---Notice---
Hi, yes, it has been a while, this chapter is 5.2k words to make up for that.
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"He stood at the window of the empty cafe and watched the activites in the square and he said that it was good that God kept the truths of life from the young as they were starting out or else they'd have no heart to start at all." ~Cormac McCarthy, All pretty horses
"Ah!" Ichinose gasped as she, in a rush, lightly bumped into Shinji in the crowded hall.
Shinji seemed slightly surprised as he was initially facing Ichinose, but given the collision was light, he simply collected himself and flattened his attire. His usual detached demeanor remained intact, though his eyes flickered with a brief moment of recognition.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to— I was just in a rush," Ichinose replied, bowing slightly. Her smile was quick to return, radiating the usual warmth that made her so disarming, even when at fault.
"Ah, no, it's alright," Shinji replied, obviously slightly flustered. His voice was barely above a murmur, eyes darting momentarily to the side before finding the floor.
"Light, I was looking for you. I forgot to tell you something a bit ago," Ichinose said, placing her hand on her hip with the tone of someone mildly frustrated—playfully so, as if I'd wronged her in some trivial but meaningful way.
"Huh? I'll admit, Ichinose, I'm a bit lost. Did I do something wrong?" I asked. My voice held a touch of confusion, though I already suspected where this was going.
"Yes, you did. You forgot to ask about our dinner after the sports festival," Ichinose replied, her expression shifting into one of mock disappointment.
"Well, I missed a good portion of the sports festival, so I just assumed I didn't earn it?" I replied, tilting my head slightly.
"Well, that was outside of your control, wasn't it? So that's okay. Plus, you tried your best, didn't you?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.
Obviously, I didn't try my hardest, and the situation was something I allowed to occur, so that wasn't true. But I wouldn't just admit that. Either way, dinner doesn't sound that bad.
"I guess you're right. How about tomorrow, then?" I asked.
Ichinose nodded enthusiastically before replying, "That's settled, then. I'll leave you to it."
She turned with a quick wave and walked off, leaving me once again with Shinji, who was now staring at me like I had single-handedly undermined his faith in humanity.
"Lucky bastard…" Shinji whispered, almost inaudibly.
"So, should we get going? We have business to do, after all," I asked, keeping my tone light.
"Shush. Keep your mouth shut. I don't want to be seen getting too close to you. Just follow me, and make sure to keep your distance," Shinji said. In response, I flashed him a slight smile and nodded.
Shinji promptly departed, and I let him gain some distance before following. Far enough to make the situation look natural, like two strangers walking the same path by coincidence.
In a school like this, appearances were everything.
Kaito Shinji was a member of Class 2-D. After reviewing his file and looking into him more closely, it became apparent to me he was more capable than the average student, but only slightly so. Not the type to stand out, but not easy to ignore either.
Academic Ability: C+
Intelligence: C+
Decision Making: B−
Physical Ability: C+
Cooperativeness: E+
Comments from the interviewer:
Shinji has shown himself to be competent and holds some potential, but he seems to suffer from a severe lack of motivation. His answers during the interview revealed a disinterest in any activity that requires drive or ambition—such as competition or self-improvement—despite being a capable student. He demonstrates minimal interest in socialization, even though he clearly possesses a superior understanding of others. Shinji is not a disciplinary risk, but stagnation seems inevitable without strong external pressure.
Comments from homeroom instructor:
Shinji shows flashes of potential but remains completely unbothered. He actively avoids causing problems, but also never seeks praise. The motivation behind all his actions appears tied to living peacefully and without restriction. If Shinji applied himself, he could excel—but he never seems to see a reason to. I'd like to see what he does when given something he truly cares about.
Shinji's profile made him a prime target of my interest. His passiveness made him easy to handle—flexible without being too volatile. A personality that wouldn't question instructions if the conditions suited his desire for peace. That, more than anything, explained how I'd ended up exactly where I was now.
I continued to follow Shinji until we reached the dormitory buildings. But instead of heading in through the main entrance like most students would at this hour, he casually rounded the perimeter, heading toward the rear staircase—likely due to the lack of surveillance cameras on that side of the building.
His movements were deliberate, not rushed. He didn't even glance back. That alone told me he was confident in his routine, and more importantly, that he expected me to figure out what to do next without being told.
