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Year 2 Volume 12.5 Chapter 9: "The Night of Promise"Anime TVJanuary 03, 2025Introduction Let's rewind a bit.

On this preordained day.

Since I had to deal with a few issues today, I woke up at 7 AM. At 8 AM, I turned on the TV with the morning workout and then sent a message to Ichinose:

"I'll be out of the house until 3:00 PM. Today is the day, so I hope you can come to my room after that."

The message wasn't very detailed, but last year's promise should have been firmly imprinted in her memory, so there was no need to repeat it.

Of course, I understood that some things had changed after the final special exam.

After that, Ichinose never showed up at school, claiming to be sick.

She didn't even come to the farewell ceremony with the third- years.

This proves that the damage I caused her was too great. The message I sent was never read.

Is she still asleep? Or did she read it but not mark it as "read"? Maybe something else is going on here.

I tried calling her, but the ringing didn't even last long enough. I got an automatic message that plays only when the phone is turned off or in an area with no signal.

"Please contact me as soon as you can."

I sent another message and decided to put this matter aside for now.

Today is the day, and of course, Ichinose knows about it.

If she doesn't respond by the end of the day, I'll have to resort to extreme measures.

I turned on the TV.

The weather forecast predicted a warm and sunny day, but heavy rain was expected to fall at night.

While I was tidying up the room, my phone rang.

For a moment, I thought it might be Ichinose, but it wasn't even close...

— Hey.

— Yo, Ayanokoji! Come over to my place!

I had to pull the phone away from my ear due to Ishizaki's loud voice.

— Now? But it's only just past 9 AM.

— Well, it's vacation, so we can hang out whenever, right? Let's go, I've got something to discuss.

— Hmm, I guess I can spare about an hour. Where do you want to meet?

After I asked this question, Ishizaki took a moment to pause. It seemed like he didn't know where he wanted to meet either.

— An hour? Uh... That's fine. As for the place... Well... Somewhere other than school...

His invitation was so unexpected that I couldn't help but be curious about the reason.

— You need to at least tell me the exact meeting place.

— Huh? Ah, right! Well... How about in front of the dorms? Actually, no! What about the Keiyaki Mall?

The Keiyaki Mall is still closed at this time, so we won't be able to get inside.

But because of that, there probably won't be any students there, which means it will be perfect for a private conversation.

— Got it.

— Okay! I'll be there in about ten minutes! See you! With those words, Ishizaki hung up.

Someone like Ishizaki is inviting me to talk this early? This can't be good.

Well, I won't know what's going on until I get there.

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Year 2 Volume 12.5 Chapter 9: "The Night of Promise"Anime TVJanuary 03, 2025Part 1Because the appointed time was about to arrive, I had to leave the dormitory immediately and head toward the Keyaki Mall.

— What does this mean?

I arrived at the designated spot in just 5 minutes, but no one was there yet.

Five more minutes passed, and Ishizaki still hadn't shown up. Just as I was about to call him again to ask what was going on...

— Ayanokouji-kun?

Suddenly, Hiyori Shiina addressed me.

If I were to compare her to Ishizaki, the only thing they had in common was the same class.

— Good morning. What a coincidence...

— Indeed.

I gave a rather short response, as I was deep in thought. Could this be a coincidence?

Meeting a classmate who invited me to the Keyaki Mall, which was still closed. What are the odds of such a coincidence?

— I actually received a strange message from Ishizaki-kun, but it seems he still hasn't shown up... Ayanokouji-kun, could it be that you too...?

It seems Hiyori and I were thinking the same thing.

— Yes, Ishizaki invited me as well without explaining why. Hiyori clasped her hands together. It seemed my words had calmed her down.

— I wonder why he did that.

— Oh, hey, you're already here!

Our conversation was interrupted by the cheerful appearance of Ishizaki, who seemed to have come out of nowhere.

— You're ten minutes late.

— Nah, I just went out in a T-shirt. I thought it'd be fine, but no, had to go back. Also ran into a buddy on the way and chatted for a bit. Well, whatever, we're all here now, right?

— You're right, it doesn't matter anymore.

Usually, the person who invites others should arrive first at the meeting place.

Or maybe that's just my prejudice. I looked at the smiling Ishizaki.

Suddenly, it occurred to me that I had come to this place at his first request, even though I would have hardly agreed to it before. Last year, I knew Ishizaki only superficially, but by some twist of fate, we ended up meeting more often, and now we could probably call each other more than just "acquaintances."

I wonder, do these strange feelings come to everyone, or is it a side effect of the fact that I didn't make any new friends before entering the school?

— Good morning, Ishizaki-kun.

Hiyori, who had been silently observing our conversation, finally addressed him.

— Yes, good morning.

I decided to speed things up and bring Ishizaki to the main topic. He seemed a bit flustered, clenched his fist, and then extended it toward me.

— The time has come! Join our team!

His voice echoed loudly in the morning silence.

The bass was so loud that it even caused a bird sitting on a branch to fall off.

— Sorry, I'm not sure I understand. What team?

Without proper explanation, Ishizaki's words were hard to understand.

— Don't pretend you don't understand! Transfer to our class!

— And you decided to discuss this this morning?

— Well, yeah, it's almost April! So I thought, "When if not now?" Ishizaki crossed his arms in triumph and nodded his head.

— Ishizaki-kun's invitation is certainly a good idea, but Ayanokouji-kun just moved up to class A. So transferring right now would be strange...

Hiyori softly explained the situation to Ishizaki.

Her words were clear and easy to understand, but Ishizaki didn't seem to care at all.

— The point difference isn't that big, get it? Ryuuen will soon catch up and overtake their classes, so... Why should Ayanokouji transfer only after we pass them when he could join us ahead of time? It's much more interesting this way!

Ishizaki said this without lowering his tone. Well, his idea wasn't hopeless.

Normally, students plan to transfer to class A at the very end of their studies to minimize risk. This was his biggest miscalculation. But I am indeed ready to transfer to another class. Just not to Ryuuen's.

— Well, if we don't grab you now, someone else might beat us to it!

Ishizaki seemed determined not to back down from his intentions. Even Hiyori's words couldn't convince him otherwise.

— Come on, Ayanokouji! You and Ryuuen will catch up with all the classes in no time! Come on, come on!

He could keep saying "come on" all day long; my decision wouldn't change. Still, I had to admire his persistence.

— Sorry, that's impossible. Or rather, there's no need for it.

— What do you mean, "there's no need"?

I think it's best to explain it all to him in detail:

— Right now, Ryuuen has already surpassed even Sakayanagi's class. Plus, as you said, your class will soon rise even higher. So, are you saying that Ryuuen can't manage without my help?

If Ryuuen had heard these words, he would surely have been furious.

— No, that's not what I meant...

— As Ryuuen's right-hand man, you should trust his abilities. He already strengthened the class enough when he transferred Katsuragi to you.

That should be enough to stop his train of thought.

— Uh... but...

Ishizaki started stumbling over his words, offering minimal resistance. But after a few moments, it seemed he resigned himself to the fact that his strategy wasn't working. In fact, he still had to process what I had said.

— But, like... it's not just that.

