After delivering a series of speeches, Kikyo Kushida finally managed to calm her mood a little.
"Sorry, Natsuki-kun. I just let it all out at once."
Realizing she had lost her composure, Kikyo Kushida hurriedly apologized to Subaru.
"It doesn't matter."
Subaru looked at Kikyo Kushida and nodded.
"In front of me, you can vent your emotions as you please."
Subaru narrowed his eyes slightly, observing Kikyo Kushida, his gaze holding a hint of interest.
Only when Kikyo Kushida was venting her emotions did this person's existence possess that tiny bit of meaning.
But it wasn't enough.
Kikyo Kushida, however, felt somewhat relieved at this moment.
The emotions she had suppressed in her heart were finally released. previously, Kikyo Kushida could only vent all these emotions in places where no one was around.
Perhaps it was for this reason that Kikyo Kushida had come here tonight.
However, there was no need for her to disguise herself in front of Subaru now.
After all...
Subaru already knew her true face.
In this school, there were two people who knew her true side.
One was Suzune Horikita.
Suzune Horikita came from her former school. If, at the start of the school year, Suzune Horikita had been willing to be friendly with her and share a secret, she might have considered it.
But since the other party was so unapproachable, then expulsion was the only path left.
However...
Besides Suzune Horikita, there was one other person.
Subaru.
Kikyo Kushida would not allow anyone who knew her true face to remain in the school. No matter who it was. Even if it was Subaru, it was the same.
As long as they knew, they could not stay in this class.
However, Kikyo Kushida could also weigh the severity of the situation. Subaru's strength was absolutely not something she could compare to. If he intended to target her, perhaps she would be the one expelled.
At least, the current her was definitely no match for Subaru.
Kikyo Kushida's primary objective right now was still to get Suzune Horikita expelled first.
If she could utilize Subaru's ability, that would be even better.
But...
Kikyo Kushida was also clear that she couldn't use Subaru at all. She couldn't even quite understand what Subaru's logic for acting was. It was as if he only cared about his own whims.
But—
If there was a chance to take action against Subaru, that would be even better~
And to achieve this goal, she needed help. A helper who possessed at least outstanding strength.
"Natsuki-kun, if I wanted to expel Horikita, would you have any thoughts?"
Kikyo Kushida narrowed her eyes slightly, asking curiously.
"Thoughts? I don't care."
Subaru even shrugged his shoulders.
"To me, Suzune Horikita isn't an existence worth caring about particularly. In the end, she is merely of 'that degree'."
"So..."
"As long as you can do it, I don't care."
A smile appeared on Subaru's face.
"I can even say, I'm looking forward to it."
Kikyo Kushida looked at Subaru and pursed her lips. For some reason, she felt a shuddering sensation in her heart. It was as if she were merely a chess piece being toyed with casually by him.
At this moment, Kikyo Kushida's phone vibrated.
She picked up the phone, took a glance, and a smile quickly appeared on her face again.
"It's a student from another class looking for me. I might be able to get some intelligence. I'll get going first, Natsuki-kun!"
"Mn."
Subaru merely watched meaningfully as she left.
"Others, huh..."
A smile carried on his face.
***
Kikyo Kushida quickly left the dormitory and arrived at a certain location.
"Junior Kushida."
A familiar voice rang out.
Miyabi Nagumo appeared in front of Kikyo Kushida.
"Nagumo-senpai, may I ask if there is something you needed to contact me for?"
A polite smile immediately surfaced on Kikyo Kushida's face, her eyes clear. Anyone seeing this would think she was a pure and helpful, cute junior.
"Good evening, Nagumo-senpai! Calling me so late, is there something the Student Council needs help with?"
Her tone was brisk, carrying just the right amount of respect and a trace of being flattered.
Nagumo stood under the streetlight, the light and shadow splitting his face into bright and dark halves. He sized up Kikyo Kushida; his gaze wasn't sharp, yet it seemed capable of penetrating that perfect disguise to see something underneath.
