Sakayanagi Arisu's Thoughts (2)

Outside the dormitory building.

Oreki trudged toward the elevator, looking listless.

Just then, a girl with a single ponytail walked toward him.

He didn't pay much attention to her.

After all, her appearance was rather ordinary.

At least when compared to Sakayanagi Arisu.

"What do you mean you changed your mind at the last minute?"

The girl demanded angrily at the person on the other end of the phone.

She furrowed her brows.

"Forget it, I can survive just fine without you!"

After hanging up the phone in a huff.

The girl glanced at Oreki, then walked away silently.

"I should just go find Hirata..."

Oreki closed his eyes.

He didn't want to deal with such things, and he certainly didn't want to get dragged into them.

He only wanted to rest for a few hours.

But just as he prepared to step into the elevator...

"..."

He picked up a small bear keychain from the ground.

Without a doubt.

This bear keychain belonged to the girl from earlier.

Oreki turned back.

But the girl's figure was already nowhere to be seen.

"Forget it."

He tucked the bear keychain into his pocket.

He would give it back to her if they met again.

That was what Oreki thought.

The elevator quickly arrived at the sixth floor.

After walking to his door, Oreki inserted his room card.

"Ding—"

"Welcome home."

--That's actually quite thoughtful...

He mused to himself before walking inside.

The room was quite large.

And it was a single room.

This was something Oreki liked very much.

It was full of freedom.

His sleep wouldn't be disturbed by anyone else.

He picked up his phone and checked the time... 7:15.

The entrance ceremony didn't start until 8:35.

In other words, Oreki still had an hour to sleep.

And so, without another word, he lay down on the bed and fell asleep.

Time ticked away, second by second.

...8:15

"Ring—"

"Ring—"

"...So annoying, who is it?"

Oreki opened one eye.

He unlocked his phone and answered the call.

"Student Oreki, it's already past eight o'clock, you know."

"When?"

"Hmm?"

"Never mind."

Oreki hung up the phone.

He had no idea when Sakayanagi Arisu had gotten hold of his number.

Perhaps she had swiped his phone when he wasn't looking.

Or maybe she had gathered it from somewhere else.

Out of caution, Oreki checked his text message interface.

Sure enough, a new contact had been added.

Sakayanagi Arisu.

There were only three functions in total.

Calling, texting, and payments.

She, Sakayanagi Arisu, occupied two of them at once.

Who knows, maybe even the payment function would be next...

"Factional infighting and all that, it's enough already."

Oreki left the house shortly after.

Fortunately, there were bicycles available on campus.

After scanning a random one, he rode directly to the gymnasium.

It was packed with people.

But he quickly located the spot for Class A.

"Over here, Oreki-kun."

Sakayanagi waved from not far away.

"..."

Oreki ignored her and walked toward the back.

But just as he stood still.

"Ahaha... U-um, Oreki, why don't you go a bit further ahead? I suddenly feel a bit sick to my stomach."

"M-me too!"

"To be honest, I can't hold it much longer either!"

Many of the boys headed toward the restrooms.

Until the spot right next to Sakayanagi was left empty.

Oreki sighed.

He walked forward helplessly.

Once he arrived beside Sakayanagi.

"We're together again, aren't we, Oreki-kun?"

"Don't say things that are so easily misunderstood."

"Hehe..."

"..."

Not far away.

Seeing Oreki and Sakayanagi standing together, those boys who had left began to return one after another.

No matter how you looked at it, it didn't seem like what they had claimed.

A dozen people going to the restroom.

It was impossible for them to return in such a short time... unless three people were sharing one stall.

--Let's chat via text, there are too many eyes and ears here.

--Mm, tell me about the intelligence you've gathered.

--Most students are using something like a phone to shop, and there are free daily necessities in the supermarket.

--I see.

--It's your turn to share your findings.

--I only took a look at the cafeteria. Some people have wild vegetable soup, while others have big fish and meat.

--In other words, this school is operating on a point-based system.

Oreki closed his phone.

Everything was just as he had expected.

He figured that once the entrance ceremony concluded, the homeroom teacher would try to pull a fast one on them.

For instance...

They would be given 100,000 points every month.

But in reality, they would only receive the 100,000 points for the first month.

Future points would be tied to their daily performance.

How boring.

Oreki closed his eyes, feeling listless.

But suddenly...

--Has there been a tennis match held in the gymnasium recently?

Sakayanagi looked at Oreki with a puzzled expression.

She quickly replied.

--Yes, there has.

--Then this entrance ceremony won't end until noon.

--Why?

--Because of tennis.

--Hm?

Oreki did not offer any further explanation.

He looked up at the steel rafters.

A white tennis ball was wedged right in the gap of the framework.

Not far below it was the electrical distribution box.

Soon, a fierce easterly wind blew in through the windows.

The girls' skirts fluttered wildly in the breeze.

This caused quite a few boys to sneak glances.

Except for Oreki.

His gaze remained fixed on that white tennis ball.

It's moving, just as I thought...

Before long, under the force of the strong wind, the white tennis ball broke free from its constraints and leaped downward.

It landed squarely inside the distribution box.

In an instant, all the lights went out.

The principal, who had been speaking with great enthusiasm, was left dumbfounded.

The previously silent scene began to stir with commotion.

--Did you know this would happen?

--I don't have superpowers.

Looking at the text message from Sakayanagi, Oreki replied casually.

He had only just figured it out himself.

There was a strong wind today, and the air humidity was high.

It was only a matter of time before that white tennis ball was blown down.

But if it fell into the distribution box, the damp surface of the ball would cause a short circuit.

"Please, remain calm."

The student council president standing to the side took control of the situation in a timely manner.

He took the microphone.

"I am the student council president, Horikita Manabu. Although an accident has occurred, it will not affect us. As you are all surely aware, this school emphasizes both academic and athletic excellence, boasting high rates of advancement and employment..."

During this time, the principal stepped down from the stage with long strides.

He immediately summoned a group of people.

"How could you let a mistake like this happen at a time like this? What are you people even doing?"

"Regardless of the reason, I order you to fix this within ten minutes!"

"Either you solve the problem, or I'll solve you!"

Watching from afar, Oreki sent a message to Sakayanagi.

--Is your father the chairman of the school board?

"Hmm."

"Tell him the issue is with the power distribution box by the window."

Sakayanagi complied quickly.

Upon receiving the message, Sakayanagi's father approached the principal.

After he whispered a few words, the principal's expression visibly softened.

In the end, the gymnasium lights flickered back to life.

"You owe me a favor, Sakayanagi."

"Should I offer myself to you in return?"

"No need, just don't bother me in the future."

"That, I'm afraid, I cannot do."

"Then bring me less trouble."

"Understood."

Sakayanagi rested both hands on her cane.

Her target had originally been someone else.

A girl named Ayanokoji Kiyoko.

But now it seems...

"You are becoming increasingly intriguing, little Oreki."

--To be continue