Ishizaki looked concerned, but didn't stop arguing:

— Dude, you're just... such a cool guy! If we're in different classes, we'll end up fighting against each other, right? We'd have to feud, quarrel... But if you agree, then you, Albert, Shiina, Ryuuen... all of us would be awesome allies and have a great time, you know? If you agreed, I wouldn't even mind taking a couple of slaps from Ryuuen, seriously!

Ishizaki, Ryuuen's main assistant, was willing to fall in his eyes, not for my abilities. Now I finally understood.

— You know, I wouldn't mind spending time with you and Hiyori either. Honestly, it's much more interesting than chatting in Horikita's class.

Ishizaki's eyes lit up.

But I couldn't let him nurture this hope for too long.

— However, I can't leave the class just because of friendly

relations. Also, my presence might not be appreciated by some of your classmates. Take Ibuki, for example. She definitely won't like it.

— Who cares about Ibuki? We'll shut her up and that's it!

— Ibuki is just one possible example. People will view me with suspicion because they might see me as a spy from Horikita's class, aiming to ruin Ryuuen's plans.

My transfer would look even stranger just when Ryuuen's class is getting closer to class A.

— Also, Horikita's class has just become class A. I wouldn't want to take unnecessary risks.

— Well... then you definitely won't be able to resist this!

— Hm?

He stubbornly ignored all my arguments.

But whatever he said next, I would refuse anyway because I had never planned to transfer to Ryuuen's class from the start.

— If you transfer to us, you'll be able to meet with Shiina! Well?!

Having said this, Ishizaki grabbed both Hiyori's and my hands and joined them in a handshake.

— Huh? Ha...?!

Hiyori, who had been quietly observing our conversation from the side, clearly didn't expect such a turn of events.

— What a ridiculous suggestion.

He completely ignored our feelings. This is too much.

— This is the advantage that only our class has. You won't find anything like this in Horikita's class!

— By the way, I already have a girlfriend.

— What?! So, if you transfer, you'll break up with Karuizawa, obviously!

— Absurd.

— But... You don't like Shiina, do you?!

— It's not that I don't like her. I could say that definitively.

— Then I don't see the problem! Shiina, you like Ayanokouji, right?

— Haaa...?!

— Ishizaki, you'd better stop asking questions that put others in an awkward position.

— What awkward position? We're all friends! You should speak about such things openly, right to their face! If you care about each other, it's a win-win situation!

Looking at it from any angle, Ishizaki clearly shouldn't have been meddling in something that wasn't his business.

— Yeah, you should leave Ayanokouji alone...

We continued talking, still holding hands with Hiyori.

— If I met the girl of my dreams, I wouldn't ever let her go! Ayanokouji, are you rejecting your own happiness?!

— But Ayanokouji already has a wonderful girlfriend...

— Well, what if he breaks up with Karuizawa? What will you do then, Shiina?

— Eh...?

— I'm right, aren't I? You're not hanging on to Ayanokouji just because he's still taken, are you?

— Stop, Ishizaki, stop embarrassing Hiyori. Not everyone can say out loud that they don't like someone. Don't pressure her.

— But Shiina always says everything without holding back, doesn't she?

The hand of Hiyori, which I was holding, began to heat up quickly. It seemed that even a girl as calm on the outside as Hiyori couldn't withstand such a barrage of awkwardness.

If I compare our first meeting with her to this one, she was definitely giving off a completely different impression.

Hiyori seemed to want to break free from Ishizaki's grip but couldn't.

In reality, Ishizaki wasn't really pressing hard. Most likely, Hiyori just didn't want to psychologically hurt him by suddenly pulling his hand away.

So, I had to act.

With one motion, I freed Hiyori's hand from Ishizaki's grip, so she could pull it out calmly.

But for some reason, she didn't think to pull her hand away at all. On the contrary, now she squeezed me even tighter.

— Hiyori?

— I... Actually have something to say...

Hiyori, as if deciding something, raised her head and looked me straight in the eyes.

— Oh, is it time for a confession? Ishizaki made another joking comment.

Hiyori, of course, ignored him and finally spoke:

— If Ayanokouji-kun transferred to our class... I would be so happy... Is that impossible?

— Ahem...

I had just explained to Ishizaki the reasons why I couldn't accept his proposal. And Hiyori definitely heard my words.

But despite this, she still gathered the courage to invite me again.

— Wow, good job, Shiina! Now he definitely won't be able to resist!

If you think about it, Ishizaki, Hiyori, and even Albert, who wasn't here right now, would all be in favor.

And right now, I could almost physically feel their enthusiasm.

— This is a very unusual proposal...

In fact, if I set everything else aside, transferring to Ryuuen's class would probably make me the happiest.

Not participating in the competition between classes, spending time with people I could call friends. In general, peacefully spending the last year of school.

What I had originally aimed for was now literally within my grasp.

I could fully trust Ishizaki and Hiyori, and they would do everything they could to make my time in their class not burdened with difficulties...

— Thank you for your kindness, but as I said, I can't agree.

— I see... Sorry, I asked you for the impossible... Hiyori reluctantly let go of my hand.

— Damn it, I just can't get through to you! Stuck to your own class, huh? I thought things like this wouldn't bother you!

Hiyori's trump card couldn't get through to me, so Ishizaki could only give up.

— Thanks again for the invitation. I'll probably regret not accepting it a year from now.

Only one year left. At this point, it's impossible to say for certain which class will be the best choice.

Ishizaki and Hiyori, standing before me, of course, have a drive to win.

So does Horikita's class.

And right now, I hope I can maintain this hope for the other two classes as well.

I want each class to have a chance. And for that, hope is needed.

As long as there's hope, students will give it their all. That's why I must give them that hope.

How exactly am I going to do that? The answer was clear.

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Year 2 Volume 12.5 Chapter 9: "The Night of Promise"Anime TVJanuary 03, 2025Part 2After my refusal, Hiyori, Ishizaki, and I chatted for a while longer. Of course, they were a little hurt, but they didn't bring up the topic of my transfer again. Instead, we peacefully discussed various things.

They even invited me for a cup of something at the Keiyaki Mall café after it opened, but I had to politely decline since I still had plans for the day.

Right after the conversation, I returned to the dorm.

It was already past 9 a.m., but Ichinose still hadn't read my message.

As planned, around 10 a.m., I headed back to Keiyaki Mall to meet someone there.

When we finished and I returned home, it was already 2 p.m. Time was passing very slowly. One hour after another...

I still hadn't sent any more messages. I didn't try calling either, just waiting.

How would this day end?

That was, of course, up to Ichinose. In the end, the final decision should come from her.

I tidied up my room and got myself in order. Then I prepared dinner and ate it alone.

It was 8 p.m., curfew time.

Nevertheless, the curfew didn't necessarily mean that she had canceled our meeting.

After all, the curfew rule applies only to the female dorm.

If Ichinose decided to come to my room, it wouldn't technically be a violation.

However, she still had to avoid being seen, as simply entering a room of the opposite gender late at night could lead to a warning. Well, anyway, the rules regarding gender segregation in dorms were poorly drafted.

I realized that during my relationship with Karuizawa. I took a leisurely shower and watched some TV.

The morning news was interesting, but the evening entertainment programs didn't interest me at all.

Then I brushed my teeth. It was 9:00 p.m.

By this time, students who followed a strict sleep schedule had probably already gone to bed. But I was absolutely sure that Ichinose wasn't asleep yet.

