Chapter 336: Still Too Late

"Идёт война народная, Священная война..."

Rinji sang passionately into the mic, while the rest of the students fell completely silent.

They couldn't understand a word he was saying, but his pronunciation was perfect. His singing was practically professional, and he captured the grandeur of the song flawlessly.

Ishigami facepalmed.

Of course Rinji wouldn't pick a normal song. This was the guy who sang the Internationale instead of the school anthem—he had zero sense of social conformity.

Ishigami couldn't help but wonder what kind of environment Rinji grew up in to turn out so eccentric.

The three-minute song, The Sacred War, ended. Rinji handed the mic to the next student.

"You're up."

"O-oh..."

"That was amazing, Takamine-san," Tsubame said with a smile, finally snapping out of it.

"Thanks for the compliment."

"Hey, Rinji," Ishigami whispered from beside him.

"Could you please sing something normal next time?"

"I thought this was very normal."

"...Normal where? Whatever, I guess I'm getting used to your personality." Ishigami chuckled. "By the way, when did you learn Russian?"

"Huh? I don't speak Russian."

"Then how'd you sing it so perfectly?"

"I just memorized the romaji lyrics. It's pretty easy."

"...So this is what genius looks like, huh?"

As other students took their turns, everyone clapped along while waiting for the mic to come back around.

When someone else was singing, Rinji suddenly stood up.

"You guys keep singing. I'm going out for a drink."

"Huh? You can just use the room phone and have staff bring drinks in," Tsubame reminded him.

"No need. I just want to get some air."

Rinji opened the door and stepped out.

---

"Haah..."

He booked a private booth, lit a cigarette, and lounged on the sofa. A glass of vodka sat on the table.

It had been almost a year since he enrolled here, and he was slowly getting used to school life.

A peaceful life was definitely tempting. In less than a year, he was already beginning to get addicted to it—despite having spent four years on the battlefield.

Even now, though, he hadn't fully adapted to this pace.

Those four years weren't the only time he'd lived immersed in killing.

He took a sip of vodka and leaned back on the couch, then called toward the door, "You can stop lurking. Come in."

"..."

The door opened slightly, and Hayasaka peeked her head in.

"Um… sorry, I saw you drinking alone in here, so I got curious and peeked in through the door," Hayasaka said timidly. "Sorry for disturbing you..."

"What are you talking about, Hayasaka?"

"Eh?"

"You really thought that disguise would fool me?"

"...So you saw through it after all?"

Realizing her cover was blown, Hayasaka dropped the act and stepped fully into the room, her usual personality returning. Her eyes narrowed slightly when she saw the vodka and cigarette on the table.

"You really can let yourself go wherever you are, huh?"

"Even though I've been in Japan for a while, I still stick to my old habits," Rinji replied with a grin.

"You're aware the legal drinking age in Japan is twenty, right?"

"Sure, but Japanese girls can marry at sixteen, so I've never taken local laws too seriously," Rinji shrugged. "Besides, I bought this vodka fair and square at the counter."

"How did you even manage that?"

When Hayasaka asked, Rinji pulled a card from his pocket.

It was a New York State driver's license with Rinji's photo and a birthdate showing he was already 21. The name on the license read: Reid Chaos.

"'Reid Chaos'?"

"That's my English name. I use this identity when I'm operating abroad," Rinji said, taking the license back. "But I'd advise against looking into this identity. Right now, both the NYPD and FBI have me on their wanted lists."

"..."

Rinji's true background remained mysterious. Even those close to him at Shuchiin like Shirogane and Ishigami could only piece things together from fragments.

"Does your mom know you smoke?"

"Of course not. But she's not here."

"I have your mom's LINE."

"!!!?"

Rinji's expression finally changed.

"...Hayasaka, you're not seriously going to tell my mom about this, right? You wouldn't be that cruel, would you?"

"Relax, I'll let it slide this time."

She smiled and sat naturally beside Rinji on the sofa.

"I'll keep it a secret."

"Thanks, that's a huge favor..."

While they spoke, Hayasaka picked up the mic on the table.

"I didn't feel comfortable at that mixer, so I snuck out. Feels rare that it's just the two of us."

"Yeah, it really is."

Despite both being students at Shuchiin, they rarely spent time alone.

"Wanna sing? I'd love to hear you."

"If you wanna hear it, I'll sing." Rinji browsed the karaoke machine. "But are you sure? You being here is probably under Shinomiya's orders, right?"

"Yeah. Kaguya-sama asked me to distract the president and get him out of there. I didn't really want to come... but once I found out you were coming, I decided to drop by and help her out while I was at it."

"Is that so? I'm honored..." Rinji smiled. "So, did you already take care of the president?"

"Not yet. I left just as it was his turn to sing."

"!!!"

Rinji's expression immediately sharpened. Without another word, he bolted to the door.

"What is it?"

"To the president!" he called back at the confused Hayasaka. "If we're late, it'll be too late!"

The two of them ran to the room where Shirogane was attending the mixer and burst through the door.

"President! You—"

The moment the door swung open, an ear-splitting sound hit their ears.

Shirogane was holding the mic, singing wildly. On the floor lay a row of students foaming at the mouth, completely passed out.

"...We were too late?"