"What?", I asked in surprise, with the empty of cup almost slipping from my hands.
Rika Hoshino just mentioned that there is a special exam going on for the first years only, which stated to reward 120 million private points in exchange for expelling 2 students.
Now, I am surprised because I didn't get to know about such info, despite having access of the cctv cameras of the staff room as well.
Conversing with Rika has made one thing clear for me, that she is just a normal girl, not from the white room.
But, what reason does she have to speak of such a thing as lie?
Well, there are only two possibilities.
Either she is saying the truth or lying.
If she is lying then, there is no issue, and I can just probe this matter further, by investigation.
But, if she is telling the truth, then I got a bigger issue than Ayanokouji.
"You don't.....seem to know about it, I guess?", Rika replied confusingly.
Her expression was that of anxiety mixed with confusion.
Which indicates of the fact to be a truth, unless she is a very good actress, capable of controlling her expressions.
"Well, this is the first time I have heard of such a thing. There was no such announcement for our year, so I guess, it's only for the first years?", I asked.
"I don't know much about it, but I heard Yagami kun talking about it, so I thought I should ask you for details. Is such an exam conducted every year?", she asked out of curiosity.
This special exam seems to be real.
If that's the case, it's most probably Tsukishiro's plan.
Then one of the two students would definitely be Ayanokouji.
I am unsure of the second student.
"Do you know who those two students are, Hoshino?", I asked her.
"...No, I didn't hear their names. Moreover, this special exam was only discussed with the class leaders I think, and was not announced to all the first year classes.", she replied in a low voice, as if whispering.
Well, that's troubling to me, cause I might be that second student very well.
No point in asking her further, as she is not completely aware of the rules and rewards of that special exam.
I will have to look into it independently.
"Thank you for the information, Hoshino. But why did you tell about it?", I asked in a probing manner.
It would be weird for someone to reveal such important information to a senior you just met.
"...I was just anxious after I heard of such a thing about expelling someone forcefully. And as I didn't have any friends to discuss with, I thought it would be better to talk with a senior....You are the only one I know in this school afterall.", she replied with a wry smile.
A valid reason, but not enough to convince me that there is no malice behind those words.
For now, let's fouc on the matter at hand.
"You don't need to worry about that special exam at all. For now, just focus on the written exam and try to score as per your aptitude, alright?"
"...Yes, thank you , senpai."
"Yeah, you are welcome."
After that conversation we parted ways from the coffee shop.
There are so many things to reconsider now, before I handle the matter of Ayanokouji.
First of all, this secret special exam.
I have to check whether it's genuine or not, what are the conditions, and who are the two students.
If I am one of them, I have to tread very carefully, with my actions.
Secondly, I have to make sure this Rika girl doesn't do anything funny to sabotage me in the exam.
Third, I have to study for the exam myself.
Then, I have to look into the matter of my own mother suddenly appearing in this light novel world.
At last I would have to deal with Ayanokouji, whether to keep him as an ally, an enemy or completely ignore him.
From here on, the real battle would begin.
***
It was a day off, so I started preparing for countermeasures in order to protect myself, in case I am one of the students Tsukishiro is targetting .
Why do I think so?
Tsukishiro doesn't know that I was the one who contacted him, revealing the white room secrets.
But, he is aware of the fact that whoever contacted him is somehow connected to Yamauchi Haruki.
So, if he targets Yamauchi then the one who contacted him, surely would take some action, and he would be able to catch him.
That's more than enough reason to target Yamauchi.
So, it's double work for me.
To stay hidden, and to stay alert for any ambush by first year students.
There is also the matter with Ryuen.
That's why I am inside the Keyaki mall to make some important purchases.
.....
The mall was crowdy, but I got what I wanted to buy.
Almost.
There were some things that I would buy some time later on.
As I was returning I encountered a familiar face.
Ichinose Kaori.
"Hello, Ichinose senpai."
".....What's with the sudden greetings?", she stood still, an expression of disgust, holding some essentials, food items mostly.
"You don't have to be so rude. I just greeted you politely.", I replied apologetically.
"...."
"Should we talk somewhere less crowdy?", I offered.
".....Alright.", she agreed, and started moving, towards the exit of the mall.
We walked a little and stopped at the same vending machine, we usually talk at.
I put the coins in the vending machine and bought two cans of coffee.
Ichinose sat on the bench looking at what I was doing.
She was dressed up casually, yet due to her striking features, she stood out from the rest, as particularly what you might say beautiful.
I didn't realise but, she really is pretty.
"Here.", I offered a can to her, but she refused.
"I don't like coffee, you should have bought something sweeter."
I blinked once, then let out a small sigh.
"…You should've said that earlier."
I stood up again, walked back to the vending machine, and scanned through the options.