Understanding his insistence on discretion, I entered through the front of the dorms. Being seen walking directly behind Shinji in an area I dont frequent would be reckless. Instead, I took the building's indoor staircase to the second floor. From there, I moved toward one of the side exit doors that led to the outer balcony. As I stepped outside, I caught sight of Shinji a short distance away near the outdoor staircase. As expected, there were no cameras in the staircase area itself.
It seemed Shinji had thought through the route in detail.
He was waiting for me, leaning slightly against the railing, arms crossed casually.
"It seems you catch on quick. Come on, let's go up—it's only a couple more floors," Shinji said.
I simply nodded and fell in a step behind him as he began climbing. We passed the third floor. Then the fourth. Eventually, we reached the fifth floor. Shinji stopped at the top and turned left, which would lead us into the outdoor balcony-access hallway of the fifth-floor dorms.
The only problem: most school hallways had at least one security camera. Even on the balcony-access floors, the blind spots were rare. It didn't matter that this was an outdoor section; there would almost certainly be a camera somewhere down that hallway, probably positioned to monitor the doorways and the general foot traffic.
I looked at Shinji, curious to see how he planned to bypass this.
He didn't move immediately. Instead, he pulled out his phone, dialed a number, and raised it to his ear.
"We're around the corner," was all he said before hanging up.
A moment later, I heard a faint creaking sound from just beyond the corner—subtle, controlled.
"It's safe," a female voice called out quietly.
Then Shinji turned to me and spoke, his tone now more focused.
"Stay close to the wall. Hug it as tightly as possible."
He turned the corner, flattening himself against the exterior wall with practiced ease. I followed his example, mirroring his movements. As I turned the corner, I immediately understood what he was doing.
Standing just inside the threshold of the first room in the hallway was a girl—short, with unmistakable light pink hair—holding the door wide open at a perfect 90-degree angle.
The positioning of the door wasn't random.
The dorm hallway camera, likely installed at the midpoint of the corridor ceiling, had a direct line of sight down the entire length. But with the room's door held open at that angle—right at the corner of the turn—the field of view was blocked. Anyone sticking tightly to the wall and under average height would be hidden from its lens.
A makeshift blind spot. Crude, but effective. As long as the door stayed open, the camera couldn't capture who entered.
It was simple. Ingenious in its own way.
Shinji had clearly prepared this with some care.
Taking that into account, I moved past the threshold and stepped into the dorm room. A quick glance around confirmed it wasn't Shinji's room. Based on the aesthetic—soft colors, pink accents, the faint floral scent—it belonged to the girl who'd helped us.
"It seems like we've made it safely," Shinji said, dropping his bag beside the computer chair and taking a seat. This obviously wasn't his first time here.
I removed my shoes quietly and made my way to the bed, seating myself on the edge. The mattress was soft and the sheets a pale shade of pink, confirming my earlier assumption.
Placing my bag close to me, I kept my attention on Shinji, waiting to see where this was going next.
"Are you not even going to greet me, Shinji? You both just ignored me and got comfortable the second you got in here!" the girl said playfully as she entered the room, closing the door behind her with a soft click. Her tone was light, but there was a trace of annoyance behind her teasing.
"I'm sorry about that, Mai. This is just a bit important," Shinji replied, brushing her off with casual familiarity.
Mai, huh?
The name Mai Yamane of Class 2-D surfaced in my memory. Given that Shinji was using her given name so openly, they were clearly close—closer than regular classmates usually were in this environment. From what I knew, Yamane ranked among the lower tier even within Class D. Her student evaluations placed her near the bottom, comparable to someone like Maya Sato or Kei Karuizawa. D-rank in nearly every category except cooperativeness, which was slightly above average.
"It's okay, I understand. You did say this was important, after all," Yamane said with a shrug, giving us both a quick, curious glance.
"I'm sorry to intrude as well, Yamane-senpai. I would've been more courteous if I knew we were coming to another student's dorm," I said, giving her a respectful nod.
Yamane tilted her head slightly, looking at me with faint surprise. "Hmm? How do you know my—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Shinji cut her off sharply.
"I'm sorry, Mai, but can you give us a moment? I need to talk to Yagami in private. We can talk later," Shinji said, voice low but firm.
Yamane narrowed her eyes and shot him a look, clearly not pleased. Still, she didn't argue.
"Alright, but you owe me one, Kaito. I'll be right outside—just call me when you're done," she said.
