62 Chapter 8: A Disastrous Breeze
A/N: Quick question, but it's something I really would like to know.
What do you think of Kurushima so far?
I often asked about how the strategies from him are, how smart he is, but never really asked how most of you feel regarding Kurushima.
It's something I'm interested to hear about.
Also, since we're in the topic of his strategies, it'd be a great help if you could quickly rate them of how good and complex you think they are so far.
Anyway, here you go with the chapter.
Before I forget it, here have an Hiyori AI generated Image.
[Image:]
--
[30th November, 8.31]
[Third Person Pov]
As Chabashira Sae entered the classroom, with an expression of slight disbelief on her face, she spoke up.
Normally, you'd be able to know your results, from the points you get for the oncoming month, but the results were announced one day before the 1st of December, so the students were unaware of the results.
"As you all might have been curious about since long, I'll now announce the results of the Paper Shuffle."
Saying that, she put the poster in front of the backboard, with the results between Class A and B, their classes.
"A... tie...?!" A student in the front shouted, in palpable shock.
As surprising as this might sound, a tie was something that did happen, sometimes. Although, the disbelief they felt was something they could not express in simple words.
"This case does not usually happen very often, but it's also indeed, possible. Class C and D, they also had a tie, almost. There's just a difference of 2 small points between these two classes."
"An unfortunate event for Class D, but with this said, the class rankings have now, changed, once again, completely."
Horikita Suzune, who suggested Kurushima of having her deal with the traitor, could not help but look on the ground, again.
The questions... if she had asked Kurushima for more of his one's, everything might have went differently, in the end.
Even Kurushima, the boy in front, who was in fact manipulating the events, once again, could not help but feel slightly shocked upon seeing the poster at the backboard.
The white haired boy who was secretly orchestrating everything so far, thought this would go with Ryūen's victory, like he hoped, as he priorly notified him almost a month in advance, regarding Horikita's strategy, with the E-Mail message from his other Mail, and wrote, [Kushida Kikyo will lose].
It did not, surprisingly, but perhaps, it was his mistake, this time.
Because of Matsushita Chiaki... whom he told, she should score higher. Of course, in one part, it was to avoid potential suspicion, since no one rational would deny it, in the end.
For him, this Exam, it was the first thing he did not anticipate, since he arrived at this school.
But he's an essential reason for this, too, since his girlfriend, the best student academically-wise in Ryūen's class, became more openly and talkative with the class, ever since she met him.
She helped many of her classmates, likewise with Kaneda, and many other's.
'Fate can be quite ironic sometimes, it seems.' Kurushima thought, amused, as the results were no matter how you look at it, due to him like this.
At the moment Kurushima arrived at this school, he manipulated his class, all along, in secret.
At Day 3, it was the day he decided on making his first move, with letting his phone 'accidentally' fall down, confirming whether Hirata would protect him, and what Kushida would do, while immediately negating the negative opinions many of the boys held for him, turning them into positive opinions, in a matter of minutes.
He fulfilled various kinds of objectives, so it was successful.
When Sudo failed the Midterm Exams, he suggested, knowing that his class was not academically well gifted, of creating a class bank, because like the case with Sudo, they might be the next, too.
In that regard, getting their Points, it was relatively easy, installing them with the fear of getting expelled.
Since the phone was under his name, and everyone allocates the points out of their own accord, he never forced them. So the school, even if he did something with them, could not do anything regarding it.
Nonetheless, through his actions alone, they benefited so much.
Kurushima was well aware of how terrible his classes behavior was, like the case with such an high loss of Class Points, through 6 simple days.
They lost 407 Class Points, and without him, they'd be at 0, as no one had the intention of saying anything.
Although it was for his own benefit, they did benefit, too.
But now, he's being suspected of being the potential traitor behind the Sports Festival, which happened through Horikita's actions.
He did not do anything, because he had no reason too, but logically speaking, it did not make much sense, did it?
If they suspected him, he wanted at least a decent proof for him.
Such as of him being Y.
But that was something no one could proof, since he hide himself well-enough that no one should figure it out, ever.
And the one's that have suspicions, they act like he wants. Manipulating Ryūen or Ayanokoji into believing it's Kanzaki, it's not a hard thing.
