The cold of early February crept through the academy halls, each gust of winter wind brushing against the tall windows of the student council room. The faint hum of the heater filled the silence.
Inside, Nagumo Miyabi sat comfortably at the head of the polished table, one leg crossed over the other, reading a digital report on his tablet. The door opened with a soft click.
"Excuse me," said a calm, familiar voice.
He looked up — and there she was. Sakayanagi Arisu. Her posture was perfect, her cane tapping lightly on the marble floor as she entered.
She let her eyes wander around the room before smiling faintly. "My, my… this doesn't quite look like a student council room anymore. It feels more like a personal office — yours, to be exact."
Nagumo chuckled. "You think so? I suppose I've made myself comfortable since taking over. Efficiency, after all, requires control."
"Or vanity," Arisu replied softly, taking a seat without waiting for permission. "But perhaps both can coexist in your case."
The subtle provocation didn't escape him, but Nagumo only smiled. "You didn't come here just to critique my interior design, did you, Sakayanagi-san?"
Arisu rested her cane against the armrest, eyes gleaming with their usual playful menace. "No. I came to discuss my next move."
"Oh?" Nagumo tilted his head. "And what might that be?"
"Ichinose Honami," she said, voice smooth as silk. "I intend to strike soon."
For the first time, Nagumo's expression changed — a flicker of interest, quickly concealed. "You plan to strike her?"
Arisu nodded. "Yes. In a way that might… remove her from this school entirely. Expulsion is a possibility."
Nagumo leaned forward, his smile fading slightly. "You're serious."
"Always," she replied. "And as gratitude for your generosity the other day, I thought it proper to inform the student council president beforehand. After all, you and I both know that Ichinose is a potential candidate for your successor, isn't she?"
A small silence followed. The air seemed to tighten.
For the first time in a long while, Nagumo's confident smile disappeared. "You misunderstand something," he said, tone colder. "I gave you permission to weaken her, not destroy her."
"I see." Arisu tilted her head. "But when a structure is weak enough, even a small push can make it fall. Wouldn't you agree?"
"…You enjoy testing limits," Nagumo murmured.
Arisu smiled. "I simply dislike half-measures."
She folded her hands gracefully on the table. "By the way, I have learned that this school's authority… is greater than I anticipated. So, to save us both some trouble, I'd prefer if you didn't intervene. Consider it my personal request."
Nagumo laughed quietly. "You really do see yourself as my equal, don't you? Not many students speak to me like that."
"I don't measure myself by titles," Arisu replied. "Only by results."
The tension between them was almost tangible now — two predators acknowledging each other in silence.
Finally, Nagumo leaned back, exhaling. "Very well. The student council will turn a blind eye to your… actions. But remember — if the school decides otherwise, even I can't shield you."
"Of course." Arisu's smile didn't waver. "I wouldn't dream of hiding behind anyone."
Nagumo's eyes narrowed with amusement. "You're just like me, you know. You understand people — how to win them over, how to break them. The most efficient strategy I've ever found," he said, tapping a finger on the table, "is to gain someone's trust… and use it against them."
"How very cruel," she replied softly. "But effective."
"It's only cruel if you regret it."
Arisu tilted her head, thoughtful. "Tell me, Nagumo. Has there ever been a time when you trusted someone, and they betrayed you?"
For a moment, Nagumo's smile faltered — a flash of something bitter behind his eyes. "Perhaps. That's why I stopped trusting anyone altogether."
"Then maybe," Arisu said, rising from her seat, "you and I aren't so different after all."
She turned to leave, her cane tapping rhythmically against the floor.
"Oh, one more thing," Nagumo called after her. "You've been in close proximity with Ayanokōji lately, haven't you? What do you make of him?"
Arisu stopped at the door and smiled faintly without turning around. "Ayanokōji-kun? Hmm… you'll have to figure that one out yourself, President."
Nagumo chuckled. "Always evasive."
"I prefer strategic," she replied, and stepped out.
As she closed the door behind her, the air in the council room seemed to shift back to normal — the faint hum of power returning to Nagumo's smile.
But Arisu wasn't finished yet.
Just as she turned down the hall, she saw another familiar figure heading toward the same door. Kushida Kikyo — polite smile, perfect posture, and a file held neatly in both hands.
Arisu slowed her pace, watching quietly as Kushida bowed before entering the room.So, she thought, she's applying for the student council too.
She knew enough about Kushida to understand that nothing she did was ever simple. The girl's smile was a mask — perfect, flawless, and utterly deceptive.
Arisu's lips curved into a soft smirk. "A hidden side, hm? This might become… entertaining."
And with that, she turned and disappeared down the corridor.
Elsewhere, that same afternoon…
"Oi, Ibuki, hurry up," I said quietly, tugging her by the sleeve. "We're going to be late."
Ibuki frowned, her usual irritation written all over her face. "You're the one dragging me out in this cold. Where the hell are we even going?"
"You'll see," I replied, glancing around the corner of the dormitory. "Keep it down, will you?"
We slipped past a few lingering students before finally arriving at a quiet, empty meeting room — far from the main building.Inside were two people I hadn't seen since the Forest Camp.