Shinji gave her a nod, and with that, Yamane turned and exited the dorm room, leaving the door to click shut behind her. The tension in the room instantly shifted.
"Take off your blazer," Shinji said, looking directly at me.
His tone was calm, but the command was unmistakable.
I paid no mind to the authority in his voice and stood up, removing my red blazer without hesitation. There was no point resisting—it would only waste time.
Shinji held out a hand, signaling for me to toss it to him.
I did as instructed and remained standing.
He began patting the blazer down, methodically checking every pocket—inner and outer. After a moment, he stood up and tossed it onto the bed beside him without a word. Clearly, he hadn't found what he was looking for.
His expression remained unreadable, but there was a hint of dissatisfaction in the way he exhaled through his nose.
He then gestured toward my bag.
I took a single step back, silently permitting the search.
Shinji wasted no time. He started with the side pockets, unzipping and inspecting each compartment with precision. After confirming they were empty, he grabbed the main zipper, opened the rectangular bag, and flipped it over in one smooth motion, spilling its contents onto Yamane's bed.
Pens, notebooks, my laptop, a portable charger, and a few miscellaneous items scattered across the pale pink comforter.
Still not done, Shinji reached into the bag's interior, pressing along the inner lining, ensuring nothing was tucked or hidden in the seams.
Only when he was completely satisfied did he shift his focus to the pile of items now strewn across the bed, eyes scanning every object with quiet scrutiny.
He checked everything thoroughly, flipping through all my books and inspecting each item—pens, chargers, even my new laptop. He opened the device to see if it was powered on, likely checking for hidden recording software. Satisfied, he closed it gently and placed it down with care, maintaining the deliberate order he'd been following since the start.
"Your phone," Shinji said simply, not even looking up.
I handed it to him without hesitation. He immediately checked it for any ongoing calls or background recordings, scanning through the quick-access menu and recent apps with practiced speed. Finding nothing of concern, he placed it on the counter between the computer desk and the bed, just out of my reach. Only then did his gaze return to me.
Understanding the message behind that look, I spoke.
"Is this really necessary?" I asked.
"It's this, or there's no deal," Shinji replied flatly, as if the outcome didn't concern him either way.
I let out a quiet breath and raised my arms.
Without delay, Shinji moved in and began a full-body pat-down. It was brief, efficient, and undeniably awkward—but his focus never wavered. There was no hesitation in his hands, just the methodical, practiced motion of someone who trusted no one.
It was becoming increasingly clear: Shinji wasn't just cautious—he was borderline paranoid.
When he finished, he took a step back but didn't relax. His eyes drifted again, back to my items, my bag, my phone, me. Something didn't sit right with him.
Then his gaze landed on my legs.
Followed by a glance toward the front entrance of the dorm.
A realization flickered across his face.
"Don't move," he said sharply.
He walked to the door and crouched down to inspect the shoes we'd left by the entrance. It was a strange sight—watching him rummage through footwear like a detective inspecting a murder weapon, but he clearly suspected I might've planted something.
When he finally returned, he gave a small nod, his expression softening just slightly.
"Good. I'm satisfied," Shinji said as he took his seat again at the computer desk. "You can sit. The last thing to settle is payment."
He gestured casually toward my phone, still resting on the table between us.
"Well, we already agreed," I said, sitting back down. "You said you'd talk for one million points, right?"
"I did. But you see… I don't just talk," Shinji replied. "Points first. Then you get the information you want."
I narrowed my eyes slightly. "That's not going to work. For all I know, you'll take the money and say nothing."
"That's a risk you take when doing shady business, is it not?" he countered, leaning back slightly in his chair.
"How about we find some middle ground?" I asked, gesturing toward the phone. "May I?"
Shinji nodded, eyes watching me closely.
I picked up the phone and turned the screen so he could see it clearly as I unlocked it. My fingers moved smoothly as I input the passcode: 110507.
With the screen lit, I opened the school's banking app. It prompted the passcode again—visible to him this time—and then displayed my current balance.
Over 14 million points.
I slid the phone across the table so it landed just in front of him.
Now Shinji had the ability to make the transfer himself, whenever he saw fit.
He could confirm the funds were real. I could wait until I was satisfied with what he said before authorizing anything.
It was a win-win.
"All right, this works. We can start then. Listen closely, because I'll only speak on this today." Shinji said, his tone crisp and without room for negotiation.
