'…How far are we going?'
I threw the question at Ibuki, who was walking ahead of me, as if to vent my impatience.
'Shut up. Can't you relax a little?'
However, all I got back was a look and words of exasperation. This was the third time we'd had this exchange, but I thought it was unavoidable.
The rain was getting heavier and the surroundings were getting darker due to the rain clouds, which were reasons for my impatience, but more than anything, I couldn't stop thinking about what she had said.
'If you want to prove Saitō's innocence, come with me right now without saying a word.'
When she said proving Saitō-kun's innocence, she was definitely talking about the underwear theft. I had my suspicions about Ibuki-san, but I didn't know why she was contacting me at this particular moment.
'…I suppose so.'
Only the sound of the rain was echoing around us. This was a mistake… If the rain was going to get this heavy, I should have brought something to wear over my clothes.
---------
After walking for a few more minutes, Ibuki-san suddenly looked around and stopped.
'No one will see us here.'
'Let's get down to business. Ibuki-san, what's your goal?'
Being alone with a student from another class far from the D-Class base camp was probably not a good situation.
'Ha, is Saitō that important to you… Well, whatever.'
Saying that, Ibuki-san looked at me with a serious expression.
'I have one request. Give me the leader card you have now. In return, I'll tell the D-Class guys that I was the one who stole the underwear.'
'…I'm astonished. Do you really think I'll accept such a request?'
'It's been two days since Saitō disappeared. You've noticed, haven't you? D-Class doesn't function without Saitō… If it was someone else who was stolen from, I wonder if he would have been able to get the class to come together so well.'
Ibuki-san asked, half-convinced. She showed a suspicious expression for a moment, but quickly returned to her usual competitive one.
'You're right. But what does that have to do with me accepting your deal?'
'You still don't get it? If you can't prove Saitō's innocence, Karuizawa's dissatisfaction will definitely explode. With her having so much influence over the girls, do you think they can aim for A-Class in that state?'
Ibuki-san spoke with an exasperated look.
'You're quite talkative, Ibuki-san. You must have a hunch. You'll also be at a disadvantage if this situation drags on.'
Right now, everyone's attention is diverted by the fire, but they'll notice that Ibuki-san and I are gone after they've put it out.
'You're surprisingly calm? This is a good opportunity to prove Saitō's innocence. It's only 50 points, right?'
'A student from a class where everyone drops out on the first day wouldn't understand, but do you know how much effort everyone put in to get those 50 points? Everyone has their complaints, but they're all working towards the same goal. I can't let my personal feelings negate that.'
Perhaps she was convinced that I wouldn't accept the deal. At that moment, Ibuki-san placed the bag she was holding on the ground.
'…What are you planning?'
'I give up. I can't win a war of words with you when you're at full strength.'
'Is that so. Then, just obediently… G'!'
The moment I was about to turn back, Ibuki-san's slender leg was aimed at my face.
…That was close. It was a good thing I was on guard.
I barely dodged it by shifting backward, and the splattering mud got on my arms and hands.
'Heh. Not bad.'
'Violence is an immediate disqualification.'
'Who's watching in a place like this? Besides, you must be pissed off, too, right? The woman who framed your beloved Saitō is right in front of you… Hah!'
At the same time as she said that, Ibuki-san lowered her body and charged at me. This would be the optimal attack method in this place where I couldn't get a good foothold. However, if she was serious, I wouldn't hold back either.
I kicked her in the face. Perhaps she didn't expect me to aim for a vital spot, so Ibuki-san changed her trajectory and took the blow to the side.
I should be thankful to Saitō-kun who took care of me. I wouldn't have been able to beat her in this state while my cold was lingering.
'Tch… You can move surprisingly well. Did you practice something?'
'Piano and calligraphy.'
I'll borrow the words of some pacifist.
The truth is… I knew that he and Saitō-kun were doing something behind the scenes. I am well aware that I wasn't included simply because I was lacking in skill.
────That's why I was so happy when I was entrusted with being the leader. I firmly swore to do my best with what I could.
'Just give me the key card already!'
Perhaps judging that her specialty, kicks, would be difficult on the gradually muddy ground, Ibuki-san clenched her fist by her face and closed the distance.
I brushed away her rapid punches aimed at my face and abdomen and landed a knee kick to her stomach, causing her to lose her balance.
'Ha…! Ugh!'
'Did you think I would hesitate to attack? Unfortunately, I'm not fighting alone right now.'
It was a blow she didn't expect. Ibuki-san knelt on the spot, unable to breathe, and glared at me with tears in her eyes.
'…Haah, haah… Honestly. Why are there so many hot-tempered students in C-Class?'
'Ugh… Damn it. I didn't think you'd be this good…'
As I was catching my breath, Ibuki-san somehow managed to stand up, her legs trembling like a newborn calf.
'You haven't eaten properly for a week, have you? I don't know if you're a stickler for rules or just arrogant, but you can't possibly beat me in that state.'
I pointed that out, feeling a bit sorry for her, but contrary to my expectations, she replied with a triumphant smile.
'Heh… You're right. It seems like I lost this fight. But you made a critical mistake.'
'…What are you trying to say?'
At that moment, a dull impact hit the back of my head from a completely unguarded direction.
'Gah…!?'
My brain felt like it was rattling, and I couldn't even stop my body from flying before I fell to the ground. I desperately tried to move my face and confirmed the person with a side glance.
'You talked a big game, but you lost so easily, Ibuki.'
'…I didn't lose, though.'
────There, stood Ryūen-kun, wrapped in a mud-caked jersey.
'Ryūen-kun…?'
Before I could even think about why he was here, how he had been living until now, or what his goal was, my consciousness plunged into a deep sleep.
---------
'────Hey, wake up. Tch.'
I could hear a voice calling me from somewhere… What was I doing?
