Why Was She Helping You?

After the second period the next morning, Hirata returned first.

He pressed two casually noted-down names onto Gu Heng's desk.

"These two."

Hirata lowered his voice. "Yesterday and this morning, they were both spreading roughly the same thing."

"Which line?"

"'The teacher on duty saw Sudo throw a kick.'"

Hirata paused. "There's another, harsher one. They say this probably won't be an ordinary punishment—he might get a major demerit."

Gu Heng lowered his gaze and gave them a quick look.

He said nothing.

A few minutes later, Horikita returned as well.

She set her books on the desk.

Her expression was far from pleasant.

"The cameras cover half the back area."

She spoke quickly. "But not from the front. The footage alone isn't enough to turn this around."

"What about the teacher on duty?"

Gu Heng asked.

"They could see the conflict happen."

Horikita said, "But they couldn't clearly see who said what first."

Gu Heng nodded.

It wasn't direct enough.

But things hadn't gone completely bad yet.

Hirata glanced out the window.

Kushida was standing in the hallway, talking with two girls.

Her smile looked no different from usual.

"Gu Heng."

Hirata lowered his voice. "Why is she helping you?"

Horikita looked over as well.

Clearly, that was what she wanted to ask too.

Gu Heng followed their gazes and looked over.

"She's not helping me."

Gu Heng withdrew his gaze. "She's scrambling for a position for herself."

Hirata froze.

"A position?"

"Once a situation like this turns messy, whoever gets the information first carries the most weight when they speak."

Gu Heng said, "Kushida may not be on our side, but she definitely doesn't want to be left outside the information loop."

Horikita pressed her lips together.

"So you know she's dangerous, yet you're still letting her in."

"Yes."

Gu Heng didn't deny it. "Because the person who can reach the girls' side fastest right now isn't you, me, or Hirata."

"It's her."

Horikita said nothing more.

But the disapproval in her eyes hadn't lessened in the slightest.

Gu Heng didn't explain further.

As soon as the lunch bell rang, he returned to the classroom.

There weren't many people inside.

As expected, Kushida was already sitting there waiting.

She was spinning her phone in her hand.

When she saw Gu Heng come in, she smiled first.

"You're faster than I expected."

She said.

"That means you've already got something."

Kushida blinked.

"Is that a compliment, or are you trying to fish something out of me?"

"Depends which one you'd rather call it."

Gu Heng sat down across from her.

Kushida didn't rush to speak.

She watched him for two seconds first.

"Then let me ask a question first."

She said softly, "Why are you so sure the other side doesn't have anything solid enough?"

Gu Heng didn't answer right away.

That was what she had truly come here to trade for.

Not the gossip surrounding Sudo.

She wanted to know what gave Gu Heng the confidence to make that judgment.

"I can only give you a general range."

Gu Heng said, "If they had truly locked this down already, what you're hearing now wouldn't just be rumors from students."

Kushida's eyes shifted slightly.

"In other words," she spun her phone halfway around, "you think they're spreading rumors first?"

"It's not what I think."

Gu Heng looked at her. "They're trying to make the rumors real."

"Turning 'Sudo is in trouble' into 'Sudo is beyond saving.'"

After those words fell, the smile on Kushida's face slowed by half a beat.

But only half a beat.

"You're really good at getting to the point."

She said softly.

"So?"

Gu Heng asked. "What did you find?"

This time, Kushida stopped beating around the bush.

"It didn't start with the boys in Class C."

She said. "It started spreading among the girls."

Gu Heng's gaze sharpened slightly.

"Go on."

"At first, someone said the teacher on duty saw Sudo throw a kick. Then people gradually added that he might get a major demerit, or even be made into a disciplinary example."

"Who said it first?"

"That would be a second question."

Kushida's eyes curved. "Gu Heng, one trade can't make me show you all my cards, can it?"

Gu Heng didn't press her.

He merely looked at her.

"Then I'll give you one line too."

He said, "Take what I just said and spread it around."

"Which line?"

"The other side may not have anything as solid as they're making it sound."

Kushida looked at him, and her gaze finally grew a little more serious.

"You want to use me to test people?"

"And see who gets anxious first."

Gu Heng said.

"What if I spread that line in the wrong place?"

"Even better."

Gu Heng's tone didn't change. "At least I'll find out sooner who's close to whom right now."

Kushida stared at him.

After two seconds, she suddenly smiled.

This time, the smile was more genuine.

But also colder.

"Gu Heng."

Her voice was light and soft. "When you came looking for me, did you want my help, or did you want to use me to test people?"

Gu Heng smiled too.

"Is there a difference?"

Kushida fell silent for a moment.

Then her fingertip lightly tapped the edge of the desk.

"Fine."

She said, "Then I'll see what your half-true, half-false line can bait out."

"But let me warn you first."

"Starting this afternoon, people have been seriously pushing the 'major demerit' angle."

"And it's not just one mouth pushing it."

Gu Heng's gaze darkened.

"That's enough."

After saying that, he stood up.

Kushida was taken aback.

"You're not going to ask any more?"

"If I keep asking, you'll raise your price."

Kushida laughed out loud at that.

"You really won't let yourself take even the slightest loss."

"Neither will you."

Gu Heng turned and headed out.

When he reached the stairwell, a voice sounded behind him, neither loud nor soft.

"That line you said earlier wasn't meant for Kushida alone, was it?"

Gu Heng paused.

He turned around.

Ayanokoji was leaning against the wall.

He still had that can of coffee in his hand.

"You deliberately put out the line that the other side doesn't have anything solid."

Ayanokoji looked at him, his tone even. "You wanted to see who reacted first."

Gu Heng didn't deny it.

Ayanokoji paused for two seconds.

Then he looked at Gu Heng and asked the more direct question.

"Gu Heng."

"How much do you actually know?"