I simply nodded, ready to absorb every word.
"The next special exam is group-based. It happens once a year during the winter. It's eight days long and takes place in the mountains. All three year levels participate. Classes are first divided by gender and then split into smaller groups. Exactly six groups per class year."
"There are limits on how big or small a group can be. You'll be required to form groups with students from other classes, not just your own. The system's designed to force inter-class cooperation. Every small group appoints a single leader."
He leaned forward slightly now, voice lowering.
"Now this is the important part: at the end of the week, there's an exam. Written and practical. Everything that happens during the week leads up to that moment. Your group's average score determines your ranking. First place gets rewarded with both private and class points, like you'd expect."
He paused, just long enough to let the implication settle.
"And last place? Someone gets expelled."
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"Someone gets expelled? Can you explain a bit more?" I asked.
Shinji sighed, like he resented being asked to elaborate.
"If your large group ranks last overall, and your small group fails to meet the minimum required score, then the leader of that small group is expelled. No appeals. No exceptions. But there's a twist—he doesn't go down alone."
He looked at me with an unsettling calm.
"He can choose one other person to drag down with him. Joint expulsion. Cold, right?"
"Definitely," I said, my voice even. "Then again, this school's shown it has no problem engineering moral dilemmas."
"If your large group ranks high, you're rewarded with private points—10,000 per person for first place—and an additional three class points per individual."
He held up a finger.
"But if your small group includes students from multiple classes, your reward gets multiplied. The more diverse the group, the higher the payout. It's their way of encouraging risky cooperation. Of course, being the leader comes with even more rewards… assuming you survive the risk."
Shinji leaned back in his chair, arms crossed loosely.
Shinji then reached for my phone as he spoke, "Well then, if we're done here, I'll help myself to—"
"Wait," I said, cutting him off. "I still can't be sure what you told me is true."
He froze, hand inches from the device.
"That's just an inherent risk. There's nothing I can do about that. What I told you is definitely the truth," Shinji said, sounding confident but clearly irritated by the interruption.
"How about this," I offered, "get your friend to explain the scenario to me—Yamane. If she can explain it the same way you did and answer one of my questions, then I'll transfer the points."
"That wasn't part of the deal," Shinji replied flatly, annoyance evident in his voice.
"Then let's make a new deal. I'm not trying to extort you here—let's be fair. For the right to ask Yamane a few questions about the upcoming special exam, how much do you want?"
Shinji considered it, eyes narrowing slightly.
"It will obviously cost you more."
I frowned. "How much?"
"Two million points should be enough to compensate for both of our risks," Shinji said, casually, as if the number meant nothing.
"You're insane. 1.5 million is more than enough," I shot back.
"If you pay one million for me, then you pay one million for her," Shinji replied, his voice still calm.
"I agreed to pay you one million because of who you are—your discretion, and the fact I knew you could provide more than just a simple, baseless explanation," I said.
"Exactly. That extra million you'd be paying is for my resourcefulness. Not just anyone would agree to a deal like this with you. I'm toying with expulsion—and so will Yamane be, if she agrees. She needs to be compensated for that. And of course, I need a portion for arranging the deal," Shinji argued, now leaning slightly forward.
"1.75 million," I countered. "She's providing nowhere near the value you are. This is a fairer amount—1.25 million to you, 500k to her."
Shinji took a moment to think, tapping a finger on the desk. Then he let out a slow sigh and gave a reluctant nod.
"You're quite… paranoid, aren't you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It isn't paranoia," Shinji said, his tone flat but his eyes dark. "You wouldn't understand unless you were a second year. You never know when he's watching… when your actions can be punished… when you've dissatisfied him."
He paused, his voice lowering.
"Frankly, I hope we never see each other again—at least not in public once this deal is finished. I have no desire to associate with Nagumo's enemies."
"You talk about him like he's some sort of king. Or god," I replied, genuinely intrigued now.
"You idiot," Shinji snapped, the calm finally cracking. His voice dropped to a low growl.
"He might as well be. Tell me—what do you call someone who controls your money, your status, your future? Someone who can erase you from this school with a single word? Someone who bends rules, the school systems, and soon, the student council itself to suit his whims?"
He leaned forward now, eyes narrowed, fists clenched tight at his sides.
"You don't challenge someone like that. Doing so is basically suicide."
I decided to drop the topic for the moment. Pressing further wouldn't help, and Shinji seemed ready to shift gears.