She wasn't sleeping. She was thinking... The night deepened. Time passed.

Around 9:30 p.m., I heard the sound of raindrops against the window.

I cautiously opened the window to check. Indeed, there was a heavy downpour outside.

By the way, they had mentioned it in the morning news. The rain was expected to last until morning.

Even after I closed the window, the noise was still audible. It would probably get stronger with each passing minute.

By 10 p.m., there was nothing left in my room to do. Only two hours remained in the day.

I took out my phone and reviewed the messages I had sent to Ichinose.

"I'll be out until 3 p.m. today is the day, so I hope you can come to my room after that time."

"Please contact me as soon as you can."

These two consecutive messages were marked as "read." Ichinose had read them, there was no doubt about it.

I waited for a reply for another 10 minutes. 20 minutes. Still no response.

Had Ichinose broken her promise...? Or was her silence her answer?

Both of these possibilities seemed likely. Honestly, I thought she would do something. Had I overestimated her?

If she chose to remain silent, it no longer made sense to resist her decision.

I had already given her enough time to think. And yet…

I slowly got up from the bed where I had been sitting. I wanted to clarify this directly.

Throughout the past year, I had influenced Ichinose Honami for my own benefit.

So, it was only natural to want to see the results of my efforts with my own eyes.

Even if Ichinose refused to speak, at least I would be able to see her state.

This desire arose unintentionally.

But I decided to give in to it. To check everything personally.

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Year 2 Volume 12.5 Chapter 9: "The Night of Promise"Anime TVJanuary 03, 2025Part 3 (1/2)At 10:30 PM, I decided to leave the room.

Luckily, the rain was still pouring, so there was no one outside. I walked down the corridor to the emergency staircase and headed toward Ichinose's room.

Then I rang the doorbell, waiting for a response.

Through the thin walls, I heard the sound caused by my press of the button.

But no matter how long I waited, the door never opened. Perhaps she couldn't tell it was me, so she decided not to respond to the doorbell.

I took out my phone and made a call.

She had just read my messages, so the phone should have been on.

The dial tone came.

Even after the full cycle of the dial tone sounded for the tenth time, Ichinose still hadn't answered.

I pressed the end call button and knocked gently on the door:

— It's me. Today is the day, and it's almost over.

Instead of trying to call her again or ring the doorbell, I decided to speak plainly.

I no longer wanted to make unnecessary noise.

If one of her roommates found out I had visited Ichinose during curfew, it would cause a real commotion. A warning could be the least of my problems.

That's why I stopped calling her on the phone and at the door. Even though I really wanted to see her current state, I couldn't risk too much.

If Ichinose decided to remain silent, then so be it.

There was still complete silence on the other side of the door.

— I'll wait for another three minutes. If you don't answer in that time, I'll leave. You don't have to worry.

In my head, I immediately started counting down 180 seconds.

I leaned back against the wall and began to watch the raindrops falling from the roof.

Suddenly, when the time on my internal timer reached the 30-second mark, my phone vibrated. "Why did you come?"

The message was from none other than Ichinose, who was sitting behind the wall.

Sending this message probably required a lot of courage, so I had to take her question seriously:

"I already told you. Today is the day."

I was about to send a reply, but Ichinose beat me to it:

"Right now, I don't have the courage to come to your room. I'm sorry."

"I know. That's why I came."

This reply was immediately marked as "read," but our conversation reached an impasse.

To avoid tempting fate by standing here at such a late hour, I decided to hurry her up:

"I'll wait another minute. If the door doesn't open, we'll pretend that our promise never existed."

This message was also immediately marked as "read." The last word was now up to Ichinose.

She could hate me, or doubt me.

Did she want to continue the struggle? No problem.

There were so many options for her to choose from. She could pick any of them.

The most important thing was for her to tell me her decision. Only ten seconds were left before the minute ended. I had already moved away from the wall, preparing to leave, when another message came to my phone.

"The door is not locked. Come in."

That was the message Ichinose sent me.

"Not locked"? I reread the message several times to make sure I understood its meaning.

Recently, Ichinose hadn't been going anywhere, otherwise rumors would have spread throughout the school.

But if the door wasn't locked, did that mean someone had recently used it?

Maybe a classmate had just come in and she forgot to lock it?

There could be many scenarios, and guessing was nearly impossible.

What if she expected me to come to her room?

If we were talking on the phone or face-to-face right now, I could have figured out her mood, but unfortunately, text messaging was too vague to attempt to read her thoughts.

And while this unexpected fact surprised me quite a bit, there was no turning back.

I cautiously turned the door handle.

The door was indeed unlocked and opened easily.

However, as soon as I entered and closed the door behind me, I was plunged into absolute darkness.

— Ichinose, are you here?

I cautiously called out, but there was no response.

The room was dark, and I could hardly see anything. There was only the eerie silence.

Only the faint hum of the refrigerator could be heard from the kitchen.

— Ichinose.

I called again. Still, silence.

Bursting into her room at this moment wouldn't be appropriate, so I decided to wait in the hallway for a while.

Besides, waiting a little longer would help me get used to the darkness.

After a while, my eyes had adapted enough to the darkness that I decided to cautiously peek into her room.

There, in the far corner, sat Ichinose on the floor.

— The curfew is over. Aren't you ashamed to barge in like this?

— I should be the one complaining. After all, you made me come here.

It had been a long time since I last heard Ichinose's voice. She seemed far more energetic than I had expected.

And, of course, she was perfectly healthy.

— Ayanokouji-kun, you took today's day much more seriously than I could have imagined.

Ichinose commented on my risky move of sneaking into her room with a soft voice.

Ichinose had surely already realized this.

I nodded confidently and decided to get to the main topic:

— As agreed a year ago, today I will pass my verdict on Ichinose Honami's worth as a student.

In response to my words, Ichinose could have been outraged at my familiar tone.

— "Verdict"? And what exactly will it concern? But Ichinose didn't get angry or panic.

Normally, most people would think of something negative when they heard the phrase "I will pass a verdict."

Something like a strike during seppuku. However, this expression also has a positive side, meaning that you won't abandon someone in need.

— I see...

— Come in, of course. Just lock the door.

The chance that someone would come to visit Ichinose at this hour was extremely small, but caution never hurt.

Following her instructions, I locked the door, took off my shoes, and entered the room.

It was also dark inside, but even through the darkness, I could see that everything was spotless. It was impossible to trip over anything.

I stood in the spot where I could see Ichinose best and froze.

— Maybe you no longer want to look me in the eye or even see me at all, but I would like to talk. This may be our last chance.

— Are you suggesting we completely sever ties? Not even stay friends, right?

— At this point, I can't deny anything. If that option is the best for both of us, then that's what we should do.

Ichinose was ready to take the initiative and sever all ties. Not bad.

But if she thought that was the worst that would happen to her tonight, she was gravely mistaken.

Because I was about to say something much harsher.

— Maybe you want to say something? If not, I'll get straight to the point.

It's better to resolve all misunderstandings right away.

— No, go ahead.

Had she prepared in advance? At least, when she said this, she didn't even raise her head.

— The results of the final special exam were extremely important for your class. Losing would have only pushed your class further into the abyss. And that's exactly what happened; Horikita's class won. That means the path to class A is now closed for your class.

