18 Vol. 4 Chp. 4: Planning and Threatning

'...': Writing

'...': Sign language

"...": Text to speech

Katsuragi's POV

Yahiko insisted on going with me, but I denied his offer. I appreciate it, but the message told me to come alone.

I arrived at the designated place and spotted Kagurazaka-kun, "So, you wanted to talk?"

He nodded, 'Do you know sign language?'

"I do."

'Alright...' He must be getting his thoughts in order.

'I have a feeling Ryuuen-san will target your class.'

"I'm surprised you're concerned about my class. Shouldn't you worry about your class?" I asked.

So, he wants to negotiate with me. I'll hear him out for now.

'I understand you want to play on the defense, but I don't think it will hold up. Ryuuen-san might have a way to know who your VIPs are.'

I crossed my arms, leaning back in my seat, "What makes you so sure?"

'Just like your class has a civil war going on. We also have a problem.'

So, his class has problems, too, huh? I'm curious about it. However, I'll refrain from asking.

"I don't want to be rude, but can you get to the point?" I asked.

He nodded, 'I'm willing to give you the VIPs of Class C.'

"You offered this deal by using your VIPs. It sounds too good to be true. What's the real meaning behind it?"

'Even though Sakayanagi-san isn't here, she has followers on the cruise ship. She could have someone guess the wrong VIP with a simple order.'

Yes, I considered this. Even though I told them to stay silent, there was no stopping them from messaging their leader.

'You can't play on the defensive and need to attack.'

If Ryuuen could know the VIPs of my class, we could suffer from losing class points. On top of that, I have to consider Sakayanagi and her followers.

"This deal still sounds too good to be true."

He tapped a finger on the table before it seemed something came to his mind.

'Here's another deal: I'm willing to tell you how the exam works if you don't attack Class B and D. You'll have to accept the first deal.'

He's willing to give free information and Class C's VIPs, huh?

No, this deal helps both of us in some way, but there's something that bothers me.

"I heard one of your classmates already finished the Monkey group," I said.

Frustratedly, he rubbed his forehead before looking at me, 'He's a free-spirit. He's going to do what he wants.'

He pulled out a sheet of paper and passed it over to me.

Reading through the contract it benefits me more than it does for him.

A sigh escaped my lips, "You should understand my worries."

He nodded.

"I want you to add that Class B and D won't attack in the contract."

'I will.'

"I'll sign the contract."

'Okay.'

"I need to ask, though. Who put you up to this?" I asked.

'No one.'

The rumors about him are misleading.

~Timeskip~

Kagurazaka's POV

Now, I got that out of the way. There's something else I need to deal with. I got up from my seat and walked away, rounding the corner. I grabbed the person and pressed them up against the wall.

It was a young girl with purple hair, and she was staring at me with a mad expression, "Let go of me, pervert."

Her glare did not affect me as I stared back at her.

Sakayanagi's POV

Fufu, it looks like I'm getting a call from my favorite shoplifter, Beer-chan.

"Yes, Beer-chan?"

Fufufu, I can already imagine her irritated expression.

"He found me..."

"Oh? What did he have to say?" I asked.

"Nothing... He stared at me and walked away," she said, "Creepy pervert..."

"Fufu, now don't be rude. You can stop stalking him," I hung up the phone.

It didn't take him long to figure out someone was stalking him. You're certainly unique, Kagurazaka. Fufufu it makes me excited for our chess match.

~Timeskip~

Kagurazaka's POV

One hour passed in our discussion group, and I was ready to leave when Ryuuen opened his mouth.

"I have a proposal for this group," Ryuuen said, "At this moment, the one who is at the top is Class A, while the rest of us have to fight against each other while spectating our war without worrying too much about falling."

Katsuragi didn't say anything and stayed silent.

"I'll say that your method is applaudable and highly logical for Class A. But, there's a major weakness."

A creepy smile formed on Ryuuen's fans, "Your class will never know the identity of the leader cause you never try to know. You'll be dead last behind other classes."

"Yes, but if you do attack us... I will figure out your class' VIPs and fight back," Katsuragi declared, staring into Ryuuen's eyes.

A couple of Class A students seemed surprised by this declaration. I don't think they were expecting Katsuragi to take the offensive.

"Kukuku, you've grown some balls, Baldy-kun! Please don't take me lightly! I have the essence of ending this exam with a single order," Ryuuen smirked, "Class C will be the victor while Class A succumbs to defeat."

"A proposal to crush Class A. All of us will work together and crush them. I don't think that's such a bad plan."

"What if I want to crush your class?"