Back at the classroom again, Chabashira Sae, the homeroom teacher of Class B, speaks further.
"Coming from tomorrow, you folk will be at Class C, back again."
Saying that, she put up the poster in front of the blackboard of the two only classes that had a decrease or increase of Class Points, and did not stay the same.
[Class C: 824] - Sakayanagi — [Class A: 924]
[Class D: 545] - Ichinose — [Class D: 445]
To Ichinose's bad fortune, she did not draw Ryūen's class in the lottery against Kurushima, which is now the reason they lost, once again.
Meanwhile, both Ryūen's class and Kurushima's class, had not any change of their current class points, just their class positions, they'd experience, tomorrow.
[Class A: 922] - Ryūen — [Class B: 922]
[Class B: 877] - Kurushima — [Class C: 877]
The new class ranking from tomorrow would be as follows:
[Class A: 924] - Sakayanagi
[Class B: 922] - Ryūen
[Class C: 877] - Kurushima
[Class D: 445] - Ichinose
It was currently, a fight between Kurushima, Ryūen, and Sakayanagi's class, as no one of these three did regard Ichinose's class as a real threat.
Although the reason Sakayanagi selected her class was to demolish her further, as the students of Ichinose's class, were comparable to that of her class. It was evident by the simple difference of two points in this exam, which was the reason they won.
If they're entirely gone, no one should match the students of her class.
'Ryūen, huh...? So he did receive, help, after all...' Ayanokoji thought, looking apathetically towards the backboard.
--
"Princess, you did it."
"Fufu, it seems so. But our win was only a natural occurrence, Hashimoto-kun. Sooner or later, we'd have been promoted back into Class A."
"To my surprise, it's already now."
"Fufu... I did not expect Ryūen-kun and Kurushima-kun to be in a tie, honestly. I assumed Kurushima-kun's class would win..."
"I suppose this school is not as boring as I thought..."
--
"A difference of 2 Class Points?!" Ishizaki shouted in disbelief.
The tall green-haired boy caused a slight ruckus, when the results were revealed, of Sakayanagi being above them, with such a small little difference.
"Shut it, Ishizaki! If you don't behave yourself, it'll be more than a simple 2 class points difference..."
"Yes..." Ishizaki obediently followed, nodding.
Without further ado, Ishizaki sat himself down, being quiet.
'A tie, huh...?'
'It's probably because of Hiyori, who scored everywhere perfectly...'
'And also, it's thanks to you, too, Suzune...'
'Even if you did anticipate her betrayal, the questions you had to make, this fast, without Kurushima, are certainly easier to answer.'
'You kept the information for yourself that the traitor collaborated with me, and in return, the questions were on a scale different from those Kurushima would make.'
'Or that's how Hiyori says it, since the questions were too easy...'
'She knows him the best, after all...'
--
Ryuji Kanzaki, looked once again, in utter defeat.
Likewise with everyone else from Class D, who had so much hope regarding the Paper Shuffle, but lost, in the end, once again.
Despite the countless hours of studying, they lost with such a small little difference.
"Honami-chan..." Amikura Mako muttered sadly, looking at the results, again.
Everything has been becoming worse and worse with Kanzaki. His class, it was from the beginning doomed, it seems.
Now he could see it, finally.
Against Kurushima, Sakayanagi, and Ryūen, his class was entirely powerless.
These three moved with each second closer to each other, while they were in the bottom, with a difference 442 Class Points away from the next nearby class, Kurushima's Class, Class C.
They did not even regard them as a competition at this point anymore.
Were their ideals so false...? But what could they even do now...
Such a difference in points could not be easily obtained.
'We're being manipulated, aren't we...?'
'Sakayanagi...'
'She told me about one in our class being responsible for some part of it...'
'But if they could manipulate Ryūen, predict the strategy of Class B's hidden mastermind in Kurushima's class, and the results of the Island Exam...'
'They're capable enough... that our class can go head on head with the other classes, then, too...'
'I should search for them and bring them to cooperate with us...' Kanzaki thought deeply, seeing it as Class D's only possible way, currently.
As Kanzaki was in thought, Hoshinomiya finished her explanation, and the lessons resumed. But no one could really concentrate themselves on the lesson, itself.