— Yes, that's pretty much how it happened... Some of the guys are still ready to fight, but the chance of winning is close to zero. And it's all because I couldn't defeat you, Ayanokouji-kun. It's my fault.

— That's right. You were weak as a leader, which is why your class lost. However, anyone could blame you for that. I'm not here for that.

Ichinose didn't even flinch. Her head was still directed at the floor.

— However, your class still has a chance to get back into the race.

— Your words... So there is still hope?

— But not if Ichinose Honami remains the leader of the class. At those words, Ichinose's shoulders trembled slightly.

— Are you saying... I need to step down as leader?

— If you want your class to win, that's what you should do.

— I see... I've thought about it myself. After all, I no longer have the same confidence, and my charisma is gone as well. I can't lead them forward anymore.

I continued:

— Sorry if this is obvious, but the leadership position should be taken by someone else. Someone with the skill to lead the class to class A.

— A leader like that... Who do you mean? Kanzaki-kun?

— No one. Right now, there's no one in your class who could take the leadership position.

— Then... Doesn't that mean we're at a dead end?

— If there's no one suitable in your class, that just means such a person should be taken from another class.

— What do you mean?

— I'll transfer to your class and become the new leader. This was a plan I had been working on recently.

It was time to share one part of it with Ichinose.

— You should already understand my strengths and weaknesses. Beating Horikita's class by gaining just over 500 class points will be difficult, but it's possible within a year.

— But you just got into class A... And you're planning to transfer to the class that's ranked the lowest?

— I probably wasn't clear. If I transfer to your class, in the end, it will become class A.

These words finally made Ichinose lift her head.

I thought her eyes would look swollen from crying, but it seemed like she hadn't cried at all.

— Ah... So that's how it is... I understand.

She looked as if she had just had a divine revelation. Then she slowly looked me in the eyes.

Her pupils resembled a victim trembling before their executioner.

— The fact that Ayanokouji-kun defeated me in the final special exam... This was all planned by you in advance, right? All so you could come to me with this proposal?

If Ichinose had won, their class points would have almost matched the other classes.

In that case, I wouldn't have needed to transfer to her class, so in a way, she was right.

— That is definitely one of the reasons. However, if you had managed to beat me, I would have been happy to acknowledge your strength.

I clearly laid out the reasons for my actions.

— Yes, I understand... So, the defeat of our class was a necessary step, and everything will improve with your participation?

— Exactly. But you probably understand that it's not that simple.

— Yes... Is there a condition?

Just the removal of Ichinose from her position as class leader and my transfer wouldn't be enough.

— I'll transfer to your class and make sure it finishes in class A. But I'll only do this on the condition that you, Honami Ichinose, voluntarily leave the school.

If she agrees to this, the deal will be officially struck.

— Voluntarily leave...

What will Ichinose think at this moment? What will her answer be?

These questions had been on my mind all day.

This moment is just one of the possible branches of my strategy. I had already planned every possible move for each outcome, but I wanted Ichinose to make this choice herself.

— Sorry, but I don't have enough personal points for your transfer...

— Don't worry about that. You can transfer all your personal points, gather points from all your classmates. If that sum isn't

enough, you can borrow from the first-years. You have a certain level of trustworthiness, so they won't turn down the deal. And if even after that the points are still insufficient, gathering the remaining part won't be that difficult.

In reality, making the transfer won't be that hard.

Just 20 million personal points for a guarantee of class A.

— Even if it works... Ayanokouji-kun, why are you going this far? For what purpose?

— One graduate once told me: "Become a student who will be remembered by everyone." Now, every class leader acknowledges my abilities. And not just the leaders, ordinary students are starting to figure it out too.

This fact was far from concepts of right and wrong, good and evil. It was just a fact.

— So, if I manage to transfer to another class, I'll definitely be remembered.

— You're right...

— Do you remember what I told you a year ago? That you should stay true to yourself.

— Continue on your path with your classmates. Sometimes you'll feel joy, sadness, or even despair. But never stop where you are... Ichinose repeated word for word the things I said to her a year ago.

— Those words were spoken to maintain stability in your class. Thanks to that, you were able to keep all your classmates.

For the transfer, I needed a class that hadn't yet experienced the pain of parting with friends.

— And that's why your class is a blank slate for me.

— But if I stay, there will be 41 students in the class...

— Of course, but that's not the only reason I'm asking you to leave. You have too strong a will. It will get in the way.

If Ichinose decided to rebel against me, other classmates might follow her.

This, of course, would hinder normal teamwork in the class.

— Incredible... You're amazing, Ayanokouji-kun... You've thought of everything so thoroughly...

I had been planning this branch of events for a long time, but Sakayanagi's recent departure made some adjustments.

— But if I leave, the class will lose 300 class points. Do you really think you can still win in that case?

— Fighting a fair battle with an 800-point gap would be extremely difficult. I doubt the school would allow such an amount to be gathered in the third year. However, one must understand that students from other classes may also leave the school due to unforeseen circumstances. Instead of striving to reach the top

with your class, one should drop all others to the very bottom.

My own abilities would be more than enough to prevent any other class from taking a spot in Class A.

If Ichinose takes responsibility and leaves the school, her class would undoubtedly become Class A.

For Ichinose, who had been eaten up by doubts after recent events, this choice must have been extremely painful.

In other words, right now, she was deciding not only her own fate but also the fate of all her classmates.

— If I really leave... You will definitely bring the class to Class A?

This is absolutely true.

I made this offer only to turn Ichinose's class into Class A.

— Ichinose, wait. I haven't said everything. I guarantee that your class will finish school in Class A, but I don't promise to keep all your classmates intact.

— That's self-evident, isn't it? If I want to reach Class A, I'll first get rid of the weak spots. I don't need dead weight. Any useless element will be immediately eliminated. So, if I get the chance to get rid of any of my classmates during the special exam, I will take it without hesitation. Be it Amikura, Watanabe, or anyone else from your close circle. I'm not going to deliberately save them. I'll eliminate them, just like I did with Maezono, and that's it. She, of course, knew I was capable of excluding classmates because it was Maezono's exclusion that turned that period of her life into a nightmare.

— But again, I'm not going to exclude 20 or even 10 students. I think it will only be a few people.

Agreeing to leave, sacrificing herself and a few classmates for a spot in Class A...

Or refusing, turning her anger into strength, and trying to reach Class A while still being the leader.

However, in her case, the outcome was predetermined. Because Ichinose Honami could not abandon her classmates. The probability that Ichinose Honami would reject my offer and continue leading the class was almost 99%.

If she had agreed, balancing all four classes would have been nearly impossible.

And nothing could have been done about it.

However, the answer I wanted to hear was not one of the two options—"agree" or "refuse."

I wanted a third option.

To hear something I couldn't even expect.

— This is so cruel...

— Yes, probably.

I made an almost impossible demand.

She would soon explode in anger and give me one of the answers I had proposed. But I still didn't lose hope.

Exactly one year ago, I planted this seed in Ichinose's mind. Manipulating human love can lead to both positive and negative outcomes.

Actually, it wasn't just about love.

Support and betrayal, kindness and hostility.

The mixture of such opposites was currently causing a dissonance in Ichinose's mind.

In such a short time, Ichinose's heart had experienced many happy and dreadful moments.

