Epilogue : The Premonition of Awakening

NEAR THE STAFF room, Sakayanagi was quietly waiting alone.

"Are you waiting for Kamuro to come out?"

"It seems like you've heard about her situation somewhere."

"Kitō told me when I went to check on Class A."

"He's not very talkative, but you never know with friendships."

"I thought it might've been inappropriate, but I decided to visit. It's not like we were especially close, but this would be the last time I could see her. I thought I'd briefly say hello."

"Oh, is that so?"

The truth was, saying hello to Kamuro didn't really matter.

But if I said this, Sakayanagi wouldn't be able to refuse me staying there.

I stood next to Sakayanagi and looked at the staff room door.

"You must have grasped what happened in the exam, Ayanokōji-kun."

"Yeah, I have a pretty good idea of the reason for your defeat. Have you been able to identify who was responsible?"

"Yes, I've finished that task a while ago."

"I see."

If that was the case, Sakayanagi would be dealing with that issue later.

As the sun was about to set, Kamuro calmly came out.

Thinking no one was going to be there, she showed an astonished expression we'd never seen before.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"We were waiting for you, Masumi-san. Should we not have done so?"

"That's not it, but why did you come?"

Apparently, Kamuro was more accepting of reality than expected.

"We have today to say our goodbyes. I wanted to talk to you one last time."

"Don't tell me you feel guilty? That couldn't be right. What about Ayanokōji?"

"He's on a social studies field trip."

"Huh…? Huh. As usual, you're incomprehensible."

"A surprising student had to withdraw. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious."

"You're surprised by me? Even though I'm the type of person who shoplifts without hesitation?"

"That's in the past. At least, overall, you weren't one of the bottom students in the class. I don't know how Sakayanagi chose who to expel, so it's only natural that I'm surprised."

I deliberately didn't mention it, but she was someone close to Sakayanagi as well.

"The expulsion was chosen by lottery."

"That's quite—"

"Do you think I made an uncharacteristic decision?"

"I wonder. I'd rather ask Kamuro how she feels since she was chosen to be expelled by lottery."

I wasn't sure if she would answer honestly now that she had been expelled, but I asked anyway.

"You can ask me something like that with a perfectly serious face? How strange."

Kamuro started to think, looking surprised. Perhaps she hadn't expected to be asked about her feelings.

"How do I feel? I just feel strange. Until this morning, I was leading a normal school life. I was even thinking about trivial things like how to spend my next day off. Then, all of a sudden, I'm expelled. This was completely unexpected."

Because she wasn't the first student to be cut off, it was understandable that she lacked a sense of crisis. Surely, even Sakayanagi didn't think she would lose.

"It's my fault. I've done something terrible to you, haven't I?"

"No, that's okay—"

Kamuro immediately objected to Sakayanagi's words, which were close to an apology.

"I'm not blaming you. I don't expect you to do anything. I've always thought that it wouldn't matter if I was expelled one day."

Kamuro originally wasn't very well-behaved. She seemed relaxed throughout, perhaps because she had made up her mind from the start.

We couldn't just stand around chatting outside the staff room forever; Kamuro began to walk at her own pace.

Sakayanagi, who had bad legs, chased after her a little faster than usual.

There was no problem heading in the same direction since they were heading home anyway.

"I was ready to accept one or two complaints…"

"You're being unnecessarily nosy."

"What do you plan on doing after dropping out of school?"

"Even if I'm expelled, there are several high schools that will accept me as a transfer student if I pass the exams. My parents are nagging me to graduate high school, so I'm considering that for now."

Apparently, Kamuro had already decided her path, including those options, within a short span of time.

Slowly, the distance between Kamuro and Sakayanagi widened.

If Sakayanagi didn't keep up with her, it'd be hard to even follow her. She tried to hurry in order to catch up, but she stumbled forward due to the unfamiliar movement and ended up catching herself on the floor.

"What are you doing?"

Kamuro, who had turned around and sighed, came back and gently lifted Sakayanagi.

"Starting tomorrow, I won't be here, so find a replacement quickly."

"I understand... Masumi-san—"

"What is it?"

Kamuro responded, sounding annoyed.

"No, it's nothing."

Sakayanagi seemed to start saying something but stopped.

Kamuro cocked her head, gave Sakayanagi her cane after picking it up, and started walking again.

Once again, Sakayanagi began to limp, chasing after Kamuro.

"Don't you have anything to say?" Sakayanagi asked.

Kamuro turned around one more time as they neared the front entrance.

"Huh? Do you want me to blame you? Ask why you made me withdraw?"

"That's not what I mean. I just have a responsibility to listen to you."

"What nonsense—"

Kamuro, about to say something, changed her mind when she saw Sakayanagi's eyes.

"Honestly, you... although you're smart, you're kind of stupid. I'm just realizing this now."

"You can't just leave it at that. What do you mean?"

"If you have a responsibility to listen, then just listen quietly."

Sakayanagi successfully outsmarted her.

"Then, here it is. I have no lingering affection for this school, but promise me one thing."

"A promise? What is it?"

"It's not about me. Just make sure the class traitor goes down the same path. Can you promise that?"

"Is that your wish?"

"Yes, just that. Can you do it?"

"I promise. I will not forgive the traitor. I promise to get rid of them no matter what. Of course, I will not let the class lose as a consequence."

Kamuro nodded to Sakayanagi, who made the promise, and then turned her eyes to me as I stood behind them.

"You're also responsible for checking if Sakayanagi has kept her promise, Ayanokōji."

"It seems like a needless responsibility, but I'll accept it."

"Good, then it's okay. Sorry, but this is where we part ways. I'm not a student of this school anymore, and I don't need to take care of you, right?"

Saying so, Kamuro started walking away, completely ignoring Sakayanagi as she was taking her time changing shoes.

She didn't stop once and disappeared in the direction of the dormitory.

By tomorrow morning, Kamuro would no longer be at this school.

Not just Sakayanagi, but many in the class weren't prepared for Kamuro's withdrawal.

"She stayed true to herself till the end."

"Right."

"I will need some more time. You should go ahead."

Following Kamuro, I too, exited the school.

It seemed that for Sakayanagi, Kamuro was not merely a classmate after all.