They did it forcefully, so no additional class points are being deducted, but their state of mind was completely demolished.
Especially that of the individual Ichinose Honami, who felt herself of being simply 'pathetic'.
She experienced loss after loss, after loss, after loss...
Would it ever stop...? It was a question she asked herself frequently...
Could she even do something against Ryūen, Kurushima or Sakayanagi?
Was she even... suited to be a leader...?
Should she... give that role to someone else, rather...?
Her state of mind thought about various kinds of things during the lesson.
The noise of the bell interrupted everyone, indicating the end of the lessons. It was now time for the thirty minutes lunch break.
But quickly, Ichinose walked to the podium, bowing her head, with an apologetic look at her class.
"Everyone... I'm so sorry..."
"It's because I'm such a bad leader... that we're in this position..."
Ichinose Honami looked full of guilt and shame at her class, feeling already tears nearly dwelling up.
"I-I think... it's better... if you chose... another leader..."
"I-I'm incompetent..."
"I'm sorry... everyone..."
Immediately, she left the classroom, running away, tears dwelling up inside her face, just somewhere, outside.
"Honami-ch—"
As Mako Amikura wanted to walk after her, a loud slam on a desk could be heard.
"Amikura, we should let her alone for now."
Kanzaki spoke forcefully up, conveying this message to everyone present.
"I'll talk with her later..."
As someone else who was another representative of Class D, many trusted his words, especially in this very dire situation. Even though he wasn't the best person in terms of communication, lacking the assertiveness sometimes, he spoke up with dominance.
Currently, it was needed to calm the entire class down, something Kanzaki had to do, since Ichinose was not present anymore.
Even if he wanted, right now, he could not go after her, when they're in this dire situation. He could tell already from the looks of his classmates, the hopelessness written inside of their faces.
As the only other class representative, he had to stay with them and do his task. He could not allow himself to go after her.
He'd talk later with her, once it's the right moment.
--
Ichinose ran with tears dwelled up in her face, slowly reaching the outside, running even further.
Currently, she could not tell where she was, but all she knows is that she wanted to be alone.
Looking herself around the location, she noticed a bench nearby.
Ichinose sat herself down, holding her knees with both of her arms, her face buried on her legs, her legs being up at the bench, not touching the ground.
Feeling extremely sad, she released the tears she held back until now.
This continued, until she felt a certain person being there, too. Slowly looking up, she could see a familiar person.
"Nagumo-senpai..." she muttered, slowly.
He was someone who helped her quite often, until now. For the wrong reasons, but she did not know it, yet.
"Honami... You should take this."
From the sidelines, Nagumo Miyabi offered her a Handkerchief.
"Thank you, Senpai..." she said, taking it from his hands.
"You seem quite sad and distraught. Is everything fine with you? If you have any struggles, you can tell them to me, Honami."
Nagumo spoke with a gentle voice, unusual for himself.
Although to tell the truth, it was no coincidence he appeared here.
His various information quells in the second year notified him of seeing Ichinose running, crying slightly, and where she was located on the campus, currently.
He saw this as his chance.
The change of having the class leader's meet up at the Paper Shuffle Exam was deliberately designed by him, with this change, of making Ichinose to despair.
Like Sakayanagi, he assumed, that Ichinose might have wrongly submitted the class they want to attack, so it'd be his chance, on making his moves on her.
Although she realized it, he did also want to know how much he could exert his current rights, because he had various kinds of restraints placed onto him, when he became the student council president.
Like he predicted, Ichinose was hiding something, so he'd also get to know that, from her.
One of the reasons he had also not allowed her to join the council yet, because he anticipated a situation like this to happen.
Gratitude...
She will feel very indebted to him, once that happens...
Perhaps she might even fall in love with him...
"I-I... am at fault for the situation in my class...."
"If I was as smart as Sakayanagi-san... cunning like Ryūen-kun... or even just slightly competent like Kurushima-kun... my class would not be in this situation..."
"But someone like me... can never be like them..."
"Now, now, you should avoid on saying these kinds of things, Honami."
"But... it's the truth..."
She looked at him, slightly.
"I'm not even capable enough to get accepted by you in the student council..."
He shakes his head. "It's not because of your capability that you have not been accepted yet, Honami."