And now, it was time for these emotions to overflow. Undoubtedly, after my betrayal, Ichinose started to hate me. From a psychological perspective, this is called ambivalence. The moment when negative emotions cause irreversible consequences.

I learned about this state during my training in the White Room. That's why I understood that the likelihood of Ichinose exposing her fangs against me was extremely high.

But, in any case, I was just a bystander in this situation.

And Ichinose, perhaps, was the most suitable subject for this experiment.

Now, her hatred for me surpassed her love.

But in fact, these two feelings are closely connected. The more you love, the stronger you hate afterward.

And the state of ambivalence should never be underestimated. From the outside, it could even be considered a mental disorder. In fact, I wasn't the first to study this feeling in experiments.

Make someone attach to you, and then do everything to make them hate you. That person repeated this experiment with his subjects countless times.

So, will my experiment yield greater results than his? That's what I wanted to find out.

— This is so unfair, Ayanokouji-kun...

— And so?

— You're a liar... You've always been like this...

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

And yet, she didn't scream, didn't try to throw me out of the room, didn't make a fuss.

— ...

Her behavior truly surprised me.

— I'm sorry... I shouldn't have said that...

Feeling a slight misunderstanding, I was ready to accept that my experiment had failed.

However, I decided to make sure.

— Still, what choice will you make?

— I don't want to abandon anyone from the group. I don't want to be without them...

— What a selfish answer.

— You're right... I still won't make it on my own, but with you, Ayanokouji-kun...

— You mean, I should transfer to your class, but not exclude anyone?

After my words, Ichinose smiled for the first time during our conversation and shook her head from side to side.

She shared with me the method that only she could propose.

A method that would allow competition to be maintained between all four classes.

— This... Is this the answer you wanted to hear?

— It's probably the wrong answer.

— But I don't think so.

Her classmates admired Ichinose and believed they could only reach Class A together. They didn't consider any other options.

What she had been missing as a leader was now almost within her grasp.

In terms of potential, Ichinose might even surpass Horikita and Ryuuen.

If she could overcome her inner weakness and naivety, who knows what kind of achievements await her next year.

I approached Ichinose and extended my hand.

— To follow this path, we must maintain at least some connection between us. You can hate me, of course. It's not necessary for me to be liked by you.

Ichinose took my hand and stood up from the floor.

— I sat in my room and tried. I tried to hate you, but I couldn't. Yes, I'm a fool... But I can't help myself. My feelings for you stayed the same even after your awful words today.

From her soft, silky hair, there was a faint citrus scent.

It would be strange to drown in perfume while sitting alone in her room.

Moreover, only now did I notice the shine in her hair. Did I miss something?

I thought this whole meeting was going according to the plan I had set up...

But in reality...

— Of course I knew. You would definitely come to check on my condition today. There's no way you could resist that curiosity.

Ichinose was absolutely sure that I would personally come to her room today.

Emotionless messages, an unlocked door. A tidy room, neat hair, and perfume.

Of course, she probably hadn't expected me to come with such a proposal.

Though, I couldn't even be sure of that.

Even if Ichinose didn't have the full picture, she had a very strong intuition.

— The curfew has long since started. If you leave right now, it could interfere with our plans.

— You're right.

— In that case... Ayanokouji-kun, why don't we become partners? Ichinose really is an extraordinary girl.

— And how do you imagine that?

— We need to make it so that we know everything about each other. As soon as possible.

Without saying a word, she pulled me toward her.

As soon as I tried to break free, Ichinose pulled me back to her chest.

With her actions, she was urging me to sit on the bed. No, not urging. She forced me to do it.

She was still standing and looking down at me.

— I think I just understood what happened with Karuizawa-san.

— What do you mean?

— Most likely, she was being consumed from the inside by darkness, and then you came and saved her only to break her again afterward? You probably thought that was the right thing to do.

— Maybe so.

— What horrible selfishness. Maybe you saved her, but you used the wrong methods to do it. Do you think you can just break and rebuild people like that?

Ichinose didn't yet know that I had broken up with Karuizawa. But she most likely could have guessed it.

— And I'm the same, right? Me and Karuizawa-san... No, not just us... All the students at this school. You've just been using them, haven't you?

In Ichinose's eyes, elegance and rage were fighting.

It could even seem like, in the midst of all this darkness, only her pupils were glowing.

Everything happening went beyond my calculations. I wasn't prepared for this outcome.

— You...

Grabbing me by the shoulders, she forcefully pushed me onto my back.

— You used me, and now I'll use you. Honestly, isn't that right?

— My feelings for you won't change, no matter what, Ayanokouji- kun. No matter what happens, I'll always think about you. You know, while I was sitting here, all I dreamed about was meeting you. You mean more to me than any classmate, any family

member. But you, it seems, don't feel anything like that, right? Your horizon is broader than mine, and that's why you think only about yourself.

Having read my true feelings, Ichinose couldn't help but smile.

— Alright, fine. But I want to play the game too. You left a mark on my heart, and I want to leave a mark on yours. In my own way.

Ichinose leaned forward, resting her hands on the bed. It creaked slightly.

She took my hand and placed it on her chest.

This touch revealed to me a part of her soul she had never shown before.

Her heart was pounding wildly. She was very nervous. Of course, I understood that.

Outside, heavy rain drummed against the window.

— You've done something awful to Karuizawa-san. It will be bad if she finds out.

— I haven't said anything yet, but I've already broken up with Karuizawa. I prepared thoroughly to come to the girls' dormitory late at night.

I had done well outside of this room, but I never expected something like this would happen in here.

— I see. And I locked myself in and knew nothing...

This wasn't surprising. After all, it didn't happen last week or even yesterday.

We broke up today, March 30th.

— So none of your actions can be used for blackmail.

The whole room seemed to disappear, and all my focus was on Ichinose.

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Year 2 Volume 12.5 Chapter 9: "The Night of Promise"Anime TVJanuary 03, 2025Part 3 (2/2)— I don't want to blackmail you...

She whispered this in my ear. Her cheeks immediately flushed with color.

Right after that, Ichinose abruptly pressed her lips against mine. However, instead of a soft interaction, we clashed our teeth.

Ichinose immediately began apologizing:

— Oh, sorry... I'm doing everything wrong, aren't I? This is my first time...

She made another attempt, and now her lips touched mine much more gently.

— Like this... Is it right?

— You're not going to run away, are you?

— Not an option. It's too risky.

Ichinose, evidently, was trying to prevent my escape. If I had pushed her away, it could have led to a fight.

For a guy who visited the girls' dormitory, that would have been too much.

A simple warning wouldn't have solved the situation. Ichinose was filled with determination.

I reached for her clothes, wanting to take them off.

For a moment, doubt flickered in her eyes, and her body visibly tensed.

However, just a few seconds later, she pulled her shirt off herself. The boundaries of reason had long since disappeared.

I was trapped.

From the moment I entered this room, there was no going back.

At the same time, I felt myself growing more and more captivated by this girl's charm.

I thought I had already learned everything I needed to know.

In this room, where there were only the two of us. Late at night. This ritual was not tied to a ceremony of becoming lovers.

If it had been, it would have made no sense in itself.

This was an absolute partnership contract we entered into out of mutual necessity.

And we sealed this contract at the deepest level. Recklessly continuing to consume each other.

