The Game (1)

"Is that Ayanokoji?"

Oreki asked Karuizawa Kei in a low voice.

She nodded.

"That's her."

Those dead fish eyes were spot on.

The reason Karuizawa Kei had such a deep impression of Ayanokoji Kiyoko was precisely because of those dead fish eyes.

"...She looks better than I imagined."

Oreki sighed.

Although he had seen Kiyoko's personal file.

In the end, those were just pictures.

Only after seeing her in person did he realize the gap.

Perhaps the human eye is better at perceiving beauty.

Forcing a 3D person into a 2D image, it would be strange if there weren't issues.

"She's looking over here."

Karuizawa Kei whispered.

Although she wasn't particularly afraid...

Being stared at by those eyes still felt a bit, well.

Hmm...

A hair-raising sensation?

Something like that.

Suddenly, the roar of a motorcycle came from not far away.

It was Sakayanagi and Kamuro Masumi.

"It seems our goals are aligned."

Sakayanagi stepped off the back seat.

Kamuro Masumi quickly opened a parasol and stood by Sakayanagi's side.

She looked just like a servant attending to a queen.

"I understand why Kamuro is here... but you?"

Oreki felt a headache coming on.

Is this never-ending?

Although he was grateful that Sakayanagi had given him the opportunity to earn five million, that was all it was—gratitude.

It hadn't reached the point where he was willing to submit.

And if one had to be precise...

It was hard to say who would be submitting to whom.

"Hmm? Did I not tell you?"

Sakayanagi walked toward Oreki, leaning on her cane.

She took a piece of paper out of her pocket.

It was stamped with the seal of the Student Council.

The content was roughly...

"A grading sheet?"

"Yes. I am the judge for this recruitment trial."

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

"She took leave for personal reasons."

Sakayanagi answered Oreki casually.

This made Oreki unable to help but retort internally.

Could it be that you forced her to get sick?

Whatever.

Homeroom teachers already had too much work.

Especially for something as troublesome and unpaid as this.

Since someone else wanted to do it for him, he would let them.

Besides, Sakayanagi had the connections.

"What a pain..."

Kamuro Masumi turned her face away.

In the past, she would have already found a secluded spot to sit.

Perhaps the rooftop.

Or a bench near the parking lot.

Then, she would properly enjoy some time to herself.

Clubs and the like.

To her, they were completely meaningless.

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

Oreki didn't want to dwell on it any further.

Rules were only ever meant to restrain those without the power to resist.

"..."

Karuizawa Kei slowly backed away.

She hid behind Oreki, not daring 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 retreated out of a conditioned reflex.

"If I recall... you are Class D's Karuizawa-san, aren't you?"

Sakayanagi looked at her as if examining a criminal.

Her gaze held a hint of contempt.

It was as if she were saying...

A girl like this had no qualifications to be her opponent.

"Mm..."

Karuizawa Kei nodded.

She had never met a girl with such an overwhelming aura before.

"Do you know what a parasitic relationship is?"

Sakayanagi said suddenly.

"I don't..."

Karuizawa Kei shook her head.

It sounded like something from a biology textbook.

But she had already forgotten it.

"You don't know, yet you practice it."

"That's enough."

Oreki cut Sakayanagi off.

If he let her continue, he feared it would lead to no small amount of trouble.

It was better to just drop the matter.

"Let's get to the real business first."

"Heh."

Sakayanagi did not refuse.

She had only meant to frighten Karuizawa Kei.

Now that her goal had been achieved, there was no need to keep pressing the issue.

After all, the other girl was no match for her anyway.

She thought.

"You are first-year students, right?"

In the distance.

A senior student wearing glasses walked over.

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

It's just...

With a chest that large, could she really play tennis?

Oreki expressed his doubts about that.

Running would definitely be a hassle, right?

"Follow me, everyone."

After counting the heads, she led the group to the club.

They had to assemble everyone before heading to the field.

The gymnasium was still being cleaned and couldn't be used for the time being.

"Mm, very good, everyone is here."

The club president took out the roster from an elevated position.

There were dozens of newcomers joining the Tennis Club this time.

Far more than usual.

That was quite good.

"Now, let's divide into groups for matches. So, for the first round..."

She looked at the people below.

After a moment of hesitation.

"Ayanokoji-kun and Oreki-kun."

Oreki frowned.

Such a coincidence?

This wasn't in his plans.

He believed in Kiyoko's athletic ability.

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

But now...

Meeting right from the start?

As for it being a coincidence, Oreki was the first one who wouldn't believe it.

Someone must be pulling strings behind the scenes.

And as for who that person was, he didn't even need to think...

Oreki turned his head to look at Sakayanagi.

He saw her wearing a smile, with no flaws to be found.

What on earth is this person trying to do?

What benefit was there in having him and Kiyoko meet early?

Absolutely none.

Besides... it must have wasted quite a bit of money, right?

After all, she had to bribe the club president.

Though it was also possible the other party saw Sakayanagi's background and agreed voluntarily without asking for compensation.

"Don't worry."

Sakayanagi finally spoke.

She just wanted to save time.

Acting as a referee or whatever... was just something she said on a whim.

Who would want to stare at tennis all afternoon?

"..."

Oreki shook his head helplessly.

He already understood what Sakayanagi meant.

She really is willful, he thought.

"Will both sides please take your positions."

The club president shouted from a distance.

She held quite a bit of curiosity about this match.

Anyone would want to take a look at the two people the school board chairman's daughter cared about, right?

And still acting so nonchalant.

Oreki couldn't stand it.

From just a moment ago, this girl named Kiyoko had been wearing a sullen face the whole time.

What's the matter?

Could it be that she looks down on him?

Or is she perhaps extremely confident that she will win?

Oreki picked up the tennis racket.

After bouncing the ball a few times, he quickly swatted it toward Kiyoko.

If that were to hit her...

It probably wouldn't feel very good.

--Blocked?

Seeing the tennis ball returned, Oreki swatted it back again.

But it was quickly returned by Kiyoko once more.

Oreki pondered.

It seems this opponent is different.

But the game ends here.

When it comes down to it, Oreki's goal isn't to defeat Kiyoko with a tennis ball.

It is...

Suddenly, Oreki seized the opportunity and quickly hit a high lob.

Kiyoko froze for a moment.

It was as if she had remembered something.

This situation lasted no longer than two seconds.

An average person wouldn't be able to catch it.

But Oreki is different.

With his keen powers of observation, coupled with the fact that he had prepared in advance, he captured the look of shock on Kiyoko's face in an instant.

The reality was just as Oreki had thought.

Kiyoko, she...

--Had indeed also discovered the tennis ball on the steel frame.

--To be continue