he spoke. "Keep up your image, and spend your points carefully. Given the current state of Class D, next month will be hell for you."
"What do you mean by that?!" Her voice suddenly rose, carrying a trace of panic.
Uesugi Hara ignored her and walked straight out.
As he left the cafe, the setting sun bathed the street in warm gold. Uesugi Hara looked at the contacts on his Terminal, the corners of his mouth lifting almost imperceptibly.
For now, Karuizawa Kei might only be an information channel into Class D, but he knew that in future class competitions, her influence among the girls in Class D would become an unexpected weapon.