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Year 2 Volume 12.5 Chapter 9: "The Night of Promise"Anime TVJanuary 03, 2025Part 4A few days after Ayanokouji and Ichinose became much closer, at the beginning of April, near the end of spring break, seven students from Ichinose's class gathered at a café in the Keyaki shopping center. The reason was that they received a message from Ichinose in their group chat, telling them to meet up.

A huge flood of messages started in the chat, filled with hopes that the old Ichinose would return soon. Ichinose herself, of course, apologized for her absence and then invited everyone to the Keyaki shopping center.

The vast majority of students in their class expressed a desire to see their leader, but Kanzaki immediately intervened. He said that the situation was still unclear, so to avoid embarrassing Ichinose, only a small group of students should attend the meeting.

Neither Ichinose nor anyone else objected to his idea. Among those selected were: Shibata, Hamaguchi, Amikura, Himeno, Shiranami, and Watanabe.

For the other classmates, the composition of this group might have seemed strange, as it included both central figures in the class and regular students. Kanzaki chose Himeno and Hamaguchi, his closest supporters, and the others were selected from Ichinose's circle, so no one could suspect anything.

Thus, if a vote were needed, Kanzaki would have at least three votes. He wasn't sure about Ichinose's current state, so he decided to be ready for anything.

On the way to the café, Kanzaki met Shibata, so they arrived together.

The first to arrive was Amikura, widely known as Ichinose's best friend, who had spent the most time with her, both in and out of school.

Everyone greeted each other:

— Good morning, Amikura-san! It's great that Ichinose-san got in touch, isn't it?

— You're right. Honestly, when I saw her message, I almost cried...

After her defeat in the final special exam, Ichinose went into complete isolation. Even when Amikura came to visit her, Ichinose simply didn't let her into her room, saying she "wasn't ready to see anyone yet."

While the other classmates sent Ichinose tons of supportive messages, Amikura worried that this might make things worse. She constantly thought about how to cheer up her friend but never came to a conclusion.

— Still, I'm uneasy. Although Honami-chan wrote that she would show up, will she be okay? Has she really recovered?

Amikura was concerned that Ichinose might not show up to the meeting she had organized herself.

— She will definitely come. Ichinose-san is not the type to break her promises.

Shibata decided to support Amikura's optimism.

— But she hasn't left her room in so long...

— Even if she doesn't come, we should understand that.

— Actually, no.

Kanzaki interrupted their friendly conversation with his pessimistic remark.

— What do you mean?

— The defeat in the final special exam determined the fate of our class. Two weeks have passed, and we still haven't developed a new strategy. We need to make a decision soon.

— The responsibility doesn't lie only with Ichinose-san. You lost as the representative, and we, as regular students, should have tried harder. In other words, this is the responsibility of the whole class.

— I'm not trying to shift the responsibility onto someone else. But it's time to move forward. It's too late to find someone to blame.

Spring break was almost over. The third year was rapidly approaching.

Time for preparation was running out.

— What do you mean "move forward"? It's clear enough already! We'll act even more cohesively and work twice as hard!

— No, we can no longer expect victory...

Kanzaki continued to argue his point, even though this might alienate Shibata and the others.

Naturally, Shibata couldn't accept his reasoning:

— Kanzaki-kun, what nonsense are you talking about? It's not true!

— Shibata, can't you face the truth?

— Guys, calm down! The others have just arrived!

With these words, Amikura pointed to the newly arrived group.

Watanabe energetically greeted her, waving his hand. Behind him came Hamaguchi, Himeno, and Shiranami.

With all seven members of the group present, they entered the café.

— The situation seems a bit tense. What's going on? Hamaguchi asked when all seven people sat down at the table.

— Kanzaki-kun says I can't face the truth.

— Face the truth?

Kanzaki realized it was time to dive into explanations again:

— Shibata, what's unclear about what I said? Hoshinomiya- sensei seemed to have said this already.

— No, you don't understand what I'm saying. We still have an entire year ahead of us. Have you seen how many points the Horikita class earned in a year? We just need to do the same!

Kanzaki, urging the class to surrender, and Shibata, who didn't want to give up, engaged in an argument.

— Do you even remember how they earned those points? Academic performance alone won't be enough. Our class doesn't have someone like Koenji, who could win the special exam on a deserted island by himself.

— Hm...

Kanzaki continued to stand his ground. It seemed from the outside that he was venting all the frustration he had accumulated during the spring break.

— And we certainly don't have anyone like Ayanokouji, who outsmarted Ichinose in the final special exam in no time. Are you going to argue with that?

— Wait... Alright, Koenji-kun I can understand, but wasn't Ayanokouji-kun's victory just a coincidence?

Shibata expressed his misunderstanding.

— The fact that you don't understand something so obvious shows that we shouldn't count on victory.

Kanzaki was extremely disappointed in Shibata's naivety:

— Our class is already sinking. So, we need to focus on saving as many people as possible.

— Wait, Kanzaki-kun, you're going too far.

Amikura, who had partly supported Kanzaki's point of view up until now, couldn't hold herself back anymore.

— And what's wrong with that? It's true.

— So what if it's true? If we're sinking, we need to band together even more tightly and fight back against the current, right?

— Listen, Shibata-kun, do you really think that's possible? Himeno, who had said nothing until then, joined the conversation.

— In our current situation... Don't you think it'll be extremely difficult to rise to class A?

— Of course, I know that! But that's exactly why we need to continue supporting each other! And if Kanzaki-kun keeps spreading these pessimistic ideas, then we really won't succeed!

Shibata insisted on positive thinking, while Kanzaki stood by his diametrically opposite viewpoint.

It was only a matter of time before this would turn into a full-blown argument.

— Fine, forget it. You still won't understand.

Kanzaki attempted to end the conversation with Shibata, tired of his positive energy.

— What's wrong? Is there nothing else to say? I still wanted to chat.

— What's the point of arguing with someone who only accepts their own point of view? Your blind optimism won't lead to anything good.

— It's not blind optimism, Kanzaki-kun! You're just thinking too negatively.

— I'm just trying to be a realist. As I said...

Just as their conversation was about to reach its peak, another person approached the table.

— Enough with the arguments.

Finally, the one they had all been waiting for arrived. Shibata even opened his mouth in surprise:

— Ichinose-san, you came.

Kanzaki, who apparently wasn't prepared for Ichinose to actually come, was slightly surprised.

Shirami, on the other hand, felt more of a relief. She was almost ready to cry:

— Honami-chan, are you okay?

— Yes, sorry for worrying you. I'm fine.

Everyone sitting at the table immediately wondered if Ichinose's special energy was just a mask to avoid hurting them.

Especially these thoughts troubled Shibata. Ichinose placed a hand on his shoulder and looked extremely cheerful.

— It seems like you're okay, Ichinose-san...

— I'm sorry again.

— No, no, it's alright! I always believed you would recover! Shibata suddenly felt a trace of an adult's energy from Ichinose and awkwardly looked away.

Ichinose carefully removed her hand from Shibata's shoulder and turned to face the others:

— I sincerely apologize for ignoring all your messages.

— Does it even matter anymore? You should rather tell us, are you really feeling better?

The question came from Amikura. Just like Shirami, she was extremely concerned about Ichinose's well-being.