He didn't answer immediately but walked closer slowly, wearing that kind of affectionate yet slightly distant senior-style smile.
"It's not a Student Council matter."
Nagumo's voice was gentle.
"It's just that I, personally, prefer communicating with interesting juniors. Especially someone like Junior Kushida... who is so popular in the first year and seems to always be able to detect the 'subtle wind direction' in the class."
Kikyo Kushida felt somewhat surprised in her heart, but the smile on her face didn't change in the slightest, even taking on a bit of embarrassment.
"Senpai flatters me! I just... like making friends and hope everyone can get along well. Actually, I don't really understand class matters; it's Horikita-san and Hirata-kun who are working hard."
She deliberately mentioned Suzune Horikita, wanting to test Nagumo's reaction.
Nagumo indeed followed her words:
"Horikita-san, huh... She is indeed hardworking. But sometimes, being too obsessed with one's own ideas makes one unable to see the surroundings clearly, and easy to... make enemies, isn't that right?"
He pointedly implied,
"Just like today, the result seemed less than ideal."
Kikyo Kushida couldn't help but sigh inwardly; Nagumo indeed knew the affairs of the first year like the back of his hand.
She revealed a bit of worry on her face at the right moment.
"Yes... Horikita-san, she actually is under a lot of pressure too. Today's matter with Class C, and the negotiation with Class A... Sigh, as a classmate, I'm also very worried about her, but I can't help much."
She perfectly played the role of a classmate who cared but was powerless.
"'Worried'?"
Nagumo chuckled softly, lowering his voice.
"The way I see it, Junior Kushida... rather than saying you're worried, isn't it better to say you feel it's a bit of a pity? A pity that she's blocking the way? Or... a pity that she always has that high-and-mighty attitude?"
Kikyo Kushida's smile froze slightly for an instant, her pupils contracting imperceptibly.
Nagumo's words were like a needle, accurately piercing through her outermost disguise.
She quickly adjusted her breathing, revealing just the right amount of confusion and a trace of grievance at being misunderstood.
"Senpai... I don't quite understand what you mean. Horikita-san is our partner. Although her personality is a bit... it's also for the good of the class."
"Oh, is that so?"
Nagumo looked at Kikyo Kushida with interest.
"That is of course, Senpai!"
Nagumo listened quietly, making no comment.
He had just been testing Kikyo Kushida's feelings toward her classmates slightly.
Nagumo had realized half a day ago that this first-year girl with extremely high popularity was probably not that simple.
For example, when he had mentioned wanting to 'expel Subaru' earlier, Kikyo Kushida's face had revealed an expression different from the others. Even if it was just for a split second, Nagumo had still caught it.
He paused, looking straight into Kikyo Kushida's eyes.
"You want to make Horikita disappear completely? Make her 'reasonably' disappear from this school, from your new life."
Kikyo Kushida's heart skipped a beat.
Was it a probe? Or did Nagumo know her background?
No, she couldn't admit it. Once she admitted it, it would be equivalent to exposing that side of herself in front of him.
"I have absolutely no such thoughts! Horikita-san is the most important member of our class."
"That's a pity then. I was thinking of finding a way to get Suzune Horikita expelled. After all, you know, her brother and I are competitors~ But Horikita-senpai is also the person I respect most in the school."
"Nagumo-senpai, please don't joke with me like that. Getting others expelled is impossible."
"Nothing is impossible."
Nagumo's voice carried temptation.
"This school has its rules. Using the rules to achieve a goal is a very normal thing. Just like... what your Class D has been doing recently, isn't it?"
He changed the subject.
"Then let me put it another way—Junior Kushida, how do you view Subaru?"
Kikyo Kushida's breath hitched.
Why mention Subaru?
"Natsuki-kun... is a very special student."
Kikyo Kushida answered cautiously.
"Being sharp is sometimes also a kind of trouble."
Nagumo said meaningfully.
"——You want to get Subaru expelled, right?"
