—No.
But if I said that, there'd probably be bad consequences, wouldn't there?
I should ask Sakayanagi what she wanted first.
Oreki thought to himself.
So he asked Sakayanagi:
"Is something wrong?"
"My father's curious about you and wants to meet you."
"Hm?"
Th-this can't be right, can it?
Things were moving too fast.
Was he already going to meet her parents?
A puzzled expression appeared on Oreki's face.
Seeing it, Sakayanagi let out a soft laugh.
"I never said my father had taken a liking to you."
"Ahem..."
"Your plan is very good, and it has a high chance of success."
"I just came up with it on a whim."
"Not everyone could think of something like that."
Sakayanagi deliberately looked over at Oreki.
She was curious why he wasn't agreeing outright.
There weren't many chances to meet the school chairman.
If things went well, he might even be able to make connections.
Then he'd have someone influential to rely on.
Oreki fell silent for a while.
He'd already agreed to meet Karuizawa Kei that afternoon.
Besides, his goal was to set up his own informant in Class D.
He couldn't let Sakayanagi know about something so confidential.
He wasn't Sakayanagi's subordinate.
Nor had he formed an alliance with her.
They were only cooperating for mutual benefit.
"I've got too much to do today. Let's meet another time."
"You're taking the initiative now, aren't you?"
"I can't help it. I can't exactly go meet your father looking exhausted, can I?"
"Mm, that's true."
Sakayanagi ended the conversation without any fuss.
That was completely unlike her.
Usually, she wouldn't have given up so easily.
Oreki found it suspicious.
But it wasn't a good time to say so.
"Class is about to start."
Their chubby homeroom teacher came in through the front door.
The noisy classroom quickly fell silent.
Oreki listlessly took out his textbook.
A few hours later.
The dismissal bell rang.
The homeroom teacher left quickly, without keeping the class late.
"I'm heading back to the dorm."
Oreki stood up and left his seat.
He glanced at Sakayanagi, who was still sitting at her desk.
She showed no intention of following him.
"What is it? I thought you said you were going back."
"Mm..."
Oreki picked up his shoulder bag and walked out through the back door.
Not far away.
As soon as Karuizawa Kei saw Oreki come out, she hurried over.
Looking a little uneasy, she asked:
"Could you come with me for a moment?"
"Now?"
"Please..."
"All right."
Oreki nodded in agreement.
He'd originally planned to exchange email addresses with Karuizawa Kei and then leave.
After all, something seemed off with Sakayanagi.
"Let's go to the pavilion by the lake in the park."
"Okay!"
So the two of them took the long way around to get there.
But they had no idea...
Sakayanagi had watched the whole thing from the rooftop.
She adjusted her beret slightly.
"Being a player isn't very nice, little Oreki."
Meanwhile.
Oreki stopped when they reached the pavilion by the lake.
He asked Karuizawa Kei:
"Can you tell me now?"
"It's her..."
"Who?"
"The girl you said had a disheveled collar."
"Oh..."
"She wants me to give her fifty thousand points."
"Why?"
"Because... I made her lose face..."
Karuizawa Kei lowered her head.
In reality, it wasn't her.
It should have been Oreki.
But Oreki was in Class A, and he was also on close terms with the chairman's daughter. Most people wouldn't be foolish enough to offend him.
Karuizawa Kei was different.
She had no connections and no power.
She seemed like... someone anyone could push around.
"So what are you asking me?"
"..."
Karuizawa Kei bit her lip.
She knew that if she didn't make herself clear now, she wouldn't get another chance.
Hirata couldn't compare to Oreki.
"Um! Could you... pretend to be my..."
"Sorry."
"I figured as much..."
"But I can protect you from getting hurt."
"Really?"
"Of course. As long as you agree to one condition."
"What condition?"
"Help me keep an eye on someone."
Oreki looked serious.
He had a feeling...
That girl named Ayanokoji Kiyoko wasn't simple.
If he couldn't figure out what she was up to soon, something unexpected might happen.
"Who?"
"Ayanokoji Kiyoko."
"Her? I can do that... but that girl seems kind of absent-minded, and she doesn't talk much."
Karuizawa Kei said, puzzled.
Her impression of Ayanokoji Kiyoko was rather vague.
After all, Ayanokoji Kiyoko had so little presence.
Yet whenever something important happened, everyone remembered her.
"This is my email address. We'll talk more once we're back."
Oreki handed Karuizawa Kei a piece of paper.
Just as he was about to turn and leave...
"C-can I be selfish for a moment?"
Karuizawa Kei said quietly.
"What?"
Before Oreki could finish asking, Karuizawa Kei grabbed his right hand.
"I want you to walk me back. I don't feel safe... walking alone..."
"...All right."
Oreki nodded helplessly.
"But we have to keep two meters apart."
"...Do you really hate me that much?"
"That's not why."
Oreki looked at Karuizawa Kei.
His tone was firm:
"If you're not willing, then just pretend I never said what I said earlier."
"I am!"
Karuizawa Kei replied at once.
"Good."
Oreki turned and walked away.
After he'd gone a little distance, Karuizawa Kei hurried after him.
The two of them arrived at the dorms, one following the other.
It was already half past three.
"Stay in the dorm and keep your head down today."
"Mm..."
After walking Karuizawa Kei to the entrance, Oreki headed to his own room.
A lot had happened today.
It'd be a lie to say he wasn't tired.
—I'm sleepy... I don't want to move at all.
Oreki, who'd just blinked, suddenly perked up.
He'd spotted Katsuragi.
Katsuragi was carrying his luggage toward the elevator.
It looked like he'd only just been allowed to leave.
Poor guy.
Oreki thought nothing of it.
But suddenly...
Katsuragi turned to look at Oreki.
"You?"
Before you continue