Meeting on the Rooftop

No! I couldn't laugh yet!

Shiomiya Yo forcibly held back his laughter.

Just then, Kushida Kikyo walked over.

"Shiomiya, thanks so much for helping me on the bus earlier. Let's exchange contact information," Kushida Kikyo said with a smile.

"Sure." Shiomiya Yo composed himself and used the campus terminal he'd just received to exchange contact information with her.

Shiomiya Yo was always in the habit of agreeing to Kushida Kikyo's requests.

After thanking him and leaving, Kushida Kikyo exchanged contact information with most of the class as well.

After that, everyone headed to the gym for the opening ceremony.

These things usually meant school administrators giving sleep-inducing speeches, so Shiomiya Yo stood below, idly observing everyone in sight.

Shiomiya Yo had lost interest in all kinds of entertainment a long time ago, when he realized that people were diverse.

After that, his greatest pastime was observing others and analyzing them based on various details.

Although everyone was different, most people could be easily classified. These ordinary people no longer interested Shiomiya Yo.

Only those who stood out from the crowd could catch his attention.

He was engrossed in watching when he noticed everyone around him had fallen silent.

On the stage ahead, an upperclassman was coldly watching the audience.

"Psychological pressure?"

The corners of Shiomiya Yo's lips lifted slightly.

"Using psychological tricks just to give a speech? This school's kind of interesting."

But Shiomiya Yo felt that this was somewhat inappropriate.

Wasn't he worried some extraordinary person might suddenly show up and cause trouble?

How many extraordinary people were there at this school? Shiomiya Yo didn't believe this upperclassman was unaware.

"My name is Horikita Manabu, Student Council President..."

Shiomiya Yo wasn't really listening to what he was saying. What had caught his attention was Horikita Suzune beside him, whose expression seemed a little off.

"They probably know each other. They share a surname, so they're likely relatives."

Horikita Suzune noticed Shiomiya Yo looking at her.

"What are you looking at?"

"You have the same surname as the Student Council President onstage."

"Huh? What are you talking about? It's just a coincidence." Horikita Suzune immediately retorted.

"Maybe."

Seeing this, Shiomiya Yo stopped arguing with her.

Such a strong rebuttal meant she was either feeling guilty or had a contrarian personality.

Shiomiya Yo couldn't be bothered with her, though he stole a few more glances.

Sure enough, the two had a similar air about them.

More precisely, one was the original and the other a copy.

Interesting...

Noted!

A new chapter—"Clone's Observation Diary."

Horikita Suzune, Horikita Manabu, let me get to know you better!

The speech ended soon, and everyone began filing out. After all, there was a lot to do on the first day.

Shiomiya Yo took a quick look at the other classes.

There were no extraordinary people in Classes A, B, or C who immediately stood out at a glance.

There was just one long-haired, blue-violet girl in Class A whose air was different, full of wisdom.

Shiomiya Yo couldn't explain exactly what it was, but she definitely didn't seem human!

After leaving the gym, Shiomiya Yo returned to his dorm room.

The room had a semi-open kitchen just inside the entrance, as well as a private bathroom, a balcony, a bed, a desk, and a computer. It had everything.

It still felt a little small to Shiomiya Yo. After he'd tidied up, his phone suddenly rang.

He opened the message. It was from Kushida Kikyo.

[Kushida Kikyo: Let's meet on the rooftop of the school building at two this afternoon.]

[Shiomiya Yo: Okay.]

Shiomiya Yo frowned. Hadn't they agreed to act like strangers? Why was she still asking to meet him?

Still, he didn't mind.

After tidying up the dorm room, Shiomiya Yo went to the cafeteria to see how the food was.

There were cameras everywhere along the way. The place was more heavily surveilled than a prison.

Even so, a school this big was bound to have a few blind spots without cameras. He wondered if that was intentional.

The cafeteria had a wide variety of dishes. It looked like he wouldn't get tired of eating here over the next three years.

Shiomiya Yo went straight for a high-end seafood set meal.

It tasted fresh and sweet, with that distinctive seafood flavor. The meal had been worth it, though it had cost him a thousand points.

Looks like he'd have to earn some points. With his spending habits, a hundred thousand points a month wouldn't be enough.

After lunch, it was soon time to meet Kushida.

Shiomiya Yo arrived as agreed. Once on the rooftop, he looked around but didn't see Kushida Kikyo anywhere.

More interestingly, there were no cameras on this rooftop.

Clang!

The rooftop door locked behind him with a metallic sound.

Kushida Kikyo stood by the door. She locked it, then walked toward Shiomiya Yo.

Kushida Kikyo spoke in the cutesy voice she always used.

"Thanks for coming here, Shiomiya!"

Shiomiya Yo frowned. "There's no one else here, and there aren't any cameras. You don't have to use that voice with me, do you?"

Kushida Kikyo chuckled. "What are you talking about, Shiomiya? This is just how I always talk!"

As she spoke, Kushida Kikyo moved closer to Shiomiya Yo.

The distance between them was well within what most people would consider their personal space.

This was one of Kushida Kikyo's talents, and one of her usual tactics.

She could always breach other people's personal space with ease.

But to Shiomiya Yo, this was nothing.

It wasn't like they'd never hugged before.

Looking down into Kushida Kikyo's bright eyes, Shiomiya Yo felt a little dazed.

But he quickly came to his senses.

"What exactly did you want to talk to me about?"

Kushida Kikyo tilted her head, feigning distress.

"Um... I want you to leave the school, Shiomiya."

"Would you?"

Kushida Kikyo blinked, asking as casually as if she were asking whether he'd eaten.

Shiomiya Yo immediately refused.

"Impossible!"

Kushida Kikyo didn't seem bothered. She repeated what she'd just said, this time in a much more serious tone.

"I want you to leave the school, Shiomi."

Shiomiya Yo could tell she was serious, so he answered seriously too.

"Are you asking me to help you?"

Those words seemed to have some kind of magic. Kushida froze for a moment, then quickly recovered.

"No~ It's just a suggestion."

"After all, Shiomi knows too much!"

Shiomiya Yo didn't care that Kushida was avoiding the question. He just smiled.

"You should know I won't tell anyone."

Kushida didn't deny it. She simply continued.

"But it's not pleasant having a knife held to your throat, even if you know it won't fall."

Kushida giggled, then took both of Shiomiya Yo's hands in hers. Looking into his eyes, she asked earnestly,

"So, Shiomi, would you be willing to leave on your own?"

Shiomiya Yo looked at Kushida's smiling face, so close to his. He didn't feel the slightest stir of desire. She just looked like a doll to him, and suddenly he felt a little irritated.

When Kushida saw that he hadn't answered for a while, she assumed he still wasn't willing.

She continued speaking in her cutesy voice, listing all kinds of reasons why Shiomiya Yo should drop out on his own.

But by then, Shiomiya Yo wasn't listening at all. The more Kushida said, the more irritated he felt.

Finally, Shiomiya Yo couldn't take it anymore.