Horikita Manabu and Tachibana Akane.
"Long time no see," I greeted casually.
Horikita nodded, his posture as disciplined as ever. "You're punctual. Good."
Tachibana smiled faintly. "I'm surprised you brought Ibuki-san with you."
"She insisted," I said, ignoring Ibuki's glare.
Horikita reached into his tablet and made a quick transfer. "Ten million points, as promised in the contract," he said. Then, with another swift gesture, another transaction followed. "And ten million more as a personal bonus for your… contribution."
My phone buzzed twice in my pocket. "Twenty million," I muttered, grinning. "Not bad for a week's work."
Ibuki's jaw dropped slightly. "What the hell did you even do to earn that much?"
"Trade secrets," I said with a wink.
Horikita gave a quiet chuckle — rare for him. "You handled yourself well. The results spoke for themselves."
"About that," I said, stepping closer. "You mentioned before that there was a promise, remember? An invitation to work with the student council, if I proved myself."
Horikita studied me for a long moment before replying. "Yes… I did say that. And I'm a man of my word."
Tachibana smiled knowingly. "Looks like you'll have to get used to more paperwork than fighting."
"I'll take it," I said. "After the Forest Camp, I think I've had enough chaos for a while."
Horikita extended his hand. "Then it's settled. When the next term begins, you'll assist as a student council aide. Congratulations."
I shook his hand firmly. "Glad to be on board."
Ibuki crossed her arms, looking unimpressed. "You? Student council? This I gotta see."
"Jealous already?" I teased.
"Keep talking and I'll throw you out that window," she shot back.
Tachibana laughed softly, covering her mouth. Even Horikita's expression softened — just slightly.
As we left the room, the cold wind hit our faces again. I tucked my hands into my pockets, feeling the warmth of quiet satisfaction.
Morning sunlight spilled through the windows of Class C, carrying with it a strange, electric tension. The usual chatter had doubled, gossip flowing like wildfire.
"Hey, did you hear? Kei dumped Hirata."
"Wait, seriously? Weren't they, like… perfect together?"
"That's what everyone thought!"
The news spread faster than wildfire, and in the middle of it all, Hirata Yōsuke sat calmly at his desk — back straight, expression perfectly composed. Not a flicker of sadness showed on his face. It was unsettling in its own way, the kind of calm that invited speculation.
Even Sudou and Ike, who usually avoided gossip, couldn't help but glance at him every few minutes.
"Man, he's taking it too easy," Ike muttered.
"Yeah," Sudou said under his breath, "if I got dumped like that, I'd probably start flipping tables."
Only Yamauchi didn't read the room.
He leaned over Hirata's desk with a grin. "Hey, Hirata, it's okay, man! Plenty of girls out there, right? Who needs Karuiz—"
Before he could finish, Ike grabbed him by the collar. "Shut up before I make you eat chalk."
"Y-yeah, dude, that's enough," Sudou added, dragging Yamauchi away by the back of his shirt while offering Hirata a quick apology. "Sorry, bro. You know how he is."
Hirata only smiled gently. "It's fine."
But beneath that polite façade, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka could tell — something was deeply off. Hirata's calm wasn't peace. It was suppression.
Meanwhile, whispers about Kei Karuizawa filled the air — her name passed around in half-lowered voices and stolen glances. The class atmosphere was thick with curiosity, pity, and amusement.
Later that morning, Horikita Suzune tapped her pen twice on Ayanokōji's desk — her silent way of calling him over. He leaned slightly toward her, and she slipped a folded note between her notebook pages.
He unfolded it discreetly. The contents were startling:
"Rumours about Ichinose Honami.— History of violence— Paid dating— Theft and robbery— Drug usage(Source likely: Sakayanagi Arisu)"
Ayanokōji looked up, meeting Suzune's calm but tense gaze. "You think these are true?"
She shook her head slightly. "No. But if Sakayanagi is behind this, she'll make people believe they are."
He leaned back, thoughtful. "It's impressive how fast it spread."
"Exactly. Within a day, half the school is already whispering about Ichinose. The content might be fabricated, but…" Suzune hesitated. "…rumours always contain a trace of something real. Otherwise, they don't stick."
Ayanokōji's expression didn't change, but his mind was already moving several steps ahead. "So, you're saying there might be some truth behind it."
Suzune nodded. "We'll need to investigate. Especially since Class B's morale is already dropping."
He could see it in her eyes — Horikita wasn't just being pragmatic. She respected Ichinose. To see her being crushed by invisible hands made something inside her twist uncomfortably.
Not long after class ended, the sound of heels echoed through the corridor.
Sakayanagi Arisu appeared in the doorway, her cane tapping lightly against the floor. Her expression was polite, almost playful, but everyone in Class C knew the weight behind that smile.
"Excuse me," she said sweetly, "is Yamauchi Haruki here?"
The class erupted into murmurs.
"Wait, what? Arisu from Class A?"
"Is she… calling for Yamauchi?"
"No way—he actually scored a date?"
