Keyaki Mall.
Takahashi Ren had only come to buy some daily necessities today, but someone stopped him at the supermarket entrance.
"Takahashi, what a coincidence."
He turned around. Sakayanagi Arisu stood a short distance away, leaning on her signature cane, a faint smile on her face.
"...Sakayanagi."
"You don't look very pleased to see me."
"It's not that."
"Good." Sakayanagi walked up to him, looked up at him, and said, "Come walk around with me."
"Why?"
"Because I'd like to talk to you," she said with a smile. "You're not going to leave me here all alone and walk away, are you?"
"Where are your friends?" Takahashi Ren asked.
"My friends?" Sakayanagi chuckled softly, as though she'd heard a joke only she understood. "I didn't ask them to come. I just wanted to talk to you alone today."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Takahashi Ren glanced around.
People came and went through the mall. A few students were coming out of the bubble tea shop next door, their gazes lingering on the two of them for an extra second.
Sakayanagi's silver hair stood out so much in the crowd that it was hard not to notice her.
"Walking around the mall alone with a boy could start some unpleasant rumors."
"If I'm not worried, what are you worried about?" Sakayanagi tilted her head and asked, "Are you scared, Takahashi?"
Takahashi Ren glanced at her. She wore her usual smile.
"Let's go," he said.
She was the future leader of Class A, after all. There was no need to sour their relationship over something so trivial.
Besides, he wanted to see just what the leader of the Sakayanagi Faction wanted to discuss with him today.
The two walked slowly down the mall corridor.
"Have you ever tried the supermarket's cakes, Takahashi?" Sakayanagi suddenly asked.
"Cakes?"
"Yes. What do you think of the cakes here?"
"I've never had them," Takahashi Ren answered honestly.
Sakayanagi nodded slightly. "I wouldn't recommend supermarket cakes."
"Really?"
"This might sound a little harsh, but they're mass-produced goods you can find anywhere. Cakes really ought to be handmade by a pastry chef."
"Then what would you recommend?"
"Convenience stores sometimes have surprisingly good cakes, too."
"Are you going to buy one?"
"No." Sakayanagi shook her head, stopped, and turned to look at him.
"I wanted to tell you-happy birthday."
Takahashi Ren stopped in his tracks.
"What?"
"Happy birthday," Sakayanagi repeated. "Today's your birthday, isn't it?"
"How did you know?"
He had never told anyone his birthday. But he quickly realized that Mr. Mashima had files on every student.
"Finding out something like that is very simple for me."
Sakayanagi acted as though it were perfectly natural, apparently not intending to explain.
"Thanks. But I don't celebrate my birthday."
"But I've prepared a present for you. So please accept it."
"I'm guessing it's not an ordinary present?"
"A perceptive judgment," Sakayanagi said. "Has anyone ever complimented you on that?"
"Please get straight to the point."
"You're so impatient, Takahashi."
They headed toward a shaded rest area. Sakayanagi sat on a bench and rested her cane against the armrest.
"Sorry, I have trouble with my legs. I can't walk for very long."
"It's fine." Takahashi Ren sat down beside her.
Sakayanagi began unhurriedly. "Someone told me that Kamuro seems to have been in contact with you."
Takahashi Ren's expression didn't change.
"I went and asked her," Sakayanagi continued. "But she told me you were both working for me and asked what there was to ask about."
"So today, I'd like to hear your explanation."
Since she'd come to him, Takahashi Ren wasn't going to beat around the bush, either.
"I did lie to her," he said.
"What did you tell her?" she asked.
He didn't answer immediately.
Kamuro should have told her everything already, yet she'd specifically come to ask him.
She was comparing their stories to see who would slip up first.
The prisoner's dilemma.
"That's my private business. I have nothing to say," Takahashi Ren said.
"Did you come to see me today to get justice for her?"
"No. I admire your abilities."
Sakayanagi nodded slightly. "You pretended to be working for me to gain her trust. A good tactic."
"As long as you're willing to work for me,"
Sakayanagi said, "you can rescue Kamuro from my clutches. I've already written your hero-saves-the-damsel script for you."
"You've misunderstood."
"Have I?"
Sakayanagi didn't look disappointed. Instead, she seemed to have anticipated his answer. "Well, that's a problem. Now I can't give you the present I prepared."
"I did help you keep the truth from Kamuro, you know. So you owe me a favor."
Takahashi Ren looked at her. Had she gone through all that just to say this?
"It looks like I'm more important to you than Kamuro."
"That's right," Sakayanagi admitted. "I'm becoming more and more interested in you."
Please don't, Takahashi Ren screamed inwardly.
Sakayanagi changed the subject.
"According to my information, Class A was originally going to lose two hundred Class Points in this VIP Exam, but in the end, we only lost one hundred. In other words, two groups got two additional answers right for the class."
Sakayanagi stared at him, a hint of amusement in her eyes.
"You're the one who figured out the pattern behind the VIPs and went against Katsuragi's strategy, aren't you?"
"What makes you think it was me?"
"Because after excluding the four groups with VIPs, then excluding Katsuragi and my people, only a handful of people remain, including you."
Takahashi Ren could tell. Sakayanagi had no evidence. She was only bluffing.
If she were truly certain, she wouldn't need to waste words on him.
"Could someone on your side or Katsuragi's have wanted to keep the reward for themselves?"
"Don't worry. I told you I admire you."
Sakayanagi said, "You did nothing wrong. In fact, you contributed to the class. There's a reward if you admit it."
She could guess all she liked. He wasn't going to admit anything.
"It's fine if you won't admit it."
Sakayanagi's tone remained composed. "But once I defeat Katsuragi, I won't leave someone like you unused the way he does."
She raised her head and met his eyes.
"You won't disappoint me, will you?"
It was only a matter of time before Sakayanagi took over. He couldn't change that, nor did he intend to.
With her as leader, he would cooperate on class matters where he should, but working for Sakayanagi personally was another matter.
"I'll only do what I'm supposed to do." Takahashi Ren gave the same answer as before.
Sakayanagi smiled and didn't press him. Instead, she asked, "Do you know any good dessert shops?"
"I know a tea shop."
Takahashi Ren told her its name and location. Finally, I'm free, he thought.
"Take me there."
"Can't you go by yourself?"
"No." Sakayanagi smiled faintly. "Have you forgotten, Takahashi? You owe me a favor."
Takahashi Ren hadn't expected Sakayanagi to use that favor on something like this.
He finally understood why Kamuro disliked her so much. This petite girl in front of him had been leading him around by the nose the whole time.
Still, this was fine. Taking her to a tea shop to repay the favor was better than having her use it to force him to do something later.
Takahashi Ren pulled himself from his thoughts, turned, and started toward the tea shop.
"Keep up."
Behind him came Sakayanagi's soft laughter and the sound of her cane tapping against the floor.
This unexpected happy birthday hadn't exactly been happy.
Before you continue