I stared at Ryuuen.

"Kukuku, your ears must not be working. I already said I could end this with a single order."

"You keep talking about ending it with a single order. Why don't you put your words into action?"

"What?"

"End the exam, or is there something stopping you?"

Ryuuen narrowed his eyes as I started right back at him. Getting up to my feet, I left the room.

~Timeskip~

It was late at night, and I was waiting for two individuals. It didn't take long before they arrived.

"Hello, Kagurazaka-kun," Kanzaki had a severe expression while Ichinose flashed a smile and waved.

'Hello, sorry for asking you to come out late.'

"It's fine; it must be important if you need both of us," Kanzaki responded.

My phone vibrated, and I pulled it out. I got a message, "The cow group has ended."

Ichinose and Kanzaki seemed surprised while I sighed. It looks like Ryuuen made the first move.

It seemed Kanzaki thought like me, "Ryuuen-kun made the first move. Your taunting must have gotten to him."

'No, he's trying to show that he knows the VIPs...'

My eyes traveled over to Ichinose, who looked confused before her eyes widened, "Wait, me? Are you doing this for me?" Her cheeks started to burn up.

'I understand you're in the Rabbit group, but I think you're more suited for the Dragon group.'

"Ah, thanks."

'I'm not done... Strangely, you were put into the Rabbit group. There's a reasoning behind it.'

She continued to smile without any care in the world.

'I have two theories: the first is that your sensei is testing you, and the second is you're keeping your eye on someone.'

Ichinose's smile turned into a teasing smirk, "I'll leave that up to your imagination."

I stepped forward and got closer to Ichinose, causing her to blush. I grabbed her cheeks and pulled.

"Ow! I wanted you to have a taste of your medicine!" She grabbed my wrists, trying to pull my hands away.

I stopped pulling her cheeks as she rubbed them and pouted, "Bully..."

Kanzaki looked slightly amused at the situation, "Before getting sidetracked, what do you want to talk about?"

'Okay, let's talk about the Dragon group's VIP... you.'

A dry chuckle escaped his lips, "I can't deny it..."

'Here's what I'm thinking...'

I shared the plan with Kanzaki, and he seemed on board with the idea.

"You're a dangerous person, you know," Kanzaki commented.

'I'm harmless.'

Ichinose's POV

Kagurazaka left me and Kanzaki alone, "Kagurazaka-kun is a genius."

"I would have to agree... Those rumors don't do him any justice."

I feel bad for him that he has to go through this.

"I have to ask. Do you have a crush on Kagurazaka-kun?" Kanzaki asked.

I could feel my cheeks burning, "No! We are good friends!"

"Your face says otherwise," Kanzaki slightly smirked.

"Kanzaki-kun, don't start teasing me, too!"

I get enough of it from the girls...

"Sorry, it's just your smile seemed brighter talking to him," Kanzaki responded.

I could feel my hammering against my chest. Does it smile brighter when I talk to him?

~Timeskip~

Ayanokouji's POV

The Horse group has ended.

The Dog group has ended.

Four groups have retired while eight remained. I have a feeling about who ended those two groups.

All that's left is to execute the plan step by step so I won't make a mistake.

First, I must contact Hirata and ask him to bring Karuizawa here. To ensure enough time, I should call Karuizawa at least an hour before the meeting, so I went up to the upper floors to make the call.

The conversation from last night's events suggests that if Hirata calls her out again to speak alone, Karuizawa will respond. Although she said she would break up with Hirata, she will be the only one to suffer if she does. As long as Manabe and her group continue to target her, Karuizawa needs Hirata's existence to continue her life in school.

"I've already asked Karuizawa-san to be there at 4 PM. I'll send you Manabe-san's address to you now. " I received such a mail from Hirata.

He listened to my request and successfully called her here. As a bonus, Hirata even knew Manabe's contact address from another class. Otherwise, I would've had to ask Kushida and take the risk.

"But I can not help you any more than this. Don't make Karuizawa-san sad, please, " Hirata added as a postscript in the mail.

So he doesn't want her to be sad, huh? If he knew what I was really about to do to Karuizawa, I'm sure Hirata would be furious with me. But if I don't have a problem now, that's fine. Even if she breaks here now, if he doesn't notice after the event, there would be no problem. To use an extreme example, even if you commit murder, as long as there's insufficient evidence, you're a free man.

I then quickly skipped through the text I wrote earlier and sent it. The contents were, "Hey, do you have a moment?" A brief sentence just like that.

My chat application only allows one account per phone, but creating a new central SNS account lets me create another account. However, there are no benefits to using multiple accounts. I can use this loophole to contact a third party without revealing my identity.

