Just call me Kushida

When Takahashi Ren returned to the dorm room, Toba Shigeru and Ishida were each sitting on a sofa.

Ishida had his head lowered and was clearly in low spirits.

"Takahashi, why did your group's first discussion take almost two hours?" Ishida asked. "Did something happen?"

"No," Takahashi Ren said briefly. "A few things held us up."

"What about you two?"

"I don't really have much to say," Toba Shigeru said. "But Ishida couldn't quite accept it, so he went to see Katsuragi."

"You went to see Katsuragi?" Takahashi Ren looked at Ishida.

"Yeah." Ishida nodded. "I wanted to ask if he could tell us who the VIPs in our class were."

"What did he say?"

"He didn't tell me." Ishida sighed. "He just told us to follow his strategy."

"But Toba Shigeru helped me get the rosters for every group from Katsuragi."

"Since you asked me so earnestly," Toba Shigeru flashed a peace sign, his chin slightly raised, "I could only find it in my generous heart to help you out."

At those words, Takahashi Ren instinctively looked at Ishida. The corner of Ishida's mouth twitched, but he ultimately said nothing and simply remained silent.

"You want to find your group's VIP?" Takahashi Ren asked.

"Yeah."

"If Katsuragi doesn't agree, that means you still can't take part in the group discussions. How are you planning to find them?"

"I can only try on my own, outside the discussions."

"Why are you so set on this? Have you noticed something?"

"I can't really explain it. I just feel like we've missed some information about the exam. Something keeps feeling off."

Ishida's brows knitted together as he muttered to himself, seemingly only a step away from figuring it out.

Takahashi Ren decided to help him with a hint. "Come to think of it, I also thought the phrase 'careful adjustment' in the school's email was a little strange. Almost like..."

"Yes, that's it!" Ishida abruptly raised his head, his eyes gleaming. "Like there's some kind of pattern hidden in it."

"A pattern?"

"Right," Ishida said. "The school specifically emphasized 'careful adjustment,' which means the VIPs weren't chosen at random."

"That makes sense," Toba Shigeru said. "Then do you know what the pattern is?"

"No."

Ishida shook his head, the light that had just flared in his eyes dimming again. "We're missing a key piece of information-who the VIPs in the other groups are. With just the rosters and nothing to compare them against, there's no way to work it out."

He added quietly, "Even knowing just one VIP would help."

"Yeah. What should we do?" Toba Shigeru said.

Takahashi Ren listened in silence.

He did indeed have the answer. But he wasn't going to tell them outright.

He didn't want Ishida and Toba Shigeru to develop a habit of relying on him to solve everything. When they ran into a problem, they had to try thinking it through themselves first.

Besides, these two also needed to experience working together.

He gave it no more thought, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

During the second discussion, Class A continued to cling to its strategy. Some students from the other classes were also swayed by it to varying degrees.

That evening, Toba Shigeru and Ishida somehow dug up the identity of the Class A VIP in the Rat Group, and Takahashi Ren confirmed that they were right.

The two holed up in the dorm room and began studying the rosters for a pattern.

Takahashi Ren didn't disturb them and left the room alone.

It was nearly midnight, and the cruise ship was quiet. Most students had returned to their rooms, and there was hardly anyone in the corridors.

He wandered aimlessly and found himself near the deck before he knew it.

The night breeze was slightly chilly, carrying the distinctive briny tang of seawater.

He leaned against the railing and gazed at the pitch-black sea in the distance, when images from Titanic suddenly sprang into his mind.

But he quickly dismissed the thought-the ending of that movie wasn't exactly auspicious.

Footsteps came from behind him.

He instinctively looked back. A figure was approaching from the far end of the corridor. Seemingly noticing him too, she stopped and tilted her head slightly.

"Huh? Takahashi...?"

He recognized that voice.

"Kushida?"

The person who emerged from the darkness was indeed Kushida Kikyo. She was wearing a light jacket and looked as though she had come out for a walk too.

"Are you alone?" she asked.

"Yeah. Just getting some air."

"Me too."

Kushida walked over beside him and leaned naturally against the railing. She turned to glance at him, then suddenly smiled. "So we're both here on our own."

She looked away and gazed into the distance, a hint of ease in her voice:

"It always feels a little awkward being alone at a time like this. So I'm pretty happy I ran into you."

"Yeah." Takahashi Ren's tone was level.

They stayed silent like that for a while.

"Aren't you sleepy, Takahashi?"

"Not really."

"Then I'll head back first. The sea breeze is pretty cold at night."

"Okay."

"Good night, Takahashi."

"Good night."

Kushida turned around, took two steps forward, and suddenly stopped. A moment later, a rush of warmth pressed into his back.

Takahashi Ren didn't move. He could distinctly feel the contact against his back, as well as the hands gently clutching the hem of his shirt.

"...Kushida?"

His voice was a little lower than usual, but he wasn't flustered. Just surprised-surprised that she would do this.

The wind was still blowing, but suddenly he no longer felt cold.

Instinct told him to push her away, but reason said, Don't move.

If she had worked up her courage and finally managed to take this step, intending to open her heart to him.

Pushing her away now, whether physically or through cold words, would close the door she had just opened.

He simply stood there without speaking or hurrying her. He waited quietly.

For her to speak, or for her to let go.

Only after a long while did her voice come from behind him, very softly.

"Just call me Kushida."

"...I'm sorry. I just feel... um..."

She leaned against his back, as though struggling to find the words. "Maybe I suddenly felt too lonely on my own."

Takahashi Ren didn't answer.

He shouldn't offer words of comfort now, nor was he in any position to. Listening was the best response.

But they couldn't keep hugging like this forever, either.

Words and judgment were struggling to keep up at that moment, yet his body had already reacted first.

The sound of his heartbeat grew louder in the silence, and a certain part of him stiffened, trembling slightly.

Dozens of seconds passed, perhaps longer. Kushida suddenly let go, as though breaking free of some restraint, and hurriedly stepped back.

"S-sorry. I... um... I just suddenly... good night!"

With that, she turned and ran.

Takahashi Ren didn't call her back.

He stood where he was as the lingering warmth on his back faded little by little. His heartbeat slowly steadied, and the stiffened part gradually relaxed as well.

The wind blew harder, but he didn't feel cold at all.

He stood there a little longer before turning and returning to his room.