"What question will you ask her?" he asked, watching me carefully.
From what I could tell, Shinji had been honest with me so far. But I wasn't finished yet. So I came up with a question that hadn't come up in our conversation yet.
"What if someone in your small group gets too sick or injured for the exams?"
Shinji nodded without hesitation. "The student would still count, in a way. You can be forced to withdraw due to injury or sickness, but the small group proceeds as if that student is still participating. Their absence has no effect on scoring. You'd have to make up for the loss."
That answer lined up with the school's typical ruthlessness. I gave a small nod in return.
Shinji then reached for his phone.
"I'll call Yamane to see if she agrees," he said, unlocking the screen and dialing. I stayed silent and watched.
"Mai, do you want a chance to make some points?" Shinji asked over the phone.
He paused, presumably listening to her response.
"500k," he continued. "Although it comes with a small risk, like you'd expect. Come inside and I'll explain."
He ended the call without waiting for further questions.
"Just so you know—I'll be watching as you question her," Shinji said, tone flat. "In case you try something smart."
"That's fine, I really mean no harm," I said, already standing. I turned slightly toward the small kitchen area. "May I help myself to something to drink?"
***Kaito Shinji***
I stared Yagami down. "No, you stay here," I said firmly. I didn't want Yagami moving anywhere I hadn't already cleared. I took his phone from the desk, double-checking my own in my pocket before standing up.
"You're taking both phones?" Yagami asked, his expression unreadable.
"Obviously. I'm not dumb enough to leave them with you," I replied.
"What if you message Yamane the answer you gave to the question I asked? Or transfer the points to yourself before our deal's complete?" Yagami said, voice calm, almost too calm.
"This work for you?" I asked, placing both phones on the floor in the hallway, just outside the kitchen area, but still clearly visible from the bedroom. It was a controlled spot. If I moved toward them, Yagami would see. If he moved, I'd notice immediately.
Yagami nodded once.
I entered the kitchen and began quietly opening the fridge and cabinets.
"Is tea fine?" I asked.
"Yes, that's perfect. Thank you," I heard him reply.
And right then, the door clicked open. Mai stepped into the room, closing it quietly behind her. Her eyes immediately flicked to the mess on her bed—my bag, the scattered contents, and Yagami sitting comfortably near it. But she didn't comment. Instead, she looked at me, then at the two phones on the floor.
"Were you serious about the points?" she asked, eyes now shifting to me in the kitchen.
"I was," I said, stepping out as the kettle began to heat. I bent down, picked up both phones, and returned to the bedroom. "All you have to do is answer a few of Yagami's questions about the next special exam."
Mai looked surprised—concerned, even. Selling exam information wasn't just risky. It was expellable.
"For 500k points… our class points has been in poverty for a while, after all the recent expulsions… is it safe?" she asked, her voice uncertain.
I nodded, keeping my tone firm. "Yes. I checked him thoroughly, as you can see. So—are you in?"
She hesitated, her eyes locking on Yagami's for a long moment. Then slowly, she nodded.
"…Alright. What are your questions?"
"I'll only give you two," Yagami said smoothly. "First: describe the upcoming special exam for first years."
Mai took a breath.
"Well… It's the training camp special exam. It lasts about a week. During it, all class years are split into collective groups based on gender. At the end, there's a test for each group. The worst-performing group gets their leader expelled. And that leader can… take someone down with them," she said, voice steady.
"I see. And what if someone in a group gets sick or injured?" Yagami asked.
"They don't have to participate, but the group still faces the same trials. And… there's always the risk that the leader might drag them down with them," Mai replied.
Yagami nodded. No follow-ups. No signs of suspicion. It seemed like he had believed everything from the start.
Then… why question Mai at all?
Maybe it was just to be sure. Even though he'd called me paranoid, he'd been cautious from the very beginning.
"That's good enough for me," Yagami said, standing up from Yamane's bed.
"If that's so, then I'll transfer myself the agreed-upon points and we can both be on our way," I said, grabbing Yagami's phone and preparing to unlock it.
"I think that should wait," Yagami said.
I turned toward him, ready to ask what he meant, when I saw something that made my stomach twist.
He was pulling a phone out of his pocket.
Another phone.
That shouldn't have been possible.
I checked his blazer, his bag, his books, his pens—I even checked his damn shoes. There was no way he could've hidden that from me.
