5.1

Sakayanagi was indifferent to the set time and place.

Whether it be a karaoke box or a dorm room to avoid being seen.

Even in the special wing or behind the gym, there were secret meeting locations everywhere.

Well, I suppose Sakayanagi didn't care since she wasn't divulging secrets.

Today, as usual, we headed to the most vibrant cafe in Keyaki Mall.

And she seemed to be enjoying her leisure time, selecting a popular seat with Kamuro and Kitō following behind her.

"My apologies, Princess. I'm a bit late," I said, sitting in an empty seat, continuing to call Sakayanagi 'Princess.'

"You seem quite close to her, don't you?"

"Ah, where did you see that?"

Up until last year, I only had to watch out for Class A students, but since we became second years, I had to be careful of the kōhais and the others as well. Did I overlook that?

No, if there was a first-year student in the second-year hall, I should have noticed.

That meant—

Had she been secretly keeping a pawn within the class in advance?

Most of the time, it was Kamuro, Kitō, or me, but periodically, Sakayanagi would contact someone on her phone to receive information. I asked about it once, but she never directly mentioned who they were. It was possible they were watching us.

I decided it was unnecessary to rush to find out if it was a student within the class, but if this wasn't a coincidence and they were intentionally watching me, that would change things.

"I'm quite shy when it comes to love, so keep it a secret, okay?"

"Hehe, I promise I won't tell anyone."

"So? What's today's talk about?" Kamuro asked.

"You know it even if you don't ask, Masumi-chan."

"Hey. Don't call me by my first name."

"My bad, my bad. It's just a habit."

"What kind of habit is that? You've hardly ever called me that."

"In my heart, it's always Masumi-chan."

"Gross."

Kamuro strongly rejected the 'Masumi-chan' nickname, apparently repulsed by it.

I understood. If I were in her shoes, I would have found it creepy too.

However, when playing the fool, such nicknames helped to leave an impact.

"So, shall we start, Princess? It's about the special exam, right?"

"Special exam? No, you're mistaken, Hashimoto-kun. Today is just a simple tea party."

Sakayanagi denied my assumption with a laugh.

I exaggerated my reaction accordingly, almost falling from my chair.

"If that's the case, you wouldn't have needed to gather the executive members here, Princess."

"It's for public appeal."

"If other classes find out that Class A is holding a strategy meeting, they'll inevitably share information and increase their sense of tension. They'll spare no effort to win."

What public appeal? That was laughable.

I put up with it until yesterday, and now she has no intention to discuss anything.

"What's the benefit of doing all that? I don't get it. Can you explain?"

"There's a benefit. It makes the other three classes more serious, doesn't it?"

"...So, it's advantageous?"

As Kamuro said, it seemed more like a loss than a gain.

I'd rather they become complacent, so why were we tensing them up?

"I want to enjoy the battle. Lately, we've been doing recreational activities like cultural festivals and school trips."

Even if it lowered the chances of victory or brought disadvantages, she prioritized her own amusement.

That was how Sakayanagi had been reigning as class leader this whole time.

The class tolerated it because the results had been obvious.

We steadily accumulated class points.

In other words, if that is no longer the case, Sakayanagi's value would plummet at once.

I didn't know if anyone else saw such an uncertain future...

After finishing the so-called 'casual tea party,' I entered a restroom near the east entrance.

I wasn't using the restroom for its intended purpose, and it wasn't for a confidential meeting either.

Just an unbreakable habit. I went into the last stall and locked the door. Then, once its automatic cover opened, I sat on the toilet seat without pulling my pants down.

The stalls in Keyaki Mall were always kept clean, it never felt unpleasant. No bad smell either.

Well, even if there was a certain level of dirtiness or odd smell, I wouldn't mind it much.

The music inside the mall was a bit much, but I leaned forward with my arms on my knees and closed my eyes.

This was the place; the place to calm my heart.

The place to return to the origin[8]. In a school where escape routes were scarce, it was a valuable place of refuge.

[8 : Origin is metaphorical here, basically a place to reset to one's roots or "base"]

"Even in ANHS, I find myself going to the toilet out of habit. Habits are really hard to break."

For the following 30 or so minutes, I stayed there without taking out my phone even once.

"Shall I go home?"

When there was a sign that no one was at the sink, I stood up, flushed the toilet, washed my hands, dried them, and left the bathroom.

"Looks like the long shit is over."

"You surprised me. How long have you been here?"

Ryūen, who had been leaning against the wall beside the entrance with his phone in his hand, snorted a laugh.

"I was just wondering what you were up to."

"Give me a break. Tomorrow is the special exam, right? I wonder what kind of suspicion I'd be under if I were seen with you here. Couldn't you have visited my room or used some other way?"

"If you're innocent, then act with confidence."

"You ask too much. Keep it short."

It was fine for me to contact him, but Ryūen unexpectedly contacting me was annoying.

Especially in Ryūen's case, who knew where and what he was going to say?

However, in order to understand the inner workings of the opposing classes, discussions with him were unavoidable. It was a rough sea, but as long as I could see it, I could ride the waves.