"Senpai, you—"
"When I mentioned expulsion this morning, I saw your expression. Even if it was only for an instant, Kikyo Kushida."
A smile blossomed on Nagumo's face.
"Moreover, I know your past. In your previous middle school, the entire class fell apart. You did that, right? And Suzune Horikita also comes from your middle school, so you've always wanted to eliminate her. You want to 'silence' her. After all, in this school, there are also seniors from your same school; a little investigation reveals it."
The moment Nagumo spoke, Kikyo Kushida changed.
The expression that was originally like an angel became incomparably gloomy, and the gaze she directed at Nagumo seemed as if she were looking at trash.
"Nagumo-senpai, knowing too much is bad for you."
"Not bad, a quite impressive look! I indeed didn't misjudge you, Junior Kushida!"
Nagumo's face revealed a delighted smile.
"Let's cooperate~"
"Why should I cooperate with you?"
"Because if you don't cooperate with me, I will speak out about your past~"
"When it comes down to it, you don't know exactly what happened, do you?"
"True, but I can fabricate it. After all, isn't it a fact that your class fell apart? Since that fact exists, whatever I say, others will believe. Not just your class, but other classes, other grades—everyone will know about your affairs. Your friends will definitely flee one after another too, right?"
Nagumo's words were full of mockery.
"As the Vice President of the Student Council, doing this much is effortless for me~"
"Nagumo-senpai..."
Kikyo Kushida bit her lip tightly, almost drawing blood. She wished she could swallow the person in front of her alive.
"Of course, if we cooperate, wouldn't that be better?"
"What exactly do you want to do?"
"Very simple."
Seeing the other party waver, Nagumo's smile became composed.
"First, inside Class D, continue doing what you should do—maintain your image and help me monitor Subaru."
"Subaru..."
"In return,"
Nagumo continued,
"I will provide some help at the appropriate time. For example, making certain 'accidents' happen more easily. Or, within the scope allowed by the rules, granting some... convenience to facilitate Subaru's expulsion. I personally will provide a very generous point remuneration, guaranteed to satisfy you. Moreover, the Student Council... might also be able to provide you with some good opportunities in the future."
Point remuneration, future opportunities... The conditions Nagumo offered were quite tempting.
The most important thing was being able to assist her in getting a certain person expelled. Whether it was Subaru or Suzune Horikita.
But Kikyo Kushida also knew that cooperating with Nagumo meant getting deeper involved in the struggle, with unknown risks.
But rejecting him might immediately make him an enemy. With his status as Student Council Vice President, that threat was definitely not just talk.
This was fucking damnable.
In this school, there was yet another person who knew her background.
In Kikyo Kushida's heart, the existence of her enemies had increased by one again.
"You don't have room to refuse, Junior Kushida. If you want to continue staying in this school with this identity."
Nagumo looked at Kikyo Kushida with a smile, as if he could see through her heart.
"You were just thinking, 'Let me expel him,' right? Sorry, the current you doesn't have the ability to do that yet. However, I am a second-year. Next year is third year, and I'll graduate very soon. By then, no one will know your past~ What's more, you might be able to inherit my position."
He paused deliberately, then continued,
"I appreciate capable people. And you... obviously have ability."
Nagumo wanted to groom Kikyo Kushida into his pawn. A pawn that monitored Subaru at all times.
Spending points could, of course, buy surveillance footage. But in the school, there were also many locations that couldn't be monitored. Even Nagumo couldn't possibly know Subaru's movements at all times.
He needed a nail, a nail buried by Subaru's side. That way, he could play with the other party better.
If Subaru was truly defeated by Kakeru Ryuen and the others, then it proved he was nothing more than that. But if Subaru laughed last...
That would be his own best successor.
If Kikyo Kushida had ability, he could consider grooming her a little. But if she lacked ability, discarding her would be fine.
"I agree."
Without any room for choice, Kikyo Kushida could only nod in agreement.
Her fists clenched tight, her fingernails almost digging into her skin.
____
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