Juice, soda, milk tea—after a brief pause, I pressed the button for a strawberry-flavored milk drink and waited for the dull thud.
I picked it up and returned to the bench.
"Here. Something sweet enough for you, I think."
Ichinose looked at the can for a second, then at me.
"…You didn't have to."
"Yet I did." I shrugged lightly. "Consider it an apology for the coffee."
She hesitated, then finally accepted it.
"…Thanks."
She opened the can and took a small sip, her shoulders relaxing just a little.
Silence settled between us, the kind that wasn't awkward but wasn't comfortable either.
"So," she began, not looking at me, "why did you call me out like that?"
"I wanted to talk," I replied honestly. "And malls aren't exactly great places for private conversations."
"What? You wanted to talk with me?", she asked in confusion.
"Is there anyone else here?", I replied sarcastically.
"Don't get so cocky, junior. If you have something to say, just say it. I have other work to do."
"You are busy?"
"Are you mocking me now?"
I raised my hands slightly in surrender.
"Easy, senpai. I wouldn't dare mock someone as scary as you."
"…Scary?" she frowned. "You're the one who called me out."
"I meant impressive," I corrected smoothly.
"Busy, independent, always moving around with purpose. It suits you."
She looked away with a small scoff.
"Tch. Don't say things like that so casually."
"Why not? They're just observations."
"…That's exactly the problem." She took another sip of the sweet drink. "You talk like you're studying people."
"That's unfair," I replied. "Sometimes I just appreciate what's in front of me."
She glanced at me again, eyes narrowing slightly.
"And what exactly are you appreciating right now?"
I leaned back against the vending machine.
"A senior who pretends she's cold, but still accepted a drink she didn't ask for."
"…You're reading too much into it," she said quickly.
"Am I?" I tilted my head. "You could've walked away."
She fell silent.
"…You're annoying," she muttered.
"That's the second nicest thing you've said to me."
"I didn't say anything nice."
"You're still here."
That made her pause.
For a moment, she stared at the can in her hands, then sighed.
"…You really don't get tired, do you?"
"Only when I'm ignored."
"Hah." A faint laugh slipped out before she could stop it. She immediately covered it with a cough.
"Don't misunderstand. I'm just killing time."
"Of course," I nodded seriously. "So am I."
Our eyes met briefly—just long enough for something unspoken to pass between us.
She looked away first.
"…You should be careful," she said quietly. "People start rumors easily in this school."
"About us?"
"About you," she corrected. "I don't want unnecessary trouble."
I smiled.
"Then I'll keep it unnecessary and brief."
She then, adjusting her dress, stood up.
"Is that it? You didn't have anything else to say?", she asked, seemingly hoping for me to say something else.
Well, I don't know why I called her out either.
There is no particular reason, I just wanted to have a chat with her, like normal friends do.
I can't exactly say that to her though.
What should I say then?
"...Oh, do you know that there is a new flavoured cake in that shop Minami san goes to. We met a few days ago, and she told me about it.", I blurted it out since I had no topic of conversation aprt from it.
".....I haven't visited the shop for some days, so I didn't know about that.", she replied.
"Um..do you maybe want to grab some, later?"
She stared at me for a while, her expression unreadable.
Did it sound weird?
"Uh..as I said today, I have some other work, so it's not possible today."
She paused for a second after saying that, as if waiting for my reaction.
"…I see," I replied, nodding once. "That's unfortunate."
"…You're taking it surprisingly well," she said, narrowing her eyes slightly. "Weren't you the one who asked?"
"I did," I admitted. "But I didn't ask expecting an immediate yes."
"That's a strange way of thinking."
"Maybe," I said lightly. "But forcing timing never works out. Cakes don't run away."
She let out a small breath through her nose, something close to a sigh.
"…You really have a way of saying things that makes it hard to get mad," she muttered.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Don't." She shook her head. "You'll get full of yourself."
She adjusted the bag in her hands again, then hesitated—just slightly.
"…What kind of cake was it?" she asked, pretending to sound casual.
"Apparently it's seasonal," I replied. "Something with layered cream and fruit. Minami-san seemed oddly excited about it."
"…That does sound like her," Ichinose said, a faint smile appearing before she noticed it herself.
"So," I continued, keeping my tone easy, "when you're not busy someday, we can check it out. No pressure."
She glanced at me, then quickly looked away.
"Tomorrow, if that's okay with you.", she said without turning around.
I affirmed with an okay too, and she left with the bag in her hand.
Well, she is cold, but really kind to go along with the whims of a junior.
As for me, I just.....wanted to....keep connecting with her, I guess.
Not thinking too deep about it, I returned to the dorms.
It would be a long drawn battle for me, and I have to prepare for it accordingly.
With that, I wrote the intended message to Tsukishiro, and closed the window.
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Next chapter : Strange Consequences
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