— I'm fine, really. And I even have something to tell you all. Ichinose smiled faintly and sat between Amikura and Shirami. All eyes were on her.

Right now, they needed to figure out if she was forcing herself to smile, whether she had truly recovered from the psychological trauma, and, most importantly, what they should do next.

After all, before Ichinose got sick, she had expressed a desire to step down from being class leader.

Although Hoshinomiya had tried to convince her otherwise, no one could be sure that Ichinose had really changed her mind.

— Listen, Honami-chan...

Before Ichinose could say anything, Amikura interrupted her.

— Yes, what is it?

— You're not... you're not going to say that you want to leave school, right?

As Ichinose's closest friend, Amikura didn't particularly care whether she stayed as class leader. After all, Ichinose had the right to resign from the position at any time.

But Amikura didn't want Ichinose to come to hate studying at this school.

That's why she thought that Ichinose might be planning to take responsibility for the failure in the exam and leave the school.

— You don't need to worry about that. Sakayanagi-san left the school, and her class lost 300 class points.

Ichinose explained to Amikura that she wasn't going to cause any more trouble.

However, after hearing this answer, Kanzaki decided to confirm further:

— So, if there were no penalty for leaving school, would you have left us?

— Kanzaki-kun, how can you say that?

Although Ichinose claimed she wasn't leaving, Kanzaki continued to share his negative assumptions. Of course, this upset Amikura. Watanabe immediately decided to support Amikura.

— Don't worry, guys. Even if there was no penalty, I'm not leaving.

Amikura sighed with relief.

— And what if leaving school would benefit us? Let's say, 300 class points would be awarded for a voluntary classmate departure.

Kanzaki continued asking questions.

— Well, of course, that's unlikely, but if my leaving could help all of you rise to Class A, then I would, of course, leave.

— Honami-chan, you can't do that!

— Don't worry, that's too unlikely. So from now on, we'll continue our way to Class A side by side.

— So we can consider that you've fully recovered?

— Yes, I had plenty of time to sort out my thoughts. So, if no one minds me staying as class leader, that's how it will be.

— Of course, Honami-chan! You should be our leader! Suddenly, a few claps were heard. Kanzaki slapped his hand on the table a few times, calling for calm.

— Let's put the leadership issue aside for now.

The gloomy Kanzaki interrupted Amikura and Shibata's joy:

— I'm sorry, but I can't believe you've really recovered. Just yesterday, you were staying in your room, and now you're saying you want to continue as leader? Won't that be too much for you? Shibata wanted to argue with Kanzaki again, but Ichinose could stand up for herself:

— Yes, the days I spent in my room felt like hell. It's one thing to lose in the final special exam, and another to lose when victory was just one step away. I thought a lot about everything, cried a lot, but...

Ichinose fell silent for a moment, then looked around at everyone present:

— I've changed. Now I'm fine.

— You certainly look energetic, but what's the proof?

— Do I have to prove it somehow?

— Of course. If you're claiming that you suddenly overcame this pain, then something must have given you strength.

Kanzaki noted that the psychological trauma couldn't have healed that quickly on its own.

So if Ichinose said that time healed her, Kanzaki would immediately refute that.

— It's because... Because I was able to dispel the doubts in my heart.

— Yes. Regarding questions like how we will get back on our feet, how not to lose any of our friends, and whether I should even remain class leader... I've received answers to all of these questions.

— And how did you receive them?

— Someone saved me.

— Someone?

Kanzaki immediately thought of Ayanokouji.

After all, it was Ayanokouji who broke Ichinose in the final special exam.

Moreover, Ichinose had feelings for Ayanokouji, which also played a significant role.

Others present were thinking more about one of the teachers. The thought of Ayanokouji didn't even cross their minds.

— Amazing. And who is this benefactor of ours? Shibata expressed his sincere curiosity.

Right after these words, Ichinose broke into a warm smile:

— It was Ayanokouji-kun.

Upon hearing this name, Kanzaki couldn't hold back his anger:

— Ayanokouji is our main enemy. Are you telling me that the one who destroyed you in the final special exam suddenly decided to save you?!

— Yes, that's absolutely true. Ayanokouji-kun saved me. Kanzaki took a deep breath to keep from losing his temper. Ayanokouji had saved Kanzaki several times as well.

In fact, for a while, Kanzaki had considered Ayanokouji a reliable ally.

However, during the final special exam, Ayanokouji presented himself as an enemy to their class.

He defeated Ichinose and plunged her entire class into chaos. That was when Kanzaki realized that blind hopes for Ayanokouji were unsubstantiated.

— You're saying he saved you, huh? Well then, we're even more screwed. Are you sure he saved you and didn't recruit you?

Kanzaki's ruthless criticism of Ichinose couldn't help but upset Shibata:

— Ahem, since Ichinose-san is saying this herself, we should at least thank Ayanokouji-kun.

— You don't understand, Shibata, Ayanokouji is an extremely dangerous person.

— Dangerous? He doesn't seem that way to me at all... Kanzaki wasn't sure if it was wise to reveal all his cards.

Ayanokouji was the son of Atsuomi Ayanokouji, a man he deeply respected. He simply couldn't be an ordinary person.

However, if he had told his classmates about this, they probably wouldn't have understood.

— Kanzaki-kun.

— What now?

— Before you continue, could you listen to me? Ichinose's words stunned Kanzaki for a moment.

There was neither intimidation nor threat in them. Ichinose looked exactly as she always did, but somehow, just her words were enough to make Kanzaki close his mouth.

— I lost the final special exam because I had too soft of a heart.

Given the conditions of the exam, I had at least a fifty percent chance of winning.

Ichinose decided to explain the reason for her loss to her classmates.

— The reason I lost to Ayanokouji-kun was that I lost sight of the very essence of winning and losing. And I want you to understand that.

Up until now, Ichinose had never expressed such deep feelings.

— I don't know how to explain it... But I've always liked Ayanokouji-kun.

Without hesitation, without panic. She confessed her feelings to her classmates.

Shibata was perhaps the most surprised. His jaw dropped and it seemed like he couldn't get it back into place.

Ichinose, however, paid him no attention and continued:

— I believed that Ayanokouji-kun thought about me. However, the results of the special exam made me doubt that.

Ayanokouji had suggested that Ichinose openly use her right as a "traitor."

And by doing so, he drew Ichinose into his plan to exclude a classmate.

The class held its breath as they listened to the details of the final special exam, which had previously remained unknown.

But all of Ichinose's words only made Kanzaki more determined to convince everyone that Ayanokouji was right.

At first glance, he seemed like a rather unremarkable person. But that was just an illusion. In reality, every action he took was based on cold calculation.

However, Ichinose wanted to reveal this aspect of his personality herself, without Kanzaki's help.

— Ayanokouji-kun... Is he really that amazing?

Himeno, still unable to believe her ears, couldn't help but ask for clarification. Ichinose immediately nodded confidently and proudly, as though Himeno were praising her.

Himeno, of course, could have suspected Ayanokouji's extraordinary nature, but her assumptions were far from the truth.

— And I only realized his strength during the final special exam. I realized that all of Class Horikita's victories weren't due to the personal qualities of the students, or at least not just them.

Without Ayanokouji-kun, they wouldn't have achieved anything. She spoke as though Ayanokouji, not Horikita, was the true leader of the class.

