"Hey, this is a strange time to ask, but..."
"Hmm? Go ahead, Houtarou."
"Were you the one who was all over me last night?"
"Of course not. I was in the dorm the whole time, agonizing over it. I just couldn't choose between you and Sakayanagi."
"Is that so? Whatever. Do what you want, just don't interfere with my plans."
"Of course."
Hashimoto Masayoshi looked utterly devoted.
He really was fickle.
Oreki thought.
Not long ago, when he'd invited Hashimoto to join him, the guy had only laughed at him.
That hadn't mattered.
Hashimoto Masayoshi wasn't the only one who could fight.
At least, not in Class A.
There was Kito Hayato, for example.
Though it seemed Sakayanagi had won him over too.
How strange...
How had she managed it in just a few days?
She'd so easily taken several hotheads under her wing.
It was hard to believe.
"It's about time. Let's go and stick to the plan."
"Yeah. With me around, Houtarou, you won't get so much as a scratch."
"Thanks for that."
"Don't mention it."
"...Sigh."
Oreki shook his head and left.
There was nothing wrong with being tactful, but...
He really couldn't deal with people like that.
At least their relationship was just a simple matter of mutual benefit. If they became friends... No, better not.
After saying goodbye to Hashimoto Masayoshi,
Oreki returned to Class A.
It was already nearly four o'clock.
"Looks like I underestimated you."
As he passed Sakayanagi, she said this.
But she sounded more curious than anything.
There was no resentment or displeasure in her voice.
Was she unconcerned about losing Hashimoto Masayoshi, or was she certain he'd come back before long?
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Oreki threw her own words back at her.
That felt great.
It was nice to let Sakayanagi know what it was like to be stumped.
"Is that so? You'll understand soon enough."
"?"
"Hehe..."
"You wouldn't have..."
Oreki suddenly realized something was wrong.
He'd poached one of Sakayanagi Arisu's underlings.
She shouldn't have been so calm about it.
Could she have set a trap for him too?
If so, where?
Oreki began to analyze the situation.
Why wait until four?
Why switch his phone?
Why...
"!"
Oreki finally understood.
He didn't want to run, but if he didn't hurry now, he might be too late.
It had to do with Shiina Hiyori.
Sakayanagi had deliberately stalled for time. She must be waiting for something.
There was only one reason to switch their phones.
To keep Oreki from contacting Shiina Hiyori.
No...
She might have gone even further.
She could have sent Shiina Hiyori a message pretending to be Oreki.
When he arrived at the Literature Club,
he found the once-empty room packed with people.
Quite a few members who rarely showed up had come too.
"Can I help you?"
Seeing Oreki standing at the door, the Literature Club president came out to ask.
She seemed to know him, though.
Wait, it would've been stranger if she didn't.
Sakayanagi must have told her about him.
She might even have asked her to pass on a message.
"No..."
Oreki looked into the room.
Shiina Hiyori sat at the far-left seat around the round table.
She was calmly reading a book.
She didn't so much as glance toward the door.
Hmm...
It seemed Sakayanagi Arisu really had sent her something.
That was devious.
But Oreki had no right to criticize Sakayanagi.
After all, he'd poached Hashimoto Masayoshi from her too.
They'd both played dirty.
"I'm sorry. I've got the wrong room."
Oreki made up an excuse and left.
He'd been planning to recruit Shiina Hiyori.
After all, one person's intellect had its limits.
One more genius meant one more possibility.
At the very least, Shiina Hiyori was indispensable when it came to dealing with Sakayanagi.
Even if she was in Class C.
That mere "Ryuen Shoko" was nothing to worry about.
Those who ruled through terror often wore themselves down with internal strife.
And eventually, they'd wear themselves out of existence.
I lost by one move.
Fine, Sakayanagi wins this round.
Oreki thought.
But it was only temporary.
Houtarou Oreki would never give in.
Unless Sakayanagi Arisu fell in love with him.
Is that so? Is that so...
Sakayanagi Arisu chasing after him, huh?
???
She wants to have her cake and eat it too, doesn't she?
That was how tsunderes were.
As if he wasn't the one who'd fallen for Sakayanagi Arisu.
When he returned to the classroom,
he saw Sakayanagi still sitting at her desk.
Normally, she would have gone home by now.
After all, Sakayanagi Arisu wasn't in the best of health.
She couldn't participate in club activities.
And even if she wanted to, the school would probably discourage her as tactfully as possible.
It wasn't something to take lightly if anything went wrong.
The school couldn't afford to take responsibility.
"Well? Have you made up your mind?"
"About what?"
"What we discussed earlier."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You're being a little cheeky, Houtarou."
Golden sunlight streamed through the window.
The wind lifted the hem of Sakayanagi Arisu's white dress just enough to reveal her buttoned garter belt.
As she leaned toward him, Oreki's back met the cold wall.
"Stop... There are people watching..."
"So you do get embarrassed."
"Okay, okay. I give up. Happy now?"
Oreki held both hands up in front of himself.
Being pinned against a wall by a girl was just too... well, something.
Uh...
For a moment, Oreki couldn't even find the words to describe it.
In short, it was embarrassing.
"Good. That's more like it."
Sakayanagi lowered her right hand.
She stepped back half a pace and gently touched her cheek.
All right...
So Sakayanagi Arisu was pretty embarrassed herself.
Tch, what was this supposed to be?
The girls nearby were practically dying from the sweetness.
But the few boys left...
"That guy's got some nerve, letting the princess chase after him!"
"Unforgivable!"
"Where's the FFF Inquisition? Take down this lovey-dovey couple!"
Wait...
Leaving aside the whole "princess" thing...
The FFF Inquisition?
Had they wandered into the wrong story?
Oreki grumbled to himself.
Too bad.
Oreki had nearly gathered everyone he needed.
The strategist, Shiina Hiyori.
The fighter, Hashimoto Masayoshi.
If he had those two on his side, wouldn't dealing with Sakayanagi be a piece of cake?
The great revival...
Ahem, he should say, unifying the entire grade.
Of course, Oreki's confidence in doing this didn't actually come from believing in his own abilities.
It came from the fact that Sakayanagi Arisu genuinely liked him.
Her father felt the same way.
Apparently, while Oreki had been raising Sakayanagi's affection for him, he'd also raised her father's without meaning to.
But he couldn't afford to raise the latter's too much.
After all, this wasn't some boy-and-boy game.
Nor was it a boy-and-boy novel.
In short...
It probably wasn't possible to break away from Sakayanagi Arisu now.
He'd better keep his head down.
It was a shame about Shiina Hiyori, though.
But he didn't plan to give up.
Leaving Shiina Hiyori in Class C would be a waste of her talent.
He'd find a time to explain things to her.
Oreki thought.
--To be continued
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