It was a Thursday afternoon, and the winter sky hung pale and glassy above the school grounds. Classes had ended early, yet the air buzzed faintly with unease — rumours still drifting like snowflakes that refused to melt.
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka walked down the path toward the dorms, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable as ever. The campus lights flickered on, faintly reflecting against the frozen pavement.
Then, he saw her — Ichinose Honami, standing alone under a bare cherry tree. Her breath came out in small, trembling clouds, her eyes unfocused, distant.
A perfect student. A flawless leader.Now, just a fragile silhouette beneath the cold sky.
He slowed his steps but didn't call out. Something about the scene felt too private to intrude upon.
However, he wasn't alone either. His instincts prickled — that faint sensation of being watched.A quick glance at the glass window across the path revealed a faint reflection — Hashimoto Masayoshi, hands in his pockets, pretending to scroll his phone.
"He's tailing me again," Ayanokōji thought calmly. "Or maybe… just curious."
Before he could decide what to do, another voice called from behind.
"Kiyotaka-kun!"
He turned. It was Wang Mei-Yu, her short black hair slightly disheveled from running, cheeks flushed from the cold.
"Ah—sorry to call out like that," she said, catching her breath. "I just… wanted to ask for a bit of advice, if you have time."
Her Japanese still carried a faint foreign lilt, but it was clear and precise. Ayanokōji nodded slightly. "Sure. Let's talk somewhere warm."
They settled into a quiet café near the campus gate. The interior smelled faintly of roasted beans and sugar syrup. Mei-Yu — or Mii-chan, as her classmates called her — fidgeted with her cup, eyes darting around nervously.
She was shy — perhaps even shyer than Sakura — which made conversation difficult.
Ayanokōji decided to excuse himself under the pretense of getting more sugar. "I'll be right back."
He moved toward the counter, then casually glanced across the café. As expected, Hashimoto was there too — pretending to read a magazine, though his eyes flicked up now and then.
"So it's not a coincidence," Ayanokōji thought. "He's following me on his own."
He returned to the table, sitting down as if nothing had happened. Mii-chan hesitated, then spoke in a soft voice.
"I-I wanted to ask you… about Hirata-kun."
Ayanokōji blinked. "Hirata?"
"Yes… I was just wondering if he's… interested in anyone right now."
There was a faint blush on her cheeks, her voice trembling slightly.
"I don't think so," Ayanokōji replied simply. "He's still dealing with what happened recently. Probably not looking for anything new."
"I see…" she murmured, her shoulders drooping a little.
"But," he added, "you've liked him for a while, haven't you?"
She looked up in surprise. "Eh—how did you—?"
"You're not exactly subtle," he said, sipping his drink. "You always glance his way in class. Hirata just doesn't notice."
Her face turned crimson. "Th-that's embarrassing…"
"Not really. You're honest. That's rare here."
She smiled weakly, gathering her courage. "I… liked him since the first day. He's kind, reliable… it's hard not to."
A pause, then she added softly, "My parents are both Chinese. My father came here for work, and we moved with him. I learned Japanese in three years… English too. I wanted to fit in."
Ayanokōji nodded. "That's impressive."
Before he could say more, another familiar voice cut in, cheerful and teasing.
"My, my~ What's this? A date?"
Both turned — it was Hiyori Shiina, smiling pleasantly, a book tucked under her arm.
"N-no, it's not!" Mii-chan said quickly, waving her hands. "It's nothing like that!"
"Relax, I'm just teasing," Hiyori said, sitting beside them. "So, what are you two talking about?"
"China," Ayanokōji said smoothly. "I was curious about her background."
"Ah, I see," Hiyori said, her eyes twinkling. "You always have interesting conversations."
A few minutes later, Ayanokōji excused himself and left, the faint sound of Hiyori's laughter following him out the door.
In the elevator lobby of the dormitory, he met Hiyori again — this time alone.
"Kiyotaka-kun," she said softly. "Can we talk? About Ichinose-san."
He stopped. "What about her?"
Hiyori's expression darkened slightly. "I don't like what's happening. She's being targeted unfairly. I was thinking… maybe Class D and Class C could work together to help her."
"That's noble," he said. "But you should talk to Horikita or Hirata. They're the leaders."
"So you're not interested?"