I have to proceed delicately from here on. It should go perfectly as long as I don't make a mistake.

Despite the message having come from an anonymous sender, Manabe quickly replied to it. "Who are you?" Manabe, naturally not knowing the sender, replied with that question.

"Is there anyone around you right now?" I replied.

"No. I'm alone... Who are you?" she asked again.

"Don't show this chat to anyone. This is for your sake, " I told her.

"Like I said, who are you?" she asked.

"I'm the same as you. We hate the same person. Let's leave it at that, " I told Manabe.

Manabe took her time to reply despite the immediate 'read' sign. She may not fully understand the sentence's implications.

"Have you mistaken me for someone?" she finally replies.

"I'm not making a mistake, Manabe-san. I'm contacting you to inform you about the Karuizawa-san you hate so much. I thought I could consult you on the situation, Manabe-san. " I mailed that to her.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Please stop sending me messages, " she quickly replied.

She seems guarded, unsure if I'm an enemy. I must clear this up first.

"As a classmate, I have held a grudge against Karuizawa-san for a while. That's why I am hoping we can work together to take revenge on her. Since I am in the same class as her, it is difficult to seek revenge alone." I said to Manabe.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm going to ignore you then, " she replied.

I could say I'm Kagurazaka, but I don't know if she has his number. Besides, I don't think she would believe it.

Despite her wariness towards me, she has not cut off contact, indicating her intense hatred for Karuizawa. This is likely due to her desire for revenge against Rika's friend and her hatred towards Karuizawa, which I deduced from the use of force by Manabe to bring her to the emergency staircase.

"Rika-chan is still afraid of Karuizawa-san. Would you like to help her as a friend? Your vengeful expression won't solve anything. Unfortunately, Karuizawa-san is now on guard since yesterday's events. She will stick with Hirata-kun, Machida-kun, and her female friends so she won't be alone. " I told Manabe.

"I don't need your help. I need to bring Rika into contact with Karuizawa-san. The truth will be out then, " she said.

"I wonder if it'll be that easy. I don't think she would easily admit to her wrongdoing. On the contrary, it would just trouble Rika-chan. If Karuizawa-san uses heartless words, she'll only wound Rika-chan further. No, that's not all. If she harbors a grudge, she might even bully Rika-chan further, " I replied to Manabe.

"What about the dumbass?" Manabe asked.

Who?

"Who?" I replied.

"Kagurazaka! He is also a victim of her bullying," she said.

This is an exciting development... It looks like Manabe slightly cares about him.

"There is a way," I replied.

"Are you saying there's a way?" She asks.

Manabe's desire to settle this with the next confrontation becomes clear.

"There is—you and me. We can cooperate to make sure we can exact our revenge on her in a secure you plan on selling mentee. It looks like you plan on selling me to the school. This smells like a sub-account anyway," Manabe replied to me.

"If I betray you, show this chat log to the teachers, Manabe-san. This account is registered with the school's phone. I am risking my identity to avenge Karuizawa-san. That makes me the most responsible, right? I told her.

I'm sure Manabe also understands this well. Even if this is a sub-account, once you analyze it thoroughly, the identity of the person behind it can be revealed. If it comes to that, I, as the one who masterminded this plan for revenge, would bear the most responsibility and undoubtedly be punished harshly.

"What would you do if I show the school this chat now? It's over for you," Manabe asks me.

"Because I believe Manabe-san is not the type of person to do that. I must trust to be trusted after all, " I told her.

"I understand what you're trying to say, more or less. I'll hear you out, at least," she finally said.

I repeatedly repeated to her how much I wouldn't say I liked Karuizawa and wanted revenge on her but couldn't due to my weaker position. I play the victim, telling her about overhearing Manabe and her friends quarreling with Karuizawa.

"After returning to land, contacting Karuizawa would be difficult. The school dorms are filled with surveillance cameras, making it impossible to bring her to a private area without being watched. This battlefield with no escape would be the ideal place for you," I told Manabe.

"This would make sure Manabe and the others realize this place, only on this ship, can they get their revenge. "So...what are you proposing you can do?" She asks me.

Manabe, who seems to have finally caught up with my plan, starts asking questions.

"I can call Karuizawa-san. After that, you can talk with her and settle the problem, " I told Manabe.

With that, I sent her a map of the ship's lower levels through the chat.

"Since phones don't get reception down there. She can't call for help either. And no one normally goes down there anyways, " I said.