"Is it... because I'm in Class D, then...?"
Once again, he shakes his head. "That's not the reason, either. I accepted Kurushima when he was in Class D, too. For that reason, I did not decline your application."
Since the current Vice-President Ikuto Kiriyama, was Nagumo's 'pawn', he could accept whenever he wanted people.
"Then... what precisely makes me unworthy, then...?" she looked at him, asking Nagumo that.
"Think a moment for yourself. The answer is obvious."
Suddenly, her expression changed suddenly, becoming distraught.
"Do you know about 'that' incident, perhaps...?" Her voice carried fear in it, asking Nagumo Miyabi that question.
"That incident...?" he asks, tilting his head to the side.
"No... please forget i-"
"I can lend you an ear, Honami. You can tell me what's bothering you. There's no need to fear anything. I'm the student council president, after all."
She looked at him, slightly, feeling that he was speaking the truth. Nagumo could possibly be not interested in the first year competitions, since he's a second-year.
Besides, he was always very kind to hear, until now.
She nodded, feeling she could entrust him with that.
"I.. was a shoplifter..."
"Shoplifter...?"
She nodded, slowly explaining her reasoning on why she did it. Nagumo listened attentively, but he did not quite care about her.
All he was attracted to were her extraordinary looks.
[A/N: Even though my Guy has Asahina in his class. Urgh...]
"I see. Thank you for entrusting me with this."
"No... I should be the one expressing my gratitude. I'm thankful that you decided on hearing me out so spontaneously..."
"I feel a bit better... now..."
He nodded, satisfied.
"Can you... explain it to me, then, Nagumo-senpai...?"
"My reasoning, huh...?"
"Let's see..."
"I cannot accept someone into the student council who deep down already has given up their desire of graduating from Class A."
"My desire..."
"That's right. Was graduating from Class A ever your priority before?"
"My priority..."
"... I want to graduate with everyone safely..."
"There it is: your answer."
"Is it wrong that I seek this...? That everyone should stay safe..."
"Not necessarily, but if you are after that, you'll need the necessarily strength to ensure it. As long as you don't have that strength, you'll continue to lose against these three classes, over and over, again."
"Nagumo-senpai... how did you do i-it? How did you become so strong...?"
"Who knows...?" he replied, feeling amused by the question.
Undoubtedly, he wanted to be known as the best student. For him, being known as strong wasn't enough.
He wanted more...
And soon, he'd, at the Mixed Training Camp, against Horikita Manabu.
A humiliation no student council president felt before.
The mere thought did excite him already. The yearly oncoming Mixed Training Camp Exam would become this year, very exciting.
"Although one thing is for certain, right now and in the future, you'll lose."
"But..." he says, looking at her, slightly.
"But...?" she asks him.
"I can help you, Honami."
"R-really?"
"If you accept being my girlfriend, that is."
She felt an oncoming blush on her face, hearing that the boy in front of her liked her. However even though she's honored, she had no feelings for him.
"Senpai... I-I'm honored to hear this, but... I hav-"
"If you date me, I can tell you about the contents of the next special exam, Honami. I could tell you even more, if you'd like."
"Unmistakably, your class is in a dire position right now? I can lend you my hand..."
"But in return... I expect this small little thing from you..."
Saying that, he felt his gaze looking at her body.
But due to her not thinking about Nagumo being like this, she still simply blushed, feeling complicated that someone confessed to her.
"My class..." she looks in genuine thought for a moment.
"To let you know that I'm genuine and authentic, I'm going to tell you about the next special exam in advance."
"The next special exam...?"
He walked closer to her, whispering something in her ear, until walking back to his original position, simply looking at the beautiful pink-haired girl in front of him.
"Once Kurushima becomes in the next year the student council president your class will lose any chance of ever achieving Class A."
"However with my help, it can be possible. Think about it."
"You have until the end of January time to think about my offer, Honami. You'll see that I told you the truth, by then."
"Also, welcome to the student council. Tomorrow, you'll be formerly introduced as a member. I expect you to be there, punctual. My integrity is on the line, after all. "
"And..."
"There'll be several advantages of you being my girlfriend. I'll let you think about it, for now."