"I prefer to stay out of other classes' affairs," he said calmly.
Hiyori studied his face for a moment, then sighed. "I thought you'd say that. Still… thank you for listening."
She smiled faintly and walked away.
Ayanokōji watched her go, his expression unreadable. "She's kind," he thought. "But kindness doesn't survive long here."
Later that evening, around 7 PM, Ayanokōji received a message from Horikita Suzune:
"Come to my room. Ichinose will be here. We need to hear her side."
When he arrived, Ichinose was already seated, her posture calm but her eyes dull — like a candle burning its last light.I was there too, sitting quietly in the corner. A guest who hadn't been invited, but not turned away either.
Horikita began politely, "Sorry for calling you so late. We just wanted to ask — do you know who's behind the rumours?"
Ichinose hesitated, fingers tightening around her cup. "I… suspect Sakayanagi-san."
Ayanokōji's eyes flickered in surprise. "She gave a name? So easily?"
"But," Ichinose continued, "I can't confirm that. I don't have proof."
Her voice was steady but faint — as if she was forcing herself to sound fine.
She smiled softly. "I appreciate your concern. But… you don't need to get involved. It's something I have to endure."
Horikita frowned. "That's not how this school works. Letting it spread will only make things worse."
"I know," Ichinose said. "But if Class C tries to defend me, Sakayanagi will turn on you too. I can't let that happen."
Her tone was gentle — but beneath it, there was exhaustion. A kindness that hurt to watch.
Horikita sighed. "You're too selfless, Ichinose-san."
Ichinose shook her head. "I'm just… tired of pretending to be strong."
Ayanokōji spoke up quietly. "Kanzaki confronted Hashimoto earlier. Did you know?"
Her eyes widened. "No… I told him not to do anything for me."
"He did anyway," Ayanokōji said. "Your classmates still want to protect you."
Ichinose looked down, her shoulders trembling faintly. "Then I'll talk to them again. I don't want them getting hurt because of me."
She stood slowly. "If that's all, can we end here? I really am fine."
"Are you sure?" Horikita asked softly.
Ichinose smiled — the kind of smile that breaks hearts. "Of course."
Then she bowed politely and left the room.
I followed her out, catching up in the corridor.
"Hey, Ichinose," I said quietly. "Can we talk… just for a bit?"
She looked surprised, then nodded. "Sure."
We stopped at a quiet corner near the vending machines. The air between us was still, and for a moment, she looked almost like her usual self — kind, curious, a little tired.
"I'm not gonna ask about your past," I said straight away. "And honestly, I don't care if the rumours are true or not."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"That's your privacy. What I want you to know is — there's no such thing as 'perfect'. Even imperfection… is its own kind of perfect."
She blinked, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"When I first met you, I thought you were like an angel," I continued. "Too kind, too flawless. It made me feel like a defective person next to you."
She let out a soft laugh, a little shaky. "You're not defective."
"Maybe. But I like myself that way. Because it makes me different."
The silence stretched comfortably for a moment.
"Remember what I said before?" I added, half-grinning. "If one day Ichinose becomes a fallen angel… I won't mind. That's just another kind of girl I like."
Her cheeks flushed pink, her eyes widening. "Y-you really say things like that so casually…"
I shrugged. "It's just my opinion. Don't tell Ibuki about this though — she'd probably kill me."
Ichinose laughed softly — a real laugh this time, fragile but genuine. "Thank you, Miyamoto-kun."
"Anytime," I said, turning away. "And hey… even fallen angels still shine, you know."
Back in Horikita's room, Ayanokōji was leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets.
"You're not going to help her?" Horikita asked quietly.
He shook his head. "Better to let the strong fight among themselves. If Arisu's focused on Ichinose, she's not focused on us."
"That's cold-hearted."
He smiled faintly. "Funny — that's exactly what you were like when you first got here."
Horikita froze, caught off-guard. He stepped past her toward the door.
"In the end, it's your decision," he said. "I'll support whatever you choose."
She didn't answer — just stared at the door long after it closed. Outside, the faint snow began to fall again, silent and endless.
At 1:00 AM, Ayanokōji's phone vibrated. Unknown ID.
He answered, saying nothing.
Thirty seconds of silence. Only breathing.He was about to hang up when a voice finally whispered:
"Ayanokōji Kiyotaka."