…Unless he placed it in the room beforehand.
No—don't be ridiculous. There was no way he could've known I'd bring him here. Even if he did, without Yamane to open the door, the hallway camera would've caught him coming.
…Unless…
My eyes slowly shifted toward Mai.
Was she a traitor?
No. Calm down. Look at her—she looks just as panicked as I felt. Her face had drained of color. No signs of guilt, only shock.
I've known her for too long. There's no way she'd—
Yagami's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts as he began to play audio from the phone.
"The next special exam is group-based. It happens once a year during…"
He skipped far ahead.
"During it, all class years are split into collective groups…"
It was all there. My voice. Her voice. Every word, recorded.
Our entire conversation had been captured.
"Quite incriminating, no?" Yagami said with a calm, sharp smirk as he fidgeted with the phone in his hand.
I could lunge for him, grab it, and smash it—but would it even matter? Even if I did attack him, I'd likely lose. He seemed athletic; I definitely was not. The odds weren't on my side. And worse… this wasn't even my room. It was Mai's.
If I laid a hand on him here, the consequences would follow both of us.
Fuck.
I needed to calm down.
My hands were trembling slightly as I looked down. Two phones. One was mine. The other belonged to Yagami—I had seen it earlier when he showed me his point balance. His name was listed clearly on the school banking app. That accounted for two.
But there were three of us in this room.
I glanced at Mai.
"Mai, do you have your phone on you?" I asked, voice tight.
She blinked, confused at first, then checked her pocket. Within moments, she produced her own device and held it up.
Three people. Four phones.
Light Yagami.
In one smooth motion, he placed the extra phone down on the bed, casually, like it meant nothing. But it was too late. He had already sent the recording. That much was obvious. He likely uploaded it or messaged someone he trusted. The moment he slipped that device back into his pocket, I knew there was no deleting it.
I couldn't take it anymore. The weight of it all. The pressure. The complete and total unraveling.
"…How did you do it?" I asked, eyes narrowed. "How did you sneak the fourth phone?"
Yagami met my gaze with perfect calm. When he opened his mouth to speak, his voice was almost soothing—eerily so. It reminded me of him. Nagumo.
"It really wasn't some grand trick. It was quite simple, actually," he said.
"I'm sure you remember taking a hit in the hallway."
Something clicked.
"…Ichinose," I whispered.
Yagami nodded. "Yes. That encounter—'chance.' Think of it as Ichinose doing me a favor. I asked her specifically. Because of her reputation. Because she's in a different class from me, I knew that would make you less suspicious of her."
His tone was maddeningly even, like he was teaching a lesson.
"When she bumped into you, she slipped a phone I gave her into your bag's side pocket. From there, I knew how this would play out. You're smart, Shinji, but predictable. You were easy to read."
I clenched my fists, but he didn't stop.
"You were paranoid—extremely so. You were so focused on me, so convinced I was the only variable, that you didn't stop to think about your surroundings. Everything that belonged to you or Yamane, you labeled as safe. Everything that belonged to me, you labeled as a threat."
Yagami smiled now. Not smug. Just certain.
"That couldn't have been further from the truth."
He took a step closer, his voice dropping just enough to feel personal.
"Nothing is safe from me."
His words hit like a hammer, each one confirming just how thoroughly I'd been played.
"By taking advantage of your paranoia, I was able to get that little phone into your possession… and back out again, the moment you went to make tea."
Silence.
My mind raced. My options evaporated. It was done.
Then Yagami tilted his head slightly, like he was recalling something amusing—something I had said.
"I guess," he said, voice low and deliberate, "now that I control your future… your status… whether or not you get erased from this school…"
He took a slow step forward, no menace in his posture—just confidence.
"…doesn't that make me something like a king? Or a god?"
He let the words hang.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, not gloating. Just acknowledging the irony.
I didn't respond.
Because those were my words.
About Nagumo.
And now Yagami was handing them back to me, repackaged as a verdict.
It all came back full circle.
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I want to know what you guys think of this arc, the plot by Yagami, this chapter, and also Shinji, as he was a character I came up with the idea for about three days ago, but I took a liking to him, so he could play a role in the story in the future.
Regarding the plan, I just want to ensure it was enjoyable to read, and if you have any guesses for what's next.
Regarding Shinji, just let me know if you guys think he's a likable character so far.