"I see...so you can call Karuizawa-san down there as a classmate?" Manabe asks. "I would like you to decide whether to cooperate with my plan. After I call her, you can decide whether or not you'd like to have your revenge. There would be no problems that way, no?" I asked her.

After that, for the longest time, despite the 'read' sign has appeared. No reply came from Manabe. Then. Once the answer came, I became sure I would succeed. If my plan to convince her via chat failed, I had another plan prepared: to appear before Manabe via direct contact. Of course, that was dangerous. Since I had taken several pictures of her threatening Karuizawa in the emergency staircase, I could have blackmailed her into following my plan. But the risk is also massive since I would like to avoid my existence standing out.

"Now. Let me see what you can do, Manabe."

~Timeskip~

Boiler room

"What's going on? There's no stupid signal here," the designated time was almost upon us.

Once Karuizawa set her phone aside, she leaned against a wall, waiting for Hirata to appear.

Too bad Hirata isn't appearing.

The dull sound of a door opening meets my ears. Three girls stepped through, with a timid girl trailing behind them.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" Karuizawa trembled at their arrival.

"We happened to see you come here, so we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to see if Rika-san remembers you," Manabe said.

Rika was forced to stand inches away from Karuizawa.

"Hey, Rika-san, is this the person?" Morofuji timidly nodded.

Manabe faced Karuize, "Apologize, and you can't lie your way out of this one because I asked Kagurazaka-kun for confirmation."

Karuizawa's eyes widened in fear upon hearing this. It looks like Kagurazaka helped me in some way.

"I haven't done anything wrong," Karuizawa was trembling, but she stood firm, believing she didn't do anything wrong.

An amused smirk appeared on Manabe's face, "I find your behavior rather strange. You seem frightened," Manabe let out a fake gasp, "Don't tell me you've been bullied before?"

"What...?"

"It looks like I'm the winner and hit the nail on the head," Manabe continued.

"You're wrong!" Karuizawa tried to refute, but her breathing became ragged, and her words were weak.

"If you kneel and beg, we might forgive you. What do you say? You're good at groveling. Being on your knees?" Manabe mocked her.

"N-no, I won't! I've never done that before!" Karuizawa shouted.

Karuizawa attempted to break from the girls surrounding her, but Manabe caught her by the hair and threw her back into the wall.

"Ow, ow!"

Manabe drove her into Karuizawa's stomach, "How about ruining that annoying bastard's life?"

Karuizawa coughed, trying to catch her breath, "H-He stole..."

Manabe slammed her against the wall, "You keep believing that, but you never gave him a chance to explain himself."

"I want to beat you until you turn black and blue..." Manabe paused, "I'm trying to let go of my past."

Manabe grabbed Karuizawa by the hair, "Rika-san, I'll allow you to deal the final blow."

"H-huh?" Morofuji looked scared and confused.

"She lied, ruined someone's life, and hurt you," Manabe said.

"O-okay..."

Slap

Morofuji hit her with a weak and pathetic slap.

Manabe groaned before releasing Karuizawa, "Whatever, we are leaving."

After ensuring that Manabe's gang had left, I reentered the room. Karuizawa may have heard the door, but she continued to squat on the floor and cry. Her overwhelming sense of fear perhaps prevented her from noticing me.

So this is the true face of the egotistic and unyielding class' girls' leader?

I expected her to do more damage, but something changed her mind. I wonder what made her decide she didn't want to beat her more.

"Karuizawa-san," I called her name. She lifted her head and finally noticed me.

"What...? How...?!"

The man she had never considered seeing here had seen what she did not want anyone to see. She started to panic.

But the experience was too traumatic for her to stop crying immediately and pretend everything was fine.

I will eventually stop crying and calm down. As long as he leaves before that, this small wish of hers will not come to pass. I waited silently as Karuizawa's sobs gradually turned to subdued quiet.

If you put two people alone in this dark and isolated environment, they can't help but mentally feel closer. This works even if the two people usually hate each other. This is what humans do.

"Calmed down yet?"

"More or less..."

Karuizawa used her sleeves to wipe her swollen eyes. She is still paralyzed and can't get back up. I reached out to help her, but she didn't take it.

"Where is Hirata...?"

"Even though you two were supposed to meet here, I believe the teacher called him. I was with him then, so I came in place of him."

This explanation should be sufficient to explain how everything ended up like this. For now, I don't need to let her know the truth. The first item on my to-do list is to make her let her guard down and fill the cracks in her psyche.

"So, why are you crying?"

"It's Manabe and her gang... I will not let them get away with this."