Then — click.
The line went dead.
He stared at the screen, expression perfectly blank.Then, he set the phone down and murmured quietly:
"So… you've finally begun to move, haven't you, father?"
Five days had passed since the clash between Kanzaki and Hashimoto. The atmosphere in school had not yet recovered from the chaos. It was Friday afternoon, and the sun was dipping lazily toward the horizon, casting a tired, orange hue across the dorms.
The name Ichinose Honami was now whispered in every corridor, every classroom, every cafeteria table.The rumours had spread like wildfire—mutating, exaggerating, twisting into shapes that even the original source might not recognize.
At first, students rallied to her defense. Ichinose had built a reputation that could withstand almost anything; kind, intelligent, helpful—a true role model. But even the strongest castle could crumble when bombarded long enough.
Now, new versions of the story began circulating again, more vicious than before.
The Mailbox Incident
Ayanokōji had been on his way back to the dorms, his steps quiet as usual, when he noticed a small commotion near the entrance.It was Katsuragi and Yahiko. Both stood beside the mailboxes, looking unusually tense.
"Ah, Ayanokōji," Katsuragi called out, beckoning him closer. "You might want to check your mail."
Ayanokōji raised a brow but said nothing. As he reached for his mailbox, he could feel the eyes of the two on him.Inside was a single folded piece of paper.
He unfolded it with care.
『Ichinose Honami is a criminal.』
The message was simple—eight words, black ink on white paper.It took less than a second to read, yet it seemed to pierce deeper than any lengthy rumor could.
Katsuragi crossed his arms, eyes narrowing. "Whoever sent this knew exactly what they were doing. Stirring the pot right when things had started to calm."
"Agreed," Ayanokōji replied flatly. "And I'm guessing you already have a suspect."
Katsuragi's expression stiffened slightly, but he didn't deny it. "You think the same name as I do, don't you?"
Ayanokōji gave a faint nod. "Sakayanagi Arisu."
Yahiko flinched at the name, but Katsuragi merely sighed, rubbing his temple. "She's playing a dangerous game. To her, this is all a strategic maneuver—no different from moving chess pieces. But to others, it's…" He glanced toward the elevator. "It's human lives."
Ayanokōji remained silent, slipping the paper into his pocket.No need to fuel the fire further.
The following day, Ichinose stood before her classmates. Her usually calm smile was still there, but there was a subtle fragility beneath it—like glass pretending to be unbreakable.
Her friends were furious. Some suggested reporting the incident to the teachers, others wanted to find the culprit themselves.
But Ichinose shook her head. "Please… don't. If we make it a big deal, it'll only make things worse."
"But Ichinose-san," one of her classmates protested, "they're calling you a criminal! You can't just ignore this!"
"I can," she said softly, her voice steady despite her trembling hands. "I have to. Because even if we stop the rumours today, another will appear tomorrow. That's how gossip works. The only way to beat it is not to feed it."
Her logic was sound, yet heartbreaking.Even if nine out of ten students didn't believe the rumours, the image of Honami Ichinose—the perfect, untouchable girl—was already tarnished. And that one person who believed it was enough to change how everyone saw her.
She smiled again, reassuring them. "It's fine. I won't let this break me."
But Ayanokōji, watching from afar, knew better. That was the kind of lie people told when they had no choice but to endure.
The Unexpected Guest
Later that night, as Ayanokōji was about to head to the elevator, someone called out to him.
"Yo, Ayanokōji."
It was Kamuro Masumi, leaning lazily against the wall near the lobby, arms crossed and a sly grin on her lips.
"Interesting day, huh?" she said, pushing off the wall and walking toward him.
Before he could answer, I appeared behind them like a ghost, sighing dramatically. "Can I join too? No one seems to notice my existence these days."
Kamuro raised an eyebrow. "Wow, you're like a stray cat—appearing out of nowhere."
"I prefer the term 'underappreciated ninja,' thank you very much," I replied, deadpan.
Ayanokōji didn't react, simply unlocking his door. "Fine. Both of you, come in."
Once inside, Kamuro took a seat on the couch, her casual smirk fading into something colder, heavier.
"So," she began, crossing one leg over the other, "what do you think of that letter about Ichinose?"
"I don't," Ayanokōji said plainly. "It doesn't concern me."
