A bluff

On Friday morning of the third week, Mr. Mashima handed out the midterm exam papers. There were five subjects, in order: social studies, Japanese, chemistry, mathematics, and English.

The questions were a little harder than the last quiz, but for most Class A students, they still weren't much of a challenge.

As usual, though, Takahashi Ren got stuck on English. After the exam, he had a bad feeling about it.

Three days later, Mr. Mashima posted the results on the blackboard. In black and white, the names and scores were clear at a glance.

Aside from Japanese, nearly half the students had earned perfect scores in the other four subjects. Most of the rest scored above ninety, with a scattered few in the eighties.

Takahashi Ren had done well in his other subjects. Only in English had he scored just eighty-one.

His one consolation was that Ai Morishita had the same English score as him.

Sure enough, she and he were a good match.

After class, Toba Shigeru immediately rushed over.

"Didn't see that coming, did you, Takahashi? My English score was higher than yours." He stood with his hands on his hips, looking smug.

"Yes, yes, you're amazing." Takahashi Ren readily admitted defeat.

"Did something go wrong? Do you need me to take a look?" Ishida came over too, asking with concern.

"No need. It's nothing major."

There was no helping it. Just looking at English gave him a headache.

He wasn't going to touch it voluntarily outside class, either. He would leave it at that.

"Wow, Ishida, you're playing favorites. You don't care about me at all." Toba Shigeru immediately turned on Ishida.

"Both you and I scored lower than Takahashi in the other four subjects. Helping you wouldn't do any good."

"Why bring that up now? Can't you let me gloat a little longer?" The smile on Toba Shigeru's face froze for a moment before he protested indignantly.

"Haven't you had enough?" Ishida gave him a helpless look. "Takahashi already admitted it. What more do you want?"

"Well, obviously... I haven't thought of that yet." Toba Shigeru scratched beside his ear, embarrassed.

Takahashi Ren laughed. "All right, come back and gloat once you've figured it out. My English really is worse than yours, anyway. However you put it, you win on that one."

Toba Shigeru paused, then broke into a grin. "You said it. Don't regret it when I go telling everyone."

"Suit yourself."

Ishida kept needling him. "But you lost to Takahashi in every other subject. If you're going to tell people, you might want to figure out how to explain that first."

"You bastard!" Toba Shigeru looked aggrieved. "I finally win for once, and you still make it a total defeat. Fuck!"

Over the weekend, while browsing the mall, Takahashi Ren once again caught sight of that figure out of the corner of his eye-Kamuro Masumi of the Sakayanagi Faction.

It seemed this wasn't a coincidence. She was following him.

He had to find out whether Kamuro knew about the incident with Kushida.

If she had been there that day, then once word got out, Kushida would lose trust in him even if he hadn't been the one to tell anyone.

It wouldn't just mean trouble for Kushida. He wouldn't have any peace, either.

Asking directly wouldn't work. Although the system could verify whether a statement was true, Kamuro had to speak first. If she refused to talk, there would be nothing to verify.

Yamamura had once said that her work for Sakayanagi was secret, and the other members of the Sakayanagi Faction didn't know about it.

An idea formed in Takahashi Ren's mind. Perhaps he could use that as an opening to bluff her.

He stopped Kamuro at the entrance and said, "Excuse me, could we talk for a moment?"

The two went to a secluded corner.

"You don't need to follow me anymore." Takahashi turned around and said with certainty, "Your assignment is over."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Kamuro Masumi frowned.

"You don't need to hide it. I'm working for Sakayanagi too. I've known for a while that she had you watching me."

"Ha, I've never even heard of you."

Takahashi Ren lowered his voice. "I'm one of her covert assets, and there should be more hidden pieces like me. With her personality, there's no way she'd tell you."

"Why would she do that?" Kamuro began to waver.

"My job is to help Sakayanagi see whether you're loyal. But your attitude toward your work has been disappointing," Takahashi Ren continued.

"You've got to be kidding! Who would willingly help her? If it weren't for-" Kamuro flared up, then abruptly stopped herself.

"She has something on you." Takahashi Ren understood.

"Are all you smart people this good at figuring things out?" Kamuro said bitterly. "What exactly do you want?"

"Relax. I have no intention of digging into it. I have just one question, and once you've answered, you can go. I won't tell anyone what happened today, either."

"Really? Why would you help me?"

Takahashi Ren fell silent for a moment, then gave a faint, helpless, bitter smile.

"Because she's blackmailing me too. If I don't do what she says, she'll make me drop out."

At this, Kamuro seemed to sympathize, and her tone softened. "Go ahead."

"Where were you after school on Thursday two weeks ago?"

"Hold on, let me check my notes." Kamuro took out her phone, her fingers swiping quickly across the screen.

"You're pretty thorough."

"You think I want to be? Sakayanagi insisted. Something about how even a poor written record beats a good memory. Really, she just doesn't trust me."

"Oh, I see." Takahashi Ren acknowledged her without saying anything more.

"That day, I followed you to the clubroom. As usual, I left partway through."

[Eye of Insight]: Kamuro Masumi was telling the truth.

The weight on Takahashi Ren's mind finally lifted.

Under these circumstances, she most likely wouldn't lie. But even if there was only the slightest chance, he couldn't gamble on it. He wanted one hundred percent certainty.

"All right. You can go."

"Wait." Kamuro seemed to suddenly remember something. "I just thought of a question."

She hasn't seen through it this quickly, has she? Takahashi Ren's heart tightened slightly.

He had made this story up on the spot. Although parts of it did have some basis, its holes wouldn't stand up to scrutiny, either. He had to hurriedly come up with a response.

Kamuro glanced around, then lowered her voice and asked, "Could Sakayanagi have other people watching us?" Her tone held complete conviction.

So that's what it was. Takahashi Ren inwardly sighed with relief.

"No. Although I don't know who her other hidden pieces are, she only assigns one person to watch any given target."

"Then what should I report to her?"

"Just say I caught you. Don't mention a word of anything else."

"Understood." Kamuro hesitated, then took out her phone. "Let's exchange contact details. I'll let you know if I hear anything."

"No need." Takahashi Ren waved a hand. "That could easily expose us."

Any further contact would only create complications.

"What we said today stays between us and heaven and earth," Takahashi Ren reminded her.

Kamuro nodded solemnly and replied, "You know, and I know."

Watching her walk away, Takahashi Ren murmured to himself, "Don't blame me, Kamuro. I know Sakayanagi has you under her thumb, and you have no choice. But I lied to you to keep my promise to Kushida, too."

After leaving, Kamuro contacted Sakayanagi on her phone and briefly explained that Takahashi Ren had caught her.

"If he caught you, then there's nothing to be done."

"Then is my assignment over?"

"Yes. Next, go watch Katsuragi. I'll find someone else for Takahashi."

"Still not enough? I don't think there's anything wrong with Takahashi."

"I'm the one who decides whether there's anything wrong."

"Then why won't you let me rest for a while? You're just tormenting me, aren't you?"

"Not at all." Sakayanagi chuckled. "To keep you from falling back into your bad habits, Masumi, I'll just have to work you to the bone."

"...I'll never understand people like you."

"You don't need to understand. All you need to do is be good and listen, little Masumi. You're a talented person, after all."

"I told you not to call me that. It's disgusting."

May summary (not included in this chapter's word count)

· Causal Deduction: three uses in total (none)

· Eye of Insight: two uses in total (chapter fourteen, Kamuro was telling the truth)