It appears that she is remembering what just happened. Karuizawa's body began to shake. Even though she doesn't want to show me this humiliating side of herself, the fear that has taken hold of her is not easily removed.

"Do not tell anyone that I cried. If you do, I will not forgive you."

Karuizawa's weakness is that she cannot report what happened to her to the school. If Manabe and her friend's physical assault on Karuizawa is known, the school would want to find out why. She cannot let this happen to protect her social status, so she plans to use Hirata to get back at the girls.

"You know, to get back at them, even someone like you can do it. They are just girls, after all."

"What an unreasonable request."

"Are you afraid that they will pay back? And you claim that you are a man..."

"It is clear from Sudou's incident that seeking revenge will only escalate the conflict and bring unwanted attention to the school. Is that not what you want?"

"So you are telling me to suck it up?"

I know how to answer her, but I choose to remain silent.

"Like, they would, no, for sure they would continue to do all kinds of things to me..."

Karuizawa's body continued to shake. Although Manabe might not stop, there are more escape points on the school campus. However, Karuizawa cannot keep playing hide and seek forever, and her classmates will eventually notice her strange behavior. As both sides close in on her, she will have nowhere to run.

Karuizawa realizes this and is now highly anxious about stopping this. And this anxiety is what I have been aiming for all along.

"It would be a shame if things returned to how they were before. I can empathize with you on this."

"Ah...? What did you say? What do you mean?"

Karuizawa is testing my knowledge. I witnessed Manabe's gang bullying her, but I shouldn't know about her past. If I am genuinely unaware, then her past is something she must keep hidden.

"What do I mean? That is exactly what the sentence meant. Against all odds, you escaped to this isolated ward and even claimed the throne of the Class D leader. But the fact that you are a victim of bullying has not changed."

"Who? Who did you say is a victim of bullying?!"

"I mean you, Karuizawa!"

I grabbed Karuizawa's wrist and dragged her up, "Wait, what are you doing!"

I pinned Karuizawa onto the wall and forced her face towards me.

"Manabe was tormenting you, weren't you? She dragged your hair, kneed you in the stomach, and let her friend slap you. You have been miserable, humiliated, and turned into a pitiful sobbing mess.

Even though she did not want to face to face with me, she could not get away.

As if we were getting sucked into them, we stared at each other's eyes. There's no romance involved- what we shared here is darkness itself.

"Ever since you were little, you were a victim. In middle school, the bullying was non-stop. Isn't this why you want to put a stop to it?"

"Did you hear... from Hirata?

"I don't know if I should tell you this or not. Hirata fancies himself as everyone's trusted companion. He will help you, and he will help others. Even if you did secure your place in D class by pretending to be his girlfriend, he will not be much use to you in situations like this. In other words, he is not a good host as a parasite."

She understands Hirata's neutral alignment, but she did something stupid like making Kagurazaka's life hell while she flaunted her social status; she picked a fight with Rika and, by extension, her gang.

She couldn't show this weak side to the rest of the Class D girls.

"Why you... What gives you the right to lecture me pretentiously!"

"My right? You haven't realized it yet? You should know your place. Do you know who is in front of you? It's not Hirata. It's me. I know your checkered past. I know about the fake relationship between you and Hirata. Manabe just physically assailed you; all you could do was haplessly cry. I know all these."

Everything Karuizawa Kei doesn't want others to know. I, an outsider, now know all of them.

"In other word? If you become too much of a handful, I can at any time release this information."

How terrifying would it be? Karuizawa should know it very well.

"Don't, don't joke around! Who do you think you are!"

"Someone who knows the truth. That's all there is to it. Isn't this all you care about?"

Karuizawa turned her face away to avoid looking at me as I closed in on her. I grabbed her cheeks and forced her face back towards me. She desperately wants to avoid my gaze, but a man's strength is too muscular for her to resist. She closed her eyes in a futile attempt to escape.

"What! What do you want from me? Are you aiming for my body?"

"Your body, huh? That might not be a bad idea."

My fingertips slide across Karuizawa's thighs. The softness I feel is almost inhuman. The smoothness of her skin is very different from what I know and have.

"No!!"

She desperately tried to get away from me. I strengthened my hold on her cheeks and made her look into my eyes.

"Do not resist. If you do, I will release everything to the school."

This line had cursed her body like a curse into a constrained stiffness.

Anger, horrify, fear, despair. Yes, how much emotion has Karuizawa been carrying?

She should notice that I am entirely different from the persona I projected in everyday life.

"Spread your legs."

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Uuuuuhhhh

Looks Like I can't control my sadism.

I might add my chapter to relieve my sadism

Hehehehehhehehehehe