Saying that Nagumo Miyabi left, leaving the girl Ichinose Honami left bewildered.
'I'm not going to repeat the same thing with Horikita-senpai...'
'On rare occasion's we can compete against each other, but those are not enough.'
'The school will change next drastically next year, but... the special exams might be limited up to three or four, where I can officially compete against Kurushima...'
'Getting a first-year class under my control will make it easier to compete against Kurushima, even if it's done indirectly, through Ichinose, herself.'
'That look, that attitude...'
'I won't let it pass by, Kurushima...'
Nagumo remembered the immense shame he felt on that day. Something like that, it never happened before to him, yet.
Remembering the struggle he felt from the left handshake of Kurushima, being played by him, and his intentions being anticipated already from the beginning, it was very humiliating for his pride.
(A/N: Left handshake is considered in Japan to be rude.)
What would be even more humiliating is kicking him out, because he was accepted from him, initially.
Besides...
How would it make him look if he kicks the best first-year student in the school, who should reinforce his idea of those with talents benefitting.
Greater, he's regarded alongside him and Horikita Manabu as one of the three best students in the school, currently.
Kicking him out... it'd take a huge effect on his dictatorship...
Nothing that he could not control if he tried, but still, nonetheless, something he would not like to do.
Kurushima knew that and had the whole time the confidence while also monthly getting from him 200,000 Private Points.
A first-year anticipating his moves...
He disliked it...
Even if Nagumo did gain more than enough from this meeting alone, as Kurushima formed a contract with him, knowing he provoked him, successfully.
'A 1:1 rate...'
'And all he wants me to do is that I don't expel his girlfriend and protect her, if I ever expel him, huh...?'
'Well... a contract like this... it's quite beneficial...'
[Private Points: 62,723,839]
'Going out with several million of yens by the encashment method via the school or potentially with even hundred million yen or more by following this contract, if I'm able to gather them...'
'The answer is pretty obvious...'
'All I have to ensure in return is that his girlfriend stays until my graduation in this school...'
'I'll keep quiet about our agreement, but that doesn't mean I won't attack you in the meantime, Kurushima...'
With that, Nagumo Miyabi walked away, to the cafeteria, for eating lunch.
--
A/N: And this concludes the chapter.
How did you like it?
Like in the class leader's chapter implied, Nagumo chose a method where Ichinose would come to despair.
The difference between their class and the other one's are too huge, and she's feeling guilty, for being unable to do nothing about it.
In one way, he wants Ichinose as his, but also in case, control over a class, which is why he's being so gentle towards her, so she'll be more willingly to accept him.
Building her confidence up, something he was responsible on destroying, too, in the class leader's chapter.
Reason why, he did also not accept her into the student council, since she was at V4, in the summer holidays, already in D, and making her further despair, especially by denying her over and over again, did affect her, too.
Ichinose joined in the novel the student council at V4.5, just as a reminder, after they were back from the Cruise Trip.
Anyway, considering this is Nagumo we're talking about, he definitely would not miss this chance.
That aside, I have something important to ask, again.
What is your opinion on Chairman Sakayanagi?
Since the confrontation is soon, I want to ask how people feel regarding him.
He's supporting a secret facility that tortures children, financed them, and while he's quite unsure and unconvinced in Volume 0 sometimes regarding Atsuomi and the White Room, he genuinely believes the orphans that were abandoned have a better chance there.
He's still completely aware what happens there or partially well at least of the Project and what's going on.
It's really essential because although I know how the confrontation between him and Kurushima will go out, I'd like to hear a couple of opinions.
This will be where Kurushima's full emotions will be displayed.
Another important question, do you believe that Kurushima is a kind person?
Would really like to hear your opinions on these questions.
It'll be very helpful for me, so if you can take your time and answer them, I'd deeply appreciate it.
Next Chapter will have a plot twist ready. Be excited.
And after that... it might happen, already.
I'm really excited to write it, lol.
Also, should I also let Ayanokoji meet Hiyori?
Dunno, I'm still thinking about it, really.
Anyway, that's all.
Goodbye. Have a great Day.
[PS: Lerche I hope you give me enough of my Hiyori Scenes in the Final Episode of Season 3. Hiyori looks simply so cute from the preview already.]
