Vol. 1: Chapter 34 - To Trust Someone

I successfully reached the 13th floor and made my way to Horikita's room. I rang her doorbell once and waited patiently. Some girls gave me curious looks as they walked past the hallway. I don't think I looked suspicious or anything, but their stares still wracked my nerves.

Not long after, Horikita opened the door.

"Good evening, Ayanokouji-kun. Please, come in," greeted Horikita.

"Excuse me for intruding."

Horikita's one-bedroom-and-kitchen room was minimally decorated like my room. I couldn't see into the bedroom area though.

"Have a seat," she said. "As you told me in your message, this will be about Kushida-san, right?"

"Yes," I replied, sitting on the chair she prepared for me.

I took out my phone and pressed the play button.

"Ahhh, screw this! They're so gross! They're seriously so damn gross! Always trying to ogle me, always trying to get close to me—! Your ulterior motives are so obvious you damned perverts! Ike and Yamauchi, you two should just die!"

"And that bitch Shinohara... Don't try to talk just because you're not getting praised, you minion! Go back to your co-lackeys and obey that head bitch Karuizawa—!" 

At that moment, I paused the recording and faced Horikita.

I debated whether I should include her bit in Kushida's venting but ultimately decided against it. There's no reason to spark more hate between them.

"This..." Horikita narrowed her eyes.

She was smart, so hearing such uncharacteristic hate from Kushida's mouth meant that I had the means to record her. Horikita was probably wondering how in the world I was able to do it.

"To be honest, I was starting to doubt you. I've been suspicious of Kushida for more than a month now, keeping tabs on her movements almost every day. But it took me this long to finally get something. She hid her other self really well," I narrated.

In reality, I focused more on making friends and tutoring my classmates, so it was hard to put any time into this investigation. And I really can't be too careful. Everything would've fallen apart if Kushida got even a small whiff of what I was trying to do.

"So, is this what you were talking about?" I asked.

"This... is also the first time I've ever heard Kushida-san speak of things like these. You should know that already. I told you that we didn't interact during junior high at all, didn't I?" Horikita replied.

"You're right," I murmured. "Sigh... Regardless, this is bad, isn't it?"

"Bad?" Horikita raised her eyebrow in suspicion.

"Hmm... It's fine. I'll do something about it." I stood up and got ready to leave.

"Wait, please tell me, Ayanokouji-kun." Horikita pleaded with a serious expression.

"Horikita, I need you to trust me on this. I'll give you an explanation once everything is over."

"You said that one person won't be able to do anything alone. I want to help you... however, I can."

I put my hands on Horikita's shoulder, which she didn't mind. Horikita continued looking straight into my eyes.

"I know you're anxious, and I appreciate your intention to help. But don't worry. I'll make sure everything's fine in the end," I replied.

"..." 

Horikita was still conflicted, but she didn't talk back.

"Horikita, you're the only one I can fully trust right now. I'll be counting on you if I ever need assistance. So I want you to trust me, too," I said.

Horikita looked down to the side with a displeased expression.

"You say you trust me, but..."

Horikita decided to not pry on my background, but she will always question my identity in her mind. Of course, she was right to do so. If I were in her position, I couldn't simply trust someone so blindly. Especially if that someone possesses abilities that are way beyond my own.

You never know when you'll get used as a pawn or as a sacrifice, after all.

"That has nothing to do with my trust in you, Horikita. It's just a personal thing... I don't know if it will ever happen, but I hope I can open up to you sometime," I said.

Horikita's eyes looked confused as they narrowed in vexation.

"Ayanokouji-kun... You say that I can sense what people think... but right now, as of this moment, I have no clue if your words are truth that I can wholeheartedly trust... or lies meant to manipulate me..." Horikita looked straight into my eyes.

She wants to trust me fully, but her instincts are telling her to take a step back and think again.

Horikita Suzune sees Ayanokouji Kiyotaka as an exceptional student. But, she also sees him as someone who's grounded by social norms— someone who wants friends— someone who wants to have interpersonal relationships— someone who wants a normal high school life.

Horikita sees me as an exceptional student... but she also sees me as nothing but a normal person.

If I didn't display any of my abilities, I would've already fully gained her trust, but she wouldn't respect me, and will hardly listen to my opinions. But since I did, the opposite happened. Even if Horikita respects me, she can't trust someone whose capabilities and motives are unknown. It was a dilemma that I couldn't escape from. Thus, her doubt was completely justified.

"To manipulate you, huh...? Do you really think I would do something like that, Horikita?" I asked.

"I... I don't know... You scare me, Ayanokouji-kun," said Horikita.

"I scare you?" I asked.

"I can't really explain it myself..." Horikita's breathing was disorderly.

"I see... You know what, Horikita, let's end it here for now," I suggested, lifting my hands off her slim, feminine shoulders. "My decision is final. I will move alone this time. I'll see you tomorrow."

As I left Horikita with those parting words, I exited her room and tread back to my own.

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I'm sorry, Horikita. But I'm just an empty husk of coldness- a specimen of an experiment- a creation meant to win. I don't have compassion, nor do I abide by any established ethics. You, Hirata, Kushida, or everyone in Class B— you're all nothing but tools for me, and I loathe myself for thinking that.