Kamuro scoffed. "Of course you'd say that. But let me guess—you already know who's behind it."
He didn't deny it. "Sakayanagi Arisu."
Kamuro chuckled darkly. "Yeah, that little devil. She's the one pulling all the strings. But here's the thing—I'm done being her puppet."
That got Ayanokōji's attention. "You betrayed her?"
"Call it payback," she said with a smirk. "You see, she blackmailed me from the start. I didn't join her willingly."
A faint curiosity flickered in Ayanokōji's eyes, though he stayed silent.
Kamuro leaned back, her tone turning distant. "It happened right after I enrolled here. About a week in. I was at a convenience store, bored as hell, and… well, I took something without paying. Not for the item—just for the thrill."
I raised an eyebrow. "Shoplifting? That's risky."
"Yeah. Arisu caught me in the act," Kamuro continued bitterly. "She cornered me outside the store, told me exactly what I did and why I did it. Then she offered me a deal—be her pawn, or she reports it to the school."
Ayanokōji's expression didn't change, but his mind was already piecing the puzzle together. So that's how Arisu builds her army—through leverage.
Kamuro gave a hollow laugh. "You know what she said? 'You crave excitement, don't you? Then serve me. I'll give you something much more thrilling than stealing candy.' She wasn't wrong."
Ayanokōji thought back to the training camp, to the time Arisu hinted that both Kamuro and Ichinose shared the same sin.Shoplifting.
It clicked into place. Arisu wasn't just spreading baseless rumours—she was twisting the truth.
"So," Ayanokōji said, "you're implying Ichinose was also caught shoplifting once."
Kamuro nodded grimly. "That's her secret. Same as mine."
Her eyes softened slightly. "That's why I wanted to tell you. Because I can't stand seeing someone else go through what I did. Arisu's going to crush her completely if no one steps in."
Before Ayanokōji could respond, I suddenly cut in, smirking. "If you're going to the convenience store, can you get me some beer? Make it ten cans."
Kamuro blinked. "You're serious?"
I shrugged. "Just curious."
She rolled her eyes, grabbed her student ID, and left. Ten minutes later, she returned—with exactly ten cans of beer in a small plastic bag.
She tossed one to me. "There. Proof enough?"
I whistled. "You're a pro."
Ayanokōji studied her quietly. "So you're still capable of stealing without hesitation."
Kamuro smirked. "Old habits die hard."
The air grew heavy.
Kamuro stared at the floor for a long moment before speaking again. "I chose you, Ayanokōji, because you're the only one I can trust not to panic or judge. You see everything, don't you? But you never react."
He gave a faint smile. "That's one way to describe it."
She exhaled deeply. "Ichinose's heart is going to break soon. When it does… I need someone who can keep her from falling apart completely."
Ayanokōji didn't answer right away. He wasn't the type to play the hero—but ignoring it completely wasn't an option anymore.
He finally spoke. "I'll handle it. Quietly."
Kamuro smiled faintly, the first genuine smile he'd seen from her. "Thanks. You're really something, you know that?"
I grinned from the side. "Yeah, he's like a robot therapist. Emotionless but weirdly effective."
Kamuro chuckled. "I can see that."
After Kamuro left, Ayanokōji cleaned up the room and prepared to head out. He decided to visit the convenience store—though not for theft, merely for observation.
As he walked down the quiet hallway, his phone buzzed. The name on the screen made him pause.
Manabu Horikita.
He answered immediately. "President."
"I'll get straight to the point," Manabu's voice came, firm as always. "It's about your class… and my sister."
Ayanokōji frowned. "Suzune?"
"Yes. I've heard some unsettling rumours. Apparently, Kushida has approached Nagumo, asking for his help in expelling your class representative."
Ayanokōji's steps slowed. "That's… bold."
"Indeed," Manabu replied. "But there's more. Kushida also mentioned your name. She called you a troublesome existence."
Ayanokōji's tone didn't change. "She's not wrong."
There was a brief pause, and then Manabu continued, "Be careful, Ayanokōji. Nagumo is unpredictable, and he might already be contacting Hashimoto. Whatever game they're playing, it's bigger than you think."
"Understood," Ayanokōji replied. "I'll keep an eye on them."
As the call ended, Ayanokōji slipped his phone back into his pocket.