Even Horikita frowned slightly, arms crossed. She glanced at Yamauchi, who looked halfway between ecstatic and terrified.
"Y-Y-Yes! That's me!" he stammered, standing up so fast he almost toppled his chair.
"Would you mind stepping out for a moment? I have something I'd like to discuss privately," Arisu said.
As the two left, Horikita muttered under her breath, "If he leaks class information, I'll make sure he regrets it."
Ayanokōji nodded slightly. "I'll keep an eye on him."
Later that afternoon, Ayanokōji found himself sitting in a small café with Haruka Hasebe, Miyake Akito, and Airi Sakura. The faint aroma of roasted coffee and vanilla filled the air.
"So, what do you think Arisu wants with Yamauchi?" Haruka asked, sipping her drink.
"Probably nothing romantic," Ayanokōji said dryly.
Airi tilted her head. "She's scary… she always smiles, but it feels like she's watching everything."
"That's Sakayanagi," Haruka replied. "She plays nice but she's got enough schemes to make Ryuuen look like a toddler."
The topic shifted naturally from Arisu to the class's recent love drama, then to the looming end-of-year exams. It was almost normal — until Haruka suddenly perked up.
"Hey, isn't that Ichinose?"
Across the street, Ichinose Honami sat alone by the window, her posture slouched — an unusual sight for someone so bright. Even from a distance, her loneliness was obvious.
"Strange," Ayanokōji murmured. "Her right-hand man isn't with her."
Before they could dwell on it, Miyake called. Haruka's phone buzzed against the table. "A fight? Between Class A and Class B?" she said, frowning. "Alright, we're coming."
They arrived at the gymnasium, the sound of raised voices echoing through the air.
"Is that… Hashimoto?" Airi whispered.
"And Kanzaki," Hasebe added, eyes widening.
The two were standing face to face, tension thick enough to cut through the air.
"You think I'm stupid enough not to notice?" Kanzaki snapped. "You're just spreading rumours because you enjoy watching her suffer!"
Hashimoto smirked. "Relax, Kanzaki. You sure you know everything about your precious class leader? People don't gossip without reason."
"You think Ichinose has a dark past?" Kanzaki asked coldly. "You really believe that?"
Hashimoto shrugged. "I'm saying… even perfect people have cracks. And I'm not the one who started it — I'm just sharing what I heard."
"From who?"
"That," Hashimoto said, turning away, "is a secret."
Kanzaki clenched his fists but didn't follow him. "You're disgusting."
Hashimoto waved lazily as he walked off, but Ayanokōji, who had been watching silently from the back, noticed something. A flicker — a tightness around Hashimoto's eyes, a half-second pause before he turned away.
He wasn't as relaxed as he wanted everyone to think.
As the others dispersed, Ayanokōji approached Kanzaki briefly.
"You okay?" he asked.
Kanzaki sighed. "Yeah. Just tired of people pretending to know her. Ichinose doesn't deserve this."
Ayanokōji didn't reply, only nodded slightly — the gears in his mind already turning.
Outside, under the cold late-afternoon sky, Ayanokōji, Haruka, and Airi regrouped. Miyake soon joined them, looking slightly disheveled.
"Sorry I'm late," he said, scratching his head. "Got caught in the mess."
"Hashimoto's got a big mouth," Haruka muttered.
Ayanokōji glanced at Miyake. "By the way… I heard a rumour about you too."
"Huh? What rumour?"
"That you were a delinquent," Haruka said with a grin.
Miyake groaned. "Oh, that. Yeah, I went to a rough school before this. But I wasn't some 'boss' or anything."
"Really?" Airi asked timidly.
He nodded. "Actually, my old school was right next to Ryuuen's. We used to bump into each other a lot. He was already wild back then."
Haruka blinked. "Wait, you knew Ryuuen before coming here?"
"Kind of. Small world, huh?" he said with a chuckle. "But please, don't spread that around."
"Our lips are sealed," Ayanokōji said, though his mind was already making connections — another piece added to the growing puzzle.
While Ayanokōji dealt with the tangled web of rumours, I found myself in a situation far more ordinary — and somehow just as dangerous.
"Why are you walking so slow?" Ibuki snapped, turning back to glare at me. "You're the one who dragged me out here."
"I didn't drag you. I invited you," I said, carrying two shopping bags full of snacks and clothes. "There's a difference."
"Yeah, yeah," she muttered, stuffing her face with takoyaki from the stall we'd just passed. "You said we were shopping, not that I'd be your pack mule."
"I'm literally the one carrying everything," I said flatly.
She ignored me, reaching for another skewer. "This one's good. Buy me another."
I sighed. "Didn't you once say that even if you died, you'd never go out with me?"
She froze mid-bite, glaring daggers. "Don't push your luck."
"And yet, here we are," I said smugly. "Walking side by side, shopping, eating—feels like a date to me."
She turned away, face faintly pink. "You're delusional."
"Thick-skinned, actually."
She huffed and started walking faster. "You're paying for the next one too."
I grinned, jogging to catch up. "Fine by me."
Despite her constant grumbling, I could tell she was having fun — just a little.