I was missing some of my recent memories. I think I was called out by Ibuki-san… and then────
'Gah…!? Guh… Cough, cough…'
My groggy consciousness was unpleasantly awakened by the feeling of cold water.
'You're finally up. Damn it, you're a pain in the ass.'
'Where is this… Ugh.'
What I saw in front of me was a puddle formed by the rain. It seemed I was face down with my hands and feet tied.
'…Isn't this a bit much?'
'Shut up. It's your fault for messing up in the first place.'
I could hear Ibuki-san and Ryūen-kun's voices above me. …According to plan? Was this situation according to plan?
'Hey, make her sit down, Ibuki.'
'…Fine.'
Ibuki-san then lifted me and made me sit against a nearby thick tree trunk. The rain, which was now heavier than I remembered, and the water on the ground seeped through my jersey, stealing my body heat.
I tried to distract myself from my unconsciously trembling body and said to Ryūen-kun, who was scowling unhappily.
'Haa, haa… Are you after the key card? If so, I'm sorry to disappoint you. I don't have the key card, no matter what you've misunderstood.'
'Ah. I already checked.'
'Just so you know, I was the one who checked.'
Ryūen-kun spoke with a click of his tongue, and Ibuki-san added a useless comment.
'Is that so. Then what do you want with me? Are you just going to take your frustration out on me because your plan didn't work out?'
'That's not a bad idea, but… who said I failed?'
…I don't get it. Judging from the fact that Ryūen-kun is still here, his goal should have been to sell supplies for private points and use the information from the spy he planted to figure out who the leader was. Now that it's been confirmed that I don't have the key card, there's no reason to restrain me.
'I know what you're thinking. ────That's why I'm going to get it out of you.'
'Get what… Guh!?'
After giving a reply that didn't really answer my question, Ryūen-kun grabbed my hair and pushed my face down to the ground.
He lifted his hand and glared at me from up close.
'Who's the D-Class leader? And who did you give the key card to? Tell me, and I'll let you go.'
'I'm not going to… tell you.'
I said that, but only a weak voice came out of my mouth. I realized that my physical condition had worsened more than I thought it would in the last few minutes.
Ryūen-kun, who heard me, laughed gleefully, a complete change from before.
'Kukuku. Right, you wouldn't tell me, would you?'
'…Of course not. Haah, haah… This kind of thing shouldn't be allowed─'
'Who said you could talk back?' '…!'
He pushed my face into a nearby puddle with even more force than before.
Looking at me, my face covered in mud and tears, Ryūen-kun smiled mockingly and said.
'Let's see how long that feistiness of yours lasts.'
'Guh… Cough, cough…. You're quite upset, Ryūen-kun. Do you dislike Saitō-kun that much?'
To be honest, I wanted to say who the leader was and be released right now. However, this was happening because of my mistake. My mistake for being led far away while unable to calm down after Saitō-kun was mentioned.
I absolutely didn't want to do anything that would lower our class points because of that.
'I've heard the rumors, but it seems you're quite fond of Saitō. …Hey! Get out here, Ishizaki and Albert.'
He suddenly checked the time on his watch and gave a signal. At his signal, Ishizaki-kun, who I had confronted during Sudō-kun's incident, and a large black student appeared from the darkness.
'It's time for roll call. Go call that bastard Saitō. Kukuku… I wonder what that damn bastard will think when he sees this?'
'G'!? He… Saitō-kun has nothing to do with this!'
'He has everything to do with this. Hey, Suzune, was it you? The one who put the underwear in Saitō's bag?'
What does he mean…? It wasn't Ibuki-san who put it in?
Perhaps my confusion was evident on my face, as Ryūen-kun snorted and spoke again.
'I see… In that case, was it Saitō himself? Or… well, whatever. I can just ask him directly. Hey! Why are you just standing there? Go now!'
'Y-yes!'
Saying that, the two ran off. The only ones left were Ibuki-san, who had been silently watching the situation unfold, and Ryūen-kun, who was sitting on a nearby tree stump.
'…Saitō-kun wouldn't come alone.'
'Can you really say that? Do you think that bastard would abandon you?'
Ryūen-kun crouched down in front of me again. My body instinctively trembled in fear, but I had no intention of letting my spirit be broken.
The moment I opened my mouth to talk back, my voice was drowned out by a voice that belonged to neither of the people present.
---------
'Perfect, Ryūen-kun. I'm impressed you could come up with a plan like this in just two days.'
---------
'What!? How…'
It's impossible. Ishizaki-kun and the others went to look for him just a few tens of seconds ago. It should take at least five minutes to walk from here to the D-Class base camp. ────But I only know one person who has this reassuring voice.
In the light of the moon, which was the only light source, he… Saitō-kun slowly appeared.
'Ku, kukuku. What? You noticed everything? You're a pretty cold-hearted guy, aren't you?'
'Cold-hearted? Noticed everything? Don't give me that bullshit, you piece of trash. I have no idea what you're talking about.'
'So you came to save your princess, huh? But isn't that a little reckless?'
Along with his words, the two students who had presumably guided him there took positions to surround him.
Without flinching, Saitō-kun clenched his fist and said.
'────Look closely, you bastard. I'm going to make you regret messing with my friend.'
============
🚀 Want Full Access NOW & Bonus Content?
"Loving this story so far? You can read ALL chapters RIGHT NOW by joining my P4tr3on!
✨ Unlock instant access to the full completed novel
✨ No waiting for daily updates
✨ Support your favorite degenerate author (that's me!)
Only $5.99 for the full experience!
🔗 Check my profile for the Link!!
Free readers - don't worry, I'll still be posting daily updates here. But P4tr3on members get the VIP treatment!
Your support helps me create more wild stories like this. See you on the dark side! 😈"