— No, wait, wait... I certainly don't deny your words, since I've hardly had any contact with Ayanokouji-kun, but... Are you saying all this just because you respect him?

Panicking, Shibata could only hope that Ichinose was greatly exaggerating her description of Ayanokouji.

— Respect, of course... But more important to me are the feelings of affection I have for him.

Ichinose said this and blushed. She remembered that night and felt embarrassed—not only because of the physical closeness, but also because she had lifted the veil on Ayanokouji's personality in a way that even Karuizawa couldn't.

— Amazing... To make Ichinose-san say something like that... It means something serious must have happened.

For Watanabe, this open confession was far more important than for anyone else. He immediately looked at the object of his affection—Amikura.

She seemed happy that Ichinose could confess her feelings to her classmates.

— But... Didn't Ayanokouji-kun have a girlfriend?

— Shibata-kun, it's a bit difficult to explain, but... Karuizawa-san broke up with Ayanokouji-kun for a while.

Although Amikura didn't want to dash Shibata's hopes, she couldn't stay silent.

Immediately after her words, Shibata collapsed indifferently onto the desk.

— So that's how it is... I see... No chance...

Kanzaki silently listened to the whole conversation, impatiently waiting for the chance to change the subject. The moment finally came:

— Still, from this point on, we need to focus on accumulating personal points.

To give up a spot in Class A in order to gather the most personal points.

Once, Ichinose had spent all her points to save a classmate, but then she immediately started saving again.

If the whole class started saving hard, by the end of the third year, they could accumulate enough for several transfers to Class A.

— Kanzaki, do you really want to give up on Class A?

— Sorry, Watanabe, but I didn't ask for your opinion. I need Ichinose's answer.

There was a hint of disdain in Kanzaki's tone. He made it clear that he had no intention of revisiting the topic of negativity and positivity.

— Well, the idea isn't bad. After all, if there's no more chance for Class A, then we should focus on accumulating personal points. I'm sure the current Class A has considered this option many times.

Some third-year students had likely already come to terms with the fact that the final showdown would be between Class Horikita and Class Ryuen.

— But I believe we still have a chance. We can still fight for Class A.

— Impossible. We need to assess our strength realistically, and we won't make it.

— Hey, Kanzaki? Yeah, catching up with the other classes will be pretty hard, but giving up isn't an option, right? At least let's try, and we'll see what happens.

Watanabe, who seemed to have been moved by Ichinose's determination to win, also began to try to convince Kanzaki.

— The efficiency of this is too low. It's not bad to aim for something, but there's a price to pay for those ambitions.

— I don't understand... What are you getting at?

— There are a lot of options. For example, in some exams, we might somehow be penalized. Also, preparing for exams requires a huge amount of time and resources. And I haven't even mentioned that someone might be excluded during the exams.

Are you suggesting we spend 20 million points each time to save someone?

— And what, you're suggesting we just abandon someone to push one person into Class A?

— This is something the whole class should think, not just me.

— You... The whole class?

After silencing Watanabe for a while, Kanzaki went on the counterattack:

— What do you think? Himeno? Hamaguchi? Kanzaki addressed his allies.

— Well... The idea is good, in general. What do you think, Himeno-san?

— No, guys... Are you serious? You're suggesting we sacrifice someone if necessary? But we can't do that! We've always stuck together! And we must continue to do so!

Shibata stood up from the table. His eyes were slightly wet. No matter how bad he felt at the moment, he couldn't ignore the words of his classmates.

— I think so too.

— Really... Ichinose-san?

Ichinose supported Shibata and smiled warmly at him. This gesture gave Shibata new strength.

— Yes, just words.

Ichinose unhesitatingly agreed with Kanzaki's statement.

— Our strength lies in the fact that we haven't lost anyone from our class yet. Yes, it cost us a lot of class points, but these beautiful words should one day pay off.

Despite Ichinose's words, Kanzaki still saw no future in her policy. He felt that she was only talking about her own dreams.

— I want to move to class A without losing anyone from our class.

— Even if you know it's impossible?

— Actually, it's not impossible.

— Sorry, but I can't accept that. Maybe you've recovered from your psychological trauma, but giving false hope... that's too much.

— You're right, it's time to move from words to action. In these two years, we've dropped from class B to class D.

Ichinose casually continued:

— Could you wait until the first day of the third year?

— You mean, on that day I'll understand everything?

— Yes. If that doesn't convince you, I'll seriously reconsider your policy.

To stop striving for the ranking and switch to a strategy of saving personal points. If Ichinose approved of this plan, the whole class would have to agree with her reasoning.

There were only a few days left before the third year began. Time is money, but for such a condition, Kanzaki could endure:

— You're not going to go back on your words, are you?

— Not at all. Yes, at the moment I have no confidence that we can reach class A, but I guarantee that we'll have the chance.

Ichinose looked over everyone present once again. They were, of course, a little confused, but had no objections to postponing the discussion about the strategy until the first day of the new school year.

After that, Ichinose returned to her usual state. They exchanged stories of what had happened over the last two weeks. They talked about both happy and sad moments.

Shibata wanted only one thing — to learn more about Ayanokouji, but he felt awkward asking about it in front of the rest of the class, so he remained silent. He could only hope that Ichinose's feelings of affection could still be reversed.

The warmth finally returned to Ichinose's class. Only Kanzaki remained cold.

He had agreed to wait a few more days, so now he could only wait.

After a while, he stood up to go to the bathroom. Ichinose also got up from her seat and followed him:

— Kanzaki-kun.

— Hmm?

— You have something to discuss with me, don't you?

— Discuss?

Kanzaki froze and looked at Ichinose in confusion.

— The responsibility for our defeat in the final special exam lies entirely with me. But wouldn't you like to explain your own strategy as the representative?

— You mean, there's something wrong with my strategy? I seriously fought against Horikita but lost. That's all.

— Isn't begging the opponent to surrender before the battle even begins serious?

— That's...

— Kanzaki-kun, from the very beginning, you didn't believe in our victory. So from now on, I would like you to discuss everything

with me.

— Wait... Did Horikita say this to you or...

— The essence of the matter doesn't change, does it?

— Yeah, I guess. The situation didn't allow for much time to think through the strategy... So I came up with nothing better.

Kanzaki tried to remain calm, but Ichinose's words made him sigh heavily.

He realized it was pointless to argue any longer.

— The reason I didn't admit it myself was because I didn't want to lower morale.

Although Ichinose didn't try to pressure him, Kanzaki still began to explain himself.

— You came to the conclusion of an impossible victory only because you were sure that I wouldn't win against Ayanokouji- kun, right?

— Kind of...

Ichinose's gaze seemed to see right through Kanzaki's soul.

— I understand your anxiety and the pain that others don't notice. It's okay now.

What exactly is okay? Kanzaki wanted to ask this question, but in the end, he just humbly admitted everything:

— Forgive me. My strategy doesn't deserve praise.

— Next time you're faced with difficulties, come to me. I'll help. Her gentle words sent a shiver down Kanzaki's spine.

These words, besides their main meaning, could also be taken as a warning: "Don't act rashly again."

Ichinose turned and walked back to her classmates. After she sat down, her expression returned to normal.

— Is this really Ichinose?

In contrast to the state she had been in during the final special exam, Kanzaki found her behavior today rather eerie.

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