A Match (I)

"Is that Ayanokoji?"

Oreki asked Karuizawa Kei in a low voice.

She nodded.

"That's right."

Those dead-fish eyes really suited her.

The reason Karuizawa Kei had such a strong impression of Ayanokoji Kiyoko was those dead-fish eyes.

"...She's better-looking than I expected."

Oreki sighed.

He had seen Kiyoko's profile.

But that had only been a picture.

He'd only realized the difference after seeing her in person.

Maybe people looked more beautiful to the human eye.

Forcing a 3D person into a 2D image was bound to cause problems.

"She's looking over here."

Karuizawa Kei said softly.

She wasn't exactly scared...

But being stared at by those eyes made her feel a little... you know.

Hmm...

Creeped out?

Something like that.

Suddenly, the roar of a motorcycle came from nearby.

It was Sakayanagi and Kamuro Masumi.

"Looks like we have the same goal."

Sakayanagi got off the back.

Kamuro Masumi quickly opened a parasol, then stood beside Sakayanagi.

She looked like a queen's attendant.

"I understand why Kamuro's here... but you?"

Oreki was exasperated.

Would this ever end?

He was grateful to Sakayanagi for giving him the chance to earn five million, but that was all it was: gratitude.

He wasn't about to submit to her.

And if they really wanted to get into it...

It was anyone's guess who would submit to whom.

"Hm? Didn't I tell you?"

Sakayanagi walked toward Oreki, leaning on her cane.

She took a sheet of paper out of her pocket.

It bore the Student Council's seal.

The contents were roughly...

"Judging?"

"Mm. I'm the judge for this club admission trial."

"Shouldn't the judge be Class D's homeroom teacher?"

"She took leave for personal reasons."

Sakayanagi answered Oreki casually.

That made Oreki mutter to himself.

Did you force her to get sick or something?

Oh well.

Homeroom teachers already had enough work.

Especially troublesome, unpaid tasks like this.

If someone wanted to do it in their place, they could go ahead.

Besides, Sakayanagi had connections.

"What a pain..."

Kamuro Masumi turned her face away.

Normally, she would have already found somewhere quiet to sit.

Somewhere like the rooftop.

Or a bench near the parking lot.

Then she could enjoy some time alone.

Clubs and all that.

They were completely meaningless to her.

"Riding a motorcycle on campus... never mind."

Oreki didn't want to dwell on it.

Rules were only good for restraining people who couldn't fight back.

"..."

Karuizawa Kei slowly backed away.

She hid behind Oreki, somewhat afraid to look at Sakayanagi.

The other girl had been staring at her from the very beginning.

It reminded Karuizawa Kei of unpleasant things.

So she'd retreated instinctively.

"If I remember correctly... you're Karuizawa from Class D, right?"

Sakayanagi looked at her as if she were a criminal under interrogation.

Her gaze held a hint of contempt.

As if to say...

A girl like you isn't worthy of being my opponent.

"Mm..."

Karuizawa Kei nodded.

She'd never met a girl with such a strong presence.

"Do you know what a parasitic relationship is?"

Sakayanagi asked suddenly.

"No..."

Karuizawa Kei shook her head.

It was probably something from her biology textbook.

But she'd forgotten it.

"You don't know, yet you still do it."

"That's enough."

Oreki cut Sakayanagi off.

If he let her continue, this could turn into quite a mess.

Better to leave it alone.

"Let's get down to business."

"Heh heh."

Sakayanagi didn't object.

She'd only meant to scare Karuizawa Kei.

Now that she'd achieved her aim, there was no need to keep pressing her.

Besides, her opponent couldn't beat her anyway.

That was what she thought.

"You're all first-year students, right?"

From a distance.

A bespectacled upperclassman approached.

By the looks of it, she was the Tennis Club president.

But...

Could someone that big really play tennis?

Oreki was doubtful.

Wouldn't running be a hassle?

"Come with me."

After checking everyone's attendance, she led them to the club room.

They would gather everyone first, then head to the field.

The gym was still being cleaned and couldn't be used yet.

"Mm, good. Everyone's here."

The president took out a roster from her position up high.

There were dozens of new members joining the Tennis Club this time.

Far more than usual.

Not bad.

"Now we'll split into groups and compete. The first match will be..."

She looked over the people below.

After a brief hesitation...

"Ayanokoji and Oreki."

Oreki frowned.

What a coincidence.

This wasn't part of his plan.

He had faith in Kiyoko's athletic ability.

So, according to the original plan, they should have met in the finals.

But now...

They were meeting right away?

If someone called that a coincidence, Oreki would be the first to disagree.

Someone had to be pulling strings behind the scenes.

And there was only one person it could be...

Oreki turned to look at Sakayanagi.

She wore a smile, with no hint of a tell.

What exactly is this girl after?

What would she gain by making him and Kiyoko face each other early?

Nothing at all.

And... it must have cost a fair bit of money, too, right?

After all, she'd have to bribe the club president.

Though it was also possible that the president had agreed willingly because of Sakayanagi's background and hadn't asked for anything in return.

"Don't worry."

Sakayanagi finally spoke.

She just wanted to save time.

Her saying she'd be a judge... had only been offhand.

Who wanted to spend an entire afternoon watching tennis?

"..."

Oreki shook his head helplessly.

He understood what Sakayanagi meant now.

She really was capricious.

That was what he thought.

"Both sides, take your positions."

The president shouted from a distance.

She was quite curious about this match.

Anyone would want to see for themselves the two people who had caught the school board chairman's daughter's attention, wouldn't they?

And she still looks so indifferent.

Oreki couldn't help but find it hard to watch.

Ever since earlier, this girl named Kiyoko had been wearing a long face.

What was that about?

Could she really have thought so little of him?

Or was she that confident she would win?

Oreki picked up a tennis racket.

After tossing it around a few times, he quickly sent the ball flying toward Kiyoko.

If that hit her...

It probably wouldn't feel too good.

—She blocked it?

When the ball came flying back, Oreki hit it again.

But Kiyoko soon sent it back once more.

Oreki fell into thought.

It seemed this opponent was different.

But the game ended here.

After all, Oreki's goal wasn't to defeat Kiyoko at tennis.

It was...

Suddenly, Oreki seized his chance and sent the ball soaring high into the air.

Kiyoko froze for a moment.

She seemed to remember something.

The moment lasted less than two seconds.

Most people wouldn't have noticed.

But Oreki was different.

With his keen powers of observation and the preparations he'd made beforehand, he immediately caught the look on Kiyoko's face as she froze.

Things had gone just as Oreki expected.

Kiyoko had...

—So she really had noticed the tennis ball on the steel frame.

—To be continued.